This is the closest you'll get to a book of Jedi mind tricks.
Why do you think waiters read your order back to you?
John
This is a book that I always come back to every year. This story never leaves me. The characters are so familiar to me that I often wonder how they’re doing and what city they are in now. The way Erin Morgenstern writes is like nothing I’ve ever experienced and every time I read The Night Circus, I discover a new key detail that I missed before. To put it simply, this books is magic.
Sinny
I've loved every entry in Talia Hibbert's series about the Brown sisters, and this one is no exception. Prepare for British snarkiness, an imperfect but perfectly lovable cast, and multiple moments that will have you burst out loud with laughter. As with all books in the series, the inclusivity and genuine care Hibbert extends to her characters makes this the epitome of a feel-good romance. I definitely recommend the audiobook on Libro.fm as well!
Leila
My favorite television show is The Great British Baking Show, my favorite genre of book is romance, and my favorite type of romance is those featuring bisexual characters—this book combines all three of those into a book that may even surpass Hall's incredible Boyfriend Material in my heart and mind. If you like any or all of the above—read this book about a bisexual single mom going on the country's biggest baking show on a journey that will take her far beyond the trials of soggy bottoms and fallen trifles.
April
If you've ever found yourself wondering what a 14 letter word for "crossword fan" might be, this book is for you. You'll also learn about the origins of crossword puzzles, the history, and why "oreos" show up in so many puzzles. You might even find yourself wanting to make your own! (I can now tell you from experience, it is HARD.)
Shana
The Archive of Alternate Endings weaves together multiple tales which are each unique and separate and exceptional. Here are some themes that run through the stories: queer stories and when they don't get told, the story of Hansel and Gretel, Haley's Comet, the bond between siblings. Read the first page of this book, if it's for you, you'll know immediately.
Katherine
What starts out looking like a predictable female-English-student-has-affair-with-handsome-young-professor story quickly demonstrates that it is going to cover a lot more ground. They meet and marry in the 70s - but fast-forward 30 years, when the prodigy Spence, now in his late 50s, is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's The novel deeply explores the relationships among husband, wife, children, and the outside (and increasingly foreign) world, and poignantly chronicles his descent into middle-aged madness without being maudlin or sentimental. It’s beautifully and sensitively written, funny, and driven by a don't-put-it-down plot.
David
A Ghost in the Throat is a seance, summoning a keening woman drinking the blood of her murdered husband in handful gulps, the time both devoured and enriched by daily tasks, the haggard old woman who watches over so many last moments. This is a genealogy, a book-length translator's introduction, a bonfire. Ni Ghroifa's investigation of a famous Irish poem and its neglected author digs into the flesh of motherhood, womanhood, history, language, and poetry. A truly astonishing achievement.
Josh
To call this a Great Gatsby retelling is to undersell it. Told from the point of view of Jordan Baker, this is a gripping and magical story about difficult friendships, identity and belonging, paper tigers, literal devil's bargains, and all the glitz and glamor of the 1920s. Probably my favorite new book of the year.
Ari
Cyclopedia Exotica is a whip-smart social and cultural critique. A series of inter-woven episodes reveal the stories of a dozen characters who manage to be both well-rounded and play into stereotypes for laughs. A book about gaze, point of view, and, well, eyes, Cyclopedia Exotica is a book that will capture your attention and have you returning for another read.
Marika
