The Vaster Wilds: A Novel

Lauren Groff’s latest follows a girl who takes to the wilderness amid plagues and strife in seventeenth century Jamestown. Come for the scrumptious meals of insects and tree bark, stay for the affirmation of life and the beauty of human perseverance–I adored The Vaster Wilds.

Also loved by Cat!

Rouge: A Novel

Mona Awad has proven herself yet again as the patron saint of unhinged women. In Rouge, Belle becomes more and more consumed by her complicated relationship with her mother and by her unhealthy obsession with maintaining the perfect skincare routine (OK, who hasn’t been there?). This book is a twisting, creeping fairytale of a story that will continue to haunt you long after you put it down.

Also loved by Aly!

Evil Eye: A Novel

If you are craving a fresh and emotional coming-of-age story for adults and about adults, then this is the book for you. Yara, a Palestinian-American woman seeks to know and love herself better while unpacking the guilt of knowing she has more freedom than her mama and teta could dream of. Yara balances honoring her culture and herself while learning about generational trauma and breaking the cycle of abuse.

Land of Milk and Honey: A Novel

The Caretaker: A Novel

Blackburn Gant, crippled by polio, spends his life taking care of the local cemetery. When his only friend, Jacob, gets drafted into the Korean War, Jacob asks him to take care of his wife Naomi. What could go wrong? This is a compelling story of unexpected betrayals and shocking actions by all the characters.

Also loved by Cheryl!

Normal Rules Don’t Apply: Stories

Kate Atkinson’s wit and ingenuity float through these short stories, assigning each with the whimsy of a fairy tale and the fullness of a novel. This collection woven together feels both both grounded and uplifting, sober and exhilarating.

Penance: A Novel

A true crime biography but make it fictional? That’s Penance in a nutshell. Three girls in a seaside town set their classmate on fire. The text is made of podcast scripts, first-person interviews, tumblr posts, and prose sections, all compiled by a fictitious journalist with her own motives in mind. Penance dives head first into our culture’s obsession with true crime and will not let you look away.

The River We Remember: A Novel

No one was sad about the death of this small town’s richest citizen. Was it suicide or murder? If it was murder, anyone could have done it, including the sheriff. As the stories unfold from the past, painful wounds and prejudices make the solving as hard as overcoming the river current. The reader is there with the characters. Another great read from Krueger.

The Golden Gate: A Novel

1940’s San Francisco – a murdered presidential candidate, a rich family hiding something, a detective to root for, and even an appearance by the first lady of China. The Golden Gate is a great new addition to the detective noir category, while also being a really fun read. I could see this becoming a series, and that would be completely fine with me.

Death Valley: A Novel

I’m unable to talk about this book without a smile creeping onto my face. Even months after reading it, just thinking about Death Valley brings me back to its all-consuming absurdity, surrealism, and depth. There was not a moment I spent reading this book where I knew what was coming next. Melissa Broder has outdone herself with this one.

The Free People’s Village

Set in a world where climate change has been eradicated, The Free People’s Village follows punk rocker Maddie. After learning her favorite venue is set to be demolished for a new highway for the wealthy, Maddie and her band become increasingly drawn into the radical protest group Save The Eighth. Deeply political, stunningly realized, and effortlessly readable, this is climate fiction for a new generation.

Godkiller: A Novel

A dark and thrilling world with sharply written characters bent on revenge and a small desire to make their world right. Civil war seems inevitable unless wildly different heroes can pull it together and figure out a plan to defeat the Gods and those in power. Flush with queer and disability rep, this book scratched an itch I had to dive head first into an epic fantastical adventure.

The Heart of It All

A Pakistani immigrant’s company is the small Ohio town’s largest employer. A young black man is sent to his aunt’s to live. These two families are the only minorities. Tensions start to ease as the town starts to discover that they have more in common than differences. Beautiful resolution for the town and the people.

The Last Devil to Die: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery

The fourth Thursday Murder Club brought me a first: I cried reading a mystery. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron face art forgers and drug dealers to solve a friend’s murder. In addition, Osman depicts love, loss and dementia as beautifully as his whodunit. Osman plans to take a break from the four and write something different; I will miss these four until he goes back to Coopers Chase Retirement Village.

Also loved by Tara!

What Became of Magic: A Novel

A woman is summoned to a town that doesn’t exist on any map where she must use her hidden talents to rescue magic, who by chance, is a person. The perfect read for fall.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night

Lana Rubicon is a LA real estate force to be reckoned with. Until her diagnosis. She then finds herself moving in with her daughter and granddaughter in their small beach bungalow as she works through her illness. She also finds herself completely bored. Until there’s a dead body and her granddaughter is a suspect. There is nothing better in my opinion than a mystery beach read!

A Shot in the Dark: A Novel

Lee’s adult debut is a moving novel that explores religious identity, addiction, and queerness. Ely and Wyatt are both tender, genuine characters that I truly loved. Beautifully written, A Shot in the Dark is perfect for readers of Honey Girl and One Last Stop.

Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror

I’m always on the lookout for fresh horror by women and people of color. Peele’s intro grabbed me immediately. If you have enjoyed his films, check out these tales to scare yourself silly this autumn!

Bright Young Women: A Novel

Sadly, notoriety in the true crime realm mainly goes towards perpetrators, not victims. Jessica Knoll flips that notion on its head with this fictional retelling of the Bundy murder spree, focusing on the female victims and the repercussions that impact their friends and family. That judge may have called Ted Bundy a bright young man, but this story is about those Bright Young Women.

Starling House

Starling House is the story of a poisoned town with monsters in its mist, a house with a mind of its own, and a haunting picture book hiding dark secrets in plain sight. A slow-burn contemporary fantasy of love, revenge, and family with Alix Harrow’s signature enchanting prose.

The Fragile Threads of Power

A return to the world of the Darker Shade of Magic series, Fragile Threads of Power takes place seven years later, in a world on the brink of chaos. Reunite with old favorites and meet new characters, all with dubious desires and morally-grey compasses. In realms where magic is power, what happens when the most powerful dimensions collide?

Murder in the Family: A Novel

Captivating! Completely different format. The premise: true crime Netflix series featuring crime experts, police detectives, psychologist, lawyer and reporter. Luke Ryder’s murder happened 20 years ago. Told through text messages, interviews, newspaper articles, emails and the show’s script, there are tons of twists and turns in each episode until the murderer is revealed.

Cleat Cute: A Novel

If you are nursing your wounds after the US Women’s team loss, look no far than our romance bestie, Meryl Wilsner’s newest book, Cleat Cute. Y’all, Meryl never lets us down. Not ever. And this grumpy/sunshine, age-gap romance between two players at opposite ends of their career is all your Sapphic fantasies come true.

Also loved by Chelsea!

Black River Orchard

Wendig’s latest spooky and spell-binding novel is perfect for October – bursting with deceptively delicious apples; creepy, culty townspeople; and an evil, encompassing sense of dread that just keeps building. A remarkably balanced tale of supernatural horror and the everyday terror of human connection.

Also loved by Sissy!

Roaming

Roaming is such an authentic representation of being nineteen and infatuated with new people and new places. You’ll cringe at the characters’ choices and relate to their joys. The artwork is absolutely stunning and makes a muted color palette feel vibrant and alive. I’m not an avid graphic novel reader, but this one captured my heart.

Monica

I’m just going to say it—this is the best graphic novel of 2023. Daniel Clowes is a comic mastermind, and this work (five years in the making) knocked my socks off. Blurring the lines between what feels like every genre, Monica is a breathtaking collection of short stories following its female protagonist whilst interweaving horrific accounts from the Vietnam War.

Murder on the Orient Express: The Graphic Novel

I love all things Christie! I am surprised it has taken this long for a graphic novel version of a fan favorite. Al-Green captures Poirot, the quirky little Belgian, who finds himself on a train full of murderers. It’s fun to compare the book, the movie versions and this graphic novel to see all the different angles of the story and imagine Christie herself who took a ride on the train before writing this mystery.

Salt Kiss (Lyonesse)

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I really want to read an absolutely filthy retelling of Tristan and Isolde”? Yes? Well, look no further. Our reigning queen of steam is back with a new series that will absolutely break your brain. It’s over the top, dramatic and so so spicy. Sierra Simone is a delightfully wild romance author and so much fun to read. If you loved her New Camelot series, Salt Kiss will thrill you.

Red Rabbit

Did I know “folk horror” was a genre designation? Absolutely not, but this ended up being the perfect autumnal read to usher in the change in seasons. If you’re looking for a western hero’s journey with witches, demons, and ghosts, you’ve found your next read.

Necessary Trouble: Growing Up at Midcentury

Gilpin Faust, the former president of Harvard, takes us through the Cold War, the Women’s Movement, Civil Rights and Vietnam. In doing so, she shows us history as it was lived.

Also loved by Cheryl!

The Slip: The New York City Street That Changed American Art Forever

Fans of narratives about midcentury art communes in NYC (all two of you!) rejoice, Prudence Peiffer’s The Slip is an incredible history of the artists who took over a row of lofts in Lower Manhattan through the 1960s. Robert Indiana, Ellsworth Kelly, Agnes Martin, and James Rosenquist all make appearances in this engrossing and gossipy read about the art world.

The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen

Have you ever thought about cooking and what it means to fall in love with it at different points in your life? The mundane things like how to time the poaching of a carrot or something big like making banh mi at home for the first time? Bee Wilson has written an ode to home cooking, and I loved just reading this book as much as I loved cooking from it. Perfect for cooks of all backgrounds and experience levels.

How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South

There are several troubling memoirs of Black men being raised by single moms trying to do better than the previous generations. This one has hope, love and faith. He grew up in Huntsville, went to Sewanee and continued to educate himself. His story is individual but he strives to find the promised land for all people. Uplifting.

The Book of (More) Delights: Essays

This new collection of short essays is perfectly enchanting: a child’s wave, garlic sprouting in the garden plot, the new moon, dreaming of an unaged parent. Poet Ross Gay has a gift for observing the small moments of joy in everyday life. This is the book you didn’t know you needed.

The Feminist Killjoy Handbook: The Radical Potential of Getting in the Way

Do you refuse to laugh at sexist jokes? Get accused of being too “woke”? Queer feminist scholar and activist Sara Ahmed provides an in-depth analysis on what it means when people equate feminism with being a killjoy and why it is important to rain on the parade of life in order to speak up and speak truth. This is a must-read for people wanting to expand their understanding of intersectional feminism.

Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close

A curious and eye-opening micro-history of human’s desire for – and usage of – pockets: how they’re designed, who gets them (and who doesn’t), and what we do with them. Our modern “pocket patriarchy” actually has deep, dark, and interesting roots.

Insane Emperors, Sunken Cities, and Earthquake Machines: More Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans

I needed this book when I studied Latin. It answers the important questions. Did Greeks and Romans wear swimsuits? Nope. How did they prove their identity? Not easily. A few Nero impersonators made it quite some time before being discovered. There were no drivers’ licenses for chariots. Full of facts and anecdotes, this book provides lots of conversation tidbits for any cocktail party.

Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies

Have you ever wanted a clinical psychologist to guide you through a fascinating analysis of movie monsters, classic horror films, and the real psychological disorders that inspired them? Well, here you go. Well-researched, witty, and compulsively readable, this one is a must for fans of the genre.

The Bookshop on the Corner: A Novel

Every year when the weather starts to get a little crisp, I pull out The Bookshop on the Corner. Set in the dreamy Scottish highlands, this book follows our protagonist Nina as she moves from a bustling city to a remote village and opens a bookmobile. This is the perfect book to read on a chilly day cozied up with a mug of tea, and it’s sure to leave you grinning from ear to ear.

‘Salem’s Lot

In a small town in Maine, people start dying or disappearing around the same time a mysterious stranger moves into the abandoned mansion on the hill. This is King’s take on the vampire novel, and he does a wonderful job of slow building the tension and then unleashing the eventual horror. If you’re looking for a scary book for Halloween, consider this classic.

Also loved by Jake, Sissy, and Chelsea!

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Years after a poisoning incident kills the rest of the family, a strange girl lives in isolation with her sister and uncle. This stunning portrait of “otherness” is one of my go-to autumn reads and also (what I consider to be) Shirley Jackson’s greatest gothic masterpiece. It’s eerie, atmospheric, and bizarrely engrossing from start to finish. Bonus points for a great unreliable narrator.

Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory

British intelligence invent a ruse: drop a dead body with attached briefcase containing “classified documents” into the sea, hoping the plans will reach Hitler and convince him to move his troops. The Allies are able to make a foray into southern Europe in June 1943 thanks to this wild plan. Even more implausible: now a fantastic musical on the London stage.

First Editions Club: October Selection

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year

Sometimes things are easy.

Thanks to Margaret Renkl, picking the First Editions Club book for October was a snap. As soon as I read The Comfort of Crows, I knew this was the one. Sure, Margaret is a dear friend of mine and a friend of Parnassus. Sure, she’s both a local author and a national treasure. But really, none of that matters. What matters is how brilliant this book is, and how important.

The premise is deceptively simple: Margaret charts a year through the lens of her own backyard—the rose-breasted grosbeak arriving in spring; the remnants of a hurricane showing up in summer; the scourge of leaf
blowers in the fall. The writing is gorgeous and fierce, the observations subtle, exalted, soaring, enraged and knocked sideways by beauty. Week by week, she reminds us of what we’ve lost, what we still have, and all that looms ahead. Together these essays form a call to action. This life, this place where we live, deserves our fullest attention.

And that would have been more than enough to make a great book, but Margaret partnered with her brother, the artist Billy Renkl, and Billy made a piece of art for every chapter. Prepare to be amazed. The result is a work whose power is more than doubled by two siblings at their creative best joining forces. The Comfort of Crows is telling us to open our eyes to what we have and what we’re doing.

You’ll be back to buy copies for everyone you know.

Enjoy.

Ann Patchett

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.