| FICTION |
| Recommended by Katie
I finished this book a few days ago and I am still thinking about it. DotA follows Zelu, a disabled Nigerian American woman who pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the story. Peppered in between Zelu’s story is chapters of her sci-fi novel, Rusted Robot. DotA cannot be contained in one genre and is Okorafor at her best. I am obsessed. |
| Recommended by Rae Ann
From the glittering Met Gala, on a night when something goes terribly wrong, to Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in the 1930s, The Stolen Queen is a riveting story of two women searching for a missing antiquity, one running from her past, and another running toward her future.
Also loved by Cheryl! |
| Recommended by Cheryl
This is a mystery and murder relating to a family heirloom of slave pottery. It is also about broken hearts and acceptance. Our heritage is in us, inescapable even if not knowing ,”knowing” explains behavior.
Also loved by Jenness! |
| Recommended by Lindsay
Oh, how I loved the story of Vivian, her husband Oscar, and Oscar’s husband, Squire–Mutual Interest follows all three as they navigate a lavender marriage and a budding capitalist empire in early twentieth century Manhattan. Told with wit, charm, and a healthy dosage of gossip and historical tidbits, Mutual Interest has converted me to a forever fan of Olivia Wolfgang-Smith. |
| Recommended by Maddie
Set in a not-too-distant future in America, one day all of the white people in the world walk into the ocean and drown. What’s left is a world turned upside-down. For one, prisons have been abolished, and our main character Charlie suddenly finds himself a free man. With prose that will grip you from the first paragraph, this story unfolds with unmatched richness. Get ready to meet your new favorite debut author. |
| Recommended by Elizabeth
If you have talked to me in the store, I’ve probably already recommended this book. I’m throwing it around like confetti! Featuring quirky, quarreling villagers (Italians!); an impossible, miraculous find (the world’s largest truffle!); and the sudden spotlight from international investors (Sotheby’s!), this book will make you cheer for small-town Tuscany and, really, all of humanity.
Also loved by Chelsea! |
| Recommended by Sarah
A fantastic follow-up to one of my favorite mysteries, The Verifiers! If you love great character building, exploration of Big Tech ethics, and a solid murder mystery, this series is absolutely for you. |
| Recommended by Sydney
Coming-of-age meets folk horror! Margot is a young girl who lives an isolating existence with her mama and their strays. Focusing on themes of girlhood and true love, The Lamb is a disturbing, yet beautifully written tale about a cannibalistic mother-daughter duo. |
| Recommended by Ashby
Con woman Quinn needs money NOW. The 5 steps: the Mark, the Intrusion, the Ballyhoo, the Knot, and All In. It’s not that easy. Her mark? An extremely wealthy Duke. After staging an attempt on royalty and coming to the “rescue” Quinn becomes THE debutante of the season. But nothing is simple. Not the con. Not Max’s family. Hay crafts a gripping plot with mysterious characters set at the turn of the 20th century. |
| Recommended by Jenness
A Florida halfway home for pregnant teenage girls in 1970 is a bad place to be. Perhaps joining a coven with your three best friends will help? (Spoiler: it does not.)
Also loved by Jordan! |
| Recommended by Aly
Vi cannot get over her ex. Since the breakup, her life has been spiraling hard and fast, until one night outside of a seedy bar she meets, or rather finds, Blob. What she originally believes to be just a blob of goo in the parking lot quickly becomes a pet, then a companion, then a friend, or maybe…more? Could this be a love story? |
| Recommended by Katie
A tender and funny rom-com filled with Chinese traditions and a family curse, a Chinese Herbalist fake dates the bad boy of the classical music world. Jessen’s writing blossoms in her latest book with hilarious banter and crackling tension between her two leads. YYLS is a romance book for all the readers out there who miss the heyday of the 90s rom-com and want to feel deliciously twitterpated again.
Also loved by Tara! |
| Recommended by Rae Ann
Josephine Reynolds wishes she could disappear. When a new door on her family home transports her to 1927, she meets her great-grandmother, a woman running an illegal speakeasy. Josephine tries to repair the past and alters her future, granting her own wish in this time-travel jazz age story. |
| Recommended by Jennifer
Semiramis is a commoner who finds herself in the midst of some of the most dangerous rulers of legend. Her rise to power is gratifying and perfect for any lover of mythology. |
| Recommended by Kathy
Calling all fans of John le Carré! Here is his successor! WB has crafted the story of a British travel writer in 1960 who unwittingly becomes an intelligence operative. Period details just right, and this one will keep you guessing. |
| Recommended by Elizabeth
I already cannot wait to reread this collection of short stories. Alternating from absurd to tender, Carson explores family conflict, adolescent confusion, mental illness, and political instability all within the setting of post-conflict Northern Ireland. She is a masterful storyteller. (“Caravan” floored me.) |
| Recommended by Jordan
Sarah Adams is back with the 3rd book in her When in Rome series (which could also be enjoyed as a stand-alone). After a second grade teacher accidentally sends her spicy manuscript to her principal, she turns to her nemesis to help steal it back. This one is full of charm!
Also loved by Tara! |
| Recommended by Katie
Small town sapphic romance? Hot female mechanic/ big city girl with a reputation? GIMME GIMME GIMME. Karmen Lee’s The Relationship Mechanic is pure joy and this sophomore romance will delight readers. I just really really love Vini and Jessica and am ready to pack my bags and visit Peach Blossom, GA. Who is coming with me? |
| Recommended by Ashby
90 year-old Eddie. 24 year-old Bella. Unlikely friends. Eddie has never been kissed; Bella lost her boyfriend. Eddie sifts through people’s things at a charity shop discovering how little things tell people’s stories. Besides Eddie and Bella, the other characters are vivid from Cronin’s description and dialogue. I love them all, especially Pushkin, the guinea pig. It’s trite but true: you laugh, you cry, and you finish this book feeling warm inside. |
| Recommended by Aly
On Hana’s first day running her family pawn shop, there is a break-in. That wouldn’t be a huge problem, except that this is a magical pawn shop that trades in memories. Along with a handsome stranger, Hana must venture further into the magical world where her pawn shop resides to find her father and prevent her world from disappearing. |
| Recommended by Katie
A bladesmith blessed by the stars. A prince with a dangerous secret. A god bound in shadows. Amalie Howard will cast a spell on you with this stunning new adult romantasy. I gobbled this book up in one sitting and am bereft that I have to wait for the second. This is Howard at her finest. I ❤ Suraya and Roshan! |
| Recommended by Jenness
This energetic debut novel follows Annie/Cass/Cate through decades, friendships, loves, and careers. Her past and her secrets are never far from the front, and the success she’s earned (Best-selling trilogy! Top-grossing movies!) never quite feels real. Kate Fagan’s story sparkles with hope and humanity. I loved it. |
| NONFICTION & POETRY |
| Recommended by Rachel
A book about the anxiety an intense attachment to reading can cause. Bibliophobia explores mental illness, writing, reading, and the relationship they all have to one another. Each chapter is framed around one of the author’s favorite written works. |
| Recommended by Mac
In Memorial Days, Geraldine Brooks approaches grief with an enviable frankness. A proven master of the language, she puts her words to the act of swimming through the expanse of an after – a life with only impressions left of a loved one. I am grateful for the work Brooks has done in giving us this book with all its weight and imperatives to systematically improve the red tape of mortality.
Also loved by Cheryl! |
| Recommended by Natalie
Ladies! You know what I mean. And you know what you need? To read this book! Florence Given’s incredibly relatable take on being a woman will empower you to live loud, large, delicious lives. Perfect for anyone needing some hope, joy, or glittery pink fun. |
| Recommended by Jenness
The fascinating origin story of the medicolegal sexual assault kit – a widely circulated and respected piece of forensic equipment used to bring justice to survivors (or exoneration to suspects). Martha “Marty” Goddard, the true inventor of the kit (though patented under a male detective’s name) was a complicated, tireless, headstrong crusader for victim’s rights and deserves this credit for her vital contribution. |
| Recommended by Rachel
A poetic and mythic reimagining of Helen of Troy as a disgruntled Tennessee housewife reaching for agency. Read it, and you will recognize parts of her living within you. |
| CLASSICS & BACKLIST |
| Recommended by Elizabeth
Homesteaders Jack and Mabel are new to the unforgiving Alaskan landscape. As they endure their first winter and grieve a marriage drifting apart, a young girl appears seemingly from a child made of snow. Ivey’s poetic prose and exploration of human longing makes for an unforgettable modern folktale. |
| Recommended by Tara
If you find yourself trying to justify re-watching The Holiday for the 100th time even though Christmas is long over, this should be your next read. Twenty-something Leena switches places with her 79 year old grandmother, Eileen as they both attempt to switch up their lives and routines. Eileen makes her way to busy London, while Leena camps out at her grandmother’s home in Yorkshire. The Switch is a perfect comfort book. |
| Recommended by Jake
Politically loaded, sharply satirical, and impossible to put down, Adjei-Brenyah has written a deeply disturbing and equally inventive short story collection that will stick with you long after you finish. Seamlessly injecting fascinating worlds and concepts with biting social commentary into a powerful bullet to the senses, Friday Black is the best short story collection I have ever read. |
| Recommended by Rae Ann
What would you do if your math genius daughter had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you needed help to get her there? This is a funny and tender road trip story full of mishaps and joy. |
| Recommended by Michelle
Nothing is going right for Finlay. She is in the midst of a divorce, struggling with writer’s block, and trying to keep it together for her two kids. When she is mistaken for a contract killer after she’s overheard discussing the plot of her latest book, she unintentionally accepts the offer and finds herself tangled up in a murder investigation. |
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By Geraldine Brooks
It isn’t often we pick nonfiction for the First Editions Club, but in 2019 we picked Tony Horowitz’s book Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American Divide. In it, Horowitz retraces Frederick Law Olmsted’s heroic exploration of the South in the 1850’s, both men trying to decide if we really are still one country. As a writer and a reporter, Horowitz was a smart, funny, fearless soul, always up for a challenge. He was married to Geraldine Brooks, another smart, funny, fearless soul, always up for a challenge. When plans were made for him to come to Parnassus and sign his books, I asked Geraldine if she would fly down and interview him at the store. It was an amazing night.
Five days later, on Memorial Day, Geraldine got the call that Tony had died walking down the street in Washington D.C. He was still on book tour. He was sixty years old.
There are many good books about love and many good books about grief, but none of them touch Memorial Days. Tony and Geraldine are war correspondents, best friends and brilliant writers who settle down and raise two wonderful sons, all the while pushing each other to make the most out of their lives: that means writing and friendship and travel and love. They were two wild individuals who made an extraordinary match. The life they shared is remembered here, but so is its aftermath, the world in which Geraldine has to face her grief alone, a task so enormous and raw, so pushed away by all that must be dealt with after a sudden death, that she finally goes to an island off the coast of Australia to face her loss.
There is not an extra word in this book. Everything you read is essential. Everything you read will stay with you.
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.
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By Julian Winters
When Denzel “Denz” Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his family members that he’s capable of commitment, Denz impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship.
Now Denz needs to find a fake boyfriend to seal the deal on the CEO position. Denz is forced to turn to the last person he wants to be in a pretend (or any) relationship with: Braylon, the man who broke his heart.
Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. But, apparently, he needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business until the funny texts and the confusing kisses leave Denz struggling to separate this temporary arrangement from the affairs of his heart.
I Think They Love You is a celebration of love, queer communities, big families—in all their beautiful complications— healing, and, most importantly, falling in love with the person you’re becoming.
The Love, Parnassus box is a monthly subscription box for romance readers curated by the experts at Parnassus Books. Each month you will receive a first edition book (which is sometimes signed), a letter from the author, a custom sticker, and a bookmark to track your reading. The Love, Parnassus selection will focus on debut and new-to-you romance authors. Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite romance reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.
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Musing 