The Sirens: A Novel

A mystery soaked in the waters of a shipwreck, sisters Lucy and Jess find themselves bound beyond logic across time to sisters Mary and Eliza. When Jess disappears and Lucy finds herself on the run, Lucy must solve the mystery hidden in the depths of the waters of New South Wales before it’s too late. Based on a real story, this haunting tale reveals the power of sisterhood and fate.

Anyone who has dealt with life not turning out according to childhood expectations, trying to find a place to call home, or the powerful bond between very different siblings will find much to relate to in this stunningly emotional novel of adopted twins Drita and Pete in Connecticut finding meaning for themselves in different and imperfect ways. It’s propulsive and thoughtful in such an original way that I hated for it to end!

Rita Bullwinkel’s Headshot closely follows eight teenage girls as they compete in a boxing tournament. The resulting novel makes for electrifying literary fiction, and paints a stunning portrait of each of these young women as well as the varied circumstances that led down this path. Despite its slim length, Headshot packs a powerful punch and easily ranks among the best fictional sports writing I’ve ever read.

In this novel, Olivie Blake showcases her ability to make you love a character you would hate in real life. The Wren siblings are an obnoxious trio of trust-fund billionaires with a multitude of daddy issues & gifted child burnout syndrome, and yet by the end of the book you can’t help but cry for their failures as if they are your own. Another huge success for Blake!

Also loved by Cat!

If a humorous tale of unhinged lesbian clowns and magicians sounds up your alley then this one is for you. Trust me when I say there is nothing quite like it.

At the beginning of the Nazi occupation in Brussels, the neighbors in an apartment building become aware of their vulnerability. They live closely but hide secrets behind closed doors. How clever of Austen to use a building she had once lived in as the setting of this literary historical thriller.

Also loved by Lindsay!

You’ll fly through this story set over the course of one harrowing, long, slow day. As our main character struggles to move forward to safety, we get glimpses back to how her world got so tilted. It’s a journey filled with moments of tenderness amid a natural disaster, and an exploration of the primal behaviors of survival that ensue.

If City of Night Birds ignited in you a fascination with the political, artistic, and physical demands of Russian ballet, this book is for you. Orphaned sisters Maya and Natasha grow up together at the renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy, following in their late mother’s footsteps. Durham deftly navigates a story of sibling rivalry while also illuminating the complicated nature of Russia’s Soviet-era cultural institutions.

From the writer of Love & Saffron comes a brand new epistolary novel featuring two young women in their twenties, one a bookseller in Seattle, the other an aspiring war journalist based in Paris. The two find comfort with each other and a strong friendship blooms between the women as they discover who they are meant to be. If you are a person who loves books about books and female friendship who might have also loved 84, Charing Cross Road, this book is for you.

The second in the series doesn’t disappoint. This time, Vera becomes an influencer, using TikTok to solve a murder. She acquires new friends who join her old ones to do whatever she asks…always involving her cooking. Vera runs her tea house, trades barbs with her bakeshop neighbor, tells her son and his cop girlfriend she wants grandbabies, and solves everyone’s problems AND the murder!

Murder by Memory makes full use of its unique generational spaceship setting to create a charming sci fi mystery you can read in one sitting. Full of likeable characters I look forward to seeing in future sequels, this book starts the series on a high note.

Siblings are called together by their eccentric father. The announcement: they will compete to inherit his Vietnamese sandwich empire. Each daughter will be assigned a store to revitalize and their brother must marry – all within a year. A missing mother and family secrets make this a caper with emotional depth.

This book is the ultimate reading-slump cure. Set over the course of one night, we are flies on the wall of the hotel room where Nick and Jenny are confined together. They’ve been cheating on their spouses with one another for the last 6 years, but tonight they are forced to finally confront some things about their relationship. Packed with quick wit and realistic dialogue, I ate this book right up.

Chances are if you have ever asked me for a historical romance or a juicy queer romance I have tried to push KJ Charles into your hands. I will be up to all of my old tricks with this brand new one from one of my favorite writers. This book has everything you could want – hidden identities, jewelry theft, an epic historical road trip, disgraced but handsome love interest. I just love a KJ Charles book.

If Agatha Christie and F. Scott Fitzgerald had co-written a novel, this would be it. Greta Gatsby, Jay’s younger sister, is the detective, a naive recent graduate of finishing school. While solving the murder, Greta grows up and sees behind the facades of the rich and their servants. It made me want to reread The Great Gatsby and visit the mansions of Newport…

Full of all the charm and wit a reader could want, this Regency romance was the most fun read I’ve had in awhile. I am thrilled to have Alexander writing queer historical romance!

Clara Harrington is summoned to England to retrieve the dictionary of her mother’s lost language. The dictionary disappeared, along with her mother, many years ago. Clara’s journey is full of more questions than answers, but she refuses to leave until she uncovers the truth. This is an enchanting novel inspired by a true literary mystery.

Carissa Broadbent slays again with the latest book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. Assassins, vampires, and forbidden romance- what more could you ask for?

Con artists and the ultra wealthy. Whoa. I haven’t read a thriller so twisty in quite some time!

Also loved by Jenness!

Russell’s mastery of the strange is the perfect compliment to unique terrors of the Dust Bowl. Not since Beartown have I fallen in love with and believed so much in the characters of a small town. Uz, Nebraska and its Prairie Witch will live with me forever. As will Russell’s call to action at the end of this expertly researched novel.

The perfect day begins with dropping by Fox’s Donut Den to snag a donut and then grabbing Just Our Luck before heading to a park to devour both. When Sybil leaves her winning lottery ticket behind after a steamy encounter with a hot baker, Kieran enlists the help of social media to find the girl who came and went. But when the two decide to fake date to capitalize on the story they realize just how sweet things could be.

Jane and Dan’s fancy evening out to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary (perhaps their last for Jane, who’s had enough) is interrupted by a group of eco-warriors. A funny and twisty heist with reflections on motherhood and marriage.

When a hot air balloon crashes into the pool on Joannie and Johnny’s first date, you think it would be over. What follows is an unbelievable, uncomfortable weekend-long date that had me laughing, cringing, and wanting more.

A woman finds an injured Union soldier left for dead and sees an opportunity to save her husband in this Civil War story. Perfect for fans of Cold Mountain.

How is a curable disease also the world’s deadliest? Discover the fascinating history and devastating truth of Tuberculosis. Follow the story of Henry, a TB patient who humanizes a sickness that so many of us believe to be a problem of the past. This book will question and challenge your perception on healthcare, illness, disease, and death.

Also loved by Cat!

An insightful and damning peek behind the curtain into the inner workings at Facebook during former employee Sarah Wynn-Williams’ tenure at the company. Reading about how the algorithm was used during the 2016 election cycle was particularly chilling, and solidified that Facebook execs were in fact the careless people Wynn-Williams portrays them to be.

As advertised these are: 1) poems, 2) gay, and 3) super. They’re super because Stephanie Burt has not only curated an incredible list of poems, but she’s also written beautiful micro-essays to go with each one. If you’re new to reading poetry, this book is a wonderful place to start!

Penguin Classics presents an expansive and rich collection of essays on American feminism, both historic and modern with a heavy focus on intersectionality. Edited by Roxane Gay, this collection features a broad range of voices and topics accessible for all learners.

There are different types of cookbooks. Some focus on the science…others on weeknight meals…but this one focuses on beauty. Gorgeous pictures make this cookbook an adult picture book that you want to look at over and over. The recipes are not simple but works of art that will take your time and reward you with all things beautiful — beautiful to look at and pop in your mouth.

Need something happy? Be transported to another place and time with this collection of dog portraits by the Magnum photographer. Dogs being dogs, all over the world in the last half of last century. Some text by P. G. Wodehouse. True delight!

One of the greatest tragedies of the book industry is the short shelf life of a mass market romance — there are some absolute bangers you do not want to miss. When I read this book the first time I was on my lunch break and a customer stopped and asked me what book I was crying so hard about. If you aren’t sure where to start in what feels like a daunting genre you will never be disappointed by Sarah Maclean. NEVER.

This one took me a while, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Charlotte Brontë’s autobiographical novel follows Lucy Snowe’s journey as a boarding school teacher and young woman in search of lasting love. True to Brontë’s other novels, this story powerfully highlights that often shapeless but constant longing within the human heart for purpose, connection, and true partnership throughout life.

I am on an Alice McDermott kick. After Absolution and The Ninth Hour, I didn’t think she could be topped. However, I went back to this earlier book, and was wowed anew. This is the story of an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life – but told in the most beautiful way. I was nodding my head the whole way as she unfolds the events of her life. If you liked The Stone Diaries, you’ll love this too.

It’s been years since I first read this collection of poetry, but it remains one of my favorite works of all time. Crush explores identity, self-discovery, heartache, and what it means to be queer through beautiful prose and masterful writing. Richard Siken never fails to rip my heart out, stomp on it, and then stitch it back together.

First Editions Club: April Selection

Love, Parnassus: April Selection