Set in 1829 Iceland, Agnes is accused of murder and sent to live with a family on an isolated farm while she waits to be executed. At first, only the priest tries to understand her but the farmers eventually question whether there’s another side of the story. A haunting and atmospheric character-driven tale, based on a true story. More info →

I enjoyed this one! It was a 2023 Spring Book Preview selection. From the publisher: "Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page. But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path. Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back." More info →

Small-town teenager Doris was Mrs. Lucas’s star student before family demands compelled her to drop out. When she finds herself in the family way, she persuades Mrs. Lucas to take her to Atlanta for an abortion, where the two mingle with celebrities she’s seen in Ebony, civil rights leaders like Coretta Scott King, and Mrs. Lucas’s queer Black friends. Their behavior is shocking—her mama certainly wouldn’t approve—except they treat Doris with marked kindness and seem to have good hearts and common sense. Cheering Doris on through her life-changing weekend was one of my favorite reading experiences this year. I ate up the voice, the style, the story. More info →

Architecture professor Young shines a spotlight on unsung hero Rose Valland, an art historian who worked tirelessly during WWII to protect tens of thousands of pieces of art from being seized or destroyed by the Nazis, and whose meticulous records enabled the French to reclaim looted works after the war. When the Nazis invaded France, Valland was a curator at Paris’s prestigious Jeu de Paume Museum, an unusual position for a woman to hold. Young details how Valland used her demure appearance to her favor; the Nazis saw no need to hide their actions or conversations from a lowly, nonthreatening museum employee. If they only knew! Valland’s more personal reasons for wishing to fly beneath the radar are also detailed here. This fascinating untold history holds appeal for both art lovers and history buffs. More info →

MMD team member and Susanna Kearsley completist Leigh says: Kearsley’s most recent novel takes us to 1613 England and Scotland. Andrew and Phoebe have never gotten along, all due to a misunderstanding. But when Andrew is sent on a secret mission by the king and requires a scribe, Phoebe joins the trip in order to take care of her father while he works with Andrew. I could not get enough of the way Andrew watched out for Phoebe, even when she was determined to believe the worst about him. Andrew’s Second Sight and dyslexia added to the plot in compelling ways, as did the flashbacks to the King's Court through the eyes of Andrew’s prisoner. This is as much about loyalty as it is about the importance of looking beyond surface appearances, especially when matters of palace intrigue are involved. More info →

In 1977, Robyn Davidson, who had "never changed a light bulb, sewn a dress, mended a sock, changed a tyre, or used a screwdriver," set out to cross Australia with her dog and four camels. Equal parts travel writing and adventure story, with humor and ruminations on the pleasures of solitude thrown in. The publisher describes this as "a cult classic." More info →

This Summer Reading Guide author has been called the "queen of the summer read," thanks to her large catalog of novels set on Nantucket. More info →

From Publishers Weekly: "Sherlock Holmes takes on a young, female apprentice in this delightful and well-wrought addition to the master detective's casework." More info →

I told you that I probably couldn't handle this one ... and I'm mostly glad I let myself be talked into it. Kalanithi is nearing the end of his long and arduous training in neurosurgery when he receives his own terminal cancer diagnosis, and the role reversal is immediate: suddenly he's the patient, not the doctor. This is the book he wrote after his diagnosis: he'd always dreamed of writing a book "one day," and when his own timeline was dramatically shortened, he got to work. He didn't quite finish: one of the best parts of the book is the moving epilogue written by his widow. Recommended for fans of Atul Gawande: his Being Mortal is an excellent companion. More info →

I went into this not knowing much about John Green’s personal history. I was surprised to learn that he’d nearly become an Episcopal priest, and that he held an early and formative job at Booklist magazine. Each topic he reviews here—Canada geese, sunsets, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest—is a leaping off point to reflect upon something else, something deeper. Green’s lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression is thoroughly and tenderly documented. It was these moments of deep personal reflections that I enjoyed the most. I’m glad I read it in the audiobook format; Green is an excellent reader of his own work, and the audiobook contains several essays that don’t appear in the print edition. Whispersync narration available. I’ve often said the sign of a great book, to me, is that, long after I turn the final page, I keep thinking about it. I’m still thinking about this one. More info →

Pilcher's novels are sometimes categorized as romance, but if you're not a fan of the genre, don't let that scare you off. This family saga tells the story of three generations of a modern British family, brought together again during a time of crisis, all of whom have been burned by love and must figure out how to move forward. Full of interesting, well-developed, flawed-but-likable characters. This is a great beach/travel read, but it's LONG, making it perfect for your ereader library. I love this one so much, I included it in Volume II of my short-form podcast One Great Book and it's one of the top 100 novels in the BBC's Big Read. More info →

I love this book and am so happy to see it on sale. Elaine Aron seriously changed my life. (More about highly sensitive people here.) If you're an HSP, your nervous system is more sensitive to physical and/or emotional stimulation than the general population, and about 20% of you fall in that category. If that rings true for you (or someone you love or interact with) this book is life-changing. More info →

I love Kingsolver; this is one of her best. Southern Baptist Missionary Nathan Price heads off to the African Congo with his wife and 4 daughters in 1959, and nothing goes as planned. Though they bring with them everything they think they will need from their home in Bethlehem, Georgia—right down to the Betty Crocker cake mixes—the Prices are woefully unprepared for their new life among the Congolese, and they all pay the price. A previous Summer Reading Guide pick. More info →

Moriarty's best novel (in my opinion, of course)! Alice is 29, expecting her first child, and in love with her husband—or at least she thinks she is, but then she bumps her head and wakes up on the gym floor, to find that she’s actually a 39-year-old mother of 3 who's in the middle of divorcing the man she's come to hate. She doesn't know what’s happened to her these past 10 years, or who she's become. She's about to find out. Interesting, readable, and surprisingly thought-provoking. I inhaled this like it was chick lit, but found myself mulling it over long after I finished. More info →

From The New York Times Review of Books: "Columbine is an excellent work of media criticism, showing how legends become truths through continual citation; a sensitive guide to the patterns of public grief; and, at the end of the day, a fine example of old fashioned journalism . . . moving things along with agility and grace." More info →

A previous Summer Reading Guide pick! This nail-biter unravels the story of two girls who disappeared from the same tiny North Carolina town a decade apart. Ten years ago Nicolette Farrell left her hometown for good after her best friend vanished without a trace. The real twist here is the interesting format: after a short prologue, the story is told in reverse, starting with day 15 of the mystery and workings backwards to day 1. This would feel like a cheap trick if done poorly, but it wasn't, and I loved it. A dark kind of fun. More info →

Cloud and Townsend can change your life. From the publisher: "Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us and under what circumstances. Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions. Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others. Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God's will from our own and give us renewed awe for our Creator. What are legitimate boundaries? How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money? Aren't boundaries selfish? Why do I feel guilty or afraid when I consider setting boundaries?" More info →

This anthology of loosely connected short stories creates engaging and readable stories out of everyday moments affecting women in the American Southwest—some hopeful, some devastating, some tender, and many tipping towards the autobiographical. More info →

Readers, this book has been sitting on my TBR shelf for forever. If you've read it and loved it, I could use a push to pick it up. Bridie Devine, infamous female detective and supernatural consultant, gets called to work on her most intriguing case yet. Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, possesses mysterious powers that have collectors and curiosity hunters circling. Bridie comes in to figure out who kidnapped Christabel, while grappling with her own complicated childhood experiences. Full of lush descriptions of Victorian London and a heaping dose of Gothic mystery, this ghostly novel makes for an interesting genre mash-up. More info →

From the author of Meet Me at the Museum, a story of three women brought together by a small narrowboat who embark together on a journey through the river canals of rural England. One woman anxiously awaits a surgery, one has given up her ordinary life to become a free spirit, one is unsure if she'll return to her husband when the journey is done—but until those looming realities need to be faced, they'll spend the summer together (along with one small dog) enjoying the scenery as they wend their way down the river at 4mph. More info →

College student Alice is very much done with dating since her girlfriend broke up with her after Alice came out as asexual. She’s going to focus on having a fun summer, outside of working at the library. Then she meets Takumi at work one day and starts to wonder if maybe there could be something more between them. An enjoyable New Adult romance that explores acephobia and microaggressions with a refreshing, effervescent character you can’t help but root for. More info →

From the publisher: "The ties between women can run as deep as the ocean--but so can the secrets. For 20 years, Kayla, Antoinette and Val have performed their own special summer ritual. Once a year, the old friends put aside their daily, separate lives to drink champagne, swap stories and swim naked under the Nantucket stars. But on one of those bonding nights, one of their trio swims out from the shore and doesn't return. After the surviving friends emerge from their grief, they realize that the repercussions of their loss go far beyond their little circle, and they begin to uncover layers of secrets--and their connections to each other--that were never revealed on the beach. What has made their friendship strong now has the power to destroy--their marriages, families, even themselves." More info →

Beanland's sophomore novel (following Florence Adler Swims Forever) is based on the very real Richmond Theater fire that killed 72 people on December 26, 1811. Beanland tells the story through the eyes of four survivors, some of whom are more fictionalized than others: the teenage stagehand whose mistake causes a backdrop to ignite, a wealthy young widow who survives by jumping from a window, an enslaved blacksmith who helps many white women escape the blazing theater, and a young female slave who wonders if she might use the fire as an opportunity to escape. Whispersync narration available. I enjoyed listening to the full-cast narration of this steadily-paced, thoroughly researched historical tale. More info →

Agatha Christie meets The White Lotus in Condie’s adult debut. When a mudslide prevents anyone from accessing or leaving a luxury Big Sur resort, it means the guests are trapped with a murderer. Among the guests is Ellery, a newly divorced woman who’d planned the trip as a twentieth anniversary celebration but instead is traveling alone. Upon her arrival, Ellery is wounded to discover most of the resort’s guests are there for a wedding—but before the event can take place, Ellery finds the groom’s dead body in the pool. She starts investigating, but before she gets any answers, another guest turns up dead. The suspenseful plot kept me turning pages, but I especially appreciated the poignant passages on love, loss, and grief. More info →

GingerGinger says: Yes, Dan Brown. Many of his stories take place, or at least start, in the capital. But this one is underrated and too often forgotten in favor of his more popular titles that take place in Washington, The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol. This spy novel delves into national intelligence and coding. There’s a whole etymological exploration of the word “sin-cere” that was just good nerdy fun. The perfect page-turning distraction if you need a break from politics. More info →

Cross The Holiday with Sliding Doors and you’ll get a sense of Harbison’s adult debut. After a disastrous thirtieth birthday party, Meg books a getaway to the quaint Irish village where she had once dreamed of moving. That’s when things get weird: everyone seems to know her already. She has an apartment and friends and a hot ex who’s none too pleased to see her. Most shocking of all: in this version of her life, her best friend, who died in a car accident just before college, is alive and well. So why isn’t Meg happy? Harbison asks important questions about choice, contentment, and what makes for a meaningful life. I found it utterly unputdownable. More info →

Backman’s latest is both deeply funny and incredibly devastating. Twenty-five years ago, four friends found each other at a crucial time. Their friendship didn’t lessen the violence, poverty, loss, or sense of worthlessness they felt in their adolescent lives, but the pain felt more bearable because they had each other. One of those friends became a world-renowned painter, whose works came to be coveted by many. In the present day, a tormented teen named Louisa falls in love with one of those paintings, and this love changes her life by pulling her into the friends’ orbit. Raw, vulnerable, and tender, Backman beautifully captures how fierce love makes things bearable even when it feels like the whole world is against you, and the necessity of telling the people we love how much they mean to us, no matter how bumbling and inadequate our attempt. More info →

Brigid says: The best way to describe this endearing sci-fi/ horror is Dracula, Frankenstein, and more in space! Delightfully filled with callbacks and Easter eggs inspired by classic monsters, I quickly fell in love with the found family of both human and non-human crew and passengers. There is the ship’s main AI, Demeter, who awakes after deep space travel to a ship full of dead passengers and a monster on board. Stewart, the snarky med bot, who is just trying to keep a tidy medical bay. And my favorite character I’ve met in recent years, the extremely charming and hilarious “Steve” who may not be there for the right reasons. With a full cast narration, the audiobook is fabulously immersive but heads up: there are binary code sequences read out loud at the beginning of chapters that can be easily sped up if they become tiresome. Unique, fun, and a tad bit gross, this is the type of entertaining read that I just want to push into readers' hands or earbuds! More info →

From the publisher: "From the author of the international bestseller Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, a heartfelt invitation to reflect on your relationship with reading and celebrate the joys of books. Why do we read? What is it that we hope to take away from the intimate, personal experience of reading for pleasure? How often do we ask these profound, expansive questions of ourselves and of our relationship to the joy of reading? In each of the essays in Every Day I Read, Hwang Bo-reum contemplates what living a life immersed in reading means. She goes beyond the usual questions of what to read and how often, exploring the relationship between reading and writing, when to turn to a bestseller vs. browse the corners of a bookstore, the value of reading outside of your favorite genre, falling in love with book characters, and more. Every Day I Read provides many quiet moments for introspection and reflection, encouraging book-lovers to explore what reading means to each of us." More info →

I knew I’d rather walk short distances than drive, and preferred bustling downtowns and first-ring suburbs to the car-dependent exurbs, but I couldn’t put my finger on why until I read Jane Jacobs’ classic. Jacobs helped me understand the nagging feelings I’d always had about the way we structured–or failed to structure–our living spaces here in America. A modern classic from a true pioneer, full of stories and anecdotes about not just cities, but the people who live in them. More info →