Staff Picks
For more recommendations, check out:
Indie Bestsellers
Indie Next List
Kids Indie Next List
Reading Group Indie Next List
Fascinating look at the history and workings of the American Supermarket, something that many of us never gave much thought to until recently when food shopping took a much different turn. Its a wild history of the innovations, marketing and supply chain secrets from the earliest forms of grocery stores to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and everyone in between. But it's also a story of us and our practices and tastes as consumers. Weird and funny but sometimes dark and disturbing, the author -ever curious- examines his subject from all angles. (Bob)
The story of two sisters and the different paths their lives take: One a police officer with a young son, the other a drug addict living on the streets of Philadelphia. Told in a series of flashbacks that reveal their past, this novel explores how past trauma can shape the present. It is also a gritty murder mystery with some surprising twists. (Kim)
Maggie Griffin thinks she has her life on a perfect track. She has a good teaching job in Boston and a boyfriend she is planning a future with. When she loses her job, she returns to her family home in Mystic, Conn. to re-group, but instead she unexpectedly runs into her old boyfriend Cameron Wilder. Sparks ignite, but Cameron now has the responsibility of being a single dad to a young baby and that is causing both of them to keep a cautious distance. This is a wonderful story of looking back and moving forward with the backdrop of all the familiar places in Mystic. (Sue)
Annie Hebbley, a young Irish girl, is excited about her new post as a stewardess on the maiden voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic. Unfortunately a series of disappearances and a young boy's tragic death have cast an eerie, unsettling feeling over the ship, its passengers and crew. Years after surviving the sinking of the Titanic, Annie finds herself serving as a nurse on Titanic's sister ship, The Britannic. Expertly weaving a supernatural thread into both tragedies, Alma Katsu creates a riveting, spellbinding tale that was hard to put down. I found this retelling of two historic catastrophes to be suspenseful, haunting and very frightening. Excellent twist in the field of historical fiction! (Lisa)
Tara's upbringing is not one for the faint of heart. The story of her life up in the Idaho mountains with her survivalist parents and siblings was absolutely unbelievable. This was my first biography and an absolute page turner! (Bonnie)
Edward is a 12-year-old when he is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills his family along with 183 other passengers and crew. He, of course, becomes an immediate internet sensation. This novel is about how rebuilds his life in a new town with new friends and family. Except it’s really about how we struggle to rebuild our lives after a life changing event and that’s what makes this story so personal to each reader as we can all recognize some piece of Edward within ourselves. Let Edward’s rebirth fill you with love and hope-this is a great read! (Candie)
I took a break from WWII fiction for a while, but I am glad I dove back in with this book. Set mainly in Paris during the war years, there is love, danger, heartbreak, and hope all intertwined in this wonderful story. The characters and connections pull you in and Harmel does a fine job of describing what people endured in order to survive. I didn't want to put it down and the ending has a twist I wasn't expecting. (Sue)
A story of 2 unforgettable women from 2 generations, but connected by the men they love. Lenora "Lulu" Randolph lands in the Bahamas in the early 1940's as a magazine reporter and quickly becomes part of the elite "in" crowd led by the Duke & Duchess of Windsor. She meets and falls in love with Benedict Thorpe, but when he disappears, she goes on a mission to war-torn Europe to find his family and hopefully him. Years before this Elfriede, a young mother suffering from PPD, is sent to a clinic high in the Swiss Mountains. There she falls in love with an Englishman, Wilfred Thorpe. The story of how these two women fight for survival, happiness, and love is inspiring and heartfelt. Williams does a great job bring these 2 time periods & her characters to life. (Sue)
I love a good romantic suspense and Nora doesn't disappoint with this story. It starts with the kidnapping of 9 year old Caitlyn Sullivan from her prominent family's home in Big Sur. She manages to escape and find help with a nearby ranch family, the Coopers, where the seeds of a great love begin. This ordeal affects her throughout her life though, as family betrayals come to light and she wonders if she can ever find happiness, peace, and the life she wants with Dillon Cooper. (Sue)
Osla, a young woman who longs to be thought of as more than a dizzy debutante. Mab, a self-made young woman who is looking for a husband. Beth, a small town spinster who excels at crossword puzzles. This unlikely trio join some of the greatest minds in Great Britain under a thick veil of secrecy to serve their country. I was enthralled, astounded and fascinated by this book that reveals the extraordinary contribution women portrayed in company with their more famous male counterparts throughout that unstable time. Kate Quinn reveals the monumental endeavor behind all the code breakers at Bletchley Park during World War II against the Nazi regime. The diligent research, dynamic characters, and thrilling suspense quickly made this hard to put down book one of my favorites for the year! (Lisa)
Over twenty years ago, Patricia Lockwood is kidnapped and her father killed during an art heist. She eventually escapes from her captors but no trace of the stolen art or the kidnappers is ever found. Enter Windsor Horne Lockwood III, the billionaire friend of Myron Bolitar and cousin to Patricia, who is brought to a posh Upper West Side apartment building in NYC to explain why a suitcase with his engraved initials is found next to a dead man. After reading "Home" by Harlan Coben in which Win was prominently featured I was eager to read this book and it did not disappoint. As he navigates the serpentine nature of case, Win blurs the lines between right and wrong, using his vast resources to find the answers and makes no apologies for it. He is not perfect but I found his investigative style to be not only very compelling but also riveting. I highly recommend this fast-paced, suspenseful and intriguing thriller! (Lisa)
"Books the fresh air breathed in to keep the heart beating, to keep the brain imagining, to keep hope alive." Odile Souchet has landed her dream job at the American Library in Paris 1939. Life seems to be going well for her until the Nazis take control of Paris and threaten not only the lives of its residents but also her beloved library too. I was fascinated by the courageous acts of defiance the librarians took against the Nazis from hiding banned books to delivering books to their Jewish subscribers when they were no longer allowed in the library. I found Odile and Lily (her young neighbor in Montana) to be kindred spirits due to our shared love of books and reading. Unforgettable historical fiction that has introduced me to a place and a group of dedicated librarians I am excited to learn more about. Perfect for spirited book club discussions! (Lisa)
After much praise of this book I finally decided to pick it up and I definitely could not put it down. Abandoned at a very young age by her whole family Kya Clark survives on her own out in the marsh. With no schooling and really no social skills she is a mystery to the town. When the local football star is found dead the locals immediately blame “Marsh girl” as she’s known. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages of this novel! It is definitely a must read! (Bonnie)
Consuelo Vanderbilt, American heiress, was forced into a loveless marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlboro by her mother Alva Vanderbilt. After producing "An heir and a spare" Consuelo's marriage falls apart. She scandalously separates and forges and path of her own. Her fight for women's suffrage and medical care of children give her meaning in a world she had to make her own. This was a great story and a great character. Her story was very inspiring! (Bonnie)
Anna Princess of Kleve is engaged to the enigmatic King Henry VIII. While she is afraid from all the rumors she has heard she is also interested to learn about the man he truly is. While, as history tells we know the marriage does not last, Anna does not lose her head but becomes the sister to the queen and lives an independent life. This headstrong woman's life was both interesting and a joy to read. (Bonnie)
The core message of this book is "people are idiots." Yet by the end of this story the reader has come to appreciate even the most annoying of the characters. The story is about a bank robber ,who attempts to rob a cashless bank and then takes some hostages by accident , the father/son police team trying resolve the situation, the relationships between the hostages, and a man who jumped off a bridge ten years earlier. It's really about being human. I laughed out loud and shed tears within the same chapter . I was sad when I read the last page. Life is hard right now but Anxious People will make your day a little bit brighter. (Candie)
This book is sci-fi/fantasy like I've never read before. I could not put it down. Gideon and Harrow share a love/hate relationship. Harrow is a necromancer who needs Gideon to be her swordsman. Gideon is a foundling trapped on Harrow's planet looking for a way off. Together they answer the Emperor's call to engage in trials to become his immortal servants to help save the world. Their relationship, which is filled with mistrust and hate, and maybe love is what they need to succeed. If you are a fan of sci-fi/fantasy - this is a must read adventure. Book two, Harrow the Ninth, came out in August. (Candie)
When idealistic Elwood Curtis is unjustly sent to the Nickel Academy reformatory in the 1960s for being in the wrong place at the the wrong time, he has no idea of how bad it is going to be. His friendship with Turner, who knows the score, is his only hope to enable him to survive his sentence. This book's setting is based on a real reform school that was in operation for 111 years in Florida . It is a heart wrenching read that should become required reading for every American. It won the 2019 Pulitzer among numerous other awards. (Candie)