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I have been a Beatles fan for over 50 years, and yet there are stories in Craig Brown’s witty and very entertaining biography of The Beatles that were new to me. From the legendary day in 1957 when Paul met John, to the band’s break-up in 1970, it’s all here, and then some. Beatles fans of all ages will love this book!
— Marilyn
Like its subject, this biography is expansive and entertaining, and rests on a solid body of research and experience. It offers a front row seat to the competitive world of food writing, the development of an American Cookery champion who incorporated his love of regional French cooking, as well as an insightful history of a gay man who struggled to live an authentic life even as the rules of secrecy and acceptance kept changing.
— Laura
There has never been a more perfect book for whipping up a simple but flavorful cake whenever craving hits. Each of the (many!) recipes I've made so far has been a hit, and the variations included for each fruity, toasty, or chocolatey cake mean that I have many more delicious taste tests in my future! Perfect for both aspiring and experienced bakers!
— Kelly
One of my favorite writers doing one of my favorite things: writing short stories. This is the first anthology of short stories from one of America’s most prolific, diverse, and entertaining writers. Mosley is so much more than a mystery writer.
— Andrew
Anthony Horowitz mysteries are beyond brilliant, so you must pay attention! A now dead mystery author has buried clues in his book (within this book) that lead to an unrelated, old murder case still to be solved. Twists and turns abound throughout, right up to the fantastic ending. I rank Mr. Horowitz on par with Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle - maybe better! Such diabolical talent!
— Julie
Poetry, photography, drawings, journalism, statistics, prose, and even stage directions point us toward the book's subtitle, An American Conversation. For Rankine, only an open, honest conversation on race can heal the wounds of our divided nation.
— Andrew
A fun and heartwarming read! I couldn’t wait to read each character’s choices for why they would go back in time, knowing that they couldn’t change the present, and how each of their visits changed them. I can’t stop telling everyone about this book!
— Terri
The protagonist in White Ivy, Ivy Lin, is unforgettable! She’s unlike any female anti-heroine I’ve read in a long time. Raised in a strict, low- income, Chinese immigrant family, Ivy strives to fit in with her well-to-do peers and even dabbles in deceit and thievery along the way to help her cause. A chance encounter with a former (wealthy) middle-school crush will change Ivy’s life forever - but not in the way she imagines. A fast-paced, entertaining read with an ending that will shock you!
— Sue
This enchanting novel tells the story of Beatrice, an 18-year-old girl with powerful magical abilities who longs to become a sorceress. But in her world, young women are part of a bargaining process of arranged marriages to increase family wealth. Once married, they are forced to wear a collar that cancels all of their powers while they are of child-bearing age. But Beatrice is determined to live by her own rules in this patriarchal society. Then, she falls in love. A magical story with a feminist message.
— Marilyn
Beatrice is a feisty, strong-willed young woman who wants nothing more than to become a mage, something forbidden of women in her society. At marriage, women are literally collared and strangled of their magic, something Beatrice is strongly against. I absolutely loved watching as she fights the patriarchy, while also falling in love with the rich and handsome Ianthe Lavan and befriending his sister Ysbeta, who joins Beatrice in a scheme to learn forbidden magic. Delightful, romantic, magical, hopeful, feminist - historical fantasy with a Regency theme. C. L. Polk is becoming of one of my favorite fantasy authors and this book just makes me love her more.
— Lindsey
What reads like an autobiography is part fact and part story, but it’s all real when you are trying to find your place that you can call home. An immigrant father and his American born son, both searching for a way to belong in the country of their choice, brings to light the many ways in which our country still needs to mend and heal ourselves post 9/11.
— Terri
It’s hard to imagine that a book about becoming a young widow could be hilarious but it is that, plus poignant, sad, and wonderful. Leslie’s warmth informs this memoir. We are with her as she shares her love story, her loss, and her grief. You finish this book thrilled to have “met” her and wishing her a future of love and well-being— what a woman!
— Roxanne
Salter has written many books with the late Senator McCain but in this one, it’s the real insider’s view. Kirkus described it one of best fly-on the wall political memoirs of recent memory—I would agree.
Reviewing the book, Jon Meacham said Franklin Roosevelt had Louis Howe and Harry Hopkins; JFK had Ted Sorenson and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.; and John McCain had Mark Salter. Not bad! Salter takes that position as a confidant, advisor, and chief of staff to share the story of a life and a time that anyone interested in history, politics, and global affairs will be thrilled to read and receive as a gift. The last two chapters remind us of what we are capable of as leaders, as citizens, and as a country. A perspective we desperately need!
— Roxanne
This is definitely not Harry Potter! Wizarding school isn’t an honor (or a choice for that matter), and every day, just getting to class is a risk to your life. Oh, and don’t forget your dorm room opens onto a black hole (yes, you read that right – a real black hole!), so buckle your boots and get ready for another Naomi Novik wild ride!
— Terri
The Thursday Murder Club is a delightful British mystery, and the club in the title is a group of seniors in a retirement community who like to review cold cases. But then, of course, a murder occurs in their midst and they are on the case! There are plenty of skeletons coming out the closet along with that touch of British humor that we all love.
— Julie
A different sort of tell-all - David Chang describes his struggles with mental health in parallel with his journey as chef, restaurateur, friend, and family man. Consider the Libro.fm version told to you by the chef himself! Also, read or listen in conjunction with Chang's Netflix series, Ugly Delicious.
— Laura
When P. L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, asks you to write a story – you do! Maguire takes on another fairytale and sets it on end in this lovely tale of lost and finding. A lonely young girl being raised by her grandparents, a 1950’s Christmas season, and a mythical swan-boy are beautifully crafted into a tale that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.
— Terri
Whether you want to create an animal-free feast or just make sure that your much-loved nephew won’t go hungry, this book has plenty of choices to make sure that everyone has a happy, tasty holiday!
— Laura
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In The Look Of The Book, that’s exactly what they do! You’ll learn why some books grab your attention while others are passed over and how book cover designs and trends might influence your choices. This is a beautifully illustrated collection of some of the most memorable book covers ever published. Perfect for literary and art enthusiasts alike!
— Sue
![East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing [American Measurements] Cover Image](https://images.booksense.com/images/books/730/750/FC9781250750730.JPG)
East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing [American Measurements] (Hardcover)
Drawing on a broad base of Asian cuisines with plenty of flavor and few hard-to-find ingredients, Sodha has compiled a delicious array of weeknight, plant-based recipes. I was having so much fun I bought a mortar and pestle so I could take full advantage of elements such as Chile Peanut Crumbs that add texture, spice, and depth. Yum!
— Laura
When retired Chicago cop Cal Hooper moves to a remote Irish village, he expects peace and quiet, long walks, and visits to his local pub. When a troubled 13-year-old knocks on his door demanding help in the mysterious disappearance of an older brother, Cal is drawn in. But in this tight knit community, why does no one else care? Full of beautiful descriptions of rural Ireland, atmospheric suspense and quirky characters, this is another terrific stand-alone novel from the author of the Dublin murder series.
— Marilyn
You know when you are reading a book and you have to go to work, or school, or anywhere, and you can’t stop thinking about when you can go back to reading the book? This is definitely one of those. Set in a world of pre-Columbian Americas, where magic has been all but forgotten – even vilified, the coming of a solar eclipse sets the scene for a new world, new rule, betrayal, and unlikely friendships. Roanhorse has deftly researched the history and mysticism to create what will be the longed-for epic that you will not be able to put down.
— Terri
Epic, beautifully written, heartwarming, heartbreaking, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a contemplation on life, death, and what it means to make your mark on the world... and why we feel it's important to do so. Addie makes a deal with a demon so she can live her life the way she wants to; but, like most deals, there are strings attached - and these strings make it so she is forgotten by everyone she meets. Dancing between time, the book shows Addie's life over 300 years, and takes a closer look at her modern life - after a boy in a bookshop remembers her. Months later I'm still thinking about this book and how beautiful it is and how my words don't even come close to doing it justice. Read this book.
— Lindsey
If destiny exists, V. E. Schwab was born to write this book. Though incredibly detailed and cleverly plotted, the real masterpiece is Addie herself and the melancholy chapters of her past and the hopeful pages of her present. Her perseverance and appreciation for art and the hidden wonders of the world is compelling and transformative. In a story of hope, power, calculation, and love, Addie LaRue showcases Schwab’s master of the craft and will leave readers with an invisible girl in their minds long after the last page.
— Bridey
Alice Hoffman’s enchanting new novel tells the story of Maria Owens, born in 1664, matriarch of the magical Owens women, and her daughter, Faith, who has her mother’s gift but becomes haunted by dark thoughts of the man who abandoned them. It’s a world that is harsh and superstitious, yet love in its many forms is the thread that runs throughout. Beautifully written, this third book in the author’s “Magic” series will pull you into another world and not let you go.
— Marilyn
Attention all Tall Tale lovers! Here’s your peek behind the scenes of how a tale becomes a legend. A tall man, many feats of wonder, an unrequited love, and even a faithful ox! Slap-stick funny, with a little bit of history thrown in, this is reading entertainment at its best!
— Terri
A quiet weekend getaway slowly goes wrong as two families are brought together in the most unsettling of circumstances. This taut, masterfully written novel examines not only race and class, but how we react in times of uncertainty. I was left thinking about fear and expectations and trust long after I put the book down. Sure to be one of the most talked about novels of the season.
— Kelly
Throughout his career, Jerry Seinfeld wrote his jokes on paper and kept them in an accordion file folder. This book is a compilation of those jokes, with each chapter representing a decade. It’s pretty basic, very funny, and exactly why I’d call Jerry the king of observational comedy. Whether you watched “Seinfeld” the first time around or grew up on the reruns, you will hear Jerry’s voice and inflection as you read and you will laugh, often out loud!
— Laura B.
This coming of age story drew me in quickly and deeply. Set during the struggles of workers, union organizers, and business owners in early 20th century Spokane, WA, it dives into the nearly impossible choices have-nots are faced with during a time that will become a historical era, just as relevant in tumultuous 2020. Highly recommended for readers of Egan’s Manhattan Beach, Wallace Stegner, and Walter’s other highly acclaimed titles, including Beautiful Ruins.
— Laura
Wilkerson so easily, it seems, puts into words what most of us cannot see, but live every day. She leads us gently into opening our eyes to the destructive reliance of a caste system that for centuries has been leading us to repeat age-old conflicts, even still, in today’s America. Not just in what we do, but in how we think, and how our ingrained reactions to the people around us effect our society and hold us back from what would be our best humanity. This should be required reading for everyone on the planet.
— Terri
If you could do one thing differently and change your whole life, would you? Pasts and futures all collect in the Midnight Library, but there is only one way to get there – by almost dying. A thoughtful tale of what might have been versus what can be that will keep you riveted to the very end.
— Terri
Open your mind and look into a maze…or a labyrinth. Hauntingly beautiful, this otherworldly story follows Piranesi, who much like his namesake the artist Giovanni Piranesi, lives in an infinite labyrinth, accompanied only by the birds, the tides, and The Other. Only when the outside breaks through into his carefully constructed world does he start to question what is real and what is not. A contemplative mystery unfolds in this mind-bending tale of greed and consequences, and the strength of the human mind to survive at any cost.
— Terri
The author of These Truths has written a new page-turner about Simulmatics Corp.,the first company to incorporate computers, behavioral science and politics. From predicting elections to predicting where the next protest movement would be, this is a revealing account of how we became the data-obsessed country we are today. If Then is the new must read!
— Barb
Yaa Gyasi is one of my favorite authors, and this is only her second book! I love how we get to connect to these characters - from memories to current day living. Gifty, the main character, is smart, emotional, and inquisitive about their family life. Dealing with her brother’s death, and her mother’s depression, she turns to science to figure it all out. Brilliant book!!
— Lori
Definitely don’t pass by this one! Imagine not only an arranged marriage, but one where you don’t even meet you husband until months after, and you still don’t live in his house! What!?! A new twist on the “rags to riches and who needs a Prince,” you will come to love our hero, Afi, as she navigates between what is expected of her and what she really wants from her life.
— Terri
Set in a near future – one that we are surely headed for environmentally – Franny has been lost for a long time. Her one last hope at finding her place is by following what will be the last migration of the few Arctic Terns left in the world. A race against time, her past, and soon the feds, this soul-searching breathtaking treatise on what drives us is a one day read that you will not soon forget.
— Terri
In typical Nicholas Sparks fashion, this romance novel is set in North Carolina. Trevor Benson is a former Navy surgeon who was wounded in Afghanistan and is dealing with PTSD. He returns to the home of his beloved grandfather, who has passed away and left everything to Trevor, to figure out what comes next. The reader is treated to rich description, quirky characters, laughter, heartbreak, and even a lesson in beekeeping! Enjoy!
— Laura B.
Rebecca Farwell leads a double life. As Becky, she is Treasurer and Comptroller of her small Illinois town - sensible, dependable, and still living on the farm where she grew up. As Reba, she is a glamorous, cutthroat art collector who wears couture as she makes deals worth millions. What no one suspects is that she is also a talented con artist. How she manages to combine her two lives will keep you turning the pages of this clever novel.
— Marilyn
Emma Cline doesn't disappoint with this deft follow-up to her 2016 debut, The Girls. Each story incisively reflects the gender politics of our times as Cline hits us with portrait after fascinating portrait of fractured men and the women in their orbit. My favorite entry in this collection was "The Nanny," in which Cline turns her keen narrative gaze on a girl unexpectedly propelled to notoriety in the wake of a celebrity cheating scandal.
— Abigail
My favorite science writer has delivered another gem. Without pandering or over simplifying, Wilson takes complex biology and makes it concrete, humorous, and wildly fascinating. A top book of the year for anyone interested in science or nature.
— Andrew
Daisy Johnson's Sisters is an impeccably crafted portrait of two girls with dangerously intertwined identities. Johnson is the youngest writer to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and this follow-up to Everything Under shows yet again that the honor was well-earned. Sisters is eerie, suspenseful, and beautifully haunting—great for readers drawn to complex female friendships and fraught family dynamics. I finished it in twenty-four hours.
— Abigail
When the 10 employees and shareholders of hip, successful, London-based music app Snoop arrive at an exclusive ski chalet in the French Alps for a corporate retreat, the tension is building and the back-stabbing has already begun. When a deadly avalanche hits, the group is trapped without power and with an unknown killer who is eliminating them...one by one. Ruth Ware has written another thriller, this one set in a gorgeous location, that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
— Marilyn
There's a reason Interior Chinatown was nominated for this year's National Book Award—I can definitively say I've never read anything like it (and I read a lot of books). This innovative novel takes the form of a screenplay and cleverly subverts familiar film and TV tropes while introducing us to characters who linger long after the final page. Delightfully inventive and heartwarming from start to finish, Interior Chinatown is a perfect match for any movie buff. I can't wait to see what Charles Yu writes next.
— Abigail
Troubled Blood is a well done, complex mystery that will keep you guessing to the end! I love Galbraith‘s (aka J.K. Rowling) style of storytelling. It is a big book that will keep you reading long after you should have turned out the light and gone to bed. Loved it.
— Gail
This is the book that broke my Covid-induced reading slump. From Booker Prize-winning author Graham Swift comes a beautifully written, engaging, and concise novel. Elements of magic, mystery, and memory permeate this story of three young performers at a Brighton music hall, poised between the heyday and the demise of this style of entertainment.
— Laura
Fans of “The Crown” will be mesmerized by this ‘tell all’ memoir of the author’s life as confidant and friend to Princess Margaret. Glenconner’s narrative of gossip, enormous wealth, heartbreak, illness, and familial tragedy are staggering. The old world rules of class and royalty will have you questioning those long-standing traditions. Anne, the lady in waiting, displays resilience and humor throughout.
— Barb
In this novel about Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, who died at age 11, the beautifully written words of O’Farrell convey the profound impact the death of a child has throughout a family. Her characters are real and alive. My mind fell into the 16th-century, absorbing details of daily life and complexity of family interaction. Beautifully written and a very satisfying read.
— Gail
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Animal Philosophy Bundle
Find your inner zen with advice from your favorite cuddly critters What could be better than looking at the world through the eyes of any of...
Pop Culture Bundle
Make your besties the best at trivia night with this rad bundle! Pop culture lovers will adore this pocket-sized set to explore new aspects of their...
Cheese Lover Bundle
Who doesn't love cheese? Seriously? Who? This new and quirky guide to everything cheese pairs beautifully with this playful (but precise!) cheese...Featured Merch
Springbok Puzzles Cozy Cabin Life 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Put your puzzling skills to the test with this 500 piece jigsaw puzzle. Springbok puzzles are made with sustainably sourced materials: organic soy-...
Springbok Puzzles Dolce Vita 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Put your puzzling skills to the test with this 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Springbok puzzles are made with sustainably sourced materials: organic soy-...
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