Features

General blog posts

2019 Holiday Open House Photo Album

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us for our annual Holiday Open House on Sunday! It was so fun to pack the store with all of our book-loving friends! Special shout out to Pat Greer's Kitchen for the delicious food! Such a wonderful night for Brazos Bookstore!

Read more about 2019 Holiday Open House Photo Album

Cassie's 10 Books That Made Her Brain Produce One (1) Serotonin Molecule This Year

Let’s be honest: 2019 has been rough. It feels like at any given time, three seperate things are on fire and you only have one bucket of water. Our newspapers could double as horror stories. There is a horse loose in the hospital. With all this chaotic evil running rampant in our lives, it’s hard to find escape. Thankfully, books are an amazing escape. Many of them are even happy! Here are some books I read this year* that made my brain produce happy chemicals for longer than .5 seconds.

Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel Cover Image

Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel (Paperback)

By Casey McQuiston

$16.99

ISBN: 9781250316776

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: St. Martin's Griffin - May 14th, 2019

If you’ve stopped by the bookstore any time after May this year, you have heard me talk about this book. I’ve probably tried to sell it to you. This unapologetically queer escapist political rom-com is EVERYTHING I didn’t know I needed. Dive into an alternate universe where the son of the first female president of the United States, Alex, falls in love with his media rival, Henry, a.k.a. The Prince of Whales. Some of my favorite rom-com tropes are present (animal shenanigans, fake dating, enemies to lovers, a gratuitous karaoke moment) without shying away from politics. There’s a gerrymandering subplot! When I finished reading this book, I found myself crying from pure, unadulterated joy. You will not regret reading this book.

Intrigued? Check out the interview Joy and I had with author Casey McQuiston (https://www.brazosbookstore.com/casey-mcquiston-qa-joy-cassie). You’re welcome.

The Gilded Wolves: A Novel (Hardcover)

By Roshani Chokshi

$19.99

ISBN: 9781250144546

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Wednesday Books - January 15th, 2019

I read THE GILDED WOLVES way back in January, and I’m still talking about it. This heist novel with witty banter, magical mystery, decadent settings, and nerve wracking stakes is such a fantastic escape. Roshani Chokshi is an incredible writer (if you’re a middle grade fan, check out her ARU SHAH series, too) and I cannot get enough of her. Plus, I think this book series would make an amazing anime style TV series. If you’ve already read THE GILDED WOLVES, just know that the sequel, THE SILVERED SERPENTS, comes out September 2020 and I think it’s possibly better than the first.

Once & Future (Hardcover)

By Cory McCarthy, A. R. Capetta

$18.99

ISBN: 9780316449274

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Jimmy Patterson - March 26th, 2019

There have been so many King Arthur retellings in film and literature this past year. Even the new “Aquaman” movie was a King Arthur story. I wonder what could possibly be causing this trend. It’s almost like we live in a dark and unstable political climate that could be changed for the better with a nice, good ol’ fashioned societal upheaval led by someone who actually cares about humanity as a whole…

Anyway.

ONCE & FUTURE is my absolute favorite of the King Arthur retellings. Honestly, it’s everything I’ve always wanted. Featuring a funny and heartfelt cast of characters (with queer, nonbinary, and ace rep - just the tip of this inclusive iceberg), a charismatic chosen one, OUTER SPACE AND MAGIC, you won’t want to put this book down. The last book in this duology, SWORD IN THE STARS, comes out in April, and it is just as amazing. You’ll love it.

When Dimple Met Rishi (Paperback)

By Sandhya Menon

$12.99

ISBN: 9781481478694

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - May 22nd, 2018

I cannot believe that it took me until 2019 to read something by Sandhya Menon. It felt impossible to choose between one of her books for this list, because I love every single one. WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI is what started it all, though, so I have to gush about it. Very rarely do I read a straight romance and enjoy myself. My complete adoration of Dimple and Rishi speaks to how incredible Sandhya Menon is at her craft.

When Dimple’s parents pay for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers, she thinks that her mother must have finally given it a rest with the whole “find a perfect Indian husband” thing. That’s when she meets Rishi. He’s also attending the summer program, and their parents know each other. It takes very little time for them to realize they’ve been set up. Opposites clash, rom-com tropes explode, and I could not stop smiling the entire time.

Spellhacker (Hardcover)

By M. K. England

$17.99

ISBN: 9780062657701

Availability: Unlikely to Be Available

Published: HarperTeen - January 21st, 2020

This book. This book!!! It comes out in January, and I cannot wait for you to read it. I loved it so much. In our YA world of #ownvoices works and growing availability of LGBTQIA+ stories, SPELLHACKER is a must read. The female/nonbinary romance, found family, unique magic system, and heart of this novel left me completely spellbound. SPELLHACKER packs a fantastic one-two punch of comedic and emotional complexity that will grab you by page one.

Honorary shout out to MK England’s debut novel that came out this year, THE DISASTERS. It’s also excellent. Keep an eye out on our website for my interview with them closer to the SPELLHACKER release date!

I Miss You When I Blink: Essays Cover Image

I Miss You When I Blink: Essays (Hardcover)

By Mary Laura Philpott

$27.00

ISBN: 9781982102807

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Atria Books - April 2nd, 2019

I know what you’re thinking. “Cassie reads things besides Young Adult Lit??” Yes, I do, hush. There’s an essay for everyone in this collection. Philpott’s relatable voice makes the reader ask who she’s actually writing about: herself, or you? Bonus if you listen to the audiobook, available through our Libro.FM partnership (https://libro.fm/brazosbookstore), because it’s read by the author herself!

Full Disclosure (Hardcover)

By Camryn Garrett

$18.99

ISBN: 9781984829955

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - October 29th, 2019

FULL DISCLOSURE is a roller coaster of a debut that makes my thespian heart soar. When the book begins, Simone is expertly navigating life at her new high school when the unthinkable happens - someone threatens to tell the whole school she is HIV+. This coming-of-age story features LGBTQ+ representation, the stress that comes with navigating new friendships and budding romance, and enough musical theater to get Rent stuck in your head for days to come.

Check out my interview with author Camryn Garrett! https://www.brazosbookstore.com/articles/kids-article/cassie-interviews-camryn-garrett-author-full-disclosure

Frankly in Love (Hardcover)

By David Yoon

$18.99

ISBN: 9781984812209

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers - September 10th, 2019

It took me until 2019 to discover my love for sprayed edges on books, and I will never go back! The book itself is also incredible, which is just the cherry on top. One of my absolute favorite tropes is faking dating, and this book delivers. It’s also one of those novels that makes you rock yourself and cry, makes you laugh until your stomach hurts, makes you smile until your face aches. David Yoon uses this debut to ask questions about identity, first love, cultural and generational gaps, and more. It’s perfect.

Oh, and Bryan Washington loved this book, too. Do I need to say more?

Loki: Where Mischief Lies (Hardcover)

By Mackenzi Lee, Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

$17.99

ISBN: 9781368022262

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Marvel Press - September 3rd, 2019

The story is set between Asgard and gritty 19th century London with a cast of characters both familiar and new. Follow our genderfluid God of Mischief as he learns the true potential of his powers, battling between who he wants to be and who fate says he must become.

Mackenzi Lee is one of my favorite writers, and I was lucky enough to interview her about LOKI and her other 2019 projects. Check it out! https://www.brazosbookstore.com/articles/features/cassie-interviews-mackenzi-lee-author-loki

The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick Cover Image

The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick (Hardcover)

By Mallory O'Meara

$26.99

ISBN: 9781335937803

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Hanover Square Press - March 5th, 2019

The last book on my list is an odd pick. It did the fun thing to my brain where it made me ANGRY, and then that anger turned into something more productive, which then led to joy. Mallory O’Meara was a teenager when she discovered that her favorite movie monster was created by a woman, NOT a man. After spending years wondering about Milicent Patrick’s story, O’Meara decided to find out for herself. This book is part biography, part narrative about the research process, and fully a manifesto on sexism in the film industry. This book will reignite the fire inside to use your voice and speak out. Everyone has a story, and they won’t be silenced.

Read more about Cassie's 10 Books That Made Her Brain Produce One (1) Serotonin Molecule This Year

Lyric's Top Ten Books by Bayou City Writers, 2019

Houston's Literary Year

I've heard people ask, "Why hasn't Houston produced any writers?” I’m always baffled by the idea that H-town isn’t as literary as other cities. So, in answer to the absurd question, I give you A List Of Ten Books (Plus One Honorary Mention) that Bayou City writers have released in 2019.

Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion Cover Image

Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion (Hardcover)

By Jia Tolentino

$27.00

ISBN: 9780525510543

Availability: UNAVAILABLE

Published: Random House - August 6th, 2019

Jia Tolentino probes the depths of American experience with this observant collection of essays.

Lot: Stories (Hardcover)

By Bryan Washington

$25.00

ISBN: 9780525533672

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Riverhead Books - March 19th, 2019

Bryan Washington’s short stories are a love letter to Houston’s widespread neighborhoods and its vital diversity.

This Is My Body: A Memoir of Religious and Romantic Obsession Cover Image

This Is My Body: A Memoir of Religious and Romantic Obsession (Paperback)

By Cameron Dezen Hammon

$17.95

ISBN: 9781940596327

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Lookout Books - October 22nd, 2019

Cameron Dezen Hammon is a New Yorker who has made Houston her home, and this year debuted a moving memoir about spirituality, feminism, failure and acceptance.

Heaven, My Home (A Highway 59 Novel #2) Cover Image

Heaven, My Home (A Highway 59 Novel #2) (Hardcover)

By Attica Locke

$27.00

ISBN: 9780316363402

Availability: UNAVAILABLE

Published: Mulholland Books - September 17th, 2019

Attica Locke’s new novel, #2 in her Highway 59 series, is set in a vivid East Texas landscape, and populated by strong characters.

In an Invisible Glass Case Which Is Also a Frame (Stahlecker Selections) Cover Image

In an Invisible Glass Case Which Is Also a Frame (Stahlecker Selections) (Paperback)

By Julia Guez

$15.95

ISBN: 9781945588372

Availability: Unlikely to Be Available

Published: Four Way Books - September 3rd, 2019

The poems in Guez’s collection are quiet, thoughtful, and open to misery and the joy of the world.

The Lampblack Blue of Memory: My Mother Echoes Cover Image

The Lampblack Blue of Memory: My Mother Echoes (Hardcover)

By Sarah Abigail Adleman

$25.00

ISBN: 9781948800235

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Tolsun Books - June 18th, 2019

Adleman’s poetic memoir is more than a memoir, it is a meditation on time, forgiveness, mourning, and remembrance.

Levee (Paperback)

By Paul Otremba

$15.95

ISBN: 9781945588419

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Four Way Books - September 3rd, 2019

The late poet Paul Otremba left us with one more beautiful, thoughtful collection of poems that reflect on Houston’s floods, the city’s practices of oil extraction, and suburb expansion, as well as the nature of time, vulnerability, and change.

Scorpionic Sun (Paperback)

By Mohammed Khair-Eddine, Conor Bracken (Translator)

$16.00

ISBN: 9781880834381

Availability: Unlikely to Be Available

Published: Cleveland State University Poetry Center - September 10th, 2019

Conor Bracken, a former resident of Houston and a UH alumnus, has produced a rigorous translation of Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine’s poetry born of the colonial conflict of French North Africa, bringing this important collection of language as political resistance to English readers.

Houston Noir (Akashic Noir) (Paperback)

By Gwendolyn Zepeda (Editor), Tom Abrahams (Contribution by), Robert Boswell (Contribution by)

$15.95

ISBN: 9781617757068

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Akashic Books - May 7th, 2019

This collection of mystery, murder, and thriller short stories, edited by Houston’s first poet laureate Gwendolyn Zepeda, features the work of a variety of authors, many of whom are Houstonians, including Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton and Reyes Ramirez.

Reinhardt's Garden (Paperback)

By Mark Haber

$16.95

ISBN: 9781566895620

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Coffee House Press - October 1st, 2019

Called “an innovative piece of fiction” by the Houston Chronicle, REINHARDT’S GARDEN-- irreverent, absurd, and funny-- was penned by Brazos Bookstore’s own Mark Haber.

King of the Mississippi: A Novel Cover Image

King of the Mississippi: A Novel (Hardcover)

By Mike Freedman

$26.00

ISBN: 9780525573784

Availability: UNAVAILABLE

Published: Hogarth - July 9th, 2019

Mike Freedman’s debut novel has the name of another Southern state in the title, but the story is firmly set in Texas, and he is most definitely a Houston writer.

Read more about Lyric's Top Ten Books by Bayou City Writers, 2019

Laura G Judges Ten Books by Their Covers

Of all the lessons my mother continues to try to teach her twenty-something daughter, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is usually highest on the list. This is mostly in regards to dating (and by mostly I mean entirely), but it’s applicable to many other parts of my life, namely, my job.

As the book buyer for kids and teens, I physically cannot read every book on the shelf. So it is with a small amount of shame that I admit I do judge books by their covers in my decision making process for what to bring into the store and what to leave out.

Wilder Girls (Hardcover)

By Rory Power

$18.99

ISBN: 9780525645580

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Delacorte Press - July 9th, 2019

We begin with one of my favorite covers (and books) of the year. WILDER GIRLS a raw, speculative debut filled with stunning prose and a brutally fierce story. It absolutely devoured me, which is why I was so thrilled when the cover design was revealed.

As a principle, I dislike books that have faces on the cover. I’m not quite sure why this is, perhaps I’m a bit of a snob (it just seems like a lazy choice for many YA titles). But this face. This cover. The artwork is done by one of my favorite digital artists, Aykut Aydoğdu. It’s eerie, and enigmatic, and incorporates small nods to the plot. Basically, it does everything a cover should do: draws in the reader and makes them pick up the book.

Dig (Hardcover)

By A.S. King

$17.99

ISBN: 9781101994917

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Dutton Books for Young Readers - March 26th, 2019

A.S. King is a fairly divisive author. You either love her ground-breaking stories or find her just a touch too avant-garde for the average palette. DIG is a powerful story about white teens coming to terms with their family’s racist history.

Now, you can’t tell all that by looking at the cover, but it sure is aesthetically pleasing. The sketched out roots give it a natural, historic feel while the bright red and blue palette add a hint of modernity. This cover is perfect for what we call “crossover titles,” or YA books that can be sold to adults who don’t care for YA. As a case and point, when I brought out the ARC for this, many of my coworkers who don’t typically enjoy YA were immediately grabbing for the book (yes, we are impolite heathens behind the scenes).

Days by Moonlight (Paperback)

By André Alexis

$17.95

ISBN: 9781552453797

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Coach House Books - April 2nd, 2019

Lyrical, existential, and above all accessible, Alexis’ latest novel is filled with enchanted pastoral scenes juxtaposed by violence and death. DAYS BY MOONLIGHT is a joy to read, perfect for lovers of Saša Stanišic’s rich provincial worlds or Claire-Louise Bennett’s poetic prose.

The cover works perfectly for this. It’s got a hazy filter, like an afternoon laying in a hot sun. I also love the mystery of the letters disappearing into the foliage. It’s just the slightest bit sinister, all accomplished by some skilled and subtle layering.

Crown of Feathers (Hardcover)

By Nicki Pau Preto

$19.99

ISBN: 9781534424623

Availability: BACKORDERED

Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - February 12th, 2019

We now come to one of the two books on this list for which I didn’t like the covers. Trust me, it breaks my heart. CROWN OF FEATHERS is a fierce and fiery tale of sisterhood and betrayal set in a world rich in magic and deception. I actually finished it in one day because I couldn’t put it down!

But the cover! It just doesn’t draw me in. Maybe this is more of my snobbery, but it looks like the cover of a mass-market fantasy novel. Don’t get me wrong, I love a well-worn paperback fantasy (and have many on my shelves at home), but there’s a time and place for those. It gives the book a dated, nostalgic feel, and this is a fresh story in need of a sleek, epic cover.

The art itself is beautiful, and the color scheme is bright and eye-catching, but I wouldn’t personally use it as a cover. Our customers generally aren’t looking for the type of book this cover evokes, so it takes a lot of leg work to convince someone how incredible this book truly is. I hope you give it a chance, though! (You can always take the dust jacket off when you read it).

Wicked Saints: A Novel (Something Dark and Holy #1) Cover Image

Wicked Saints: A Novel (Something Dark and Holy #1) (Hardcover)

By Emily A. Duncan

$18.99

ISBN: 9781250195661

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Wednesday Books - April 2nd, 2019

WICKED SAINTS is lush and darkly romantic, filled with blood and bones. Perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Leigh Bardugo, Duncan's thrilling debut explores the ecstasy and heart-breaking tragedy of what it is to love a monster.

The cover takes this gothic feel and runs with it! I adore the blue and black toned artwork (and as a bonus, the blue is metallic! We all know how I feel about shiny things…). The splotch of red adds an understated sinister touch while aesthetically balancing the entire composition. Absolutely phenomenal!

Paper Houses (Paperback)

By Dominique Fortier, Rhonda Mullins (Translator)

$17.95

ISBN: 9781552453926

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Coach House Books - October 29th, 2019

PAPER HOUSES is a spinning coin of vulnerability, showing the fear and desire for human connection one moment and flipping to create boundaries the next. Fortier's vision of Emily Dickinson is luminous and loving and her understanding of the poet's soul shines through each page. This is a fearless exploration of self, isolation, and the painful hope and hunger for love.

The cover matches the book in both beauty and simplicity. And nothing says Emily Dickinson like pressed flowers; joyful and yet tinged with sadness. No one does simply beautiful covers like Coach House (the publisher of DAYS BY MOONLIGHT as well). This book may not grab your attention on the shelf, but once you find it, you won’t want to stop looking at it.

salt slow (Hardcover)

By Julia Armfield

$24.99

ISBN: 9781250224774

Availability: BACKORDERED

Published: Flatiron Books - October 8th, 2019

Perfect for fans of Daisy Johnson, Samantha Hunt, and Carmen Maria Machado, SALT SLOW is beautiful, poetic, and dizzying. Once again, the cover does a great job of evoking the book. The cool color scheme is calming while the warm speckles of metallic gold and trippy peacock feather pattern throws the viewer off-kilter.

There are certainly things I would change about the cover, namely the white border with the zig-zag edge. To me it’s a little too distracting from the overall effect. The white accent color is a great choice, but if there were just a half-inch less of it around the border, I would be very happy. Overall, though, this is a fantastic cover that I’d definitely pick up.

The Cold Is in Her Bones (Hardcover)

By Peternelle van Arsdale

$18.99

ISBN: 9781481488440

Availability: BACKORDERED

Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - January 22nd, 2019

This is the only other book on the list for which I didn’t like the cover. It’s got a face on it, and while it’s a bit more artistically done than a photograph, and there are fascinating details hidden in the grass, it’s still not entirely pleasing to me.

The book itself is a haunting tale of friendship and betrayal. It fearlessly explores the vicious fierceness that lives buried in all dangerous women. If you liked Madeline Miller’s CIRCE, I highly recommend this. And, to be fair, the cover has grown on me. It’s probably due to two redeeming factors; the pearlescent finish and the texture of the cover. It’s a perfect matte that feels wonderful in your hands. Next time you’re in the store, pick it up and take a look!

Serpent & Dove (Hardcover)

By Shelby Mahurin

$18.99

ISBN: 9780062878021

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: HarperTeen - September 3rd, 2019

Mahurin’s debut is brilliant - filled with dimensional characters, grey morals, and a fantastic romance! Just to show how much I love it, I put it on our holiday list!

Now, there’s something you may have gathered while reading through this list or talking to me at the store: I am a complete and total sucker for metallic accents and spot glossing, and this cover has both, along with a gloriously dark and intricate background. As much as I dislike fantasy mass-market covers on hardback books, I will always fall for a rich, detailed cover design for YA fantasy. And the final nail in my coffin? The cover is embossed, right down to the texture on the snake. I could - and have! - wasted countless minutes just tracing the scales in an infinite loop of pure tactile pleasure.

Labrador: A Novel (Paperback)

By Kathryn Davis

$16.00

ISBN: 9781555978303

Availability: Unlikely to Be Available

Published: Graywolf Press - March 5th, 2019

Texture, texture, texture. If there’s one thing I love in painting, it’s impasto, when paint layers up to show dimension and brush strokes (See? I knew that Art History degree would come in handy!). There’s something so tantalizing about the texture, and it got me in trouble at more than one art museum as a kid because, well, how could you not want to touch it?

LABRADOR is a lyrical and haunting exploration of youth and sororal relationships. Davis weaves an unforgettable tale of two sisters: Willie, the stubborn eldest, and Kitty, the enigmatic yet isolated youngest. Their relationship really comes through in the cover (Willie on the couch, Kitty behind her). It’s domestic and artistic and wonderful.

Read more about Laura G Judges Ten Books by Their Covers

Katie's Top Ten of 2019: Food, Memory, and Mess Making

Food and memory have always gone hand in hand throughout my life. Childhoods spent watching my mom cook an elaborate meal all day. Visiting grandparents in South Texas and watching them make homemade tortillas and refried beans for all the people and family popping in and out all day. I remember sitting at their table, barely seeing above the colorful plastic table cloth and watching them work together to feed and nourish me and everyone who entered their home. I even have food memories of my other grandmother who never cooked.

Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables (Vegetarian Cookbook, Vegetable Cookbook, Best Vegetarian Cookbooks) Cover Image

Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables (Vegetarian Cookbook, Vegetable Cookbook, Best Vegetarian Cookbooks) (Hardcover)

By Abra Berens, EE Berger (Photographs by), Lucy Engelman (Illustrator), Francis Lam (Foreword by)

$35.00

ISBN: 9781452169323

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Chronicle Books - April 23rd, 2019

A cookbook that honors and celebrates various vegetables and all the possibilities they present. Part one of the book focuses on building a solid pantry in order to cook anything at almost anytime with limited food in the fridge. Part two focuses on vegetables and how to cook them. Each section looks at one vegetable with a handful of variations including grilling, pan roasting, quick steamed, and more. So many possibilities! Hate broccoli because you’ve only ever had it steamed? Try oven roasted with a chili oil and some gooey melted cheese. I love this cookbook when I need ideas for side dishes, want to focus on seasonal cooking, or just want something easy for dinner. Perfect for veggie lovers and those that just haven’t been enjoying veggies the “right” way.

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over Cover Image

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over (Hardcover)

By Alison Roman

$32.50

ISBN: 9780451497017

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Clarkson Potter - October 22nd, 2019

The second cookbook from New York Times and Bon Appétit columnist Alison Roman. I never have people over besides my parents for dinner, but Alison Roman makes me want to have friends over more often. She takes the fuss and stress out of having people over. We’re not having a “dinner party” or “entertaining”, but rather spending time with friends or family and enjoying a delicious meal. It’s really Nothing Fancy…and maybe someone else will do the dishes. This would make a perfect gift for the host at your next party!

Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers: A Cookbook Cover Image

Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers: A Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Nicole Rucker

$32.00

ISBN: 9780735218017

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Avery - July 2nd, 2019

I’m just beginning to experiment with baking, and while I love a yellow cake with chocolate frosting, I don’t necessarily want to bake that. I love baking with fruit! I love how seasonal and simple fruit dessert dishes can be. DAPPLED is a favorite and offers a huge variety of fruits used in classic desserts and some imaginative modern takes on old favorites. This cookbook is perfect for the apprehensive baker and farmers’ market regular in your life.

Breakfast: The Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Emily Elyse Miller, Reem Kassis (Contributions by)

$49.95

ISBN: 9780714878041

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Phaidon Press - May 29th, 2019

Breakfast is by far the greatest meal of the day. Want a giant fluffy omelette oozing with cheese? Make it! Want a slice of cake for breakfast? Treat yo’ self! I grew up eating breakfast at all hours of the day, often times for dinner. This is the ultimate cookbook on breakfast, but not just the traditional American Breakfast. No, this book takes you on a tour of the entire world, Mexican Chilaquiles, Carrot Cake from Singapore, and a Middle Eastern Omelet from Egypt. Each recipe is accessible and offers cultural context and culinary insight. This is the perfect cookbook for the brunch lover and the person in your life who never skips the most important meal of the day.

I Can Cook Vegan (Hardcover)

By Isa Chandra Moskowitz

$29.99

ISBN: 9781419732416

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Abrams - October 29th, 2019

Vegan food and cooking is not just for Vegans. Anyone can enjoy a delicious Vegan meal, and, yes, still have delicious cheese. I CAN COOK VEGAN thinks about the home cook with easy to follow directions. Each chapter acts as a building block to slowly build your confidence with Vegan cooking. This book is perfect for both the Vegancurious and the serious Vegan in your life.

Tex-Mex Cookbook: Traditions, Innovations, and Comfort Foods from Both Sides of the Border Cover Image

Tex-Mex Cookbook: Traditions, Innovations, and Comfort Foods from Both Sides of the Border (Hardcover)

By Ford Fry, Jessica Dupuy

$29.99

ISBN: 9780525573869

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Clarkson Potter - April 23rd, 2019

Tex-Mex food and flavors go way beyond your typical nachos and queso— it's complex and full of history. True to its name, Tex-Mex is influenced by Spanish Mexican cuisine colliding with Texas ranchers’ cooking, the ultimate collaboration of flavors both traditional and new. Fry has created an incredibly exciting cookbook with vibrant dishes and images that jump off the page. Each recipe is easy to follow and each ingredient is celebrated. This is the perfect book for that one friend who loves a bowl of queso and a margarita.

Tu Casa Mi Casa: Mexican Recipes for the Home Cook Cover Image

Tu Casa Mi Casa: Mexican Recipes for the Home Cook (Paperback)

By Enrique Olvera, Peter Meehan (Contributions by), Daniela Soto-Innes (Contributions by)

$39.95

ISBN: 9780714878058

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Phaidon Press - March 27th, 2019

Traditional Mexican cooking from an exceptional and exciting chef revolutionizing Mexican cooking, in TU CASA MI CASA, Olvera wants the home cook to experience all that Mexican cuisine has to offer. Through easy to follow step by step photo directions, anyone can master the basics of Mexican cooking like tamales and tortillas. I love this book for anyone and everyone!

The Great British Baking Show: The Big Book of Amazing Cakes Cover Image

The Great British Baking Show: The Big Book of Amazing Cakes (Hardcover)

By The Baking Show Team, Paul Hollywood (Foreword by), Prue Leith (Foreword by)

$27.99

ISBN: 9780593138397

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Clarkson Potter - October 29th, 2019

I love cake and I absolutely love The Great British Baking Show, so this cookbook is a dream come true, and one I’m definitely adding to my collection. This book is full of amazing “Showstopper” cakes and new recipes from past contestants. The photographs of these cakes are enough to make you run to the kitchen put on your apron, turn on the oven, and BAKE!

Read more about Katie's Top Ten of 2019: Food, Memory, and Mess Making

Traci's Top Ten of 2019: Cover Re-Design!

In September of this year I started a project on instagram called OLD BOOKS NEW LOOKS where I create new book covers for older publications. Covers of covers, if you will! It's been a lot of fun to re-cover a bunch of old favorites. But seeing as the year's coming to a close and I am literally assigned by Brazos to create a 2019 retrospective top ten list, I decided I'd mash the assignments together and create a limited edition series: NEW BOOKS NEW LOOKS! So here they are-- my favorite books of 2019 and the new cover art I created for each title.

Seven Samurai Swept Away in a River Cover Image

Seven Samurai Swept Away in a River (Paperback)

By Jung Young Moon, Yewon Jung (Translator)

$14.95

ISBN: 9781941920855

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Deep Vellum Publishing - December 10th, 2019

The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner) Cover Image

The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner) (Hardcover)

By Sarah M. Broom

$26.00

ISBN: 9780802125088

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Grove Press - August 13th, 2019

Tears of the Trufflepig: A Novel Cover Image

Tears of the Trufflepig: A Novel (Paperback)

By Fernando A. Flores

$16.00

ISBN: 9780374538330

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: MCD x FSG Originals - May 14th, 2019

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel Cover Image

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel (Hardcover)

By Ocean Vuong

$26.00

ISBN: 9780525562023

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Penguin Press - June 4th, 2019

Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through Cover Image

Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through (Paperback)

By T. Fleischmann

$16.95

ISBN: 9781566895477

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Coffee House Press - June 4th, 2019

The Future of Another Timeline Cover Image

The Future of Another Timeline (Hardcover)

By Annalee Newitz

$26.99

ISBN: 9780765392107

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Tor Books - September 24th, 2019

The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions Cover Image

The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions (Paperback)

By Larry Mitchell, Ned Asta (Illustrator)

$16.95

ISBN: 9781643620060

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Nightboat Books - July 2nd, 2019

Honey, I Killed the Cats (Paperback)

By Dorota Maslowska, Benjamin Paloff (Translator)

$15.95

ISBN: 9781941920824

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Deep Vellum Publishing - October 15th, 2019

Gender and Our Brains: How New Neuroscience Explodes the Myths of the Male and Female Minds Cover Image

Gender and Our Brains: How New Neuroscience Explodes the Myths of the Male and Female Minds (Hardcover)

By Gina Rippon

$30.00

ISBN: 9781524747022

Availability: UNAVAILABLE

Published: Pantheon - August 27th, 2019

The Paper Wasp (Hardcover)

By Lauren Acampora

$26.00

ISBN: 9780802129413

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Grove Press - June 11th, 2019

Read more about Traci's Top Ten of 2019: Cover Re-Design!

The Year in Books According to Keaton!

Another year at Brazos, another year end list. When you’ve been a bookseller as long as I have, it gets hard at times to inject new life into the stale tradition of the top 10 list. I’ve tried several different variations, including a full on award show style presentation last year replete with applause gifs. This year, though, I want to stray a bit further from the typical listicle formula and try to give some insight into how I--as a bookseller--experience a reading year. In short, there are themes that present themselves throughout the book release seasons.

Lot: Stories (Hardcover)

By Bryan Washington

$25.00

ISBN: 9780525533672

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Riverhead Books - March 19th, 2019

Reinhardt's Garden (Paperback)

By Mark Haber

$16.95

ISBN: 9781566895620

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Coffee House Press - October 1st, 2019

Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest (American Music Series) Cover Image

Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest (American Music Series) (Paperback)

By Hanif Abdurraqib

$16.95

ISBN: 9781477316481

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: University of Texas Press - February 1st, 2019

A Fortune for Your Disaster (Paperback)

By Hanif Abdurraqib

$15.95

ISBN: 9781947793439

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Tin House Books - September 3rd, 2019

Song for the Unraveling of the World Cover Image

Song for the Unraveling of the World (Paperback)

By Brian Evenson

$16.95

ISBN: 9781566895484

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Coffee House Press - June 11th, 2019

Die My Love (Paperback)

By Ariana Harwicz, Carolina Orloff (Translator), Sarah Moses (Translator)

$13.95

ISBN: 9781999722784

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Charco Press - October 15th, 2019

The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays Cover Image

The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays (Paperback)

By Esmé Weijun Wang

$16.00

ISBN: 9781555978273

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Graywolf Press - February 5th, 2019

In the Dream House: A Memoir Cover Image

In the Dream House: A Memoir (Hardcover)

By Carmen Maria Machado

$26.00

ISBN: 9781644450031

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Graywolf Press - November 5th, 2019

Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race Cover Image

Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race (Hardcover)

By Thomas Chatterton Williams

$25.95

ISBN: 9780393608861

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: W. W. Norton & Company - October 15th, 2019

Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas (The Texas Bookshelf) Cover Image

Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas (The Texas Bookshelf) (Hardcover)

By Stephen Harrigan

$35.00

ISBN: 9780292759510

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: University of Texas Press - October 1st, 2019

Read more about The Year in Books According to Keaton!

Mark's Top Ten Non-Fiction Books of 2019!

Axiomatic (Paperback)

By Maria Tumarkin

$16.95

ISBN: 9781945492297

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Transit Books - September 3rd, 2019

This book is a razor-sharp, moving and urgent collection of essays; it examines social issues on both the macro and micro in a new way. The writing is incredible and Tumarkin displays a breadthless understanding of issues like justice, friendship and the collective failings of society.

Make It Scream, Make It Burn: Essays Cover Image

Make It Scream, Make It Burn: Essays (Hardcover)

By Leslie Jamison

$28.00

ISBN: 9780316259637

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Little, Brown and Company - September 24th, 2019

After hosting Leslie Jamison for a reading,and hearing her read the essay, LAYOVER STORY, I know I would have to buy and devour this book. As a thinker, Jamison is in a league all her own. Brave, self-critical and full of beautiful insights, this collection is incredible.

Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative Cover Image

Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative (Paperback)

By Jane Alison

$16.95

ISBN: 9781948226134

Availability: On Our Shelves Now

Published: Catapult - April 2nd, 2019

A book about craft, but so much more. This book illuminates the patterns found in fiction and explains the forms that have normally been found in the traditional Western novel, while exploring the patterns in more experimental books. Finding these ‘patterns’ in nature (spirals, waves, etc) Alison manages to illuminate, not only writing, but a way of looking at both storytelling and life.

Dance for Me When I Die (Latin America in Translation) Cover Image

Dance for Me When I Die (Latin America in Translation) (Paperback)

By Cristian Alarcón

$23.95

ISBN: 9781478003786

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Duke University Press - April 19th, 2019

A brutal, visceral and important book, Cristian Alarcón tells the story and legacy of seventeen year old Víctor Manuel Vital, aka Frente, who was killed by police in the slums of Buenos Aires. Part investigation, part eulogy, and a nuanced, subtle description of a culture steeped in violence and fatalism.

Motion Studies (Paperback)

By Jena Osman

$20.00

ISBN: 9781946433237

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Ugly Duckling Presse - April 1st, 2019

A book consisting of three essay-poems that begin as meditations on 19th century science and end firmly as research into the present. From chronophotography to algorithmic surveillance, from phrenology to fMRI brain scans, from Victorian specimen collections to the bleached bones of the Great Barrier Reef, each poem in this collection explores technologies of knowing each other and the world we're in.

Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through (Paperback)

By T. Fleischmann

$16.95

ISBN: 9781566895477

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Coffee House Press - June 4th, 2019

A thoughtful, original and courageous meditation on relationships, place, proximity and distance, belonging, community, gender, politics, the body and even love, and all the things that can mean, braided with digressive, descriptive passages about the work of Cuban-born American artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres. The book bends and distorts prose and still feels urgent.

Me & Other Writing (Paperback)

By Marguerite Duras

$16.00

ISBN: 9781948980029

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Dorothy a Publishing Project - October 1st, 2019

Intellectually curious, virtuoistic and voracious, these essays prove all too easily why Duras was such a magnificent writer and thinker. The essays vary on subject but the reader is never less than interested.

Socialist Realism (Emily Books) Cover Image

Socialist Realism (Emily Books) (Paperback)

By Trisha Low

$16.95

ISBN: 9781566895514

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Coffee House Press - August 13th, 2019

Moving west--from Singapore to America, from New York to California--a woman examines the myth of "finding home" even as she comes to terms with its impossibilities. Low grapples with the meaning of everything, in a memoir rich with theory and digression, but also in stark, gorgeous imagery and memorable insights. Another example of Coffee House Press’ ability to find the strongest and most singular voices.

On Lighthouses (Hardcover)

By Jazmina Barrera, Christina Macsweeney (Translator)

$19.95

ISBN: 9781949641011

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Two Lines Press - May 12th, 2020

Although not out until next year (in March) this wonderful collection of essays takes a look at lighthouses, venturing into history, literature and so much more. Each essay focuses on a specific lighthouse but veers into unchartered territory, whether it’s birds, books, relationships or vacations. A moving book written in a generous voice.

This Is My Body: A Memoir of Religious and Romantic Obsession (Paperback)

By Cameron Dezen Hammon

$17.95

ISBN: 9781940596327

Availability: NOT ON OUR SHELVES. Usually Arrives in 4-7 Business Days

Published: Lookout Books - October 22nd, 2019

With honesty and courage, Cameron Dezen Hammon confronts the personal, the spiritual, and the cultural in this stunning memoir. Written in sharp and lucid prose, Hammon explores passion, doubt, and the risks of faith. This Is My Body carries an urgency and a candor seldom seen in contemporary memoirs. In two words, Hammon's story is beautiful and brave.

Read more about Mark's Top Ten Non-Fiction Books of 2019!

The 2019 Holiday Catalog

Share the gift of reading this holiday season by shopping our 2019 Holiday Catalog! Our expert booksellers have curated a wide spanning selection of the best new titles, broken down by genre, so you can find the perfect books for all the readers in your life!

All these books are available in the store and on display now. If you see anything you love here, add it to your cart and checkout using Pay In Store and Pick Up In Store. We’ll pull your stack aside to be waiting when you arrive.

Read more about The 2019 Holiday Catalog

Staff Picks: SPOOOOKY READS

Happy Halloween from your favorite Brazos Bookstore ghouls & ghosts! Here are our staff picks for Best Spooooooky Read! Come scoop one of these chilling tales for yourself! 'Tis the season for creepy readin' !!!!