Laura Recommends
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. This book has the quiet power of thunder in the distance; echoing, rousing, and inevitable.
Intense, evocative, and lush. Everything Under shocked me with its lyrical prose and twisting, intricate plot. Johnson explores everything from fate to gender identity in a story haunted by an unknowable monster.
This is a stunning novel with quiet, powerful prose to take your breath away. Sopinka flawlessly inhabits the rich inner world of her protagonist. Powerful in a soft way.
This novel takes place in a town that can only be described as "curmudgeonly." Its host of characters ranges in both age and species. Over the course of an evening the sleepy town descends into chaos. Full of a distinctively Eastern European brand of magical realism, this is an enchanting fireside tale.
A beautiful novel made more stunning through Pyle's precise observations of the natural world. Fans of Claire-Louise Bennett will sink into the captivating prose. Whether he's describing a Greyhound bus or the winter activities owls, Pyle will keep you entranced with his perfect imagery. Absolutely enchanting!
A postmodern fairytale, dark and enchanting in its simplicity. Set in a crumbling cultural period, this book shows a child’s perspective of an idyllic life during a tumultuous moment in history. Each vignette is an exploration of family, identity, and the loss of innocence.
This French bestseller translates beautifully into a double narrative: one voice young and disillusioned with her bourgeois world, the other old and radiant, yet masked by humble origins. A gently sardonic and bittersweet exploration of philosophy, love, and art. It will remain in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
“The circus arrives without warning,” and in a similar manner this book invites you into its world. Rarely are books such an absolute feast – for the senses and the imagination. And I envy you that you are about to read The Night Circus for the first time. Savor it!
Pond is a complete and utter escape on par with a certain other Irish writer’s masterpiece. Contemplative, rich, and an absolute delight – pure aesthetic pleasure.
Enchanting and eerie. The Changeling is a literary classic and cornerstone for writers like Daisy Johnson and Karen Russell. Highly evocative, this book is a force unbeholden to the reader, the writer, or the world.
Hauntingly beautiful with prose that echo deeper than the ocean. This book is an intimate exploration of youth, love, and the tragedies that can define our lives. A siren song that will entrance you.
This book was absolutely fantastic! A knock-out cast of diverse characters, a complex and layered world, and an ever increasing descent into chaos that left me breathless. Is it too bold to say that this series could be the next Throne of Glass? My only wish is that the second book was here already!
A dark and thrilling take on the epic Beowulf! The characters are powerful and raw, the story bloody and wrenching. Tucholke has given new life to the classic story, creating depth and unlocking meanings previously unknown.
A sly beast of a novel, this gothic tale will entrance you! Hypnotic prose, an unreliable narrator, and a spiraling story with no foreseeable end make this book truly haunting. Perfect for a crisp October night!
This gorgeous translated book cuts to the heart of what it is to occupy a female body - the fear, the joy, and the rage. Twelve stories demonstrate a vast range of emotion. At times they are uplifting and peaceful before diving back into the narrative's constantly present, violent underbelly. Haunting, visceral, and so important.
This book is powerful, fraught with an underlying tension that echoes from our modern society. Moss grapples with sexism, "race purity," and classism in her stunningly rich prose. This book brings to the forefront of the reader's mind the subtle yet constant fear minorities and oppressed peoples must deal with ever day. GHOST WALL works to answer one dark and twisted question: has modern man progressed from his primitive self?
An electric tale of friendship and betrayal, this book fearlessly explores the vicious fierceness that lives buried in all dangerous women. Milla is a beautifully human character: loyal and good, yet plagued by demons, fear, and the rash decisions of youth. Every character is so wonderfully flawed, caught up in a tragedy that seems unstoppable if only because of their nature. This is an excellent story that will leave the reader haunted long after turning the last page.
A fierce and fiery tale of sisterhood and betrayal set in a world rich in magic and deception. In this story there is no one who is wholly good or entirely evil, each person and group is haunted by history and intention. This is an intricately written debut that is sure to amaze fans of Alwyn Hamilton and Sabaa Tahir! Fascinating characters, magic, and world-building, Pau Preto is a name to watch!
THE LADY FROM THE BLACK LAGOON is the true story of lost film pioneer Milicent Patrick. Patrick was the artistic and creative genius behind one of cinema's most famous monsters. How do we not know more about this creative and trailblazing woman? Her work was claimed by a jealous male colleague and what should have been a bright career was cut tragically short. With dogged persistence and years of research, horror filmmaker Mallory O'Meara sets out to discover more about this forgotten icon. LADY reads like a detective thriller, captivating and rewarding for those who are willing to explore the sexist culture that has shaped Hollywood to this day.
WICKED SAINTS has everything I look for in a book: dark monsters, powerful magic, and a stunning atmosphere that permeates every page. This book 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.
Ambitious and extensive, UNDERLAND plunges the reader into an epic journey below the earth; from sea caves to the catacombs of Paris to fungal networks and beyond. This haunting and lyrical treatise is an exploration of humanity's expansive ties to the subterranean, not only including Macfarlane's travels and observations but those of artists, murderers, and explorers. Macfarlane seeks out the darkness of our world, weaving his findings together in a narrative of mystery, strangeness, and ultimately, brilliance.
Reading THIS WICKED TONGUE is like plunging into a glacial pool: there is a moment of shock, the thought that these feelings shouldn't be humanly possible, and then there is pure exhilaration and the knowledge that this experience will stay with you forever. Elise Levine is a raw, visceral writer and her latest stories are devastatingly gorgeous. She explores the lives of her characters not with the detached fascination of a scientist but the deep connection of someone intrinsically tied to her stories. She leads us through an exploration of identity with the precision of an expert knife-thrower.
High School senior Emoni Santiago is a single mother who dreams of becoming a professional chef, but circumstance and culture stand against her. Told in short, vignette-like chapters, WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH takes difficult, often disenfranchised issues and makes them easy to empathize with. Printz and National Book Award winner Acevedo is a powerhouse of love, compassion, and raw talent.
When Jay discovers that his Filipino cousin was murdered as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs, Jay travels to the Philippines to learn the real story. Told through lyrical prose, this coming-of-age tale shows the struggle to reconcile faith, family, and immigrant identity.
When seventeen-year-old Marisol is caught illegally crossing the US border, she is given a choice: be deported or become a grief keeper, someone who takes the grief of another into themselves. This tender tale explores the consequences of when both love and human beings are branded illegal.
CJ Katsuyama does not live up to her mother’s type A standards, but when CJ’s mother sells the family shop to the family that swindled CJ’s grandparents during the WWII Japanese Internment, CJ finally finds something to fight for. Sugiura tackles tough issues with finesse, telling a story filled with love, humor, and insight.
Elizabeth Lim's latest novel is completely enchanting! Lim reimagines the tale of Thousandfur in an epic adventure filled with beautiful, rich imagery and a stunning, breathless plot. SPIN THE DAWN reminds readers of the possibilities of stories - the ways they can be reimagined and re-spun into new and fascinating works of artistry.
Sometimes a book is just too good for words - this is one such book. WILDER GIRLS is a raw, speculative debut filled with stunning prose and a brutally fierce story. The atmosphere of Raxter is eerie, permeating every page. Powers is unflinching when looking into the hearts and minds of adolescent girls - their wants, fears, and will to survive. This is exactly the sort of story we need right now.
Davis follows in the footsteps of April Genevieve Tucholke and Tomi Adeyemi with her new, intersectional Western! When Clementine accidentally kills a man she uproots her small band of girls and begins a hunt for vengeance the country of Arketta will only give over its cold, dead body. THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS is bloody, electric, and built with grit. Davis fearlessly shines a light at America's own injustices and navigates a break neck plot with the speed and precision of a bullet.
The world of Sabor is fascinating and complex, the characters are nuanced and powerfully written. Ultimately, this is the enemies-to-allies road trip adventure you've been waiting for! Completely engrossing!
Filled with references to the occult, Eve writes like a modern Emily Brontë; gothic, eerie, and bafflingly original. THE GRACES crackles with an electric mix of characters all following a path to the inevitable conclusion. Haunting!
STRANGE HARVESTS follows the journey of several natural commodities from harvest to marketplace. It's a fascinating insight into humanity's connections with the natural world, a complex tapestry of first hand narratives, history, and science. Through the book Posnett shows us the subtle harmony of ecology and economy, posing the question: can humanity balance our desire to consume or will we inevitably destroy our harvests?
Explosive, intense, and ultimately satisfying, Raasch finishes her best series yet on a powerful high note. THESE DIVIDED SHORES delves even deeper into the complicated history, religion, and politics of Grace Loray as well as the intense and tangled relationships of its people. Lu, Vex, and Ben are drawn into the eye of the tempest as the fight for magic comes to an epic conclusion!
Alaine is now among my favorite heroines. She's whip-smart, humorous, and most powerfully, loving. Told through letters, texts, and journal entries, DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE is an intimate look into the life of a young Haitian American girl. Written by Haitian Americans, the Moulite sisters give personal insight into the life of a second-gen American girl, filling their book with empathy, hilarity, and hope.
Mahurin's debut is brilliant - filled with dimensional characters, grey morals, and a fantastic romance! SERPENT & DOVE is compulsively readable, with the kind of world building you want to immerse yourself in without coming up for air! I cannot wait for the sequel!
Perfect for fans of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE and STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, this historical adventure is packed with action, mystery, and romance. Bennett's plot is well-paced and deftly spun, coming together in a thrilling tale that won't disappoint!
THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY is a sumptuous treat reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern's work. Harrow's book explores the pain and hope of finding yourself, told through a magnificently wrought story of love and longing. This is a delicately nested tale within a tale written for loves of books, magic, and adventure!
Reinhardt's Garden is such a small book, and yet, like a tropical jungle, filled with hidden jewels. Join the narcissistic, cocaine-addict Jacov Reinhardt and his poor, hapless scribe as they search halfway across the world for Reinhardt's lost hero. Haber spins a fascinating tale with writing that gives no quarter to gristle. Ultimately this is a darkly satirical, melancholic journey into Reinhardt's very own heart of darkness.
Sepetys writes 1950's Madrid with such rich detail, one can smell the poplars on the wind. FOUNTAINS is lovely, haunting, and so important. Another masterpiece in Sepetys' oeuvre!
Ruby writes with her signature genre-mixing style to create a tale that's part ghost story, part historical, and completely compelling! Watching Frankie grow from an abandoned young girl to a fierce woman is a pleasure, and witnessing the hidden lives of Depression-era Chicagoans through the eyes of a ghost is intimate and magical.
It is impossible for the sun not to shine, the waves not to kiss the shoreline, and for Renée Ahdieh to write anything but a gorgeous, romantic novel. THE BEAUTIFUL features the vibrant world of 1872 New Orleans, a city consumed by music, decadence, and a dark underworld. Ahdieh has created a luscious world filled with beautiful characters and impossible choices. The romance is sultry and the plot is strung tight with edge-of-your-seat action!
Armfield writes with heart and teeth, weaving a collection of short stories into an eerie, unsettling oeuvre. Perfect for fans of Daisy Johnson, Samantha Hunt, and Carmen Maria Machado, salt slow is beautiful, poetic, and fierce!
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. It's Kitty who's visited by the angel Rogni, a manipulative storyteller filled with warnings of dangers to come and it's Kitty who sets the sisters' carefully choreographed duet on its head. Part ANGELS IN AMERICA and part BOY SNOW BIRD, LABRADOR is an eerie, atmospheric tale filled with desolate imagery and stunning prose - hypnotically enchanting!
Never have I read a book that so eloquently captures what my own heart cannot put into words. 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.
Award-winning historian Charles King chronicles the life and legacy of Franz Boaz, the father of cultural anthropology. GODS OF THE UPPER AIR connects the views of culture yesterday to today, contextualizing and destroying arguments for racism, especially in our politics today. This is an intellectual adventure with a very real impact on the key moral issues of our times.
Rarely is a book such an absolute feast - for the senses, for the intellect, and above all, the soul. Morgenstern dazzles in her latest novel, an intricately wrought tale populated by lovers, mystery, and sumptuous magic. The Starless Sea is an ode to book lovers everywhere, reanimating the excitement as well as the pure possibility we felt when reading books such as Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings for the first time. I am reminded of a famous C.S. Lewis quote: "One day, you'll be old enough to read fairytales again." When that day comes, The Starless Sea will be waiting for you.
Armstrong's latest work is perhaps her most powerful to date, exploring the scriptures of the Bible, Quran, and Torah. Written with the intellect of a theologian and charged with compassion, Armstrong asserts that most people read scripture to confirm their own views, then shows how to read for transformation. This is a vitally important work for believers and non-believers alike.
A gloriously epic debut, BLOOD HEIR is a lush, magical story that entrances the reader from the first sentence. Amélie Wen Zhao is a master of both prose and pacing, making me fall in love with writing all over again. Her characters are morally-complex and conflicted. Add in a slow-burn romance and I was completely intoxicated. Zhao is definitely a name to watch!
Creatures is an ocean tide, enticing the reader then begging them to give chase. Van Meter explores the depths of human pain; the sharp sting of grief and burning despair of loneliness. Inextricably tied to place, this book uncovers a darkly glittering world both above and beneath the waves. Winter Island is a fog coated land unto itself populated by humans who can't help but betray each others' love. Driven by emotion, Van Meter has written a stunning, tactile book. I half expected to taste the sea salt on the page.
Lady Hotspur is a phenomenally epic, gender-bent retelling of Shakespeare's Henry IV. Gratton once again proves her mettle as a world building writer, plunging into the complexities and possibilities of Shakespeare's work. Lady Isarna Hotspur is a beast of a character, the perfect counterpoint to Prince Hal. Overall, this is a darkly imagined tale wrought with old magic and difficult choices.
Gala is a Cuban literary star, radically combining both fantasy and realism in her English-language debut. The Black Cathedral is a haunting, twisted tale driven by a chorus of dubious narrators. Each voice adds complexity to a story growing as quickly and haphazardly as the cathedral at the center of the plot. At its heart, The Black Cathedral is a tale of race, religion, and fate. The prose are darkly comedic, painting modern Cuban life with a gritty, no holds-barred brush.
This is a wholly original, lush story inspired by Bolivian history and politics. No one is wholly evil or entirely good, and every side is haunted by a bloodstained past they'd rather forget. Ibañez weaves her tale with expert precision. Rich details add to her prose and give her story dimension and life.
SCAVENGE THE STARS is a bold, gender-bent retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. The city of Moray is gilded, with deep-rooted depravity lurking just underneath the glittering surface. Revenge, knives, and a romance built on lies make this tempest of a novel one you will never want to put down!
We, as a culture, are drowning in mother-daughter books. It is a veritable flood. And yet, every so often, a raindrop falls that's different from the rest. Saltwater is one such raindrop. Andrews is a raw, stunning voice that lays claim to the ferocious love between a mother and her child. Watching Lucy's journey into adulthood is both painful and exquisite, with echoes to life that every girl will hear. This is a lyrical coming-of-age story that begins and ends with a powerful love.
Fans of Wes Anderson rejoice! A CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS is charming, witty, and edged with danger! When Sophie interns at a grand hotel in the Swiss Alps, she doesn't expect their biggest event of the year to turn into a dastardly, daring adventure! Soon Sophie must navigate a long list of suspects and a convoluted string of clues if she wants to keep her job. Gier is a master of cozy romance as well as playful mystery. CASTLE is a book you will return to over and over again, like a well-loved sweater!