Sure, BookTok is one of the biggest places for people to find their next read, but a lot of people still learn about new books from newspaper reviews and magazine features. Here are four titles that your patrons have probably picked up on in the last month, along with links to the reviews and articles so you can read up on them yourself!
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen ArnettCherry Hendricks is a professional clown in Orlando, and spends most of her time trying to balance her side hustle at an aquarium store, her judgmental mother, her messy love life, and the drama-filled community of clowns and professional entertainers. When Cherry meets Margot the Magnificent, a successful, sexy lesbian magician, she thinks Margot can help her finally get her life in order. But how much is she willing to risk for this person she’s just met? Featured in: Minnesota Star Tribune, New York Times, and Washington Post |
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham JonesA Lutheran pastor’s diary dating back to 1912 is discovered behind a wall. The diary contains a series of interviews with a person named Good Stab, which tell the story of a slow massacre of Blackfeet at the hands of the US government and the vampire who sought revenge for their fate. This is an intense, bloody, and uncomfortable work of historical horror from one of the biggest authors writing today. Featured in: New York Times and NPR |
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The Dream Hotel by Laila LalamiIn this literary science fiction thriller, dreams are monitored and people are detained for crimes they have yet to commit. Sara has been kept under observation because the algorithm has determined that she is at imminent risk of harming her husband, but her release keeps getting postponed indefinitely. Then one day, a new resident is brought to the facility and Sara suddenly finds herself up against the companies that have imprisoned her for months on end. In our world of increasing censorship and surveillance, this near-future story is bound to hit close to home. Featured in: LA Times, Minnesota Star Tribune, New York Times, People, and Washington Post |
The Antidote by Karen RussellFive characters become entangled after a historic dust storm wreaks havoc on their small Nebraskan town during the Great Depression, including a scarecrow, a wheat farmer, and a photographer with a time-traveling camera. This book has been described as a mix of Colson Whitehead’s Underground Railroad and Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Featured in The Guardian, LA Times, New York Times, NPR, and Washington Post |
Want to keep tabs on the books readers are looking for right now? Keep an eye on our regular bestselling books of the week feature, as well as our Friday roundup of the most read books on Goodreads for the week.
