Our April Picks are Here!
For us, few comforts compare to that of a great new book. While we’re all adjusting to staying at home, we’ve got a few choice recommendations to help keep you entertained. Our newest Monthly Picks are here, and you won’t want to miss them. Meet a woman who defies description; decode the mind of a killer in the Italian Alps; get a lesson in spycraft and resistance from a real-life heroine–and laugh out loud at middle school antics. With books this good, you’ll want to stay in.
Our Monthly Fiction Pick
American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson
“A heart-thumping narrative that starts with a literal bang and doesn’t let up until the last page—I could not put this one down!”—Val Rivera, Bookseller, Newnan, GA
Don’t let the title fool you—American Spy is a far cry from your dad’s old spy novels. Written as a heartbreaking confessional, this razor-sharp debut digs into race, gender, and unyielding nationalism at the peak of the Cold War. A seductive interrogation of love and politics—we’ve never read anything like it!
“Spy fiction plus allegory, and a splash of pan-Africanism. What could go wrong? As it happens, very little. Clever, bracing, darkly funny, and really, really good.”—Ta-Nehisi Coates
Our Monthly Mystery & Thriller Pick
Flowers Over the Inferno, by Ilaria Tuti
“Want to be transported to a primordial Italian forest with a very gruesome underbelly? – Read This!! Perfect for fans of Tana French.”—Amanda Couch, Bookseller, Atlanta, GA
Ready for a macabre murder mystery that will chill you to your bones? A desecrated body found in a town that swirls with unsettling history and eerie folklore; a sexagenarian detective fighting against her aging mind. Dark and evocative, this series starter is sure to also enchant readers of Louise Penny and Donna Leon.
Our Monthly Nonfiction Pick
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II, by Sonia Purnell
“If this book was a work of fiction, it would be described as unbelievable! A page-turning biography of a woman who deserves far more credit than she received in her lifetime.”—Katherine Dearth, Bookseller, Columbus, OH
The Gestapo called her “the most dangerous of all Allied spies”, yet Virginia Hall’s story of heroism and spycraft has all but remained in the shadows. Her personal triumph over shocking adversity and fierce persistence is riveting and will make you truly question why she was ever left out of the history books!
Our Monthly Young Reader Pick
The Next Great Paulie Fink (B&N Exclusive Edition), by Ali Benjamin
“A humorous and heartwarming story of finding your place and making your mark. This is a great read for kids and parents; thought-provoking, but also a little silly.” —Elissa Pearce, Bookseller, Buffalo, NY
What really makes someone legendary? Depending on whom you ask, Paulie Fink was either a hilarious class clown, a relentless troublemaker, or an evil genius—but now he’s disappeared. This totally authentic and highly accessible story of the highs and lows of adolescence reminds us that finding your true self is all part of the journey.