Book recommendations from local book store workers

Calling all bibliophiles. Thursday, March 6 is World Book Day, an effort to encourage more children and families to find the fun and enjoyment in reading.

In its honor, we asked some of our local bookseller friends for some recommendations for our readers. Pro tip: All of these books can be purchased at the shops during your next visit.

Recs from Rêve Coffee and Books

“In Those Fading Stars” + “Try Not to Die: In the Shadowlands” by Andrew Najberg

• “Any of the works by this local author, but specifically his short story collection + his choose-your-own-ending story.” — Aniston Williams

For the kiddos:

• “The Monster Assistance Society” by Rory Suter
• “To Dance” by Stephen McClellan
• “Elina Ballerina” by Haley Williams
• “Shu Shu’s Bright New Day” by Mark J. Anderson

“We have so, so many amazing works in store but these are definitely some customer favorites we’d highly recommend.” — owner Aniston Williams + barista Amber

Recs from Winder Binder

“Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery” by Brom

• “I recommend Slewfoot because the writing and imagery are wonderfully atmospheric and draw you in immediately. Slewfoot is a tale that explores the raw power of feminine fury and defiance. This book is empowering and explores the strength and transformation of women in the face of oppressive forces.” — Gina

“Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” by Grady Hendrix

• “I recommend Witchcraft for Wayward Girls because it is full of raw emotion. Grady Hendrix clearly doesn’t just hear, but listens. Magnificent horror & fantasy mixed with real-life events.” – Ania

“Such Sharp Teeth” by Rachel Harrison

• “I recommend Such Sharp Teeth because it is a great dark paranormal comedy portrayal of women’s trauma, rage, and vulnerability.” — Nicole

“Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney

• “I recommend Beautiful Ugly because it’s a thrilling, atmospheric mystery about a writer on an island where everything is not as it seems. Alice Feeney is the queen of twists!” — Rebecca

“Stag Dance” by Torrey Peters (release date: Tuesday, March 11)

• “I recommend Stag Dance because for me, these stories are a wonderful and sometimes terrifying window into how someone on the margins of our society sees life, with all of its bloody baggage, and all its possibilities.” — Josh

Recs from The Book & Cover

“I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom” by Jason Pargin

• “This is a book you should go into blind. The story follows a young Lyft driver offered $200,000 to transport a mysterious black box and its owner cross-country. The journey is a zany, strange, and awfully relevant discussion of the internet and how the changing times have changed our lives. Pargin’s ability to write a goofy yet poignant odyssey has only amplified in recent years and this standalone is a perfect introduction to his weird worlds.” — Bennett
• Purchase online.

“The Book of Love” by Kelly Link

• “This story is about hunger and fear and life and love, told through a group of teenagers who have undergone a fantastical fatal event and now, temporarily brought back to life, must choose who gets to live on. Link creates her own unique world and mythology that draws you in and breaks you open. Every character feels so alive that even chapters of their mundane conversations and actions are magical. By the end of it, you will have read 600 pages and be ready for 600 more. Plus, it’s recently out in paperback!” — Bennett
• Purchase online.

“Monstrilio” by Gerardo Samano Cordova

• “This modern retelling of Frankenstein is so much more than a scary story. What I would describe as literary horror, Monstrilio moved me to tears and instantly became an all-time favorite. Magos, a grieving mother, carves out a piece of her late son’s lung and ‘feeds it,’ based on the dubious logic of an old folk tale. When the lung grows into an ever-evolving carnivorous monster, Magos and her family must determine how far they’re willing to go to protect their new ‘son.’ A bizarre meditation on grief, acceptance, love, and loyalty, this book will forever have a place in my heart.” — Lizzy
• Purchase online.

“The Rediscovery of America” by Ned Blackhawk

• “When it comes to learning about Native American history, it can be hard to know where to start. ‘The Rediscovery of America,’ a National Book Award winner, offers a comprehensive analysis of US history, one that doesn’t erase or minimize the significance of Indigenous relations. Ned Blackhawk is a leading Indigenous scholar and a professor of history and American studies at Yale. I highly suggest this book to lovers of history and those who seek to understand and connect with the experiences of modern Native Americans.” — Lizzy
• Purchase online.

“Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen

• “With breathtaking artwork pushing the confines of the classic panel format, Nguyen tells us a moving story about family, self, love, and queer identity in this gorgeous graphic novel. A young Vietnamese American boy helps his mom improve her English by reading fairy tales together, as these stories blend into the past and present of their real lives Tiến struggles to find the words in their common tongue to come out. You will be so immersed in this story you will either fly through it in a single day or spend hours on one page. ‘Magic Fish’ is truly a masterpiece.” — Jenna
• Purchase online.

“A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet” by Becky Chambers

• “This book is a safe harbor in a frightening world. Chambers introduces us to a diverse crew of aliens aboard a deep space tunneling ship where Rosemary is seeking out a new life for herself. In this world bad things and cruel people exist, conflict is present, and yet hope and love are abundant, and community is to be found. The widely varying species we meet along the journey remind us how different we all are, but more importantly what we all have in common.” — Jenna
• Purchase online.

Looking to add more to your TBR pile? Check out our list of books written by local authors.