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The Fire Agent by David BaerwaldBorn into an aristocratic German Jewish family, Ernst Baerwald is a gifted linguist, talented musician, and fearless idealist. When he's recruited in 1900 to become a spy--his cover working for a company that would become the notorious chemical conglomerate IG Farben--his life becomes an extraordinary adventure spanning two continents, two world wars, and impossible choices that will haunt him forever. From Frankfurt to Milan to Tokyo, Ernst moves through a world of intrigue and passion. He battles Japan's Yakuza while entertaining its royalty and hosts Europe's most brilliant performers. He falls deeply in love . . . with two women. He witnesses the rise of fascism in both Japan and Germany. And when the forces of fascism in Japan meet the horrors of Hitler's Germany, this German Jew faces an impossible choice: destroy the country he loves most or become complicit in unimaginable evil. Read-alike: Hannah's War by Jan Eliasberg.
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Edmoniaby Brianne BakerAt the age of 8, orphaned, precocious Wildfire seems fated to a life of toil. But her older half-brother, Samuel, has been making other plans for his gifted sibling. Soon, she is set on a new trajectory--and with it comes her birth name, Edmonia, and a revelation about her true origins. Privately nurturing artistic ambitions, she advances through the abolitionist's prep school and lands at Oberlin College. But at Oberlin lies a devastating trap: Edmonia is accused of poisoning, nearly fatally, two friends, with tainted wine. What ensues is a headline-making trial, a vicious attack by a white mob--and a bold journey that will lead Edmonia to a vibrant community of celebrated expatriate women artists in Rome. She must decide whether to abandon her romantic entanglements, or devote herself to her visions of beauty and justice--and hopefully, forge her place in a rapidly changing world. For fans of The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
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| Men Like Ours by Bindu BansinathThe Sharma family's friend Matthew Pillai charms everyone in their Indian American neighborhood in New Jersey, so his odd death sets tongues wagging. At the center of the story is newly widowed Anita Sharma, who immigrated as part of an unhappy arranged marriage, and her teen daughter Leila, whom Matthew spent a lot of time with. Try these next: Shobha Rao's Indian Country; Vibhuti Jain's Our Best Intentions. |
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by L. C. Chu For centuries, the Hua women have held sway over the courts of emperors and billionaires with their magical perfumes able to stir hearts and ensure fortunes. And in every fifth generation, an eldest daughter is born with the rarest gift of all: the ability to summon true love. As a long-awaited fifth daughter, Lucy was supposed to be the miracle her exacting mother had been waiting for. But when her magic failed, Lucy fled Vancouver, her legacy, and the expectations that had nearly broken her. Now, years later, she runs a tiny perfume shop tucked away in Toronto's Kensington Market--crafting beautiful, perfectly ordinary scents and keeping her extraordinary past firmly behind her. That is, until a death in the family brings her home... For fans of The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher.
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| Bumblebee Season by Eileen GarvinJake, who's paralyzed below his waist, can't gather all the honey from his dozens of hives alone. With locals uninterested, he takes on Flaco, an undocumented teen fleeing violence. In Oregon studying bumblebees, neurodivergent doctoral student Abigail and her research team members also agree to help with the harvest. Then, after a local politician causes trouble, they all band together in this sweet tale. Read-alike: The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals by Becky Mandelbaum. |
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1900: 28-year-old Anna Bradley spends summer days supervising three little girls, including her niece, Julia Demarest, on an island off the coast of Haven Point, Maine. There, the girls run free, pretending to be all the things society says they cannot: pirates and rum runners, treasure hunters and Roughriders. Inspired by the summer antics of Julia and her friends, Anna writes "Liberty Island"—a depiction of girls unshackled from the domestic sphere—under a pen name. Young readers are rhapsodic, and it is a runaway bestseller. 1922: 29-year-old Julia Demarest was once proud of her aunt’s "Liberty Island" books. But as new, bohemian ideas take hold amongst her peers, she has come to see them as quaint, at best. When Elizabeth urgently calls her back to Haven Point, Julia is confronted by all the things she's been trying to escape, and forced to reconsider what truly brings her happiness. Try this next: The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan. |
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The Original by Priya ParmarWhen young Katharine Hepburn loses her beloved brother, she makes two decisions: she will become famous, and she will never let anyone hurt her again. Leaving home at twenty-one to pursue an acting career Kate is lured to Hollywood, accompanied by her lover, Laura. Los Angeles in the early 1930s is a town full of secrets and Kate has plenty to hide. Soon she is scooped into the studio system and launched as a star--but stars must play by the rules and Kate, brilliant, bisexual, and strong-willed, refuses to conform. As her career ascends, she faces an agonizing choice: be the star everyone wants her to be, or risk everything to become the woman she always was. Read-alikes: The Girl in White Gloves : a Novel of Grace Kelly by Kerri Maher ; Strangers in the Night : a Novel of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner by Heather Webb.
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| Livonia Chow Mein by Abigail Savitch-LewCovering Brooklyn's Brownsville area, 23-year-old reporter Sadie Chin connects with community organizer Lina Rodriguez Armstrong. Back in 1978, Lina ran a small school in her apartment, but an arsonist burned down her tenement and another. Locals blame Mr. Wong, owner of a restaurant in one of the buildings, leading Sadie to investigate the 40-year-old fire. Covering four generations of Wongs, this compelling debut novel looks at race and gentrification. For fans of: Richard Price's Lazarus Man. |
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| Mercy Hill by Hannah ThurmanThe four Cross sisters, aged ten to 13, grow up in a cottage on the sprawling grounds of a North Carolina state mental hospital run by their formidable psychiatrist mother. Their mom expects them to eventually take over, so she pushes them academically and to volunteer at the understaffed hospital. But events threaten her grand plan in this debut narrated by the youngest sister and set between 1999 and 2004. Try this next: Commitment by Mona Simpson. |
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| All Them Dogs by Djamel WhiteAfter killing a rival and hiding in England for a few years, brash young Tony Ward is back in Dublin. Working as a local crime boss’s enforcer, he's paired up with Flute Walsh, whom he knew in school, and when they develop a strong connection, their already violent lives get more dangerous. "A debut novel of rare force and control" (Kirkus Reviews), All Them Dogs is both brutal and tender. For fans of: Douglas Stuart's Young Mungo; Karl Geary's Juno Loves Legs. |
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| The Take by Kelly YangFrustrated young writer Maggie Wang finds a path forward when veteran Hollywood producer Ingrid Parker offers a surprising deal: $3 million and a mentorship to participate in ten experimental blood transfusions, which will reverse Ingrid's aging but accelerate Maggie's. This satirical first adult book from award-winning children's author Kelly Yang serves Hollywood drama while shining a spotlight on sexism, racism, and ageism. For fans of: the 2024 film The Substance; Matthew Pearl's The Award. |
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| Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent YuResidents of Beckitt, Massachusetts, a small town populated by mostly Asian Americans, all receive a cell phone alert that they should seek immediate shelter as a missile is inbound. This leads to a multitude of reactions: some people run, some try to protect others, and others share feelings they normally hide. Twenty minutes later, it's revealed to be a big mistake. Using linked stories and focusing on characters of all ages, this intriguing debut offers thought-provoking fodder for book clubs. Try this next: Skinship : Stories by Yoon Choi. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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