Fiction A to Z
April 2026

Recent Releases
Mass Mothering
by Sarah Bruni

Nannying for a young boy during the day, A. hits the dance floor at night, where she connects with N. Among the few possessions at his place, she finds a slim book, Field Notes, which documents the grief of the mothers of disappeared boys in his unnamed homeland. Fascinated, A. begins translating the book and even takes a trip to that country in this stylistically complex novel that's made up of both A.'s story and excerpts from Field Notes. Read-alike: Julián Fuks' Resistance.
Belgrave Road
by Manish Chauhan

Newly arrived in Leicester, England from India, Mira finds her arranged marriage and new life isn't what she'd hoped. But away from her husband and in-laws, she works at a sweet shop and meets another newcomer, Somalian refugee Tahliil. Though they are drawn to each other, many things stand in their way in this powerful debut exploring love, family, and home. For fans of: Kiran Desai's The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny; Aube Rey Lescure's River East, River West.
Python's Kiss
by Louise Erdrich

This latest from Pulitzer Prize winner Louise Erdrich collects 13 stories written over the past two decades. Taking place mainly in a vividly depicted Midwest, the tales include a range of characters, such as a young girl concerned for a dog and a group at a bar. Enhanced by woodcut artwork by Aza Erdrich Abe, the author's daughter, this thought-provoking book "puts Erdrich’s powers on full display" (Publishers Weekly).
The Secret of Snow
by Tina Harnesk

As she and her husband both have memory problems, 85-year-old Máriddja doesn't tell him she's dying from cancer, even as she tries to find someone to care for him once she's gone. Meanwhile, Kaj and his girlfriend arrive in the small village, where he unexpectedly finds a box of Sámi handicrafts among his recently deceased mother's belongings. This heartwarming debut novel is translated from Swedish. For fans of: Fredrik Backman; Lisa Ridzen's When the Cranes Fly South.
The End of Romance
by Lily Meyer

Having left her emotionally abusive husband, Sylvie Broder attends graduate school to study philosophy. She heals and ponders if straight women can only be happy once romance is eliminated as she enjoys no-strings-attached sex with a variety of men. But then she meets warm, kind Robbie and disarming, dynamic Abie, and falls for both. For fans of: spicy literary novels with philosophical musings and flawed characters.
Eating Ashes
by Brenda Navarro; translated by Megan McDowell

Our unnamed narrator grieves her younger brother and carries his ashes home to Mexico from Spain. Growing up, the siblings are raised by their grandparents while their mother cleans houses in Madrid. Eventually, their mom sends for them, but the adjustment is hard and the narrator's teenage brother dies by suicide. Exploring loss, love, and migration, this moving novel is being adapted into a film by actor Diego Luna.
Where the Wildflowers Grow
by Terah Shelton Harris

When a South Carolina prison bus crashes into a surging river, everyone is presumed dead. But Leigh Wilde survives and eventually makes her way to a rural Alabama flower farm where Jackson, the owner, takes her in. Working the land, Leigh finds strength, friends, and hope for the future, but the past is never far away. With strong romantic elements, this lyrical and moving novel explores survival, grief, and healing. Read-alike: Cade Bentley's Where Wild Peaches Grow.
The Calico Cat at the Chibineko Kitchen
by Yuta Takahashi; translated by Cat Anderson

The mysterious Chibineko Kitchen lets customers enjoy a meal with someone who's died. In this 2nd standalone novel in a bestselling Japanese series, a man wants his mom to know he's okay, a divorced couple want to see their son, a terminally ill young woman needs advice from her mother, and a septuagenarian wants to meet a specific singer. Recipes are included. For fans of: Hisashi Kashiwai's The Kamogawa Food Detectives;  Nagi Shimeno's Messenger Cat Café.
The Future Saints
by Ashley Winstead

Tight-knit California band the Future Saints are flailing and playing to empty clubs after the death of their beloved manager, who was lead singer Hannah's sister. They all feel the loss, but Hannah starts to self-destruct, even as she channels her pain into a stunning new song that goes viral. Music executive Theo is sent to get the band on track, which isn't going to be easy, especially when he falls for Hannah. For fans of: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid; Deep Cuts by Holly Brickely.
All the World Can Hold
by Jung Yun

Days after September 11, 2001, a nostalgia cruise celebrating a Love Boat-esque program sets sail for Bermuda, with now-sober actor Doug reuniting with the cast for the first time in years. Meanwhile, Manhattanites Franny and her husband disagree about taking the trip during the 9/11 tragedy, but as it’s her Korean mother's 70th birthday, they do. Also on board is MIT student Lucy, who accepted her roommate's family's free invite. For fans of: Gish Jen's World and Town.
Contact your librarian for more great books!