From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
The Lost Vintage: A Novel by Ann Mah (Morrow, $26.99, 9780062823311). "Reminiscent of Sweetbitter and The Nightingale, The Lost Vintage combines a coming-of-age romance with family and historical drama and a delicious tour of the wines and cheese of Burgundy, France. Switching between World War II and the present, Mah explores what can happen when families--and a nation--keep secrets and fail to acknowledge the tragedies of the past. Part modern mystery and part historical novel, this book will have you turning pages in anticipation of discovering secret passages, missing journals, or those lost bottles of 1939 Côte d'Or white Burgundy." --Ariel Jacobs, Solid State Books, Washington, D.C.
The Last Cruise: A Novel by Kate Christensen (Doubleday, $26.95, 9780385536288). "The vintage ocean liner Queen Isabella is taking her final voyage before retirement, joined by passengers Christine Thorne, a farmer from Maine invited onboard by her friend Valerie, a journalist who is writing a piece on the treatment of cruise employees; Mick Szabo, a Hungarian sous-chef who was supposed to be on vacation; and Miriam Koslow, an elderly Israeli violinist who is part of a string quartet hired to entertain the passengers. When things start to go wrong, we learn a great deal about these characters in how they react to a disaster. Not to give anything away, but the ending will have you booking your next vacation by airplane, train, or car." --Sharon K. Nagel, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wis.
Paperback
The City of Brass: A Novel by S.A. Chakraborty (Harper Voyager, $16.99, 9780062678119). "S.A. Chakraborty introduces a fantasy set in the Middle East that thrusts us into the magical world of Daevabad. The City of Brass follows, in parallel, Nahri, a con artist and naturally gifted healer, and Ali, prince of Daevabad and fiercely trained soldier. Nahri and Ali find themselves learning new lessons on how to survive changing environments and difficult challenges, while trying to figure out the complexities of their lives. I found myself turning page after page, following Nahri's and Ali's story while deciphering the fantastic terminology and the world that is Daevabad. The City of Brass is a wonderfully written, mystical adventure that keeps you guessing about what will happen next." --Barry Nelipowitz, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, Mich.
For Ages 4 to 8
How to Be a Lion by Ed Vere (Doubleday, $17.99, 9780525578055). "Take one poetic duck and one lovable lion and you have the makings of a perfectly charming, melt-your-heart read aloud. Leonard and Marianne are--against all odds and what others think--the best of friends in this instant classic that will stand the test of time. This book is a gentle yet empowering hug." --Kathleen Carey, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, N.Y.
For Ages 9 to 12
The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss (Margaret Ferguson Books, $16.99, 9780823440078). "A funny, heartwarming, and infinitely imaginative story about a friendless 12-year-old girl determined to ride across the country to befriend her hero, Polish bicycling champion Zbigniew Sienkiewicz. Along the way she meets ghosts, pie-makers, and crazy inventors; gets run over in a pig stampede; and accidentally launches a missile. And that's when she's not being chased by the mysterious woman in black. A fun, can't-miss summer read for everyone!" --Chris Abouzeid, Belmont Books, Belmont, Mass.
For Teen Readers
Furyborn by Claire Legrand (Sourcebooks Fire, $18.99, 9781492656623). "Furyborn is exactly the kind of ambitious, well-written YA high fantasy that I've been looking for. This novel is female-focused and driven, with girls who are strong, powerful, pissed off, damaged, unabashedly sexual, and in control. The writing is so beautiful, I found myself re-reading sentences simply for the pleasure of it. It's a story that is complex, compelling, and carefully crafted. Claire Legrand is a jewel. I can't wait for the next installment." --Cristina Russell, Books & Books, Coral Gables, Fla.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
