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 Binding: A Novel by Bridget Collins (Morrow, $26.99, 9780062838094). "An absolutely gorgeous novel! Collins writes Emmett in such a way that readers will experience his confusion and frustration and then have it unknotted simultaneously as his tale unfolds. The three parts of the novel are brilliantly ordered to deliver a powerful tale that will tear your heart to pieces slowly and, in one spectacular scene, mend it completely with hope and love. Do Binders provide healing and comfort, or are they wicked magicians determined to leave you empty? What are you willing to risk for someone you love?" --Angela Shores, Adventure Bound Books, Morganton, N.C.
Hardcover: An Indies Introduce Title
Cape May: A Novel by Chip Cheek (Celadon Books, $26.99, 9781250297150). "This book is extraordinary. In a small, empty beachside town after the season ends, a couple on their ill-planned honeymoon, slowly awakening to all the ways they can disappoint each other, stumble across a Gatsby-ish household of worldly beautiful people who embrace them wholeheartedly. The days pass in a glorious gin-soaked daze; erotic tension charges every encounter. Chip writes like James Salter, with a sense of humor and a fuller appreciation and understanding of female desire. Moving, so gorgeous, and absolutely brilliant." --Mary Cotton, Newtonville Books, Newton Centre, Mass.
Paperback
The High Season: A Novel by Judy Blundell (Random House, $17, 9780525508731). "What would you do to keep your home by the sea on Long Island? Maybe rent it out for the summer in order to get some cash to pay the bills? But what if the person who rents the house this summer is out to get more than the house? Ruthie's about to find out what she's capable of when the rich and famous Adeline Clay takes over her nest. The parties, invited guests, and nasty business keep building, until, finally, Ruthie reaches the end of her patience and there's only one thing left to do. You'll be glad you decided to go along on this ride!" --Linda Bond, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, Wash.
For Ages 4 to 8
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña (Kokila, $17.99, 9780525553410). "This book is perfect for Father's Day! This beautifully illustrated celebration of all that makes father-daughter relationships so powerful also incorporates a vision of neighborhoods filled with many who do not often see their world reflected in the pages of books. This is for all those fathers who show their love in ways not typically seen in picture books, and for all those daughters who recognize and cherish those acts of love." --Linda Sherman-Nurick, Cellar Door Books, Riverside, Calif.
For Ages 9 to 12
Odd Gods by David Slavin and Daniel Weitzman, illustrated by Adam J.B. Lane (HarperCollins, $13.99, 9780062839534). "While the characters are rooted in Greek mythology, this story is very relatable for any young reader, and this is a great book for anyone who likes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The characters are classified as Gods and odds, and the illustrations are very well done and quite funny. The story is all about overcoming stereotypes and being confident in yourself, no matter how odd you may be." --Ashlee Mitchell, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, Ind.
For Teen Readers
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson (Katherine Tegen, $17.99, 9780062840325). "Jackson's third novel transports you straight into the Brooklyn of the late '90s, full of great hip-hop and rap references, dial-up internet, and the cultural reverberations of the murders of Tupac and Biggie on the black community. When their best friend is shot and killed, two teens attempt to keep his spirit alive by convincing his younger sister to let them make years of his secretly recorded rap music go viral. Jackson's characters are tangible and her atmosphere is so timely, even though it is set 20 years in the past." --Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana, Frederick, Md.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
