From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Sea Wife: A Novel by Amity Gaige (Knopf, $26.95, 9780525656494). "Wherever you go, your anxieties go with you--even (or especially) if you go live on a boat to sail the world with your spouse and small children. Nothing will ever be the same for Juliet, Michael, and their family after their harrowing year at sea, and no reader will be the same after reading this taut, brilliant novel. I can't stop thinking about it." --Mary Laura Philpott, Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn.
Take Me Apart: A Novel by Sara Sligar (MCD, $27, 9780374272616). "In this delicious psychological thriller, we learn what it means to take on the job of archiving a famous person's memories as found in papers, photos, and diaries. As Kate begins the daunting task, it does not take her long to find an uneasiness creeping into her heart and mind concerning how Miranda Brand died years before. And when she begins to wonder about Miranda's son, Theo, and his potential involvement in the death, things get very scary, indeed. This is a grand debut that will give you chills and thrills, and a chance to hone your investigative skills. Have fun!" --Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, Wash.
Paperback
The Tenth Muse: A Novel by Catherine Chung (Ecco, $16.99, 9780062574084). "Catherine Chung's female protagonist is a mathematician, and it is thrilling to have a woman scientist who is a complex character in an even more complex novel. In trying to solve a math riddle, she ends up exploring the riddle of her own childhood, which is inextricably linked to one of the darkest episodes in human history. Catherine Chung has woven a rich tapestry mixing present and past, ambition, identity, and gender issues. A beautiful book." --Francoise Brodsky, Shakespeare & Co., New York, N.Y.
For Ages 4 to 8
Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family by Nelly Buchet, illus. by Andrea Zuill (Schwartz & Wade, 9781984848994, $17.99). "This is a refreshing and innovative take on a subject that kids don't get to have agency over in real life. Buchet and Zuill use humor and accessibility as tools to allow young children to command the narrative on their own terms. Zuill's zany and unconventional perspective is a perfect match for the simplicity of Buchet's narrative. Bravo!!" --Jane Knight, Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, Vt.
For Ages 9 to 12
Aster and the Accidental Magic by Thom Pico, illus. by Karensac (Random House Graphic, $12.99, 9780593118849). "This book is perfect for fans of Hilda, with the simple design of Adventure Time and the guileless charm of Steven Universe. Aster is NOT happy to be moving into the boring old woods, but she quickly learns that there is more in this valley than meets the eye when she stumbles into the truth at the core of every local legend." --Stephanie Heinz, Print: A Bookstore, Portland, Maine
For Teen Readers
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (Balzer + Bray, $19.99, 9780062937049). "A canvassing rom-com for our time! When Jamie meets Maya at a local political event and they get roped into going door-to-door together, a friendship blooms into romance. But navigating cross-cultural relationships amid the turbulent politics of 2019 is no easy feat. This book is funny, romantic, and sweet, and it will inspire both empathy and activism in readers of all ages." --Mackenzie Van Engelenhoven, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
