From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Flat Earth: A Novel by Anika Jade Levy (Catapult, $26, 9781646222810). "Levy uses her acidic wit to reduce the pure meaning out of our cultural moment. Flat Earth is the cleanest satirical snapshot of the New York downtown scene; here are people I know, places I've seen." --Conor Hultman, Book Culture, New York, N.Y.
Hardcover: An Indies Introduce Title
Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams (Tiny Reparations Books, $32, 9780593474235). "Black-Owned is a timely and essential work that feels deeply personal to me as a Black bookstore owner. A must-read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, history, or the vital role of independent bookstores in our communities." --Natalie Pipkin, Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore, Indianapolis, Ind.
Paperback
The Bridesmaid: A Novel by Cate Quinn (Sourcebooks Landmark, $17.99, 9781464245701). "I am obsessed with this story, from the high society celebrity wedding to the forensic attorney solving the crime. I love a book that keeps me glued to the page, and Cate Quinn delivers that from the first chapter." --Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Ages 4-8
The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey (Norton Young Readers, $18.99, 9781324054122). "The Old Sleigh is a tale of family, a celebration of movement, a story of changing and staying the same. Beautiful illustrations highlight a delightfully cozy tale." --Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn.
Ages 7-10
Xolo by Donna Barba Higuera, illus. by Mariana Ruiz Johnson (Levine Querido, $19.99, 9781646147021). "Xolo is a great addition to anyone's shelf. Mariana Ruiz Johnson's illustrations really bring the story to life. I love mythology AND Donna Barba Higuera, so Xolo is a double win in my book." --Kalli King, Rediscovered Books, Boise, Idaho
Ages 16-18
Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton (Bloomsbury YA, $24.99, 9781547616596). "Amber Hamilton has created a captivating dark academia romance where magic is not a gift but a deadly curse. The enemies-to-lovers relationship between Viola and Roze isn't based on misunderstanding or power struggles, but is driven by survival--a much stronger motivation than usual." --Natasha Birham, 192 Books, New York, N.Y.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
