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 Romance Revival by Christina Lauren (Gallery Books, $29, 9781668017753). "Emery is given the chance to save her husband Luca's life, and their marriage, after an accident. Combining a sweet and spicy romance with a science fiction thriller, this will keep you turning the pages!" --Melissa Law, Mostly Books, Tucson, Ariz.
Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle (Tor Nightfire, $27.99, 9781250398567). "Gruesome, intelligent, and full of biting commentary about parasocial relationships with celebrities, clout and wealth chasing, social media influencing, body image and how self-absorbed we can be when we limit our world to what's on our phones." --Jennifer Tidwell, Favorites Bookstore, Batesville, Miss.
Paperback
The Emperor of Gladness: A Novel by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Books, $20, 9780593831892). "Ocean Vuong's sophomore novel is a societal epic as seen beneath a microscope. A lonely young man meets a lonely older woman, and after that? Everything. This book is a quiet marvel." --Laurel Rhame, Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, Vt.
Ages 4-8
Whale, That Was Unexpected by Casey Lyall, illus. by Kathryn Durst (Tundra Books, $18.99, 9781774883617). "What a fun, silly story! Maude and Claude aren't strangers to the random ebb and flow of the ocean. It certainly won't stop their adventure! Maude's sardonic, sassy energy made me giggle all the way to the last page. Perfect for emerging readers and people who read books to little ones." --Ashley-Nicole Smith, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Ages 8-12
Raven, Rising by Christine Hartman Derr (Heartdrum, 9780063432833, $18.99). "When Raven, a young Cherokee girl, loses her parents and moves to a new town to live with her aunt, she finds herself the target of bullies and cruel rumors. As she struggles to find her place, Raven turns to her unique gift of blending magic with baking to set things right. Hartman Derr handles difficult topics like grief with remarkable care and makes an abundance of space for hope and the joys of friendship, magic, community, and finding oneself." --Alexis Powell, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ages 13+
To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S and Barbara Perez Marquez (Joy Revolution, $24.99, 9780593809181). "Absolutely stunning! A fantasy story where dance is forbidden, yet that's all our main character wants to do. And these illustrations just floated right off the page, matching the flow of the story. I look forward to more collaborations by these artists." --Jurni Bayoc, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, Mo.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
