From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Margo's Got Money Troubles: A Novel by Rufi Thorpe (Morrow, $28, 9780063356580). "Thoughtful, funny, empathetic. Margo's deep fears of not being a 'good' person resonate. Her career on OnlyFans felt original and exciting without minimizing the prejudice and violence that surround sex work. An ultimately uplifting read." --Maggie Kane, Little City Books, Hoboken, N.J.
Devil Is Fine: A Novel by John Vercher (Celadon, $28.99, 9781250894489). "I held my breath while reading Devil Is Fine; struck by the utter tangibility of everything unfolding. Vercher channels the weight of grief, racism, individual frailty, and communal failure into a novel that also elicits humor and humanity." --Stephanie Jones-Byrne, Malaprop's Bookstore/Café, Asheville, N.C.
Paperback: An Indies Introduce Title
Zan: Stories by Suzi Ehtesham-Zadeh (Dzanc Books, $17.95, 9781950539932). "Zan is a collection of stories that puts me in the heart of Iranian women's lives. Beautifully written, tragedy captured--there is much to learn from stories like these." --Matt Aragon-Shafi, West Side Books, Denver, Colo.
Ages 4 to 8
What Love Looks Like by Laura Obuobi, illus. by Anna Cunha (HarperCollins, $19.99, 9780063222434). "Just gorgeous. And magical. I love the journey that she goes on with her father. There is a little nod to Where the Wild Things Are--a safer, gentler version, but filled with imagination no less." --Jessica Devin, Brewster Book Store, Brewster, Mass.
Ages 10+
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko (Knopf Books for Young Readers, $17.99, 9781524718923). "Hank and his little sister Boo must fend for themselves when their mom doesn't come home. The circumstances are so painful but the characters are so endearing and vulnerable, the writing so clear and believable. Another winner from Choldenko." --Robin Stern, Books Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
Teen Readers: An Indies Introduce Title
Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell (Heartdrum, $19.99, 9780063318670). "This book is a powerful and thought-provoking story about the importance of community, the search for belonging, and the heart-wrenching realities of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). This book will leave you on the edge of your seat, challenging you to see through the smoke and discover the killer." --Kromeklia Bryant, Solid State Books, Washington, D.C.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
