From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Middle Spoon: A Novel by Alejandro Varela (Viking, $30, 9780593835173). "A beautiful exploration of heartbreak, polyamory, and life. Varela's inventive novel is a collection of e-mails sent to the main character's ex, therapist, and anyone who will provide relief from the pain of loss." --Reid Ransom, The Little Gay Shop, Austin, Tex.
A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews (Bloomsbury, $26.99, 9781639734740). "In this brilliant memoir, Toews explores her grief and guilt about her sister's suicide. As in her fiction, she balances profound sorrow with humor, reflecting the contradictions we all encounter as we traverse life." --Nancy Sims-West, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kan.
Paperback
Tehrangeles: A Novel by Porochista Khakpour (Vintage, $19, 9780525564706). "Porochista Khakpour's turn to fiction is no less smart and biting. Couched in this larger-than-life novel about an uber-rich Iranian American family on the brink of reality TV fame, Khakpour's satire doubles as deluxe, ridiculous, heartfelt fun." --Melinda Powers, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Ages 4-8
Seven Ways Through the Woods by Jenn Reese, illus. by Devin Elle Kurtz (Greenwillow, $19.99, 9780063356269). "Can I please, please, please live in these Woods? This story and illustrations are so lush and breathtaking; I cannot wait to share this with the world." --Rebecca Crosswhite, Rediscovered Books, Boise, Idaho
Ages 9-13: An Indies Introduce Title
Zeyna Lost and Found by Shafaq Khan (Carolrhoda, $19.99, 9798765639139). "Zeyna is an eminently relatable twelve-year-old in 1970, visiting Pakistan (and maybe some other countries, too!) who always wants a mystery to solve... and finds a real one. Shafaq's voice really comes through in such delightful ways in this super fun historical fiction mystery." --Grace Lane, Linden Tree Children's Books, Los Altos, Calif.
Ages 14+: An Indies Introduce Title
Reasons to Hate Me by Susan Metallo (Candlewick, $18.99, 9781536240351). "After months of being cyberbullied for hooking up with her best friend's boyfriend, unrepentant theater nerd Jess Lanza starts a retaliatory blog in this heartfelt, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking debut novel." --Matilda McNeely, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, Ga.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
