adventurous
Calculated series
By Nova McBee,
published by Wise Wolf Books
The young adult trilogy follows 17-year-old math prodigy Jo River, who meets a mentor named Red while kidnapped.
"Jo River: math prodigy who is on everybody's global want list. So action packed and a wild ride all the way through."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
adventurous
Great Circle
By Maggie Shipstead,
published by Vintage
Pilot Marian Graves disappeared while attempting to fly over the North and South poles. Hadley Baxter becomes Marian in a film centering on Marian’s story.
"Even though I'm afraid of small planes in real life, I was able to circumnavigate from pole to pole with early woman pilot Marian Graves and enjoy every minute of the flight."
– Yvette Olsen, bookseller at Magnolia's Bookstore
adventurous
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
By Anthony Bourdain,
published by Harper Collins Publishers
Anthony Bourdain's memoir on what he's learned over more than two decades as a chef.
"Bourdain’s irreverent and ecstatic description of food and cooking inspired me to take risks in the kitchen and in my life — and to ALWAYS cook with fresh garlic."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
adventurous
Mississippi Solo: A River Quest
By Eddy L. Harris,
published by Holt Paperbacks
Eddy L. Harris chronicles his dream: a canoe trip on the Mississippi River.
"A Black man, alone and new to canoeing, Eddy Harris set out to paddle over 2,500 miles through the troubled heart of America, down the mighty, muddy, dangerous and rebellious Mississippi. Intrepid doesn’t begin to describe his remarkable journey, a gripping and thoughtful classic."
– David Wright, librarian at The Seattle Public Library
adventurous
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts
By Kate Racculia,
published by Harper Collins Publishers
After Boston billionaire Vincent Pryce dies, Tuesday Mooney begins a hunt for Pryce's treasure.
"Part clue-filled puzzle treasure hunt across Boston, part reflection on living adult lives that don’t fit our true selves and how to redirect to a more authentic life, this is a book that made me want to go out and live more adventurously."
– Andrea Gough, adult service librarian at The Seattle Public Library
heartbroken
Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South
By Winfred Rembert ,
published by Bloomsbury Publishing
A memoir about growing up Black in Georgia, joining the civil rights movement and painting.
"This moving memoir, told in a conversational style, includes heartbreaking accounts of the author’s survival of a lynching and imprisonment. Yet it is also uplifting, describing how Rembert became a self-taught artist, eventually achieving acclaim for his vibrant paintings on leather (color plates of his artwork are included)."
– Paige Chernow, adult services librarian at the University branch of The Seattle Public Library
heartbroken
Hamnet
By Maggie O'Farrell,
published by Knopf
The fictionalized account of William Shakespeare, his wife Agnes and the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet.
"I read this book when my son was the same age as Hamnet. O'Farrell's visceral description of a mother's love, awe and melancholy has haunted me ever since."
– Lauren Ebright, bookseller at Magnolia's Bookstore
heartbroken
The Circles in the Sky
By Karl James Mountford,
published by Candlewick Studio
The story of a fox who finds a still and silent bird in the forest.
"Heartbroken in a good way, as this beautifully illustrated children's picture book shows how Fox misses his friend Bird, and Moth is there to help Fox understand the cycles of life."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
heartbroken
The Great Believers
By Rebecca Makkai,
published by Viking
In the 1980s, Yale Tishman's friends are dying from AIDS. Thirty years later, Yale's friend's little sister Fiona survives.
"This novel traces the impact of the AIDS crisis on one friend group in 1980s Chicago, and it wrecked me, in large part because the characters are so finely drawn that I felt like I knew them."
– Andrea Gough, adult service librarian at The Seattle Public Library
heartbroken
The Light of the World
By Elizabeth Alexander,
published by Grand Central
Elizabeth Alexander's love story, written after her husband's sudden death.
"Alexander’s stunning memoir about the death of her husband is a gorgeous tribute to love, loss, grief and art. Her words made me feel heartbroken, not only for her personal tragedy, but for the world’s loss of this sacred, luminous soul."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
inspired
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds
By adrienne maree brown,
published by AK Press
A self-help book about about how to cope with change.
It "offers different ways of moving in the world, deep conceptions about community, mutual aid and restorative justice. Brown's work is informed by Octavia E. Butler's work."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
inspired
Friday Black: Stories
By Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah,
published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
A collection of a dozen short stories capturing Black American lives.
"'Friday Black' by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is a fiction collection that cannot be forgotten once it is read. It tackles tough topics like violence, injustice, and painful truths about race using thoughtful and inventive literary devices. This book does exactly what speculative fiction does best, it inspires readers to think, think again, then think some more."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
inspired
House of Sticks: A Memoir
By Ly Tran,
published by Scribner
Ly Tran's memoir about her family who immigrated to Queens, New York, from Vietnam in the early 1990s.
This "memoir by a young Vietnamese woman of the hardships and prejudices they overcame when they had to leave Vietnam, and ended up in New York. Deeply satisfying and inspiring to read of their overcoming of enormous obstacles."
– Debbie Miller, bookseller at Magnolia's Bookstore
inspired
Library Girl: How Nancy Pearl Became America's Most Celebrated Librarian
By Karen Henry Clark, illustrated by Sheryl Murray,
published by Sasquatch Books
The origin story of Seattle icon Nancy Pearl, whom grade school classmates called "library girl."
"Librarian superhero, Nancy Pearl, is one of the reasons this library girl dreamed of becoming a Seattle librarian. A picture book is a lovely format for sharing her inspiring life story. And the illustrations are charming and beautifully done — so whimsical!"
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
inspired
Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World
By Marcia Bjornerud,
published by Princeton University Press
A look into how a geologist sees time in the context of Earth's history.
"Marcia Bjornerud's book is a gift to the amateur geologist, a blessing for anyone interested in the study of our 4.6 billion-year-old planet. Existential, accessible, and framed within deep time and climate change, this book changed my life and opened my days to a new preoccupation (rocks)."
– Spencer Ruchti, author events manager at Third Place Books
joy
Heartstopper
By Alice Oseman,
published by Hachette Children's Group
This queer graphic novel that has since been adapted into a Netflix series tells the love story of teens Nick and Charlie.
It "makes me feel joyful every time I pass it on the shelf. To see a book that couldn't have been written when I was a kid available to young queer people is incredibly uplifting. It's the low-angst kind of love story LGBTQ+ youth deserve and its very existence brings me so much joy."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
joy
Here For It
By R. Eric Thomas ,
published by Ballantine Books
In a collection of essays, R. Eric Thomas writes about what it means to be different.
"Had me laughing out loud within a few pages. A few more pages had me crying. Thomas’ humor is sharply self-aware, deeply human and profoundly optimistic. His writing fills me with hope. And now, more than ever, we need Black queer JOY."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
joy
Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion
By Bushra Rehman,
published by Flatiron Books
After best friends Razia Mirza and Saima break up, Razia meets new girl Taslima from her Pakistani American community.
"It is funny and sweet and introduces a compelling young queer female protagonist. There is still time for it to break my heart, especially if Razia experiences her first heartbreak, but I'm enjoying watching her grow up and seeing the world through her eyes."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
joy
The Book of Delights: Essays
By Ross Gay,
published by Algonquin Books
Ross Gay's essays capture small joys like bringing a tomato plant on a flight, a friend's use of air quotes and the silent nod shared between two people of the same race.
"Essays that explore little moments of joy even in the midst of sadness. This got me through the pandemic and many customers I know as well."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Book Club
joy
We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life
By Laura McKowen,
published by New World Library
Laura McKowen's memoir addresses the struggles of sobriety, writing “those of us who answer the invitation to wake up, whatever our invitation, are really the luckiest of all.”
"This is the book that pushed me over the line when it came to sobriety. I'm forever grateful to McKowen, for giving me a life I love and not hate. If you read one 'quit-lit' book in your life, make it this one."
– Zackery Ballinger, bookseller at Third Place Books
less-lonely
Flying Solo
By Linda Holmes,
published by Ballantine Books
Almost 40-year-old Laurie Sassalyn goes home to Calcasset, Maine, after her never-married great-aunt Dot dies at 93. There she finds a love letter and a wooden duck of no financial value, which mysteriously disappears.
"This book celebrates all kinds of love — familial, romantic, friendship — through the story of an independent woman returned to her hometown to clean out the house of her recently deceased aunt, who lived a doozy of a life. Bonus: the tone of this book is like a warm hug."
– Andrea Gough, adult service librarian at The Seattle Public Library
less-lonely
One Hundred Years of Solitude
By Gabriel García Márquez,
published by Harper Collins Publishers
The story of the Buendiá family of Macondo.
"It's a sweeping, multi-generational family saga that tackles many issues central to the human experience."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
less-lonely
Temples of Delight
By Barbara Trapido,
published by Bloomsbury Publishing
Alice Pilling meets Jem McCrail during Miss Aldridge's Silent Reading Hour. Then, Alice's friend vanishes.
It "is about friends who change the world for you, who open it up and made it sparkle. This is a book that reminds me about the power of friendship in our lives."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
less-lonely
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet
By John Green,
published by Dutton
In this collection of essays based on his podcast, John Green rates the QWERTY keyboard, sunsets, velociraptors, Googling strangers, Super Mario Kart and more on a five-star scale.
"Green’s informative, introspective collection saved me during the darkest days of the pandemic. Every essay, where he rates aspects of our “human-centered planet” on a five-star scale, puts me directly in touch with all the delight, sorrow, terror and wonder of humanity’s history."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
less-lonely
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
By Andrew Solomon,
published by Scribner
Andrew Solomon, who has depression, interviews doctors, scientists, policymakers and more about the mental illness.
"The absolute best when it comes to everything depression. Truly makes you not feel alone if you're suffering from it, and I speak from experience with that one."
– Zackery Ballinger, bookseller at Third Place Books
loved
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
By Robin Wall Kimmerer,
published by Milkweed Editions
Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer writes about what plants teach us.
It "is written with such a thoughtful, generous tone, imploring us to see ourselves in relationship with nature, and overall conveys so much love for humanity and the planet."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
loved
Fox & I: An Uncommon Friendship
By Catherine Raven,
published by Spiegel & Grau
The memoir of a National Park ranger who read "The Little Prince"and Dr. Seuss to a wild fox.
"A beautiful book that reminds me of the connection between us (those of us who are attuned anyway) and other living creatures; makes me feel loved in and a part of the great world."
– Georgiana Blomberg, owner of Magnolia's Bookstore
loved
Septology
By Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searls ,
published by Transit Books
A story about two doppelgängers in Norway sharing the same name of Asle.
"'Septology' could fill a hundred volumes, and I would read forever. Hypnotic, soothing, intellectually reverent. Damion Searls is the perfect translator for Fosse's unending sentences, that repeat and circle back on themselves with mathematical beauty. Some of the most significant literature on alcoholism, God, love and artmaking in memory."
– Spencer Ruchti, author events manager at Third Place Books
loved
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love
By Sonya Renee Taylor,
published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Sonya Renee Taylor writes about the origins of and remedy for body shame.
"A declaration of self-love for anyone who can be categorized as 'other,' be it by race, ability, size or gender. A book that celebrates the act of making room for everyone."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Book Club
loved
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice from Dear Sugar
By Cheryl Strayed,
published by Vintage
A collection of the best online advice columns from Cheryl Strayed.
"Cheryl’s blend of radical compassion and candid storytelling is a soothing balm to my soul. Here she fearlessly examines how we can become our best and most generous selves. Every time I pick it up — I encounter something I need to hear."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
nostalgic
Beating Heart Baby
By Lio Min,
published by Flatiron Books
Everyone welcomes new kid Santi to the high school marching band except musical prodigy Suwa.
"References all the pop punk hits of the early aughts and uses them to tell a beautiful story of music, dreams, and first love between two queer young men. It will transport anyone who was a performing arts-inclined scene kid right back to high school."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
nostalgic
M Train
By Patti Smith,
published by Vintage
Grammy nominee Patti Smith writes about her past, including her late husband Fred "Sonic" Smith.
"Especially in these chilly, contemplative months, I find myself returning to passages from Patti Smith’s 'M Train,' a meditation on time, memory, grief and transcendence. Her love letter to her lost coat presses my waterworks button every single time."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
nostalgic
A Sand County Almanac With Essays on Conservation from Round River
By Aldo Leopold,
published by Ballantine Books
Aldo Leopold writes about how humans have impacted land and natural resources.
"Reminds me of a time in my life that I fell in love with nature, and felt hopeful that if we all loved it enough we could make it last."
– Georgiana Blomberg, owner at Magnolia's Bookstore
nostalgic
Tell the Wolves I'm Home
By Carol Rifka Brunt ,
published by Dial Press Trade
After 14-year-old June Elbus' uncle, Finn Weiss, dies, she meets a stranger.
"Perfectly captures a young girl's coming-of-age in the 1980s through details like learning to create your own signature and how stories can feel realer than reality."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
rebellious
Her Body and Other Parties
By Carmen Maria Machado,
published by Graywolf Press
A genre-bending short story collection about women and violence to their bodies.
It "makes me feel rebellious not only because of the content, but the form. As a writer, the collection inspires me to deviate from the typical narrative conventions. To read and write outside the box and tell stories however they beg to be told."
– Brandon Mead, onsignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
rebellious
Iron Widow
By Xiran Jay Zhao,
published by Penguin Teen Canada
Eighteen-year-old female concubine-pilot Zetian is called the "Iron Widow" after she kills the male pilot responsible for her sister's death through a psychic link used to pilot Chrysalises robots. She's then paired with controversial male pilot Li Shimin as her co-pilot.
It "is a tear-down-the-patriarchy rage poem told through a propulsive YA science fiction with mech suits and aliens. Pitch perfect."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
rebellious
My Government Means to Kill Me
By Rasheed Newson,
published by Flatiron Books
Earl “Trey” Singleton III goes to New York City, running away from his wealthy Black Indianapolis parents.
"This queer coming-of-age story tells of its protagonist's involvement in ACT UP, the grassroots activist group that fought on behalf of AIDS patients in response to an aggressively unresponsive government during the 1980s."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
rebellious
My Notorious Life
By Kate Manning,
published by Scribner
Inspired by the true tale of a controversial female doctor, "My Notorious Life" follows Axie Muldoon in 1860s New York City.
"A fictional depiction of a Gilded Age abortionist based off the life of Madame Restell. An important story, especially in these times."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
rebellious
When Women Were Dragons
By Kelly Barnhill,
published by Doubleday
During The Mass Dragoning of 1955, 300,000 American women turned into dragons. Alex Green is researching the taboo history in her own family and why some turned into dragons while others did not.
"I know many women (myself included) who would quite enjoy turning an internal flame thrower on to someone else from time to time. And of course the underlining story here is to please listen and honor everyone, truly."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
scared
Get Ready! How to Prepare for and Stay Safe After a Pacific Northwest Earthquake
By Deb Moller,
published by Sasquatch Books
This guidebook covers the supplies you need and what to do if a major earthquake occurs.
"Scary because I'm not prepared ... yet!"
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
scared
My Work Is Not Yet Done: Three Tales of Corporate Horror
By Thomas Ligotti,
published by Virgin Books
A horror novella including three stories: "I Have a Special Plan for This World," "The Nightmare Network" and "My Work Is Not Yet Done."
"As we watch disrespected middle manager Frank Dominio’s descent into madness, we get a very bad, all-too-familiar feeling about where all this is heading. But where it gets to is even worse. Ligotti invades your mind like few other horror writers can."
– David Wright, The Seattle Public Library
scared
Pet Sematary
By Stephen King,
published by Doubleday
Louis Creed and his family move to Maine in a house near a pet cemetery.
"Skip the movies, this novel still horrifies me many years after I first read it. Beyond the usual thrills and chills of Stephen King’s work, this story is a ghastly reckoning with the ways that grief can devour a family and a community."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
scared
The Memory Police
By Yoko Ogawa,
published by Vintage
A young novelist attempts to save her editor from The Memory Police.
"On a Japanese island, people lose memories — of birds, and hats, and more — while those few who remember are rounded up by The Memory Police. It’s a fascinating look at how memory shape us as individuals and as a culture, and a sobering tale about compliance and obedience."
– Andrea Gough, adult service librarian at The Seattle Public Library
scared
Wanderers
By Chuck Wendig,
published by Del Rey
Shana's little sister and others appear to be sleepwalking across America to an unknown destination.
"I read this pandemic horror novel before COVID, but its exploration of right-wing extremism and societal collapse amidst a global pandemic has stayed with me. The sequel, 'Wayward,' just came out."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
smart
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
By Ed Yong,
published by Random House
A researched book about how Earth's animals see the world.
"With humor and joyful curiosity, Yong illustrates the diverse ways animals and plants sense the world that are imperceptible to people. Learning new things makes me feel smart, but this book left me awestruck at the remarkable intelligence of other creatures, which we humans are only beginning to understand."
– Paige Chernow, adult services librarian at the University branch of The Seattle Public Library
smart
Choose the Right Word
By S.I. Hayakawa,
published by Collins Reference
An English thesaurus, dictionary and manual for more than 6,000 synonyms.
"Librarians have favorite reference books, and this is one of mine, a thoughtful elucidation of the shades of sense and tonal differences between words typically grouped together in a thesaurus. There’s no other usage guide quite like it."
– David Wright, librarian at The Seattle Public Library
smart
Double Blind
By Edward St. Aubyn,
published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
The book, about the pursuit of knowledge, follows friends Olivia, Lucy and Francis.
"Readers feel smart by association, as they follow the intertwined lives of three intelligent young British friends committed to rewilding parts of Sussex, to genomic research, and to other creative enterprises. Deeply insightful, compassionate, funny, and illuminating the interconnectedness of all manner of things."
– Georgiana Blomberg, owner at Magnolia's Bookstore
smart
Heartbroke
By Chelsea Bieker,
published by Catapult
A collection of stories set in California’s Central Valley.
"In her short story collection 'Heartbroke,' Chelsea Bieker somehow puts nothing and absolutely everything about her characters on the page. Readers will find themselves connecting the dots throughout each narrative and feeling like they KNOW these characters without ever even being told their name or where they're from. Truly, it's only genius writing that can make you feel like a genius."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
smart
Stories of Your Life and Others
By Ted Chiang,
published by Tor Books
A collection of eight science fiction stories. The novella "Story of Your Life" was adapted into the 2016 film "Arrival."
"Every short story and novella that Chiang has written is finely attuned to deep questions about fate, technology, humanity, and the future. I come away from a Ted Chiang story with expanded perspective and a lot to think about."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
smart
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
By Ed Yong,
published by Ed Yong
"An awe-inspiring, accessible overview of the different senses living organisms use to perceive our world, from sight to smell, echolocation to magnetism, and beyond. I look at the world around me differently now, and want to share facts with everyone I meet!"
– Andrea Gough, adult service librarian at The Seattle Public Library
adventurous
The Secret History of the Pink CarnationBy Lauren Willig
"English spies in the Napoleonic era with Romance! Intrigue! Delicious writing!"
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
adventurous
Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the WorldBy Pénélope Bagieu
It's "a graphic novel about women who dared, highlighting quick vignettes on their lives and accomplishments, from the past to the present. Insightful and inspiring."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
adventurous
Wanderlust: A History of WalkingBy Rebecca Solnit
"This nonfiction book tackles every aspect of walking — the biology behind it, the history of it, and how it is portrayed in our culture. It reminds readers to leave behind their bubbles (namely cars) and experience the world around them on foot."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
adventurous
The High Sierra: A Love StoryBy Kim Stanley Robinson
"Legendary sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson calls his time in the mountains 'hours stolen from the gods.' Robinson turns out to be an enthusiastic amateur-expert on psychogeology, alpenglow, and traversing talus and scree. A gold mine for any hiker, mountaineer, or reader of John Muir or Gary Snyder."
– Spencer Ruchti, author events manager at Third Place Books
adventurous
Salmon in the Seine: Alaskan Memories of Life, Death, & Everything In-BetweenBy Norris Comer
It "reminds me of the endless places a human can go, the things they can see, and the stories they can tell if they commit to taking some risks. Everyday can be scary and challenging, but simultaneously magnificent, if you turn life into an adventure."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
heartbroken
Our Wives Under the SeaBy Julia Armfield
It "was marketed as a horror novel, but what I wasn't prepared for was how beautiful the central love story between wives Leah and Miri was. While the book sinks to (literal) depths of darkness and despair with a creepy underwater setting, I found myself incredibly moved by the grief and loss explored in the story."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
heartbroken
Borne of Grief and FlowBy Becky Gibler
It "tells the true story of a woman losing her partner of 19 years. Through emotional journal entries and breathtaking photography of the Pacific Northwest the author brings readers along on her personal journey with healing from loss. It is a heartbreaking but also incredibly beautiful book."
– Brandon Mead, Consignment Buyer/Event Host at Third Place Books
heartbroken
EuphoriaBy Lily King
"Beautiful, tragic and striking. The voice of this novel sunk into me and hasn't let go after many years."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
heartbroken
Oscar and LucindaBy Peter Carey
It "showcases characters who long for connection and emotional fulfillment in life that they never quite attain. Beautiful, heartbreaking novel."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
heartbroken
StonerBy John Williams
It "showcases characters who long for connection and emotional fulfillment in life that they never quite attain. Beautiful, heartbreaking novel."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
heartbroken
Snow AngelsBy Stewart O’Nan
"O’Nan is a masterful tragedian, cleaving the aching heart of American hardship and indifference without resorting to the cynicism of noir or superiority of satire. His first novel is among his best, a strenuous, cathartic workout for your empathy."
– David Wright, librarian at The Seattle Public Library
inspired
Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative HurdlesBy Beth Perkins
"This is a practical and encouraging guide written by a seasoned therapist and writer who works exclusively with artists. Topics range from the mundane (money and marketing) to big picture (time and death)."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
inspired
NorthBy Brad Kessler
"I would also say this makes me feel hopeful, that when faced with a difficult decision (as all of the characters have had to do, many times) that we will all know what we should and can do."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
inspired
Pride and PrejudiceBy Jane Austen
"My favorite book of all time. I re-read it once a year."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
joy
The Woman in the LibraryBy Sulari Gentill
"Just a fun, well-written, clever mystery, with characters you'd like to know better (except maybe for the murderer!)"
– Debbie Miller, bookseller at Magnolia's Bookstore
joy
One Last StopBy Casey McQuiston
"For the queer found family vibes."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
joy
I Capture the CastleBy Dodie Smith
"A quirky novel that also makes me joyful with its coming-of-age perspective."
– Misha Stone, reader services librarian at The Seattle Public Library
joy
Inciting JoyBy Ross Gay
"This collection of essays by poet Gay traces how joy can be found in everyday life, even amid sorrow and the day-to-day drudge, and where finding this joy can lead. It’s a book I started to rush through, until I realized I needed to go slowly and savor each chapter."
– Andrea Gough, adult service librarian at The Seattle Public Library
joy
Linea Nigra: An Essay on Pregnancy and EarthquakesBy Jazmina Barrera, translated by Christina MacSweeney
"Barrera writes about childbirth, breastfeeding, and care through her mother’s artwork and her grandmother’s experience as a doula, as well as the author’s own extensive reading notes and frustrations with healthcare. Barrera’s seriousness and intelligence is punctuated by expressions of delight in parenthood."
– Spencer Ruchti, author events manager at Third Place Books
less-lonely
Life After LifeBy Kate Atkinson
"One of my favorite books, which inspires a sense of belonging in the complex fabric of humanity. Illustrates beautifully the impact of the choices we make and how our actions reverberate through time."
– Lauren Ebright, bookseller at Magnolia's Bookstore
less-lonely
Leonard and Hungry PaulBy Ronan Hession
"This utterly charming, gently moving Irish novel of two introverted friends as they awkwardly navigate and appreciate life landed just as pandemic isolation began to get dire. It was the perfect book at the perfect time."
– David Wright, librarian at The Seattle Public Library
less-lonely
We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer LiberationBy Matthew Riemer
"From the Instagram account LGBT History, 'We Are Everywhere' is a photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement. The book outlines queer activism from late-19th-century Europe, Stonewall, and up to the younger generation leading the way today. It will help any LGBTQIA+ person remember that there are many of us and we are not alone."
– Brandon Mead, Consignment Buyer/Event Host at Third Place Books
less-lonely
Wow, No Thank YouBy Samantha Irby
"This collection of autobiographical essays is – like all of Kirby’s books – laugh-out-loud funny. She probes the pain and deeply personal areas of her life with such candor and humor that you feel like you have a new friend. For full effect, listen to the audio book read by the author."
– Paige Chernow, adult services librarian at the University branch of The Seattle Public Library
less-lonely
We Are the LightBy Matthew Quick
"Having experienced his own therapeutic sessions, Matthew comes through beautifully with this stunning book about a tragedy in a small town."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
less-lonely
Signal FiresBy Dani Shapiro
"Dr. Wilf and his young neighbor Waldo become two unexpected but necessary and really sincere friends."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
less-lonely
Battle RoyalBy Lucy Parker
"Super underrated romance that explores the themes of loss, lonliness and connection. A tender love story with British rom-com flair."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
loved
The Strange Inheritance of Leah FernBy Rita Zoey Chin
"The inheritance is the gifts she receives, in all the mystical forms they take, along her winding journey. You feel as gifted yourself, by the curves end ... which is we are ALL loved."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
loved
Celebrate Pride Coloring Book for Adults and KidsBy Wayward Pansy
A coloring book with more than 30 designs.
"'Celebrate Pride' by local author Wayward Pansy is a coloring book for all ages which shows LGBTQ+ people enjoying a Pride celebration. Seeing happy and smiling queer people waving rainbow flags and enjoying their lives makes me feel loved, seen and appreciated."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
nostalgic
The Phantom TollboothBy Norton Juster
"I found this novel in my elementary school library and have probably read it a dozen times since then. It was the first book that introduced me to the importance of using your imagination."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
nostalgic
My ÁntoniaBy Willa Cather
Jim Burden tells the story of his childhood friend, Ántonia Shimerda, whose family immigrated to Nebraska from Bohemia.
"There’s something about the wistful tone of Jim Burden’s voice that calls back that sense of young discovery and longing, little fires of kindness belonging on a vast open plain. More about my grandparents’ childhood than mine, it strikes a deep chord for me."
– David Wright, librarian at The Seattle Public Library
nostalgic
All Creatures Great and SmallBy James Herriot
"I read all of his books when I was a child (and wanted to be a veterinarian to all my stuffed animals) — and with the fabulous PBS remake of the show — his stories bring fond memories back for me."
– Michelle Bear, owner of Edmonds Bookshop
nostalgic
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a RakeBy Sarah MacLean
"The first bodice ripper I read and the book of my heart. This kicked off my habit of reading piles of bodice rippers every year."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
nostalgic
East of EdenBy John Steinbeck
"This was the book that got me into reading, and I reread it every few years. Easily my favorite work of literature!!!"
– Zackery Ballinger, bookseller at Third Place Books
rebellious
When Women Were DragonsBy Kelly Barnhill
"I reveled in the spontaneous Mass Dragoning of 1955 that happened when women were too fed up with the limitations imposed upon them and took to the skies wreaking fiery destruction."
– Yvette Olsen, bookseller at Magnolia Bookstore
rebellious
The Right to be LazyBy Paul Lafargue
"The economy booms, and busts. We overproduce, we overconsume. Growth is God. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, our planet gets sicker. True in 1883, when this sly manifesto was first published, and true today. LaFargue has a simple solution: slow down. Do we dare?"
– David Wright, librarian at The Seattle Public Library
rebellious
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English LanguageBy Amanda Montell
"'Wordslut' by Amanda Montell made me truly, furiously, understand what a hot gendered mess the English language is and why. Spoiler alert — it’s the patriarchy! Montell inspired me to unapologetically own the precise way I use language and to stop trying to eliminate coded 'feminine' characteristics of my speech."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library
rebellious
SwallowedBy Réjean Ducharme, translated by Madeleine Stratford
"Ducharme's narrator Berenice is my favorite precocious and cantankerous 9-year-old in most of literature, and yet she delights in natural phenomena like the first snow of winter. Madeleine Stratford has translated Ducharme in a strange and most meaningful way — with conviction, with a bit of finger-pointing in every sentence. Some call Ducharme the Quebecois Thomas Bernhard."
– Spencer Ruchti, author events manager at Third Place Books
scared
ManhuntBy Gretchen Felker-Martin
"Maybe what's scariest about 'Manhunt' by Gretchen Felker-Martin is her spectacular talent and ability to create such visceral imagery. Even the cover of this post-apocalyptic survival story offers a whole new (and super queer) approach to the entire horror genre."
– Brandon Mead, consignment buyer/event host at Third Place Books
scared
The It GirlBy Ruth Ware
"An edge of your seat mystery/thriller with shades of Dark Academia. You will be all nerves until the very end."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
scared
Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the HimalayasBy Harley Rustad
"Nonfiction account of the search for a young, healthy hiker in the Himalayas who vanished without a trace. Makes the reader fearful for idealistic young seekers, as well as those searching for them, frustrated by limited resources and interest."
– Debbie Miller and Georgiana Blomberg, bookseller and owner at Magnolia's Bookstore
smart
The Ethics of AmbiguityBy Simone de Beauvoir
"I was first introduced to this text in a philosophy class, and I return to it a lot (partially because it's dense and I have to take it slow!). Beauvoir is a renowned thinker, and here she puts forth the meaningful assertion that because we live in a godless universe, it's humanity's responsibility to take care of each other."
– Kait Heacock, readings coordinator at Elliott Bay Book Company
smart
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of HumanityBy David Graeber and David Wengrow
"A tome that is an accomplishment to finish and gives you a new perspective on the origin of society."
– Andrea Pangilinan, resident romance reader at Third Place Books and founder of the Radical Romance Bookclub
smart
Saint Sebastian's AbyssBy Mark Haber
"'Saint Sebastian's Abyss' is one of the first of its kind by an American writer, a sleek novel about Renaissance art, rivalry between friends and devotees, and the meaning of the obsessions that orbit our careers. There's not a single sentence in this book that isn't ecstatic."
– Spencer Ruchti, author events manager at Third Place Books
smart
Hurts So Good: The Science and Culture of Pain on PurposeBy Leigh Cowart
"Thoroughly researched and exquisitely entertaining, this book tilted my perception of pain. I’m hyper aware now of masochism’s ubiquity in so many behaviors, from the utterly benign to the extraordinarily destructive. The bizarre history of the word masochism alone is a fascinating intellectual diversion."
– Jennie Diaz, adult services librarian at The Seatte Public Library