Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim Juhea Kim’s debut novel, “Beasts of a Little Land,” is a historic epic about the Korean peninsula during the first half of the 20th century. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea and its struggle for independence, this vast national story is conveyed primarily through the lives … Read more
Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi Longtime couple Aima and Kalu should have been together forever, but a recent move to New Lagos, Nigeria revealed the cracks in their relationship. The night after their breakup, Aima goes dancing with party-girl friend, Ijendu, while Kalu heads to an exclusive sex party hosted by his best friend, Ahmed. … Read more
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston Kit and Theo have been a lot of things to each other: childhood best friends, romantic partners, and now exes. They broke up four years ago after a trans-Atlantic fight en route to the food and wine tour of their dreams. In a twist of fate, they now find themselves … Read more
The Library of Legends by Janie Chang Vancouver, British Columbia-based author Janie Chang is headlining Whatcom County Library System’s second Open Book: a Festival for Readers at the Ferndale Events Center on Nov. 3. Known for her rich historical fiction, Chang crafts family dramas, often weaving in Chinese culture. Her 2:30 p.m. talk at Open … Read more
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily R. Austin “Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead,” by Emily R. Austin opens a window on a uniquely Millennial/Gen Z experience. Gilda, the story’s protagonist, is a 20-something neurodivergent queer atheist whose anxiety makes it hard for her to hold down a job … Read more
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley John le Carré meets “Kate and Leopold” in this genre-bending debut. An unnamed British civil servant transfers to new hush-hush department to work on a secret project: studying the effects of time travel on human subjects. She is paired with Lt. Graham Gore, a navy officer rescued from a … Read more
Evenings & Weekends by Oisín McKenna It’s the hottest weekend of the summer and the people of London are ready to let loose. Phil and his housemates—including Keith, with whom he’s secretly in love—are planning a warehouse solstice party. Maggie, Phil’s best friend, is pregnant and wants one last hurrah in the city before she … Read more
Tell It to Me Singing by Tita Ramirez Life is not turning out the way Mónica Campo intended. Pregnant with her first child and newly engaged to a nice guy, Mónica can’t stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend Manny, despite all the ways their relationship went wrong. But things get even more complicated when Mónica’s mother develops … Read more
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah “Calling for a Blanket Dance” is a moving tale of the power of heritage and generational connections. Author Oscar Hokeah stitches together a series of distinct narrative vignettes to create a unified story; one deeply profound and heartbreaking, yet also uplifting and inspiring. The thread running throughout … Read more
Thunder Song: Essays by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s debut memoir, Red Paint, was all about healing. Her new book, Thunder Song, is all about embracing contradiction—about both charting a new path and staying rooted. These carefully crafted, multi-layered essays explore themes that are dear to LaPointe’s heart: her queer and indigenous identity, activism, and family history. … Read more