One Sit Reads
June 21 is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Could there be a better time than the days immediately following to devote to reading a book cover to cover? That longest days of the year feeling means you can squeeze in a book with a few extra pages, right?
A long time ago I landed the sweetest part time gig - housesitting a beautiful brownstone in Brooklyn for the summer. All I had to do was take care of the two backyard chickens, empty a dehumidifier in the basement, and make sure the French tourists renting upstairs got a key. I had lots of time on my hands. I spent it reading in the charming garden, a blanket spread out on the brick terrace, an iced coffee at my side. It was paradise.
The house wasn’t too far from Park Slope’s Community Bookstore. A few times a week I’d wander there to browse the books then return “home” with something slim. Something readable in a day.
The summer solstice reminds me of playing house in that grand brownstone and reading all day in the dappled light. I hope these bookseller suggestions inspire an equally enjoyable memory for you.
-Ally
Kim’s Picks
American Hippo by Sarah Gailey - Technically two novellas and two short stories, I’ve been trying to push this book (that clocks in at just under 300 pages) into every single person's hands I come across. Part western, one part alternative history (what would have happened if the US government went through with their plan to breed hippos in the marshlands of Louisiana as a solution to a meat shortage), and one part man eating hippos (that people also ride like horses!) this book had me hooked from page one until I closed to book 295 pages later.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells - Nothing says finish me in one sitting quite like a novella and All Systems Red is the sci-fi novella gold standard.
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien- There’s something about a cozy mystery (subgenre of mysteries where the violence occurs off page, the detective is an amateur sleuth, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community) that makes it a perfect book to pick up and devore in a single sitting. While this is a subgenre I love, Death by Dumpling is one of my all time favorite series.
Abby’s Picks
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield - Just out in paperback, this slim fever dream of a novel is the perfect read for a hot, stormy summer night (or maybe I’m biased because that’s how I read it). A heartbreaking and claustrophobic love story about a couple whose lives are upended when one of them returns after a submarine expedition goes wrong, leaving her trapped underwater for six months, and her wife is left to pick up the pieces after realizing the woman who returns is not the woman who left. One of my favorite reads of 2022, it won’t disappoint!
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw- I really loved Khaw’s first novella, Nothing But Blackened Teeth, but this one is even better! A deliciously gory tale featuring a vicious mermaid following the destruction of her husband's kingdom by her children, and her escape with help from a mysterious plague doctor. On the run, the pair discover a cult of children in the woods, and they must face their dark pasts in order to avoid becoming the childrens' next victims. Fast-paced, incredibly dark, and proof Khaw is a talent is not one to underestimate.
Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth - Yes, that Veronica Roth, but this novella is far from a YA dystopian novel. A retelling of Antigone set in a futuristic last city on earth, the hope of humanity rests on The Archive, a means of storing the deceased’s genes until they are chosen for reincarnation. An odd plot, yes, but Roth handles it with a clarity and care that lets it live in the background, while the foreground is dominated by a cast of characters, each with their own ulterior motives and plans.
Athena’s Picks
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz - Some days you just need to sit down and be hugged by a book. This is that book. Deya Muniz’s illustrations and twist on her personal life makes this story pure magic with fantastic LGBTQ+ rep and reflections on society. IT’S JUST REALLY FREAKING CUTE OKAY?!
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber - If I could take a day off work every time Stephanie Garber releases a new book I would because her work is MY FAVORITE YA FANTASY and she’s a blessing to my shelves and heart. The Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy gets you hooked and obsessed with a will they-won’t they romance, vampires, saints, and juicy murder.
Gallant by V.E. Schwab - Perfect for fans of Coraline, dive into this twisted world where an orphan receives a letter inviting her to a home by a relative she never heard of. Two worlds, a mix of thriller and fantasy, and SO much family drama.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata - I’m a sucker for books that show me cultures that are new to me but in a non-glamorous travel-ad way. Convenience Store Woman is a perfect example of that. Murata captures the pressures of women in Korea from getting married to being the perfect wife; making a lot of money but then not making more than your man once married; and having a grande social life. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of a woman i've read and the ending is just so satisfying in a very realistic way.
Amanda’s Picks
My What If Year by Alisha Fernandez Miranda - This memoir was exactly what I needed. Early 40's Alisha documented what happened when she realized "I have it all, why aren't I happy?!" and decided to (temporarily) pursue different careers that she had considered in the past- Broadway support, fine dining, fitness instructor, big art museums/auctions. As CEO of her own company, mom of 2, wife, in PTA, she was constantly struggling with being a "Yes" person instead of pursuing what made her happy. This all, of course, unfortunately had to start at the beginning of the pandemic, but I enjoyed seeing how deftly she handled some pretty tough situations, and her humor and enthusiasm reaches through. A+
Book Lovers by Emily Henry - I loved this story of Nora, a tough literary agent, who is always on the go and loves her Manhattan life, in a (brief) enemies-to-lovers trope with Charley Lastra, a sharp, no bullshit editor. Nora's biggest client writes a book on small-town love based on a North Carolina town. Nora's sister, Libby, begs for a sister's-only trip to this town, only to run into Charley himself. Immediate sparks, just enough spice to keep you cheering "OMG you guys, come ON", and both constantly trying to convince themselves they're NOT right for each other. Well, they are their own small-town romance come true, if a bit non-traditional! I couldn't put it down. A++
Rachel’s Picks
Give Me More by Sara Cate - I’m pretty sure I’ve read this in one sitting twice now. This series, the Salacious Players Club, is being published traditionally over the course of 2023 and all live rent free in my mind. It’s about a group of friends who create a dating app and then a sex club that allows individuals to discover and explore their sexual kinks shame free. It’s very spicy and very open, so won’t be for everyone; Give Me More explores a couple becoming a throuple with a life-long best friend while unpacking childhood trauma and allowing yourself to ask for what you deserve. The Sourcebooks version of this one doesn’t come out until November, but you can get the first two books, Praise and Eyes on Me now. (Link to the currently available version of Give Me More here.)
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare - I’m not the biggest historical romance reader, but I will be exploring more of Tessa Dare’s backlist because of the humor, heat and heart she brought to this story. Beauty and the Beast meets Batman, finds a scarred war hero taking a wife to produce an heir, nothing more. But he absolutely recruited the wrong wife if he didn’t want more; these two are a perfect match. Recommended reading spot: A hammock in the sunshine.
The Love Wager by Lynn Painter - This low-angst romance has so much humor in it, plus it features on of my favorite tropes: idiots who think they can just be friends, while carrying out a bet on who will find a love match first, not realizing they’re bound to catch feelings. Low angst doesn’t mean low substance, but it’s not going to put you through an emotional wringer, like other books sometimes can. Sometimes you just want something cute, funny and a little steamy to sit down and devour - this one fits the bill perfectly.
A beautifully written novel about women reclaiming their power. The story follows three women in three different timelines who are all searching for answers, identity, and family. For fans of Maggie O'Farrell and Natalie Haynes, Hart's lovely prose, relatable characters and naturalistic imagery will suck you into her world. I never wanted to leave this story and the little cottage at Crows Beck where all the characters leave their mark
