Do you have a book lover on your holiday shopping list? Here are a few recommendations from our very talented literary critics that are sure to please even the most discerning reader.
[avatar user=”Tabitha Lord” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]
Tabitha Lord Recommends
Dessert First
by Dean Gloster. This young adult book is a beautifully written, compassionate story of a young girl dealing with the painful realities of her brother’s fight with cancer, while at the same time navigating her own tumultuous teenage experience. Read my interview with Dean here.
by Dean Gloster. This young adult book is a beautifully written, compassionate story of a young girl dealing with the painful realities of her brother’s fight with cancer, while at the same time navigating her own tumultuous teenage experience. Read my interview with Dean Good Morning, Midnight: A Novel
by Lily Brooks- Dalton. Augustine is an aging astronomer working in the Arctic circle and astronaut Sullivan is returning from a mission to Jupiter when they both lose all connection to the outside world. Chilling in its premise, with a compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, this book faces a question for the ages: what matters at the end of the world? Read my interview with Lily here.
by Lily Brooks- Dalton. Augustine is an aging astronomer working in the Arctic circle and astronaut Sullivan is returning from a mission to Jupiter when they both lose all connection to the outside world. Chilling in its premise, with a compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, this book faces a question for the ages: what matters at the end of the world? Read my interview with Lily
[avatar user=”Kelly Sarabyn” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]
Kelly Sarabyn Recommends
The Yoga of Max’s Discontent: A Novel
, by Karan Bajaj. The rare book that manages to be both philosophical and a page turner. Follow Max as he leaves the New York City rat race behind to test his body and spirit on an adventure through India. Hidden night markets, Himalayan caves and remote ashrams bring this book alive. Read my interview with Karan here.
, by Karan Bajaj. The rare book that manages to be both philosophical and a page turner. Follow Max as he leaves the New York City rat race behind to test his body and spirit on an adventure through India. Hidden night markets, Himalayan caves and remote ashrams bring this book alive. Read my interview with Karan The Dollhouse: A Novel
, by Fiona Davis. This is a glamorous mystery set in 1950s New York and the present day. At the famed Barbizon Hotel for Women, we meet two ambitious young women who flirt with danger as they navigate their careers and relationships. Read my interview with Fiona Davis here.
, by Fiona Davis. This is a glamorous mystery set in 1950s New York and the present day. At the famed Barbizon Hotel for Women, we meet two ambitious young women who flirt with danger as they navigate their careers
[avatar user=”Amy M. Hawes” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]
Amy M. Hawes Recommends
The Runaway Wife: A Novel
by Elizabeth Birkelund. After three French sisters persuade Jim Olsen to track down their mother Calliope in the Swiss Alps, Jim not only helps Calliope escape from her cheating, politician husband, he finds refuge from his own predictable path in life. Literary with a touch of thriller mixed in. Read my interview with Elizabeth here.
by Elizabeth Birkelund. After three French sisters persuade Jim Olsen to track down their mother Calliope in the Swiss Alps, Jim not only helps Calliope escape from her cheating, politician husband, he finds refuge from his own predictable path in life. Literary with a touch of thriller mixed in. Read my interview with Elizabeth A Hundred Thousand Worlds: A Novel
by Bob Proehl. Valerie Torrey and her nine-year-old son Alex travel cross-country hopping from one comic book convention to another. They do have a destination–Los Angeles–yet the trip itself brings the reader on a metaphoric journey well worth taking. Proehl’s technique facilitates an interesting and fun read that never bores, while deftly avoiding confusion and excess. Read my interview with him here.
by Bob Proehl. Valerie Torrey and her nine-year-old son Alex travel cross-country hopping from one comic book convention to another. They do have a destination–Los Angeles–yet the trip itself brings the reader on a metaphoric journey well worth taking. Proehl’s technique facilitates an interesting and fun read that never bores, while deftly avoiding confusion and excess. Read my interview with him Everyone Loves You Back
by Louie Cronin. Bob Boland struggles with his age, his neighbors, management, love and other sundry upheavals as a radio host in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bob’s honest, biting observations on gentrifying Cambridge will have you laughing out load. Louie worked at Car Talk and other radio programs for years. Read the interview here.
by Louie Cronin. Bob Boland struggles with his age, his neighbors, management, love and other sundry upheavals as a radio host in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bob’s honest, biting observations on gentrifying Cambridge will have you laughing out load. Louie worked at Car Talk and other radio programs for years. Read the interview
[avatar user=”MarySullivan” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]
Mary Sullivan Recommends
What Light
by Jay Asher. Teenage romance set on a Christmas tree farm. Grab the cocoa.
by Jay Asher. Teenage romance set on a Christmas tree farm. Grab the cocoa.The Kite and the String
by Alice Mattison. Part memoir, part tough love for the aspiring writer from an MFA professor/novelist. Read my interview with Alice here.
by Alice Mattison. Part memoir, part tough love for the aspiring writer from an MFA professor/novelist. Read my interview with Alice
[avatar user=”Kate Newton” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]
Kate Newton Recommends
The Couple Next Door
by Shari Lapena. Anne and Marco Conti’s new baby disappears from her crib while her parents carouse at a dinner party next door. What starts out as every parent’s worst nightmare leads to growing scrutiny from the police, the couple’s mounting desperation, and eventually, suspicion within the family’s inner circle. This will keep you guessing til the end. Read my interview with Shari here.
by Shari Lapena. Anne and Marco Conti’s new baby disappears from her crib while her parents carouse at a dinner party next door. What starts out as every parent’s worst nightmare leads to growing scrutiny from the police, the couple’s mounting desperation, and eventually, suspicion within the family’s inner circle. This will keep you guessing til the end. Read my interview with Shari North of Here
by Laurel Saville. Against the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, this is the story of a back-to-nature cult, delving into the complex relationships that can grow between damaged souls and their would-be rescuers. Illustrates both the power and the limitations of love. Read my interview with Laurel here.
by Laurel Saville. Against the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, this is the story of a back-to-nature cult, delving into the complex relationships that can grow between damaged souls and their would-be rescuers. Illustrates both the power and the limitations of love. Read my interview with Laurel
[avatar user=”Maribel Garcia” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]
Maribel Garcia Recommends
My Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love, and Down Syndrome
by Amy Silverman. This is a searching, compassionate and ultimately uplifting memoir about the emotional and educational journey that ensued after Amy’s baby was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Read my interview with Amy Silverman here.
by Amy Silverman. This is a searching, compassionate and ultimately uplifting memoir about the emotional and educational journey that ensued after Amy’s baby was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Read my interview with Amy Silverman One More Day: A Dark and Captivating Thriller
, by Kelly Simmons. Kelly delights us with a psychological thriller about the mother of a kidnapped child that is both plot and character driven. Her novel makes you ask questions like: What is the good life? What does it look like? Does it even matter? A must read. Read my interview with Kelly here.
, by Kelly Simmons. Kelly delights us with a psychological thriller about the mother of a kidnapped child that is both plot and character driven. Her novel makes you ask questions like: What is the good life? What does it look like? Does it even matter? A must read. Read my interview with Kelly A House of My Own: Stories from My Life 
by Sandra Cisnero. This memoir delivered on three of the criteria that I consider to be most relevant when evaluating the strength of the genre: a memorable voice, prose that elicits an emotional connection, and reading material that teaches you something new. Read my review here.
by Sandra Cisnero. This memoir delivered on three of the criteria that I consider to be most relevant when evaluating the strength of the genre: a memorable voice, prose that elicits an emotional connection, and reading material that teaches you something new. Read my review
Great suggestions from all of you, not just the usual recommendations on “listicles”. I’ve added to my want-to-read list and hope my bookclub will pick up on some of these suggestions as well! It seems like we all read the same-old same-old that everyone else is reading. We don’t want to be a “bewildered herd” and you reviewers are awesome!
That’s wonderful, we are so glad you found it helpful!
Thanks! All of us have different taste. We hope as you read our individual posts, you discover who you resonate with. We want to deliver the best!