Staff Recommendations, Week of May 26, 2026

 Hello there, book lovers. Here are some books that we love and think you will, too.

We're starting with three books that each come with the seal of approval from two Boswellians. First up, it's The Land and Its People, the brand new essay collection by David Sedaris. This one has positive reads from Daniel and Tim.

Daniel says: "I love that Sedaris was honored for picking up litter in England, a mission dear to my heart. There’s more set in New York in this long-awaited collection than in Europe or the family compound in North Carolina, but with a long-held quest to visit other countries, there’s a lot of travel too. Perhaps the urge to travel is due to another obsession - learning other languages on Duolingo. And travel is also great for getting your steps in. And that’s just part of the itinerary on another return visit to Sedarisland."

And from Tim: "I've long wondered how a person gets the kooky-cool set of qualities that live inside David Sedaris, and this book gave me fresh answers. He keeps launching himself into humanity (more than 60 countries visited and counting), examining every oddity, then saying exactly what he thinks with no compromises involved. Is he offensive? Impulsive? Please! He's too curious and exuberant to shut up about what he sees. And it feels genuine, even sweet. He’s a tender, vulnerable man doling out brutal, shameless observations. Of course, there's no end to human nonsense, much of it his own making, so there's no shortage of new material. In this case, he starts with conflicted reactions to his partner Hugh's hip replacement surgery and ends with the complexity of making it in New York City. I always smile and jump a little (inside my head) when I hear about a new Sedaris book, knowing that his travels far and wide will expand my emotional horizons. Yes, David, go out and greet the wacky world for me, over and over again!"

Remember that David Sedaris appears at Boswell on Wednesday, June 3, at 5 pm. While the reading portion of this event is sold out, once the reading is over, the signing line will be open (and free) for anyone who wants to meet Sedaris. Do note, folks who come for just the signing will be asked to join the end of the line, and Sedaris loves to spend lots of time getting to know each of his fans, which means these signings can go on for hours. Come for the signing, stay for the waiting - it's worth it!

The next double-rec is for Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It, a funny new novel by Brooke Averick that's recommended by Ingrid and McKenna.

Ingrid says: "Kooky, smart, and surprising, Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It was the perfect book to get me out of my spring reading slump. Yes, there were several times I wanted to shake the book and yell, “GIRLFRIEND, OPEN YOUR EYES!” but this just made Phoebe even more of a refreshing, lovely, romantic lead. There's not even a bit of what we in the romance biz call Mary Jo-ism (think girl next door who thinks she is an ugly loser until she takes her glasses off and goes to prom with a boy named Brett). Phoebe has a LOT on her plate, but she also has goals and gumption, and she is determined to live her best life! And, if she has anything to say about it, that life will include a sweet and doting boyfriend!"

And from McKenna: "The rom-com book of the year! I laughed, I cringed, and I rooted for Phoebe as she finds herself on a mission to conquer her dating anxieties and lose her virginity by the time she turns thirty. A journey of self-growth full of heartwarming moments and dating disasters, Phoebe is the relatable female main character that so many women have been waiting for. I couldn't put it down!"

And now, from McKenna and Kathryn, recommendations for This Must Be the Place, a new YA novel by Kelly Quindlen. Suggested for ages 14 and up.

McKenna notes: "When Louisa heads to her old hometown for her uncle’s funeral, she hopes to get in and out without too much arguing with her grandparents. But when Louisa finds out her late Uncle George has secretly left her a gay bar that he was in the process of selling before his death, she's set on keeping the doors open for the queer community she knows needs a safe place to land, including herself. Heartfelt and emotional, This Must Be the Place is a story about family tensions, found family, and coming of age in the small town you have a complicated relationship with. I enjoyed every minute of this read!"

And from Kathryn: "Eighteen-year-old Louisa recently inherited a locally beloved, small-town gay bar from the uncle she never got a chance to know. Not only does she need to figure out how to run a bar, but she needs to do it without the support of her conservative southern family who aren't pleased to hear about her recent coming out. I felt every emotion imaginable while reading this book, but I found it incredibly comforting most of all. It's a bittersweet story about friendship, young love, and summer nights just as much as it is a reminder that grief is a sneaky, messy thing that can feel impossible to navigate. Sometimes the only way to handle big change is finding people who see you for who you are and choose to love you through it."

Finally, we'll end on a Greta note. Because Greta recommends The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral into Madness Under Putin by Marc Bennetts. Greta says: "Marc Bennetts is a journalist who lived in Russia for over twenty years. He gives his personal account of what it was like residing under Putin's dictatorship in The Descent. It outlines Russia's internal chaos as well as its conflict with Ukraine. Being originally from the UK, Bennetts showcases a new perspective on one of the most heavily discussed places in the world that blends journalism with history and personal anecdotes. "

And those are the recs! We'll be back soon with more great books for you to read about and then read. And until then, read on.