Staff Recommendations, Week of May 12, 2026

 Another week, another great list of books to read!

We start the recommending with a book that's got not one but two Boswellians excited - Abyss by Nicholas Binge has found fans in Kay and Jeremy. First, Kay says: "Binge nailed this read-in-one sitting, horror twist on the law of diminishing returns. It fits like a glove."

And from Jeremy: "Nicholas Binge blends the existential dread of Severance with the chilling cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft in this fast-paced novella about a new recruit at a shadowy corporation whose first day on the job quickly unravels into a dystopian corporate nightmare. Lines between illusion and reality are blurred by a sinister entity that feasts on human suffering, and this time it’s not just middle management."

Now it's over to Oli for their take on The Lost Book of Lancelot, the new novel by John Glynn, author of the memoir Out East. Oli says: "John Glynn explores Lancelot with singular insight, delivering a character-focused retelling that breathes new life and deep emotion into figures of Arthurian lore. The Lost Book of Lancelot follows its titular character from the very beginning, detailing his life — and developing his character — in the formative moments of his early upbringing, through to his time as a knight of the round table. Glynn gives Lancelot a rich inner world and a past that imbues his legend with startling new meaning."

Now over to Jason for his take on Hunger, by Choi Jin-Young, a Korean cult classic now translated into English by Soje. Jason says: "Hunger is a haunting, emotionally pared-down novel about two people bound together by loneliness, trauma, and an aching need to be loved. Shaped by fractured family ties and unhealed childhood wounds, their relationship becomes both a refuge and a source of quiet devastation. With stark, luminous prose, Choi reveals how the deepest hungers are often inherited and how hard they are to escape."

Daniel recommends some fascinating nonfiction - Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal About How Markets Work by Nobel-winning economist Alvin E Roth, former president of the American Economic Association. Daniel says: "Repugnance is the word that that Roth, a Nobel prize winner, uses to describe behaviors that some or all of populations disapprove of. Drug and alcohol use, gambling, medical aid in dying, in vitro fertilization, gay marriage, charging interest (excessive or any at all), even adoption when it’s trans-racial can be subject to banning. Sometimes we’re able to tolerate these transactions as long as no money changes hands, but that can lead to shortages, notably in the case of organ transplant. And Prohibition is a classic case of banning having unintended consequences, as is Oregon’s more recent experiment in drug decriminalization. Moral Economics notes how attitudes can change across time and place, and how technology can change how they are viewed. The results are fascinating, and his findings could well affect future policy."

And our last adult book rec comes from Tim, who offers for his take on The Foursome, the much anticipated new novel by Christina Baker Kline. Tim says: "This is the story of Chang and Eng, the conjoined twins from Siam (today’s Thailand) who gave rise to the term "Siamese twins." And it's the story of the North Carolina sisters who became their wives after their 1840s American settlement. It's told by Sarah, who was not the bold sister, the one always noticed by men. That was Adelaide, who immediately responded to Chang's refinement and charm. These men understood they could not be safely separated but had two complete bodies and engaging independent minds. They took everyone by surprise with the way they effortlessly moved together and shared sophisticated conversations in English while displaying many talents. They built a grand estate in the countryside, where being with her husband meant that each sister never had privacy from the other man. I didn't expect to love this novel, but I should have had more faith in Christina Baker Kline, who’s written some of my favorite historical fiction. Expertly crafted, with a graceful flow, she creates a unique American story of life’s unexpected twists, and she opens an intimate view of our traumas over race, difference, and male power. Baker Kline’s own distant relation to the sisters deepens the impact. She’s cemented a place in my thoughts reserved for our best historical novelists."

Kids Buyer Jen jumps in with a middle grade novel recommendation now - Diamond Fever!: A True Crime Story in the Wild West, written by Steve Sheinkin, illustrated by Jon Chad. Jen says: "Steve Sheinkin’s storytelling shines again in this action-packed nonfiction middle grade book about the Great Diamond Hoax of 1972. Entertaining and engaging, with comics moving the story along, you will learn how a pair of prospectors triggered a diamond prospecting craze in western American history and got away with it. I wish I had this kind of non-fiction true crime stories when I was a kid. Add this to your reading list!" Suggested for ages 9 and up.

Jen also recommends B Is For Bibliophile, a fun new ABC primer written by OE Zelmanovich and illustrated by Lauren Simkin Berke. Jen says: "Witty and informative, B is for Bibliophile is a great ABC style reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about all the parts a book is made of. My favorite may be W is for Wormholes!" Great for all ages.

And those are the recs for this week! We'll be back with more. Until then, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of May 5, 2026

 We've got new books at Boswell to recommend to you this week!

Our first rec this week comes from Daniel Goldin, who offers his take on The Things We Never Say, the latest novel by Elizabeth Strout. Daniel says: "Artie Dam is a fifty-something high school teacher and coach in Massachusetts. He is surrounded by people struggling with complicated relationships, burdening secrets, and life setbacks, things Artie understands too well. What he doesn’t always see is how his positive actions can impact those around him, despite the horrors of the world. The Things We Never Say may not feature Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, or Jim Burgess, but it is still classic Strout, told with her trademark wit, insight, and empathy."

Chris Lee recommends The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh, a startling work of crime reportage by James Lasdun.Chris writes: "What with a streaming series, books by insiders (some credible, some not), self-appointed investigators, and true-crime cash cows, plus enough podcasts to keep you busy while you circumnavigate the earth on foot, you might see another book about the Murdaugh murders and wonder, why? Well, because James Lasdun, who originally reported on the case for The New Yorker, leaves no stone unturned in what should certainly should be considered the definitive account of the Alex Murdaugh case. Moreover, as he tries to make unspeakable acts intelligible, if only to himself, Lasdun come frighteningly close to answering the book’s central question: just how deep are the wells of evil in the hearts of men who walk among us? A sordid tale of a man’s violent unraveling and the genteel good ol’ boy society that camouflaged his malevolent nature, The Family Man is a real-life Southern Gothic for the ages."

And now, the latest translation in Pushkin Press's series of Japanese Novellas, as recommended by Jason Kennedy: Hollow Inside, written by Asako Otani, translated into English by Ginny Tapley Takemori. Jason notes: "Hollow Inside is a quietly distressing novel about isolation, longing, and the hidden lives people carry beneath their ordinary routines. With spare, haunting prose, Asako Otani captures the ache of emotional emptiness and the fragile hope that comes from being truly seen, creating a story that lingers long after the final page."

We end as we began, with Daniel Goldin, and his thoughts on The Supper Club Saints, the new novel from Wisconsin author Claire Swinarski. Daniel opines: "You’d think the biggest thing going on with the Simons would be matriarch Remy closing the supper club that had been in the family for four generations. But that is overshadowed when daughter Cass returns with her daughter from the Mommune where she’s been for the past two years, one step ahead of scandal. During her missing years, Cass even ignored the imminent death of her father. But now she’s back, joining sister Hilary, who is raising three daughters alone, and her sister-in-law Erin, pregnant again after suffering several miscarriages. Cass is certainly hiding something, but then again, so is her mom. Taken together, it might seem like Swinarski has written a treatise on the many ways that parenting can go awry, but by the end, you will see that The Supper Club Saints, with wisdom, love, and a bit of humor, shows there is sometimes an unexpected path to the other (better) side."

And now a book for adults about the power of kids books! That'd be Make Believe: On Telling Stories  to Children by Mac Barnett, which comes with four (FOUR!) recommendations! First, kids buyer Jen says: "This should be required reading for adults!"

Tim says: "Mac Barnett has written many clever, unique, hilarious books for children. Adults will often ask him, with smiles on their faces, if he ever intends to write an adult book. He tries to hide his annoyance while explaining that children's books… are real, important books, true literature, and kids are real readers. In fact, they’re real people who will closely examine the complex mysteries of being human while reading the best children’s books. And no, he does not intend to stop doing the essential work that he loves because he loves it and kids deserve it. He’s only just diverted long enough to write this one laugh-out-loud adult book. It’s basically a side job he’s doing to have a conversation with adults about the beauty of storytelling and children. Mac Barnett is currently America’s National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and because I was a teacher who’s read many children’s books, I say with confidence that he has bold, beautiful, and brilliant ideas about kids and reading. So, if you love children and love books, this one will be a thrill that you can quickly and happily devour. It’s like pizza (with great toppings) made of words!"

McKenna says: "A perfect and succinct book that dives into the importance of children's books and appreciating them for the beautiful and amazing works of literature they are and can be."

And finally, Jason says: "The TED talk was brilliant - this book shines even brighter. It’s the perfect book to tell adults how they misunderstand and underestimate children's books."

And now, Kids Book recs, both from Jen.

First up, Jen recommends Wombat Waiting, the new middle grade novel from Katherine Applegate. Jen says: "Meet Wombat, a special dog without a person… yet. See, Wombat has learned she’s a “destiny dog,” - there is someone out there who needs her, and all Wombat must do is wait. It’s a lot harder than it sounds! There’s a fire raging in Los Angeles and a lot of fear and confusion swirling around. Listening to her inner voice, Wombat sets off on a journey to a place she knows will unite her with her forever home. Wombat Waiting is an endearing novel in verse about resilience and hope." Suggested for ages 8 and up.

And Jen also suggests the picture book The Elephant and the Piano written by Colette Hiller and illustrated by Nabila Adani. Jen says: "Based on a true story, The Elephant and the Piano is about the power of music and the bond between humans and animals. Paul Barton is a classical musician, and to this day he is still playing the piano for elephants at a sanctuary in Thailand. A touching and inspiring picture book." Suggested for ages 4 and up.

And those are the recs! More soon. Until then, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of April 28, 2026

 Three quick recommendations to keep you reading this week!

Daniel suggests Ghost Town, the latest novel by Tom Perrotta. Daniel says: "On hearing that his father has been memorialized in his hometown of Creamwood, New Jersey, Jimmy Perrini, now writer of the popular Ghost Teacher series for kids under the name Jay Perry, is madeleined into recalling the fateful summer after his mother’s death. Fast cars, Ouija boards, and strong weed all play a role in this powerful story about grief, prejudice, and the complications of adolescence. A joy to read!"

McKenna recommends Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About, the new memoir from dogstagrammer Isabel Klee. McKenna writes: "Isabel, Simon, and her cohort of foster dogs have my entire heart! Isabel recalls her experience of living in New York during her twenties, her constant triumphs and failings of dating, and the COVID pandemic with such vulnerability and introspection that you begin to feel that you are a close friend of hers. As she begins to tell the stories of her many foster dogs and the lessons she has taken from each of them, I constantly found myself looking at my own dog and being reminded just how much he has taught me and how many trials and tribulations I have been able to get through because of him."

And finally, Kay is a fan of Sanctuary, the apocalyptic new thriller by James Cleary (aka James DeVita). Kay opines: "Brandt’s bug-out place in a Nebraska nuclear silo is near completion when climate change hits a tipping point. Brandt barely gets his family and a few security team members to Sanctuary before the grid fails. A parade of trucks brings squatters who take control of the house outside the silo. It’s a war between the haves and have nots and a couple in-betweens."

James Cleary (DeVita) is coming to Boswell with this very novel this week! He'll be here for a conversation with Wisconsin native Christina Clancy on Thursday, April 30, 6:30 pm. Click here for more info at boswellbooks.com/event/2026-04-30/devita-cleary-sanctuary.

And those are the recs! Until next time, read on!

Staff Recommendations, Week of April 21, 2026

Staff recs for three new books!

First up, it's Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, which is the April selection of the Good Morning America book club as well as a book recommended by three different Boswellians. This one came out a couple weeks ago but somehow slipped past the blog. But it's here now! 

Rec #1 comes from Jenny: "I picked this up because I’m a huge fan of time-travel, but in the case of Yesteryear, I wasn’t sure if I was reading speculative sci-fi or a twisted thriller about reality TV. Or, perhaps, neither. All I knew for certain was that I was reading a clever novel about the behind-the-scenes life of an Internet influencer named Natalie Heller Mills. Natalie lives on a farm in Idaho with a husband she believes borders on useless and five (soon-to-be-six) kids, and she’s great at pretending that every bit of her pretend pioneer farm life is absolutely perfect. So good, in fact, that she has millions of Instagram followers who love to watch her bake from scratch and feed her chickens. Do the followers know about the two nannies and the Mexican farm workers? Of course not. Interspersed between chapters focused on modern times with the off-camera microwave and dishwasher, Natalie has somehow crash-landed into what she’s told is the year 1855. The kids are similar looking, but with different names, and her husband Caleb looks older and appears capable of actually farming. Turns out pioneer life in the past is grueling and dirty. How is she going to escape back to her real (if made-up) life? I highly recommend choosing this for your next book club. Readers will love debating Natalie’s choices, but the larger issues of trad-wives and good Christian women, not to mention Instagram influencers, will provide plenty of topics for a fascinating discussion of the times we are living in."

Rec #2 from Kathryn: "The best reading experience for me is one where the author makes me empathize with a character that I completely disagree with. This is definitely that kind of book. Told in multiple timelines, we got to see the main character, Natalie, grow in ways that are both entirely expected and somehow still surprising. Everyone is going to tell you this is the next big book club book, and wow are they correct. I finished it over a week ago, and I still can't succinctly describe everything I feel about it. It's so beautifully written. I highly recommend you read it for yourself. And when you do, let me know what you think! I want to talk about it!!"

And rec #3 from Jason: "In Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, a picture-perfect trad wife influencer curates a serene, enviable life online - while quietly unraveling beneath the surface. As the strain of maintaining the façade drives her toward a breaking point, she becomes painfully aware that the life she’s built is a sham she can’t escape. When she suddenly slips unstuck in time, it feels less like liberation and more like a jarring reckoning - forcing her to confront not just her past, but the unsettling question of why it all happened at all."

Caro Claire Burke will make a stop at Boswell on her tour for this book, too, as the latest installment of the Readings from Oconomowaukee event series. And yes, that means there's a stop at Books & Company in Oconomowoc, too.

Both events take place on Thursday, May 21. Daytime event is 1 pm at Books & Company - click here for more info on that one. The evening event is 6:30 pm at Boswell - click here for more information about this event.

And now, two horror recommendations!

Jeremy recommends Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker. Jeremy says: "A waking nightmare ties two lost souls between modern day and Edo era Japan. Baker weaves a tenebrous tale steeped in Japanese mythology, ancient samurai tradition, and the disorienting visions of an unreliable narrator. Horror and history are twisted together into a unique and tragic story that haunted me long after the final page. The perfect read for fans of J-horror and Japanese history."

And Kathryn recommends Bodies of Work, a new novella by Clay McLeod Chapman: "Visually stunning, this horror novella feels more like viewing an experimental art installation than reading a story about a serial killer. It's suffocating and dream-like. A fast read that lingers for a long time. It made me uncomfortable from start to finish, in the most astounding ways possible."

And those are the recs!

Staff Recommendations, Weeks of April 7 and 14, 2026

Ever have that annoying, nagging feeling like you've forgotten something? Well, apparently it wasn't enough to remind me to update the staff rec blog the last couple weeks. Oops! Well, the good news is, great books get released regardless of whether I update this blog or not. Here are some Boswellian favorites that have hit our shelves this week and last.

First up, the latest from Patrick Radden Keefe, author of books like Say Nothing and Empire of Pain. The book is London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth, and the recommendation comes from Daniel. He says: "Patrick Radden Keefe tunnels into London’s underbelly of crime by focusing on the story of a young man who, with dreams of power and connections that he doesn’t have, pretends to be the son of an Eastern European oligarch and winds up in the Thames River. Did he jump, as the police assumed, or was he pushed? The case of Zac Brettler, AKA Zac Ismailov, is a window into London’s transformation from an industrial hub to financial center, charting how organized crime similarly morphed. As always, Keefe’s journalistic and storytelling skills are on full display as he traces the connections between the many players in this story, always returning to Zac’s parents and their tenacity in uncovering the truth. London Falling is smart, sophisticated true crime book that also tackles serious issues. Plus, very London-y!"

Daniel also recommends American Fantasy, the latest from acclaimed author and bookstore owner Emma Straub. He writes: "Annie, 50-years-old and newly divorced, sets sail on a boy band cruise, minus her sister, who is laid up from a broken leg. A Boy Talk fan from way back, she’s swept up into the world of fan culture, helped along by her new suitemate and fast friend Maira, a super fan with a secret. But this reunion is a bit on shaky ground, with breakout star Corey only rejoining the group after a series of PR disasters. As you always have to have a favorite, Annie starts out team Shawn, the charismatic leader, but as the cruise progresses, she starts to understand the charms of Keith, Shawn’s brooding brother. If you’re looking for a delightful romantic comedy that will leave you feeling positively giddy, American Fantasy has a cabin with your name on it."

Ingrid takes us in a different direction with Annie Knows Everything, a new romance by Rachel Wood. Ingrid writes: "This is the fourth Dial Delights book I've read in a row, and they've all been hits! After binging Cara Bastone's books, I picked up Annie Knows Everything and was cackling and kicking my feet in equal parts. Loosely inspired by Jane Austen's Emma, our narrator Annie is smart, determined, and, at times, slightly ridiculous and meddlesome. Throwing her in a room with four computer nerd men creates endless chaos, and I loved each one of these characters. This is funny, smart, and nuanced romance novel! And, on top of it all, a debut!"

For books released today, we have The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin, as recommended by Jason: "Eddie is doing the best he can with the hand he’s been dealt in life. Heck, he’s far more functional than I would be able to muster.  He works a job he doesn't love, his wife has left him, and all of a sudden there's an eight-year boy showing up at his house all the time. Russell, the boy, ends up being just as damaged as Eddie, but together they are able to protect and grow past their difficulties. Willy Vlautin has way of writing characters and their dialogue that makes me feel like I've known them my whole life. When there is tragedy, it hits deep, and when there is happiness, I feel the joy as well. I look forward to more gems by him."

Tim recommends a book in translation - Nightmare of the Embryos, written by renowned Swiss-German Yenish writer Mariella Mehr, and translated into English by non other than former Boswellian Caroline Froh! Tim writes: "This collection of Mehr's work from a lifetime of writing gives us intensely focused moments with vivid people, thoughts, and events. Much the result of women's trauma, we see loss and longing, doubt and despair, submission, escape, rebellion, rage, vengeance, courage, beauty, and joy, along with aching searches for stable love and for right ways to die. The absurdity of ever-present human contradictions pulled at my heart. Mehr's word portraits felt poetic, and like all of my best times with poetry, I stopped to hold each bit that moved me. I stared (sometimes flinched) at her stirring arrangements of people, places, things, and emotions. The uncommon language, stark and shifting, made me think that Froh's translation task was a great challenge, finely accomplished, and her Afterword offers exceptional context. Milwaukee's indigenous and German roots make this a fitting place to welcome Mehr's legacy. As a German speaking Yenish person, she survived Swiss authorities’ assault on her people's culture using forced religious, institutional, and foster placements, just as Wisconsin’s indigenous children survived the insidious use of boarding schools. She saw the most horrifying literal nonsense that our selfish world can impose, and I'm so very grateful to see her brilliant heroism from the inside."

And we'll wrap up with A Fishboy Named . . . Sashimi, a new middle grade graphic novel written and illustrated by Dan Santat. And for Fishboy, we've got three great recs! First, from McKenna: "A hilarious new graphic novel series about a fish boy named Sashimi in search of someone like him. Follow Sashimi as he tries to fit in at school, make new friends, and finds himself on a town-wide search for the mysterious Beast of Barnacle Bay. I couldn't stop laughing at all the crazy situations Sashimi finds himself in and can't wait to read more in the series!"

From Kathryn: "This one is for the dorks! A delightful tale about a fish named Sashimi hiding undercover as a local middle schooler on his search for the Beast of Barnacle Bay. Turns out, middle school might be even more treacherous than the search for the beast itself. This story is laugh-out-loud funny with some of the most expressive illustrations I've ever seen. I never thought I'd say the sentence "This little fish has impeccable comedic timing," but here we are. But it's not just hilarious - it's educational too. There are detailed diagrams including (but not limited to) one that explains why Sashimi sweats so much and also a diagram walking us through what exactly a poop deck is. An absolute must-read for anyone who appreciates a very funny fish (AKA pretty much all of us, I assume)."

And from our kids buyer Jen: "Sashimi is my new favorite graphic novel character and soon to be yours! Laugh out loud funny and even educational - who knew why a poop deck is called a poop deck? A Fishboy Named… Sashimi is a FINtastic fish out of water story. I’m looking forward to reading more in this new middle grade graphic novel series."

Available in both hardcover and paperback editions.

Staff Recommendations, Week of March 17, 2026

 Happy St Patrick's Day, readers. Here are some great books to read.

Daniel suggests Life: A Love Story, the latest from Elizbeth Berg: "Flo may be 92 years old with a terminal illness, but that doesn’t mean she’s lost her sense of wonder about the world and the people in it. While she makes her way through the day, in letters to her once young neighbor, she documents various objects in her home and their hidden meanings. Through it all, she comes to see the value of connection and how the best relationships have ups and downs, particularly true for her long, loving, and often complicated marriage. Berg’s latest highlights her gifts as a writer of small graces, gentle humor, and philosophical musings."

Elizabeth Berg is at Boswell next week! See her here in conversation with Christina Clancy on Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 pm. More details about this 'show and tell' event at boswellbooks.com/event/2026-03-25/elizabeth-berg-life-love.

Jenny recommends The Fountain by Casey Scieszka: "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab and Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt are two of my favorite books, so the comparisons to Casey Scieszka’s new novel The Fountain had me intrigued! Vera Van Valkenburgh knows she’s immortal, but she has no idea how she ended up that way. After decades of moving around and slipping in and out of different identities, she returns home to the Catskills, determined to find answers to why she simply can not die. I enjoyed the blend of humor and romance, and the mystery of Vera’s life kept the pages turning. Mixed in is the philosophical question of what makes life meaningful. And why is she immortal? I was guessing all the way up to the end!"

Greta recommends Lucien, a paperback original novel by JR Thorton: "Atlas and Lucien are paired to be roommates in their first year at Harvard. This experience will alter their lives. Dominated by Lucien's commanding presence, Atlas paints forgeries to finance their endeavors. Things quickly unravel, leaving lingering questions unanswered. Author JR Thorton quietly critiques the ivy league institution as well as the art world. Lucien is an exploration into character, what makes a person thrive and what tears at one's sense of individualism."

From Kathryn, notes on The Utterly Unacceptable Atrocity of Isabelle Marsden by Nan Sanders Pokerwinski: "After escaping a traumatic experience while living in Chicago, Isabelle Marsden picks a random spot on the map, leading her to a found family fever dream in Lawrence, Kansas. This was a lovely, feel-good story filled to the brim with quirky characters, wild mishaps, and proof of the value of art and community in times of crisis."

And from Kay, who supports The Girl Who Made a Mouse from Her Grandfather's Whiskers, a novella by Kenneth Hunter Gordon: "In a distant future, ships of humans and two varieties of robots crash-land on an uninhabited planet. They separate into two groups of humans and robots, and within 100 years the groups evolve into distinct cultures. The novella's intimate setting magnifies differences between the cultures, and the result is as distressing as it is charming."

Read on!

Staff Recommendations, Week of March 10, 2026 (Plus A Bit of Previous)

 Did I promise upon the staff rec blog's return that it would be updated in a timely or regular manner? Well, I hope not! But here are some great new books to check out that have been released over the past couple of weeks along with this one. Yay, books!

Daniel recommends A Good Animal by Maurer: "It’s breeding season on Lindt family sheep farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the family is readying their flock for market. Oldest son Everett’s in his senior year of high school and thinking about the future. Everyone around him plans to leave for greener (or should I say, less green) pastures further south, but farming is in his blood. The only problem? His new crush, whose arrived with her Coast Guard father, doesn’t plan to stay either. Sara Maurer captures the emotional highs and lows not just of first love, but of friendship and family too. And she impressively ratchets up the tension - the story leads to a shocking climax. I just might not hand-sell this book to a vegan. But on the upside, you also learn a lot about sheep farming."

Maurer will be at Books & Company in Oconomowoc on Wednesday, April 1. More info at https://booksco.com/event/2026-04-01/sara-maurer-conversation-laura-anne-bird.

Greta recommends Westward Women, a debut novel by Alice Martin: "Westward Women is a marvelous speculative fiction novel. It has the freedom and restraints of its setting in the 1970s, but as men are drafted, women are leaving their homes and going westward in droves. Readers wonder, who is benefiting from this movement, and who will get lost in its current? The novel follows multiple narrators, each jaded yet still searching for someone or something to hold onto. At times the words are raw, pulsating like blood beneath one's veins. There is a call for agency that people can relate to, given life's uncertainties."

In YA, we've got Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O'Sullivan. McKenna says: "In this debut novel that takes place in an alternate version of Ireland, Éadha, a servant girl in love with a boy in a higher-ranking family, makes a decision that changes the fate of her and Ionáin's lives forever. Swept into an academy of magic, Éadha begins to see first-hand the societal norms that come with being a magic wielder as well as the cost of using the power she has. Will Éadha and Ionáin's love survive the secrets and pressures thrusted upon them? Or will Éadha find something much more powerful within herself? Dark, intense, and captivating from the very first page, Her Hidden Fire is full of high-stakes forbidden romance and an epic journey I cannot wait to continue on!"

And Jenny says: "In Cliodhna O'Sullivan’s YA romantasy debut, Éadha is a servant whose unexpected magical talent thrusts her into a patriarchal world of the wealthy and influential. Compelled to study at an academy of magic, she faces hostility and jealousy while keeping a secret that could alter her path and destroy the boy she loves. Dazzling, Irish-inspired world building and a meaningful look at what it means to be powerful make Her Hidden Fire an unforgettable read."

McKenna also has a great picture book rec - that's Bartleby by author/illustrator Matt Phelan. McKenna says: "Sometimes Bartleby "prefers not to" even when everyone else is having fun. But when he wants to participate, he contributes something special. An instant classic and charming picture book about being yourself and moving at your own pace. Bartleby has captured my heart!!!"

Over to Kay and back to the adult fiction section for Bloom, a novel by Robbie Couch. Kay says: "Sloan impulsively steps out of her comfort zone and stops at her recently dead father’s house, where her father’s second partner still lives. Morris was roundly rejected by her entire family from day one. Sloan’s visit sets in motion events ranging from serious to silly, heartbreaking to joyful, nearly deadly to life affirming; the resolution is perfect. Bonus: Morris's front room contains chatty, cranky houseplants bemoaning the loss of caretaker First Sapien, and an old oak tree outside evokes its last magic trick in First Sapien’s honor. Bloom is bewitching."

Then there's Judy Blume: A Life, the new biography of the living literary legend by Mark Oppenheimer, which both Daniel and Tim recommend. Daniel says: "For so many kids, reading as a child meant Judy Blume - in one 1979 B Dalton bestseller list, seven of the top ten books for kids were Blume novels, from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret. Her path to writing was not straightforward and filled with rejection. This biography is authorized but is not wart free. And the exhaustive research shows in the insightful details about Blume’s own life, the influences on her work, the regular attempts to pull her books from schools and libraries, and the history of children’s book publishing. And then there’s the footnote of her four adult novels, three of which were bestsellers, and one, the Fear-of-Flying-esque Wifey, outsold all her books for kids at the time, yet are now mostly forgotten. If you read Judy Blume in your own childhood, or as an educator, librarian, or parent, you’ll devour Judy Blume: A Life. And if you didn’t, you’ll be tempted to read some of her kids books to find out what you’ve been missing."

Tim says: "Using perfectly placed anecdotes and quotes, many from Blume's own abandoned memoir, Oppenheimer delivers the beautifully paced and fascinating life story of an iconic American author. The teachers I worked with all understood the magnetism of her characters in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Are You There God? It's me, Margaret. Our students found children just like themselves in Blume’s books. I'm only now learning that the dozens of books she’s written also include four adult novels, that she still runs a nonprofit bookstore with her third (and best!) husband, and that many thousands of children have written to her and often received a deeply concerned surrogate mom’s support. Her defense of other authors is equally tireless. Yet Oppenheimer isn’t shy about showing the difficulties involved with her full life, including when people remember their days with Blume differently than she does. The depth of his research reveals a woman of strong, unflinching, often book-banned ideas that match the 70s, when her writing career suddenly bloomed. She was an avid reader of sophisticated literature from an early age, and Oppenheimer’s infusion of the evolving American literary world (for children and adults) during Blume’s career is itself a reason to love this biography. If you’ve read Judy Blume at any point in your life or you just want to live in the times of a beloved woman, an American writer who has created some of our most beloved books, you’ll be thrilled by this story."

Boswell presents Mark Oppenheimer at the Milwaukee Public Library Centennial Hall for a conversation about this book on Wednesday, March 18. More info and registration at https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-03-18/oppenheimer-judy-blume.

Over to Greta, who keeps us reading nonfiction with Delusions: Of Grandeur, of Romance, of Progress by Cazzie David. Greta says: "Everyone is getting older every day. Isn't it frightening when there are these patriarchal ideas and conventions present in the minds of most Americans? Cazzie David writes witty observations about the aging process and the experience of turning 30. Her voice will resonate with many. Although, she does approach the elephant in the room that she comes from a place of privilege, being that she is the daughter of legendary Seinfeld creator Larry David."

Now, Daniel brings us a mysterious novel - The Star from Calcutta by Sujata Massey: "This time out, Perveen and her father Jamshedji are courting a film studio head, who is concerned that his new star (and recent spouse) Rochana might have some legal obligation to her old studio back in Calcutta. Contract, what contract? Perveen invites her best buddy and film buff Alice to a studio party, but by the next morning, there’s a dead body to contend with, and being that he’s unliked and perhaps doing some blackmail, there’s plenty of intrigue and no end of suspects, including Alice. The nascent film industry is a great backdrop for this exciting mystery, with the burgeoning independence movement once again factoring into the exciting story, along with Anglo prejudices, religious differences, patriarchal norms, and suppressed and sometimes not suppressed desires." 

We had a great event with Massey for this novel last week. Signed copies available now!

You'd prefer a little romance? Ingrid suggests No Matter What by Cara Bastone: "In No Matter What, Cara Bastone somehow takes two of hardest tropes to execute, second chances and miscommunication, and creates a beautiful, sad, hopeful romance novel that explores the relationship between love and trauma. Main characters Roz and Vin have been happily married for years when, in one devastating instant, the rhythm of their relationship is irreparably altered. While the book is thoughtful and colorful, the real reason it shines is Bastone's ability to cast aside the traditional romance novel plot structure and writing style while still crafting a narrative filled with love. Bastone's latest is the story of Roz and Vin trying to find their way back to each other, but it is also a snapshot of how art, community, and friendship help people grow, heal, and come back together."

Finally, Kay offers a global creepfest with this multinational anthology of ghost stories - I Was Alive Here Once: Ghost Stories, edited by Sarah Coolidge. Kay writes: "The translated stories in this collection are written by authors from eight different countries. The stories eerily reflect how each writer’s culture intimately and uniquely inform the manifestation of ghosts. This is a fantastic, diverse collection of creepy-good ghost stories."

We'll be back (soon? I sure hope so!) with more recommendations. Until then, read on.