Spring 2024 Reading Group Indie Next List
Dazzling Debuts
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“Cleaning hostel bathrooms while she anxiously awaits a decision on her immigration status, Leyla journals her struggles and occasional victories in this phenomenal debut. Sex, drugs, techno, and a curious new love interest keep her afloat.”
— Seth Tucker, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
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“When Mackenzie’s dreams start crashing into her daily life, she can no longer avoid her family or her grief over her sister’s sudden death. A chilling story that expertly weaves grief with the eerie world of the subconscious.”
— Nikita Imafidon, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
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“For fans of The Virgin Suicides, with teenage girls at their messiest, most cruel, and desperate, Brutes is a story of Floridian girls directly after the object of their idolatry, the preacher’s daughter, goes missing. Sinister and mesmerizing.”
— Julia Lewis, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA
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“Clytemnestra, sister to the more famous Helen of Troy, rises out of the past and into the spotlight in this engaging debut by a new voice in mythology and history. Read about the most hated queen in Greek history — maybe she had her reasons.”
— Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
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“Magnolia is captivating, and the life she finds herself in is like a modern-day Grimm’s fairytale. Utterly surreal, delicious, and haunting — everything you could hope for in a Southern Gothic. A must-read for fans of Raven Leilani’s Luster.”
— Audrey Beatty, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury, CT
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“Cecile Pin enters a rich heritage of Vietnamese diasporic fiction, exploring the fractured postwar nation-self through personal and familial trauma. I loved reading this book; its ghosts felt so real. For fans of Ocean Vuong and Akwaeke Emezi.”
— Jihye Shin, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
Family & Coming of Age
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“The Celebrants follows five friends who met in college, bonded over a traumatic event, and vowed to celebrate each other’s ‘funerals’ while they’re still alive. Rowley skillfully weaves past and present as they navigate life’s challenges.”
— Carol Schneck Varner, Schuler Books (Okemos), Okemos, MI
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“An unconventional immigration story, where a young Chinese man travels to the US to stay with extended family in search of upward mobility. Along the way, he manages to heal old family wounds, proving that help can come from unexpected places.”
— Meghana Kandlur, Open Books, Chicago, IL
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“A strange little novel interrogating a marriage during its rockiest period. Immaculate and precise prose balances a darkly comedic cynicism and a brief but sweet optimism, asking what we are willing to sustain with our significant others.”
— Isaiah Scandrette, Folio Books, San Francisco, CA
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“A young Jewish girl in her senior year at a prestigious university is forced to come to terms with a nonconsensual sexual encounter and a relationship with a professor that gets out of hand. A captivating coming of age novel for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh and Sally Rooney.”
— Sloane Shevin, pages: a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, CA
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“Rich people. We love to hate them, but we can’t stop reading about them. Jenny Jackson’s light and witty novel about a family with vast privilege is enjoyable without too much envy or frustration that we’ve devoted hours to people we despise.”
— Anmiryam Budner, Main Point Books, Wayne, PA
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“What an accomplishment! The language — singular to young people in NYC — is absolutely perfect and rises off the page. I felt like I was there with June Papers, riding the trains all night, meeting friends, working the elevator during lunch period.”
— Laurel Kane, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
Historical Fiction
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“An epic story of love and friendship set against the ever-changing world of mid-century Singapore and the great cost toward independence.”
— Julie Slavinsky, Warwick's, La Jolla, CA
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“Set in Australia between the 1950’s Adelaide Hills and present day Sydney, this novel follows the Turner family and the sudden tragedy that befalls them. Historical fiction with a mystery at its core, Homecoming is a clever, compelling novel.”
— Jade Tisserand, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
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“Art history, slavery and race, museums, and one of the most famous racehorses of all time pack this book with characters that readers will rail against, cry over and cheer for, all while being carried away by Brooks’ beautiful writing.”
— Betsy Von Kerens, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, NE
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“Compelling fiction created around the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire and four real-life individuals changed by the incident. The characters are fully formed and the author successfully avoids the cliches often found in writing about the South.”
— Doloris Vest, Book No Further, Roanoke, VA
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“This smart, stylish, and savage literary thriller combines a feminist, race-conscious historical lens on the old West with loam-rich, marrow-deep horrors. Like Octavia Butler’s version of The Babadook crossed with a Stephen King-ified True Grit.”
— Jonathan Hawpe, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
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“Inspired by the author’s family history, Meghan, a journalist, goes to Birmingham to find the answers to her great grandfather’s 1929 murder by a police officer. While there, Meghan meets residents who are determined to help her and to change the city itself.”
— Audrey I-Wei Huang, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
Nonfiction & Memoir
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“With raw honesty, Tate dives deep into the hard work required to develop and sustain friendships. Full of heart and humor, B.F.F. will have you reexamining your own friendships in a new light.”
— Maxwell Gregory, Madison Street Books, Chicago, IL
By Lauren Graham
Ballantine Books
“Lauren Graham uses her patented charm, wit, and timing to deliver delightful, amusing tales. This book picks up right where her last book of essays left off. Highly recommend for fans of Gilmore Girls dialogue and comedy memoirs in general!”
— AJ Sanders, MacArthur Books, Carmel, IN
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“Nichole Chung reaffirms with A Living Remedy why she’s one of our #AutoBuy authors! I cried throughout this book about her parents’ untimely deaths, the unequal burdens poor working Americans bear, and the life-saving power of family and friendship.”
— Jhoanna Belfer, Bel Canto Books, Long Beach, CA
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“Claire Dederer’s utterly engrossing and courageously unflinching deep dive into the question of how/can/should we reconcile great art made by horrible people. It is a refreshingly non-prescriptive take that also lets no one off the hook, including herself.”
— Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
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“Well-written and researched, Weightless is an inspirational memoir of Blackness, fatness, and womanhood. Dionne’s compelling essays explore dating, chronic illness, childhood, and society in general. Insightful and engaging!”
— Amber Reinhart, Adventures By The Book, San Diego, CA
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“The White Mosque is both a history lesson and a lyrical journey. Incredibly beautiful text tells the story of Mennonite pilgrims who follow a charismatic leader into Uzbekistan.”
— Camille Kovach, Completely Booked, Murrysville, PA
Small Bites
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“This is not the first time I’ve read connections between deep-sea life and LGBT life — camouflage, changing sex, and multiple regenerations, to name a few examples — nor will it be the last. Imbler’s insights will nestle in the hearts of readers like a cuttlefish to sand.”
— Andrew King, Secret Garden Bookshop, Seattle, WA
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“Liberation Day tackles familiar Saunders themes: the pernicious effects of technology on human life, the many dystopias that we are careening towards, and the small moments of tenderness and kindness that can assuage these cruelties.”
— Bennard Fajardo, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC
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“I loved this collection. Fits very well for those who like the short-form vibes of Samanta Schweblin and Brian Evenson. A spooky, David Foster Wallace-y attention to detail, like taking a microscope and roller-ruler to a Build-A-Nightmare.”
— Ian McCord, Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA
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“I loved this book. While it shares a working class sensibility with A Shepherd’s Life and the poignancy of Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening, it’s a creature all its own. Lovely, lyrical writing, captivating illustrations, and a deep, deep heart.”
— Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books (NC), Davidson, NC
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“One of the best retellings of ‘The Fall of The House of Usher’ I’ve ever read. Between the representation and the absolutely witty humor and excellently horrifying descriptions, this was an absolute joy to read.”
— Armilene Cabreros, Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID
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“In Winter Solstice, Nina MacLaughlin pens a wonderful tribute to my favorite season. The author is at the top of her game in this slim volume, cataloging the delights of the dark, cold season that holds such mysterious allure.”
— Josh Christie, PRINT: A Bookstore, Portland, ME
More Indie Next Lists
- April 2025 Indie Next List
- Spring 2025 Reading Group Indie Next List
- March 2025 Indie Next List
- March/April 2025 Kids Indie Next List
- February 2025 Indie Next List
- January 2025 Indie Next List
- Winter 2025 Reading Group Indie Next List
- January/February 2025 Kids Indie Next List
- December 2024 Indie Next List
- November 2024 Indie Next List