海角大神

These are the fiction titles our reviewers liked best this month.

When the Fireflies Dance, by Aisha Hassan

Aisha Hassan鈥檚 novel follows Lalloo, a kindhearted 20-year-old scraping by in Lahore, Pakistan, as a driver for a wealthy clan. His goal is simple and, readers soon learn, nigh impossible: to save enough money to free his family from their indentured labor as brickmakers. The fast-moving story rebukes an unjust system, with heart to spare. 鈥�Erin Douglass

The Living and the Dead, by Christoffer Carlsson

Set in Sweden, Christoffer Carlsson鈥檚 absorbing tale of a teenage boy鈥檚 murder after a late-night party investigates not merely a crime, but the ecosystem of missteps 鈥� sloppy professionals, buried secrets, compromised decisions, and vengeful acts 鈥� that dogs the community and its young men in the years that follow. There鈥檚 much to ponder about class, guilt, and obfuscation. 鈥揈rin Douglass

The List of Suspicious Things, by Jennie Godfrey

When 12-year-old Miv sets out to identify the Yorkshire Ripper, the serial killer who haunted England in the 1970s, her investigation uncovers the secrets that adults conceal every day, including racism and infidelity. The coming-of-age novel unwinds a tale not only of lost innocence but also the sustaining power of friendship and family bonds. 鈥揓oan Gaylord

Yours for the Season, by Uzma Jalaluddin

When lawyer Sameera Malik meets chef Tom Cooke at a holiday party, they later make an impromptu cooking video that goes viral, and a romance rumor grows. A faux-mance could benefit both their careers. When their families maneuver them to Alaska at Christmas, the antics multiply. Uzma Jalaluddin鈥檚 warmth and wit make this a delightful intercultural rom-com. 鈥揝tefanie Milligan

The Italian Secret, by Tara Moss

When private investigator Billie Walker discovers a box harboring family secrets, she sails on a luxury liner from Sydney with her mother to postwar Naples to learn more. This noirish historical mystery delivers intrigue, glamour, and romance, as Billie鈥檚 professional work becomes dangerously personal. 鈥揝tefanie Milligan

The Heir Apparent, by Rebecca Armitage

Having rejected royal life in favor of pursuing a medical career, Lexi loves her life in Australia. She鈥檚 discovered that she鈥檚 falling in love with her best friend, Jack. Suddenly called to London, she learns her father and brother have died, leaving her next in line to the British throne. Rebecca Armitage鈥檚 royal expertise infuses this modern fairy tale with emotional honesty and rich storytelling. 鈥揝tefanie Milligan

These are the nonfiction titles our reviewers liked best this month.

Family of Spies, by Christine Kuehn

In this work of nonfiction, former journalist Christine Kuehn investigates her family鈥檚 murky past. She unveils eye-popping truths about her German grandparents鈥� slide into Nazi ideology and their work as Japan-financed spies on Oahu, Hawaii, in the run-up to the Pearl Harbor attack. Famous 鈥� and infamous 鈥� figures dot the compelling account, as do difficult questions about complicity, innocence, and redemption. 鈥揈rin Douglass

Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist, by Daniel Pollack-Pelzner

This book about the whiz kid who brought the hip-hop musical 鈥淗amilton鈥� to life is a jubilant celebration of the creative process. You don鈥檛 have to love musicals to appreciate the energy and collaborative spirit that Lin-Manuel Miranda brings to his work. 鈥揂pril Austin

The Sea Captain鈥檚 Wife, by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Tilar J. Mazzeo tells the forgotten story of Mary Ann Patten, who, in 1856, when 19 years old and pregnant, took command of a merchant vessel after her captain husband fell ill near Antarctica. In addition to the gripping story, the book provides compelling context covering everything from seafaring and navigation to the era鈥檚 gender norms. 鈥揃arbara Spindel

Ain鈥檛 Nobody鈥檚 Fool, by Martha Ackmann

Martha Ackmann鈥檚 engaging biography of Dolly Parton begins with the country musician鈥檚 impoverished childhood in Tennessee and traces her achievements as a singer, songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The author chronicles bumps along the way but focuses on the talent and ambition that propelled Parton to lasting fame. 鈥揃arbara Spindel