海角大神

1.聽The Color of Air聽by Gail Tsukiyama

Gail Tsukiyama鈥檚 novel of enduring love 鈥� and just as important, enduring friendships 鈥� is set in Hawaii against the backdrop of the 1935 Mauna Loa volcano eruption. She immerses readers in the stories of close-knit characters with a gentle tone and rich descriptions that do not obscure the darker context of the historic setting.聽

2.聽Girl, Serpent, Thorn聽by Melissa Bashardoust

What if the beauty is also the beast? That鈥檚 the premise of Melissa Bashardoust鈥檚 feminist fairy tale. The Princess Soraya has grown up hidden away in the palace while her twin brother rules. A curse has made her poisonous to the touch, and since a baby she鈥檚 been taught to apologize for and minimize her existence. Then a soldier captures a parik, a magical creature, who says she knows how to break the curse. Soraya must choose: Her family or her freedom.

3.聽The Son of Good Fortune聽by Lysley Tenorio

Lysley Tenorio follows up his story collection 鈥淢onstress鈥� with a novel that highlights the tested-but-never-torn bond between a Filipino American mother and son. The young adult son, Excel Maxino, must stop hiding and face his daunting future. Tenorio adds a unique twist to the #OwnVoices immigrant narrative.聽

4.聽Becoming Duchess Goldblatt聽by Anonymous

Duchess Goldblatt is a source of wry wisdom and off-kilter commentary on Twitter. And, as she鈥檚 the first to admit, she鈥檚 entirely fictional. It might be assumed that her creator would share her warmth, generosity, and love of life, but the real story is more complicated. Spurred by loneliness and loss, the anonymous author鈥檚 story is a testament to the powers of redemption, reinvention, and yes, country singer Lyle Lovett.聽

5.聽Natural History聽by Carlos Fonseca

When a curator for a museum of natural history and a famous fashion designer discover they share a design aesthetic, she proposes they collaborate on an exhibition. From this premise, Carlos Fonseca unspools a genre-defying, literary puzzle of a novel. Propelled forward by exquisite prose, the book is a credit to translator Megan McDowell as well as to the author.聽

6.聽Musical Chairs聽by Amy Poeppel

Amy Poeppel鈥檚 novel offers a delightful ode to contemporary life as Bridget, a classical cellist, anticipates a summer of romance. That is, until her beau dumps her via email and her two grown kids move back home unannounced. But there鈥檚 always Will, her dear friend since Juilliard, the rock that anchors the chaos.聽

7.聽Austen Years聽by Rachel Cohen

In a luminous gift to Janeites everywhere, Rachel Cohen recounts how only the novels of Jane Austen gave her the calming insight she needed to grapple with several challenges in her own life.

8.聽The Golden Thread聽by Ravi Somaiya

U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskj枚ld was negotiating an end to the Congolese civil war when he died in a plane crash in 1961. To this day, many believe he was assassinated. Journalist Ravi Somaiya explores one of the most compelling mysteries of the Cold War in this grim and absorbing book.

9.聽The Vapors聽by David Hill

Gamblers and gangsters abound in David Hill鈥檚 nonfiction debut. 鈥淭he Vapors鈥� details the surprising history of Hot Springs, Arkansas, a small town that was once home to the country鈥檚 most lavish casinos and spas. It鈥檚 an engaging portrait of America鈥檚 less-than-savory past.

10.听贵补迟丑辞尘蝉听by Rebecca Giggs

Rebecca Giggs crafts a beautifully written and deeply searching reflection on whales, earth鈥檚 most awe-inspiring creatures.