extremely specific book recommendations, vol. 3

my annual speed dating round up for your library holds list.

I’ll keep this brief: I usually read between 35 and 55 books a year, and one of my favorite activities is meticulously researching new books to add to my elaborate library holds system so that I have at least one book available at *all times*. Add in the fact that I *live* for the perfect recommendation (exhibit A, exhibit B, and exhibit C) and y’all it’s time for the annual *extremely specific summer reading list*.

We’re going for books that suit extremely specific moods, situations and vibes with a TL;DR description to keep things simple and streamlined to make finding your next page turner as easy and fun as possible.

I will warn you: extremely specific means extremely.specific. I am who I am, and you won’t catch me generically calling rom-coms the beach read of the summer. There are lots of lists for that – this is not one of them. I firmly believe any book is a perfect beach read, so prepare for a list full of literary fiction, complex female characters, and complicated family dynamics.

Without further ado – can’t wait to hear what you’re reading first!

That’s it, love you!

If you’re new here: Allow me to introduce myself! earlybird is a weekly newsletter with a little bit of everything, on purpose.

check out the full archive of 200+ issues for obsessively researched recommendations, personal essays, interviews, semi-academic deep dives and the earlybird bookclub (launching in June!)

If you’re new here: this category is a constant. There’s crime, there are long hidden secrets, there is occasional weirdness. Feels like the natural next step for the girls that moved on from true crime but still enjoy planned, contained discomfort and the perspective it provides.

A Good Man is Hard to Find (and other stories) by Flannery O’Conner. A classic short story collection full of moral fiction, religious symbolism, apocalyptic possibility, and the tragic comedy of human behavior.

The Frenzy by Joyce Carol Oates. A short story collection, this time plunging the reader into the lives of characters at a moment of crisis and confusion. These stories touch on our deepest fears and most perilous choices. Release date: June 16, 2026. One of my most anticipated reads of the year!

A Guide To Being Born by Ramona Ausubel. Another short story collection, exploring the power of transformation around deeply life altering events - falling in love, becoming a parent, and facing the end of life.

The Good Eye by Jess Gibson. Yet another short story collection, packed with startling and spellbinding tales where nothing - intention or appearances - is as it seems.

Whidbey by T Kira Madden. A complicated whodunit told from the point of view of three women connected by an abusive man in the aftermath of his murder. Touches on violence and the flawed systems of incarceration, rehabilitation, and the power of story.

Close Relationships with Strangers by Krista Diamond. When an A-Lister is embroiled in a sex scandal, one of the last remaining paparazzi in Los Angeles begins an obsessive pursuit to get close to him. Publication date: June 23, 2026.

Bad Fruit by Ella King. A recent high school graduate spends a sweltering summer with her volatile and elusive parents in London. She uncovers horrifying family secrets and is finally set free in this exploration of mothers and daughters, trauma and breaking cycles.

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love writing that thoughtfully (and critically) considers the world around us — especially when it comes to wellness, class, social media, technology and pop culture. I find these books enjoyable, and also that they broaden my perspective as I try to figure out how to operate in an increasingly complicated world.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. A beautiful man wishes to stay eternally youthful, as he pursues a life of pleasure and debauchery. His wish is granted, but each moral transgression he makes is reflected on the face of his portrait, becoming more and more disfigured. A classic for a reason!

Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi The daughter of an out-of-work actress pushes to distance and differentiate herself from her aging, addict mother. As they move into the pool house in the backyard while the “Big House” is rented out to pay the bills, they navigate class, fame, sexuality and grief.

What A Time To Be Alive by Jade Chang. When an unexpectedly viral video launches Lola into internet fame she takes advantage of the opportunity to become a self-help guru. She begins to help others find their path, even as she struggles to find her own.

Tell Your Friends Lauren Wilson. The daughter of a family vlog channel sees college as her way out – until a new friend and aspiring journalist becomes desperate to stop her from shattering the family’s curated image.

Fallow Camille Perri. A young woman struggling to make ends meet signs up to be one of the world’s first corporate in-house surrogates. What seems like a dream job becomes an unnerving social experiment that leads her to question her future, her freedom, and her life’s purpose. Release date: September 15, 2026.

Trad Wife by Sarah Anderson. A desperate journalist looks to profile the “trad wife queen” of social media to salvage her own career. But something is decidedly wrong, and the longer she spends at the farmhouse, the more she starts to worry she’s losing her mind. I’m extremely excited about this – about time someone made a trad wife story into the horror it deserves to be! Release date: September 29, 2026.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg. A woman livestreams her life for seven days and seven nights to attempt to raise money to save her sister from being taken off life support. As her success increases, her behavior becomes more extreme and begins to risk everything.

In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka. A beloved TV star has accused a therapist of brainwashing her daughter, and the high-stakes trial is captivating the country. A former assistant is the only one with answers, but she can’t reveal them without ruining her own life.

Ungodly Rich by Katherine McGee. A reimagining of ancient Greek Myths with an unsuspecting woman who is pulled into the orbit of a family of billionaires who are actually the gods in disguise. Secrets, lies, and drama ensue.

Consider this category as part of overlapping venn diagrams between “dark weird and thought provoking” and “hot people, bad decisions” - we support women’s rights (and wrongs) here at earlybird!

Heather Caitlin Mullen. A small town detective reopens a decades old missing persons case about two twin sisters, upending the town and everything she thought she knew.

Brutes by Dizz Tate. A coming of age story about the violence, horrors and manic joys of girlhood – The Virgin Suicides meets The Florida Project.

My Nemesis by Charmaine Craig. A successful writer befriends a handsome scholar – but when she meets (and scoffs at) his traditional and subservient wife, she finds unexpected consequences. A story of seduction, envy, and the ways we define and deceive ourselves.

Old Flame by Molly Prentiss. An unfulfilled writer faces an unplanned pregnancy, forcing her to make choices about what to sacrifice from her old life to make room for a new one.

Workhorse by Caroline Palmer. An ambitious editorial assistant at a fashion magazine isn’t wealthy or well connected enough to achieve her goals, until she begins crossing boundaries and taking risks. The Devil Wears Prada meets The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Lady X by Molly Fader. A multigenerational saga of female rage: A woman flees her husband’s scandal by returning to her childhood home, where she finds evidence of a mysterious vigilante who looks mysteriously like her mother. Release Date: July 14, 2026.

With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick. An unmoored new mother in NYC becomes fixated on finding her missing college roommate who vanished after taking a job dancing at a strip club. When the roommate reappears, the obsession and tenuous friendship pushes them all to the edge.

Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon. When a young intern at a recording studio discovers a generational talent online she offers to be her manager. The whirlwind of fame, parties, money and power bond them together… and blind them to the increasingly darkening reality of the industry and their own friendship.

Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor. A woman pitches a tv show based on her therapist husband’s (very real) patients, blurring the lines between art and life.

The Future Perfect by Cay Kim. A young woman grows up between cultures, struggling to succeed and navigating an increasingly complex relationship with her mother. An investigation of love, girlhood, family, and the dreams our mothers have for us.

Nerve Damage by Annakeara Stinson. At the expiration date of her restraining order, a woman sees a man who looks suspiciously like her stalker-ex. She takes increasingly unhinged steps to determine if it’s him as reality and perception begin to blur.

The Afterpains by Anna Julia Stainsby. A mulit-POV account of two families coping with grief, isolation and living thousands of miles away from their homelands.

Weather by Jenny Offill. A struggling graduate student turned unofficial therapist to her former mentor’s podcast listeners struggles to find optimism and reasons for being as she becomes increasingly obsessed with disaster psychology and end of the world prepping.

My Husband by Maud Ventura. A woman is obsessed with her husband of 15 years – but is not convinced he returns her feelings. She becomes more and more desperate to be sure of his love, until one day she goes too far.

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott. A new mother with a seemingly perfect life struggles to come to grips with her life postpartum, becoming increasingly convinced that her writing is the answer to the strange things that begin happening.

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy. Following five black women over the course of their 20+ year friendship as they navigate the wilderness of their 20s, 30s, and beyond through political upheaval, economic instability and increasing volatility.

Sometimes you just need a book about a family more complicated than your own – love, resentment, obligation, and all the weird stuff in between. Whether it’s Big Feelings about motherhood, relationship dynamics between siblings or long held family secrets, no one knows how to push your buttons more than the people who installed them.

Private Rites by Julia Armfield. Three sisters reunite after their father’s death to sort through his secrets, until an unexpected revelation in his will shatters their bond. The aftermath spins out of control in this modern retelling of King Lear.

Worry by Alexandra Tanner. Two sisters-turned-roommates navigate a tumultuous year filled with parasocial internet follows, parents caught up in deep-state internet conspiracies, and other stumbling blocks on the road to adulthood.

Show, Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. A short story collection exploring themes of marriage, friendship, fame and middle age.

Children By Melissa Albert. What would you do if your mother stole your life? The estranged children of a famous author contend with the fact that she wrote their childhoods into her beloved fantasy series, asking questions about memory, reality, and ownership.

Dominion By Addie E. Citchens. The Reverend of Dominion, Mississippi, is not as righteous as he seems to be. When his son is caught up in an encounter with a stranger, the truth threatens to come out.

Foster by Claire Keegan. A neglected child in rural Ireland is taken in by distant relatives, and slowly begins to blossom — but the unspoken reason for her stay threatens the love and stability she longs for.

Confessions by Catherine Airey. A story of family told through three generations of women in Ireland as decades of secrets are uncovered in their attic.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Two families become entwined over decades after a single moment in the aftermath of the allied victory in Europe. The complex secret plays out over decades, impacting each other and the next generation.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey- Stein. Two sisters grapple with the legacy of their mother while navigating love, ambition, loyalty and self-sabotage – the impossible choice we make as we pursue our dreams.

Chosen Family by Madeline Gray. At an elite all girls prep school, the relationship between two girls becomes a messy friendship, feud, and unrequited love affair that lasts nearly 20 years. Release Date: July 14, 2026.

I’m Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca Wait. Told between two funerals, two generations of sisters grapple with family dynamics, mental illness, and repeating cycles. Release date: September 1, 2026.

This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman. Two sisters, mourning the passing of the third, have a misunderstanding that results in a decade of silence that their children and grandchildren refuse to get involved in.

Ghost Forest by Pik Shuen Fung. After the death of her father, a young immigrant from Hong Kong to Canada struggles to grieve in a family that doesn’t discuss their feelings.

Sisters by Daisy Johnson. Following a bullying incident, two increasingly isolated sisters struggle to know where one ends and the other begins. As they increasingly push boundaries and wrestle with their worst impulses, they uncover shocking truths about their past.

Ghost Roots by Pemi Aguda. A collection of short stories that investigate the myth, legacy, gender and tradition in Nigerian society.

Summer is a perfect time to immerse yourselves in other people’s mess; Beautiful people making catastrophic decisions in stunning locales. Affairs and angst. Complex interpersonal relationships, unreliable narrators and questionable plot devices. Bonus points for extreme wealth and loudly hissing “don’t do it” while you read. A particularly satisfying summer category because mess and literature are not mutually exclusive.

Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian. Two married professors’ extramarital affairs become the center of an explosive campus scandal, weaving a story of power, attraction, love and betrayal.

They All Fall In Love In The End by Halli Blassingam. A woman in an open relationship accidentally falls for the only two people who are off limits. She is determined to have it all, or ruin her life trying.

Skin Contact by Elisa Faison. A woman reeling from her mother’s death suggests opening her marriage, resulting in a tumultuous five year experiment. – Release Date: June 23, 2026.

Wasp’s Nest by Kat Stoddard. A love triangle unfolds over the course of seven days at a Cape Cod wedding, between the bride, her ex… and his much younger plus one. Release date: June 30, 2026.

One of us by Elizabeth Day. When the eccentric older daughter of a powerful family is found dead, suspicion swirls around them and those in their orbit. Like The Wedding People meets Succession.

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers. The ten year relationship (both real and hypothetical) between two young parents happily married to other people. One of my favorite books of 2025.

A genre that explores possibilities and impossibilities of the world around us, often incorporating elements of science fiction or futurism, alternate history, horror and social commentary. This is my personal favorite kind of book, and there are a lot of them, so I broke the list up into related topics!

Homebound by Portia Elan. Four lives across time are entangled by an unfinished story saved to a floppy disk in the 1980s.

Light Breakers by Aja Gabel. An artist and a quantum physicist’s happy marriage is shadowed by the husband’s dead child by his first wife. When he’s invited to work on a secretive time travel project in the desert, the couple considers the impact of time on their biggest heartbreaks.

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey. In an alternate universe where no one won WWII, a set of triplets are the last residents at a countryside orphanage taking medicine to fend off a mysterious illness that has claimed nearly all of their friends. As they learn the horrifying truth about their origins, they must unite to escape and survive.

Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim: When people immigrate to a new country, the border splits them in two, leaving one copy trapped in the life they leave behind. Read if you’re a fan of : Severance

Elsewhere, by Alexis Schaitkin. An isolated community in the mountains has an unsettling history as girls become women and wives and mothers, some of these mothers simply disappear. A young woman grieves her own mother’s disappearance, and, upon becoming a mother, wonders if and when she will disappear as well.

The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead. An alternate take on history following a young girl’s flight from the south via a real underground train network that ferries enslaved people to freedom.

How High We Go in The Dark by Sequonia Nagamatsu. In 2030, an ancient virus is released from the arctic. Told in intricately linked stories over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself from a world-altering plague.

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan. 100 years in the future when much of the world has been decimated by rising seas and a catastrophic nuclear incident, survivors are haunted by the world and culture that has been lost. A lonely academic begins a literary detective hunt about a poem written and performed - then lost forever – in 2014.

Earth 7 by Deb Olin Unferth. Facing climate catastrophe, Earth is depopulated - some off to mars, some abandoning their lives to digital code. The remaining holdouts navigate love, hope for the future, and questions of consciousness.

Zone One by Colson Whitehead: After a global plague ravishes the world and leaves behind feral zombies, a civilian team is tasked with clearing lower Manhattan of stragglers. Despite the mundane mission, things start to go terribly wrong.

Oryx & Crake, by Margaret Atwood. In a world where the population has been wiped out by a plague, the last man alive grapples with his role in the downfall of society, and the pressure to establish a new world.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder. On an unnamed island, objects disappear – and when they do, most residents forget them forever. The few who remember live in fear of the Memory Police who exist to ensure the lost remains forgotten.

Prophet Song, by Paul Lynch. In a near future Ireland sliding into authoritarianism, a scientist and her family watch as political violence escalates around them.

Bewilderment by Richard Powers. An astrobiologist enrolls his troubled son in an experimental AI-neural feedback program to allow him to get closer to his deceased mother’s mind in hopes of bolstering his emotional regulation.

Who Knows You By Heart by C.J. Farley. A broke Jamaican American ditches her non-profit job for the lure of a high paying gig at a big tech company. When she is recruited to work on an AI-powered storytelling project programmed to be free of racist and sexist biases, she dives in with excitement until her team discovers a toxic secret.

Love is an Algorithm by Laura Brooke Robson. When the founder of a dating app starts dating a passionate musician, his anxieties about the health of the relationship inspire an AI powered version of his app to quantify relationship health and potential. As the app catches fire, their relationship suffers.

The This by Adam Roberts. Smart technology and AI have infiltrated every aspect of society, including The This, a social media platform injected into and operating within your brain.

Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Asa Yoneda: Facing extinction, AI “mothers” oversee reproduction, raise children, and manage the evolution of mankind.

Ee don’t do a ton of traditional summery rom-com romance novels over here at earlybird HQ, but I can always get behind yearning and emotional damage – more slow burns, soul ties and karmic debts, than meet-cutes. Romance is part of the plot, but it’s not the *only* plot.

Early Thirties by Josh Duboff. Two best friends in NYC are reach their thirties and their changing phase of life puts a strain on their friendship as they both desperately try to determine who they want to become.

Go Gentle by Maria Semple. A stoic philosopher has a mid-life revolution after a chance meeting with a handsome stranger and becomes consumed by desire – and willing to risk everything for it.

Heart the Lover by Lily King. An intricate love triangle in college spins out into a decades long tangle of friendship, passion, inspiration and heartache. A quick and beautiful read.

Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman. Told over one infinite summer when everything feels urgent, permanent and fleeting, an unexpected kiss between two out of three best friends throws everything they know about life, each other, and themselves into question. Ps: check out my interview with Sonia here!

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley. Told over a decade in the early 2000s, chronicling the twisting creative partnership between a songwriter and his muse. Their chemistry keeps them circling each other’s orbit, sparking new passions, heartbreaks, and inspiration, with “will they or won’t they” an always present question.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo. A figure skating pair working to escape their turbulent childhoods go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, but a shocking incident at the Olympics brings their partnership to a sudden halt. A decade later, an unauthorized documentary reignites public interest in their partnership, and uncovers old wounds.

Homeseeking Karissa Chen. A generational drama following one couple from World War II to 2008 as six decades of tumultuous events in Chinese history pull them apart, change them, and bring them back together. Read if you’re a fan of: Past Lives.

Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas. A young woman on holiday with her mother begins an affair with a man twenty years her senior, kicking off a summer of intimacy, stability, and questions about the life she has, versus the one she thinks she wants.

Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly. A creative writing academic becomes infatuated with a poet who is not his partner. As his obsession grows, he is forced to confront the consequences of his choices and their impact on the lives of everyone around him.

There’s Going to Be Trouble by Jen Silverman. Decades apart, two quiet, apolitical academics are drawn into relationships with fiery activists in the present day in the 1960s. Both sets of start crossed romances have explosive consequences, igniting passion and politics, while revealing long held family secrets.

If summer isn’t for affairs and angst, then it’s for an exotic getaway – real or imagined. I love books that can mentally transport you to another location through vivid descriptions of time and place that are central to the writing and the plot. These stories are perfect for a mental vacation, even if you’re not jetting off anywhere this summer!

June Baby by Shannon Garvey. After her mother’s death, a young woman is sent off to Block Island where she finds refuge, beauty, creativity, and even first love. A decade later, she must reexamine what she knows about her past, and decide which direction to take her future.

Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the French Riviera in the Jazz age following the glamorous rise and tragic decline of a wealthy, mentally ill woman and her psychiatrist husband.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. A young social climber is hired to bring a prodigal son back from Italy – but his increasing fascination becomes dark and obsessive. The movie is a classic, but the book is phenomenal.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. Two retired Rangers take a cattle drive from Texas to Montana, facing danger and adventure in the American West

People Watching in the Desert by Cali Adeline. When an unexpected windfall pushes a lonely young woman out of her comfort zone and into a high end resort, where she navigates attentive staff, eccentric fellow guests, and a potential romance. Release Date: July 14, 2026.

Clutch by Emily Nemens. A friend group of nearly 20 years gathers for a weekend in Palm Springs where they navigate personal and professional tumult.

Sunrise by Tea Obreht. Release Date: Sunrise, Wyoming is a western cowboy town at the heart of a ghost story – the story unfolds between three strangers over 100 years. August 11, 2026.

Fairfield County by DeLana R.A. Dameron. A family saga about the legacy of Southern Black cowboys, following four generations of horsemen and women in South Carolina, celebrating their deep connection to the land and their horses.

Same, same, but different. These novels are a journey not only to another place, but also another time entirely.

The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn. A queer reimagining of the legend of Lancelot, detailing his journey to becoming the famed Knight of the Round Table. Okay medieval myths are historical-ish! Recommend for fans of The Song Of Achilles.

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus. Soldiers in World War I are tasked with entering “no man’s land” to euthanize a fallen soldier – instead they find a fallen angel, who may be key to ending the war.

Land by Maggie O’Farrell. Set in the aftermath of the Great Hunger in 1890s Ireland follows a cartographer employed by the British. He has a mystical experience that sets him on a new journey to reclaim the land through the documentation of Irish history, language and culture.

Playworld by Adam Ross. Set in NYC in the 1980s, A 14 year old struggles to balance his role on a hit TV show with the pressure of hit elite high school. The increasing pressure leads him into an inappropriate relationship with a friend of his parents.

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland. A Navy wife finds herself on a tiny Mediterranean island where her husband works on a Nuclear Submarine. Soon, she faces simmering political tensions, potential nuclear contamination, and shifting loyalties. Release Date: SetJuly 14, 2026.

Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia. Set in New York in the Gilded Age, A former ballerina marries a struggling sculptor in a marriage of convenience that soon shifts into something much darker.

Where the Girls Were by Kate Schatz. In 1960s San Francisco, a once-promising young woman is sent to a home for unwed mothers, highlighting how the sexual revolution and feminist movement collided with the limits of reproductive rights.

They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey. Set in 1980s New York in the backdrop of the AIDS crisis, a choreographer estranged from her father looks back on their relationship in her youth, and the betrayal that tore them apart.

The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson. The daughter of a Jamaican family in 1960s England navigates cycles of abuse, religious beliefs, resilience and survival.

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart. Set in 1990s Glasgow, a teenage boy navigates poverty, family dysfunction, sectarian violence and queer romance in an emotionally devastating coming of age.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. When a young man is thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, it begins a twenty year journey of escape, treasure, reinvention and revenge. Had to include the classic!

There is absolutely no reason that the culty, supernatural, spooky, and otherwise unsettling should be confined to October. Get scared while the sun still shines.

The Unworthy by Agustina Bazierrica. In a world plagued with catastrophe, a woman is cloistered in a secretive, violent, religious order. When a stranger enters their midst, she begins to question her reality.

Paper Cut by Rachel Taff. A true-crime icon famous for escaping a cult twenty years ago becomes the subject of a documentary. Returning to the scene of the crime, and desperate to fend off the increasingly threatening questions of online sleuths, she must face how far she’s willing to go to protect her story.

Little One by Olivia Muenter. A woman confronts her dark past when a journalist discovers her connection to the cult where she grew up.

A Good Person by Kirsten King. A young woman blindsided by a breakup decides to hex her ex – only to become the prime suspect when he’s found dead.

The Unknown by Riley Sager. A group of actors arrive on a mysterious island to research the mysterious disappearances at a commune of spiritual mystics over 100 years ago – but when an accident leaves them stranded, the disappearances begin again. Release date: August 4, 2026.

The Supper Club Saints by Claire Swinarski. A young mother returns home after living in a cult-like commune under the spell of a mommy influencer where she, her sister and her mother explore their own definition of what it means to be a “good mom”.

Muñeca by Cynthia Gomez. In 1960s Oakland, a young, queer, Latine witch works to save a young heiress – at her own peril.

Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo. A misfit academic and her allies fight demons, vampires and corruption on Yale’s Campus. The conclusion to the Ninth House Trilogy - highly recommend if you have not already started this series! Release Date: September 15, 2026.

The Emilys by Heather Abel. A small New England town becomes obsessed with finding the cure for a mysterious ailment spreading in their community that causes those affected to become reclusive. Release date: June 16, 2026.

The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders. A woman inherits her family’s farm and moves home to escape her ghosts – only to realize the farm is haunted by her ancestors. She must weigh a potential sale of the farm with the hopes and burdens of those who came before her. Release Date: July 7, 2026.

Night Songs by Alli Dyer. On her 18th birthday, a young woman learns that her mother was one of country music’s most iconic artists. Desperate to learn more, she soon uncovers her mother’s belief that the women in their family are cursed to die at 33, kicking off a race against the clock to find answers.

The Devil Knows Her Name by C.N. Vair. A dying woman makes a deal with the devil, leaving herself ageless and tied to protect and serve an isolated Appalachian town. A series of unnatural events threaten the sanctuary she’s built, and puts her in a position where she must risk it all to save her community, or make a far more sinister deal. Release date: August 25, 2026.

Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka. A filmmaker turned housewife moves into her dream home, but when unusual and unsettling events start to escalate, she must determine if it’s the house – or her that is haunted. A twisty look at the prices women pay for domesticity and motherhood.

If the Dead Belong Here by Carson Faust. When a young Native American girl goes missing, her shattered family begins to have nightmares about her disappearance that blur the line between dreams and reality. Guided by the elders, they must lay family secrets to rest in order to find the missing girl.

We Already Dug The Grave by Emma C. Wells. Two estranged sisters are reunited to plot a murder, forcing them to face secrets (and other bodies) from their past. Release Date: September 8, 2026.

Solace House by Will Maclean. A poor college student takes a summer job cleaning out a Victorian Mansion, where secrets, missing persons, and mysterious realms abound. Release Date: October 13, 2026.

Nothing explores the fundamental questions of what it is to be alive, to create, and how we make and find meaning in it all like books about people Going Through It on the journey to make Art. A collection of the strange, complicated dynamics that arise around artists, writers, and other creatives.

The Book Of Goose by Yiyun Li. Children in a backwater French town ravaged by WWII create an elaborate literary hoax that spirals out of their control. The propulsive story investigates their friendship, art, creation, fame and loss.

Strange Girls by Sarvat Hasin. Estranged friends and former creative partners come back together after a decade and must confront what they are (were?) to one another.

Lucid Dreams by Daphne Palasi Andreades. A disillusioned artist crashes after the success of their first novel, and becomes plagued by mysterious visions and psychological, artistic, and spiritual challenges that drive writer’s block. An exploration of modern womanhood, and the tension between art and capitalism. Release date: October 27,2026.

Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor. A painter finds himself creatively blocked and spends a summer questioning life, beauty, god, sex, art, and what it means to be a black artist making black art.

Kitten by Stacy Yu. A recent college graduate, desperate to escape the looming demands of adulthood, becomes increasingly obsessed with her boyfriend’s cat while on vacation with his family.

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress. Set against the backdrop of the early 2010s recession and occupy Wall Street, four artists at an elite art college find themselves in a web of rivalry and desire while they attempt to understand identity, authenticity, joy and failure.

Stoner by John Williams. An English professor from humble beginnings finds his advancement through society to be a series of disappointments as he confronts love, loss, and the meaning of an ordinary life.

Daughter by Claudia Dey. The daughter of a famous playwright strives to stand apart, looking to understand who she is and her ability to make art out from underneath his shadow.

Good News by Alexa Yasmin Brahme. In the competitive world of contemporary art, pushed and pulled by the expectations of an immigrant family, an artist begins to question not only her art, but the life she is trying to build.

okay that is MORE than enough from me, y’all! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear from you: what are you reading???! what (if anything!) did I miss that you wholeheartedly recommend???