Staff Fiction Favorites

I kind of have an obsession with books where a woman is raised in extreme religious families. This fictional tale of a girl raised on TV with her preacher father, machinating mother, and five siblings fit the bill perfectly. I love the way Essie figures out how to escape by  using the rules and restrictions her parents set up against her. It is fantastically written. - Karena

Every ten years, the Dragan––a mysterious and powerful wizard––takes a teenaged girl from a local village as payment for his protection. Agnieszka is certain he won’t choose her, until he does, but she gives the Dragan more than he bargained for. Novik’s narrative drew me right in with its strong female characters, richly detailed world, and trope-defying plot. - Jade

Set at the moment of the Brexit vote, this book captures the fractured emotions of a post-election world while intelligently playing with reality and language. It’s full of tenderness and darkness, regrets and new opportunities for hope. I get excited whenever Ali Smith produces a new work because her writing reminds me of what a privilege it is to be alive. - Jessica

Sweet, sexy Katie is a small-town girl who was a champion rider in Kentucky and writes letters to her mama every week. Bold, handsome Cassidy has built her life around playing as hard as she works. Both are ambitious lawyers whose tension sizzles across the boardroom table and in the dark corners of a divey, neighborhood lesbian bar. This book is the perfect rom-com! - Clara

Vivid writing transports the reader to the magic that is New Orleans, a city grievously wounded by Katrina and struggling to recover its soul. Jude Dubuisson, street magician and damaged demigod, is tasked with solving the mystery of who murdered the Fortune god. The book captures the essence of New Orleans in a satisfying gumbo of gods, culture and folklore. - Trey

As a fan of the genre, I know the search for a satisfying mystery can leave you sifting through blurbs that end up sounding somewhat samey. This one is an ingenious mix of Christie-style English village murder and contemporary publishing thriller that scratches the itch whether you're an avid mystery reader or just an occasional one. I truly found it hard to put down! - Ilana

Looking for a new fantasy series? Hawke's is a breath of fresh air. Told from the POV of a brother and sister, respectively, who are in the business of poison, I could hardly keep up with the many twists and turns of suspense and action. The character growth was well thought out and the world-building is complex, yet not overwhelming. - Karena

Believe the hype! This novel is a scorcher. Set around a powwow at the Oakland Coliseum, the book follows a large cast of characters as they navigate through their individual experiences as “urban Indians.” With prose that will pound at your heart, Orange draws us into the world of each character, and ultimately forces us to confront the darker truths of colonialism’s legacy. - Jessica

If you loved The Historian or People of the Book, this should be your next read. Dr. Voth, a modern-day historian, faces relationship troubles while researching a unique manuscript from 18th century London. Part counter-history, part historical-thriller, Rosenberg tackles transgender history and incarceration in this deeply satisfying mystery. - Clara

This quiet, unassuming novel has a strange power that grows with every page. Putatively telling the story of a meek academic beset by seemingly small setbacks, it captures, in heartbreaking detail, the story of a human life—flawed, poignant and ultimately tragic. Once out of print, it’s now more popular than ever, and will likely be around for a very long time to come. - Rico