Annabelle’s Pick: Hard Girls by J. Robert Lennon

“Propulsive and completely unpredictable, Hard Girls follows estranged twins who must reunite to find and confront their mother. As an identical twin, I was immediately drawn to this story and was fascinated by Jane’s and Lila’s unique dynamic as they embark on a treacherous quest to uncover the secret that destroyed their family—only to discover darker truths along the way.”

- Annabelle

Archer’s Pick: The Library Book by Susan Orlean

“I love a nonfiction book that is as gripping as fiction. The Library Book goes way beyond its premise: the 1986 fire that blazed within the LA Central Library for seven hours—even with almost all of LA’s firefighters at work—initiating a juicy arson investigation and a heroic effort to salvage the 700,000 items that were destroyed. It’s part true crime, part history, and above all a beautiful ode to the integral role of libraries in communities everywhere.”

- Archer

Emily’s Pick: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

“Two years after getting clean, Cyrus still doesn't feel like his life has any direction. He's a poet with a meaningless dayjob where he pretends to be dying, which could be responsible for his fixation on death. He's obsessed with the idea of being a Martyr, of one's death "meaning something" to the world. When he hears about a fellow Iranian artist who is spending her final days as a living art installation he drops everything to meet and interview her for his Book of Martyrs. What follows is a deeply human story about life, love, and death.

I loved this book for many reasons, but above all is Akbar's prose. As poet-turned-novelist, he weaves together multiple timelines, perspectives, and histories to craft a breathtaking portrait of what it means to be alive.”

- Emily

Bailey’s Pick: Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman

“Once More With Feeling unravels a Britney-esque pop star’s rise to fame, fall from grace, and eventual comeback with depth and insight. What could be a simple celebrity satire is grounded by a compelling second-chance romance and complicated, fleshed out characters. The triple timeline builds a sense of mystery in the rom-com realm — and the result is as entertaining as it is heartfelt. You’ll be hooked till the end to find out what happened in the past and how it will all work out in the present!”

- Bailey