Alta Journal’s California Book Club
The book: Grand Avenue by Greg Sarris
Our reviewer says: “In his fiction debut, Sarris offers 10 affecting stories that weave the history of five generations of Pomo Indians in Santa Rosa, Calif., with that of the other ethnic residents of Grand Avenue.” Read more.
The book: The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad
Our reviewer says: “Ahmad debuts with an ambitious collection of stories that take novel approaches to significant moments in history.... With each story, Ahmad offers a satisfying exploration of feminine defiance. The result is arresting.” Read more.
The book: Good People by Patmeena Sabit
Our reviewer says: “Sabit debuts with an electrifying whodunit about the suspicious death of an Afghan American teen.... This propulsive tale heralds Sabit as a writer worth keeping tabs on.” Read more.
The book: Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State by Caleb Gayle
Our reviewer says: “In this enthralling saga, journalist Gayle resurfaces the little-remembered late-19th-century effort to turn Oklahoma into a Black state. It’s one not to miss.” Read more.
The book: Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage
Our reviewer says: “Immigration lawyer Burden traces the exhilarating start and excruciating dissolution of her two-decade marriage in this bruising debut. It’s a gut punch.” Read more.
The book: Skin & Bones by Renée Watson
Our reviewer says: “YA author Watson makes her adult debut with a heartfelt if heavy-handed exploration of a Black woman’s reckoning with her identity and self-image.... Readers will be glad to know Watson’s defiant and loving protagonist.” Read more.
The book: So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder
Our reviewer says: “Ginder follows five college friends as they approach middle age in his funny and poignant latest.” Read more.
Good Morning America Book Club
The book: The Exes by Leodora Darlington
Our reviewer says: “In Darlington’s nail-biting debut, a woman faces the ghosts of her past relationships as her seemingly happy marriage fractures.” Read more.
Good Morning America YA Book Club
The book: Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz
Our reviewer says: “Friendships and romances are tested against the backdrop of a magical Ivy League school in this energetic dark academia fantasy by de la Cruz.” Read more.
The book: Vigil by George Saunders
Our reviewer says: “A ghost attempts to guide an unrepentant oil executive toward redemption and the afterlife in the staggering latest from Saunders.... [The author] has outdone himself with this endlessly irreverent work of art.” Read more.
Jewish Book Council Book Club (fiction)
The book: At Last by Marisa Silver
Our reviewer says: “In the perceptive latest from Silver, two strong-willed women clash after they become entangled by their children’s marriage. It’s a resonant family drama.” Read more.
Jewish Book Council Book Club (nonfiction)
The book: Always Carry Salt: A Memoir of Preserving Language and Culture by Samantha Ellis
Our reviewer says: Ellis elicits hope and heartbreak in this moving exploration of her Iraqi Jewish roots. the journey is equal parts inspirational and edifying. Read more.
The book: TBA
The book: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Our reviewer says: “By making tangible the power that comes from embracing one’s heritage, Adeyemi conjures a story that resonates with magic both literal and figurative while condemning apathy in the face of injustice.” Read more.
The book: Rhythm and Design by LongTemple
The book: Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Our reviewer says: “Booker Prize–winning novelist Roy delivers a bracing memoir that traces her thorny relationship with her mother, teacher and social activist Mary Roy.... It’s a welcome addition to the shelf of memoirs about difficult moms.” Read more.
The book: A Map to the Door of No Return by Dionne Brand
The book: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Our reviewer says: “Nguyen’s poignant debut captures the perspectives of, and essence of the bond between, a parent and child, proving that language—and love—can transcend words.” Read more.
The book: Fifteen titles in honor of Black History Month.
The book: We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry
Our reviewer says: “Berry debuts with a striking and soulful crime novel about a woman investigating her aunt’s decades-old disappearance.... Readers will be wowed.” Read more.
The book: One & Only by Maurene Goo
Our reviewer says: “YA author Goo makes her adult romance debut with this enjoyable contemporary.... Add in a touch of magical realism, vivid prose, and well-rounded characters, and this makes for a diverting romp.” Read more.
The book: In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka
Our reviewer says: “Malicka’s bewitching debut revolves around a sensational London libel trial, told from the perspective of the defendant’s former assistant turned witness.... This serpentine courtroom drama will captivate readers.” Read more.
The book: Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin
The book: One & Only by Maurene Goo
Our reviewer says: “YA author Goo makes her adult romance debut with this enjoyable contemporary.... Add in a touch of magical realism, vivid prose, and well-rounded characters, and this makes for a diverting romp.” Read more.
The book: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
The book: Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong
Our reviewer says: “Wong outlines her life as an advocate and educator in this stunning collection of essays, interviews, and artwork.... The combination of memoir, manifesto, scrapbook, confession, and rousing call to action make for a winning mix. This one’s tough to forget.” Read more.
The book: TBA
The book: The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
Our reviewer says: “Sakhlecha’s disappointing latest begins like a golden age whodunit: a wealthy family gathers on an isolated island to divide up an inheritance.” Read more.
The book: Discipline by Larissa Pham
Our reviewer says: “Pham, author of the memoir Pop Song, turns to fiction with the dazzling story of an art critic who publishes a novel about the former professor who rejected her after their affair.... This is electrifying.” Read more.
