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Dream Count, BookA Novel

by Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
Book, 2025. First hardcover edition.
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Holds: 58 on 130 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

Comment:

Introspective and fast-paced, Adichie's latest novel, her first since 2013's Americanah, is a meditation on cultural divides between Africa and America, class, race, misogyny, and woke American academia. Narrated by four expatriate Nigerian women quarantining at the time of the covid pandemic, the story centers around beautiful, privileged travel writer Chia, the linchpin who knows the other three. Stuck in Maryland during quarantine, Chia has plenty of time to ruminate about her many failed relationships. Chia's childhood friend, high-powered D.C. lawyer Zikora, a devout Catholic, is dismayed by her boyfriend's behavior after the birth of their son. Her stern, traditional mother arrives from Nigeria to help. Kadiatou, Chia's housekeeper and cook, a Guinean of the Fula tribe, emigrates to New York City and finds a good-paying job as a hotel cleaner. When a guest assaults her, her whole world is turned upside down. Chia's unflinching cousin Omelogor, disturbed by the blatant corruption she witnesses at the bank she works at, embezzles money and distributes it to enterprising poor women in the surrounding villages, then decides to enroll in a graduate program to study the issue of pornography. Readers will savor Adichie's warm confessional prose, which feels like an invigorating conversation with an old friend.

Atmosphere, BookA Love Story

by Reid, Taylor Jenkins
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 801 on 99 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

Comment:

In Reid's latest novel, set in Houston in the 1980s, Joan Goodwin has lived a relatively banal life. She's a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and spends most of her time with her niece Francis, but her easygoing days are no more after she applies to NASA's space shuttle program seeking women scientists. Within her first few days at the Johnson Space Center, Joan is surprised to find that, instead of feeling marginalized the way she usually does within groups, she feels like she belongs within this group of exceptional candidates. Her once-quiet days are now filled with research, training, and group outings, all leading to one common goal: to be chosen to fly in a space shuttle. Joan is falling in love with her new life and finds herself struggling to match the old Joan to the new. Told from two different time periods, Atmosphere is a riveting novel about a woman coming to terms with herself during a transformative time in American history.

The Devils, Book

by Abercrombie, Joe
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 94 on 33 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

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Alex is a street urchin, thief, pickpocket and liar, an all-around fraudster doing whatever it takes to survive life in the Holy City. So when a duke whisks her off the streets and tells her she is the long-lost heir to the Serpent Throne of Troy, to say she is shocked would be an understatement. Brother Diaz is a monk whose his faith in the church is matched only by his faith in bureaucracy. When a new assignment puts him in charge of the seediest elements of the church, he starts to learn things that rock his world. A haughty vampire, a sex obsessed werewolf, an invisible elf and an undead knight make up Brother Diaz's new band of misfits. Together they must escort Alex to Troy to reclaim her heritage and heal the schism between the eastern and western churches. Set in an alternate history of Europe, this classic fantasy story is at once familiar, highly original, and very entertaining. Abercrombie creates a highly compelling and likeable cast of characters in this fantasy adventure. The story is gritty and dark, full of great dialogue and plenty of intrigue, a must read for fantasy lovers.

Esperance, Book

by Oyebanji, Adam
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 26 on 6 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

Comment:

A murder in Chicago is nothing unusual. But when a father and baby are found dead of drowning in sea water hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, Detective Ethan Krol is confounded. As he starts to dig into what could have happened, his investigation uncovers a series of similar crimes as far away as Nigeria. He scrambles to figure out the connection between these crimes and pin down the killer before they strike again. Abidemi is a long way from home. Freshly arrived on the shores of Bristol, U.K., she stands out quite a bit - identifying herself as Nigerian, dressed in a double breasted suit and talking like a 1920s gangster. She quickly befriends a local to help her and goes about her business with supernatural efficiency. Abidemi is on a mission which seems to be propelling her right into the middle of Detective Krol's investigation. This story is expertly crafted to heighten the intrigue of the mystery by blending it with an Afrofuturistic tale which takes readers from Chicago to Scotland and beyond. The action builds to a satisfying ending that unravels an underlying story immersed in science fiction and worthy of comparison to Octavia Butler. This book is fast-paced with engaging characters and thrilling action while also touching on some serious themes.

The Incandescent, BookA School Story

by Tesh, Emily
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 30 on 29 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

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Walden is no stranger to fighting demons. A school full of magic-learning teens makes for an enticing target for all kinds of hungry creatures, and as the Director of Magic, it's her job to keep them at bay. When Walden finds herself fighting one too many demon incursions in quick succession, she must figure out where the gap in her defenses could be or if someone could be intentionally sabotaging her. Despite the risks, Walden is not worried. She is an expert in her field and has a secret weapon. For over a decade she has had a powerful demon leashed and ready to do her bidding - a last resort if she is ever outmatched. When the attacks continue, Walden's hold over her demonic servant starts to slip, and everything comes to a head as she desperately tries to keep the children from danger. This pleasing twist on the dark academia genre places a teacher as the central protagonist which makes for an enjoyable and original journey through life at a magical school. Tesh draws fantasy lovers in with a well-drawn world and an interesting story full of clever plot twists and a likeable cast of characters including some LGBTQIA representation. A must read for fans of Niomi Novik's Scholomance trilogy or for anyone who loves dark academia.

Flesh, BookA Novel

by Szalay, David
Book, 2025. First Scribner hardcover edition.
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Holds: 43 on 14 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

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As a teenager, Istvâan is seduced by a married, middle-aged woman who lives in his apartment complex in Hungary, a woman whom he helps with her groceries, but when his adolescent passions kick in, his life takes a dark turn. From there, his life proceeds episodically, tracing subsequent relationships and twists of fate as he ends up emigrating to the UK. The plot is consistently engaging, but it's Istvâan's inner motivations that are the most interesting thing about this novel. He is a fascinatingly passive character, often monosyllabic in his dialogue, but Szalay hints enticingly about his inner life and motivations without ever spelling it all out, keeping the reader speculating about the impact of youthful trauma upon his fate. It all builds to a crucial, climactic choice Istvâan is faced with. Szalay's previous books (Turbulence and the Booker finalist All That Man Is) explored the theme of masculinity through many connected characters, but here he succeeds in putting a single character under his microscope with masterful ambivalence. A good bet for readers who enjoyed Ian McEwan's Lessons and The Only Story by Julian Barnes, this spare, gritty novel haunts.

Hope Dies Last, BookVisionary People Across the World, Fighting to Find Us A Future

by Weisman, Alan
Book, 2025
Available View location availability for Hope Dies Last, Book, Available
Added Jun 12, 2025

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This globe-trotting work of climate journalism from Alan Weisman (The World Without Us) reports on a variety of experiments and success stories in the struggle to adapt to a planet changing faster even than experts have long warned it would. It opens with a look at restoring Iraqi marshes in a region of the world that probably once inspired the Garden of Eden narrative, and it explores methods to develop sustainable new food supply, such as a portrait of one celebrated Spanish chef who is taking inspiration from indigenous culture and looking to the sea for new (yet traditional) farming practices. A botanist works to help plant life cope with warmer temperatures, and other scientists study geothermal sources of clean energy. Like many recent books hot off the presses, it already cries out for an updated edition that reckons with the impact of recent drastic cuts to investment in research, but meanwhile there is a bounty of inspiring coverage here to keep readers engaged. This is, quite simply, a lot of book, like a compilation of top-notch magazine pieces, and the many heroes profiled here will inspire readers with their optimism and ingenuity.

How to Share An Egg, BookA True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty

by Reichert, Bonny
Book, 2025
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Added Jun 12, 2025

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A quiet, thoughtful memoir braiding together the author's relationships with food, writing, her father, and her father's Holocaust survival story. Reichert traces her childhood and coming of age in 1970s and 80s Edmonton, Ontario, and her adulthood in Toronto. She looks back with gentle attention to what she felt and thought at each moment in time, letting the story build around the tension between knowledge of her father's childhood and his express desire for her to be happy, and her resistance to both. As she begins to pursue her own desires as an independent adult, and eventually (spurred on by covid lockdowns) turns toward reconstructing the specifics of her father's life before and during the war, there is a sense that all of us experience our singular lives against history's backdrop. We are each responsible for the meaning we make, and the mouths we feed.

Julie Chan Is Dead, BookA Novel

by Zhang, Liann
Book, 2025. First Atria Books hardcover edition.
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Holds: 97 on 42 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

Comment:

Julie Chan is used to being mistaken for her identical twin, Chloe. Chloe is, after all, the famous one. Separated as babies, Chloe was adopted by a wealthy white couple while Julie wound up living with an irascible aunt. After college, Chloe becomes an online influencer while Julie works at the checkout lane in her local grocery store. As an influencer, Chloe has access to a glamorous, exciting world that Julie (still working in the checkout line, still living at home with said aunt) watches and envies from her forays into Instagram stalking. When Chloe dies unexpectedly and Julie is once again mistaken for her, she realizes this is an opportunity to transform her life. One deception leads to another and Julie, stepping easily into Chloe's designer shoes, finally gets a taste of what it's like to be one of the privileged online elite. It's only after she gets swept up by the Bellas, an exclusive group of influencers, that Julie starts to sense the pervasive darkness lying beneath the polished filters of their lives. Compelling, yet grounding, Julie Chan Is Dead is a solid reminder that not everything you see online is as perfect as it looks.

Matriarch, BookA Memoir

by Knowles, Tina
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 44 on 85 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

Comment:

Knowles's memoir begins with a reflection on her early life and the core values instilled in her. Throughout the memoir, she reflects on her family life, the strength of kinship, and the complex blend of both the positive and difficult moments of her childhood. Readers will appreciate the vulnerability with which she writes, especially when she reflects on her first marriage and how difficult it was to leave it. Knowles is a public figure, known for her contributions to the fashion and beauty industry, and for being the mother to two superstars, Beyoncé and Solange. But in Matriarch, she is more than just a celebrity mom. She writes with refreshing honesty about being a mother, not only to her biological daughters but also to two other women she mothered as if they were her own. Her deep love for motherhood shines through, particularly in the way she shares stories filled with concern, redemption, and unwavering support. Regarding her own mother, she shares both the difficult and endearing moments that shifted from frustration to understanding as she matured. Throughout Matriarch, she shares not only her life's victories but also its tragedies and losses, crafting a narrative full of truth and resilience. She has endured much but continues to live with purpose and passion. This memoir offers readers a window into the private world of a woman who is so often seen through the jaded lens of being a celebrity and reminds us that behind every mother is a powerful, personal story worth preserving.

Maine Characters, PaperbackA Novel

by Orenstein, Hannah
Paperback, 2025
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Holds: 110 on 22 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

Comment:

Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster share two things, even if one of them doesn't know: spending summers at a family lake house - and sharing a father. Vivian has no idea of the secrets that her father's life holds, whereas Lucy has always been aware of her half-sister, envious of her position in the spotlight of their father's attention. After her father's death, Vivian plans to sell the lake house, only to be met with unexpected resistance in the form of a half-sister she's never met. As the summer passes, the two sisters attempt to unearth their father's secrets, untangling their own complex relationship in the process. A messy realistic portrayal of grief and family, this is recommended for readers of Elin Hilderbrand and Jennifer Weiner.

Is A River Alive?, Book

by Macfarlane, Robert
Book, 2025
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Holds: 37 on 36 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

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Nature writer MacFarlane, drawing inspiration from his local springs near Oxford, sets off on three journeys around the world to explore the question posed by the book's title. (When he asked his young son if he thought rivers were alive, his son basically answered, "duh, Dad." Would that grownups could all be so in touch with their intuition.) MacFarlane travels to a lush cloud forest in Ecuador threatened by mining interests, polluted waterways in coastal India and a river system protected by indigenous people in Canada. Readers whose eyes glaze over at science writing will be glad to find the emphasis here is on the incredible people MacFarlane travels with, their unforgettable travels, and the philosophical questions they consider about the legal rights of nature. This kindles a sense of wonder that will appeal to fans of nature travel writing, Werner Herzog documentaries and books like Martha Nussbaum's Justice for Animals and Barry Lopez's Horizon.

Nesting, Book

by O'Donnell, Roisín
Book, 2025. First U.S. edition.
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Added Jun 12, 2025

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The pressure builds in O'Donnell's excellent, propulsive debut as pregnant thirty-something Ciara tries to leave her controlling, emotionally abusive husband, Ryan, with the two small children she shares with him. After leaving her marriage with very few resources, Ciara encounters one difficult circumstance after another. She is turned away at the airport while attempting to travel to her mother's home in England, because Ryan put a block on his daughters' passports. There's a housing crisis in Ireland, so Ciara and the girls move into a rundown hotel room while waiting for subsidized housing. Ryan tries to lure her back while also threatening Ciara as she works her way through the court system. While Ryan has not physically abused Ciara, as the tension intensifies, there is a palpable sense of danger. O'Donnell presents a realistic portrayal of the immense hardship of leaving an abusive relationship, and Ciara is a relatable and well-drawn protagonist. Fans of both domestic suspense and women's fiction will find it a satisfying read.

Woodworking, Book

by St. James, Emily
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 89 on 31 copies
Added Jun 12, 2025

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Thirty-something Erica Skyberg is a teacher in rural South Dakota. Recently divorced from her best friend, she is growing weary from the cognitive dissonance of maintaining the facade of being a man. When Abigail Hawkes, a brash, 17-year-old and openly trans student transfers to the school where Erica teaches, Erica finds herself, on a stressful day, coming out to her. And so a fascinating role reversal takes place in which the adult teacher goes to the young adult student for moral support and advice. Abigail, with problems of her own, is the kind of eye-rolling teenage girl who finds adults - and so much of adult life - hypocritical and often disgusting. While Erica is demure and responsible and knows that she cannot be friends with this precocious teenager, no matter how much she needs a queer ally. But life in a hostile small town keeps throwing them together against their better judgment. It’s messy, and that’s what makes it good fiction. With dramatic, smart and soulful plot twists, this page-turning novel balances some serious themes, a sense of humor, and a perfect dash of soapy contrivance. Fresh relationship fiction at its most engaging, this one breaks the mold.

Poets Square, BookA Memoir in Thirty Cats

by Gustafson, Courtney
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Added Jun 12, 2025

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When Gustafson moved into a new apartment in the Poet's Square neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, little did she know her life was about to change in profound ways. That's because she quickly discovers 30 feral cats living on the property. Overwhelmed by the scope of the situation, she slowly begins the process of learning how to care for them. In time, Gustafson becomes an expert and becomes known as the "cat lady," helping others who find themselves in similar situations. But she struggles, doing the work as an unpaid volunteer while also working a stressful job that barely covers her own basic needs. She finds support through posting the cats on social media where she becomes popular enough that her account is monetized and she's able to quit her day job and dedicate herself full-time to her work as a cat advocate. This tender memoir is as much about rescuing cats in need as it is about survival under the harsh realities of capitalism, the persistence of sexism, and the importance of finding community. By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, interspersed with stories about her personal life and fascinating anecdotes about her work with community cats (and the people who love them), this will appeal to fans of Hannah Shaw, AKA the Kitten Lady's books, Cats of the World and Tiny But Mighty: Kitten Lady's Guide to Saving the Most Vulnerable Felines.

Abundance, Book

by Klein, Ezra
Book, 2025. First Avid Reader Press hardcover edition.
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Holds: 387 on 95 copies
Added May 01, 2025

Comment:

Klein and Thompson's clearly written prescriptive asserts that American society's ills can be rectified by a change in mindset - a belief in abundance over scarcity. Legislators on both sides of the aisle have become wedded to an inefficient, bloated government that rarely passes legislation that improves the lives of their constituents. If public funding is spent on inventing, building, and implementing new technologies, our most persistent problems can be solved. Housing can become more affordable and plentiful by reducing zoning laws and streamlining permitting processes and environmental regulations to allow for quicker, cheaper construction in all neighborhoods. Heart disease and cancer can be eradicated by lessening academic protocols and government regulations that keep scientists mired in paperwork instead of devoting their full energy to researching new treatments. Clean energy like solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear power can become available on a wide enough scale to curb carbon emissions with enough public funding. The authors stress that implementation is key; history's watershed inventions are often the result of decades of tweaking. For example, the discovery of penicillin depended not only on Fleming's 1928 discovery that mold can kill bacteria, but decades of experimentation and wartime government funding that led to its production on a wide scale in 1945. Klein and Thompson's optimism is refreshing and persuasive; they make a compelling case for a platform focused on technological innovation and economic growth.

All That Life Can Afford, BookA Novel

by Everett, Emily
Book, 2025
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Holds: 122 on 42 copies
Added May 01, 2025

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Having recently left America shortly after her mother's death and a devasting fallout with her father over forgiveness and possibly acceptances, Anna arrives in London seeking solace, connection and a sense of belonging. The story opens with Anna frantically trying to figure out how to afford the fare for her commuter train, and Everett skillfully captures the experience of a frantic and anxious student who's trying to navigate a foreign space. There are striking parallels in the story to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, including Anna's love interests, and she often pays homage to Mr. Darcy as she works on her dissertation. Themes of grief, privilege, identity, friendship, and class are woven throughout the story and seem to reflect Anna's deep love for English literature. Readers can't help but root for her as she searches for inner peace in the wake of the loss of her mother. This story is a fun read that will leave readers wondering what future accomplishments and adventures await our heroine.

Care and Feeding, BookA Memoir

by Woolever, Laurie
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 80 on 24 copies
Added May 01, 2025

Comment:

Woolever's gripping memoir reads like a novel: a heroine wrestling with self-destruction while both lucking into and persisting at a career in food and writing. The New York food scene of the 90s and 00s is atmospheric and intense. Her narrative ricochets between angsty, profane, and tender. Her notable employers (Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain) exert far-reaching gravitational pulls as they hurtle toward their respective and distinct falls, just before the book ends. This is a skillfully-crafted speedrun with a final turn toward sobriety and the realization put forward in the first pages: "I am in control of almost nothing beyond how I choose to care for (and feed) myself and others."

The Blanket Cats, Book

by Shigematsu, Kiyoshi
Book, 2025
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Holds: 52 on 16 copies
Added May 01, 2025

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A whole lot can happen in three days, especially when cats are involved. In this collection of seven short stories, prized author Kiyoski Shigematsu portrays the very concise lives of a Tokyo pet shop's selection of "blanket cats." The blanket cats are not for purchase, but instead for a 3-day rental (no more, no less) following a very specific set of terms and an application process. These slice-of-life stories are each so unique from one to the next - some with an underlying sense of urgency, others more meandering, and all of them contemplative in their own way. There are recurring themes woven throughout, including family dynamics, musings on the meaning of life, and even the ocean and all its symbolism. Each cat is rented under different circumstances, each fulfilling their own purpose. Almost all of the stories end without clear resolution, but they linger in the best of ways and have a satisfying warmth. Three days may not seem like a lot, but often by the end the human characters, and even often the cats, experience significant changes in their life outlooks and trajectories. And yet, at the end of every evening, the blanket cat goes to sleep in its carrier with their required blanket and the days start anew. This collection of vignettes is beautifully written and immersive. If you were to read only one story, don't miss "The Cat Who Went on a Journey," which is the only story written from the perspective of a blanket cat.

Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame, Book

by Yang, Neon
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 25 on 6 copies
Added May 01, 2025

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Yeva was thirteen when she killed her first dragon. She quickly became famous for being the best dragon killer and the most mysterious guildknight in the kingdom. Then the emperor hears a rumor that there is a dragon living in Quentona, a neighboring kingdom. Rather than risk a war by sending a large group, he compromises and sends his best, Yeva. But Quentona and its queen were nothing like anything Yeva had known. In the months she's there, Yeva learns to be more than a weapon, but this peace may be unsustainable. After all, Yeva is a dragon hunter and Quentona reveres dragons. For the first time in her life, the masked guildknight of Mithrandon must decide where her ultimate loyalties lie.

The Dream Hotel, BookA Novel

by Lalami, Laila
Book, 2025. First edition.
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Holds: 133 on 45 copies
Added May 01, 2025

Comment:

When Sara returns from an international work trip, the last thing she expects is to be detained at the airport. But what becomes quickly clear is that Sara is not the one with the power. Years ago, she made the choice to implant a sleep device to get better sleep, but the ramifications of this action demonstrate how technology may not always be the best way. Little did she know that she would be detained due to something she did in her dreams, something seen as a risk to others. This literary examination of technology, detainment and power explores the associated risks through Sara's detainment and how she adapts to her new normal - and what she tries to do to get out. Fans of present day sci-fi or the TV show Severance will appreciate some of the parallels throughout this thought-provoking novel.

The Colony, Paperback

by Norlin, Annika
Paperback, 2025
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Holds: 67 on 15 copies
Added May 01, 2025

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Swedish author Norlin's literary debut features a small group of individuals in a communal living situation in the woods. Emelie, a journalist suffering from burnout, has retreated to her grandmother's cabin, where she observes the group residing nearby. They are strange but alluring, and eventually Emelie secretly befriends the community's youngest member, Låke, a teenager. Norlin effectively uses shifts in perspective and time to provide the backstory for each community member, resulting in an intriguing cast of well-developed characters. Sara, the de facto leader of the group, spent time in prison for animal rights activism. Her partner, József, is the lonely son of Holocaust survivors. Aagny befriended Sara in prison, where she served time for killing her husband. Ersmo, the owner of the land where they lived, was raised by Aagny. There's also Sagne, an ant specialist, and her child Låke, the result of a rape, and Zakaria, an attractive man on the run. While the group's camaraderie and ability to exist on the fringes of society are seductive and the critique of contemporary existence is compelling, there are, nonetheless, unsettling details that are cause for concern. Norlin's stylish and bewitching novel is a page turner full of ideas and humanity.

Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire, Book

by Wenc, Christine
Book, 20250318
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Holds: 58 on 20 copies
Added May 01, 2025

Comment:

Remember when "fake news" wasn't just something politicians shouted at each other? Christine Wenc does, and she memorializes a time and place (the late 1980s and 1990s and Madison, Wisconsin) when slacker humor was in full bloom. The Onion satirized the news business along with everything else before the news became a caricature of itself, succeeding far beyond its founders' dreams. A move to New York was both the best and worst thing that ever happened to it, as it hit the big time and also got taken over by suits. It would eventually downsize to Chicago, though Wenc does provide a hopeful afterword. Based largely on interviews with the writing staff as well as the alternative-to-accepted-reality versions from editor Scott Dikkers and money man Steve MacEvoy, this is a lively Generation X nostalgia trip in which the truth can be as wild as any of The Onion's articles.

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets Of Johnson & Johnson, Book

by Harris, Gardiner
Book, 20250408
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Holds: 106 on 30 copies
Added May 01, 2025

Comment:

A single bottle of Johnson & Johnson baby powder graces the cover of No More Tears, a bottle that may have once elicited feelings of nostalgia but after reading this book may have you putting said bottle back on the shelf. Johnson & Johnson is the largest healthcare conglomerate in the world and, more importantly, a company that for many years was seen as the lone moral pharmaceutical company in a sea of money hungry sharks. Started as a company selling bandages and wraps, Johnson & Johnson took off with the introduction of their beloved Baby Powder and then grew to selling drugs like Tylenol, Duragesic (fentanyl), birth control, and antipsychotics, as well as medical devices like hip implants and vaginal mesh. The problem? The Baby Powder caused cancer, Tylenol has a myriad of dangers, Duragesic caused more damage than the Sacklers, the birth control led to clots, the antipsychotics caused breast growth in young boys and were a leading cause of death in dementia patients... the list goes on and go. Harris provides decades of evidence proving that Johnson & Johnson knew all of this yet continued to ignore the data and instead increased the marketing campaigns for the products, leading to the deaths of millions. The book is a shocking but fantastic piece of investigative journalism.

Open, Heaven, Book

by Hewitt, Seán
Book, 2025. First hardcover edition.
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Holds: 14 on 14 copies
Added May 01, 2025

Comment:

In a northern English village in the early 2000s, an ostracized gay teenager named James becomes infatuated with a young man named Luke who's arrived to work on his uncle's farm. James longs for romance or at least friendship with this stranger, but Luke is troubled (his father's in prison) and a bit wild. He's a bit of a cypher. He seems to reciprocate James's feelings of friendship, but James is unsure how to test whether they go further, and all his other relationships have positioned him in a uniquely vulnerable state. The debut novel from an acclaimed memoirist, this deeply insightful novel has a minimal plot combined with a lyrical intensity that borders on the operatic, which won't be for everyone but will surely appeal to fans of Garth Greenwell and Douglas Stuart.

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