Starred Reviews for Susan Morrison, Sanjena Sathian, Will Bardenwerper, Brendan Slocumb, and more!

“This well-crafted, mysterious novel with some dystopian twists is a worthwhile read. Fans of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale will devour it.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Gagnon’s (Love You, Mean It) smart, fast-paced romance successfully blends elements of science fiction and relationship fiction to create a unique and thoughtful love story.” —Library Journal, starred review

“This Holmes and Watson–like investigative duo are compelling to follow, and the truly epic fantasy world where the series is set, with its falling empire, corrupt politics, and magic pharmacopeia engineered from monster blood, takes the familiarity of mystery and creates a truly fantastic fever-dream of a world and a story.” —Library Journal, starred review

“The twists of the story keep coming, and the thread of superhero comics and the Dark Maestro bring readers along on a journey that comic book fans will appreciate.” —Library Journal, starred review

“The clever, witty, and powerful women at the heart of this story make for a promising start to an adventurous new series from Matthews (“Belles of London” novels). The next book can’t come soon enough” —Library Journal, starred review

“Zink (Avalon) cleverly and expertly combines hilarious scenes at the awards ceremony and the seven-course dinner with razor-sharp observations on culture, Americans in Europe, literature in the Middle East, sexuality, and the heavy hand of history.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Nobel Prize winner Gurnah (emeritus, English and postcolonial literatures, Univ. of Kent; Afterlives) is a captivating, enthralling storyteller whose characters are vibrant and sympathetic. The pages fly by quickly in his wonderful new novel.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Readers will be turning pages long into the night, captivated by this silly, enchanting, somewhat screwball romp, a sequel to Old Flames and New Fortunes.” —Library Journal, starred review

“The slow burn of the sapphic romance and the inch-by-inch growth of a relationship from contempt to reliance to love make this a story to savor, while the epic walking tour of the dead empire blends ancient history with fantasy in ways that will remind readers of Guy Gavriel Kay’s epic historical fantasy. Highly recommended for epic romantasy and historical fantasy fans who love a slow burn and the bitterest of bittersweet endings.” —Library Journal, starred review

“The secrets under Lake Argen are chilling, the hellhounds and eldritch horrors are adorable, and the romance goes from fated to bitter to sweet in an epic climax. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Every aspect of this transfixing, intimate, and astute group portrait is ablaze with scorching insights into the maddening absurdities and injustices that continue to plague women’s lives.” —Booklist, starred review

“Whether he is describing the enigmatic Conway plumbing the ocean depths in this novel, Nureyev’s spectacular rise and fall in Dancer, or Philippe Petit’s tightrope walk between the twin towers in Let the Great World Spin, McCann places memorable characters in intriguing situations and spins beguiling tales around them.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Readers of Margaret Atwood, Emily St. John Mandel, Edan Lepucki, and Lidia Yuknavitch will appreciate Russell’s brilliant, barbed excavation of an all-too-imaginable future.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Younis’ glorious satire is shot through with emotional heft, and the final section will move even the hardest of hearts. A vital, warm, and hilarious story from a brilliant new author that is deeply thoughtful about the issues Iraq faces in the twenty-first century.” —Booklist, starred review

“Confronting themes of surveillance and fascism, Orwell Prize for Political Fiction–winner Smith’s latest is a timely gift for readers.” —Booklist, starred review

“Add this to the top of the pile of SNL tomes, just in time for the show’s 50th anniversary.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Baseball lovers will be enamored with the storytelling and conclusions, but one doesn’t have to be an enthusiastic sports fan to gain insight into the human soul from Bardenwerper’s book. Consider this resource a must-purchase.” —Library Journal, starred review

“This is a one-of-a-kind cookbook that reflects Barhany’s life journey and introduces readers to a rich culture and its history.” —Library Journal, starred review

“A funny and upbeat “live, laugh, love” message like only Handler can deliver.” —Library Journal, starred review

”An unmissable book that will inspire readers of all ages to stand up for vulnerable and mistreated women around the world.” —Library Journal Starred Review

“Narrator Matt Bomer brings fresh vitality to Baldwin’s words, adeptly navigating a range of accents as he communicates the internal anguish and turmoil generated by forbidden love… Emotionally gripping and expertly narrated, this classic novel will captivate a new generation of listeners.” —Library Journal Starred Review

“Jones’s scholarly yet accessible writing style and cheery, well-paced narration make this cradle-to-grave biography of an enigmatic king a great choice for both academics and casual history fans.” —Library Journal Starred Review

“With Oz on everybody’s mind, this energetically delivered retelling will find a fast audience with moviegoers, fans of Maguire’s original and other fractured fairy tales, and anyone eager to listen to this year’s Voice of Choice narrator display a full range of his talents.” —Booklist, Starred Review

“Narrator Alexander Skarsgard provides the ideal voice for this audiobook… His performance shines in quiet moments when the audiobook inspires fempathy even as it roils with violence and despair. Not for the faint of heart, this story will awaken an appreciation for the better aspects of human nature.” —AudioFile Earphones Award Winner