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Short Story

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Academy Award–winner Guillermo del Toro has created movies and series ranging from the science fiction love story of The Shape of Water to the comic-book action of Hellboy to the horrors of Nightmare Alley. But let me just say it: his new short story is scary.

“Falling Down” is the first installment—call it a pilot episode—of a six-part horror serial called The Boy in the Iron Box. When a team of mercenaries survives a plane crash on a snow-covered mountaintop, they stumble across an ancient secret that was never meant to be unearthed. That fear of the unknown, both out in the world and within ourselves, is something that Guillermo del Toro’s creative vision turns to face head-on. I couldn’t look away—although I may have been peeking at the pages through my fingers as I read…

Anyone who’s watched a scary movie with me knows that they can measure my fright level by the pace of my popcorn eating. As you venture into this story, keep your friends close and your popcorn closer.

—Kjersti Egerdahl, Editor

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I was drawn into this story of mothers and daughters right from the very first page. With warmth and an honest touch, Jo Leevers weaves a tale of a person’s limitations, what we owe to our children, and what we owe to ourselves.

Georgie is about to become a mother, but as she waits for the day she will meet her child, boredom settles in. A viral news story grabs her attention—not just because of the feel-good story of a missing child being found, but also because the woman who found her is Georgie’s own mother, Nancy, who disappeared twenty years ago. Where has Nancy been all this time, and why did she leave? Hungry for answers to questions she’s had all her life, Georgie recruits her estranged brother, Dan, for help, and the two set off on a road trip neither could have seen coming.

Jo’s first book was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club choice, and it’s no surprise. With her second title, she has cemented herself as an enchanting storyteller and a writer to watch.

—Kasim Mohammed, Editor

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There is nothing I want to read more than a summer romance, and Summer Ever After has fulfilled every single one of my criteria: (1) a setting that’s an exotic and beautiful location (check!), (2) sunshine guaranteed (check!), and (3) a handsome hero who falls first (check!).

When Alice and Andy first meet on a train to Barcelona, they are total opposites, but sparks fly. Alice should know better, as she’s watched her mother’s heart break enough times to know that very attractive men aren’t to be trusted—no matter how irresistible and great on paper they seem to be! And when her mother is in an accident, Alice finds herself heading back to London to take on the role of caregiver, with only a broken heart to show for her European adventure.

Now ten years later, Alice is trapped spending her days monitoring her mother’s health, unable to do much outside the four walls of their home. So, when a chance to escape appears, Alice finds herself returning to Barcelona. The city is exactly how she remembers it—the food, the scents…and Andy. This time she knows not to let herself fall for his good looks and charm, no matter that her heart seems to speed up whenever he’s around. Everything is different, and yet, some things feel the same…

Can a holiday fling turn into an everlasting summer? It’s time for you to find out!

—Victoria Oundjian, Editor

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If you’re looking for a book that delivers on all the feels, Farah Naz Rishi’s heart-wrenching memoir is it. An ideal mashup of the depth of Crying in H Mart and the lightness and joy of When Harry Met Sally, it’s no wonder Mindy Kaling chose it as the first (and only) memoir for Mindy’s Book Studio. She says it best: “This story ripped my heart in two, had me grabbing for the tissues, and then put me back together again.”

When studious Farah meets Stephen in college, he’s her opposite—laid-back, unguarded, effortlessly charming, and guileless. And yet, they strike up a friendship that defies her complicated mother’s warnings about Farah wasting her time (she should be looking for a husband). But, it’s Stephen who sees her through her failed relationships. It’s Stephen’s support that carries her through a series of devastating losses. It’s Stephen…

I couldn’t agree more with Mindy—this book is for anyone who has struggled through painful times and maintained the hope of an impossibly happy ending.

—Laura Van der Veer, Editor

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Readers who love Brad Thor, David Baldacci, and Mark Greaney will love this gripping thriller from bestselling author Steven Konkoly. It’s the first in his new Garrett Mann series, and I was enthralled with Konkoly’s new protagonist. When no one else can solve a complex conspiracy, Mann will get the job done.

FBI agent Garrett Mann faces a twisted trail of murders. As the head of ARTEMIS, a specialized government task force, Mann tracks cartel-related killings. But this new sequence of murders is far more twisted than he could have imagined. As Mann and his team bend the rules of the FBI, they unravel a government conspiracy that runs deeper than just a criminal eluding capture.

With a serial killer on the loose and a group of rogue FBI agents on the hunt, A Clean Kill is a nonstop thrill ride. I can’t wait to see where the Garrett Mann goes next.

—Megha Parekh, Editor

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Alice Ribeiro, an indomitable young woman living in modern-day Brazil, has always gone against the tide. She’s appalled by the status quo and the state of women’s rights in her country. Before long, she finds out that this fire within her may be the product of the women in her family’s past.

Seven generations ago, in the small town of Bom Retiro, the Flores women were forced to learn the art of lacemaking as a means to survive, communicate, and resist oppression. Decades later, Alice inherits a family veil that will become her guiding light as she sets out to uncover the inspiring history of her bloodline. This haunting yet deeply moving historical novel, narrated in dual timelines, is a testament to the lengths that women have gone—and will continue to go—to defy social norms and thrive.

The Curse of the Flores Women’s author Angélica Lopes said it best: “All women, without exception, are united by an invisible thread.” Woven throughout this beautiful story are deeper themes of feminism, cultural oppression, and sorority, all tightly crafted into a narrative bejeweled with magical realism. With impeccable pacing, this poignant story transported me to a very unique place and time, and I know it’ll do the same for you.

—Alexandra Torrealba, Editor

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I reached the pinnacle of my art “career” in elementary school, when someone outbid my mother at our school auction for the rudimentary lighthouse painting I’d done in class. While I am admittedly no artist (a fact my mom would agree on), I can still appreciate art created by people with talent. People like Veridian Sterling, the protagonist of Jennifer Gooch Hummer’s humorous and heartfelt novel.

Veri has been trying to make her name in the crowded art market of New York City since she graduated from college two years earlier. But it seems like no one is interested in her style, with exception of a flawless copy of a van Gogh she did for a school project. Hope crushed, she finally accepts an assistant job at a gallery. Her new boss is a bit of a nightmare, and Veri worries she may have bitten off more than she can chew. When she hears about a missing van Gogh and a large finder’s fee, Veri finds herself suddenly and unexpectedly immersed in the shady, underground art world, and once she’s in, she’s not sure how to get out…

Veridian Sterling Fakes It is a hilarious and heart-racing page-turner that will take readers on a tour through New York City through the eyes of an unconventional and charming protagonist you can’t help but root for. Flirty romance, outrageous shenanigans, and witty banter brilliantly paint every page of this masterpiece. As bestselling author Sara Goodman Confino says, “Veridian Sterling may fake it, but Jennifer Gooch Hummer is the real deal as a rising voice in humorous fiction.” Let the bidding begin…

—Alicia Clancy, Editor

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Welcome to Tampere, a land where there is no night, only sun and mist—and mysterious ancient machines that no one understands. And meet Pell, our heroine who is determined to unlock their secrets.

As the days are starting to get longer and hotter, I’ve been craving a story that will whisk me away to far-off places, give me a swoon-worthy romance, and keep me on the edge of my seat with mystery. Still the Sun delivered that in spades. Though, of course, the added benefit here is that you can safely enjoy Pell’s journey without having to brave the elements (and preferably with a cool drink in hand).

From the first page, I, like Pell, was desperate to dig deeper and find the answers that lie beneath the surface of this world. So if you’re looking to start your summer off on a grand adventure full of magic and romance, Charlie N. Holmberg and Pell have you covered. Start digging.

—Lauren Plude, Editor

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It’s been a while since a thriller kept me up turning pages into the wee hours! Broken Bayou is a swampy murder mystery that is both propulsive and clever—with suspense always simmering beneath the surface—and is only bettered by author Jennifer Moorhead’s beautiful writing.

We meet the unforgettable Dr. Willa Watters as she embarks on a journey back to the small Louisiana town where she spent most of her summers. She’s looking to escape a professional faux pas that has put her reputation as a child psychologist on the line and sets out to Broken Bayou in hopes of finding shelter and solace. But during a visit to her late aunts’ old home, she discovers much more than she bargained for in the dusty attic. Old mementos belonging to her unstable mother threaten to unearth secrets she thought were long buried—all while mysterious barrels containing human remains are suddenly surfacing from the town’s murky bayou waters. Is Willa’s past inevitably tied to these murders?

Cinematic plot twists and rich atmospheric descriptions kept me enthralled throughout, looking around corners for clues and unable to glance away for even a second. If you love unputdownable reads, you won’t want to miss this one.

—Alexandra Torrealba, Editor

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Few family traditions call to mind such strong memories as a camping trip. There’s always a mishap, right? But you probably remember it fondly—and even laugh about it. If so, you and your little one are going to love this funny tale.

After everything goes wrong on their first camping trip, the family in this book finds a way to achieve their camping dream. They go to an indoor theme park that has toilet paper, well-behaved animals, and beautiful weather! But with each “perfect” experience, the family members find themselves thinking about their other camping trip. Even if it wasn’t idyllic, it was real—and they experienced the ups and downs together.

As your kiddo laughs their way through these perfectly imperfect trips, maybe they’ll also realize that as nice as a remote control tent sounds, it’s just not the same as wrestling with a real one…together. Everyone, even parents, will be giggling about that in five years (or maybe even less).

—Kelsey Skea, Editor

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