September’s Bookseller Audiobook Picks

“I’m haunted by this lovely work of magical realism, set in a fictional city in China where “beasts” intermingle with humanity. Through a series of episodic stories that seems disjointed at first, but eventually form a cohesive whole, Yan Ge presents us with a novelist narrator who leads the reader through the strange, beautiful city and introduces us to the various beasts who inhabit it. I’m not sure what I was expecting from Strange Beasts of China, but its ethereal prose and unfamiliar beauty made it unlike anything I’ve ever read before.”

Emily, Inklings Bookshop

“This is a slow burning novel, as the title suggests. It has lots of unlikeable and unreliable characters, it jumps around a lot, it has at least one bona fide murder and maybe some others that weren’t really accidents. Despite all of this you just must keep listening because the writing is superb, the narration is brilliant, the atmosphere is intoxicating, and it all comes together in a very satisfying manner.”

Nancy, Fiction Addiction

“Nadia Hashimi’s writing will always sweep you away; she is a fantastic writer and her characters are always phenomenal.There are just so many things that I loved about this book–the relationship between Sitara/Antonia/Tilly, the covering of the political unrest that completely changed the course of Afghan history and shaped the way the country is seen today, and the beautiful narration by Mozhan Marno. This book is fabulous and I highly recommend it to all, both historical fiction and literary fiction fans alike!”

Kimi, Buttonwood Books and Toys

“A beautifully written novel about people connected by a local library and an amazing reading list. As the characters’ lives are revealed through interweaving storylines, readers will root for them, cry for them, and celebrate their victories.”

Lisa Driban, Hockessin Book Shelf

“This epic literary ghost story tells the parallel tales of the colonization of a land at its grandest ambition and that of the degradation of two young women at its most fixed. In the Vietnam of Build Your House Around My Body, snakes can have two heads, smoke can be sentient, dogs can swap souls with humans, and everyone believes in ghosts—and you will too. This is the ambitious, kaleidoscopic work of a young writer to watch.”

Rachel, The Book Table

“With this debut set in a Pacific Northwest logging town, Ash Davidson has immediately established herself as a true writer of the American experience, in all its potential for self-destruction and beauty.”

Josh Popkin, Odyssey Bookshop

“This was an instant favorite comfort read for me, with its slow-burn friends-to-lovers historical romance between two women in their forties—a printing press owner and a bee-keeper. Olivia Waite ingenuously crafts realistic happily-ever-afters for queer characters in her historical romances—even with marriage off the table, her characters find a way to make meaningful commitments to each other.”

Miriasha, Phoenix Books

“This story opened its broad arms and admitted me into the recharging station that I needed so badly in 2021. It was cute. It was sweet. It was heart-wrenching. It was steamy. It was everything!”

Stephanie Arrache, Waterwheel Gifts and Books

“Virginia Feito has effortlessly updated the comedy of manners in this darkly funny mystery. This book will haunt you until you reach the breathtaking conclusion, and you’ll remember Mrs. March for a long time to come.”

Olivia Edmunds-Diez, Boulder Book Store

“Thoroughly entertaining. Once again, Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a wonderful job capturing the genre she is writing for. The plot, the pacing, the characters are all what they should be for good noir fiction. Add to that, the unique setting of Mexico City post Corpus Christi Massacre and during the Dirty War, and it’s also educational! Excellent reading by Gisela Chípe.”

Kristine, Buttonwood Books and Toys

“Where has this feral, hurt, angry, loving disaster of a gay trans witch been my whole life? I felt so at home within the pages of this book, and I know other queer & trans readers will feel the same way—this is the fantasy I wish I had in high school and my current favorite book to handsell.”

Miriasha, Phoenix Books

“Well, this book certainly ends in fire! This is an intense and emotional book filled with political intrigue, revenge, and unexpected friendships–it is magic, mayhem, and murder all in one book!”

Anna, The Well-Read Moose

“This is an excellent steampunk who-done-it. I was fully onboard through all the twists and turns this story took.”

Izzy, Off the Beaten Path

“What a breathtaking coming-of-age story of a girl discovering her magic and claiming her fate! This book will have you glued to every page with dazzling storytelling, beautiful imagery, high-stakes, and an epic adventure. This book is unputdownable! …And I have a new book boyfriend… *Cough* Takkan *Cough*”

Anna, The Well-Read Moose

“So funny. I couldn’t stop listening until I had heard all of his anecdotes. Loved it.”

Lisa, Pixie Hollow

“This book is an eye-opening collection of personal testimonies, research, and history about asexuality, and to a lesser extent, aromanticism. Whether you are new to learning about asexuality or are asexual yourself, by the end of the book you will have a richer and multifaceted understanding of ace identity and experience.”

Miriasha, Phoenix Books

“In a time when we could all use a feel-good book, I’m so happy I got my hands on this heartwarming memoir! London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency is about the difficulties of navigating your 20s. Each chapter follows a specific client of hers and she writes about dogs and their quirky owners with such detail I can picture them completely in my head. I found characteristics of my own dog in each profile and was able to relate to the owners who deal with both the perks and the hard realities of having a pet. I recommend this charming memoir to everyone, but especially those who love dogs!”

Abigail, The Snail on the Wall

“Confession: I was wary at first about another Holocaust survival story. And then I read the prologue, and couldn’t put the book down. From the first pages, Rebecca Frankel had me feeling like a child listening, rapt, to the stories the women in my family would recount about the past. The immediacy and intimacy of the narrative swept me away and I lost track of my physical location, only half aware that I was sitting on my couch instead of hiding in fear for my life. Frankel is gentle, but unflinching, as she relates the events experienced by the Rabinowitz family. While Into the Forest is one tale of Holocaust survival among many such tales, it stands out not only for Frankel’s storytelling acumen, but also as a reminder that one kindness can echo into the future in astounding and unpredictable ways.”

Christine, BookPeople