As the weather chills out or warms back up this October, there’s never a better time to curl up with a book because it’s always a good time to curl up with a book. And therein lies the issue, because even if I know when it’s a good time to read (always), how am I to know what to read? Enter decision paralysis — unless, of course, you check out the ever-reliable recommendations by your local booksellers that they’ve so kindly suggested here. And we thank them for it.
The perfect single sitting horror story! There’s no slow ramp up to this book. The story immediately takes off with a lil sci-fi, a lil gore, a lil pulse-racing thriller, and an incredible ending! This is a book I wish I could read again for the first time! — Mandy Martin, Novel
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
In a world where we have access to an endless sinkhole of content to consume, the peril of endless possibilities can be daunting. The Husbands explores these ideas in a brilliant, snappy and comical way.
Lauren comes home one night to find her husband waiting for her. The only problem is she doesn’t actually have a husband. However, she does find that she has a magical attic that holds infinite husbands. When one husband goes up the attic stairs, he is replaced with another husband and a respective life to boot. Lauren is amazed by the endless options at her fingertips, as time passes she starts sending the husbands up for more and more trivial reasons. Why? Because she can! What could go wrong? Well, maybe a lot. This book had me laughing out loud while also contemplating the modern world in bold new ways. I highly recommend this novel for something as thought-provoking as it is also fresh, eccentric, relatable, daring, and juicy. — Lillian Khattab, Novel
Over the Influence: A Memoir by JoJo
The hit-singer of “Leave (Get Out)” has released her breathtakingly candid memoir. Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop- and R&B-infused charts in the mid-2000s and experienced her share of highs and lows. This memoir is perfect for any millennial or Gen-Zer interested in hearing her story. — Jeremee DeMoir, DeMoir Books & Things
Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known by George M Johnson
Flamboyants is a collection of 14 essays wherein Johnson reveals how American culture has been shaped by icons who are both Black and Queer — and whose stories deserve to be celebrated in their entirety. — Jeremee DeMoir, DeMoir Books & Things
Richard Powers writes books that are both entertaining and important. He comes to bring us a sense of wonder. In Playground, he does for oceans what he did for forests in The Overstory. He takes four disparate lives and tells their stories, which tie together in a breathtaking and perfectly timed dance of science, humanity, and awe. He does what only the truest artists can do: He makes you see the world anew. — Corey Mesler, Burke’s Book Store
Horror recommendations for when you don’t know what to read or are just now getting into horror
- “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: a classic gothic short story about a woman going insane that will leave you uneasy:
- The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker: an early splatter punk with a demonic puzzle box and a classic horror adaptation to go along with it
- Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist: a Swedish vampire novel about two young outcasts that will actually scare you
- Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi: a psychological manga about a son discovering the truth about his mother while spiraling downward:
- Never read Stephen King? Read Misery, a story of an author being cared for by his number-one fan after a lethal car crash
- Gyo by Junji Ito: a sci-fi manga about the discovery of a foul stench and fish slowly crawling out of the ocean:
- The Doll House Murders by Betty Ren Wright: a young adult novel about a young girl discovering a dark family secret when dolls start moving around at night
- I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison: a short AI nightmare about the last nine people kept alive by an evil supercomputer named AM
- In the mood for a short story collection? Nightmare at 20,000 Feet or The Best of Richard Matheson
- Ring by Koji Suzuki: a disturbing ghost story about a father uncovering a cursed VHS tape while researching a series of unexplained deaths — Chloe Mesler, Burke’s Book Store
All books mentioned can be purchased at the respective bookstore locations or their websites as linked. For upcoming book events, including book clubs and author signings, visit the Flyer’s event calendar.