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Cheri
Hi! I am Cheri, aka the Enthusiastic Bookseller. It is true I am very enthusiastic about books and love to share recommendations. I'm the children's book buyer here at the store, however I am also an avid reader of many genres outside the kids room. Check out my staff picks that are on multiple pages. My favorites are books with magical realism, gothic and horror fiction, true crime, memoir and mythology.
Cheri's Staff Picks:
$9.99
ISBN: 9781338666540
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Orchard Books - August 2nd, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: I Want to Be Mad for a While!
Comments:
Let's face it - feelings come up and sometimes you just feel mad. It's okay! It happens to everyone. This book is a great meditation on feeling your feelings, letting it come and letting it pass - as it always will :)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780425291078
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Viking Books for Young Readers - August 9th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Pizza! A Slice of History
Comments:
Yay pizza! Greg Pizzoli never disappoints and this time he's writing about a favorite topic of mine. Fun, whimsical artwork paired with the real history of pizza makes this a yummy treat of a read.
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250789341
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Tor Teen - August 30th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: All of Our Demise (All of Us Villains #2)
Comments:
Woo! I so love this world and these people! The story picks up where All of Us Villains left off and it’s an immediate immersive fast paced frenzy to the finish. So many surprises, so many battles, so much action the story doesn’t let you pause for a second. There are even a few romantic moments in between all the spell casting. Super fun ride with such great fully fleshed out characters. I did get choked up a bunch of times as everything unfolded. Much like after the first book, I will be thinking about this one for a while.
$16.99
ISBN: 9780063209831
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - August 23rd, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: A Dreadful Splendor
Comments:
A splendid page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end. I fully enjoyed this step back in time to Victorian London and the character of Genevieve Timmons, swindler and fake spiritualist. When she ends up at an estate in the country to perform a fake seance she becomes entangled in the mystery of who killed Audra, the young fiancée to the heir - who just happens to be a very handsome gentleman (who reminded me of Mr. Darcy). All kinds of seemingly supernatural happenings start to occur and Genevieve is forced to question her beliefs. Could ghosts be real after all? I was reminded of Rebecca, the movie Laura and also a little bit of Jane Austen and Knives Out. Super entertaining and exactly the right mix of spooky mystery and romance for me.
$26.00
ISBN: 9780374293512
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux - September 13th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Bliss Montage
Comments:
Exquisitely written stories that were odd and also touching. Ling Ma is skilled at concisely creating a mood and atmosphere. The story Returning was my favorite.
$18.95
UNAVAILABLE-Possible Reasons: Backordered, Out-of-Stock, or Out-of-Print (But email us to search for a copy.)
UNAVAILABLE-Possible Reasons: Backordered, Out-of-Stock, or Out-of-Print (But email us to search for a copy.)
ISBN: 9781643751573
Published: Algonquin Young Readers - September 13th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Beatrice Likes the Dark
Comments:
Beatrice likes the dark and Roo likes the light. Will two sisters who like opposite things and are so different from each other get along? A wonderful book about loving each other despite our differences.
$16.99
ISBN: 9780744056730
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: DK Children - September 13th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Bird
Comments:
Finn and Skip are back and this time they are taking flight and looking at the environment from a bird's eye point of view. Provides great learning about climate change and what you can do to help. And the artwork is so cute!
$21.99
ISBN: 9781250265234
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Tor Nightfire - July 19th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Mary: An Awakening of Terror
Comments:
Perfect for Spooky Season, this book gripped me from the start. Mary is a quiet, lonely person facing all that comes with middle age as a woman, both physically and psychologically. Upon returning to her hometown, she is haunted by ghosts and thrust into confronting a past that she had blocked out. This is a gruesome tale that includes a monstrous cult, a serial killer, horrific ghosts and a haunted house with hidden rooms. Ultimately, it is a gory supernatural reflection of middle age. Great for fans of horror.
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250753410
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) - September 27th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Forestfall (Lakesedge #2)
Comments:
The Lakesedge story continues with Violeta and Rowan and the dark Lord Under. Violeta is living out her bargain in the world below with the Lord and Rowan is desperate to release her. Very similar to the myth of Persephone with all of the gothic romance of Wuthering Heights. This book had so many cool gods/creatures from the World Below like Lady Moth who is very creepy but awesomely depicted. The ultimate question is will Violeta and Rowan ever be together or has the world Below and Lord Under changed her into a dark queen???
$18.95
UNAVAILABLE-Possible Reasons: Backordered, Out-of-Stock, or Out-of-Print (But email us to search for a copy.)
UNAVAILABLE-Possible Reasons: Backordered, Out-of-Stock, or Out-of-Print (But email us to search for a copy.)
ISBN: 9781771648073
Published: Greystone Kids - September 27th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Still This Love Goes On
Comments:
Beautiful artwork by Julie Flett accompanied by the talented Buffy Sainte-Marie's lyrics. I love that the sheet music is included at the end of the book. Would be a wonderful gift.
$18.99
ISBN: 9780553497076
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Random House Studio - September 19th, 2017
Bookselller: Cheri
Title: City Moon
Comments:
I always fool myself into thinking that I will stop falling in love with children's illustrated hardcovers and then I stumble across one such as this! Great art, great sentiment and I love the moon in the city.
$17.99
ISBN: 9781536212518
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Candlewick - August 29th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Good Night, Little Bookstore
Comments:
So adorable! I love this book so much.
$18.99
ISBN: 9780316528948
Availability: NOT ON HAND, but usually Ships in 2-7 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - September 13th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Farmhouse
Comments:
This is a must-have! I am a huge fan of all of Sophie Blackall's books and this one is just as beautiful as all of her others. I can't say enough great things about it -- you just have to experience it.
$27.00
ISBN: 9781982177157
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Atria Books - February 22nd, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Beneath the Stairs
Comments:
I was sucked in from the first page. An octagonal shaped house in the woods that may or may not be haunted? A young woman’s coming to terms with the trauma and guilt from her childhood? Are the secrets buried in the basement haunting her and ruining her life? I anxiously sped through pages to find the answers to these questions and unlock the mystery of the house and her past. What is beneath the stairs in that basement??? Tense and kept me guessing, I enjoyed this.
$19.99
ISBN: 9781728458007
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Carolrhoda Lab (R) - September 6th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Funeral Girl
Comments:
I really liked this story about a teen named Georgia who has grown up in a funeral home and is absolutely terrified of death. What makes matters worse is she has the ability to speak to the ghosts of the dead people at the funeral home. I was drawn to this “Ghost Whisperer” aspect, however the story goes far deeper than that. When a classmate dies in a tragic accident she’s forced to confront her own mortality in that of a peer and she learns to appreciate being alive. Other themes of friendship, family, forgiveness and grieving are also explored. I also loved reading a book with an asexual main character with a non-binary best friend. Also, the cover art and the art on the actual hardcover itself is SO awesome.
$16.00
ISBN: 9781668004616
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scribner - September 20th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: O Caledonia
Comments:
Ali Smith calls this book “One of the best least-known novels of the twentieth century.” I have to agree. I kept checking the publish date because it reads like an old classic from a much earlier time. Darkly comic with almost poetic descriptions of the Scottish countryside, the writing is stunning and Janet’s short life depicts many reminders of the horrors of coming of age. The one word that springs to mind for this book is: unforgettable.
$30.00
ISBN: 9781250815293
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Celadon Books - November 15th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Number One is Walking: My Life in Movies and Other Diversions
Comments:
I'm a huge Steve Martin fan. From his early stand up records, SNL appearances, and movies like The Jerk and Three Amigos his silliness was unparalleled. He's still killing it today with Martin Short on stage and in Only Murders in the Building. I also recommend his other fiction as well as his banjo records as they are excellent! This second collaboration with Harry Bliss highlights all the things I love about Steve: it's smart, witty, creative, and has a lot of heart.
$17.99
ISBN: 9781665912327
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - November 29th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Tangled Up in Nonsense
Comments:
Sloane and Amelia are back to solve their next mystery! This story starts where Tangled Up in Luck left off and takes the girls on an adventure at an old mansion called Tangle Glen where an old bootlegger back in the 1920s supposedly hid two million dollars. The girls are determined to solve the mystery of this missing money while the inn is hosting a big peony flower competition. Full of funny characters (with great names), an adorable bloodhound and twisty turns this was a very entertaining read. Outside of the mystery the book explores emotions that come from Sloane’s father dating someone new and Amelia feeling dismissed by her family. Their deepening friendship is the best part of the book. I hope there will be a next one!
$16.99
ISBN: 9781250797391
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - December 27th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Lost Witch
Comments:
Fun fantasy romance story filled with witches, time travel, spells and a hot bad guy.
$16.99
ISBN: 9781728263038
Availability: NOT ON HAND, but usually Ships in 2-7 Days
Published: Poisoned Pen Press - October 4th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Christmas Murder Game
Comments:
Intriguing, twisty classic mystery set up with family members all competing in a game for the inheritance. I couldn’t put it down until the end. Awesome for the holidays!
$28.99
ISBN: 9781250280015
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: St. Martin's Press - January 3rd, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Villa
Comments:
Can you trust your oldest friend? This is the question at the heart of this story that sucked me in from the first page. Easy to read with great momentum going forward and back from the 1970s rock band drama to the two old friends staying at the villa today. I preferred the rock band storyline the best - it felt very Fleetwood Mac complete with scandalous rock 'n roll relationships and a murder mystery. SUPER FUN. The modern friendship story wasn't as compelling but the mystery at the center kept me reading.
$16.00
ISBN: 9780143125495
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Books - April 29th, 2014
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Faraway Nearby
Comments:
“You have an intimacy with the faraway and distance from the near at hand… the depth of that solitude of reading and then writing took me all the way through to connect with people again in an unexpected way. It was astonishing wealth for one who had once been so poor.” Every other page of this book has been dog eared because it’s just overflowing with moving passages about life, death, family, art, nature, faith and the connectedness of all things. Lyrical, reflective and profound.
$17.00
ISBN: 9780063280021
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harper Perennial - January 17th, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Pandora
Comments:
Ahhhh this book! I did not want to put it down and I did not want it to end. Georgian time period in London. Dora is orphaned at a young age when her parents die tragically at a dig site for antiquities. Her shady and not nice uncle takes her in. She dreams of designing jewelry and is turned away by the local jeweler because she’s a woman. Edward comes from nothing and has a mysterious troubled past. He works at a book bindery however his passion is in antiquities and he longs to be accepted into the Society of Antiquities and continuously is turned down. His wealthy best friend Cornelius supports and encourages him but perhaps he feels more for Edward than just friendship? A mysterious Greek pithos is unearthed and Dora’s uncle has underhanded plans. Workers grow ill once they have touched it. Dora’s uncle even develops an infected sore in his leg. What is this pithos really??? Does it carry supernatural powers? And what really happened to Dora’s parents long ago? Can she trust Edward or is he using her for acceptance at the Society? This book is a big combination of historical fiction, mythology, suspense, romance, and the possibility of something beyond time. Dora also has a magpie sidekick named Hermes that adds to her charm. I absolutely loved it and could go on and on about it’s greatness.
$27.99
ISBN: 9781250841414
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Tor Nightfire - February 7th, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Spite House
Comments:
W O W!!! This is not your average haunted house story. Eric and his two daughters are on the run from something mysterious and not disclosed to the reader. Is he a criminal? Why is his wife not with them? A rich old woman in Texas hires him to be a caretaker in her extremely famous haunted spite house that she has inherited but won't set foot in. Her only request? To write down his observations to prove there is paranormal activity present. So, it seems pretty straightforward, right? WRONG. This book keeps you guessing, makes you keep turning the page and has some truly horrifying reveals. So creepy, so suspenseful and such great characters. Be prepared to be thinking about these folks long after you finish.
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250850973
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Tordotcom - February 28th, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Crane Husband
Comments:
A marvelous retelling of the Japanese crane folktale set in modern day. I loved the 15-year old protagonist daughter who has been forced to grow up much quicker than she should. Some of her comments made me laugh out loud, however the sad state of her home life with her mother's relationship with this nasty crane and having to care for her much younger brother made her humor even more cutting in the circumstances. Overall, it was an intense tale of neglect, delusion and generational trauma that her mother wasn't able to shake. There was a moment that made me quite vividly think of the movie Birdman, which I also loved. Lastly, the cover art is breathtaking.
$18.00
ISBN: 9780812982855
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dial Press Trade Paperback - June 4th, 2013
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Tell the Wolves I'm Home
Comments:
Years after I read this book for the first time, I still remember June and her Uncle Finn. This book is an honest and touching portrait of a young girl's discovery of AIDS in a very personal way and during the height of the epidemic. I loved everything about it.
$30.00
ISBN: 9780063258396
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Harper - February 7th, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Stone Blind
Comments:
My first memory of falling in love with mythology was being a young girl watching the Clash of the Titans film from 1981. If you are familiar with this film you know that it tracks the story of Perseus (although it takes MANY liberties with the story) and is filled with creatures galore: the Kraken, Calibos, and of course, the big star of the gorgons: Medusa. As a kid, I was completely enraptured by Medusa's head of moving snakes and her eyes that turn living things to stone. It was one of those instances where I was scared but just couldn't look away. Natalie Haynes's version of Medusa is radically different from that film and is absolutely magnificent. Stunning questions are pondered such as: "Can a monster be beautiful if it is still terrifying? Perhaps it depends on how you experience fear and judge beauty." I loved that the book is written in chapters that alternate the first person perspective from character to character, including even a chapter where Elaia, an olive grove contributes its perspective acting as a Chorus of sorts. Vivid and awesome in the truest sense of the word, this book was such a joy.
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250855466
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Tor Books - February 21st, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Arch-Conspirator
Comments:
I really loved this very quick novella. It was disturbing to imagine that in a future time the government may decide to extract one's essence or soul from the body to house in an archive for later reincarnation. Similar in some respects to The Handmaid's Tale as well as the movie Gattaca, this was a fast read and my only complaint is that it wasn't longer. I really took to the characters and wanted so much more.
$16.95
ISBN: 9781592703845
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Enchanted Lion Books - December 27th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Chirri & Chirra, in the Night
Comments:
There are so many things to love about this book. The soft and fuzzy artwork, the cat friends, the innocence of the adventure, and the pure whimsy of the story. I love it so much and wish I had this artwork in sticker form!
$18.99
ISBN: 9781534487895
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Beach Lane Books - December 6th, 2022
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Dark on Light
Comments:
Adorable artwork and lovely message about finding the light in the darkness.
$22.00
ISBN: 9780345367891
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ballantine Books - September 24th, 1991
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Witching Hour
Comments:
By far, the very best Anne Rice book I have read (and I've read them all!). The Mayfair witches are unforgettable!!
$32.00
ISBN: 9780063054899
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: William Morrow - February 7th, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: VenCo
Comments:
I couldn’t put this one down! Witches and their history and all kinds of diversity and traditions and funky seers and Bookers (what I would like to be) and Tenders. From Toronto to New Orleans a twenty-something girl named Lucky and her wild grandmother Stella find out there is much more to their story than they ever imagined. I LOVED this book full of badass women! At times it felt like a David Lynch movie and at others straight up sentimental like something mainstream. So enjoyable and empowering.
$28.00
ISBN: 9780593490143
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Viking - February 21st, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: I Have Some Questions for You
Comments:
I Have Some Questions for You was very complex and not at all what I anticipated. The main character Bodie is haunted by the murder of her boarding school classmate back in 1995 as teenagers. Was the man convicted the real killer? Or has an innocent man been in prison this whole time? Bodie definitely has MANY questions and we as readers go with her on the journey. At times I was wishing it moved faster — I wanted the answers right away! But Rebecca Makkai makes you wait for it and reveals things little by little. Not a happy book, it says a lot about secrets, memories, coming of age, abuse and how the media can both be harmful and helpful depending on the situation.
$27.00
ISBN: 9781982153083
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Scribner - February 7th, 2023
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Big Swiss
Comments:
This book is quite unlike anything else I've read. The main character Greta made me laugh a lot and also aggravated me on so many occasions, but I found that I rooted for her until the end. Her obsession with Flavia aka Big Swiss that develops from transcribing her very confidential therapy sessions is bonkers and that they actually meet and have this crazy affair is even more wild. All in all though, this was less about two people hooking up and more about the why behind their attraction to each other. Each of them are running from trauma and it was interesting to see how things played out. Cynical, funny and pretty darn cold at times, Big Swiss has great characters and the local flavor of Hudson, NY was a trip for me too.