Cheri
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: PerduComments: Oh, Perdu is just so sweet! It's so exciting to see him find his human. :)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Best Friend in the Whole WorldComments: I love Milton the pinecone!! What a sweet, fun story about friendship. The artwork is also so friendly :)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Broken (in the best possible way)
Comments:
Jenny Lawson has done it again. She is fearless, funny and deep about her life and I absolutely love her for it. If you haven't read any of her books before I encourage you to do it - she's a unique voice. My wish for us to be best friends still stands...! HAHAHA!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Never Have I Ever: Stories
Comments:
Simply amazing. Is now on my list of best short story collections EVER.
The publisher description says it best: spells and stories, urban legends and immigrant tales all gathered together in one fabulous bundle.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Ariadne: A Novel
Comments:
Oh the tragedy! the drama! the horror! the heartbreak of it all! The gods show their ugly sides and the women are in full force in this amazing retelling of Ariadne’s story. So many of the famous show up - Daedalus and Icarus, Theseus, Minos and the Minotaur of course! Hippolytus, Dionysus and his maenads - it’s a huge cast all tripping over each other with the drama that only gods and their vengeful games can create. And out of it all is this blazing human story of sisterhood and sadness that rages even in the eyes of Medusa — highlighting the cost that all the women have paid. Best book I’ve read in 2021! I hope Jennifer Saint will write many more books.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Daughter of the Forest
Comments:
If you love fantasy and also folklore this book will be of interest. Sorcha is an amazing female protagonist and the tests she must pass in order to succeed are really hard. Brothers turning into swans, an evil enchantress stepmother, a silence she must keep... this is so much fun! It isn't light fare - be warned of violence, some dicey sexual encounters, and all manner of pain - but it does have a lovely slow-burn romance with a "love conquers all" theme that leaves one itching for the next installment.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Nightbitch
Comments:
Reading Nightbitch is like having a very violent, visceral nightmare that you cannot wake up from and then realizing you actually like it. I won’t pretend that I related to this woman, but I was absolutely drawn into this experience from the opening pages. I didn’t want it to end and I keep thinking about raw meat... it’s time to go howl at the moon!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Rememberings
Comments:
I always loved Sinead and I still do. Great book for any fan. Her life has been very colorful and her voice is unique. Take a trip back in time with her and enjoy the stories.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Rain Before Rainbows
Comments:
A beautiful book full of hope and good feeling. Lovely poetry to read aloud and gorgeous artwork. I think that this would be a great book for bedtime as well.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Toasty
Comments:
Tee hee!! Toasty is a piece of bread that wants so very much to be a dog. But then he realizes that being himself is the best way to be. This is adorable and silly with a great message.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Broken Horses: A Memoir
Comments:
I’m a mega fan of Brandi Carlile. I couldn’t get my hands on this book fast enough and pretty much devoured it. I’ve been knocked out by her voice numerous times and now I’ve been knocked out by her storytelling. What a life she has had thus far... and I’m certain there will be so much more to come. She’s an inspiration not just in music but in life. Love her!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Arsenic and Adobo
Comments:
Super fun and fresh culinary Filipino cozy mystery! My stomach was growling with all the delicious food being served up even in the midst of murder! Great characters and super fun environment in Shady Palms. Bonus: recipes for the yum food included at the end. I SO want to eat that coconut jam.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief
Comments:
Awesome quotes used at the beginning of each story. This book was exactly what I needed at the exactly right time. Truths were revealed through tears. A big deep heart book.
OUT-OF-PRINT & UNAVAILABLE! (But email us to search for a used copy.)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Death of Jane Lawrence
Comments:
Whoa, this book. A mash up of gothic romance, psychological thriller, gruesome horror and magic. It’s been a while that a novel has given me nightmares but I had quite a few this week. If you like Rebecca, Crimson Peak, The Haunting of Hill House with a dash of medical surgical gore this will be sure to appeal. I loved it and already miss being scared at night now that it’s over.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Tangled Up in Luck
Comments:
I really enjoyed this. Charming characters, fun town setting and cool historical mystery. I so appreciated the very realistic middle school foe to friendship transition and humorous encounters with family, teachers, librarians and the like. And of course zemblanity!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Orphan Witch
Comments:
This is a magical feast! I completely geeked out over all of the witchiness and sisterhood and spells and can I say there is only ONE man in the entire story? (Kinda loved that too.) The main character is named Persephone so yes, she's a great character. Net is: anyone that likes stories about witches and magic will enjoy this. It features some great JK Rowling-esque quotes like: "Change could be its own magic, one of creating new possibility and a better future." As well as an awesome excerpt from Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market. It definitely is a good one for YA readers too as it's not mega violent or too mature romantically. This comes out in October and I think that's a perfect time for it to appear on shelves. I'm excited for maybe more adventures with this author to come?!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Library of the Dead
Comments:
Part Ghost Whisperer, part suspense novel, part mystery, and a wee bit of horror all make this story hard to categorize. My favorite part 100% is the main character of Ropa. Her Scottish brogue sizzles to life off the page with her cynicism and dark charm. She's a breath of fresh (albeit snarky) heroic air. I look forward to spending time with Ropa again in hopefully another go and get more familiar with the futuristic Edinburgh. Only reason it doesn't get 10 stars is it's the first in the series and suffers a bit from a lot of build up and not much payoff. I hope to get more on the library in the future installments!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Hard Crowd
Comments:
Rachel Kushner is SO COOL. These essays just prove it. Such interesting varied topics written in a thoughtful, smart way. She's like the Steve McQueen of writers.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: This Thing Between Us
Comments:
Whoa, this is other level creepfest. Big nods to Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and The Shining (both faves) as well as 2001 Space Odyssey and even a little bit of The Exorcist. Net is: this book is flipping scary. I actually felt paranoid in my bed after reading and then found myself up at 5am to get back to it because it was making my head buzz so much. I’m still thinking about it and wondering what the heck it all was. Highly recommend to any true horror fan out there that likes freaky stories. And also the cover art is FANTASTIC!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Only Good Indians
Comments:
Oh yeah, karma's a b****. Four friends from the Blackfeet Nation make a grave mistake with the natural world and the consequences are horrifying. I wouldn't characterize this as a typical ghost story however the characters are all haunted and the book itself has been haunting me since the last page. Stephen Graham Jones blends horror with a beautiful narrative style that reminds me a lot of Stephen King and Ramsay Campbell. My plan is to read ALL of his novels as this was such an impressive introduction for me. Dark, violent and grisly in all the best ways.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Harvey and the Extraordinary
Comments:
This was really a special book. I loved the main character of Mimi and her family members were all really great too. The sadness of the story tugged at my heart strings for this girl, but it ultimately has a lovely message about the support of family and friends. And also how the ordinary can be extraordinary.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina
Comments:
Such a great story and characters. I was drawn in immediately and did not want to put it down. Magical realism at its best. Anyone who likes sprawling family sagas mixed with magical curses and secrets will enjoy this.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory
Comments:
"Death might appear to destroy the meaning in our lives, but in fact, it is the very source of our creativity. As Kafka said, 'The meaning of life is that it ends.' Death is the engine that keeps us running, giving us the motivation to achieve, learn, love, and create. Philosophers have proclaimed this for thousands of years just as vehemently as we insist upon ignoring it generation after generation." That is just a wee snippet of the greatness contained in this thoughtful, entertaining, and very eye-opening book. My own morbid fascination with death is what made me dive into this with gusto. Caitlin Doughty brilliantly handled all the details with just the right balance of technical detail and grim humor. So much of what she says in this book hit home with me. Here is my favorite line of the book: "The only thing that's certain is that nothing ever is." Truth.
OUT-OF-PRINT & UNAVAILABLE! (But email us to search for a used copy.)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Mythos
Comments:
So much fun even if you are already familiar with all the myths. Stephen Fry retells the tales in such an accessible and entertaining way. I laughed out loud many times at his dry humor.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Feral Creatures
Comments:
ST remains one of the greatest characters to be created -- he is just as funny in this one. Any fans of Hollow Kingdom will not be disappointed in this new adventure. This is a super fun read! Themes: zombie apocalypse, parenthood, anthropomorphism
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Tales from the Cafe
Comments:
I really liked this a lot. Very nicely written in a detached style that suited me. Raised great questions about what risks one is willing to take to go back in time to resolve internal longing, conflict. Themes: time travel, magical realism, regret, making amends
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Littlest Family's Big Day
Comments:
The Littlest family has just made a move and they have such a lovely adventure exploring their new neighborhood. And by the end, wow it sure feels like home. This book is so warm, and the artwork is just gorgeous.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Daisies for Innocence (An Enchanted Garden Mystery #1)
Comments:
To have the ability to sense what scents make people peaceful and happy would be a pretty cool skill. That its inherited from groovy "Gamma" makes it even better. An enchanted garden, essential oil splendiferousness and a Corgi best friend made this light mystery a goodie.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Bone Houses
Comments:
The author, Emily Lloyd-Jones refers to this story as "gravedigger versus medieval zombies" and I don't think there is a better description for it. A fairy tale horror story living inside a fantasy YA novel that was such a fun ride. Full of adventure, suspense and wickedly snarly monster moments made this a real page-turner for me. I highly recommend to every fantasy/horror fan, even if they don't normally read YA.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: In Zanesville
Comments:
Jo Ann Beard is just awesome. This may be one of the greatest books I’ve read in a long time. 1970s coming of age story at its absolute finest. I did not want it to end.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Velvet Was the Night
Comments:
Mexico City in the 1970s is such a gritty and crazy backdrop for this awesome pulp noir story. Amazing characters, political upheaval, an evil paramilitary boss, and when a mysterious beautiful neighbor vanishes, loner Maite suddenly is a part of much more than her comic book romances provide. Filled with just the right amount of tension and suspense this was a wonderful read. It reminded me a lot of the movie True Romance.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Hilarious World of Depression
Comments:
There were so many times that I just stared at the page thinking: YES. THAT IS EXACTLY IT. I also really enjoyed his sense of humor and music references. I have not listened to this podcast but that will be immediately remedied.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Ex Hex
Comments:
This was cute and entertaining. It had just the right amount of witchery for me. Definitely has steamy parts which isn't my norm. A great fun Halloween read for any romance fan.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Haunting of Leigh Harker
Comments:
It's impossible for me to describe this book without revealing the best parts, so all I will say is that I thoroughly enjoyed the twisty (and twisted), creepy and terrifying, gut-wrenching, and touching story of Leigh Harker. I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Smile: The Story of a Face
Comments:
At a time when our smiles are hidden by masks, Sarah’s experience is even more thought provoking. She writes in such a way that you feel you are a trusted friend and connects you intimately with her story. Beautifully written, this memoir sheds light on so many important lessons and spiritual reminders about what really matters in life.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Singing Away the Dark
Comments:
Even as an adult, I still sing away the dark...
Beautiful artwork by Julie Morstad (my favorite) and such an empowering message.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: All of Us Villains
Comments:
Hunger Games-style story with magic! This book was a blast. The cover art is delicious. I cannot wait for the next installment - which hopefully won’t be too far from now.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Wind May Blow
Comments:
A beautiful book that reminds us that though the wind may blow and bad things sometimes happen, we are strong enough to make it through. I love the lyrical text and peek-thru illustrations as well. An uplifting and loving message.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl: A Memoir
Comments:
As a very big Carrie Brownstein fan my opinion of this book may be biased - but it was so good. If you know her from Sleater-Kinney you will LOVE this as it details the origins of the band all the way through to the end and subsequent reunion. If you know her from Portlandia, you will still enjoy reading about her life. I am an even bigger fan of her now having read this book, if that is possible. It is now very evident she is a very cool person in addition to being such a talented and beautiful woman.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Monday - Into the Cave of Thieves (Total Mayem #1)
Comments:
You will like this book if:
A) You like to laugh
B) You like adventure
C) You like fun drawings
D) You like to learn new thingsThis book is so funny that even your parents will like it. I am a big fan of Dash Candoo :)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Certain Dark Things
Comments:
Absolutely fantastic. This is not a typical vampire novel. A very cool story with a whole bunch of different subspecies of vampires warring with each other and coexisting with humans in an alternative world Mexico City (which is a fabulous character in its own right). The main character Atl is awesome and so is her genetically altered Doberman dog. Super fun blend of fantasy, crime noir and horror.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Lakesedge
Comments:
This book is just dripping with gothic creepiness and I LOVE it. It has it all and more - the dark mansion, magical battles, a tormented hot brooding man, a scary but sexy king of the underworld and last but not least the brave and self sacrificing main character of Violeta who both frustrated me and wowed me. The book cover art perfectly captures the goth romance of the story. Highly entertaining, I look forward to reading more from this debut author.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Comfort Me With Apples
Comments:
What on earth did I just read? I have no idea, but I can say that this story was suspenseful, odd, eerie and very similar to a nightmare version of The Truman Show. Was it a metaphor? Is it an alternate reality? Read it and come to your own conclusion!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Shady Hollow
Comments:
What a cute and charming cozy mystery! I absolutely loved the world of Shady Hollow and all of the animals living in it. The murder mystery was fun too. I am eager as Edith Von Beaverpelt to read the next installment! Ha!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Dracula: Deluxe Edition
Comments:
Who needs another edition of Dracula? Ummm, I say EVERYONE. This edition not only has amazing Edward Gorey illustrations, it has absolutely awesome bats printed on the outside of the pages that look so cool against the red velvet cover. Any fan of Dracula should add this edition to their collection. And any new reader of Dracula will be spoiled to have this edition to read from. I'm in love with it!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
Comments:
A very inspiring collection of life experiences from a true music lover and creator. I was a big fan when I picked up this book and now I love him even more. Dave wins all the prizes in my book.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Shining Girls
Comments:
A time traveling serial killer? Wow yes. I could not put this down! Totally sucked me in from page one. A wild violent and thrilling ride. I now need to read all books by Lauren Beukes.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Swimmers
Comments:
Julie Otsuka has a beautiful writing style that brings you immediately into the moment. This book was heartwrenching. It starts with these swimmers having to adjust to their pool being closed down and wrestling with how hard change is. But a lot of it was enlightening as well to read - how our relationships to routine can sometimes be the best at different stages of life. And then the story moves into a daughter dealing with her aged mother’s decline with dementia and loss of memory and self. And yep, it’s unbelievably moving and sad and real (and did I mention sad?!) This is not an emotionally easy read, but I think it’s a worthwhile experience.