Alta Journal’s California Book Club
The book: Startlement by Ada Limón
Our reviewer says: “In a retrospective spanning two decades, former U.S. poet laureate Limón captures the mind and soul with exquisite linguistic mastery and vision that will compel readers to earmark every other sentence.” Read more.
The book: We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat
Our reviewer says: “Journalist and documentarian NoiseCat’s ambitious debut ruminates on generational trauma and resilience among Indigenous communities in North America.... [This is] a powerful archive of Indigenous pain and persistence.” Read more.
The book: Like Family by Erin O. White
Our reviewer says: “White’s nuanced debut novel concerns the complex relationships of three couples in Upstate New York.... Readers will find much to enjoy.” Read more.
The book: Simultaneous by Eric Heisserer
Our reviewer says: “Oscar-nominated screenwriter Heisserer debuts with a mind-bending sci-fi thriller.... This auspicious first outing will excite fans of Blake Crouch.” Read more.
The book: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Our reviewer says: “In this scintillating saga from Braithwaite, generations of women in a Lagos family contend with a curse that prevents them from securing husbands.... This is riveting.” Read more.
The book: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
Our reviewer says: “Former Washington Post reporter Kashino debuts with a wicked satirical thriller about the cutthroat world of Washington, D.C., area real estate.” Read more.
Good Morning America Book Club
The book: Wreck by Catherine Newman
Our reviewer says: “The appealing if underdeveloped sequel to Newman’s 2024 novel Sandwich follows 50-something writer Rocky through another series of midlife dilemmas.... The author’s fans won’t be disappointed.” Read more.
Good Morning America YA Book Club
The book: Cold Wire by Chloe Gong
Our reviewer says: “In a near-future world ravaged by deadly disease and extreme weather caused by climate change, humans rebuff reality for a virtual realm in this allegorical telling by Gong.... A slow beginning gives way to a tightly paced climax and a juicy sequel hook.” Read more.
The book: We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat
Our reviewer says: “Journalist and documentarian NoiseCat’s ambitious debut ruminates on generational trauma and resilience among Indigenous communities in North America.... [This is] a powerful archive of Indigenous pain and persistence.” Read more.
Jewish Book Council Book Club (fiction)
The book: I Want to Be Wonderful by Lihi Lapid
Jewish Book Council Book Club (nonfiction)
The book: Heart of a Stranger by Angela Buchdahl
Our reviewer says: “Buchdahl debuts with an affecting account of becoming the first ordained Asian American rabbi.... In a moment of rising social division, racism, and antisemitism, this stirring call for unity resonates.” Read more.
The book: Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer
The book: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
The book: Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot
Our reviewer says: “Harriot, a columnist at TheGrio, offers a razor-sharp reassessment of American history.... Both entertainingly colloquial and impressively erudite, this meticulous survey of the American past is an invaluable resource.” Read more.
The book: Father Figure by Emma Forrest
The book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Our reviewer says: “Gyasi’s amazing debut offers an unforgettable, page-turning look at the histories of Ghana and America, as the author traces a single bloodline across seven generations.... Marvelous.” Read more.
The book: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Our reviewer says: “Nguyen’s poignant debut captures the perspectives of, and essence of the bond between, a parent and child, proving that language—and love—can transcend words.” Read more.
The book: America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
The book: Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
Our reviewer says: “In Stava’s devilishly plotted if somewhat far-fetched debut, a seemingly chance encounter with a wealthy man in a Brooklyn park transforms a young woman’s life.... This is good fun.” Read more.
The book: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Our reviewer says: “In this scintillating saga from Braithwaite, generations of women in a Lagos family contend with a curse that prevents them from securing husbands.... This is riveting.” Read more.
The book: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Our reviewer says: “Australian writer McConaghy depicts in this urgent if uneven saga a family’s attempt to survive on a desert island in a near future ravaged by climate change.” Read more.
The book: Forest Euphoria by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
Our reviewer says: “Kaishian, a mycology curator at the New York State Museum, debuts with reverent celebration of the natural world’s diversity.... This will leave readers in awe of nature’s many splendors.” Read more.
The book: Like Family by Erin O. White
Our reviewer says: “White’s nuanced debut novel concerns the complex relationships of three couples in Upstate New York.... Readers will find much to enjoy.” Read more.
The book: We the Animals by Justin Torres
Our reviewer says: “Three brothers and a dueling husband and wife are bound by poverty and love in this debut novel from Stegner Fellow Torres.” Read more.
The book: The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza
Our reviewer says: “Palestinian-American journalist and Fulbright fellow Aziza delivers a visceral debut autobiography that braids mental illness, queer identity, and generational trauma into a striking meditation on exile.” Read more.
The book: The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
Our reviewer says: “Pulitzer winner Erdrich follows the folks of the Red River Valley of North Dakota—the original home to the Ojibwe, the Dakota, and the Metis—in a captivating tale of love and everyday life amid environmental upheaval and the 2008 financial crisis.” Read more.
The book: The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers
Our reviewer says: “Somers offers a wry and ingenious tale of marital infidelity.... Readers will find this hard to put down.” Read more.
