Staff Picks by Tag

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The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, Book 1) By Maggie Stiefvater Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9780545424936
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Scholastic Paperbacks - July 30th, 2013

Death, trees, romance, Dreams, birds and a small West Virginian town. The Raven Boys is the first in a 4 part series by master YA storyteller Maggie Stievater. It is a fantastic blend of the trauma of everyday life and mythological danger. Follow Blue Sargent and four boys from Aglionby High as their fates become hopelessly entangled and dark secrets begin to come to light. 


Review by Sydney

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Business or Pleasure By Rachel Lynn Solomon Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780593548530
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Berkley - July 4th, 2023

Soooooooooooo spicy 

 


Review by Lily

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Thank You for Sharing: A Novel By Rachel Runya Katz Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9781250888297
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - September 12th, 2023

At once a lovely little friends to enemies to friends to lovers, and a tender reckoning with grief, trauma, and prejudice. I love these characters and their friendships and their flaws and their growth. I wanted to eat every meal they ate, drink every cocktail they shared at their quasi-group-therapy-speakeasy-get-togethers, and just exist within the chaos and the calm. Hug your friends, tell your loved ones you love them, confess your feelings to your crush, trust your gut or heart or brain or whatever, go to therapy, and read this book (in no particular order). Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your words with us.
 
 


Review by Sofia

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A Show for Two By Tashie Bhuiyan Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781335429209
Availability: Out of stock, usually available in 3-10 days
Published: Inkyard Press - April 25th, 2023

Can a book be a hug? This book is a hug, a book about familiar expectations, a life plan, sibling love, and a sweet love side story. Follow Mina as she navigates through following her dreams, and enjoy her discovery of how she finds her happiness. 


Review by Alex

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Flowerheart By Catherine Bakewell Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780063214590
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: HarperTeen - March 14th, 2023

Trust when I say this is the cottagecore fantasy you have been waiting for! Clara's story is rife with romance and magic, but the heart of it all is a young woman just trying to save her father and regain control of her life.


Review by Madison

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Something Wild & Wonderful By Anita Kelly Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781538754887
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Forever - March 7th, 2023

Oh man. This is the perfect romance novel! Anita Kelly writes fantastic characters here. It's funny, heartwarming, thrilling (spicy!) It has it all. And it fulfilled my deep desire for everything to include birding!

 


Review by Zack

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Something Wild & Wonderful By Anita Kelly Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781538754887
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Forever - March 7th, 2023

This book is everything I want when I read romance. Ben and Alexei turned my heart to utter mush. Their banter is delightful and their hike along the Pacific Crest Trail is a fresh, fun setting. And though there is heat and spice in abundance, the arc of their relationship had major slow burn energy. 

I have never felt comparisons to Red, White, And Royal Blue were accurate before, but this contemporary gay romance is spot on: it struck the mood, the complex narrative, the beloved, nuanced and unique characters. 



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Georgie, All Along: An Uplifting and Unforgettable Love Story By Kate Clayborn Cover Image
$16.95
ISBN: 9781496737298
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Kensington - January 24th, 2023

 

Kate Clayborn is fully ensconced on my auto-buy list. All of her books make me want to gush: they are nuanced and full-bodied and believable. Her characters are flawed--even the supporting cast (who never detract or distract from the core romantic arc)--and deal with Real Life Shit. In GEORGIE, ALL ALONG, I kept discovering snippets of dialogue that could have been taken from my own brain. It's an opposites attract, close-proximity romance that I didn't want to end. 



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Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes By Travis Baldree Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250886088
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Tor Books - November 8th, 2022

What an absolute delight! I will be sharing this cozy story of found family and new beginnings with many friends. Legends & Lattes is a single sitting read that is best paired with a steaming hot coffee and cinnamon pastry (trust me, you'll get it).



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Kiss Her Once for Me: A Novel By Alison Cochrun Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781982191139
Availability: On our shelves now at one or more of our stores
Published: Atria Books - November 1st, 2022

This book is like a warm hug, a cup of tea, and a slice of freshly baked banana bread in the middle of a snow storm. With just as much charm, if not more, as her debut The Charm Offensive, Cochrun has written a love story that deals with dysfunctional family dynamics, the fake-fiancé-who-turns-out-to-be-the-brother-of-the-woman-you-fell-in-love-with-last-Christmas, relatable discussions of mental health and identity, and overall Portland energy. The vibes are wonderful, it's lovely and queer, it's my favorite romance that I've read this year!


Review by Sofia

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