booklists

Have you ever been hunting for a book online (maybe at say ThirdPlaceBooks.com) and had the search results return with the correct title but absolutely wrong cover? Maybe it’s not even the correct genre. And it definitely is not by the author you expected. Did you misremember the title? Or did you somehow slip into a parallel dimension?

Potential Twilight Zone episode, Mandela effect, or multiverse jump aside–is it possible that another book has exactly the same title as the one you were looking for? Short answer: yes.

We asked the booksellers at all three of our locations for their favorite books of 2020. These are the top 10 books that made it onto the majority of those lists.

We are so excited to celebrate Latinx authors, and the contributions they make to the literary world!

In fraught times, it is important to celebrate the diversity that truly makes this country great. And I may be biased as a bookseller, but what better way to celebrate than to read? This list pulls from lots of genres and experiences -- from hard-hitting, topical memoirs, to delicious gothic spook-fests, to fun, vibrant romance. Pick up any of these, whether you're looking to see yourself represented, or to gain insight into an experience outside your own!

Usually, Independent Bookstore Day involves a few more events than it does this year, but that doesn’t mean we love it any less!

Do we miss the prize wheel? Stamping passports? Blackout poetry? The photobooth? We do! We miss it all so much! But most of all, we miss seeing all of you, and hearing about your bookstore adventures -- and, of course, recommending you our favorite books.

So here’s a list of some of the books we wish we could put in your hands on Saturday -- and don’t worry, Indie Bookstore Day will be back next year!
 

Radical publisher Verso Books celebrates its fifty-year anniversary this year, and it could scarcely be more timely.

I don't know about you, but I could really use a laugh or two...or a million... right now. But with such serious and important topics occupying our thoughts and newsfeeds, it can be difficult to dredge up any humor on our own. 

Many readers balk when they see the term romance. If you're picturing a steamy, clutch cover of half-naked heroes and heroines, you're picturing an older era of romance readers. Today's romance readers seek out emotional depth, high drama, snapping plots, and lots and lots of happily ever afters (or happily for nows). It's a million-dollar industry made up of stories centering women's experiences; and while there's plenty of male-centered romance out there also, your average reader is hungry for a satisfying read which prioritizes female happiness.

At this point, I think it’s safe to say that none of us are doing much traveling this summer. We’re certainly not doing much traveling internationally. Luckily, there are other ways to peek into new cultures and environments, even when we can’t be there physically.

So for all of you struggling with wanderlust, I compiled a brief list of some recent books by authors from around the world -- hopefully they can at least tide you over until we can get out there for real.

I think at this point we would all be forgiven for wanting to escape 2020, and what better way to do so than to read some high fantasy? 

High fantasy ticks all the boxes for what I need right now: it’s often long, so it fills up many hours; it explores complex ideas and themes for maximum distraction potential; and most importantly, it’s set far, far away from the United States in 2020. 

Recently, the only thing that has kept me grounded (besides books) is seeing some bonafide earthy ground and the things that come from it. I go for walks in the woods, sit on the beach, tend my plants, or enjoy the crazy drama that is bird watching. In exchange for things like picking up trash, growing some flowers, dropping birdseed, or literally nothing at all (mother earth is that generous), these outdoor outlets help to revive a little bit of my dampened spirits.