Welcome to Parker's staff recommendations page.
June Hayward's writing career has gone, well, haywire. Her first and only book was a flop, her job sucks, and she hates her only friend, Athena Liu. Athena seems to have it all. Several bestselling books, a Netflix deal, and a stacked bank account. So when Athena chokes to death on pancakes in front of June, what's a girl to do but steal her dead friend’s manuscript and publish it as her own? The only problem? The book is about the forgotten history of Chinese laborers in World War I and June is white. Her solution? Change her name to Junie Song, take some racially ambiguous author photos, and play it off as a tribute to her fallen friend. What could go wrong? R.F. Kuang creates a compulsively readable tale that examines modern questions on authorship, American-Asian erasure, and angry Twitter mobs. Yellowface will delight and nauseate anyone familiar with the dramas, scandals, and shenanigans of the book world.
After quitting her job, Blythe Roberson escapes the hustle and bustle of New York City and hits the road. Planning on traveling across the country in a borrowed Prius, Roberson sets out to create her own chapter in the ongoing travel narrative of America and visit a few beautiful National Parks while she's at it - this time with a woman's perspective. Perfectly balancing personal narrative, current observations, history, and humor, Blythe Roberson's America the Beautiful? is an entertaining and laugh-out-loud romp across the country via the National Park system. The perfect spring/summer nonfiction read that will make you want to drop everything, fill up the gas tank, and soak up the sun.
Shay Evans is tormented by her past, one in which she and her best friend, Laurel, escaped from a dangerous man. But Shay has built a life all these years later, one she is almost content with, and one that will all crumble before her with one piece of news. Laurel is dead. Her favorite true crime podcast breaks the news, and Shay finds herself thrust back into a world she feared she'd never be able to outrun. Was Laurel's death truly a suicide as the police claim or the proof that a dangerous man and his colleagues are back and more powerful than ever? To find out, Shay must team up with the host of the podcast that sent her spiraling and slip into a world of cults, abuse, and twisted ideology that will push her to her breaking point. Last year's In My Dreams I Hold A Knife was the juiciest and most exciting thriller I'd read in years, and now Ashley Winstead is back with the darkest and most heart-wrenching thriller I've read yet. The Last Housewife pulls no punches so be warned that it's a tough read that will leave you breathless, but it is worth every moment. I inhaled this book in a matter of hours, frantically turning the pages as Shay found herself in increasing danger and all her darkest secrets were thrust into the light. This story unpacks the truths about the traumas women face in contemporary America, from sexism to abuse to the ways in which the world forces ownership of their bodies. I can't recommend this one enough (but do make sure to check the content warning in the start of the book!). All the stars. All the awards. All the praise. Ahsley Winstead has proven herself to be one of the greatest thriller writers of the time.
The Waukesha Slenderman stabbing, often mistakenly referred to as the ‘Slenderman Murders’, left many shocked and morbidly intrigued. Because the true facts of the case were blurred, fumbled, and outright ignored, the idea of two 12-year-old girls committing such a violent crime all in the name of an internet boogeyman is confusing and downright disconcerting. But that was never the full story. Kathleen Hale's telling of the tale is extremely comprehensive, well researched, and compellingly written. Told with facts and not sensationalism in mind, Slenderman is the best true crime book I've read in years. I was glued to the pages as Hale pulled back the layers of this complicated story, exploring the ways in which a young girl's ignored mental health crisis, backward judicial and mental health services systems, and Midwestern attitudes came together to create a truly tragic scenario. It's a hard story in which no one wins, but you'll have to decide for yourself if justice was served. Thankfully, Hale is willing to have that conversation. I haven't stopped thinking about this case or the three girls since I closed the book, leaving me to wonder, what does justice look like, and how we as a society can do better?
Maeve Fly loves her job, she loves her best friend, and she loves her Grandma. The only trouble? She's on the outs with her boss, her best friend is gearing up to move on, and Grandma is in a coma. Oh, and Maeve's murderous tendencies are getting harder to ignore. And as her life spins more and more out of her control the bodies start piling up. CJ Leede's debut hooked me from the very first page and never let me go. I simply could not get enough of Maeve Fly's disturbing exploits and Leede's seductive writing. This is one depraved, nasty, and wicked book. It's also one of my favorites of the year.
The Wolfpack, a group of nine young girls, have all lived at Havenwood for most of their lives. They follow the rules, they give back to their community, they don't dare leave the property, and they don't question their leader. But when one of their group disappears without a trace, and with no acknowledgment from the elders, they must begin to finally question the way things are. Amelia Brunskill delivers an engaging and beautifully crafted novel about the lengths we will go to save ourselves and the ones we love.
Iconic Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham is back with her second collection of essays, and they are just as witty and insightful as last time. In Have I Told You This Already? Graham lets readers behind the scenes to explore the ins and outs of Hollywood, from the unspoken rules of social hierarchy to what a day in the life of an actor looks like. But she also reveals truths about her family and herself that have shaped her experiences in the world and how she moves through it. From her humble beginnings as a struggling actress slash sales associate at Barney's to growing up in a family historically notorious for being forgetful. Through it all she shows us the importance of storytelling, listening, and cherishing those around you. I ate these stories up and would happily wave a hand at Graham to say, "So what, tell it to me again!"
Amy, Melissa, Liz, and Jess don't fit in with the rest of the PTA moms in their suburb; they'd rather keep up their close-knit friendship and monthly wine nights than worry about whose lawn is the greenest or who will manage the ice cream bar at the school carnival. Their friendship is an escape from the hectic lives they lead, so when Liz suggests building a She Shed in her backyard, they are eager to jump onboard. But after construction begins on their clubhouse, the ladies begin receiving strange burn marks, household objects become possessed, and worst of all, Liz begins to change from her positive loving self into something, or someone, much more sinister. Amy, Melissa, and Jess will need to confront whatever spirit is haunting their neighborhood if they are going to save themselves and Liz. Desperate Housewives meets The Exorcist in this bonkers and hilarious lite-horror comedy. I had a blast reading Suburban Hell, there was never a boring moment as the book juggled comedy, scares, and a touching story of friendship and grief.
Daisy Darker's family has spent years avoiding being in the same room all together. Each of them has their reasons, and secrets, for staying as far apart as possible, but they cannot deny Nana one last family reunion on her 80th birthday. Besides, once they all gather on the secluded island she resides on, Nana will finally be sharing what is in her will. What none of them expect is at the stroke of midnight when they find Nana murdered in the Kitchen. With a storm raging and the tide too high to cross for the next 8 hours, the Darker family will be forced to confront the misdeeds of their past before it is too late, because someone is beginning to pick them off one by one. The Darker family is full of some of the wickedest and most despicable people I have had the pleasure of reading about. I couldn't get enough of their endless drama, secrets, and tragedies. And some secrets are worth killing over. Daisy Darker is a thrilling ride filled with numerous twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.
Madison Washington was always an outsider and an easy target for bullies. But what no one realized was that Maddy was harboring a secret, one she was forced to keep. But that all changed when an unexpected rainstorm revealed to everyone in school that Maddy is biracial and had been passing for white her entire life at the demand of her father. The reveal of Maddy's long kept secret will unleash a chain of events that will leave all but two members of the school's senior class dead and the rest of the world scrambling to understand what happened. Tiffany D. Jackson's The Weight of Blood is a multilayered retelling of Stephen King's Carrie inspired by the true stories of modern-day segregated proms. Filled the brim with layered and flawed characters, a looming sense of dread, and important conversations handled with care, you won't be able to put this one down. I know I found myself compelled to stay awake long into the night turning the pages as each new event and aggression led the story closer to the infamous prom.
When Alex Easton receives word from one of their childhood friends, Madeline Usher, that she believes she is knocking on death's door, they race to her family's countryside manor. They expect to find a sickly friend, but Easton quickly realizes they may have signed up for more than they bargained for. Madeline looks beyond death and her brother, Roderick, is not fairing much better. Not to mention that the manor is decrepit and falling to shambles, its residents are behaving strangely, a mysterious fungus grows around the property, and curiously enough, even the hares in the area are beginning to act peculiar. T. Kingfisher's What Moves the Dead is a modern gothic masterpiece, drawing inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe's classic, The Fall of the House of Usher. Kingfisher masterfully weaves the styles of modern storytelling with that of a gothic classic, as if she had channeled Shirley Jackson or Mary Shelley themselves. Perfectly atmospheric, unsettling, and just a bit grotesque, What Moves the Dead is not a scare you want to hide from.
Unknown Island is everyone’s dream vacation. It is the most exclusive, all expenses paid, private island getaway, and it will be hosting all of your favorite celebrities. However, you don't choose to go to Unknown Island, Unknown Island chooses you. Or rather, Unknown Island picks 10 carefully curated guests to bring over and enjoy their luxury accommodations. After a lengthy and rigorous viral campaign, everyone is buzzing to find out who the first 10 guests will be. And before long 10 elite influencers make their way to the island, expecting the time of their life. But, they quickly realize things aren't adding up. The accommodations are motel level at best, the marketing team who gathered them is nowhere to be seen, and there is no way off the island. And... they still don't know who exactly owns Unknown Island. Hmm, it seems like the time of their lives might be getting cut a little short. Never Coming Home is an addictive and deadly YA thriller that I couldn't put down. Kate Williams quickly creates a sinister tone, full of black humor and social commentary, that made this so much fun to read. And as soon as the bodies began hitting the floor I couldn't stop turning the pages. Kate Williams has created a devious and campy modern homage to Agatha Christie's classic, And Then There Were None.
New Yorker cartoonist Sofia Warren was never that involved in politics. She didn't know who her local officials were, what policies were being passed, or what names would show up on her ballot. That is until Julia Salazar started following her. On every street corner there was a volunteer handing out flyers with her face on it, at every bus stop a poster, and all her friends were talking about her. Salazar, a young 27-year-old democratic socialist, had begun a grassroots campaign for New York Senate in hopes of achieving major rent control and tenant protection policy reform. When she defied the odds and won, she inspired and united a coalition of activists, organizations, and local residents. And left Warren wondering, what happens next? Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator chronicles what came next as Warren follows Salazar and her staff during their first year in office. Warren's graphic memoir is a truly exceptional and unique look inside the world of politics, community organizing, and progressive policy. From candid conversations with Salazar and her whole staff, to attending protests, to speaking with community organizers, Warren creates a compelling and informative story that sheds light on what the political landscape looks like today and what we could shape it into.
Delilah Green wants nothing to do with Bright Falls, the town she grew up in. She doesn't care for the small-town people, the businesses that close at 6pm sharp, and she certainly is not interested in seeing her step mother. Or her recently engaged step sister, Astrid, for that matter. But after finding herself short on cash, she finds it impossible to say no to a good paying job doing the photography at Astrid's wedding - plus her Dad would have wanted her to go. All Claire wants in her life is a little extra stability, as she has been dealing with an unreliable ex, the father of her daughter, for years, while managing the bookstore she has taken over for her mother. So, the last thing she needs is unpredictable Delilah Green strutting into her life with her beautifully tattooed arms, tight black jeans, and gorgeous unruly hair. Not to mention, she has never been there for her best friend Astrid! But, as Claire and Delilah begin to know each other during the wedding events, the sparks are undeniable, and maybe neither of them are who the other thinks. Ashley Herring Blake delivers a rom-com full of life about the meaning of forgiveness, women's friendships, and how to let go of the past (not to mention grin worthy flirtatious banter!). I fell head over heels for this book, all of the characters were loveable and the story was the kind of multilayered romance I love. Delilah Green Doesn't Care is a heartfelt queer romance perfect for fans of Casey McQuistion.
Ryka Aoki's Light from Uncommon Stars is an absolute gem of a novel: rare, gorgeous, and unique. This novel defies classification as it seamlessly mixes genres to tell a heartfelt story of acceptance, aliens, deals with demons, antique violins, and yes, donuts. The story follows a group of vastly different characters as their fates intersect in unexpected ways. Katrina Nguyen is a young homeless trans girl who has escaped an abusive situation and found herself unsure of where life will take her next. Shizuka Satomi, a.k.a. The Queen of Hell made a deal with the devil, and now she must deliver the souls of seven violin prodigies or face eternal damnation. And then there is Lan Tran, owner of Starrgate Donut and interstellar escapee of the galactic empire. The ways in which these three's fates intertwine will make readers laugh, swoon, and bite their nails in anticipation of discovering how this story wraps up. Unputdownable and gorgeously written, Light from Uncommon Stars is a page turning masterpiece and my personal favorite 2021 release.
Millie Price is determined to follow her dreams and achieve her goal of becoming a Broadway star by any means necessary. Even if that means lying to her dad and secretly applying to a school on the other side of the country. But when her scheme is discovered and simultaneously squandered, Millie needs plan B. When she accidentally stumbles onto her dad's old LiveJournal from 2003, now Millie might have discovered a plan B, one that just might involve the mother she never got to meet. The only problem is, she could be one of several women. It looks like Millie might just have a real-life Mamma Mia! on her hands. Not to mention the fact that she is currently being forced to work all summer long with her sworn mortal enemy, Oliver, who might be just a tad cute if you look at him at the right angle. When You Get the Chance is jam-packed with Emma Lord's signature style of wit and whimsy, fantastic banter, and colorful characters you won't soon forget. Lord perfectly balances humor and heart while building a story that centers around friendship, family, love, and self-acceptance. Don't miss When You Get the Chance, because you won't get the chance to read anything as charming as Emma Lord's work anytime soon!
John Paul Brammer's voice is everything I've been looking for in the many essay collections I've picked up in the last couple of years. Simply put, Brammer's voice is fantastic. He is self-aware in a rare way that allows for the wittiest and most truthful of observations on life, relationships, one's own history, and the world, without crossing into the self-indulgent or self-deprecating. Although, I think he'd say I was giving him too much credit (but I'd wholeheartedly disagree). The essays in ¡Hola Papi! come together to compose a glimpse into the many different phases of Brammer's life, stitching together his coming of age as a gay Mexican boy growing up in rural Oklahoma to the many triumphs and tribulations of life as a gay man across the country and world. As a reader I felt like I was growing up alongside Brammer as he came to reckon with his self, his identities, his past, and his own actions. His own acceptance of the many parts of himself, the many experiences that culminate to make him who he is today, gives me hope and faith. I had to keep sticky notes next to me while I was reading, something I rarely do, to make sure I was saving passages to come back to. Passages that so concisely put into words things I've felt and thought, but so much more beautifully than I could have imagined saying myself. And passages that will stick with me and encourage me to grow. And what marks a better read that something that fundamentally changes the way you think, makes you want to grow, and excites you to see how you too will change and develop in the years to come?
After Daniel Sutherland is found brutally murdered on his boat, the lives of several seemingly unconnected women will collide in unimaginable ways. Laura has been struggling to stay afloat and keep her head down ever since an accident as a child left her with scars she wishes she could forget. Miriam knows an outsider when she sees one - it takes one to know one. So, when she discovers Daniel's body and realizes Laura was the last known person so see him alive, she takes it upon herself to help Laura, while possibly getting the revenge she has been longing for all these years. Meanwhile, Carla is spiraling - it was only a few months ago that her sister died suddenly and tragically. Now her nephew has been murdered. But with even more tragedy littering her past, she might do anything to find peace. All three women are harboring painful memories and secrets that threaten to pull them apart. What would they do to finally be able to move on? Not for the faintest of heart, Paula Hawkins’s latest is a dark and brutal story that kept me in my favorite chair reading from the first page to the very last.
Stakes is High is comprised of four essays that touch effectively on many of the important issues that are facing our communities today. From police brutality to MeToo to Transgender rights and so on, Mychal Denzel Smith is able to dissect these issues and show readers that the inequalities we see in our community are rooted in bigoted policy and systems set in place to maintain power for the few. Smith draws on readers to examine what and who we blame for the issues and their persistence in our country. Smith uses Donald Trump for example, explaining that yes, Trump is a racist, and yes, he is perpetuating racism and giving racists a voice. But, according to Smith and his analysis, Trump and his like were also an inevitable answer to a racist system and a racist country with a racist history. We cannot place blame on only the loudest in the room or we will forget that it is the systems, policy, and years of abuse that we must work to fight against. It is from this perspective that we can begin truly dismantling inequality. It is also from this perspective that we can begin to acknowledge that we must all actively work towards a better and equal future.
This short but sweet little book explores what it means to be non-binary or gender nonconforming in contemporary times. Drawing from their own experiences, Alok Vaid-Menon delivers a poignant image of what it is like to grow up outside of the gender binary and looks at the kinds of abuse those who are non-white and nonconforming face. Part memoir, part informative guide, and part weapon, this book fights back against those who wish to erase or deny the existence of those who are outside of the binary. As Vaid-Menon says, it is all about "power and control," and we have the power to erase the binary once and for all, to the benefit of everyone, not just those who fall outside of it. This book is essential and should fall into the hands of everyone no matter if they are a woman, a man, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, or nonconforming (and if you don't know what that all means, well, pick this book up).
Rani Kelkar never intended to fall in love. In fact, she was forbidden from doing so by her parents and her best friend. But then she met Oliver at their senior art show, and one thing led to another, and before she knew it, Rani had fallen in love and was doing everything in her power to keep it a secret! But her first relationship might turn out to not exactly be all that she expected or hoped for. American Betiya is a stunning and complex story that kept me hooked and invested. I was astounded by the ways in which Anuradha Rajurkar was able to layer so much so seamlessly into this story. But the shining star of this book is our protagonist Rani. Torn between expectations and desires, Rani is a character I will not soon forget, nor will I forget the lessons she learned on her journey into young adulthood. This book is significant for its portrayal of a young girl trying to figure out where to center herself in the world, and I cannot wait to thrust it into the hands of everyone and anyone looking for their next favorite thing.
Bayview High School is no stranger to murder, mystery, and mayhem. 18 months ago, 4 students were framed for the murder of a classmate who ran a popular gossip blog. Now copycat blogs have been popping up and causing a stir, but they have been harmless... until now. Truth or Dare? Students are receiving texts containing this ominous message, and they will quickly discover you should ALWAYS chose dare! Or should you? This companion to McManus's One of Us Is Lying is a great read for old fans and new readers alike. Fans of the previous novel will love seeing where the old cast of characters have gone since the shocking conclusion of book one, while also getting to know all the lovely new characters.
Banned Book Club tells the true story of Kim Hyun Sook's first year at university in 1983 South Korea. Hyun Sook is excited to start classes and begin her educational career, but she soon finds out that university is not quite what she imagined. Campus protests, police retaliation, and hostility between students is all in a day's work. But all Hyun Sook wants is to read the books she is assigned for class, make good grades, and stay out of trouble! Hyun Sook quickly finds herself enticed to join a book club that, just like university, might not be exactly what she is expecting. This graphic memoir is highly entertaining while also extremely educational. I felt like I was learning right alongside Hyun Sook as she became enlightened to her nation's history and political turmoil. This book stands out as not only an examination on history but also an important critique of our current political climate. Banned Book Club is a must-read!
