Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes By Eric LaRocca

LaRoca’s collection of three horror tales has one of those covers that draws any horror fan in. Each surreal story in this collection follows someone who is searching for a greater meaning in their life. A reason to keep going, something to hang on to. They feel lost and desperate, desperate enough to do depraved and terrible things. They are compelled forward into darkness, fully aware that they cannot turn back.  This one is not for a fairweather horror fan, the descriptions are carefully placed and visceral. However, instead of relying on shock, the relatability of each character keeps the reader entranced, following them down their dark path. – Katie Iser

There There By Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange’s debut novel follows 12 characters from Native communities over the course of several days as they head to the Big Oakland Powwow. The characters’ paths all intertwine, shifting from the periphery of each other’s story to the center, and back to the periphery again. Among many things this novel is a reflection on perspective—you can see a character as cruel and distant in one chapter and then sympathetic and endearing in the next, depending on who’s talking and what story they choose to tell. I’m not always a fan of novels with so many main characters, but when it comes to a world I’m so unfamiliar with and interested in (Native communities), I will take as many insightful points of view as I can. – Jake Solyst

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows By Balli Kaur Jaswal 

In this witty and brilliantly written story, Balli Kaur Jaswal introduces us to Nikki, a young girl who is dissatisfied with her life, seeking to assert her independence and her cultural identity. She decides to combine her job tending bar at the local pub with teaching English to widows in the traditional Sikh community of her childhood in London. Her family is still coming to terms with the death of its patriarch and the changes that accompany it, but nothing prepares Nikki for the transformation that she will undergo as the English class becomes a short-story writing class, with a different spin. With warmth and humor, the author illustrates the immigrant experience reminding us that more things bind than separate us as as human beings. – Jola Naibi

The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKilip

McKilip combines beautiful prose with a rich magical world to create a wonderful fantasy tale that feels like a mix between a classic fairytale and the modern epics of the genre. The story begins with a setup that is simple and, unintentionally, pretty funny. But that simplicity allows for the story to unfold and draw you in as you Prince Morgon on his journey to understand his destiny, rid his land of dark magic, and, of course, marry a princess. McKilip is a tragically underrated author in the genre, so definitely take the time to enjoy the only series she wrote in a career of stand-alone stories. – Will Eichler

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann

Six words: Support group for fairy tale women. I found the book while scrolling through @2catsandabook and was sold immediately. In this modern-day retelling, five characters from classic and contemporary fairytales explore their trauma while participating in an unconventional support group. The women push each other to reclaim themselves and their stories. Deeply dark and funny, Adelmann ends with a twist that stayed with me for days. I highly recommend listening to this one. The narrator had me snorting out loud in Dunkin’ Donuts. – Brynn Devereaux