Debut novelist Melissa Fu draws on her family's history to create a captivating story of immigration, family secrets and deep love in Peach Blossom Spring. Fu begins her narrative in 1938, as the Japanese army continues to advance in China. Meilin, a young mother working in her father-in-law's antiques shop, is forced to flee to the countryside with her young son, Renshu, and her husband's family. Hidden in Meilin's luggage is an elaborate hand scroll featuring vividly drawn scenes from myth and history. The scroll and its stories bring comfort to Meilin and Renshu as they travel through often dangerous conditions, searching for safety. Eventually settling in Taiwan, the two build a new life for themselves, though it is marked by grief and always shadowed by the possibility of further upheaval.

Diligent and serious-minded, Renshu does well in his studies, eventually earning a place at a university in the U.S. Fu chronicles Renshu's adjustment to life in a new land, his reinvention of himself as Henry Dao, a Cold War-era physicist with an American wife, raising their daughter, Lily. When Lily starts asking questions about her Chinese heritage, Henry finds himself reluctant to answer her queries, even angered by them. Meanwhile, Meilin has lived quietly for many years in Taiwan, making the long journey to spend a summer with Henry and his family only once.

Fu writes sensitively about the concerns of multiple generations of immigrant families. Richly described, with deeply compassionate protagonists, Peach Blossom Spring is a haunting tribute to immigrant families and a gorgeous meditation on how stories can shape identity. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Discover: Debut novelist Melissa Fu's captivating story of a Chinese-Taiwanese-American immigrant family is a gorgeous meditation on stories and identity.

The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. is an evocative novel sure to enchant lovers of historical fiction as well as fans of Sylvia Plath. Lee Kravetz's tale is part literary mystery and part poetic rivalry--and wholly fascinating. It's told from the points of view of three women: a present-day master curator who works for a famous Massachusetts auction house; a young psychologist employed at an asylum in the 1950s; and Boston Rhodes, a poet of the late 1950s and early '60s, whose genius is eclipsed only by her vituperative streak.

Journalist and psychotherapist Kravetz (Strange Contagion) skillfully weaves the narrative threads into a depiction of the complicated life of a literary genius: perfectly balancing intrigue and poetry, he uses the women as windows into the life of Sylvia Plath. The curator is presented with a set of journals that seem to be an early handwritten draft of The Bell Jar. The psychologist encounters a new patient, a young woman named Sylvia, who has just had a mental breakdown. Meanwhile, Rhodes is angry that a new female poet has joined her poetry workshop, one who threatens to overshadow Rhodes's own writing.

Kravetz's debut novel, perfect for readers who enjoyed The Paris Wife or Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, is both lyrical and plot-driven, a difficult balance for any author to strike. Intriguing even for those who have not read The Bell Jar, it is perhaps even more gripping for longtime Plath loyalists. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Discover: This expressive historical novel explores a tantalizing mystery surrounding the work of Sylvia Plath.

"You can always turn around... but by then you might already have become someone else." Silje Ulstein's Reptile Memoirs is a dark, visceral novel of shame, trauma and secrets, told in two distinct timelines. In 2003, the living room is "heavy with smoke at five o'clock in the morning in Ålesund's coolest basement apartment" when three flatmates decide to get a baby python as a pet. In 2017, an 11-year-old girl goes missing from a local market after quarreling with her mother, the wife of a local politician. As the mysterious threads of each story begin to intertwine, readers must ponder questions of truth and personal identity, what ends justify their means and if it is possible ever to really start over. Ulstein's disturbing, thought-provoking debut is translated from the Norwegian by Alison McCullough.

A young woman in 2003 finds it easier to relate to her pet python than to other humans. The mother of the missing child in 2017 worries over her lack of maternal feeling. A 60-year-old detective assigned to the case struggles to outrun his own losses. Their first-person perspectives triangulate the events of each timeline, and chapters titled "Reptile Memoirs" offer the point of view of Nero, the python. Readers are made increasingly uncomfortable as this psychological thriller builds through evil acts and awful accidents to a crashing conclusion.

Enigmatic and intricate, this first novel will chill even the most hardened of Scandinavian noir fans with its considerations of human nature, self-determination and animal instinct. --Julia Kastner, librarian, teacher and blogger at pagesofjulia

Discover: A grim, cold-blooded thriller questions whether anyone can ever really start over.

A job with a mysterious government agency turns out to be literally out of this universe in The Kaiju Preservation Society, a hilarious science fiction romp from John Scalzi (The Last Emperox).

Jamie Gray is laid off from a corporate job with a food delivery app just before the coronavirus epidemic hits New York City. But a customer offers a lead on a job with an animal rights organization that involves extended periods of fieldwork and no contact with the rest of the world. After six months of making ends meet as a delivery driver, Jamie accepts, flies to Greenland and discovers the actual fieldwork will be on Earth in an alternate universe, one populated with massive Godzilla-like creatures known as kaiju. Jamie expects a job that's mostly grunt work, but supporting the agency also means assisting scientists with tests that involve getting up close and personal with the kaiju. It also involves corralling rich tourists, ones who finagle visits in exchange for funding--and not all of them have animal welfare in mind.

Scalzi rightly calls The Kaiju Preservation Society a "pop song" of a novel, "light and catchy, with three minutes of hooks and choruses for you to sing along with." But don't underestimate the ability of an excellent pop song--especially one with a streak of biting satire--to linger in someone's head. This is a high-energy, banter-filled adventure, which will brighten the day of fans of Scalzi's Lock Innovels as well as monster movie aficionados. --Kristen Allen-Vogel, information services librarian at Dayton Metro Library

Discover: This is a witty variation on Jurassic Park, in which at least most of the humans attempt to get things right and persevere against forces of unrestrained greed.

Foodies with a hunger for juicy cooking-show competitions will eagerly lap up every last drop of Sadie on a Plate, Amanda Elliot's delicious rom-com.

Sadie Brooke Rosen--a saucy, 27-year-old chef in Seattle--has her up-and-coming career dismantled by her jealous boss and beau when the local media highlights her menu dishes, instead of his, in a feature about his restaurant. Suddenly unemployed and with her confidence shaken, Sadie is selected to compete on Chef Supreme, a popular reality TV show where chefs battle to win big money and national recognition.

On the plane bound for New York City, where the show is taped, Sadie meets handsome and charming Luke Weston. There is an instant chemistry between the two as they share passions for food and cooking. Sadie enjoys upscale presentations of Jewish foods; Luke leans toward Korean influences. Once in New York, they have dinner together and part ways--until the next day, when they learn they are both affiliated with Chef Supreme. Sadie is a contestant; Luke, a fill-in judge. Sadie, keeping their attraction secret, competes among talented chefs with distinct methods, personalities and quirks. Can she regain her confidence and rise to the top of the cut-throat pack?

Elliot writes thrillers and character-driven novels for middle-grade readers and young adults under the name Amanda Panitch (Never Missing, Never Found). In Sadie on a Plate, her first adult romantic comedy, detailed food descriptions, recipes and kitchen culture--along with a diverse cast--spice up a well-plotted story warmed with romance, humor and heart. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines

Discover: This deliciously appealing rom-com is about a jilted chef who competes on a high-stakes TV cooking show.

Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron (Accidentally Engaged) is set in Toronto, the hometown of 30-something Kamila Hussain, an accountant with a flamboyant streak and a huge heart. She lives with her father and her adorable Instagram-famous dog, Darcy. The novel sings to the enchanting tune of Jane Austen's Emma: Kamila is a modern matchmaker, blind when it comes to her own heart, especially concerning her friend Rohan.

Kamila's world is exactly as she likes it: she has a wide social network, a job at her father's accounting firm and a volunteer position at the local animal shelter. Though she is a fashionista with a head for numbers, her true passions include puppies and hosting parties. But Kamila's life wasn't always so easy; a difficult relationship with her late mother cast a long shadow over her childhood, leading to a lifetime of self-doubt she works hard to overcome.

Kamila's story is suffused with the multicultural underpinnings of her Indian Muslim family, complete with the auntie network that is the heart of most South Asian communities. Leading readers through a series of entertaining twists and turns, Heron's heroine labors mightily to match two seemingly suited friends, all the while trying to keep her childhood nemesis Jana away from Rohan.

Kamila Knows Best, a treat for fans of Soniah Kamal's Unmarriageable, is a welcome addition to the delightful genre of Bollywood-flavored romantic comedies, complete with recipes for the fragrant rice dish and star anise mocktails Kamila loves to serve her friends. --Shahina Piyarali, reviewer

Discover: A modern day Canadian-Indian matchmaker navigates the pitfalls of romantic love in this delightful comedy inspired by Jane Austen's Emma.

A romance editor finds a big secret and an unexpected romance of her own in Lauren Kate's (The Orphan's Song) bookish ode to the romantic comedy, By Any Other Name. When Lanie Bloom's boss leaves the publishing house she works for, Lanie inherits her roster, including the notoriously reclusive bestselling romance author Noa Calloway. With that promotion comes a big reveal--when Lanie learns that Noa is actually a man named Noah, she feels betrayed.

As her relationship of three years is falling apart, Lanie focuses on her career. Top priority? Helping Noah overcome his writer's block, turn in a manuscript that's already six months late and save Peony Press from financial ruin.

By Any Other Name is the kind of book that would easily translate to the big screen, full of shenanigans--breaking into an ex's apartment!--and sweet moments. When he says he's "used up" all of the romantic landmarks in the city, Lanie is determined to show Noah all her favorite places in New York City, hoping to spark his creativity. More than just a successful plot device to force the characters to spend time together, the series of non-dates doubles as a fun romp around the city and provides the perfect backdrop for memorable cinematic scenes.

At its core, By Any Other Name is a funny, heartwarming and low-heat romance novel about two people deeply involved in publishing a romance novel. Readers who love books--and love--will be right at home within these pages. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer

Discover: A big secret sparks a slow-burn romance between a reclusive bestselling author and his editor in this rom-com romp through publishing and New York City.

Before Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer were featured on the BBC's This Farming Life, they were simply two women dreaming of a few acres of their own. To their surprise, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft, a large piece of land in rural Scotland, and upended their lives to turn it into a sustainable working farm. In Our Wild Farming Life, their engaging joint memoir narrated by Cassells, the women explain how they began picturing--and eventually creating--a life centered on living in symbiotic rhythm with the land.

Cassells and Baer met while they were working for the National Trust; they shared a deep interest (but no training) in sustainable farming. Cassells recounts their early journeys to view pieces of land near their home in southern England and how their travels eventually led them much farther afield. She details the process of buying Lynbreck and throwing themselves into learning about the land's history and the crofting practices passed down by generations of local farmers. Along the way, she introduces readers to the cast of animal characters, including chickens and cows, that now populate Lynbreck's acreage. Readers learn all about their first several years at Lynbreck and its challenges and joys. Cassells's practical, down-to-earth style occasionally flounders in too much detail but, for the most part, is clear and compelling.

Warmhearted and candid, Our Wild Farming Life invites readers on its authors' journey and prompts them to consider how to live more sustainably by supporting local farmers. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Discover: Two women share a warmhearted, candid account of building a sustainable farm from scratch in rural Scotland.

Asians in the U.S. have undoubtedly encountered the question "Where are you from?" followed by the cringe-inducing "Where are you really from?" Journalist Jeff Yang, Phil Yu (creator of the blog Angry Asian Man) and Phil Wang (cofounder of Wong Fu Productions), with help from numerous contributors, tackle these questions and much more in the enlightening and entertaining Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now.

The well-researched volume encompasses a range of subjects that are both academic (e.g., the founding fathers and mothers of Asian America) and pure fun (full-color illustrations of Stuff Asians Like or items found in the Asian home, such as "photo albums full of pictures of 'uncles' and 'aunties' you don't recognize"). Are there pieces about fashion? Check. Music? Sure. Film and TV? Definitely. Want to know when the term Asian American was coined? (Answer: the 1960s, by college student activists who called themselves the Asian-American Political Alliance, inspired by their African American counterparts.) Delve into the history of yellowface in Hollywood. Learn the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation. Explore Undercover Asians (Enrique Iglesias, Hailee Steinfeld et al.). Listen in as actors Sandra Oh, Dustin Nguyen and Dante Basco discuss the obstacles they've encountered while seeking to create meaningful representation.

As inclusive as Rise is, the authors point out that it isn't comprehensive because Asian American pop history is expansive and evolving. By the end of this immersive book, it's clear the question isn't about where Asian Americans are from but rather where they're headed. --Elyse Dinh-McCrillis, blogger at Pop Culture Nerd

Discover: This gorgeous, entertaining book takes readers on a fun trip through Asian American pop culture history from the 1990s through the 2010s.

In Body Work, her fourth book, Melissa Febos (Girlhood) delivers a boldly feminist essay collection that explores how autobiographical writing can help one face regrets and trauma and extract meaning from the "pliable material" of memory. Composed of four long essays, this concise yet weighty work offers writing as "a primary means of digesting and integrating... experiences and thereby reducing the pains of living."

The essay "In Praise of Navel Gazing" affirms the importance of women airing their stories of abuse and thereby challenging the power structures that aim to keep victims silent. Febos, a former dominatrix, explains in "Mind F---: Writing Better Sex" how she asks her writing students to produce five-sentence sexual histories to force them past familiar tropes. A sex scene is crafted like any other, she insists, with unlimited vocabulary (and the sex depicted doesn't even have to be good). She quotes from successful sex writing by the likes of Garth Greenwell and Cheryl Strayed. "A Big Shitty Party" warns of the dangers of writing about real people; Febos advises readers to take out the specifics--and any cruelty--and to run a draft, if possible, past the people portrayed as main characters. "The Return" employs religious language for the transformation writing can achieve: a change of heart and a confessional attitude are the keys to gaining necessary perspective on an experience.

These forthright essays make a clear case for writing as (incidentally) therapeutic. Practical and empowering, they prepare would-be writers for an "emotional confrontation with the self." --Rebecca Foster, freelance reviewer, proofreader and blogger at Bookish Beck

Discover: These forthright feminist essays explain and exemplify the art of honing autobiographical narratives that free the writer from shame.

A ragtag band of orphans and a kindhearted ogress fight xenophobia and cynicism with empathy and love in this bewitching fairytale-style fantasy from Newbery Award-winner Kelly Barnhill (The Girl Who Drank the Moon).

Stone-in-the-Glen was once a model town, but it has become a shell of itself and its citizens have grown apart since that terrible night when the Library burned. Drawn to the town's need, a compassionate Ogress builds a home on its outskirts and comforts her neighbors with anonymous deliveries of food and handmade cards. Her shyness and differences make her an easy target for the conniving Mayor, who steers his disgruntled constituents into blaming the Ogress for the town's problems. The clever orphans know the truth, but the adults won't believe them. Led by Anthea, a teenager unwillingly aging out of the Orphan House, the children and the Ogress set out to repair the rift that fear, misinformation and parasitic leadership have created in their community.

Barnhill delivers a plea for empathy with deft charm, soothing the presence of cruel neighbors and hints of a menacing dragon with talking stones, books that slow the passage of time and chatty crows. Despite the deceptive simplicity of the story, characters act in wonderfully complex ways: bullies turn out to have soft hearts while kindly people don't always take a stand for what's right. Deeply moving and often hilarious, The Ogress and the Orphans will encourage readers to live by the Ogress's adage: "The more you give, the more you have." --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth experience manager, Dayton Metro Library

Discover: Newbery Award-winner Barnhill spins a charming, impactful fairy tale about the dangers of division and the power of empathy.

Animator and illustrator Young Vo, a Vietnamese refugee to the United States, tells a heartwarming (and autobiographical) tale about a young boy finding his way in a new world where he can't speak the language. Vo's debut picture book is illustrated with vividly expressive mixed-media art, and the synergy of his words and images creates a meaningful story sure to resonate with pre-, beginning and confident readers.

Gibberish takes place over the course of Dat's first day of school. He doesn't speak the language of his bus driver, teacher or fellow students. When they talk, all he hears is gibberish. Dat feels isolated and unhappy: "Without knowing gibberish there was no place to sit, no place to stand, and no one to play with." As Dat muddles through this lonely day, every time he tells someone his name, they mangle it, never pronouncing it correctly. But unexpected encounters on the playground and the bus ride home brighten Dat's day and change his whole outlook.

Vo inventively uses black-and-white and color illustrations, as well as two drastically different artistic styles, to set tone and tell a visual story. The gibberish speakers are portrayed as grayscale, "Rubber Hose" (think Steamboat Mickey) monsters (at least, to start), while Dat is in full color and illustrated in a more contemporary style. Dat being surrounded by scary, incomprehensible beings elicits strong emotion--it is easy for a person of any age to identify with his fear. But there is a happy ending. The ingenuity and playfulness of the art, as well as the book's overarching message, make this title a must for any child's library. --Jen Forbus, freelancer

Discover: In this wonderfully engaging debut picture book, a boy must adjust to living in a new country where everything people say sounds like gibberish.