David Arnold lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his (lovely) wife and (boisterous) son. He is the critically-acclaimed author of Mosquitoland, which has been translated into over a dozen languages. Previous jobs include freelance musician/producer, stay-at-home dad, and preschool teacher. He is a fierce believer in the power of kindness and community. And pesto. He believes fiercely in pesto.
After Life (2025) Gayle Forman "After Life proves once again that Gayle Forman is a master of both high concept and character. Full of grace and beauty, this book asks big questions about loss and grief, guilt and forgiveness, without ever straying from its true center: the unbreakable bond of sibling love. Forman weaves seemingly unconnected threads throughout the book, blurring the lines between fate and coincidence, until bringing it all together in a revelatory ending. I won't soon forget this one."
Sunrise Nights (2024) Brittany Cavallaro and Jeff Zentner "If there were any doubts that the combined forces of Zentner and Cavallaro would knock our socks off, this gorgeous book lays them to rest."
Six More Months of June (2024) Daisy Garrison "With blistering dialogue and prose that sings, Garrison's soaring debut is an ode to the teenage experience, and all the feelings that come with it. This is high school at its most visceral, the glittering lovechild of LADY BIRD and THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER. A provocative portrait of love and friendship (and the blurry lines between), SIX MORE MONTHS OF JUNE is a true stunner of a novel."
Dark Parts of the Universe (2024) Samuel Miller "A raw and daring portrait of Middle America, Dark Parts of the Universe defies categorization. Part tech thriller, part small-town mystery, Miller explores the complexities of family secrets, and what happens when the unshakeable foundation of brotherhood begins to shake, without ever shying away from the beating heart of the story: the reckoning of one town's racist past (and present), through the eyes of a boy reckoning with his own complicity. Propulsive and genre-bending, I couldn't put it down."
I'll Stop the World (2023) Lauren Thoman "Thoman's sweeping debut defies categorization. A multigenerational mystery, a compulsively readable love story, an intricately woven sci-fi - whatever it is, I'll Stop the World is the mind-bendy time-travel eighties romp we all need right now. I'm obsessed with this book."
When You Wish Upon a Lantern (2023) Gloria Chao "When You Wish Upon a Lantern is a luminous love story about the complexities of falling for someone you've known for years, and the advantages - and sometimes disadvantages - of friendship as a foundation for love. Hilarious and heartfelt, Chao has written a romp of a romance that unfolds with pitch-perfect pacing."
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow (2022) Zoulfa Katouh "As gorgeous as it is groundbreaking, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow holds many things at once: beauty and ruin; brutality and sweetness; tender love in the midst of shattering violence. Katouh writes with urgency and grace, and while she never shies from the horrors of war, neither does she miss a single note of hope-and there are so many. This book is devastatingly beautiful."
Our Crooked Hearts (2022) Melissa Albert "No one weaves fairy tale magic into the modern world like Melissa Albert. A truly masterful tale, Our Crooked Hearts comes with all the trappings of a classic: immaculate prose, a parallel generational story for the ages, and chills when you least expect them."
The Marvelous Mirza Girls (2021) Sheba Karim "Karim’s latest is a searing story of love in its many forms: young and old, romantic and familial, and maybe most complex, our capacity to love a place. A deep dive into the values of travel and firsthand experience, the book takes an unflinching look at poverty and complicity, sex and religion, without ever losing sight of what it is: family drama, rom-com, travelogue. Call it what you want, The Marvelous Mirza Girls is an utter delight."
The Hollow Inside (2021) Brooke Lauren Davis "The Hollow Inside is a haunting debut, as thrilling as it is lyrical. Steeped in small town secrets and layered mysteries that unfold with perfect pacing, Brooke Lauren Davis delivers a powerful story about the lengths we're willing to go to for family, and the price we pay when the ones we love reveal their true natures. I loved every bit of this twisty, poetic book."
Mayhem (2020) Estelle Laure "Laure has crafted the genre-busting, 80s romp-of-a-read we need right now. A sweeping generational story, Mayhem comes with all the trappings I’ve come to expect from Laure’s writing - flawed characters, gorgeous prose, rich settings - only this time, infused with a dose of gothic fairytale. Mayhem is full of magic."
All the Things We Never Knew (2020) Liara Tamani "A beautifully poignant love letter: to a first love, to basketball, and to that enigmatic bunch we think we know best, only to discover we don't know at all--family. Tamani's latest is a bright shining star."
Internment (2019) Samira Ahmed "A powerful and poignant exploration of a nightmare made real. It's a testament to Ahmed's writing then, that the heart of the story is one of hope. Read INTERNMENT. Raise a fist."
If You're Out There (2019) Katy Loutzenhiser "Part Holmesian mystery, part love story, and funny as hell, If You’re Out There is a true exploration of deep-rooted friendship that unfolds with pitch-perfect pacing. It’s my new obsession."
The Music of What Happens (2019) Bill Konigsberg "The Music of What Happens is a compelling, laugh-out-loud story, as swoon-worthy as it is deeply affecting. Max and Jordan grabbed hold of my heart from the moment I met them and I don't see them letting go any time soon. Konigsberg has a way of making me see the world--and food trucks!--a little differently."
Dear Evan Hansen (2018) Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul "Today's going to be an amazing day, and here's why: because you're holding this book."
Twelve Steps to Normal (2018) Farrah Penn "Twelve Steps to Normal is a powerful, heartfelt debut about the lengths we'll go for those we love, and the hurdles we encounter along the way. In pages brimming with honesty, Penn shines an empathetic light on addiction, ultimately demonstrating that forgiveness--not only its redemptive qualities, but its messy ones, too--is well worth the struggle."
Down and Across (2018) Arvin Ahmadi "Arvin Ahmadi's earnest debut is a charming romp of a book, a heartfelt tour of a city through the bright eyes of a hopeful heart. Ahmadi proves his grit and then some with Down and Across."
Dress Codes for Small Towns (2017) Courtney C Stevens "A poetic love letter to the complexities of teenage identity, and the frustrations of growing up in a place where everything fits in a box - except you."
Everything, Everything (2015) Nicola Yoon "With her stunning debut, Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon has constructed an entirely unique and beautiful reading experience. Gorgeous writing meshes with original artwork to tell a love story like no other. You’ve never read a book like this."
