Staff Picks: Books We’re Reading at Home

“About a mother and daughter with a shared talent for healing (and conjuring curses), Conjure Women is instantly mesmerizing and completely immersive. It’s the kind of novel you just get sucked into right from the beginning and can’t put down until you’re done. I highly recommend it for fans of Jesmyn Ward and Toni Morrison.” – Taylor Noel, Marketing Manager, Random House

“I am comfort reading like crazy right now, and Rainbow Rowell’s debut novel Attachments is one of my go-tos. The book is set at the dawn of the new millennium and follows a technician who falls in love with a movie critic through his job of monitoring her newspaper’s e-mail. There are parts of the story that still make me laugh out loud or squee with happiness, and I always feel better after a re-read.” – Farin Schlussel, Assistant Marketing Director, Avery and TarcherPerigee

“Maggie O’Farrell tells the story of her life through seventeen different near-death experiences and the result is absolutely beautiful and harrowing. I couldn’t put it down.” – Katie McKee, Executive Publicity Manager, Putnam

“Don’t let the size of the book fool you, it’s one of the most compelling reads I’ve read in a LONG time- perfect for true crime fans, this romantic suspense is JUST the escape I needed right now.” – Jess Mangicaro, Assistant Marketing Manager, Berkley

“Whenever I have difficulty trying to find a book that can hold my attention, especially during this time we’re in now – YA is the way for me. And does A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder deliver! This book has all the delicious ingredients for a binge read: including a fierce female protagonist from a small town who knows something is unseemly when it comes to who actually killed popular high school senior, Andie Bell, and will let nothing or no one come between her and the truth! Devoured within 24 hours.” -Katie Taylor, Associate Marketing Director, Putnam

“I was completely blown away by Know My Name. Literally read it in January and knew it would be in my top 5 favorite books for the rest of the year. Her writing is eloquent, compelling, and unflinchingly stunning. I was a little scared to start this book because of the subject matter, but I found her story utterly captivating. She wrote about her trauma in an honest and brutal way, but the book didn’t feel overly heavy or bleak. I admire Chanel so much.” – Laura Hernandez, Associate Digital Marketing Manager, Random House Children’s Books

“Captivating prose that makes each sentence better than the last, fascinating characters you want to spend more and more time with, and a wonderful story that keeps you thoroughly engaged! And I don’t even like beer!!” – Publicity Director, Avery and Tarcherperigee