Danika Ellis

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki: tried to walk past this book three times at the library before it convinced me to take it home. (Hardcover)

Kelly Jensen

Ms. Marvel, Volume 2: I loveeeee Ms. Marvel. That’s all I need to say. (Trade paperback)

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski: This non-fiction book about female sexuality got rave reviews from so many people on Book Riot I had to pick it up and I am NOT disappointed. This should be required reading — Nagoski’s tone and attitude is so encouraging, empowering, and informative, without feeling too smarty-pants. (paperback)

Liberty Hardy

Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins: I loved, loved, loved her book of short stories, so I’m crazy-excited to be starting this novel, about a future without water. (e-galley)

The Paper Man by Gallagher Lawson: I am loving everything coming from Unnamed Press, including this, about a man who was in a terrible accident as a teenager and was rebuilt from – you guessed it – paper. (paperback galley)

A June of Ordinary Murders by Conor Brady: A debut mystery set in Victorian Dublin? YES PLEASE. (e-galley)

Juba! by Walter Dean Myers: Based on the true story of a nineteenth-century dancer named William Henry Lane, who influenced today’s tap, jazz, and step dancing. Sadly, Myers died last July, so this is his last novel. (e-galley)

Rachel Smalter Hall

Missoula by Jon Krakauer: my first Krakauer read, documenting a series of rapes in a college town. So far: harrowing and important. (audio)

Mira Corpora by Jeff Jackson: My book club voted, and this one won. (paperback)

Rebecca Joines Schinsky

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.: I’m always both excited and skeptical when a new book about sex and science promises to transform my life, but so far this one’s right on the money. (print galley)

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh: This book is a gift. A hilarious, touching, stay-up-past-your-bedtime laughing gift. (print)

Christy Childers

Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen: A novel about a Vietnamese-American family that discovers they have a connection to Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House books? That is right up my alley.

Peter Damien

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater: Book three in the Raven Boys series, and terrific as ever. Someday I’ll run out of Stiefvater books to read and that will be a sad, sad day. (hardcover)

Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison: slowly reading this because, while fascinating, it isn’t exactly a laff riot, you know? (hardcover)

The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle: It’s always a good time to revisit some Holmes, isn’t it? I’ve just finished A Scandal in Bohemia. Always a blast. (hardcover)

Jessica Pryde

Alien in the Family by Gini Koch: Book three in the Kitty Katt/Alien series. Unlike my usual “ooh, new series” habit, I’m spreading these out. Ridiculous sci-fi romance is ridiculous. And I love it. (paperback)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling: This one has been on my list for a while and I’ve been avoiding it because I don’t always love MK’s humor. (Audio)

David Abrams

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon: Because the battery on my Kindle was dead this morning, I turned to my brand-new KoboGlo and picked one of the books high on my TBR list. I’ve read a lot of Chabon, but this is my first time swimming through the lush language of his debut. And that opening line?  “At the beginning of the summer I had lunch with my father, the gangster, who was in town for the weekend to transact some of his vague business.”  Snag!  It had me hook, line and sinker. (ebook)

Jessica Woodbury

The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara: I was one of the people who was totally over the moon crazy for Yanagihara’s new book so I went back to her debut to check it out. (Audio)

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty: I left my Kindle in my hotel so I had to hit up the airport bookstore and this was a great pick that saw me through several hours. (paperback)

Rachel Manwill

Re Jane by Patricia Park: Confession: I’ve never read Jane Eyre upon which this modern story of a Korean-American woman is adapted. But I loved the premise of the update and I wondered how Park would treat the “woman in the attic.” I’m about mid-way through, and so far, the book is fun and smart and highly readable. A great beach book. (Galley)

The Whites by Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt: I’m pretty picky about my “hard boiled police” novels, but Price’s new entry into the genre is so delicious and chewy that it’s hard not to wish they were all this great. The language he uses and the tone he sets feels vintage and gritty, like he’s channeling Raymond Chandler. But the plot is a little less breakneck, which is just fine with me, because the character building is worth a slower pace. And because I’m listening to it in audio, the narrator is crucial to creating that tone of voice; he NAILS it. (Audio)

Karina Glaser

Yes Please by Amy Poehler: Although the author starts off the book saying how hard it was for her to write this book, to me her memoir felt effortless. But maybe because I’m a huge fan. And I’m still mourning the end of Parks and Recreation. Or something. Anyways, give it a read. You won’t regret it. (Library Hardcover)

Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell: I’m only a few chapters in, but I’m fascinated by Wilhemina Silver, the main character. Raised half-wild on an African farm, this girl is an extreme version of Laura Ingalls Wilder. It’s Laura Ingalls Wilder raised by wolves. (Library Hardcover)

James Crossley

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua: What could be more relevant today than the story of the 19th-century godmother and godfather of computing? Imaginative about the possibilities and informative about the realities, and funny all the way through. Of late it seems that my favorite graphic novels aren’t novels at all, but non-fiction. (Hardcover)

Amanda Nelson

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell: Frantically selected from available audiobooks at the library when I realized I was out of Audible credits the day before a road trip. Fascinating, as Gladwell’s stuff always is. (audiobook)

Dangerous Books for Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained by Maya Rodale: The title says everything you need to know about why I’d pick this up. (Paperback)

Tasha Brandstatter

Non-Stop Till Tokyo by KJ Charles: A friend gave me this book as a present. (ebook)

Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn: This is due back at the library today, so I better get it read fast! (paperback)

E.H. Kern

Nemesis by Philip Roth: This book has been on my shelf for quite a while. Whenever I see a novel with Philip Roth’s name on the cover, I approach it with certain expectations but Nemesis is completely different from anything that I’ve read by Roth. The story takes place in World War II New Jersey during a polio epidemic. It centers on a phys ed teacher who is forced to watch as the children he teaches succumb to the disease, making them paralyzed or in some cases even killing them. Thanks to the successful development and distribution of the polio vaccine, no naturally occurring cases of polio have been recorded in the US since 1979. (Paperback)

Jeanette Solomon

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber: It’s just beyond time I got to this. I won’t say I’m loving it like I thought I would, but I’m under 300 pages into it with more than 500 to go, so it still has time. (ebook)

Hyacinth Girls by Lauren Frankel: Stories about the intensity of adolescence are kind of a kryptonite of mine because they help heal my own old emotional wounds, just to be really honest for a minute. (egalley; out May 12 from Crown)

Andi Miller

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan: This is one of those short, quick reads that everyone seems to love. Sadly, it’s falling a bit flat for me, but I’m open to trying more of O’Nan’s work in the near future.

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews: I was taking recommendations for fiery female protagonists on Twitter one night, and this book came into focus. I’ve heard lots about Ilona Andrews (actually a husband-and-wife writing team!), so I figured I might as well jump in. It’s been awhile since I’ve read anything paranormal and full of adventure.

Aram Mrjoian

Trash by Dorothy Allison: I swapped my buddy at work a copy of An Untamed State for this collection of short stories. (paperback)

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: Free find at the Chicago book swap. (paperback)

Chris Arnone

Armada by Ernest Cline: I’m a nerd that grew up in the ’80s, so of course I thoroughly enjoyed Ready Player One. Naturally, I’m excited for this sequel. (egalley)

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi: I’ve been wanting to read this for a while. A new paperback edition is on its way featuring a couple new short stories and an interview with Bacigalupi, so it seems like a good time to read this Nebula Award-winner. (paperback galley)

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma: I’ve actually already started this book based on many rave reviews from fellow Rioters. Thus far, it’s really living up to the hype. (ebook)

Lynn Crothers

NW by Zadie Smith: A gift from my younger sister, and somehow my first Zadie Smith read. Loving it and looking forward to reading White Teeth next! (paperback)

Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose by Flannery O’Connor: Just started this, my first non-fiction Flannery O’Connor read. Peacocks, the South. What’s not to love?

As for Me…

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin: Because I’m someone who wants ALL the information I can get before I do anything (including pushing a baby out of my body). The first half of this book contains stories about births (from the mother’s perspective), and the second half contains tips about what will help during labor and birth. (paperback)

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