Recommendations and Reviews

We'll just cut to the chase here: There have been an incredible number of great books publishing this spring, and more than one of them probably deserves a spot on your shelf. Here, we're highlighting a few of our most recent favorites, covering all kinds of ages and interests. Picutre books? Of course. Middle grade from an award-winning Texan author? Don't mind if we do. Literary fiction? Romance? Memoir? Please and thank you. It's a veritable feast, y'all. Which means there's only one thing left to say: Bon appétit!

It's April already, and the store is being showered by boxes and boxes of new books! It's been a wonderful spring in publishing, with instant classics and fast favorites coming out in droves. We've asked the staff to round up a few of their most recent recommendations, and they did not disappoint — below you'll find books for every age level, and every type of reader. Graphic novel? Historical fiction? YA thriller? Throwback mystery? We've got all that and more. Dig in!

How have you been lately, friends? Spring is here in Houston, and we're looking ahead to Easter, April showers, and peaceful days spent reading on the porch. Here at the store, we've been reading more than ever. If you know our staff, you know that they're a thoughtful and opinionated bunch, and they're so excited to share some of their favorite new releases with you when you come in to see us. Below are just a few of their recent picks for readers of all ages and interests. With so many great options sitting on our shelves, the real question is: How to choose?

March is Women’s History Month, and this woman-owned-and-staffed indie bookstore is celebrating in our usual style: By reading, reading, and reading. We’d love for you to join us, so we’ve collected a list of some recent staff favorites that celebrate women and their stories. Some of these stories are true; others are fiction. Some are historical; others contemporary. Each of them provides a glimpse into the lives of inspiring women and girls, throughout time, and across the world. We’ve included all ages in our list, as well as reviews from our merry band of booksellers. So whether you’re looking for yourself, for a friend, or for the young readers in your life, you’ll find just the right thing. Read on!

We know from over 25 years selling books that something amazing — a life-changing, world-enlarging, all-time-favorite of a book — can sometimes come out of nowhere, at any time of the year. Generally speaking, though, publishing tends to ebb and flow, with certain seasons or weeks set aside for a pile-up of incredible new releases. Lucky for you, we're in the midst of such a pile-up right now, as the world gets ready for spring and summer reading. So many great books have been coming into the store over the last few weeks, spanning all ages and all interests. The hardest thing about it was figuring out which titles to highlight for you here! We finally settled on eleven great reads, which you can find below. Give one a try — we know you're going to love it.

If you’ve ever been by our store, you know how much we value kids’ books — they take up half of the available real estate in our pint-sized happy place. There’s good reason for that: Children’s books create tomorrow’s readers. And great children’s books are great books, plain and simple. In fact, we believe that readers of all ages should read a kids’ book or two every now and then. And by happy accident, our latest roundup of reviews is decidedly kid-centric. So whether you’re looking for the young reader in your life, or for something to remind you of the magic of children’s stories, dive in. 

Have you been staying safe and warm, friends? It feels so odd to go from t-shirts and shorts to parkas and plant covers all within a few short days. Happily, the extra time indoors has meant more hours for reading — and we've got quite a few new books on our shelves that we think you're going to love. Below, read through our latest staff picks, from gentle picture books to twisty mysteries. It's one of our classic all-ages, all-interests roundups — dig in and add a few to your shelves. You won't be disappointed!

February is Black History Month, and we always love to celebrate by sharing some reading recommendations with you all. Here, we’ve collected a list of recently-released and forthcoming books by just a few of our favorite Black creators—from longtime friends of the shop to new voices we're eager to hear more of. The recommendations below span all ages and interests, so whether you're looking for a gentle picture book to share with the young readers in your life, a breathtaking piece of YA fantasy, a romcom, or a thought-provoking piece of nonfiction, you're sure to find something you'll love. Read on!

It’s been cold and wet here in Houston, and all we want to do about it is curl up with a good book and a fire. We guess that makes us creatures of comfort… so it makes sense that we’re featuring books this week with a whole cast of critters — foxes and bears, chickens and hares — including a gang of woodland characters that kick off a kooky new mystery series. Plus, we have new books from heavy hitters including the late, great Gary Paulsen, Jason Reynolds, and Isabel Allende, and other novels to fit whatever literary mood may strike you. Cozy up and read on!

The holidays have come and gone, our events calendar is filling back up, and the shop is humming along with happy browsers and boxes of new releases. It’s already shaping up to be a good year for reading — whether you’re the type of reader who sets specific reading goals or the sort who prefers to let the shelves show the way, you’re sure to find something to enjoy among our latest list of staff favorites below. No matter whether you start off your year of reading with a sweet picture book, a romance, a mystery, or something else entirely, here’s to good health, good cheer, and good books in 2022.