Every month we let you know what we’ve been reading and our monthly recommendations. You’ll get to see new titles with fabulous reviews from the Bay Books team. We’re sure you’ll love these fantastic books just as much as we do. We recommend a wide range of genres and themes. So get ready to explore more books!

They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howdy

A beautifully written novel about ballet, family and betrayal. Carlisle is called to her father’s deathbed by his partner who tells her it is time to make amends after a decade+ of estrangement. This slim novel explores what artists have to give up to create and what we owe those we love, amid the backdrop of ballet and the AIDS epidemic.

Once there were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

A gorgeously atmospheric and thrilling read about a biologist who moves to the Scottish highlands to re-introduce wolves to the wild—and heal her severely traumatized sister at the same time. This book will make you consider our relationship with the Earth in a new ways. LOVED every page!

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond 

An accessible research study on one of the most insidious contemporary problems facing our nation: poverty. Desmond provides a succinct outline of the systemic structures that upholds the economic status quo and also the historical context that has shaped our institutions today. He debunks outdated notions that surround those in low income brackets and frames a new way of looking at the problem of poverty with policy suggestions. This is a sobering read but hopeful in that he offers possible solutions to face this issue successfully. If you loved Evicted and Hillbilly Elegy, you find this just as mesmerizing. 

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

Medusa is given a spotlight in this beautifully written retelling by the same author who gave us A Thousand Ships and Pandora’s Jar.Haynes explores what it means to be a monster and shows the reader who the real monster is (plot twist—it’s not Medusa!). For fans of Madeline Miller and mythology in general.

Every month we let you know what we’ve been reading and our monthly recommendations. You’ll get to see new titles with fabulous reviews from the Bay Books team. We’re sure you’ll love these fantastic books just as much as we do. We recommend a wide range of genres and themes. So get ready to explore more books!

“The London Seance Society” by Sarah Penner

If you enjoyed the author’s “The Apothecary”, you’ll truly enjoy this spellbinding tale about truth, illusion, and the grave risks women take to avenge the ones they love. This one will keep you up all night!

“Hell Bent” by Leigh Birddog

I love the idea that Yale University has secret societies that deal with ghosts—yes, ghosts! Our heroine, Alex Stern, is established in Lethe House, which is the Ninth House (title of the first book), which monitors the other houses to make sure they don’t go too far with their magic. Of course they do, and must be rescued. To add more substance to the story, apparently New Haven, Connecticut is dead center for all kinds of ghostly activity and murder. Bardugo builds a world that is believable and otherworldly scary. I loved it. (fantasy)

“It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror” by Jose Vallese

Really loved this trip down the horror movie memory lane and especially seeing it from the perspective of LBGTQ+ persons. This is a book of essays and very well written—you’ll love the depth and observations that each essayist presents. It’ll probably even jog a few scary of memories of your own.

“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandana

If you enjoyed TJ Klune’s book “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and “Under the Whispering Door”, you’ll love this novel about witches that have been cursed when too many gathered and tried to cast a spell. Unfortunately, the spell went wrong and from that point forward, all witches became orphaned shortly after being born. In addition, boundaries are set with ‘leader’ witches who call their witches together once a year. The rest of the time, they are encouraged to be alone. But Mika, who is a rule follower, steps outside her box to take care of three little witches who are living together secretly. Having been rescued individually by a witch, they live in a heavily warded home on the English coast. Having never been trained, and being quite young still, Mika is recruited to train them since the witch who saved them when toddlers, has disappeared. The plot just gets better and trickier as it goes on, with a bit of humor thrown in. This is a charming, lovely read that, while it abounds in life lessons, will leave you feeling good.

“Just A Worm” by Marie Boyd

Full of fun and important facts about worms, they are offered in this story in a delightful way, using the conversations between the worm and other animals. Stresses individuality, acceptance and curiosity. Super illustrations! (Childrens)