Enjoy these July recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’ only independently owned bookstore.
Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai’i
by Sara Kehaulani Goo
Kuleana is a powerful exploration of identity, legacy, and resistance set on Maui’s breathtaking east coast. Written by an award-winning journalist, it follows Sara’s fight to save her ancestral Hawai’ian land—ninety acres granted to her family by King Kamehameha III in 1848—from a devastating five hundred percent property tax increase. Faced with losing it all, she must decide whether to resist or surrender to gentrification.
Blending investigative journalism and memoir, Kuleana uncovers erased Hawai’ian history, with the lush, untamed landscape becoming both setting and symbol. Sara’s voice is both vulnerable and determined, weaving a narrative that honors native resilience and questions the costs of modern progress.
More than a land dispute, this is a story of connection—what we inherit, what we fight for, and what we refuse to let go. Poignant and eye-opening, Kuleana invites readers to see Hawai’i beyond the postcard, illuminating the struggle to belong.
One woman’s fight to preserve her heritage, her land, and the soul of old Hawai’i.
Off Menu
by Amy Rosen
Rosen’s Off Menu is a witty, heartwarming tale about Ruthie, a bored data clerk who chases her culinary dreams—only to find a familiar face at school. What follows is a flavorful blend of romance, ambition, and self-discovery. With humor and heart in every chapter, this foodie fiction reminds us that the best things happen when you follow your gut.
So Far Gone
by Jess Walter
In So Far Gone, Jess Walter crafts a thrilling, darkly funny adventure about Rhys Kinnick, a reclusive grandfather drawn back into society when his grandchildren are kidnapped. With sharp social commentary, unforgettable characters, and a pulse-pounding plot, this novel blends grit, humor, and heart. It’s a modern-day Western with the soul of a classic and the pace of a page-turner.
Murder Takes a Vacation
by Laura Lippman
Lippman gives sixty-eight-year-old Mrs. Blossom her own starring role in this sharp mystery set aboard a French cruise. As secrets surface and tensions rise, Mrs. Blossom proves age is no barrier to brilliance. Stylish, layered, and laced with danger and romance, Murder Takes a Vacation is more than cozy—it’s a smart, engaging read perfect for summer escape.
