Enjoy these September recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’ only independently owned bookstore. Order online at BookishFS.com.
Dogs by C. Mallon There’s a familiar small-town ritual: driving with friends, sometimes to be close, other times to escape. This haunting debut follows the fallout of one catastrophic night in the lives of five high school wrestlers. Hal and his friends grow up in a place where violence is always near. His only refuge is his bond with Cody John, but one night unravels everything, leading to a tragic, inevitable end. From wrestling mats to mall parking lots, kitchens to gas stations, the story captures the fragile balance of tenderness and fury, beauty and horror. With stray dogs, bruising sports, and cycles of violence as symbols, this unflinching novel explores the claustrophobia, loyalty, and contradictions of small-town life. It is raw, unforgettable, and deeply human all at once.
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols This charming mystery will delight fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building, but with a sunny Southern California twist. At Marigold Cottages, the stubborn landlady rents to those she likes, creating a quirky community. However, her quiet life shatters when a dead body appears, and the tenants band together to protect her. Funny, warm, and full of lovable misfits, this is a mystery you’ll savor.
Trip by Amie Barrodale Told from beyond the veil, this witty and tender novel follows Sandra, who dies unexpectedly at a death conference in Nepal. Navigating the strange in-between, she scrambles to send a message to her son, Trip, before he embarks on a mysterious voyage with an enigmatic stranger. Blending humor, heart, and a fresh spin on The Tibetan Book of the Dead, this is ultimately a love story between a parent and child that defies even death.
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst The Baileys sold everything to sail the world, embracing a life of adventure and freedom. For a year, their dream unfolded just as planned, until a whale struck their boat, sending them adrift in the ocean. What follows is an unbelievable but true account of endurance, ingenuity, and the unbreakable bond between two people facing impossible odds. Vivid and compelling, it reads like survival fiction, except every word is true.
