BY KRISTYN KUSEK LEWIS
Photograph by Ted Cavanaugh
Magical Tale
The Morningside by National Book Award finalist Téa Obreht (The Tiger’s Wife) is an astounding rethink of the mother-daughter narrative. With themes of myth and folklore, it’s set in a dystopian future, in a flooded city that seems a lot like Manhattan. Tween Silvia and her mother are climate refugees who’ve moved into a dilapidated high-rise managed by Silvia’s aunt, Ena. Because Silvia’s mother won’t speak of their homeland, Silvia turns to Ena for stories. Then she discovers an elusive woman living in the building’s penthouse and becomes obsessed with her secrets, which could help unravel the mystery of the past.
It takes real guts to reimagine a book as iconic as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but Pulitzer Prize finalist Percival Everett has done it with James, telling the tale from the point of view of the enslaved Jim (who, in this version, prefers his formal name). The story follows his and Huck’s journey down the Mississippi River, this time revealing him to be an erudite man with immense heart and wit who just wants to be reunited with his family. No matter how much you loved Mark Twain’s original, you’ll devour this blazingly funny and thought-provoking update.
In Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez, Raquel is a Puerto Rican art history student at an Ivy League school, where her wealthy white classmates never miss an opportunity to make her feel like an outsider. When she lands a coveted fellowship and discovers the story of a forgotten Cuban American artist who died a suspicious death in the mid-’80s, she feels a kinship with her, and their connection could alter her own path. Told from the two women’s points of view, this rollicking page-turner from the bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming includes of-the-moment commentary about who succeeds and why.
Reno, Nevada, was famous in the mid-20th century for its “divorce ranches,” where married women from around the U.S. could establish six-week residencies to take advantage of the state’s lenient divorce laws. Rowan Beaird’s debut novel centers on Lois Saunders, a self-doubting 1950s housewife who’s left her stifling marriage in Illinois to live at the Golden Yarrow, one of the city’s most reputable ranches. Her father, who’s funding her stay, expects she’ll move back in with him once she’s single, but she has a secret wish for something more. Moody, sexy, and mysterious, The Divorcées offers a fascinating look at female desire.
Tana French is beloved worldwide for her crime novels, and her latest release, The Hunter, doesn’t disappoint. Set in a small Irish village, the story features Trey, a teenage girl with a not-so-great home life who’s found companionships in Lena, a neighbor, and Cal, a retired police officer from Chicago. When Trey’s long-absent dad returns to town, boasting about a moneymaking scheme that ropes in much of the community, she resolves to put an end to his nonsense. The quirky characters, subtle snark, and propulsive plot make this an excellent contender for your spring break beach bag.
PROP STYLING BY MARINA BEVILACQUA