Wordsworth Books

Whidbey by T Kira Madden

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Whidbey by T Kira Madden
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T Kira Madden has written a unique and highly compelling story that kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what happened while also feeling the heartbreak, rage, and helplessness that haunt the story’s characters. The best thing about this book was how nuanced it is while still telling a story that never excuses horrific behavior. She manages to capture the gray in every character, showing us the full range of humanity in both the victim and the perpetrator, as well as the people who love each.

Whidbey by T Kira Madden, (List Price: $30, Mariner Books, 9780063289680, March 2026)

Reviewed by Kandi, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Kin by Tayari Jones

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Kin by Tayari Jones
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I’ve been waiting a long time for a new Tayari Jones novel, and this one was worth the wait. I was mesmerized by the stories of Niecy and Annie and a bond that is closer than blood. The novel made me examine who my own “kin” are and how I can honor that bond. As always with Jones, I also loved the Atlanta setting. Atlanta feels like a character of its own, and I love it!

Kin by Tayari Jones, (List Price: $32, Knopf, 9780525659181, February 2026)

Reviewed by Kandi, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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I, Medusa by Ayana Gray

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I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
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I’m always up for an origin story and especially like to hear a familiar tale from a different character’s perspective. I, Medusa delivers this and more. Gray explores timely themes of power, diversity, agency and humanity through a mythological lens. Even though I knew Medusa’s ultimate fate, I wanted to go on this journey with her.

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray, (List Price: $30, Random House, 9780593733769, November November 2025)

Reviewed by Ginger Young, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Clown Town by Mick Herron

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Clown Town by Mick Herron
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I loved this book! Clown Town is classic Mick Herron with his evolving cast of Slough House joes. The book collection of a deceased former First Desk is sent to the MI5 library, but there is a book missing, or is it, and is it even a book? And when MI5’s First Desk and a disgraced politician start asking for help, the question becomes who’s playing whom, because “all spies lie.” This fast-paced novel is engaging, surprising, and very well written. Crafted with dry wit and wry comments, this thriller is an absolute pleasure to read. Also, for those needing novel ways to insult their co-workers, look no further than Jackson Lamb – and in this book the invectives are masterful!

Clown Town by Mick Herron, (List Price: $29.95, Soho Crime, 9781641297264, 2025-09-09)

Reviewed by Lia Lent, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

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Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
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Elizabeth Strout can do no wrong in my eyes and Tell Me Everything is just wonderful! I loved getting to know Lucy Barton’s friend Bob Burgess in this lovely story. Plus, finally getting Olive Kitteredge and Lucy Barton in the same ROOM was perfection! I chuckled because Olive is, well, OLIVE throughout, and I felt the emotions that Strout evokes for all of the characters in this novel. Strout is a singular voice and I LOVE IT!

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout, (List Price: $30, Random House, 9780593446096, September 2024)

Reviewed by Lynne Phillips, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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After Annie by Anna Quindlen

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After Annie by Quindlen, Anna
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Anna Quindlen doesn’t shy away from writing about difficult emotional topics, and After Annie is no exception. After Annie dies suddenly, her husband, daughter, and lifelong best friend struggle to figure out how to manage without her. Heartfelt, beautiful, and moving, Quindlen has created a beautiful story of loss and connection.

After Annie by Quindlen, Anna, (List Price: $30, Random House, 9780593229804, February 2024)

Reviewed by Lynne Phillips, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Family Family by Laurie Frankel

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Family Family by Laurie Frankel
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I have been a fan of Laurie Frankel’s since reading This is How it Always Is many years ago and suddenly having an entirely new perspective on a complex subject matter. She has an amazing ability to tell a compelling story while at the same time using her characters and story to take a complex issue and show the humanity of it in such a way that you want to think through the complexities; you refuse to simplify it because her characters deserve more. I fell in love with this story and with every character. I wanted to be a part of the family.

Family Family by Laurie Frankel, (List Price: $28.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250236807, January 2024)

Reviewed by Kandi West, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl

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The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl
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An October Read This Next! Book!

In Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl has given us a remarkable gift. With keen observations of nature in her backyard, she helps us become better observers in our world. With wise commentary, she gently challenges us to become more caring of the wildlife around us. With beautiful writing, she engages us in an important conversation about conservation. And with stunning illustrations, the book becomes the perfect gift for nature lovers and environmentalists in our lives. It will be one of our top handbells for the holiday season and I can’t wait to put this book in the hands of our customers as a gift for themselves or for the people they love.

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl, (List Price: 32, Spiegel & Grau, 9781954118461, October 2023)

Reviewed by Lia Lent, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock,, Arkansas

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Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander

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Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander
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Meredith is a completely lovable and complex character that has faced and survived some unspeakable things. Claire Alexander beautifully creates characters that exude resilience in their own ways. I found myself cheering on Meredith, Fee, Celeste, and Tom…and hoping for their happiness. Meredith, Alone is a quick read that explores the hardships of life and the value of community, family and friendships. While some of the topics are quite heavy, there is also joy and hope and laughter and triumph. I thoroughlyloved this book and have already started recommending it to folks who loved Eleanor Oliphant and Where’d You go Bernadette!

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander, (List Price: $28, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538709948, November 2022)

Reviewed by Lynne Phillips, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

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Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
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An October 2022 Read This Next! Title

Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is a brilliant retelling of the David Copperfield story from the perspective of the poor son of a teenage mother living in rural Appalachia. From the first sentence, Demon’s voice grabs us and takes us on an unforgettable journey through his early life. This novel about a resilient boy develops empathy for families and children so frequently dismissed in the national discourse. It is a masterful American story

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, (List Price: $32.50, Harper, 9780063251922, October 2022)

Reviewed by Lia Lent, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger

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Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger
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This fast-paced story is told through alternating perspectives of the hunters and the hunted as mercenaries seek a woman for reasons unknown to her, Cork and his wife. At the center of the story a wise and elderly healer helps the hunted survive in the Boundary Waters wilderness. Another great addition to the Cork O’Conner mystery series.

Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger, (List Price: $28, Atria Books, 9781982128715, August 2022)

Reviewed by Lia Lent, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery

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Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery
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After their boss makes a homophobic gaffe and a compromising photo of them goes viral, cutthroat political consultant Thom Morgan and down-on-his-luck data analyst Clay Parker pretend to be in a relationship to salvage this presidential campaign that’s barely gotten off the ground. This fun and heartfelt romcom is great for political wonks who want a fast-paced romp and political cynics who have seen the messy underbelly of campaigns. Thom and Clay’s “will they, won’t they” kept me guessing until the wedding bells rang.

Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery, (List Price: $15.99, MIRA, 9780778311898,  April2022)

Reviewed by Karen Fletcher, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

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Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
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An April Read This Next! Book

Memphis is a wonderful, intriguing book about a family of black women in Memphis. Primarily centering on two sisters, both with much tragedy but amazing resilience, and one of their daughters. They carry on the strong tradition of their mother. Skipping around between different years and various characters, it weaves what undoubtedly is the story of so many black women in Memphis. Beautifully written.

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow, (List Price: $27, The Dial Press, 9780593230480,  April 2022)

Reviewed by Lynne Phillips, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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The Last Nomad by Shugri Said Salh

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The Last Nomad
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Reading The Last Nomad is like sitting with the author at a table with a cup a tea as she tells the story of her remarkable upbringing in Somalia. In candid, compelling prose, she shares her life as a nomad with her clan in the Somali desert, as a town dweller with her polygamous family and as a refugee from the civil war which tore her country apart. The lives of Somali women are the centerpieces of this engaging memoir, inviting us to understand their resilience and strength as they navigate their traditional and shifting roles in Africa and North America.

The Last Nomad by Shugri Said Salh, (List Price: $26.95, Algonquin Books, 9781643750675, August 2021)

Reviewed by Lia Lent, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

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Beautiful Little Fools
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What a fun read! This book and the fictional tales of the women surrounding Gatsby actually makes me want to re-read The Great Gatsby with these imagined back stories in mind. Cantor’s writing is both creative and compelling. Her insights about the lives and struggles of women were woven perfectly into this fictional expansion and made me appreciate the characters of Daisy, Myrtle, Catherine and Jordan way more than before. If you are a fan of The Great Gatsby I think you’ll love this book and its ability to help you revisit the world of West Egg. If you’re not a fan of The Great Gatsby, I still think you’ll enjoy this story of three women and what could have led to the murder of Jay Gatsby. Either way, it’s a creative, fun read for both those who have an appreciation for the old classic and those who just enjoy a good period piece of fiction!

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor, (List Price: $16.99, Harper Perennial, 9780063051263, January 2022)

Reviewed by Lynne Phillips, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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