El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott Oh, how the once-golden Bishop sisters have fallen. Nothing about their adult lives resembles their well-heeled childhood. Debra is drowning in medical debt, Pam’s contentious divorce drained her dry, and Harper is underemployed and ducking creditors. And then, salvation appears. The Wheel is a women-only financial “gifting club” – … Read more
Enough: Climbing Toward a True Self on Mount Everest by Melissa Arnot Reid World-renowned climber Melissa Arnot Reid shares her story of becoming the first woman to summit Mount Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen in her new memoir, “Enough: Climbing Toward a True Self on Mount Everest.” In response to a traumatic childhood, … Read more
So Far Gone by Jess Walter If the news cycle has ever given you the urge to throw your phone out the window of a moving car, you will find a kindred spirit in Rhys Kinnick, the protagonist of Spokane author Jess Walter’s recently published eighth novel, “So Far Gone.” Rhys, an environmental reporter forced … Read more
Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston With a hit song on her resume, songwriter Joni Lark should be at the top of her game professionally. But the truth is, Joni is stalled. Her creative inspiration has fled in the face of worries about her mother’s health and her parents’ recent decision to shutter the Revelry, … Read more
Back After This by Linda Holmes Cecily Foster dreams of hosting her own podcast, and until then, she’s busy keeping everything going as a producer. Relationships are the last thing on her mind – so when her boss pitches a show focusing on Cecily’s dating life, she immediately says no. Unfortunately, the company is in … Read more
Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature by David B. Williams Summer is a perfect time to slow down and look deeply at the habitat around us, and “Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature” by David B. Williams is a brilliant invitation to do so. While … Read more
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves Most folks in Whatcom County are familiar with Edmonds native and travel advocate, Rick Steves, whether from using his popular travel guides, watching his travel show “Rick Steves’ Europe,” hearing him speak at events (including Cascadia Daily News’ October … Read more
Cabin: Off-the-grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman by Patrick Hutchison Warmer weather and longer days are an invitation to take up home renovation projects, and weekend warrior homeowners often lean into YouTube videos and DIY books checked out from the library for guidance. If you’ve experienced home renovations that go sideways or take much more … Read more
The Pacific Northwest Disaster Guide by Henry Latourette Miller (illustrated by Jeff Parker) In the past few years, Pacific Northwest communities have experienced catastrophic flooding, landslides, wildfires and damage from severe wind. As close as it is to Whatcom County communities, a Mount Baker eruption would be cataclysmic. And there is the hulking threat of The … Read more
Homeseeking by Karissa Chen This sweeping epic examines themes of displacement, identity and loss through the lives of a couple separated by war and circumstance. Suchi and Haiwen meet as children in pre-WWII Shanghai. Their connection is instant and intense, and friendship eventually blossoms into love. But Shanghai is gripped by occupation and political upheaval, … Read more