Kin by Tayari Jones Tayari Jones’ 2018 novel An American Marriage was a bestseller, an award-winner and an Oprah Book Club Pick, and readers have been eagerly awaiting her next book ever since. Happily Jones returns in 2026 with Kin, another richly crafted story that blends themes of fate and the power of individual choice. Annie and Niecy are “cradle friends” from small-town Louisiana. The girls have each been raised by … Read more
Evelyn in Transit by David Guterson Bainbridge Island author David Guterson — best known for his PEN/Faulkner award-winning debut novel, “Snow Falling on Cedars” — draws on his knowledge of and experiences with Tibetan Buddhism in his recently published novel, “Evelyn in Transit.” In the novel’s opening chapters, Evelyn, a young girl climbing trees in Evansville, … Read more
Endling by Maria Reva Jan. 30’s news of a temporary ceasefire and the possible admittance of Ukraine into the European Union is a necessary reminder that the Russian War on Ukraine continues, despite significant domestic and international distractions. Maria Reva’s novel “Endling” takes us back to February 2022, when Russia first launched its full-scale invasion, … Read more
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey On a far-flung desert planet, research station life follows a predictable routine: days are for analyzing samples and tracking sandstorms. Nights are for drinking games and romantic entanglements. Or at least, that’s how the rest of the team lets off steam—head researcher Kinsey chose this assignment specifically for the isolation. As a desert storm appears on the horizon, they discover the body of an alien lifeform buried in the sand. Kinsey breaks protocol … Read more
Sunbirth by An Yu In the desert town of Five Poems Lake, a young woman tries to live a peaceful life of routine despite her circumstances. Twelve years ago, her parents disappeared one by one: only her father’s body was found. Her loss was overshadowed when the sun began to disappear from the sky a sliver at a time. Since then, the locals who remain have acclimated to the colder … Read more
Tilt by Emma Pattee As our neighbors in Sumas and Everson can attest, nature is a powerful force that can completely upend lives: destroying homes, threatening personal safety and straining mental health to the limit. Debut author Emma Pattee imagines life after a major earthquake — when “the Big One” hits Portland — something that … Read more
In Good Health: Uncomplicated, Allergen-aware Recipes for a Nourished Life by Rachel Riggs If you’ve been piling on the glazed ham and mashed potatoes this holiday season, or leaning into latkes, or washing everything down with egg nog and a side of gingerbread, you may be craving something a little healthier. Rachel Riggs’ cookbook, “In … Read more
Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora What were you doing at 9 years of age? What were your daily concerns when you were in the fourth grade? At 9 years old, author and poet Javier Zamora traveled 3,000 miles – from El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico – to arrive in the U.S. and reunite … Read more
December is the month of “best-of” reading lists designed to celebrate literary excellence and guide readers toward meaningful reads, serving both as a reflection on the year in books and an invitation to discover new favorites for the year ahead. What books did Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) library staff love most this year? Several of … Read more
Busted by Dan Gemeinhart The cover of children’s book author Dan Gemeinhart’s latest book for middle grade readers, “Busted,” shows a boy, a girl, an old man and a hairless cat in a classic car being chased by a cop car while dollar bills fly out the window. That alone should be enough to entice even … Read more