The March 2022 Indie Next List Preview

Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the March 2022 Indie Next List flier.

The March title list is also viewable as a collection on Edelweiss and on the Indie Next List page as an Excel file alongside PDFs for the month’s flier and shelf-talker templates. Learn more about ABA’s recent refresh for the Indie Next List program and visit Matchbook Marketing’s program page to sign up to send the free Indie Next List e-newsletter to customers.

Additionally, to mark the start of the new month, the February Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.   

The 25 Titles on the March 2022 Indie Next List

#1 Pick- One Italian Summer: A Novel
By Rebecca Serle
(Atria Books, 9781982166793, $27, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“One Italian Summer is pure magic. Rebecca Serle marvelously creates a literary world that feels full and alive, like I can catch a flight with Katy and experience Italy alongside her. This treasure of a book is sure to delight readers.”
—Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield's Books, Healdsburg, CA

The Swimmers: A Novel
By Julie Otsuka
(Knopf, 9780593321331, $23, Feb. 22, Fiction)
“Emotional and moving, The Swimmers shows the world through a wide-angle lens, slowly narrowing focus until the image disappears completely. A beautiful, poetic novel of a mother and a daughter, of culture, loss, guilt, and grief.”
—Betsy Von Kerens, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, NE

The Golden Couple: A Novel
By Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
(St. Martin's Press, 9781250273208, $28.99, Mar. 8, Thriller)
“This dynamic duo did not disappoint with another twisty psychological domestic thriller. I love the psychological, unconventional approach Avery has with clients. Sometimes the unconventional way can lead to dangerous results.”
—Stephanie Csaszar, Books Around the Corner, Gresham, OR

Hook, Line, and Sinker: A Novel
By Tessa Bailey
(Avon, 9780063045699, $15.99, paperback, Mar. 1, Romance)
“A wonderful sequel to It Happened One Summer. I loved watching Hannah and Fox’s love bloom out of friendship as they both overcome insecurities, both seriously and with humor. And the town of Westport! When can I move there?”
—Melissa Stusinski, Trail's End Bookstore, Winthrop, WA

Delilah Green Doesn't Care: A Novel
By Ashley Herring Blake
(Berkley, 9780593336403, $16, paperback, Feb. 22, Romance)
“What a pleasure to enjoy Ashley Herring Blake's layered characters in an adult novel after all her books for kids and teens. Every story beat lands and Claire and Delilah were easy to root for. More romances set in this community, please!”
—Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC

Girl in Ice: A Novel
By Erica Ferencik
(Gallery/Scout Press, 9781982143022, $27.99, Mar. 1, Thriller)
“I knew little about linguistics or the Arctic until I read Erica Ferencik's fascinating book. Her style is fast, impossible to put down, and the landscape is beautifully written. This is my first Ferencik book; it will not be the last.”
—Connie L. Eaton, Three Sisters Books & Gifts, Shelbyville, IN

When We Were Birds: A Novel
By Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
(Doubleday, 9780385547260, $27, Mar. 15, Fiction)
“Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s powerful observations and her tender and mysterious writing on death reminded me of Steinbeck and Fresh Water for Flowers. Still, this book was wholly unique, breathtaking, and beautiful from start to finish.”
—Andrea Jones, The Galaxy Bookshop, Hardwick, VT

Tell Me an Ending: A Novel
By Jo Harkin
(Scribner, 9781982164324, $27.99, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“A compelling examination of the power and importance of memories, and the question of how much of our self would change if we could control which memories we keep and which we discard.”
—Christy Peterson, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA

Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk (Indies Introduce)
By Sasha taqʷšablu LaPointe
(Counterpoint, 9781640094147, $25, Mar. 8, Memoir)
“A beautiful autobiography of a sometimes-rocky journey to heal from trauma. Her female ancestral line’s spiritual practices and wisdom help her embrace her Indigenous heritage. An emotional roller coaster well worth reading.”
—Ashley Baeckmann, Briars & Brambles Books, Windham, NY

The Tobacco Wives: A Novel
By Adele Myers
(William Morrow, 9780063082939, $27.99, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“In 1940s North Carolina, tobacco is big business. If you saw that the crop your community’s livelihood depends on also harms their health, what would you do? This is teenager Maddie Sykes’ dilemma. Her story will really make you think.”
—Heather Obenberger, Bookends On Main, Menomonie, WI

In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss
By Amy Bloom
(Random House, 9780593243947, $27, Mar. 8, Memoir)
“Amy Bloom's memoir of falling in love with and supporting her husband through early Alzheimer's is a memorable story of dying. Far from depressing, Bloom’s warm, funny, and human voice takes us to Switzerland on a powerful trip.”
—Diane Naughton, Bards Alley, Vienna, VA

The Unsinkable Greta James: A Novel
By Jennifer E. Smith
(Ballantine Books, 9780593358276, $28, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“Greta James and her father, grieving her mother’s sudden death, become unlikely companions on an Alaskan cruise. With a rocky relationship, grief, and Greta’s onstage breakdown, can they start fresh? I was hooked from the start!”
—Kathy Morrison, Newtown Bookshop, Newtown, PA

Pure Colour: A Novel
By Sheila Heti
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 9780374603946, $26, Feb. 15, Fiction)
“Defying the novel, Sheila Heti proves her wisdom and imagination. The story begins innocently and then wonderfully morphs, ruminating on loss, companionship, religion, and the physical form. This book continues to echo in my brain.”
—James Harrod, Malaprop's Bookstore/Café, Asheville, NC

The Paris Apartment: A Novel
By Lucy Foley
(William Morrow, 9780063003057, $28.99, Feb. 22, Thriller)
“This novel is a slow burn with a twist ending you can't see coming! The story layers perfectly as secrets rise to the surface, and Paris serves as a beautiful and mysterious backdrop.”
—Addy Bowman, Wild Geese Bookshop, Franklin, IN

Never Simple: A Memoir
By Liz Scheier
(Henry Holt and Co., 9781250823137, $26.99, Mar. 1, Memoir)
“Liz Scheier does for memoir what her mother Judith did for dysfunction: excels. As young Liz struggles with her mother’s aggressive behavior, she sees that things are not as they should be, and life’s never simple. A beautiful tragedy.”
—Kayleen Rohrer, InkLink Books, East Troy, WI

Groundskeeping: A Novel
By Lee Cole
(Knopf, 9780593320501, $28, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“Set on a small college campus, Groundskeeping follows a young man who moves home and finds himself in a covert relationship with the college’s writer-in-residence. A masterful coming-of-age debut on the messiness of writers’ lives.”
—Lindsay Lynch, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN

The Verifiers: A Novel
By Jane Pek
(Vintage, 9780593313794, $17, paperback, Feb. 22, Mystery)
“Set in the age of internet dating, Claudia Lin investigates the murder of one of her firm’s clients. Jane Pek weaves issues of technology, privacy, cultural identity, and a warm family story. Let's hope this is the start of a new series!”
—Jane Stiles, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA

Chorus: A Novel
By Rebecca Kauffman
(Counterpoint, 9781640095182, $26, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“A beautiful portrait of a family and the stories that echoed through their lives. Spanning over 30 years, Rebecca Kauffman brings drama, pain, and joy to life in every moment. An account of the scars that bind an unforgettable family."
—Luisa Smith, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA

The Lightning Rod: A Zig & Nola Novel
By Brad Meltzer
(William Morrow, 9780062892409, $28.99, Mar. 8, Thriller)
“Zig Zigarowski and Nola Brown are quirky, stubborn, daring, and above all seem real. Brad Meltzer has done an exceptional job of building a twisting, turning non-stop thriller with two of the most unique characters in modern fiction.”
—Kerry Johnson, The Family Book Shop, DeLand, FL

Seeking Fortune Elsewhere: Stories
By Sindya Bhanoo
(Catapult, 9781646220878, $26, Mar. 8, Short Stories)
“In eight remarkable stories, Sindya Bhanoo explores the lives of disconnected families. She writes of bonds that are bent, bruised, and shattered, and uses memory to illuminate. With pain, grief, and love, the memories become our own.”
—Tony Peltier, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC

The Wonders: A Novel
By Elena Medel, Lizzie Davis (Transl.), Thomas Bunstead (Transl.)
(Algonquin Books, 9781643752112, $26.95, Mar. 1, Fiction)
“With a virtuosic translation by Lizzie Davis and Thomas Bunstead, The Wonders marks Elena Medel as a powerful new voice. Compelling from start to finish, you won’t put down this sharp novel of working-class women and political struggle.”
—Jacob Rogers, Center for Fiction Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY

Booth: A Novel
By Karen Joy Fowler
(G.P. Putnam's Sons, 9780593331439, $28, Mar. 8, Historical Fiction)
“The Booth family dominated 19th century American stages, but are known for the despicable actions of John Wilkes. Their saga, told by Karen Joy Fowler, mirrors the disintegration of their society and offers a cautionary tale for ours.”
—Bill Cusumano, Square Books, Oxford, MS

The Boy with a Bird in His Chest: A Novel
By Emme Lund
(Atria Books, 9781982171933, $27, Feb. 15, Fiction)
“My heart grew two sizes bigger reading this story of queer resilience and strength. Emme Lund's debut is a beautiful coming-of-age story full of magical realism and love. If you're a hugger, then you need this book.”
—Kassie King, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO

The Believer: Encounters With the Beginning, the End, and Our Place in the Middle
By Sarah Krasnostein
(Tin House Books, 9781953534002, $27.95, Mar. 1, Nonfiction)
“This strange, endearing book is unconventional. The stories are told piece by piece instead of all at once, mirroring the author's experience and challenging us to think hard about what we believe. I’ll think about this one for a while.”
—Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC

New Animal: A Novel
By Ella Baxter
(Two Dollar Radio, 9781953387127. $17.99, paperback, Feb. 15, Fiction)
“Just when you think you’ve got the story, Ella Baxter dives deeper. New Animal is a dark, humorous take on grief and connection, centered on a cosmetic mortician and her eccentric family. A ‘grab more wine and keep reading’ kind of book.”
—Kathy Baum, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO

The 6 Now in Paperback Titles

Every Vow You Break: A Novel
By Peter Swanson
(William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780062980045, $16.99, Feb. 15, Thriller)
“Peter Swanson hooked me with Eight Perfect Murders, and with Every Vow You Break he’s one of my favorites. I was enthralled from the beginning and could not put this book down. Unexpected twists and turns and an enjoyable ending. Bravo!”
—Patty Reed, Ferguson Books & More, Grand Forks, ND

Libertie: A Novel
By Kaitlyn Greenidge
(Algonquin Books, 9781643752587, $16.95, Mar. 15, Historical Fiction)
“Libertie is an immersive novel and profound meditation on freedom — born free or formerly enslaved, in America, Haiti, or Liberia — while up against grief, sexism, racism, colorism, or classism. A much-needed inspiration!”
—Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA

A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance
By Hanif Abdurraqib
(Random House Trade Paperbacks, 9781984801203, $18, Mar. 8, Nonfiction)
“Using Black performance as an organizing principle, the book is insightful and personal. There are bits of Montaigne’s brilliance; Susan Sontag’s cultural criticism; Zadie Smith’s wizardry; and Ross Gay’s joyfulness. What a gift!”
—Jeff Deutsch, Seminary Co-op Bookstore and 57th Street Books, Chicago, IL

The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
By Sarah Penner
(Park Row, 9780778311973, $17.99, Feb. 22, Historical Fiction)
“Three women, each standing at a crossroads, are linked by a small, blue apothecary bottle across timelines. Penner skillfully guides us along each of their chosen paths and their consequences. I could hardly bear to put the book down.”
—Sandi Madore, Magnolia’s Bookstore, Seattle, WA

The Paris Library: A Novel
By Janet Skeslien Charles
(Atria Books, 9781982134204, $17.99, Mar. 1, Historical Fiction)
“The Paris Library brings to life the true story of the American Library in Nazi-occupied Paris. A testament to the power of literature and literary places to bring people home, even during our darkest, most hopeless, and divided times.”
—Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA

Vera: A Novel
By Carol Edgarian
(Scribner, 9781501157530, $17.99, Mar. 1, Historical Fiction)
“Experience the 1906 San Francisco earthquake from inside the family of one of the most famous brothel madams. Edgarian combines lyrical writing with a cast of unforgettable characters, both real and imagined. I couldn’t put this down.”
—Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ