The March 2024 Indie Next List Preview

Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the March 2024 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 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 March Indie Next List Picks

#1 Pick: Wandering Stars: A Novel
By Tommy Orange
(Knopf, 9780593318256. $29, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“Wandering Stars is an epic tale grounded in truth and elevated by Tommy Orange’s phenomenal storytelling. He brings a gruesome slice of US history to life and gives voice to a generation of Native people who live its legacy.”
—Claire Benedict, Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, VT

A Fate Inked in Blood: Book One of the Saga of the Unfated
By Danielle L. Jensen
(Del Rey, 9780593599839, $29.99, Feb. 27, Fantasy)
“A Fate Inked in Blood is a riveting starter to what will no doubt be another steamy, wondrous fantasy series by Jensen. The lore is complex and the characters are quick to cut, with a cliffhanger that left me hungry for the next installment.”
—Isabel Agajanian, The Oxford Exchange, Tampa, FL

Listen for the Lie: A Novel
By Amy Tintera
(Celadon Books, 9781250880314, $26.99, Mar. 5, Mystery)
“Darkly witty and beautifully thrilling, Listen for the Lie is an amazing adult debut from Amy Tintera. This murder mystery is filled with comedy, drama, and a riveting pace that will make readers fall completely in love!”
—Sara Canelon, Adventures By The Book, San Diego, CA

The Other Valley: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Scott Alexander Howard
(Atria Books, 9781668015476, $27.99, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“This immersive story of a young girl falling in love is complicated by the fact that her home valley borders two other valleys where the past and future live — and no interaction is allowed. Sometimes, borders must be crossed. A new favorite.”
—Beth Mynhier, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL

The Hunter: A Novel
By Tana French
(Viking, 9780593493434, $32, Mar. 5, Thriller)
“With sharp dialogue and expert character development, Tana French transports readers to the Irish countryside in The Hunter. Asking what we owe our community, this novel secures French’s place at the top of the literary mystery genre.”
—Leslie Logemann, Highland Books, Brevard, NC

The Extinction of Irena Rey: A Novel
By Jennifer Croft
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639731701, $28.99, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“In elegant prose, Croft beautifully blurs the lines between reality and fiction, translation and translated, leaving the reader with a deep sense of wonder and awe for the labyrinthine universes that exist between languages and places.”
—Maxwell Shanley, Green Apple Books & Music, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop: A Novel
By Hwang Bo-reum, Shanna Tan (Transl.)
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639732425, $28.99, Feb. 20, Fiction)
“Burnt out and drained, Yeongju fulfills her dreams of surrounding herself in stories and opening a bookshop. What starts off as a tidy, uplifting story of joy and redemption transforms into a choose-your-own-adventure of levity for readers.”
—Thu Doan, East Bay Booksellers, Oakland, CA

Anita de Monte Laughs Last: A Novel
By Xochitl Gonzalez
(Flatiron Books, 9781250786210, $28.99, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“A captivating read about two Latinas who defy erasure: One, a trailblazing first-gen Ivy Leaguer, the other, a murdered artist hidden by New York’s art scene. Gonzalez highlights resilience against erasure and the quest for justice.”
—Claudia Vega, Whose Books, Dallas, TX

Piglet: A Novel
By Lottie Hazell
(Henry Holt and Co., 9781250289841, $27.99, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“Lottie Hazell manages to brilliantly articulate the societal pressures placed on women to be the perfect cook, the perfect wife, the perfect friend, the perfect daughter: to be and do it all. A timeless story told in a new, unique way.”
—Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana, Frederick, MD

Thunder Song: Essays
By Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe
(Counterpoint, 9781640096356, $27, Mar. 5, Essays)
“Thunder Song is an insightful account of growing up Indigenous and Queer on stolen land. LaPointe is not consumed with sitting in trauma, but in finding a way forward joyfully and caring for herself and the people around her. Not to be missed.”
—Margaret Leonard, Dotters Books, Eau Claire, WI

Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story
By Leslie Jamison
(Little, Brown and Company, 9780316374880, $29, Feb. 20, Memoir)
“In Splinters, Leslie Jamison tells the story of her navigating her divorce with a young child. It’s a book about motherhood, but at its core it’s about love: falling in love, falling out of love, a mother’s love. I was in awe the entire time.”
—Hunter Gillum, Beaverdale Books, Des Moines, IA

The Great Divide: A Novel
By Cristina Henríquez
(Ecco, 9780063291324, $30, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“The building of the Panama Canal is the backdrop of The Great Divide, paired with the omniscient and wondrous writing of Cristina Henríquez. This is a book of great ebb and flow as the richness of varying characters intersect.”
—Kristy Creager, Mitzi’s Books, Rapid City, SD

Bye, Baby: A Novel
By Carola Lovering
(St. Martin’s Press, 9781250289360, $29, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“Tell Me Lies made me a Carola Lovering fan, and she has not disappointed since. Bye, Baby is as dark and thrilling as ever and may be my favorite work she’s ever done.”
—Kailey Fox, Kingfisher Bookstore, Coupeville, WA

The Still Point: A Novel 
By Tammy Greenwood
(Kensington, 9781496739339, $17.95, Paperback, Feb. 20, Fiction)
“Based on Greenwood’s experience as a ballet mom, this sometimes-painful journey into adulthood (for both the moms and their daughters!) is also a story of friendship, life aspirations, and moving on from tragedy and heartbreak.”
—Terry Gilman, Creating Conversations, Redondo Beach, CA

Fruit of the Dead: A Novel
By Rachel Lyon
(Scribner, 9781668020852, $28, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“The Demeter and Persephone legend, placed in a modern setting with constant tension. The novel portrays all the power, control, corruption, and gender disparity in modern society and the unrelenting, visceral ferocity of a mother’s love.”
—Bill Cusumano, Square Books, Oxford, MS

Your Absence Is Darkness
By Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Philip Roughton (Transl.)
(Biblioasis, 9781771965811, $19.95, Paperback, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“Add Your Absence is Darkness to the ever-growing pile of Icelandic classics. This deeply moving novel — full of love, stories large and small, and unforgettable characters — caresses and crashes like the waves against the island’s shores.”
—Stephen Sparks, Point Reyes Books, Point Reyes Station, CA

The Book of Doors: A Novel
By Gareth Brown
(William Morrow, 9780063323988, $30, Feb. 13, Fantasy)
“We all know books are metaphoric doors — what if they were literal doors as well? Full of fascinating characters, mystery, and magical books, this debut novel will appeal to fans of The Starless Sea.”
—Keith Glaeske, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC

Grief Is for People
By Sloane Crosley
(MCD, 9780374609849, $27, Feb. 27, Memoir)
“Grief has deepened Crosley’s craft. This memoir is the funniest book of the year, as any of her readers would expect, but it’s also profound and heartbreaking. She is our Nora Ephron; we’re lucky to have her.”
—Sarah McNally, McNally Jackson Books, New York, NY

Green Dot: A Novel
By Madeleine Gray
(Henry Holt and Co., 9781250890597, $27.99, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“A rollicking romance with a married man explores the whys and wherefores of a relationship destined for disaster, as the ‘other woman’ navigates and attempts to rationalize her forbidden love. Funny, fast, and unique in a delectable way.”
—Seth Tucker, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville, KY

The Hearing Test: A Novel
By Eliza Barry Callahan
(Catapult, 9781646222131, $24, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“The Hearing Test is a love letter not just to humanity but human connection. Eliza Barry Callahan is one to watch!”
—Audrey Kohler, BookWoman, Austin, TX

Headshot: A Novel
By Rita Bullwinkel
(Viking, 9780593654101, $28, Mar. 12, Fiction)
“Headshot is completely brilliant. A fierce and intimate account of eight fascinating young women with powerful, refined prose. Rita Bullwinkel puts you inside the minds of her characters while enthralling you as the story plays out.”
—Shane Grebel, Watermark Books & Café, Wichita, KS

After Annie: A Novel
By Anna Quindlen
(Random House, 9780593229804, $30, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“Anna Quindlen returns with a poignant novel of grief, friendship, and fortitude. Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one will appreciate After Annie and the hope it delivers. Read it for yourself, give it as a gift, share it.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN

Red Clay Suzie: A Novel
By Jeffrey Dale Lofton
(Post Hill Press, 9798888455289, $18.99, Paperback, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“Red Clay Suzie and Philbet’s coming-of-age story stole my heart. Jeffrey Dale Lofton is a writer to watch. Highly recommend!”
—Karen Schwettman, FoxTale Book Shoppe, Woodstock, GA

Sun of Blood and Ruin
By Mariely Lares
(Harper Voyager, 9780063254312, $30, Feb. 20, Fantasy)
“A fast-paced fantasy filled with shapeshifting, sorcery, and epic battles. Lares weaves together a rich world from Mesoamerican history and mythology, alongside a thoughtful exploration of mestiza identity and finding a place in the world.”
—Elena Jove, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson: A Novel
By Ellen Baker
(Mariner Books, 9780063351196, $28, Feb. 20, Historical Fiction)
“Rich, vibrant and full of atmosphere, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson drew me in from the first page. An intricately layered portrait of family, identity, and survival. Cecily will steal your heart!”
—Maxwell Gregory, Madison Street Books, Chicago, IL

The 6 Now in Paperback Titles
 

A Day of Fallen Night
By Samantha Shannon
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639732999, $21.99, Mar. 5, Fantasy)
“An unstoppable feminist force of magic and might. A Day of Fallen Night will have you burning through the pages like wyvern fire, leaving you wishing there was another 500 pages to devour.”
—Maris Herrington, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI

The Golden Spoon: A Novel
By Jessa Maxwell
(Atria Books, 9781668008010, $17, Mar. 5, Mystery)
“Imagine The Great British Baking Show with a splash of Agatha Christie murder mystique. Interesting characters, intriguing subplots, and a fun setting kept me turning the pages. This is a book I can put into the hands of any reader.”
—Gail Dickson, The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn, Glen Ellyn, IL

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride: A Novel
By Roshani Chokshi
(William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780063206519, $18.99, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“The chills that I got finishing this book! At once a dream and a slow building nightmare, the story is rich and lush as any fairytale. Chokshi’s playful language pulls you into a present whose edges blur into myth and bittersweet yearning.”
—Jane Alice Van Doren, Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID

Ripe: A Novel
By Sarah Rose Etter
(Scribner, 9781668011645, $17, Mar. 5, Fiction)
“Ripe is a delicious book — the Persephone myth retold amidst swirling anxieties in a Silicon Valley tech startup. Our lonely narrator is accompanied by a black hole. A literal one. Visceral and smart, Etter carefully chose every word.”
—Skylar Miklus, Still North Books & Bar, Hanover, NH

Stone Blind: A Novel
By Natalie Haynes
(Harper Perennial, 9780063258402, $18.99, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“Stone Blind offers Medusa deserved sympathy, and asks: What makes a monster, and on whose authority? What does it mean to have your authority stripped? And what does it look like when old stories get reclaimed through a little empathy?”
—Ebony Purks, Nowhere Bookshop, San Antonio, TX

Time’s Undoing: A Novel
By Cheryl A. Head
(Dutton, 9780593471845, $18, Feb. 27, Fiction)
“Time’s Undoing is a first-rate story of racial injustice and redemption. Based on the author’s family history, this dual timeline story chronicles a Black man’s death in 1929 and his great-granddaughter’s efforts to uncover the truth in 2019.”
—Trish Brown, One More Page Books, Arlington, VA