A Handmaid’s Tale and 1984 have held strong on our bestseller list, a healthy crop of new releases have satisfied readers’ appetite for everything from escapist page-turners to socially engaged fiction to candid nonfiction. We asked our staff to weigh in on their own favorite new books of 2017 so far. Here are their picks. It’s been an interesting year in the bookselling world. While dystopian classics likeandhave held strong on our bestseller list, a healthy crop of new releases have satisfied readers’ appetite for everything from escapist page-turners to socially engaged fiction to candid nonfiction. We asked our staff to weigh in on their own favorite new books of 2017 so far. Here are their picks.

Al Franken, Giant of the Senate

by Al Franken



During stressful times, comedy can nurture like a cozy warm blanket on a chilly winter morning. Al Franken, Giant of the Senate manages to find humor, sarcasm, and optimism (yes, optimism) in a political climate that grows more intense with each passing day. Sure, Senator Al Franken is a funny guy, but I really wasn't expecting such an enjoyable read with so many laugh-out-loud moments.

– Corie K.B.

Autumn

by Ali Smith



Autumn is a beautiful, lyrical work of prose that pulls at the heartstrings especially hard given our current political climate. It's a story of friendship, love, loss, memory, and interpretation — of what was, what could've been. It's a book that lends its perspective while simultaneously urging you to project your own. Smith is a master of words and word play, and you won't want to miss this brilliant work.

– Carrie K.

The Bear and the Nightingale

by Katherine Arden



The first book in a captivating new series! Russian folklore and myths are intricately woven together to create a magical story of young Vasya coming into her own against the wishes of her family and their changing religious beliefs in the wilds of medieval Russia. How can you pass up the old favorites: dueling pagan gods, an evil priest, a wicked stepmother, and house sprites?

– Mecca A.

The Bed Moved

by Rebecca Schiff



One of my favorite story collections ever. It pretty much caters to everything I like: short short stories, funny-as-hell descriptions of people, dazzling sentences, dark humor, unashamed sex, and an attitude that doesn't really give a fuck. These stories have velocity to spare and plunge you into these characters' weird and uncomfortable worlds. I highly recommend The Bed Moved to anyone who likes to laugh, and especially to fans of Sam Lipsyte.

– Kevin S.

The Best We Could Do

by Thi Bui



Not only is The Best We Could Do a beautiful story about family; it is also a great overview of the history of Vietnam. Thi Bui is about to have a child of her own, so she sets out to try to understand her parents and their history. Their stories of living in a war-torn country are full of struggle and loss and hope as they escape to the United States, where they strive to start their lives over. I highly recommend this moving memoir.

– Jennifer H.

The Book of Joan

by Lidia Yuknavitch



Lidia Yuknavitch's post-apocalyptic retelling of Joan of Arc's story is flat-out brilliant. The earth is decimated and the only possibility of life is on the hovering stations suspended above the barren landscape. The stations are highly patrolled and the inhabitants are continuously watched; is this a life worth living? But, despite its ruin, there are two women left on the earth: Joan and Leone. Exploring female relationships to each other, to men, and to their own bodies, Yuknavitch's tale is both chilling and comforting. A book about what it means to be human, what it means to be a woman, and how our bodies and souls connect and divide us, Yuknavitch's beautiful feminist story takes us back to a place before body and soul were separated. Stunning.

– Dianah H.

Borne

by Jeff VanderMeer



This rollicking good read about a wrecked city haunted by a flying bear and a mysterious blob named Borne is richly imaginative. Dystopian, post-apocalyptic environmental fiction seems to be the genre of the year so far, and Jeff VanderMeer is superlative in that class. What surprised me about Borne was how poignantly VanderMeer addresses topics like parenthood and loyalty in a book about anarchic society. Two thumbs up!

– Mary S. Borne has all of the lush savagery of VanderMeer's excellent Southern Reach trilogy, but with an added humanity and optimism that kept me rapt during the novel's more brutal and stranger moments. VanderMeer is gifted at creating unique biological environments, populated by creatures and plants that both reflect the human condition and express abilities and knowledge far beyond human limitations. It is in such a place, a ruined, perilous city, that a scavenger named Rachel meets a "child" named Borne. Their relationship is at the heart of this absorbing novel, which is ultimately about how to define personhood in a post-human world.

– Rhianna W.

Bunkie Spills

by Bradley K. Rosen



There's no book like Bunkie Spills and no voice like Bunkie himself telling the story of his tribe of teenage friends in the 1970s. The novel breaks your heart and makes you laugh, all at the same time, and it is compulsively readable. You'll beg Bunkie not to do that, not to go there, not to try that, even as you go with him to all those places.

– Doug C. You’ll never read a book about sex, drugs, conflict, and out-of-control youth that is so utterly delightful. Bunkie Spills spans just two days in the life of 17-year-old Bunkie and his wayward friends, and through the boozing, the heroin, the stealing of Big Pete’s van, Bunkie stumbles and tumbles toward his very particular coming of age. Writer Bradley K. Rosen is an expert storyteller, a poetic and often hilarious wordsmith, and his narrator Bunkie is a clown philosopher, a bumbling wise man, and a soul you can’t help but fall in love with.

– Gigi L.

Celine

by Peter Heller



I'm a big fan of Peter Heller's book The Dog Stars, so when I heard he had a new novel coming out, I moved it to the top of my must-read list. And wow, it did not disappoint. Evoking beautiful Western scenery with an equally compelling story, it's the tale of a 68-year-old private eye and her husband, who set out to find a photographer who disappeared near Yellowstone National Park years earlier. Heller's descriptions of nature in autumn are lovely, and the slow burn of a mystery had me conflicted: I wanted to stop and savor the writing, but I also wanted to hurry up to find out what happened next!

– Candice B.

Defy the Stars

by Claudia Gray



Having read other sci-fi YA books this year that were rather mediocre, Defy the Stars took me completely by surprise. Addressing colonialism, revolution, science vs. religion, and the moral implications of artificial intelligence, it also has the bones of a high-stakes heist adventure series in the vein of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. While it sets itself up nicely for a sequel (it's the first in a series of an unknown number of books), it nonetheless stands well on its own, so hopefully you won't wake up in the middle of the night out of fear for the characters' lives.

– Helena F.W.

Essex Serpent

by Sarah Perry



It feels as if I've been anticipating this U.S. release forever, but it was well worth the wait. Brilliantly crafted with interesting and well-developed characters, and with rich and vivid imagery, I was transported to this enchanting world that Perry has created. Reading The Essex Serpent was a very enriching experience and one that I will very probably repeat again and again over the years.

– Sheila N.

Fiery Ferments

by Kirsten K. Shockey and Christopher Shockey



Kirsten and Christopher Shockey's first book, Fermented Vegetables, is one of my absolute favorite fermentation books. So, as soon as I heard last year that their next book would be all about hot sauces, salsas, and other spicy fermented yumminess from around the world, I couldn't wait. They have a way of providing an inspirational framework for experimenting with fermentation that means the sky is the limit. Fiery Ferments also gives you a lot of ideas for how to use your ferments in your cooking and serves as a great reference tool. This book is a worthy successor to their first book!

– Robin F.

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas



It's rare I'm able to get through an entire novel in just one day, but The Hate U Give is a book that's impossible to put down. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter after she witnesses a childhood friend shot to death by a police officer. As Starr navigates the fallout in both her all-black neighborhood and her mostly white high school, author Angie Thomas brings a deep, nuanced look into the anti-Black violence beyond police brutality. With a strong voice and complex characters, The Hate U Give is an engaging, emotional look into a polarizing issue.

– Carrie L. Y'all. This book is so, so, so good. Not only does it paint a realistic picture inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement using fictional names and places; it also addresses family, friendship, dating, socioeconomics, and coming of age in the cross-cultural land that is America. I'm telling you, read it — especially those of you who didn't grow up in a black home, like me. Angie Thomas is a phenomenal writer and member of the #ownvoices gang. She excels in written dialogue, humor, and descriptive narrative. She is a force to be reckoned with, and this book is going to hit readers where it hurts. Oh, and an extra .5 stars for her main character who is obsessed with Harry Potter. 5.5 stars. I don't care if that's not a thing.

– Andy A. For the past several months, I've been recommending The Hate U Give as "the Black Lives Matter YA book" — because it is a powerful, nuanced introduction to the movement, and that's more than enough reason to recommend it! But this book stuck with me for so many other reasons. I loved all of the characters, and especially the protagonist, Starr. Her coming-of-age story is touching and believable; I haven't rooted so hard for a character in a long time. This book should be required reading.

– Ashleigh B. Engrossing, painful, galvanizing, and necessary, The Hate U Give is a powerhouse of a book, destined to become a classic and deserving of every bit of praise it’s received. I suggest buying three copies — one to keep, one to ruin (either with tears or by hurling it angrily across the room), and one to share.

– Tove H.

Homesick for Another World

by Ottessa Moshfegh



Raw. Edgy. Unflinching. Ottessa Moshfegh's new book of stories (I told everyone to read Eileen!) delighted me as Charles Bukowski did when I read him. I think Bukowski would have loved this collection!

– Adrienne C.

How to Murder Your Life

by Cat Marnell



Cat Marnell, former Lucky magazine beauty editor turned Vice columnist and overall hot mess, brings something different to the "cool girl self-destructing" genre in How to Murder Your Life. She hasn’t cleaned up, she’s still proudly using, and she won’t be learning any lessons. Fans of Marnell, behind-the-scenes magazine tell-alls (The Devil Wears Prada), or Bukowski-esque memoirs will be hooked on this frank, often cringe-inducing memoir full of Marnell’s signature amphetamine-fueled musings (and beauty tips!).

– Emily A.

Isadora

by Amelia Gray



A rigorously mannered intrusion, elegant and appalling and indulgent with sorrow. Gray casts the iconoclastic art monster as the center of a roiling vortex, swirling with brutality and desire, then infuses the whole mess with a sense of slow-burning mania. Isadora is novel as supercollider, sustained balance amidst staggering entropy.

– Justin W.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

by Kathleen Rooney



Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk is one of the very best character-driven books that I have read in a long time. Written conversationally from Lillian's standpoint, it's as if you are having a chat with an old friend. Lillian's views of her various decades in NYC are a joy to read and offer what feels like a cultural tourism of another time. Based on a real person, this is fictionalized history done right.

– Tracey T.

Lincoln in the Bardo

by George Saunders



I gobbled up George Saunders's very first novel. Lincoln in the Bardo deserves more than a measly blurb; it deserves your whole, heartfelt attention. So funny. So original. So GEORGE.

– Jake A.

A List of Cages

by Robin Roe



A List of Cages is a gut-wrenching story told through the eyes of two boys — one who knows happiness and safety, and one who knows something else entirely. In a lot of ways, this book is like a YA version of Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life (and comparing something to that book is about the biggest compliment I can give). It's a portrait of abuse, yes, but also of friendship, family, and love.

– Emily F.

Mary Page Marlowe

by Tracy Letts



In a series of brief and well-observed scenes, Letts expertly reveals the life and heart of his protagonist. Letts’s previous work, the Pulitzer-winning August: Osage County, is a Great American Play that has already joined the canon with Miller, Williams, and O’Neill. In his follow-up work, he demonstrates mastery of the theatrical equivalent of the short story as well.

– Keith M.

My Cat Yugoslavia

by Pajtim Statovci



I love how strange and creative this book is. There are plenty of titles out there that have perspectives on the immigrant experience, or perspectives on love and relationships and human interactions, but nothing quite like this.

– Lonnan R.

The Refugees

by Viet Thanh Nguyen



I was taken aback by this near-perfect story collection by Pulitzer Prize–winner Viet Thanh Nguyen. The opening piece, “Black-Eyed Women,” features a narrator haunted by the spirit of her dead brother who was killed as they escaped to America, and that sets the tone for the rest of the book — these are ghostly tales with characters who perceive the past more vividly than the present. And yet their stories, their journeys through time and place, deserve to be told. The Refugees is a quiet yet assured collection that gives dignity to a displaced population.

– Renee P.

Smart Baseball

by Keith Law



If you're still holding onto the value of batting averages, RBI, saves, and pitcher's wins, read Smart Baseball to see how misleading those statistics are. If you've already been convinced fielding percentage is an extremely flawed stat and want to know more about FIP, WAR, and UZR in easy-to-understand terms, read Smart Baseball. Keith Law breaks down the old numbers and sheds light on the new ones in an addicting read for any baseball fan. This book opened my mind to new ways of thinking about baseball, and I am now convinced Lou Whitaker should be in the Hall of Fame. Find out why!

– Jeffrey J.

Snotgirl, Volume 1

by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung



Lottie Person is a fashion blogger with really bad allergies. She also may or may not have been involved in a murder. Snotgirl is absolutely gorgeous and will keep you on your toes.

– Hannah B.

Stephen Florida

by Gabe Habash



Stephen Florida is a wonderful, refreshing book with especially intimate access to Stephen's loneliness and obsession. The flow of the book between narrative and train of thought creates an interesting and unpredictable experience. And then there's the underlying suspense — will he win the NCAA Championship? From the first paragraph, Habash's powerful writing pulled me in and kept me captivated.

– Kim S.

Such Small Hands

by Andrés Barba



Such Small Hands is the third of Andrés Barba's books to be translated into English and may well be the best one yet. Slim, yet remarkably taut, the Spanish author’s novella murmurs with increasing dread and unease. Following a car accident which claims the lives of her parents, seven-year-old Marina is sent to an orphanage where her once-privileged life contrasts sharply with those of her fellow orphans. Marina invents a nocturnal game which both intrigues and incites — one begun innocently (if not a little strangely) but which builds quickly to an ominous conclusion. Such Small Hands is focused, precise, and more than a little eerie!

– Jeremy G.

Sunshine State

by Sarah Gerard



In the title essay of this wonderful collection, Sarah Gerard describes herself as a "memoirist" rather than a journalist. In combining those two forms, Sunshine State's essays inform the reader about the history of Amway company and the development of the Christian Science movement in America, and also talk about the love and pain that bind relationships between family and friends. I'll be seeking out more writing from Sarah Gerard anywhere I can find it!

– Adam P.

Theft by Finding

by David Sedaris



As a die-hard Sedaris fan, I'm in love with reading his diary. It's so interesting observing how he changed over 30 years and reading about the events that shaped his essays. The way he sees the world around him is fascinating, and he is so funny.

– Amy W.

Wabi-Sabi Welcome

by Julie Pointer Adams



What a treat this low-key entertaining guide is, reminding us that living a pleasurable life does not mean having to abandon our values. It reads like a summertime hygge book, both sensuous and inviting, providing inspiration for mindful gatherings.

– Aubrey W.

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life.

by Samantha Irby



This collection of essays is actually laugh-out-loud funny. Like watching your favorite show or hanging out with your best friend, the stories within these pages are sweet, honest, hilarious, and thoughtful. Irby covers relatable topics in a fresh way that is both self-deprecating and loving at the same time. This is a book you'll want to share. A great summer read.

– Kathleen B. Life may be a dumpster fire full of garbage people, but We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. is the most hilarious, beautiful, and sneakily optimistic book I’ve ever read. Samantha Irby writes with a wonderful kind of intimacy that left me in awe, and embarrassingly eager to meet her in real life.

– McKenzie W.

Wine. All the Time.

by Marissa A. Ross



This is the wine guide I've been waiting for! Approachable, hilarious, and genuinely helpful, it's as useful for people who already love wine as it is for newbies who find the wine world totally snobby and off-putting but still want to drink good wine. I get it! Ross gets it! This book is for you!

– Katie V.

The Women in the Castle

by Jessica Shattuck



An unexpectedly nuanced and moving portrayal of three German women and their children in the aftermath of World War II. Widowed when their husbands are executed for roles in the plot to assassinate Hitler, the women take refuge in a rundown castle. The author uses the women’s very different backgrounds, circumstances, and political awareness to examine questions of complicity, guilt, and moral obligation during a period of growing fascism.

– Lori M.