Boswell bestsellers, week ending April 4, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending April 4, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Keeper V3, by Tana French
2. Vengeance in Venice V7, by Erica Ruth Neubauer (signed copies)
3. Kin, by Tayari Jones
4. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
5. The Night We Met, by Abby Jimenez
6. Heart the Lover, by Lily King
7. Python's Kiss, by Louise Erdrich
8. The Dark Time, by Nick Petrie
9. The News from Dublin, by Colm Tóibín
10. Lost Lambs, by Madeline Cash

Only two leftovers from 2025 on this list. Top debut is Tana French's The Keeper, the third (and final?) entry in the Cal Hooper series, which received six raves, four positives, and a mixed, from Publishers Weekly. I saw there is a rave from Bob Hoover in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: "Tana French offers no answers herself, only us giving clues to follow. So enjoy her musical language, told in the Irish vernacular funny and profane, and wash it down with a pint of Guinness." The review is paywalled, and when I tried to access it, it offered me a deal - 99 cents for eight weeks. The only catch? The paper is shutting down in a month."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. The Anatomy of Awakening, by Sue Morter
2. Strangers, by Belle Burden
3. How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay, by Jenny Lawson
4. The Best Dog in the World, edited by Alice Hoffman
5. The Gales of November, by John U Bacon
6. The World Appears, by Michael Pollan
7. The Meaning of Your Life, by Arthur C Brooks
8. Milwaukee Flavor, by Visit Milwaukee/Ann Christenson
9. Judy Blume, by Mark Oppenheimer
10. Unsettling Territory, by Douglas Metoxen Kiel

Several new releases this week have good first week sales, but let's focus on Jenny Lawson, because she once visited Boswell and she also owns a bookstore in San Antonio. From Library Journal on How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: "Thanks to Lawson's humor, frankness, and insight, her book ends up being much more than just another standard self-help guide. Lawson's words will likely bring comfort and aid to readers with anxiety, chronic illness, ADHD, and depression in the times when they might be struggling the most."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
2. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
3. Fever Beach, by Carl Hiaasen
4. Two Bodies Are Better Than One, by Erica Ruth Neubauer (signed copies)
5. Nightmare of the Embryos, by Mariella Mehr
6. I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman
7. Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman
8. The Lion Women of Tehroan, by Marjan Kamali
9. City of Rats, by Copi

10. A Woman's Guide to True Crime, by Mary Thorson  

We had a strong first week for Nightmare of the Embryos, with more special orders on the way, and its one of two New Directions in our top ten. While you might not be familiar with Mariella Mehr, a groundbreaking Swiss German Yenish writer, you might know the translator Caroline Froh, a former Boswellian. From the starred Publishers Weekly: "Historical trauma, unusual figures, and marginalized outsiders shape this kaleidoscopic volume of vignettes, prose poems, and fables from Swiss writer Mehr, who died in 2022...Mehr bears witness to the traumas suffered by the Yenish community and immortalizes their enduring joy and resilience in this masterfully translated collection. It’s not to be missed."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Letters from Clara, by Janet Newman

2. Absolute Justice, by Chris Chan (Boswell April 7 event)
3. The Beginning Comes After the End, by Rebecca Solnit
4. The Pastor as Gardener, by Matthew Erickson
5. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson
6. We Will Be Jaguars, by Nemonte Nenquimo with Mitch Anderson
7. After 1177 BC, by Eric H Cline
8. Native Nations, by Kathleen Duval
9. Plant This, Not That, by Elise Howard
10. A Walk in the Park, by Kevin Fedarko

The big news this week is that the New York Times has reduced its nonfiction paperback list to once monthly instead of weekly. I've been heartbroken in the past when some of my favorite nonfiction hardcovers never got a paperback release, and this probably won't help. We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People, by Nemonte Nenquimo did get a paperback release, being that it was a Reese book club pick. From Kirkus: " An essential memoir of Indigenous resistance to economic subjugation and cultural extinction."

Books for Kids:
1. Be You, by Peter H Reynolds
2. Zip Zap Wickety Wack, by Matthew Diffee
3. Lulu and Rocky in Milwuakee, by Barbara Joosse, illustrations by Renée Graef
4. Peekaboo Farm, by Camilla Reid, illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius
5. A Natural History of Mermaids, by Emily Hawkins, ilustrated by Jessica Roux
6. Tell Me a Story, by Hannah Fleece
7. Myths and Legends for Fearless Girls, by Samantha Newman
8. Nightmare on Nightmare Street, by RL Stine
9. Queso Just in Time, by Ernesto Cisneros
10. The Lions' Run, by Sara Pennypacker

Released earlier in March, Queso Just in Time is a follow-up to Efrén Divided and Falling Short. From Publishers Weekly: "A tween receives a second chance to commune with his late father in this heartfelt time travel tale with Back to the Future flair...It's a gentle and thoughtful story brimming with familial love."

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 28, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 28, 2026

Hardcover Ficton:
1. Life: A Love Story, by Elizabeth Berg*
2. The Dark Time, by Nick Petrie
3. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
4. Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief, by Benjamin Stevenson
5. Between Two Fires, by Christopher Buehlman
6. Brawler, by Lauren Groff
7. Lost Lamb, by Madeline Cash
8. Kin, by Tayari Jones
9. Python's Kiss, by Louise Erdrich
10. Children of Strife V4, by Adrian Tchaikovski

It's the second week out for #4 in the Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief is recommended by our buyer Jason and also by fans and reviewers. From Publishers Weekly: "As always, Stevenson plays scrupulously fair with readers, offering all the evidence needed to solve his devilishly intricate puzzle from the jump. Still, even the most seasoned mystery fans will struggle to beat him to the final reveal. This series continues to impress."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Everything Is Tuberculosis, by John Green
2. Hello Home Cooking, Ham El-Waylly
3. The World Appears, by Michael Pollan
4. The Gales of November, by John U Bacon
5. Good Writing, by Neal ALlen and Anne Lamott
6. The Best Dog in the World, edited by Alice Hoffman
7. Art but Make It Sports, by JJ Rader
8. Stuff Every Bird Lover Should Know, by Alice Sun
9. Fishable Feast, by Kirk Deeter (Boswell May 13 event)
10. Garden Voices, by edited by Claire Masset


Nice first week out for Hello, Home Cooking: Do-Able Dishes for Every Day. Ham El-Waylly is not just a chef (his restaurant is Strange Delight in Brooklyn) but a contributor to NYT cooking and one half of the cohost of the video series Mystery Menu with his wife Sohla. From Library Journal: " Alive with flavor and packed with technique, El-Waylly's book delivers fusion without fuss."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
2. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
3. Happiness Falls, by Angie Kim (Shorewood Library event April 23, book club discussion April 2)
4. Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman
5. Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid
6. Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
7. 33 Place Brugmann, by Alice Austen
8. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
9. I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman
10. Frankenstein (1818 text), by Mary Shelley

There are so many programs going on for Shorewood Reads featuring Happiness Falls that it gets its own paragraph instead of a parenthetical remark next to the title. I'm leading a book club discussion at North Shore Boulangerie on Thursday at 9 am (registration requested) and it all leads up to three author events on April 23 - There's a writing talk at 10 am, a discussion of working with non-speakers at 2 pm, Y, and a traditional converstaion at 6:30 in the evening at the library, on 3920 N Murray. No registration required for the evevning program, which is the one where we'll be selling books.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. The Pastor as Gardener, by Matthew Erickson*
2. Making a Life, by Kate Ward
3. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
4. Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin, by Kristine Hansen (Boswell July 8 event for FLW Illinois - registration should be up shortly)
5. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson
6. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
7. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frédéric Gros
8. The Beginning Comes After the End, by Rebecca Solnit
9. The 388 Tattoos of Captain George and the 389 Tales of How He Got Them, by Amelia Klem Osterud
10. Secret Wisconsin, by Tom Manus and Kristi Flick Manus

I am noticing more outdoorsy books on the hardcover and paperback nonfiction lists, so folks are really thinking spring now, despite some reports of not-so-great weather on Thursday. Gardening, birding, walking, regional traveling, and yes, even the rare fishing book!

*No signed copies at the moment - we sold out!

Books for Kids:
1. I'm Trying to Love Farts, by Bethany Barton
2. I'm Trying to Love Germs, by Bethany Barton
3. I'm Trying to Love Rocks, by Bethany Barton
4. It's Spring, by Renée Kurilla
4. Lulu and Rocky in Milwaukee, by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Renée Graef
5. Each and Every Spark, by Claire Swinarski
6. Kat and Mouse: Let's Have a Sleepover, by Salina Yoon
7. If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone, by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Emily Hughes
8. Sunrise on the Reaping special edition, by Suzanne Collins
9. America Is Wild, by Brad Timm, illustrated by Margaux Samson Abadie and Jill De Haan
10. Bud Finds Her Gift, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illustrated by Naoko Stoop

It's not often that I look up a Wide-Eyed book and it's out of stock at all of Ingram's warehouses, but I've been told that since Baker and Taylor closed their library services, this is not as unusual. Brad Timm's America Is Wild!: A State-By-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife follows the adult trend of springtime outside interests. School Library Journal wrote: "This richly detailed encyclopedia transports readers across the US, supporting an appreciation for the flora and fauna of the country and enhancing STEM curricula."

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 21, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 21, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Lost Daughter of Sparta, by Felicia Day (signed copies)
2. Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line V6, by Elle Cosimano (signed copies)
3. Life: A Love Story, by Elizabeth Berg (Boswell March 25 event)
4. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
5. The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss (signed)
6. The Dark Time, by Nick Petrie (WFB event 3/23 and Tosa event 3/26)
7. Children of Strife V4, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
8. Between Two Fires, by Christopher Buehlman
9. Dog Show, by Billy Collins
10. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, by Kiran Desai

The fourth book in the Children of Time series is Children of Strife, and comes from Hachette's Orbit line. Is it my imagination or was that originally distributed as a Pan paperback through Macmillan. I was trying to make sense of our sales history. From Saif Shaikh in Medium: "Have I said that after reading the Children of Time series, his grimdark fantasy Tyrant Philosophers series, and a smattering of other standalones, Adrian Tchaikovsky has shot up to my favorite authors of all time? At this point, I will read nearly anything with his name on it, and Children of Strife only further cements my fervor. A strong contender for a favorite-of-the-year entry."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Judy Blume, by Mark Oppenheimer (signed copies)
2. Adult Braces, by Lindy West
3. American Struggle, by Jon Meacham
4. Chain of Ideas, by Ibram X Kendi
5. How the New World Became Old, by Caroline Winterer
6. The World Appears, by Michael Pollan
7. Everything Is Tuberculosis, by John Green
8. Good Writing, by Neal Allen and Anne Lamott
9. Milwaukee Flavor, by Ann Christensen
10. The Art of Gluten Free Bread, by Aran Goyoaga

Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane is a memoir of a cross country road trip. From Publishers Weekly: "West blends her signature sharp wit with endearing vulnerability in this luminous memoir of a cross-country road trip she took to rebuild herself and her marriage. Spurred by her love of the Beach Boys song Kokomo, West rented a van to drive from Seattle to Key West after learning that her husband, Aham, had another partner and wanted a polyamorous marriage...The result is a madcap, rewarding journey that demystifies the unsexy work of self-actualization."

Paperback Fiction:
1. A Woman's Guide to True Crime, by Mary Thorson (more copies coming - Thorson will sign!)
2. The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
3. The Good Pornographer, by Brian Bouldrey (signed copies)
4. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
5. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
6. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, by Elle Cosimano (signed copies)
7. Happiness Falls, by Angie Kim (Shorewood Library April 23 event)
8. The Sirens, by Emelia Hart
9. The Narrow Road Between Desires, by Patrick Rothfuss
10. I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman

While The Sirens performed well in hardcover, just a few copies short of her breakout Weyward, the book has a long way to go before it catches the paperback of the previous novel, which has sold close to 200 copies at Boswell. From Library Journal: "In 19th-century Ireland, sisters Mary and Eliza were declared convicts and shipped to Australia. As they endured horrific conditions, they held on to hope and to each other. In 2019, recurring childhood nightmares continue to afflict first-year journalism student Lucy Martin...Hart's second novel weaves a lyrical story, intricately blending family dynamics with the magic of folklore."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Embrace Your Weird, by Felicia Day (signed copies)
2. You're Never Weird on the Internet Almost, by Felicia Day  (signed copies)
3. American Enlightenments, by Caroline Winterer
4. Thirty Two Words for Field, by Manchan Magan
5. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson
6. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
7. Black in Blues, by Imani Perry (ABHM April 6 ticketed event)
8. Teaching Writing in the Age of AI, by Troy Hicks
9. Making a Life, by Kate Ward (Boswell March 23 event)
10. Dead Man Walking graphic edition, by Helen Prejean (Mount Mary April 17 event)

At Felicia Day's event, there were a lot of folks remembering our in-store program for You're Never Weird on the Internet Almost ten years ago, which is probably why why we sold substantially more copies of her second nonfiction book, Embrace Your Weird. There were a lot of folks still discovering Patrick Rothfuss at the program, which is why we had bestseller sales for the various versions of The Name of the Wind.

Books for Kids:
1. When the Rain Came, by Matthew Eicheldinger
2. Each and Every Spark, by Claire Swinarski (signed copies, plus Boswell May 5 event)
3. Take It from the Top, by Claire Swinarski
4. A Year Without Home, by VT Bidania
5. What Happened to Rachel Riley, by Claire Swinarski
6. The Curse Breaker V2, by Jen Calonita
7. Peekaboo Chick, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
8. Goodnight Bruce, Ryan T Higgins
9. Isle of Ever V1, by Jen Calonita
10. Loops, by Jashar Awan

We're in full swing of spring school events, plus more sales from the WEMTA conference.  

Geisel winner Jashar Awan's latest picture book Loops is about a kid learning to tie shoelaces and is featured in our new picture book display. From the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "In the opening pages of this bright, optimistic picture book, an unnamed protagonist finds their missing sneaker and promptly invites the audience to watch them tie their shoes, a true milestone and mark of being a big kid... Awan has again offered a warm little pocket of the world where a child is loved, respected, protected, and confident"

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 14, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 14, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Dark Time, by Nick Petrie (signed copies)
2. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
3. Vigil, by George Saunders
4. Brawler, by Lauren Groff
5. Kin, by Tayari Jones
6. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, by Kiran Desai
7. Shadow Ticket, by Thomas Pynchon
8. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter, by Heather Fawcett
9. Heart the Lover, by Lily King
10.Eradication, by Jonathan Miles

We had some nice reads from Jason and Kay of Eradication: A Fable, the new novel from Jonathan Miles, which also got four raves and two positives on BookMarks. From Jason: "Adi, a jazz musician turned teacher who is running from his past, takes a job that ships him to a remote island that’s overrun with goats. His task: eradicate the invasive species. An amazing story that sits with you for a long time after you finish."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Chasing Lewis's Monkeyflower, by Elizabeth Adelman (signed copies)
2. Kids, Wait Till You Hear This, by Liza Minelli
3. The World Appears, by Michael Pollan
4. American Struggle, by Jon Meacham
5. Leaving the Ocean Was a Mistake, by Cara Giaimo
6. Strangers, by Belle Burden
7. Milwaukee Flavor, by Ann Christensen
8. Language as Liberation, by Toni Morrison
9. Little Frog's Guide to Self Care, by Maybell Eequay
10. Good Things, by Samin Nosrat

It's a relatively strong showing for Liza Minelli's Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! as our store can be hot and cold on celebrity bios. And bully for Michael Feinstein, who gets an official writing credit, though it's more of a conversation - it's noted the writers are Josh Getlin and Heidi Evans. There are highs and lows on BookMarks - one raves is from Fiona Sturges in The Guardian who says, "What elevates her book above the usual celebrity fare is her vulnerability and brutal candour in sharing her lowest moments, from the terrible marriages, to her mother’s manipulations, to the decades of substance abuse that once caused her to collapse in the street near her New York home, prompting pedestrians to step over her inert body."

Paperback Fiction:
1. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
2. A Woman's Guide to True Crime, by Mary Thorson (Boswell March 20 event)
3. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
4. Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman
5. The Lion Women of Tehran, by Marjan Kamali
6. The Rites of Man, by Meg Bortin
7. Sunburn, by Chloe Michelle Howarth
8. The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore
9. Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid
10. For Human Use, by Sarah G Pierce

Selling off the front table, For Human Use is a novel about a dating app that pairs users with corpses for the ultimate romantic experience. From Booklist: " Pierce makes her debut with this very unique and hilarious horror rom-com that bends genre norms in every direction...Pierce manages to deliver genuine horror while also exploring questions about intimacy and relationships even as Liv increasingly takes over its users' lives.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson (signed copies)
2. The Splendid and the Vile, by Erik Larson
3. Letters from Clara, by Janet Newman
4. Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson
5. The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson
6. The Beginning Comes After the End, by Rebecca Solnit
7. While You Were Out, by Meg Kissinger
8. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
9. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
10. I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy

The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change, by Rebecca Solnit, has a special independent bookstore edition and has four raves, a positive, and a mixed on BookMarks. From Booklist: " In this remarkably lucid and fluent chronicle of social change over the last six decades or so, the course of her lifetime, she traces profound shifts in perceptions and convictions regarding race, gender, equality, and the environment."

Books for Kids:
1. Isle of Ever: Curse Breaker V2, by Jen Calonita
2. Isle of Ever #1, by Jen Calonita
3. The Hybrid Prince V16, by Tui T Sutherland
4. The Snowy Day board book, by Ezra Jack Keats
5. Chicka Chicka Peep Peep, by Julien Chung
6. Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever, by Suzanne Lang, illustrations by Max Lang
7. Peekaboo Farm, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
8. The Heir, by Sabaa Tahir
9. This Is Not My Hat, by Jon Klassen
10. Lulu and Rocky in Milwaukee, by Barbara Joosse, illustrations by Renée Graef

It bums me out that the Chicka Chicka phenomenon (the latest is Chicka Chicka Peep Peep) gives credit to Bill Martin, Jr and John Archambault, who wrote the original text, but not to Milwaukee's own Lois Ehlert, who created the much imitated illustrations. The new book has a positive Kirkus: "The alphabet appears in order (both upper- and lowercase letters) at the book's open and close. The rhyming text follows the iconic cadence of the source material, making for a worthy read-aloud that will keep little hands turning pages. A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale."

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 7, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending March 7, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
2. The Star from Calcutta, by Sujata Massey (signed copies)
3. Vigil, by George Saunders
4. Kin, by Tayari Jones
5. Lake Effect, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
6. Lost Lambs, by Madeline Cash
7. The Astral Library, by Kate Quinn
8. Operation Bounce House, by Matt Dinniman
9. Heart the Lover, by Lily King
10. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, by Kiran Desai

It's been out since mid-January, but Lost Lambs, a staff favorite, has its best week to date at Boswell. Madeline Cash's debut novel has lots of reviews too - BookMarks scores ten raves, five positives, and three mixed, including this from Sam Sacks in The Wall Street Journal: "It’s an engaging, slightly cartoonish story that shows off Ms. Cash’s talent for producing rapid-fire dialogue and amiably oddball characters. It helps that the author has clearly enjoyed herself." Looks like Picador is reissuing Cash's debut story collection, originally from Clash Books. That doesn't happen much anymore!

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Midwest Migrant, by Jonathan Mann Burkham (signed copies)
2. Chasing Lewis's Monkeyflower, by Elizabeth Adelman (Boswell March 13 event)
3. Spongebob Squarepants: The Art of the Undersea World, by Tracey Miller-Zarneke
4. A World Appears, by Michael Pollan
5. The Gales of November, by John U Bacon
6. We the Women, by Norah O'Donnell
7. The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson (UWM March 11 event)
8. Strangers, by Belle Burden
9. Young Man in a Hurry, by Gavin Newsom
10. The Bread of Angels, by Patti Smith

I don't think we would have even carried Spongebob Squarepants: The Art of the Undersea World had we not been asked to sell books for Tom Kenny, who hasn't written a book (to my knowlege) but has voiced Spongebob since its inception. We also didn't expect him to sign any books, but he was kind of hyped about seeing Tracey Miller-Zarneke's book for the first time - it only went on sale last week. So he offered his 'Best Fishes' to a few fans.

Paperback Fiction:
1. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
2. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
3. Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman
4. A Woman's Guide to True Crime, by Mary Thorson (Boswell March 20 event)
5. No Matter What, by Cara Bastone
6. Sunburn, by Chloe Michelle Howarth
7. My Friends, by Hisham Matar (Boswell-run book clubs)
8. I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman
9. The Long Walk, by Stephen King
10. Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid

Cara Bastone's No Matter What is being published as a romance, but as Ingrid noted in her rec, it should cross over into the general fiction market, and I think the jacket appears to be reinforcing that pitch. Library Journal's Elizabeth Gabriel (of MPL's East Library) offers: "A stunning book by Bastone, who delivers another slow-burn and emotional romance that doesn't shy away from also exploring life's hardest moments. Recommended for readers who also enjoy Abby Jimenez."

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Sticky Notes, by Matthew Eicheldinger
2. Improbable Mentors and Happy Tangents, by Michael Perry
3. Population 485, by Michael Perry
4. Montaigne in Barn Boots, by Michael Perry
5. The Beginning Comes After the End, by Rebecca Solnit
6. Making a Life, by Kate Ward (Boswell March 23 event)
7. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
8. Enough, by Barbara Bugess
9. This Is an Uprising, by Mark Engler and Paul Engler
10. When Women Ran Fifth Avenue, by Julie Satow

Jenny and McKenna sold books at an educator media and technology conference and one of the keynotes was Michael Perry. One of his more recent books is Improbable Mentors and Happy Tangents: How Firefighters and Poets, Truckers and Nurses, Soldiers and Singers, and Other Improbable Individuals Can Show You the Way in Business and Creativity. I like that this is Perry's speaking platform book. Now you can be more than entertained when you bring in Perry for your business conference!

Books for Kids:
1. Maya's Big Question, by Meena Harris, illustrated by Marissa Valdez
2. A Year Without Home, by VT Bidania
3. Mythspeaker, by Christopher Roubique
4. Holes in My Underwear, by Matthew Eicheldinger
5. Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes V1, by Matthew Eicheldinger
6. Extraordinary Eliana and the Magnificent Hmong New Year, by VT Bidania, illustrations by Suji Park
7. Peekaboo Love, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
8. Extraordinary Eliana and the Delightful Dance, by VT Bidania, illustrations by Suji Park
9. Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo
10. Spongebob Squarepants: Find a Missing Star, by David Lewman, illustrations by Francesco Francavilla

After a number of picture books and early readers, VT Bidania's first middle grade novel A Year Without Home, published in January. It was a hit at this week's conference. Jenny, a big fan, says it should be required reading at all elementary schools. From Publishers Weekly: "This edifying novel by Bidania, narrated in evocative verse by 11-year-old Gao Cheng, traces the year during which she and her extended family of 20 lived as refugees following the end of the Vietnam War...The protagonist's perceptive voice, at once gentle and firm, makes for a powerful story of personal growth as well as an affecting historical narrative."

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 28, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 28, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. Away to Me, by Patricia B McConnell (signed copies)
2. Hemlock, by Melissa Faliveno (signed copies)
3. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
4. Brawler, by Lauren Groff
5. Heart the Lover, by Lily King
6. Kin, by Tayari Jones
7. Vigil, by George Saunders
8. Half His Age, by Jennette McCurdy
9. Dog Show, by Billy Collins
10. The Astral Library, by Kate Quinn

There are several high-profile releases this week, with sales pops, notably Brawler and Kin. Brawler had nine raves and a positive, including this from Alexander Alter in The New York Times: "If they have a shared theme, it is how the bedrock of family crumbles, and its members are forced to shift into new formations, occasionally tectonic."

Kin has eight raves and a mixed on BookMarks. From Heller McAlpin in The Wall Street Journal: "With understated force, Ms. Jones captures the systemic racism of the Jim Crow era in the years when the civil-rights movement was gaining momentum. The novel also touches on many social issues that cross color and time lines, including dangerous illegal abortions, the stultifying daily routines of middle-class housewives, and widespread hostility toward homosexuality." I am fascinated that BookMarks no longer offers a link for Wall Street Journal reviews, even though there are lots of other sources, like the Los Angeles Times, that have solid paywalls. There's a story here!

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. The Postwar Antisemite, by Lisa Silverman
2. American Struggle, by Jon Meacham
3. Chasing Lewis's Monkeyflower, by Elizabeth Adelman (Boswell March 13 event)
4. A Marriage at Sea, by Sophie Elmhirst
5. Football, by Chuck Klosterman
6. A World Appears, by Michael Pollan
7. The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
8. Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism, by Stewart Reynolds
9. Milwaukee Flavor, from Visit Milwaukee, text by Ann Christensen
10. The Art of Gluten-Free Bread, by Aran Goyoaga

First week out for A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness and continuing this journey into BookMarks, he got six raves, three positives, a mixed, and a pan.Publshers Weekly said, "Readers Will Be Captivated," like a fortune telling machine. And from Charles Finch in The Atlantic: "Pollan’s real genius - the word is not too strong - remains intact ... Steals back for humanity some of the sensation of miraculousness that this era has largely outsourced to technology." Did this every happen to you? We have a print subscription to The Atlantic, but for the life of us, we can't get the digital long in to work. 

Paperback Fiction:
1. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
2. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
3. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
4. Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman
5. Sunburn, by Chloe Michelle Howarth
6. Service Model, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
7. Sirens, by Emilia Hart
8. The Long Game, by Rachel Reid
9. Strange Houses, by Uketsu
10. Slow Gods, by Claire North

How nice to have a hit from HarperVia. Uketsu's Strange Houses, the follow up to Strange Buildings, has been a Japanese phenomenon. From Booklist: ". What started out as a story based on pure speculation evolves into a generational tale involving murder, curses, revenge, and familial succession. Inclusion of the house-layout drawings as each plot twist is contemplated will draw readers into the increasingly complex horror-mystery." Strange Buildings arrives Tuesday, March 3.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Diselderly Conduct, by Judy Karofsky
2. Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
3. Thirty-Two Words for Field, by Manchán Magan
4. Black in Blues, by Imani Perry (ABHM April 6 ticketed event)
5. Tomboyland, by Melissa Faliveno
6. Native Nations, by Kathleen Duval
7. The Year's Best Sports Writing 2025, edited by Hanif Abdurraqib
8. The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson (UWM March 11 ticked event)
9. The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson
10. The Other End of the Leash, by Patricia McConnell

Chelsea Green appears to have its first hit (at least with us) since being acquired by Rizzoli Publications. Thirty-Two Words for Field: Lost Words of the Irish Landscape came out last week and is already out of stock at all the Ingram warehouses. That's happening more often as the wholesaler has to more carefully gauge library demand, or so I've heard. From Kirkus: "This book by author and broadcaster Magan (1970-2025) explores 'the enchantment, sublime beauty, and sheer oddness' of a three-millennia old, profoundly ecological, proto-Indo-European language (An Ghaeilge, or Gaelic) that honors the natural world and celebrates an age-old way of life."

Books for Kids:
1. Each and Every Spark, by Claire Swinarksi (Boswell May 5 event)
2. Take It from the Top, by Claire Swinarski
3. A Place for Pluto, by Stef Wade, illustrations by Melanie Demmer
4. Mythspeaker, by Christopher Roubique (signed copies)
5. Moving to Mars, by Stef Wade, illustrations by Erin Taylor
6. The Very Last Leaf, by Stef Wade, illustrated by Jennifer Davison
7. What Happened to Rachel Riley, by Claire Swinarksi
8. Dog Man: Big Jim Believes, by Dav Pilkey
9. Peekaboo Dinosaur, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
10. Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins

We just did school visits for Claire Swinarski for Each and Every Spark, her latest middle-grade novel. Publishers Weekly called the new book "stellar.":   More: "Educational, empathetic, and emotional prose expertly weaves together alternating story lines in a timely and resonant read that offers accessible insight into the impact of war and the importance of art and its ability to sustain people through dark times."

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 21, 2026

Boswell bestsellers, week ending February 21, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. Murder Your Darlings, by Jenna Blum (signed copies)
2. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
3. Every Exit Brings You Home, by Naeem Murr (signed copies)
4. Vigil, by George Saunders
5. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter, by Heather Fawcett
6. Flesh, by David Szalay
7. Operation Bounce House, by Matt Dinniman
8. My Friends, by Fredrik Backman
9. Heart the Lover, by Lily King
10. James, by Percival Everett

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter is a cozy fantasy from the author of the Emily Wilde series. From the starred Booklist: "Fawcett's follow-up...is completely different in tone but just as charming, featuring a competent heroine, a powerful but slightly clueless hero, richly drawn side characters (both human and feline), and a 1920s Montreal setting that feels timeless."

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Ladder or Lottery, by Gary A Hoover
2. Chasing Lewis's Monkeyflower, by Elizabeth Adelman (Boswell March 13 event)
3. Backlash Presidents, by Julia R Azari (signed copies)
4. The Postwar Antisemite, by Lisa Silverman (Boswell February 25 event)
5. The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin
6. Football, by Chuck Klosterman
7. The Separation of Church and Hate, by John Fogelsang
8. Making a Life, by Kate Ward (Boswell March 23 event)
9. American Struggle, by Jon Meacham
10. Bread of Angels, by Patti Smith

UWM alum Gary A Hoover returned to the Lubar Center for a talk on Ladder or Lottery: Economic Promises and the Reality of Who Gets Ahead. No reviews yet for this book from University of California Press - I'm not sure if the university presses consistently submit to the advance trades, as I don't generally check. His thesis is that the economy is more like the latter (lottery) than then former, and social unrest is often tied to the realization of this broken promise. The author is Professor of Economics and Law at Tulane.

Paperback Fiction:
1. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
2. Edge V4, by Tracy Clark (signed copies)
3. The Long Game V6, by Rachel Reid
4. Heated Rivalry V2, by Rachel Reid
5. I Who Have Never Known Men, by Jacqueline Harpman
6. Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell
7. Dungeon Crawler Carl V1, by Matt Dinniman
8. Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
9. Like Mother Like Mother, by Susan Rieger
10. The Lion Women of Tehran, by Marjan Kamali

I've read four books in the top ten, but if I really wanted to get a handle on things, I would be closer to seven or eight. I am particularly happy that Like Mother Like Mother is selling well off our new paperback table, but less so that we are #2 on Edelweiss, as I hoped it would break out in more stores. Otherwise not much new on this list besides the event pop for Tracy Clark and Edge. I changed my day off so I could enjoy her always delightful appearances.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. Angela Davis: An Autobiography, by Angela Y Davis
2. Women, Race, and Class, by Angela Y Davis
3. Freedom Is a Constant Struggle, by Angela Y Davis
4. Women, Culture, and Politics, by Angela Y Davis
5. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
6. I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy
7. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frédéric Gros
8. The Age of Magical Overthinking, by Amanda Montell

9. Cold Crematorium, by József Debreczeni 

10. The 388 Tattoos of Captain George and the 389 Tales of How He Got Them, by Amelia Klem Osterud

Alas, Angela Y Davis, who appeared at UWM last week, did not sign books, in case you're wondering. I think it's the first week in our top ten for the paperback of linguist/podcaster Amanda Montell's The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, which released in paperback in January. From Booklist: "Refreshingly entertaining and informative, Montell links research and social science with humorous and touching anecdotes. The book reviews some common cognitive biases and fallacies that may be magnified by online culture and rampantly spread."

Books for Kids:
1. The Snowy Day board book, by Ezra Jack Keats
2. Goodnight Moon board book, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations by Clement Hurd
3. Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins
4. Valiant Vel, by Jerrianne Hayslett, illustrated by Aaron Boyd
5. Don't Eat Eustace, by Lian Cho
6. It's Spring, by Renée Kurilla
7. Dog Man: Big Jim Believes, by Dav Pilkey
8. Grace Year, by Kim Liggett
9. The Runaway Bunny board book, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations by Clement Hurd
10. Waiting Is Not Easy: Elephant and Piggie, by Mo Willems

We're being a little hopeful here, but let's highlight It's Spring, the new picture book written and illustrated by Renée Kurilla. It's Fall is already published - expect the other seasons to follow. She clearly has a fondness for the season - a previous title was One Springy Day. From Booklist: "Following a diverse group of youngsters, this inviting book takes a look at changes in weather and the natural world and, of course, at the variety of celebrations that coincide with the season. The text has a wonderful cadence, making it a fantastic read-aloud, and Kurilla manages to mix in some uncommon vocabulary while still keeping the text engaging and accessible for young readers."

Boswell Bestsellers, week ending February 14, 2026

Boswell Bestsellers, week ending February 14, 2026

Hardcover Fiction:
1. The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans
2. Operation Bounce House, by Matt Dinniman
3. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, by Kiran Desai
4. Vigil, by George Saunders
5. Half His Age, by Jennette McCurdy
6. Heart the Lover, by Lily King
7. Dog Show, by Billy Collins
8. This Book Made Me Think of You, by Libby Page
9. Always Remember, by Charlie Mackesy
10. Tom's Crossing, by Mark Z Danielewski

Penguin Random House published nine of this week's top ten (not Heart the Lover), with all four trade divisions represented by at least one book. The Random House group dominates with four entries, and also has #11 with Buckeye. A new title from the Penguin group (three entries) is This Book Made Me Think of You, by Libby Page, the story of a widow who received a last gift from her late husband of a book a month from a local bookstore. From Library Journal: "Page's second novel (after Mornings with Rosemary) is a beautifully crafted tribute to books, booksellers, and the transformative power of reading." Shelf Awareness likes it too, but describes it as her sixth novel.

Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. Whole Leaders, Wild Trust, by Rob McKenna
2. The Navigator's Letter, by Jan Cress Dondi (signed copies)
3. Original Sins, by Eve L Ewing
4. The Gales of November, by John U Bacon
5. Ten Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, by Jean Twenge
6. Football, by Chuck Klosterman
7. Frog, by Anne Fadiman
8. Nobody's Girl, by Virginia Giuffre
9. 1929, by Andrew Ross Sorkin
10. The Look, by Michelle Obama

It feels harder to point to media hits as having an impact on book sales, but that Scott Simon interview with Anne Fadiman for Frog: And Other Essays on NPR's Weekend Edition directly generated orders. Fadiman notes: "The essayists I like best surprise me, and that's what I try to do in mine. I'm sure not always with success, but that's what I'm attempting." Three raves, all from publishing trade sources. But of course, we'll no longer be getting Washington Post reviews.

Paperback fiction:
1. Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi
2. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
3. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
4. Sunburn, by Chloe Michelle Howarth
5. Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid
6. Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell
7. Game Changer, by Rachel Reid
8. The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop, by Takuya Asakura
9. Outlaw Planet, by MR Casey
10. The Case of the Missing Maid, by Rob Osler (Boswell April 8 event)

The trick about deciding which editions of a classic combine for a bestseller list is a tough one, and Wuthering Heights is a prime example. Same text, different jacket - that counts. Hardcover binding? No, that's a separate list. Graphic edition? No, that's a different book. And in the kids section? I'm guessing that's edited. In the end, I combined the regular and movie tie-in jacket, and the rest must fend for yourself. If you don't like that solution, make your own bestseller list! The Hollywood Reporter is seeing it opening below expectations, alas.

Paperback Nonfiction:
1. The 388 Tattoos of Captain George, by Amelia Klem Osterud (more coming soon)
2. Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. Femina, byJanina Ramirez
4. Turning to Stone, by Marcia Bjornerud
5. On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
6. P Fkn R, by Vanesa Díaz and Petra R Rivera-Rideau
7. Your Brain on Ar, by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
8. I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy
9. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frédéric Gros
10. Meditations for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman

Several new pops of the new paperback table, with the best one-week sale coming from Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It, from BBC historian Janina Ramirez, a repint from 2023. BookMarks shows three positives, from the Times (UK), the Times Literary Supplement, and the Guardian, but I also found a good review from The London School of Economics. And there's a Publishers Weekly and Kirkus too, which BookMarks sometimes includes and sometimes does not. From PW: "Throughout, Ramirez's adept scene-setting segues gracefully into deeper considerations of these women's lives and work. This feminist history fascinates"

Books for Kids:
1. Fireworks, by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Cátia Chien
2. I'm Gonna Paint, by Ann Broyles, illustrations by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
3. Isle of Ever, by Jen Calonita (North Shore Library March 12 event)
4. The Very Last Leaf, by Stef Wade, illustrations by Jennifer Davison
5. Peekaboo Dog, by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Ingela Arrhenius
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper, by Jeff Kinney
7. Peekaboo Moon, by Camiulla Reid illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius
8. A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van, by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrations by Brandon James Scott
9. Same but Different Too, by Karl Newsom
10. Little Head Little Nose board book, by Yuli Yav, illustrations by Antonia Woodward

Selling off our new picture book display is A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van, by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Brandon James Scott. From Kirkus: "What happens when a bear hijacks a van filled with pastries? The tale's minimal text, made up of single words and extremely short phrases, nevertheless reveals an exciting, humorous storyline - a rare feat... Cleverly rendered rhymes and repetition encourage pre-readers to memorize the words and beginning readers to shine, while the art will tickle their funny bones. Short and utterly sweet."