This month, we’re celebrating the unique voices and stories that thrive in the independent and small publishing world. Smaller presses take risks on innovative ideas and diverse authors, giving rise to gems you might not find elsewhere. From newly released to upcoming titles, fill your TBR with these books from independent presses who are celebrating unique perspectives and extraordinary stories!
Fog & Car by Eugene Lim (Coffee House Press)
In the wake of his divorce, Jim Fog is left feeling hopeless and nostalgic while his ex is apparently moving on without a single look back. When they both seek out a mutual friend, a reality-bending occurrence results in the trading of souls, foisting them into a strange and unexpected world. Traversing themes of grief, loneliness and the human experience, this book unfolds in magical and revealing ways.
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Human Sacrifices by María Fernanda Ampuero (The Feminist Press)
In this biting and electric twelve-story collection, Ampuero explores the nature of marginalization, exploitation and violence. Examining the nature of elite comfort at the expense of those they deem weak and vulnerable. From a story about a woman who answers a job posting only to be held hostage to a crew of outsiders obsessing over the drowning of surfers, this short story collection is an examination of society that can’t be missed.
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Tender Headed by Olatunde Osinaike (Akashic Books)
This poetry collection is a musical meditation on Black masculinity. Citing established poets and breathing fresh life into modern topics, this Nigerian American poet explores relationships, identity and Black life in America.
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I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel (Graywolf Press)
A storyteller dives into their tumultuous relationship, revealing deep insights into human connections. With raw honesty, they dissect behaviors, including their own, drawing parallels to broader societal power dynamics. Through their journey, they critique access, social media, and patriarchal norms, questioning our obsession with status. It’s a gripping exploration of love, power, and societal pressures, urging us to reconsider how we relate to one another and navigate our complex world.
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Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta (Quill Tree Books)
East Oakland’s chaos has Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro yearning for the ordinary: love, a boyfriend, or simply losing her virginity. But nothing’s typical here. Struggling with unshakable depression, Belén navigates life with Leti, an expectant mother, and an older companion. Yet, harsh truths emerge surrounding Leti’s pregnancy, family rifts, and academic peril. Amid racial tensions and personal turmoil, Belén ponders the future for girls like her in this tumultuous world.
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How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica (Tin House Books)
When Daniel leaves for an East Coast university, he is forced to grapple with belonging, but Sam helps him find balance in his new life. As friendship turns into something more resembling love, Daniel and Sam’s relationship is rocked and Daniel returns to his ancestral home in Mexico. Here he grapples with his past, love and redemption.
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Straw Dogs of the Universe by Ye Chun (Catapult)
At ten, Sixiang is sold to a human trafficker, leaving her famine-stricken Chinese village behind. When she arrives in America with only a photo of her absent father, she sets out to find him. Guifeng is working in California on the railroad system amidst anti-Chinese movements and violence as he struggles to establish any kind of life in this country. This sweeping family saga that spans continents is the early story of America, immigration and family.
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The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe (Dzanc Books)
After her sister and father die, 17-year-old Nani feels alone. Misunderstood by her family, she marries a controlling preacher. Years of hardship follow, but she finds the strength to escape and rebuild her life, facing the tough choice of leaving her children behind.
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The Fair Folk by Su Bristow (Europa Editions)
Combining a coming-of-age tale with a fairy folklore, this book explores the danger of making pacts with magical creatures. In 1959, eight-year-old Felicity makes a bargain with Elfrida. As she becomes an adult and attends university, Felicity must content with the ever-presence of her magical companions as they cause chaos in her life.
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Personal Score by Ellen Van Neerven (Two Dollar Radio)
Personal Score is a collection of essays reflecting not only on sport, but the relationship of this endeavor to identity, Indigenous rights, trans inclusion and race. Weaving between tales from the World Cup to quiet games of soccer in their backyard, Ellen Van Neerven combines the personal with the professional in an examination that reaches far beyond the game.
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Dancing on the Edge by Russ Tamblyn (Blackstone Publishing)
Russ Tamblyn has been a Hollywood icon for over eighty years. From his electrifying performance in the original West Side Story to teaching Elvis Presley dance moves, Russ’s life is a whirlwind of fame and friendship. In his new memoir, he navigates Hollywood highs, artistic pursuits in Topanga Canyon, and heartfelt connections with icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Neil Young.
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