Wellesley Books Newsletter | May 12th, 2022
Our apologies! Due to technical difficulties, our earlier edition of today's newsletter was sent to you unfinished. Below is the complete version of this week's newsletter.

Spring has sprung at Wellesley Books, and our new books tables are overflowing with more great titles than we've seen in quite a while - see below for just a sampling, and stop in to see all that's new. We also have displays up in the store with wonderful gift ideas for the graduates among us (and don't forget cards!), as well as all things spring.

Our banner picture this week features the latest beautiful delivery from our friends at Many Graces Flower Farm. We are thrilled to be a local pickup site for their seasonal flower subscriptions. To add your own subscription, just visit their website, and make sure to select Wellesley Books as your pickup location.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 14th at 11:00 AM (in-person)
Kids and parents, join us for Ben & Jerry's ice cream and learn about a wonderful new picture book! Lisa Robinson, author of Pippa's Night Parade, presents The Sweetest Scoop, a biography for kids about Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield and their rocky road to success.

Lisa will be in conversation with Jacqueline Davies, author of The Lemonade War series.
Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00 PM (in-person)
B.A. Shapiro, author of The Art Forger and The Collector's Apprentice, joins us to discuss Metropolis, her new psychological suspense novel. Shapiro's latest follows a compelling cast of characters whose lives intersect when a harrowing accident occurs at the Metropolis Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, MA.

Barbara will be in conversation with Maryanne O’Hara, author of Little Matches.
Bookseller Recommendations
Gillian recommends:
Anna by Amy Odell
Hang on to your designer hat for an illuminating foray into the worlds of high fashion and glossy magazines. Amy Odell takes us along on Anna Wintour’s extraordinary journey, from her earliest days growing up in London with a journalist father and activist mother to her unshakeable status as an icon of the fashion world. As a talented, determined young woman storming into a man’s world with a take-no-prisoners attitude, Anna’s story is alternatively inspiring, alarming, sympathetic and horrifying. Throughout, it’s a fascinating romp through the halls of Vogue, Conde Nast and the Met on the arms of a larger-than-life cast of characters. Love her or hate her? Read Anna and decide for yourself!
Ashleigh recommends:
A Thousand Ways to Pay Attention by Rebecca Schiller
This unflinching and visceral portrayal of life before, during, and after a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis is a poignant journey to understand and appreciate the brains and experiences we have. Woven into the neurodiverse experience is the story of returning to the land, of smallholding with flora and fauna, and of connecting to our truest selves, in spite of what we are taught we should be or do or want. It is brutal and beautiful; expansive and focused; historical and time-luminous.
Lucy recommends:
Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman
Sharp, insightful, and provocative, this debut isn’t afraid to ask big, risky questions about sex, power, morality, and what it means when what we want doesn’t line up with what we think we should want. Messy, complicated characters entangled in an unconventional sexual relationship are brought to life through Fishman’s incisive prose, and although you might not like them, you won’t be able to look away. People will be talking about this one. Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh!
New In Hardcover
Chris Bohjalian
Monica Ali
Hernan Diaz
Shelby Van Pelt
Kirsten Miller
Ali Smith
Holly Black
Steve Toltz
Nghi Vo
Jokha Alharthi
Kelly Barnhill
Jennifer Saint
Jennifer Weiner
Elizabeth Day
Ann Hood
Minnie Driver
Sy Montgomery
Jonathan Martin & Alexander Burns
Rick Reilly
New In Paperback
Jean Hanff Korelitz
Nathan Harris
Ash Davidson
Peter Heller
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Sarah Ferguson
Emily Henry
Charlotte McConaghy
Walter Isaacson
Ashley C. Ford
Patrick K. O'Donnell
Daniel James Brown
David Coggins
Bookseller Recommendations for Young Readers
Lucy and Ashleigh recommend:
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Ashleigh says: What an absolute blast! No one writes snark, banter, tension, and escapades like Casey McQuiston. A total homage to '00s teen movies (if they were super queer and fabulous) and I loved every freaking moment. A bit Saved, a bit Mean Girls, and a bit 10 Things I Hate About You, and totally Casey.

Lucy says: Vibrant, twisty, and entertaining as hell, I Kissed Shara Wheeler is the ensemble rom com/mystery you didn’t know you needed! McQuiston’s gifts for writing compulsively readable prose, lovable queer found families, and simmering romantic tension are all on display in this YA debut from the beloved romance author. With a mystery reminiscent of Paper Towns or a less dark Pretty Little Liars, and a romance that feels a little like if Killing Eve was about rivals for high school valedictorian, I Kissed Shara Wheeler introduces a cast of irresistibly flawed teens trying to find their way amidst the various pressures of a strict Evangelical school and an insular small town. As delightfully queer and irrepressibly hopeful as we have come to expect from Casey McQuiston!
Colleen L. recommends:
Camp Famous by Jennifer Blecher
A great read to launch into summer, and a great send-off to summer camp! Themes of belonging and friendship encircle this poignant story of "regular kid Abby Jane Herman" and her first sleepaway camp experience. Wanting desperately to fit in and find a friend, she tells a little white lie. Only her notebook knows the truth, until...
Middle-Grade Monthly: A Subscription Club
Middle-Grade Monthly is our subscription service for kids ages 8-12! Each month our children's book buyer Lauren and school liaison Cassie select a newly-released chapter book. Get your hands on the newest and soon-to-be coveted books of the year. We offer monthly and yearly subscriptions, and you can pick up your book at the store or have it mailed to you. Click on the link below for FAQs about the program.

The May 2022 pick is Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao. To find out more about our subscription service, click here.
Picture Book Subscription Club: A Perfect Gift!
A Child's Library is our subscription service for children ages 0-5! Lauren and Cassie select one newly-released picture book each month to be sent or picked-up from the store. The goal of A Child's Library is to help foster a love for books within the child's home. It makes a great baby shower gift!

The May 2022 pick is Mr. Darcy by Alex Field & Peter Carnavas. To find out more about our subscription service, click here.
New Books for Kids
Ali Standish
Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris
David Levithan
Lev Grossman
Lauren Wolk
Dhonielle Clayton
New Books For Teens
Daniel José Older
E. Lockhart
Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson
Michael Eric Dyson & Marc Favreau
Elizabeth Acevedo & Andrea Pippins
Vincent Tirado
In the Gift Department
Don't forget a little something for yourself while shopping! These wonderful necklaces and bracelets are the perfect accent to your look.
What We're Reading Now...
Sally



Tracy A.
Eliza
Dog of the Week
Sadie
Sadie is a two-and-a-half year-old Double Doodle (that's a Goldendoodle crossed with a Labradoodle) with remarkably human and expressive eyes. Her family brought her home when she was a year old. She had lived with two other families previously, neither of which worked out for her. With some patience and understanding, she reached her full potential and revealed herself to be a great dog. She's smart, a would-be squirrel huntress, an epic cuddler and a tennis ball enthusiast. May we all find as much love and acceptance!
Thank you for supporting your community independent bookstore!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Stimpson
82 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
781-431-1160