New Books Network

Booksellers’ Best 2024

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Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 7 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore’s new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is the owner and co-founder of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, where she also currently serves as the Events & Marketing Manager (because she loves hosting parties). She has worked in independent bookstores in New York City since 2000, has served on the board of NAIBA and various other book industry boards and committees, and is currently on the board of the American Booksellers Association (along with lovely colleagues Lisa and Jake). She lives with her husband and daughter (both avid readers, thankfully) in Brooklyn.

Lisa's Favorites: 

  • James - Percival Everett
  • The Sapling Cage - Margaret Killjoy
  • Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher (YA)
  • Swift River - Essie Chambers
  • American Daughters - Maurice Carlos Ruffin
  • God of the Woods - Liz Moore
  • Where They Last Saw Her - Marcie Rendon
  • Anita de Monte Laughs Last - Xochitil Gonzalez
  • Blue Light Hours - Bruna Dantas Lobato
  • Catalina - Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
  • The Pairing - Casey Mcquiston
  • Shred Sisters - Betsy Lerner
  • A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy - Nathan Thrall


    • Jessica's favorites:

    • The Book of Love by Kelly Link — Best Literary Novel Featuring Complex Magic Systems, Diverse Love Stories, Unexpected Beauty, and Karaoke
    • Hum by Helen Phillips — Best Near-Future Dystopia that is Also About Parenting
    • Help Wanted to Adelle Waldman — Best Novel About Capitalism
    • The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger — Best Science Writing / Best Book About Plant Intelligence and Scientist Drama
    • The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman — Best Doorstop Literary/Historical Fantasy (With Philosophical Caveats)
    • In Universes by Emet North — Best Queer Multiverse Novel
    • Playground by Richard Powers — Best Nature Writing as Fiction
    • Far Sector by N. K. Jemisin — Best Socially Aware Superhero Graphic Novel
    • Orbital by Samantha Harvey — Best Sentences About Earth
    • non-frontlist / rereads:
    • Space Crone by Ursula LeGuin — Best Essays by Best Essayist
    • The Privilege of a Happy Ending by Kij Johnson — Best Quest Narrative
    • Berlin: City of Stones, City of Smoke, City of Light — Best Epic of Quotidian Life Before the Abyss

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