New paperbacks arrive in time for outdoor reading season

Paperback Picks

There’s no guarantee that Seattle’s weather will always be pleasant in May. In fact, atmospheric conditions can get downright feral this month, with chilly cold fronts whipping through and the occasional moody downpour ruining your afternoon.

But when it comes to the pleasures of outdoor reading, fortune favors the bold. There are guaranteed to be a few beautiful sunny days perfect for basking with a novel over the next few weeks. And while you might not want to risk that library book or big, expensive new hardcover to a sudden deluge, these portable, affordable new paperbacks are practically manufactured with roughing it in mind.

“All Fours” by Miranda July (Riverhead Books, $19). On its release last year, indie filmmaker Miranda July’s sophomore novel was praised by everyone from The New York Times to NPR to Oprah Daily. “All Fours” centers on an artist in her mid-40s who abandons an ostentatious project to instead secretly hole up in a motel and question all her life choices.

“Prequel” by Rachel Maddow (Crown, $20). The MSNBC news host’s nonfiction account of a secret American fascist conspiracy that tried to force the United States into an alliance with Nazi Germany has struck a nerve with modern readers who note similarities to today’s political climate. Kirkus raved about “Prequel” on its release, announcing that “America beat fascism once, (and) Maddow’s timely study of enemies on the homefront urges that we can do so again.”

“The Tenant” by Freida McFadden (Poisoned Pen Press, $17.99). This twisty thriller from the author of the bestselling “The Housemaid” begins when a down-on-his-luck former executive decides to rent out a room in his fancy brownstone to make ends meet. Naturally, when the seemingly perfect tenant moves in, things begin to go wrong.

“Monk and Robot” by Becky Chambers (Tordotcom, $18.99). Chambers’ two Monk and Robot novellas, “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” and “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” are quiet little miracles of science fiction. They’re centered on a monk who operates a traveling tea cart and his companion, a robot who wants to learn about humanity. The pair have meandering conversations about desire, purpose and belief. This edition collects both hardcover novellas under one paperback cover for the first time.

“Raw Dog” by Jamie Loftus (Forge Books, $19.99). Comedian and podcaster Loftus has always been fascinated (and disgusted) by hot dogs. From the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island to a driving tour of some of America’s finest hot dog stands, “Raw Dog” is Loftus’ account of learning everything there is to know about hot dogs — including how the literal sausage is made.

“Rewind” by T Williams with David Lawrence Grant (Minnesota Historical Society Press, $29.99). For 50 years, T Williams has fought for civil rights as an activist and community advocate. “Rewind” tells his story of growing up in Mississippi and Minneapolis, becoming a prison reform advocate in the wake of the Attica prisoners rebellion, fighting poverty and racism as a community organizer, and reflecting on the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd.

“Long Island Compromise” by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $19). “Fleishman Is in Trouble,” Brodesser-Akner’s debut novel, was an almost impossible act to follow — a hilarious, bestselling comic tour de force that was exhilaratingly well-written and critically acclaimed. With her sophomore novel, “Long Island Compromise,” Brodesser-Akner somehow managed to surpass the sky-high expectations established by her debut. It’s about a suburban family that’s forced to come to terms with a bizarre incident that happened four decades ago.

“The Wolves of K Street” by Brody Mullins and Luke Mullins (Simon & Schuster, $22.99). Subtitled “The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government,” this bracing account of corporate influence over Washington, D.C., spans half a century’s worth of history. The secrets of corruption that are unveiled in this book should infuriate Americans on both sides of the political aisle.

“Rebel with a Clause” by Ellen Jovin (Mariner Books, $19.99). One day, Jovin set up a table on a New York City sidewalk and announced to passersby that she would answer any nagging grammar questions they may have. The table was a big hit, and Jovin became a self-described “roving grammarian,” dispensing wisdom about Oxford commas and semicolons to anyone who would listen.

“Society of Lies” by Lauren Ling Brown (Constable, $18). Set during a Princeton class reunion and written by a Princeton graduate, this thriller has it all — secret societies, class envy, long-buried secrets and murder.

“Swift River” by Essie Chambers (Simon & Schuster, $17.99). Set in a decaying New England mill town, Chambers’ debut novel focuses on the one Black girl in an all-white community who finds fellowship in the form of a letter that unlocks generations of secrets.