Thao Thai is a writer based out of Ohio, where she lives with her husband and daughter. Her work is published or forthcoming in the Los Angeles Review of Books, WIRED, Real Simple, Catapult, The Sunday Long Read, Cup of Jo, and other publications. Her debut novel, Banyan Moon, is coming in June of 2023 from Mariner.
A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing (2026) Alice Evelyn Yang "Epic in scope, written with dauntless power and grace, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing offers an unflinching look at the legacies that continue to haunt one family through a century of reckoning. Alice Evelyn Yang's richly threaded novel sings with artful prose and unforgettable storytelling, reminding us of the promise of redemption, even amid the dark consequences of violence. This is a book that will stir you to your core."
The Family Recipe (2025) Carolyn Huynh "Carolyn Huynh offers another deft example of irresistible wit and fast-paced storytelling in her latest novel, The Family Recipe, a whip-smart homage to (and critique of) that most fraught of ideologies - the American dream. This deliciously daring take on a marriage plot novel combines ambitious scope with a host of characters whose desires and struggles root deep into readers' hearts. Huynh has established herself as an inimitable voice of the Vietnamese American diaspora, one whose novels never disappoint."
Red Dog Farm (2025) Nathaniel Ian Miller "Nathaniel Ian Miller delivers another reverent, deeply moving study of character and place in Red Dog Farm, a novel wrought with staggering truth and grace. Painted in assured prose, vivid in tenderness and humor, each movement of the story feels like a gift of humanity. You'll emerge from the folds of this remote Icelandic farm as if transported from a sacred place where love has been hard-won, purchased with sweat and honor and enormous stores of emotional truth. Red Dog Farm is a book that will change you."
Strange Folk (2024) Alli Dyer "Lush and arresting, Strange Folk transports readers into a transcendent world of Appalachian magic, where secrets and desire continue to shape each generation. With warm-hearted insight, sharp detail, and richly rendered characters, Alli Dyer's stirring debut captures the radiance of a community where the old traditions stubbornly refuse to die. A captivating novel for those who feel deeply the connection to land and legacy."
They Dream in Gold (2024) Mai Sennaar "A symphonic feat of wisdom and breathtaking verve, They Dream in Gold is a revelation of a novel that readers won't soon forget. Spanning continents and decades of sociopolitical changes, this wholly original, whirlwind story deftly illuminates the tensions of art and humanity with fresh language and vivid characters. Mai Sennaar is a rare, daring talent who wrings emotion and beauty from each page, each word, and leaves you thirsting for more still."
The Lost Story (2024) Meg Shaffer "This wildly imaginative book speaks to every reader who yearns for a more magical world."
You're Safe Here (2024) Leslie Stephens "Part psychological thriller and part wry social commentary, You're Safe Here is a fresh and timely debut that deftly explores the potential - and betrayals - of a world bursting with unbound technological innovation. The complicated, yearning women in the novel navigate a treacherous landscape, all while coming to terms with their own ambitions and desires, ultimately forcing readers to ask themselves: What does safety mean to me? How far would I go to achieve it? With deliciously paced storytelling sprinkled with secrets galore, Leslie Stephens's debut promises to guide you through uncertain waters with grace and authority."
The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson (2024) Ellen Baker "Part genetic mystery and part adventure story, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson takes readers on a riveting ride through America, spanning nearly a century of history, heartbreak, and - most importantly - hope. At the center of the novel is one impossible love story, whose reverberations echo through the generations in surprising ways. With rich, original settings, determined characters, and countless twists and turns, Ellen Baker has written a deeply felt novel about families, both lost and found."
