Maddy Shear

Percival Everett’s new novel “James” was short-listed for the 2024 Booker prize. It is a re-envisioning of Mark Twain’s classic, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” In Everett’s novel it is Jim, the enslaved runaway who finally gets the chance to tell this story — his story.

A great choice anytime, Claire Lombardo’s “Same As It Ever Was,” is a beautifully written novel perfect for an end of summer page-turner. This family drama challenges us to think about the relationships we choose to invest in and when we may need to them go.