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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