Alan Opts Out
Courtney Maum
An ad guy tanks the biggest pitch of his life and decides to just... opt out of capitalism entirely, from his suburban Connecticut backyard. Funny and sharp about ambition and privilege.
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★ 5Heart the Lover
Lily King
A college love triangle from the '80s reignites decades later when crisis pulls the three back together. Turns out it's Casey from Writers & Lovers all grown up, and King just keeps getting better.
★ 5The Heart of Winter
Jonathan Evison
Ruth and Abe, nearly 70 years married, opposites who somehow made it work. A tender ode to the long haul and all the small forgivenesses it takes.
★ 5The Other Bennet Sister
Janice Hadlow
Plain, overlooked Mary Bennet finally gets her own story, and it's lovely. If you're an Austen fan, this one's for you.
★ 5Beautyland
Marie-Helene Bertino
A girl who's pretty sure she's an alien faxes her observations about Earth back home. Weird, funny, and it completely won me over.
★ 5At Weddings and Wakes
Alice McDermott
An Irish-Catholic family in New York, seen through the kids being shuttled to their grandmother's apartment. McDermott makes the ordinary ache.