Olivia Tolich’s debut romcom Side Character Energy is the perfect summer read to get lost in. Prepare to fall in love with Gertrude on her quest to become the main character in her own life. John Morrissey, award-winning author of the short story collection Firelight, returns with his debut novel Bird Deity. It’s a cosmic horror that subtly addresses colonialism, taking the reader on a journey into a world both disconcerting and eerily familiar. For middle-grade readers, My Brother Otto by Ingrid Laguna is the perfect exploration of how to deal with sadness and to truly let go.