Kepler's Summer Catalog 2025 : simplebooklet.com

Few authors create such splendidly oddballfamily dramas as Kevin Wilson—his novelsalways offer weirdly wonderful plots, zippydialogue, and quirky, memorable characters.This time, we embark on a cross-country roadtrip with Mad Hill, a shy chicken farmer, andher brother Reuben, a mystery author, ontheir search for their long-lost father. Shipwrecks, sea-witches, and sunken treasure arethe main ingredients of this spellbinding, mysticalmystery set off the Amalfi coast. Haven Ambrose, anautical archeologist, journeys to the cliffside townof Positano to explore shipwrecks and search for atrove of hidden gemstones once spotted by her latefather on a dive; when her arrival is marked bystrange occurrences, however, she begins towonder if sinister forces might be at work. A moving, perceptive, and frequently hilariouscelebration of family in all its messy,complicated glory—the hardcover made a lotof best-of book lists last year, and for goodreason. Rocky’s yearly escape to a Cape Codbeach rental with her family promises to beas fulfilling as always…until an unexpectedturn of events forces her to address thesecrets she has kept from them. Sexy, cinematic, and electrifying, Farr’sdebut charts the ascent of Séverine, thebeautiful seventeen-year-old daughter ofa prominent politician, as she charms herway into eventually becoming the publicface of the Corsican revolutionary groupwho kidnapped her. A wild, dazzling read. Historical fiction readers, you’ll love this! Twosisters living on Martha’s Vineyard form a bookclub for women, in hopes of bringing comfortand strengthening their community amidst theturmoil of World War II. The author deliversplenty of intrigue, heartbreak, andswoonworthy romance along the way, makingthis an absorbing beach read. Truly original and so uplifting! This tale of awidow’s unlikely—but immensely fulfilling—friendship with an octopus is a gorgeousmeditation on hope and finding community.Van Pelt’s storytelling sings with sensitivity,sharp wit, and vivid characterizations…especially that of Marcellus, the endearinglyornery giant Pacific octopus whom Tovabefriends at her local aquarium. THE MARTHA’S VINEYARDBEACH AND BOOK CLUBMartha Hall Kelly(Ballantine Books, $30) TRACK 1REMARKABLY BRIGHTCREATURESShelby Van Pelt(Ecco Press, $19.99)TRACK 2TRACK 3RUN FOR THE HILLSKevin Wilson(Ecco Press, $28.99)TRACK 4SANDWICHCatherine Newman(Harper Perennial, $18.99)TRACK 5THE AMALFI CURSESarah Penner(Park Row, $30)TRACK 61010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COMTHE BOMBSHELLDarrow Farr(Pamela Dorman Books, $30)

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Prepare yourself for enchantment—Stevenson’ssparkling fairytale romance romp will sweep youaway to a wondrous world of impish magic spellsand swashbuckling adventures. Princess Bianca’sand Prince Aric’s royal wedding is off to a rockystart—firstly, it’s an arranged marriage, but thenthings get messier when the prince is hit with acurse which turns him into a horse. Together, theymust work together to reverse the curse. Yes, this is a pretty big deal: the latest fromthe much-loved Reid is an epic tale of femaleastronauts during NASA’s space shuttleprogram in the 1980s. It’s a thrilling,uplifting, and occasionally heartbreakingodyssey, exploring the life-changing power oflove and the unique challenges faced bywomen in pursuit of their dreams.This quick, gripping little novel was bestowedwith endless praise in India upon publication,and we can see why— Shanbhag has crafted achilling family drama, touching upon themes ofpatriarchy, class, and self-deception. Aided byPerur’s meticulous translation, this is a rich,insightful dissection of modern-day India anda darkly humorous masterclass in storytelling. Just exquisite! Sybil is a septuagenarianyou won’t easily forget—so vivid and realand occasionally prickly (but endearinglyso). As she recounts the struggles and thetriumphs of her 73 years, over the courseof a series of letters, she accepts that shemust come to terms with a troubled part ofher past in order to find inner peace. 1980s-era San Francisco comes alive in thisintoxicating coming-of-age story about a youngfashionista learning the ropes at the city’shippest department store. Zippy is a sweet,charming kid with impeccable style and a lot ofdrive, and her path to self-discovery ispeppered with marvelously eccentric charactersand more than a bit of drama. Oh, and thenostalgia vibes are real with this one!A brooding, atmospheric tale of obsessionand secrets, impeccably plotted andsimmering with tension and sensuality,topped off by a plot twist that packs a mightywallop. It’s a fascinating examination of howthings that are hidden from us as childrensometimes have a way of finding their way tothe surface, like it or not. SHOPGIRLSJessica Anya Blau(Mariner Books, $30)THE SAFEKEEPYael van der Wouden(Avid Reader Press, $18.99)TRACK 9THE CORRESPONDENTVirginia Evans(Crown Publishing Group, $28)BEHOOVEDM. Stevenson(Bramble, $19.99)TRACK 10SAKINA’S KISSVivek ShanbhagSrinath Perur(McNally Editions, $19)ATMOSPHERE: ALOVE STORYTaylor Jenkins Reid(Ballantine Books, $30)TRACK 121010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COMTRACK 7 TRACK 8TRACK 11

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An absolutely riveting family crime dramaepic that screams for a big-screen adaptation!When financial-whiz Roman Carruthersreturns home to resurrect the familybusiness after his father experiences a near-fatal accident, he quickly finds himself doingbusiness with ruthless gangsters to makesome quick, easy money…but at what cost?An engrossing, unsettling, and darkly satiricsupernatural thriller, skewering internet fameand the more obsessive aspects of socialmedia. When Julie, a supermarket cashier,assumes the identity of her recently passedtwin sister—a popular influencer with millionsof followers—she gradually learns of a sinisterplot that may have been responsible for herdeath. A gripping, lightning-paced read.No one crafts brainy, heart-racing romanticescapism quite like Ali Hazelwood, and herlatest finds her at the top of her game. Here,she plays with the age-gap romance trope in asteamy tale of a young grad student and anolder, successful biotech professional divinginto a summer fling at an Italian villa during adestination wedding getaway. When Alice was seventeen, she spent a life-changing summer with her belovedgrandmother at a lake cottage where everythingwas perfect; now, years later, she hopes torekindle that magic once again with Nan at thesame place. She quickly discovers that herteenage crush Charlie has also returned to thelake, however—is her summer about to becomemuch more complicated?True rom-com excellence—Guillory’s newestis a snappy, sparks-flying queer romance,pulsing with quick banter and a smolderingwill-they-or-won’t-they tension. It’s a smart,playful addition to the opposites-attractgenre, and a fabulous testimonial to thepower of female friendships.Get ready for a scrumptious beach read—thiship, heartwarming comedy of manners set in thefoodie scene is quite the treat. Isabella lives andbreathes the gourmet lifestyle in her tiny littleapartment, but struggles to parlay it into acareer…until she lands a dream job as theghostwriter for the cookbook of a famouslyunpredictable celebrity. Wacky, tantalizing, andchaotic in the best possible way!FLIRTING LESSONSJasmine Guillory(Berkley Books, $19)FOOD PERSONAdam Roberts(Knopf Publishing Group, $28)ONE GOLDEN SUMMERCarley Fortune(Berkley Books, $19)KING OF ASHESS. A. Cosby(Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar, $28.99)PROBLEMATIC SUMMERROMANCEAli Hazelwood(Berkley Books, $20)JULIE CHAN IS DEADLiann Zhang(Atria Books, $28.99)TRACK 181010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COMTRACK 13 TRACK 14TRACK 15TRACK 16TRACK 17

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THE BOOK OF ALCHEMY: ACREATIVE PRACTICE FOR ANINSPIRED LIFESuleika Jaouad (Random House, $30)Narrative nonfiction that will leave youbreathless—Young’s sweeping history of FrenchResistance spy Rose Valland’s pivotal role insaving countless works of art from the Nazis isnothing short of spectacular. This portrait of alargely unknown hero reads like a work ofespionage fiction, which makes her life all themore remarkable. The author of the bestselling memoir (and Kepler’sfavorite) Between Two Kingdoms returns with acompelling ode to the power of journaling and thevital role it can play in persevering throughchallenging times. Offering sage advice—andthoughtful contributions from Ann Patchett, Pico Iyer,John Green, and many others—this meditation onlife’s big questions will motivate you to embark onyour own creative journey. Beauty, violence, madness, tragedy on the highseas—it’s all here, in Sides’s extraordinaryaccount of Captain Cook’s doomed last voyage.Not only is it a modern masterpiece of nauticalhistory during the Age of Exploration, but it’salso an insightful study on Western hubris andthe cold cruelty of colonialism. An engaging, profoundly heartfelt memoirthat genuinely captures the generous beatingheart at the core of animal rescue, Gustafson’schronicle of caring for the feral cat populationaround her Tucson home is sublimely writtenand offers much inspiration during tryingtimes. Anyone who cares about animalwelfare will find comfort and joy in this lovelytribute to our furry friends. We’re totally, hopelessly, unapologeticallysmitten—look at that cover! What’s not tolove? Give your grey matter a good workoutwith this madcap collection of cat-themedbrainteasers and logic puzzles. A perfectdiversion for the pool or the beach!.POETS SQUARE: AMEMOIR OF THIRTY CATSCourtney Gustafson(Crown Publishing Group, $28)MEOWDLE: 75 FELINE CRIMEMYSTERY PUZZLES TO SOLVEUSING LOGIC, SKILL & THEPOWER OF CATNIPDr. Gareth Moore, Laura JayneAyres(Greenfinch, $17.99)THE WIDE WIDE SEA: IMPERIALAMBITION, FIRST CONTACT ANDTHE FATEFUL FINAL VOYAGEOF CAPTAIN JAMES COOKHampton SidesHampton Sides (Vintage, $19) THE ART SPY: THEEXTRAORDINARY UNTOLDTALE OF WWII RESISTANCEHERO ROSE VALLANDMichelle Young(HarperOne, $29.99)1010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COMTRACK 1 TRACK 2TRACK 3TRACK 4TRACK 5

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A true feast for the eyes, loaded withhumor and playful storytelling—thismarvelous picture book about a mousewho brings her housecleaning talents tofairytale homes in need of some TLC issuch a treat. Be sure to look closely—Gorelik has packed these pages with allsorts of hidden details! CHARLEY MOUSECLEANS HOUSEKaterina Gorelik(Red Comet Press, $19.99)We’re quite taken with this smart, sensitivegraphic novel about a trio of preteen girlssharing a cabin during their first week ofsummer camp. Canoeing and campfires aregoing to be so much fun…but first: canVirginia, Beatrice, and Roxy put aside theirdifferences and become friends?Immerse yourself in the captivating world ofWhetherwhy, where everyone possessesinnate magical powers, some of whichchange with the turning of the seasons.You’ll be rooting for twin siblings Juniperand Rafferty as they hone their enchantmentskills and navigate a treacherous realm ofmonsters and constant peril. A new arrival in the Funjungle series isalways cause for celebration—this time,our favorite kid hero Teddy Fitzroy musthelp track down a loose elephant andsolve a mystery in his hometown toclear his best friend’s name. Will hesucceed at both?Creative expression and the magic ofcollaboration are celebrated in thisinspiring, hilarious tale of two fifth-graders who drop their rivalry and joinforces in hopes of winning theirschool’s annual storytelling contest.Together, this writer/artist pair isunstoppable! Chatty houseplants, inquisitive spiders, anda testy little goldfish named Toasty take thestarring roles in this charming story aboutthe power of friendship. It’s a witty, magicaladventure, and the adorable illustrationsand engaging vocabulary lessons make thisa great book to read together as a family.J VS. KKwame AlexanderJerry Craft(Little, Brown Books forYoung Readers, $16.99)TRACK 2 (AGES 6-9)GROWING HOMEBeth FerryThe Fan Brothers(Simon & Schuster Books forYoung Readers, $17.99)CAMP FRENEMIESLiz Montague(Random House Studio, $13.99)ALL EARSStuart Gibbs(Simon & Schuster Books forYoung Readers, $17.99)TRACK 5 (AGES 8-12)CHRONICLES OFWHETHERWHY: THE AGEOF ENCHANTMENTAnna JamesDavid Wyatt(Flamingo Books, $9.99)1010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COMTRACK 1 (AGES 4-8)TRACK 3 (AGES 8-12)TRACK 4 (AGES 8-12)TRACK 6 (AGES 8-12)

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Why should adults have all the funwith Murdle, when kids love solvingmysteries, too? The massively popularseries now has puzzles for juniorsleuths—perfect for any buddingdetective in your life! MURDLE JR. : SLEUTHSON THE LOOSEG. T. KarberChris Grabenstein(Little, Brown Books for YoungReaders, $15.99)A gorgeously told, delightfullyillustrated rom-com graphic novel with atime-travel twist—what if the only wayto break out of a time loop is to kissyour longtime high school crush? Clever,hilarious, and oh so sweet!Eerie, thought-provoking, and incrediblybingeable! This enthralling supernatural takeon the mean-girl genre serves up loads ofteen drama—jealousies, clique clashes, andobsessions—along with the mystery of why ahigh-schooler has been haunting her friendsfrom beyond the grave. Such a wild, stunningly inventive survival thriller—this one really kept us on the edge of our seats.Xavier was already nervous about spending aweek at a cabin in the woods with his dad and hisdad’s new wife, but everything takes atroublesome turn when they wake up to discoverthat the home mysteriously relocated while theywere asleep…and now it’s trapped under a dome!Can they work together to find a way to escape?Excited doesn’t even begin to describe howwe feel about this lavishly produced specialedition of the groundbreaking graphicnovel, now with gold foil and custom-designed edges. This fantastical tale ofshapeshifters, dragons, and vengefulvillains is a joy to read and an illustratedtreasure worthy of much admiration. OK, you caught us red-handed: we lovethese Murdle Jr. books so much that wedecided to feature two of their titles!What a wonderful way to introducechildren to puzzle-solving skills—thesemaze- and map-festooned mysteries area ton of fun.NIMONA: 10 ANNIVERSARYLIMITED EDITIONTHND STEVENSON(Quill Tree Books, $22.99)MURDLE JR.: READY,SET, SOLVE! G. T. Karber(Little, Brown Books for YoungReaders, $12.99)YOU AND ME ON REPEATMary Shyne(Henry Holt & Company, $17.99)BEST OF ALL WORLDSKenneth Oppel(Henry Holt & Company, $17.99)THE THRASHERSJulie Soto(Wednesday Books, $20)1010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COMTRACK 7 (AGES 8-12)TRACK 8 (AGES 8-12)TRACK 9 (AGES 12+)TRACK 10 (AGES 14-18)TRACK 12 (AGES 12-18)TRACK 11 (AGES 12+)

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For younger readers, wecombined story time withdrawing workshops led byauthor-illustrators ArreeChung and Shawn Harris.We were especially excited torelaunch our youth outreachefforts in East Palo Altoschools with school visitsfeaturing Kwame Mbalia andNikkolas Smith, an EarthDay celebration, and lotsand lots of books given away—all provided free of charge tostudents. As the days heat up, so will ourcalendar with even more greatevents. Thank you for yoursupport!Just like books and musicalplaylists, events tell stories, too.It helps to have an extraordinarystoryteller in the mix, butequally key is the reader,listener, or audience. Ourcommunity has helped us tellstories all through winter andinto spring.The Kepler’s stage hosted aconstellation of marquee authors:writers of fiction such asChimamanda Ngozi Adichie,Kaveh Akbar, Alka Joshi,and Tommy Orange; andcommentators on culture and politics including CatBohannon, John Green,Ezra Klein, and Viet ThanhNguyen. We also deepened ourcommitment to emerging Bay Area–based authors with free community eventsincluding our signature reading series, Story is the Thing.To check outour upcomingevents, scanthe QR code!1010 EL CAMINO REAL #100, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 • 650-324-4321 • KEPLERS.COM

Kepler's Summer Catalog 2025