Announcing Our 2022 Discover Prize Shortlist

“The beauty of this book is in its quiet, contemplative story of frustratingly messy, sympathetic characters you can’t help but root for through the end. (For fans of The Book of Unknown Americans and Normal People.)” – Tara S., Bookseller 

“All This Could Be Different brought me back to those uncertain early years after college, feeling lost and finding my way through by leaning on my friends. Sneha’s story is so unlike my own, but in reading this book I felt like I was part of the community she slowly built with the people around her. I wish it were longer so I could have spent more time with Sneha.” – Marie C., Bookseller 

“A harrowing and imaginative read that holds a mirror up to society in the way that only excellent Science Fiction can, How High We Go in the Dark is a beautiful exploration of human resilience and strength. Nagamatsu weaves together the narrative in an almost tapestry-like way, displaying an impressive command that promises a fresh and undeniable new talent.” – Katie V., Bookseller 

“A unique take of how climate change may lead to even more difficult and frightening challenges in the future, this story will make you reflect on things we do for our loved ones and our responsibility to support each other.” –Erik C., Bookseller 

“Night of the Living Rez brings an exciting new author to the forefront of modern storytelling. Morgan Talty approaches stories of loss and grief with humor and a rare perspective. The connective themes of change and longing guides the reader through a beautiful journey.” – Ross B., Bookseller 

“A Penobscot family navigates the America of the 21^st Century, with all the pitfalls and heartbreak that entails. Told in a series of related short stories, Talty uses humor, tragedy, and a keen sense of observation to share a look into what being Native American means today. Essential for readers that enjoyed Tommy Orange’s There, There or Loise Erdrich’s Love Medicine.” – Kevin R., Bookseller 

“This book is a masterpiece – a specific story of a young woman in a dying midwestern town but also a universal story of love, loneliness, and longing. There is violence and sadness but, like the battered heart on the cover, this book beats with life – bloody, real life. Rabbit Hutch will stay with me for a long time.” – Brenda A., Bookseller 

“I have been one of these characters. You have been one, and if not, you will. The question is which one are you? For these unforgettable characters, what puts them in that specific month, year, town building and even apartment makes them who they are.” –Florencia C., Bookseller 

“Written like a jazz piece, it starts with a melody: Circus, a trumpet musician. Then it morphs into different key changes, rhythms, syncopations, as Circus juggles his music, his many ladies, and turning forty … something that looms heavy in his mind. As his melody resolves, his daughter’s takes over and new song begins.” –Maggie W., Bookseller 

“Warrell writes a truly unlikeable lead character, Circus, described in all of his complexities and inadequacies by the women who love him. Music and jazz history are featured prominently in this contemporary tale. The voice of his teenage daughter, Koko, struggling to carve out her own identity and come to terms with her tenuous relationship with her father, rings out true and clear as a trumpet.” –Amanda Y., Bookseller 

“A grand debut where every page is filed with breathtaking insight, Cushla is a brilliant character and the story of her affair with Michael kept me turning pages all night. The backdrop of violence, poverty and societal expectations in Northern Ireland lent it a gravity that more typical love-stories lack.” –Jamie L., Bookseller 

“Everyone should read this heartbreaking and beautifully written book. From the first page to the very last Kennedy’s superb prose envelops you in the Northern Ireland of the 1970s. You experience the division between love and loyalty, family and future, and know that though the Troubles may have past we all carry a piece of Cushla in our souls. A must read.” –Sarah C., Bookseller