Out West Books Staff Share Three Fiction Picks

Grand Junction —The fluorescent lights of Out West Books in Grand Junction hum with a low, steady buzz, a sound that blends seamlessly with the rustle of pages turning in the quiet corners of the shop. It’s the kind of atmosphere where time seems to slow down, allowing the weight of a good story to settle into your bones. This week, the staff behind the counter stepped out of the shadows of their own shelves to pull three very different threads from the tapestry of contemporary fiction, each one offering a distinct lens through which to view the human condition.

The first thread is a dark, twisting rope of science fiction and thriller, tangled together until it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. David Liss’s The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek drops the reader into the humid, sticky air of Tylor, Florida, a place where the community’s weirdness feels thick enough to cut. The protagonist, Dan Gibson, is a social pariah haunted by a memory he can’t quite grasp — the suicide of Faye Kristic ten years ago. Now, Iliana Marek, a woman who might be a bully, a guardian angel, or something else entirely, has taken his side. People are dying fast, and Dan is forced to confront the parts of himself he’d rather leave buried. Didi Herald, a bookseller at the shop, noted that the combination of genres meshed to make it one of her top favorites of the year, praising the way pain and despair were wrestled into submission by characters deciding to do the right thing. She drew a parallel to Carl Hiaasen’s work, suggesting that the Florida setting and the community’s strangeness would resonate with fans of that style.

Then there’s the second thread, which feels lighter, more airy, like a breeze shifting through a window. Lois Lowry’s Building 903 is a story of speculative fiction that centers on twins, Tessa and Theo, living in a world ruled by a tyrannical leader. It’s a world where citizens live long lives, safe and comfortable, even if they hate their ruler. No dangers, no rebels — or so they’re told. But when Tessa’s brother disappears, nobody wants to talk about it. Until Miriam, their 135-year-old neighbor, slips Tessa a key. Not just to her brother’s disappearance, but to the source of all real magic: books. Tessa learns that stories open portals, unlocking humanity through imagination. She won’t rest until she retrieves her twin and transforms society itself. Tiffani Marsing, the owner, described it as a pick for those who enjoy speculative fiction, hinting at the deeper layers beneath the surface.

And finally, the third thread, a dose of historical fiction that grounds the reader in a different time, a different texture of life. It’s a reminder that the present is built on the past, that every era leaves its mark on the next. These three recommendations from Out West Books aren’t just books; they’re invitations to step outside your usual reading habits, to explore new genres, to see the world through different eyes. Whether you’re drawn to the gritty realism of a Florida thriller, the magical realism of a speculative tale, or the historical depth of a period piece, there’s a story here waiting to be discovered. The shelves are stocked, the lights are on, and the pages are ready to turn. All that’s left is for you to pick one up and start reading.