Perkins Cove Bookshop

06/19/2026

📚 Today we celebrate Juneteenth and give thanks for the authors and historians whose words help us better understand our past, our present, and one another. In that spirit, here is a stack of powerful books that illuminate history, deepen understanding, and celebrate the enduring power of the written word.

📚On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
Part history, part memoir, this thoughtful reflection explores the origins and meaning of Juneteenth through the lens of family, Texas, and the American story.

📚The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
A beloved Newbery Medal–winning novel that follows an unforgettable family through one of the defining years of the Civil Rights Movement.

📚James by Percival Everett
Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award, this brilliant reimagining of Huckleberry Finn gives voice and agency to Jim in one of the most celebrated novels of recent years.

📚History Matters by David McCullough
Essays and reflections from the two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning historian on why history remains essential to civic life and citizenship.

📚The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award, this modern classic follows Cora’s harrowing journey toward freedom through an imagined underground railroad made real.

📚Black AF History by Michael Harriot
A lively, eye-opening, and often humorous retelling of American history that centers Black voices and experiences too often left out of traditional narratives.

📚Malcolm Lives! by Ibram X. Kendi
An engaging biography for younger readers exploring the life, legacy, and continuing influence of Malcolm X.

📚Freedom Season by Peniel E. Joseph
A compelling account of 1963 and the extraordinary events and leaders that transformed the Civil Rights Movement and changed America.

📚The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, this landmark history tells the story of the Great Migration through the lives of three remarkable Americans.

📚Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs
An intimate portrait of James Baldwin, exploring the relationships, friendships, and loves that shaped one of America’s greatest writers.

06/13/2026

☀️📚Of the 40+ new titles making their way into the shop this week…these 6 new releases are moving to the top of lots of stacks today! ❤️

📚TAKE ME WITH YOU by Steven Rowley

When Norman is unexpectedly abducted by a UFO after more than three decades with his husband Jesse, Jesse is left to navigate grief, love, and the mysteries of the universe. Funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound, this is a novel about what remains when the unimaginable happens.

Praise: “A sweet and tart story stretched over a quirky frame.” — Kirkus Reviews. “Witty, poignant, and wonderfully human.” — San Francisco Chronicle.

📚THE JELLYFISH PROBLEM by Tessa Yang

Marine biologist Jo Ness is pulled into a strange mystery when reports emerge of a giant glowing jellyfish off the coast of Maine. As she investigates, she must also confront loss, friendship, and the complicated currents of her own life.

Praise: “An engrossing blend of science, mystery, and emotion.” — Library Journal. “A beautifully layered exploration of human and aquatic relationships.” — Shelf Awareness.

📚VILLA COCO by Andrew Sean Greer

A young American takes a job assisting a flamboyant 92-year-old Baronessa at her fading Tuscan villa. What follows is a charming, funny, and heartfelt journey through friendship, self-discovery, and the magic of Italy.

Praise: “A charming Italian sojourn in which nothing is precisely what it seems.” — Library Journal (Starred Review). “Part caper, part coming-of-age story.” — Kirkus Reviews.

📚GHOST TOWN by Tom Perrotta

A sharply observed story about a community wrestling with its past while searching for a path forward. Perrotta blends humor, heart, and social insight in a novel that explores reinvention, regret, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.

Praise: “Perrotta remains one of America’s most astute observers of modern life.” — The New York Times Book Review. “Funny, wise, and deeply compassionate.” — BookPage.

📚BEACH THRILLER by Jamie Day

Secrets, betrayals, and danger simmer beneath the surface of a seemingly idyllic coastal getaway. Packed with twists, suspense, and irresistible beach-town drama, this is the kind of novel you’ll race through in a single weekend.

Praise: “A master of the addictive summer thriller.” — People Magazine. “Deliciously twisty and impossible to put down.” — Bookreporter.

📚THE LAND by Maggie O’Farrell

From the author of Hamnet comes a richly atmospheric historical novel exploring family, resilience, and survival during a season of hardship. O’Farrell once again delivers unforgettable characters and luminous prose.

Praise: “One of our finest writers of historical fiction.” — The Guardian. “Exquisite, immersive, and emotionally powerful.” — The Washington Post.

06/12/2026

06/08/2026

What a wonderful way to celebrate Pride Month while honoring Ogunquit’s rich artistic legacy. Looking forward to seeing this landmark exhibition in August and learning even more about his connections to the Ogunquit art community. 🌈🎨

06/04/2026

Diary of a Stockroom…✍🏼

This day’s delivery notes: Warm and sunny, with happy delivery drivers all morning, to put it mildly. Opened all sorts of shipments today and traveled through history, solved a murder, fell in love, rode a roller coaster with a pigeon, and contemplated the meaning of life.

All before lunch. 😂

Here’s the latest…

📚 Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
A suspenseful seaside mystery filled with family secrets, old wounds, and unexpected twists.

“Unputdownable and gripping.” -Freida McFadden

📚 Take Me With You by Steven Rowley
A warm, witty novel about friendship, reinvention, and finding connection when life takes an unexpected turn.

“Rowley writes with humor, heart, and enormous compassion.” -BookPage

📚 Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
Sharp, funny, and heartfelt, with Monaghan’s signature blend of humor and emotional insight.

“Nobody writes romance quite like Annabel Monaghan.” -Carley Fortune

📚 Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden
A stunning graphic novel that combines a road trip, personal healing, and a touch of the surreal.

“A triumph of storytelling and visual imagination.” -NPR

📚 The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
When a mysterious train appears at midnight, it offers passengers the chance to journey through alternate possibilities, regrets, hopes, and the roads not taken.

“Matt Haig’s gift is making life’s biggest questions feel deeply personal.” -The Guardian

📚 The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Susan Mallery
A heartfelt story about family, friendship, and the bonds that connect generations.

“Heartwarming and utterly charming.” -Publishers Weekly

📚The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery
A clever mystery set in humanity’s last remaining settlement after climate disaster.

“Ingenious, timely, and deeply satisfying.” -The Guardian

📚 Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
A funny, nostalgic coming-of-age story set during one unforgettable summer.

“Funny, affectionate, and beautifully observed.” -The New York Times

📚 Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Crime, ambition, and family collide in 1960s Harlem.

“A gloriously entertaining crime novel.” -The Washington Post

📚 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
A powerful, unforgettable novel that reimagines a crucial chapter of American history.

“A masterpiece.” -Oprah Winfrey

📚 How to Rule the World by Theo Baker
A fascinating look at power, leadership, and influence through the eyes of a young journalist.

“An engaging look at the people who shape our world.” -Kirkus Reviews

📚 Good Writing by Neal Allen
Practical wisdom for anyone who wants to communicate more clearly and effectively.

“A smart guide to stronger sentences.” -Foreword Reviews

📚 The Little Frog’s Guide to Self-Care by Maybell Eequay
Gentle reminders about kindness, resilience, and caring for yourself.

“A delightful reminder to slow down and be kind to yourself.” -Reader Review

📚 The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! by Mo Willems
The Pigeon’s latest adventure proves that excitement and anxiety often travel together.

“Pure Pigeon fun.” -School Library Journal

06/01/2026

📚 Of the 768 different titles we sold in May, these were the books you reached for most!

From Maine stories and literary fiction to memoirs, mysteries, and unforgettable debuts, this list feels like a snapshot of what people are craving right now…connection, escape, beauty, curiosity, and heart.

Thank you for supporting independent bookstores, local authors, and the joy of discovering your next favorite read right here in Perkins Cove. ❤️

05/31/2026

Six books. Six very different stories. One thing in common: Maine! ❤️

📚 THE SAVAGE, NOBLE DEATH OF BABS DIONNE by Ron Currie Jr.

Set in Maine’s Franco-American community, this darkly funny, wildly original novel introduces readers to the unforgettable Babs Dionne…a crime matriarch unlike any other. Brutal, compassionate, and full of heart, it’s one of the most talked-about Maine novels of the year.

Why we love it:
Big, bold, funny, heartbreaking, and impossible to forget.

Praise:
“A roaring, brilliant novel.” NPR

Bonus:
Netflix is developing the novel as a television series with the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things).

📚 SKYLAND by Ann Joslin Williams

Portland author Ann Joslin Williams delivers a sweeping family story rooted in the Maine coast. Rich with memory, loss, healing, and the complicated ties between generations, Skyland explores how families survive heartbreak and find their way forward.

Why we love it:
Elegant, emotionally intelligent, and deeply connected to the landscapes and rhythms of coastal Maine.

Praise:
“Vividly rooted in its New England setting, Skyland is a page-turner with heart.” Lewis Robinson

“I simply adored Ann Williams’ latest, Skyland.” Ann Packer

📚 LITTLE GREAT ISLAND by Kate Woodworth

Kate Woodworth’s debut novel is set on a small island off the coast of Maine, where two people seeking redemption find their lives intertwined amid questions of climate change, development, community, and belonging. The island itself becomes one of the book’s most memorable characters.

Why we love it:
A heartfelt, beautifully written novel that captures both the fragility and resilience of Maine’s coastal communities.

Praise:
“An uplifting and grown-up novel in which two lost souls find love and purpose.” Kirkus Reviews

📚 LIBERTY ISLAND by Virginia Hume

Set on a fictional island off the coast of Maine, Liberty Island explores family secrets, old wounds, and the enduring pull of home. As generations confront the past, the island setting becomes both refuge and reckoning.

Why we love it:
A perfect Maine summer read filled with coastal atmosphere, family drama, and a powerful sense of place.

Praise:
“A richly atmospheric story of family, memory, and belonging.”

📚 HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE WOODS by Kat Rosenfield

Maine author Kat Rosenfield blends psychological suspense with the rugged Maine wilderness in this gripping thriller. When a survivalist influencer’s carefully crafted world begins to unravel, buried secrets emerge.

Why we love it:
Smart, tense, and impossible to put down.

Praise:
“A thriller that makes the Maine woods feel as beautiful as they are unsettling.”

📚 MONSTERS IN THE ARCHIVES by Caroline Bicks

Not a novel, but a fascinating nonfiction journey into the archives of Stephen King. University of Maine professor Caroline Bicks was granted rare access to King’s papers and explores the creative process behind one of Maine’s most famous writers.

Why we love it:
A treasure for readers who love books about books, writing, creativity, and the mysteries of storytelling.

Praise:
“An enlightening, reader-friendly exercise in literary scholarship.” Kirkuk Reviews

05/30/2026

Today’s top of the stack: “Maybe I’m drawn to The Moorings of Mackerel Sky because it feels a little like growing up in Maine itself…where the line between reality and possibility is always a little blurred. A story filled with mermaids, community, belonging, and discovering who you truly are. That kind of magic feels real to me.”

The Moorings of Mackerel Sky is a magical and deeply Maine novel set in the fictional fishing village of Mackerel Sky, a town founded centuries earlier when a sea captain fell in love with a mermaid. Blending folklore with contemporary coastal life, the story follows a memorable cast of characters as they navigate grief, love, identity, family, friendship, and the search for belonging. Rich with heart, humor, and wonder, it is a celebration of community and the magic that can be found in everyday life.

About the Author…

MZ is the pen name of Portland author Emily Zack. A lifelong Mainer with family roots in Jonesport, she spent 20 years teaching French in Portland before becoming a full-time writer. She is also a co-founder of Portland’s Vivid Motion Dance Company and drew inspiration for the novel from her love of Maine’s coast, fishing communities, and the folklore and stories that connect generations.

We are hosting a “meet the author” event here on June 5th at 5 PM with MZ!