Cambridge Day asked Porter Square Books to send us their current staff picks. These are recommendations curated by their staff.

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“Day Care: Stories,” by Nora Lange
Two Dollar Radio, 2026

There’s euphoria in the way Lange wildly navigates her terrain, forging the path to a feminism that resists cliché. Sometimes her sentences jostle or veer unpredictably, only to reveal a vista from which a staggering perspective is gleaned. All the pithiness of Joy Williams but with more emphasis on motherhood and female friendships. — recommended by Rachael

“This Is What It Sounds Like: A Legendary Producer Turned Neuroscientist on Finding Yourself Through Music,” by Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas
W. W. Norton & Company, 2022

Have you ever wondered why you love a song? Or why certain chord progressions make you want to get up and dance? “What It Sounds Like” has all the answers. An approachable yet detailed dive into the neuroscience of music, this book breaks down how our minds all react differently to specific wavelengths in songs. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or casual enjoyer, “What It Sounds Like” will deepen your listening experience.  — recommended by Cindy

“Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King,” by Caroline Bicks
Hogarth, 2026

Every King fan should have this on their shelf. Get the skinny on your favorite books, and learn what was really going on behind the scenes as he wrote them. — recommended by Jen

“The Husbands,” by Holly Gramazio
Vintage, 2025

So your attic contains multiple husbands. Each time you send one up the stairs, another one will come down and completely alter your life. I highly recommend you read this wacky story.  — recommended by Kaliisha

“Last One Out: A Novel,” by Jane Harper
Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar, 2026

What would you do to protect your loved one when your town is dying? This sensitive novel explores themes of family, loss and adaptation, housed in a subtly told mystery.  — recommended by Gwen

“All Over Creation: A Novel,” by Ruth Ozeki
Penguin Books, 2004

A fun, yet mildly heartbreaking story, featuring a quirky cast of characters, environmental activism, a lot of seeds, family drama, and a camper van that runs on McDonald’s fryer oil — dubbed “The Spudnick”!  — recommended by Gwen

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“East of Eden,” by John Steinbeck
Penguin Classics, 2016 (originally published in 1952)

I was inspired to pick up this novel after hearing that Netflix was releasing a TV adaptation starring Florence Pugh, but I was still unprepared for the shock of this story and its beauty. The prose is melodic and rich in detail. The cast of characters spans multiple families and generations, but you’ll never forget a name. Steeped in references to other literary works, American history, and Steinbeck’s own family lineage, “East of Eden” is unlike anything I’ve ever read, and has become one of my favorite books of all time. — recommended by Isabel

“Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art,” by Rebecca Wragg Sykes
Bloomsbury Sigma, 2022

The amount we have learned — and the things we can never know for certain — about Neanderthals is simply staggering. This book is comprehensively researched and accessibly written, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in prehistory or how we define humanity. (Or if you loved “Clan of the Cave Bear”!)  — recommended by Breanna

“Obstetrix,” by Naomi Kritzer
Tordotcom, 2026

An OB/GYN goes to a job interview and ends up kidnapped by a fundamentalist cult that needs someone to care for a high-risk pregnancy at their remote compound. A survival story, a thriller, a book about the consequences of criminalizing medical care, a tribute to the power of stories and a love letter to the Midwest — all in less than 200 pages. — recommended by Sarah

“And Then? And Then? What Else?” by Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket
Liveright, 2025

One of my favorite books on writing (and reading, and life) in the unforgettable voice of Lemony Snicket. It’s smart, funny, whimsical, and big-hearted. It’s part memoir and part manifesto for creatives of all stripes, and uplifting for anyone who loves literature, art and fellow humans.  — recommended by Jacob

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