Kick off your summer winter reading with these picks from our experts.

Inheritance, by Dani Shapiro

When Dani Shapiro sent off her DNA to be tested in 2016, she had no idea the results would change her life forever.  She was stunned to learn that her father—the man who raised her—was not her biological father. The truth around which her very identity was built crumbled beneath her.In the aftermath of this discovery, Dani Shapiro has written a riveting, page-turner of a memoir that maps her attempt to reconcile the meaning of her own identity. This is a book about secrets, about family, and about what makes us who we are.

The Dreamers, by Karen Thompson Walker

We recommended this book as one of five novels we were excited about for January. Have you picked it up yet? This debut is one you won't want to miss.In a remote college town in Southern California, a first-year student falls asleep and doesn’t wake up. No one can wake her—not her roommate, the paramedics, or the confused doctors at the hospital. Then when two other girls fall into the same deep slumber, the town starts to panic. Those affected—“the dreamers”—apparently display unusual levels of brain activity. They are dreaming, but of what? This is a brilliant and thought-provoking first novel.

My Life Among the Underdogs, by Tia Torres

Tia Torres, from the hit tv show Pitbulls and Parolees, wrote My Life Among the Underdogs to showcase just how resilient dogs can be. The dogs in her memoir have overcome horrible neglect and abuse, but flourished under loving human connection. This book is perfect for anyone who has ever understood that humans need dogs to save them as much as dogs need humans. It’s a story of connection and the power of love in its four-legged-form.

The Whispers, by Greg Howard

Eleven-year-old Riley's mom used to tell him about The Whispers—invisible beings who have the power to grant wishes if you leave them tributes. Since his mom disappeared a few months ago, Riley's biggest wish is for her to come back home. This coming-of-age tale for middle-grade readers is full of magic, heart, and healing.

Empty Bottles Full of Stories, by r.h. Sin and Robert M. Drake

This poetry collaboration from r.h. Sin and Robert M. Drake urges you to take a look at what you're hiding, express what lives in your heart, and set yourself free.