Experience the award-winning novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, a standalone historical fiction novel by National Book Award-winning author James McBride. This #1 New York Times bestseller masterfully blends historical fiction, literary mystery, and unforgettable characters into a moving story about community, compassion, and the power of standing together in the face of injustice.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is a standalone novel and is not part of a series.

In 1972, construction workers uncover a skeleton at the bottom of an old well in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, setting the stage for a decades-old mystery rooted in the neighborhood of Chicken Hill.

Years earlier, Chicken Hill was home to a close-knit community where Jewish immigrants and African American families lived side by side despite the divisions surrounding them. At the center of the neighborhood is the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, run by the compassionate Chona Ludlow and her husband, Moshe. When authorities attempt to institutionalize a deaf young boy, the residents of Chicken Hill unite to protect one of their own, forging bonds that will shape the community for generations.

As the past and present intertwine, long-buried secrets are revealed, exposing both injustice and extraordinary acts of courage. Rich with humor, heart, mystery, and hope, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is a powerful celebration of kindness, resilience, and the people who build community in the most difficult of times.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store – An Award-Winning Standalone Historical Novel

Perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr, Kristin Hannah, Amor Towles, Fredrik Backman, Colson Whitehead, and Ann Patchett, this literary novel combines historical fiction, small-town mystery, unforgettable characters, and themes of family, friendship, justice, and belonging.

Product Details

Title: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

Author: James McBride

Format: Paperback

Series: Standalone Novel

Genre:

• Historical Fiction
• Literary Fiction
• Historical Mystery
• Contemporary Literary Fiction
• African American Fiction

Pages: 416

Dimensions: 1.27 x 8.28 x 5.44 inches

Publication Date: July 29, 2025

Features:

• Standalone novel
• #1 New York Times Bestseller
• Winner of the 2024 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction
• New York Times Notable Book
• Literary historical fiction
• Small-town mystery
• Rich ensemble cast
• Themes of community and belonging
• Award-winning fiction
• Book club favorite

Author Biography

James McBride is the National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, The Good Lord Bird, Deacon King Kong, The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung, Miracle at St. Anna, and Five-Carat Soul. A recipient of the National Humanities Medal, McBride is an accomplished musician and Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University. His novels are celebrated for their rich storytelling, memorable characters, humor, compassion, and exploration of American history and identity.