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Monday, November 18, 2019

Library Reads: December 2019

  1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
  2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about Library Reads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips.
  3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any Library Reads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
  4. Every book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.
    Also, the Library Reads Board has also started another great book discovery and suggestion tool for you, a monthly What We're Reading column. This means there are even more library worker approved titles, new and old, for you to choose from. 

    So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.


    You voted, we counted, and December's LibraryReads Favorite is:


    Such A Fun Age
    by Kiley Reid
    (G.P. Putnam's Sons)

    ”Full of nuanced characters and a very current plot about race and privilege,
    Such a Fun Age will keep you slightly off-balance and questioning how you would react. Emira is a character that you’ll love for her feistiness and strength of character. Perfect for fans of Americanah, Red at the Bone, and An American Marriage.”

    Linda Quinn, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT

    NoveList read-alike: That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam


    Africaville
    A Novel
    by Jeffrey Colvin (Amistad)


    “Africaville is a settlement of Jamaican people run out of their homes by the British and dumped in cold, foreign Canada. Colvin weaves the story of Kath Ella and her family through decades of ongoing racial prejudice and injustice, portraying the love among characters and the tenacity of some determined to find happiness. For readers who enjoyed Homegoing and The Underground Railroad.”

    —Lisa Casper, Highlands Ranch Library, Highlands Ranch , CO
    NoveList read-alike: Dominion by Calvin Baker


    The Dead Girls Club
    A Novel
    by Damien Angelica Walters

    (Crooked Lane Books)

    “An engaging story, full of twists and turns. Chapters alternate from Heather's childhood experiences to her present to form the whole story. More creepy than scary, pick this up if you want a story full of dread, suspense, childhood memories, death, and plenty of surprises. For fans of The Turn of the Key and The Silent Patient.”

    —Rebecca Kelley, Richland Library, Columbia, SC 
    NoveList read-alike: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager


    Good Girls Lie
    by J. T. Ellison
    (MIRA)

    “Sinister and atmospheric, this page-turner elevates the thriller genre with descriptive writing and well-drawn characters. Ash arrives at the Goode School with secrets of her own. Following an honor code is difficult enough (no lies allowed), but throw in secret societies and overly privileged students, and the scene is set for murder. For readers who liked The Secret History and Watching You.”

    —Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore, MD
    NoveList read-alike: The Secret Place by Tana French


    Husband Material
    by Emily Belden
    (Graydon House)

    “Charlotte, a young widow, is thrown for a loop when her husband’s ashes appear at her door. As a coder for social media influencers, she develops an app to help find a mate but uses it to keep potential dates away. And then a secret from her husband’s past threatens to destroy the tenuous ties of friendship and love she has found. A fun read for fans of Kristan Higgins and Sophie Kinsella.”

    —Suzanne Christensen, Spanish Fork Public Library, Spanish Fork, UTNoveList read-alike: The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman


    A Madness of Sunshine
    by Nalini Singh (Berkley)

    "With a well-drawn cast of characters and a vivid New Zealand setting, this book slowly draws you in, picks up speed, and takes you on a dark, twisty ride. For fans of Then She Was Gone and All the Missing Girls."

    —Sheryle Gouker, Redstone MWR Library, Huntsville, AL 
    NoveList read-alike: The Dry by Jane Harper


    Meg and Jo
    by Virginia Kantra
    (Berkley)

    "Little Women’s March family is brought into the present day. Here Marmee is a North Carolina goat farmer, Mr. March an idealistic and often absent Army chaplain, and Jo a NYC food blogger and frustrated writer. For readers who loved A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley."

    —Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, New Rochelle, NY
    NoveList read-alike: The Spring Girls by Anna Todd


    Reputation
    A Novel
    by Sara Shepard
    (Dutton)

    "Set in an elite private school, with a large cast of characters, this book has it all: scandals, affairs, and murder. I love the way the multiple perspectives intersect and intertwine. For fans of Gossip Girl and Big Little Lies".

    —Aryssa Damron, DC Public Library, Washington, DC
    NoveList read-alike: Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake


    The Wives
    A Novel
    by Tarryn Fisher

    (Graydon House)

    "Fisher has a knack for telling you a story where there’s no anticipating the twists and turns, and The Wives was no exception. A psychological thriller so immersive that I consumed it in a single sitting. For fans of The Wife Between Us and The Silent Wife."

    —Brie Hopkins, Newport Public Library, Newport, RI
    NoveList read-alike: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine


    Would Like To Meet
    by Rachel Winters (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
    "Evie recreates famous movie meet-cutes as a way to inspire a jerk client to write a screenplay, and learns a lot about herself in the process. For fans of Meg Cabot and Jennifer Crusie."

    —Kassie Ettefagh, High Point Public Library, High Point, NC
    NoveList read-alike: Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

    2 comments:

    Sonia Reppe said...

    So what happened to the Hall of Fame selections for this month?

    Becky said...

    There weren't any this month. Also it is important to note that 1. Big name authors don't tend to publish in December. And 2. LR has never done a Dec list before. Usually only best of best.