RA FOR ALL...THE ROAD SHOW!

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Tuesday, November 15, 2022

LibraryReads: December 2022

    It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

  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 LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
  3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads 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 upcoming 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.
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.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. Click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month.

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to that list.... 

  

December 2022 LibraryReads List!


The Circus Train

by Amita Parikh

G.P. Putnam's Sons

“Lena is a polio survivor whose father is an illusionist with a traveling circus. One day she rescues Jewish stowaway Alexandre. Growing to be more than friends with WWII looming, the two are torn apart when disaster strikes. A beautiful story mirroring the horrors of war with the innocence of young love, this is for fans of historical fiction and circus tales like Water for Elephants.” 


Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
Novelist Readalike: The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff


And now the rest of the list!


A Dash of Salt and Pepper

by Kosoko Jackson

Berkley

 

"Moving back to his parent’s house after getting fired and dumped feels like failure to MBA graduate Xavier. He believes it’s just a matter of time until he rebounds and gets his old life back. Then he meets Logan–chef, musician, father, utterly irresistible–and finds himself having to choose between love and his career dreams. You won't be able to put down this charming small town romance." 


Alicia Ahlvers, Henrico County Public Library, Henrico, VA 

Novelist Readalike: Chef's Kiss by T.J. Alexander


The Ingenue: A Novel

by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

St. Martin's Press


“Former piano prodigy Saskia returns home after her mother’s death to find her family home has been bequeathed to someone else. Saskia is a believable and tragic figure as she searches for answers to questions that have been years in the making. What makes an ingénue and what destroys her? For fans of My Dark Vanessa.” 


Courtenay Reece, Millville Public Library, Millville, NJ

Novelist Readalike: The Turnout by Megan Abbott


The Light Pirate

by Lily Brooks-Dalton

Grand Central Publishing


“As the effects of climate change begin to overwhelm America, we meet Wanda, a girl born during and named after a devastating hurricane. With civilization faltering in the face of mounting challenges, she must learn to live differently. The depiction of climate change and its effects here are bone-chilling, but Wanda’s resilience is inspiring. For fans of Station Eleven.” 


James Ludy, New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT

Novelist Readalike: Above the Ether by Eric Barnes


Ms. Demeanor: A Novel

by Elinor Lipman

Harper Perennial


“After a neighbor’s complaint, Jane finds herself with her law license suspended and wearing an ankle monitor for six months. Her sister persuades her to try food blogging and soon Jane’s cooking for another house-arrested tenant while trying to discover the identity of her accuser. This is a breezy fun read with a dash of romance and mystery for fans of Tom Perrotta and Jennifer Weiner.” 


Sharon Hutchinson, Keytesville Library, Keytesville, MO  

Novelist Readalike: The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel


Queen of Myth and Monsters

by Scarlett St. Clair

Bloom Books


“Vampire King Adrian and his beloved Queen Isolde return in this searing erotic romance in which peril hides at every turn. St. Clair takes the reader on another high-stakes thrill ride as the couple works to establish their reign in a dark fantasy realm of mortals and immortals. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunters.”


Donna Rasmussen, Librarian-at-Large, Northern NJ Libraries

Novelist Readalike: Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost  


Someone Had To Do It: A Novel

by Amber and Danielle Brown

Graydon House


 “An ambitious intern and a conniving rich girl clash in this riveting dual POV thriller set in the world of big New York fashion houses. A fun, fast-paced read with a villain who's a ton of fun to root against! All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris is a similar novel.”


Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL

Novelist Readalike: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris


The Sunshine Girls: A Novel

by Molly Fader

Graydon House


“Clara and Abbie are mourning the loss of their mother, BettyKay, when a stranger named Kitty shows up. They attended nursing school, and through diaries and flashbacks, the reader learns about their loves, friendships, and secrets. Well developed characters made this an enjoyable story!” 


Debbie Lease, Hillsdale Public Library, Hillsdale, NJ

Novelist Readalike: The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin


The Widowmaker: A Black Harbor Novel

by Hannah Morrissey

Minotaur Books


“As the case of Clive Reynolds’s disappearance 20 years ago unfolds, Detective Ryan Hudson discovers a link to his partner's murder. Skillfully woven together, the characters draw readers into a web of lies and deceitful actions that will keep them guessing who is the threat until the end.” 


Janet Makoujy, New City Library, New City, NY

Novelist Readalike: When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McClain



Witcha Gonna Do?

by Avery Flynn

Berkley


"This is a very light magical romance. When a witch with no powers curses her witch family, she must work with her hot nemesis to save her family – and the world from domination.”


Lou Ann Shoultz, Mattoon Library, Mattoon, IL

Novelist Readalike: Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare




The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into our Hall of Fame.


Click here to access the Hall of Fame Archive for more sure bet library worker favorites 


A Dangerous Business: A Novel

by Jane Smiley

Knopf


“In this mystery set during the California gold rush, Eliza Ripple works at a brothel after her husband is killed in a bar fight. When young women start mysteriously disappearing, Eliza and her best friend investigate using sleuthing skills gleaned from Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” For fans of the Kopp Sisters series.”


Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon Public Library, Flemington, NJ

Novelist Readalike: Missy by Chris Hannan


A Death in Tokyo: A Mystery 

by Keigo Higashino

Minotaur Books


“A man is stabbed but keeps walking past a police station to die in the middle of a nearby bridge. Later an accident victim is found with the victim's wallet on him. Looking beyond the logical connection, Detective Kaga keeps digging to determine what really happened. A deliciously puzzling mystery that will be perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes.”

 

Vicki Nesting, St. Charles Parish Library, Destrehan, LA

Novelist Readalike: Inspector Chen Cao series by Xiaolong Qiu


A Hard Day for a Hangover: A Novel

by Darynda Jones

St. Martin's Press


“Though her rebellious daughter survived a murder attempt just last week, Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is back on the job. Meanwhile, drama with her longtime crush Levi Ravinder is distracting her from solving a series of crimes involving women going missing in their small town.”


Seanean Shanahan, Douglas County Libraries, Parker, CO 

Novelist Readalike: Detective Betty novels by Kathleen Kent


Well Traveled 

by Jen DeLuca

Berkley


“Fed up with her demanding boss, lawyer Louisa “Lulu” Malone quits her job while visiting a Renaissance Faire. She continues traveling with the Faire, which means spending time with Dex MacLean of the Dueling Kilts musical troupe, who can’t believe Lulu is immune to his charms. Readers will have a hard time putting this rom-com down!”


Brenda O’Brien, Woodridge Public Library, Woodridge, IL 

Novelist Readalike: Spoiler Alert series by Olivia Dade


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