It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All
- I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.
New in February 2023-- a bonus pick with an annotation by Executive Director Rebecca Vnuk. See this month's pick at the end of this post. It also appears on the PDF list for printing and displaying at your library.
Now let's get to that list....
February 2023 LibraryReads List!
by Julia Bartz
Atria
Alex and her ex-best friend, Wren and 3 other women are picked for a writing retreat with infamous author Roza Vallo. They must finish writing their books in a month's time, and the best one will be published. Roza is a mercurial taskmaster, becoming stranger while the awe the women have for her turns to fear. An unusual horror story with many twists and turns.
—Judy Gaynes Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, Eastham, MA
Novelist read-alike: The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz
by Rebecca Makkai
Viking
Engaging story of a boarding school high school murder being solved 20 years later by true-crime podcast enthusiasts. Or is it a story of memories and how you interact with them, depending on your stage in life, your emotional state, and your own biases, or one about how as a teen you simultaneously know everything and know nothing? Or is it all three? For fans of Jean Hanff Korelitz.
—Lorri Steinbacher, Ridgewood Public Library, Ridgewood, New Jersey
Novelist read-alike:The It Girl by Ruth Ware
by JT Ellison
MIRA
JT Ellison has written a beautiful story from start to finish. Olivia and Park struggle with infertility. A woman is found dead and DNA shows the murderer is related to Park. Not only is this a well done mystery of whodunit, it is always a beautiful drama of what happens as a couple deals with loss. Another beautiful story from an incredible author. For fans of All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham.
—Andrea Galvin, Mt. Pulaski Public Library Mount Pulaski, IL
Novelist read-alike: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
A husband cannot resist prying into his wife’s past when he visits her childhood home. A gorgeously written gothic fairy tale about forbidden knowledge and dangerous love that's perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia or V.E. Schwab.
—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Champaign IL
Novelist read-alike: The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
Novelist read-alike: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
Gina Morales, a professional dancer on a dance competition TV show, is determined to win this season. However, instead of the Olympian she wanted as a partner, she is paired with survivalist Stone Nielson. Worse, her producer is pushing for a showmance! This is a fun and flirty romance with a wonderful cast of characters. Perfect for fans of Dancing with the Stars!
—Tristan Draper, Dekalb Public Library, Dekalb, IL
Novelist read-alike: Kiss Me, Catalina by Priscilla Oliveras
Johnson’s latest historical features dialogue that snaps and settings that perfectly evoke 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Readers will be captivated by this story of two young women who struggle to overcome racism and misogyny to have a family and a meaningful future.
—Jodi Prather, Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN
Novelist read-alike: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree will be thrilled to revisit the intricately detailed world Shannon has created. In this standalone prequel, the stories of four women are spun out as the Dreadmount erupts and civilizations crumble. The large cast of characters is deftly handled and readers will enjoy the fascinating mythology.
—Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, New Rochelle, NY
Novelist read-alike: Beneath the Keep: a novel of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Lily Greene needs a date for her sister’s wedding but doesn’t want her family’s “help” to find one. She ends up asking her hot neighbor Nick for help instead, but complications ensue when she realizes he’s N.R. Strickland—the fantasy author who ghosted her. The lead characters who see the best in each other and help each other grow make for a satisfying second-chance romance. For fans of The Love Wager by Lynn Painter.
—Midge Loery, Mark Twain Library, Redding, CT
Novelist read-alike: The Singles Table by Sara Desai
Aspiring screenwriter Nina writes e-mails—for other people, including Hollywood darling Ari Fox. Nina is enamored of Ari but a bad breakup made her vow never to date again. This rom-com with a queer actress and plus size woman offers great representation of realistic body positivity. Readers will root for the characters in this funny, smart, and heartwarming book!
—Andrea Tucci, Glencoe Public Library, Glencoe IL
Novelist read-alike: Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
Click here to access the Hall of Fame Archive for more sure bet library worker favorites
Bailey’s latest series starter is a grumpy/sunshine romance a bit different from her others. Julian Vos is a buttoned-up professor prone to panic attacks with fervently suppressed trauma. Hallie Welch is a free-spirited gardener who has had an unrequited crush on him since high school and is dealing (or rather, not dealing) with her own traumatic past in a completely opposite way. When he comes back to their Napa hometown on sabbatical, she manufactures a run-in that doesn't go as she had hoped. Likable and believable characters make this a winner.
—Kaitlin Booth, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
A mix up at a gym forces two very different women to literally walk in each other's shoes, leading to a complete breakdown and reinvention of their current lives and world views. Sisterhood, mental health, a risky heist, romance, regret...this book has everything in perfect proportion and is a true page turner to boot. Readers will love every page of this fantastic book.
—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, Huntington Station,New York
Novelist read-alike: The Switch by Beth O'Leary
Jade just wants to go home and get back to her life after four years in prison, but Proofrock is not done with her as another serial killer has come to town. This sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw amps up the action while giving slasher fans everything they could want, and then giving them even more!
—Joseph Jones, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cuyahoga, OH
Novelist read-alike:The Summer is Ended and We are Not Yet Saved by Joey Comeau
Novelist read-alike: Hades Saga by Scarlett St. Clair
Novelist read-alike: The Rowankind Sequence by Jaycee Bedford
And introducing.....
Feb 23 Bonus Pick:
(New addition to the regular list)
Black Candle Women: A Novel by Diane Marie Brown (Graydon House)
"A dual timeline moving from 1950s New Orleans to the present, three generations of strong magical women, a spell book, and a secret generational curse make for a very entertaining spin on family drama." — Rebecca Vnuk, LibraryReads
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