RA FOR ALL...THE ROAD SHOW!

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Wednesday, November 15, 2023

LibraryReads: December 2023

 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.

New in February 2023-- a bonus pick with an annotation by a LibraryReads Board member. 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 the December 2023 list.... 


Raiders of the Lost Heart
Jo Segura
(Berkley

Dr. Corrie’s professional dream has come true: she’s been invited on an archaeological dig to uncover an Aztec mystery. But there’s one big catch. Her longtime rival, Dr. Ford, is the lead on the expedition. As they become better acquainted, their animosity transforms into an undeniable attraction—that is, until the truth behind Ford's motivations comes to light. Will they be able to find their happily ever after? This thrilling and steamy debut will appeal to fans of adventurous romances.

—Migdalia Jimenez, Chicago Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan


And now, the rest of the list:

The Couple in the Photo
Helen Cooper
(G.P. Putnam's Sons)

Lucy's perfect life crumbles when she sees a photo of her best friend on a romantic vacation with someone who isn't his wife. When she tells her husband, he tells her she must be mistaken and to leave it alone. Soon, the woman Lucy saw in the photo is found dead, making Lucy wonder if it's all in her head or if her husband is keeping something from her. Readers will be sucked into this well-written, fast-paced, twisty tale.

—Sarrah Knight, Newton Public Library, IA
NoveList read-alike: Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

The Curse of Penryth Hall
Jess Armstrong
(Minotaur Books)

Unconventional American heiress Ruby is living in Exeter, where she runs a bookstore. Sent to deliver a box of rare and dangerous books, she ends up getting involved in a murder, an ancient curse, and the possibility that witches really do exist. The story is revealed slowly, giving readers a chance to guess the who and why. The possibility of the supernatural lingers like fog along the Cornish coast: with a view that's sometimes clear and other times, otherworldly.

—Janet Makoujy, New City Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker

The Fake Mate
Lana Ferguson
(Berkley)

This paranormal rom-com follows two wolf shifters living in the human world, navigating the immense amount of shifter stereotypes to survive in the cutthroat world of medicine. Ferguson takes an interesting approach, creating a world where shifters are known—and for the most part, accepted—in society. Mack and Noah circle each other through the novel, fighting the pull of nature and attempting to navigate a relationship that is both fake and real.

—Zoe Sucu, East Kingston Public Library, NH
NoveList read-alike: Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher

Familia: A Novel
Lauren E. Rico
(Kensington)

Gabby takes a DNA test and finds out she has a sister in Puerto Rico, and Isabella is convinced Gabby is her lost sister. The mystery of finding out what really happened, while switching between different perspectives and the rich characters, will keep readers intrigued. Puerto Rico in all its complexity is just as much a character. This is a great book club pick that explores what family and sisterhood means.

—Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, TX
NoveList read-alike: The Berry Pickers by Amanda PetersOn the Plus Side: A Novel Jenny L. Howe

On the Plus Side: A Novel
Jenny L. Howe
(St. Martin's Griffin)

Everly has been chosen for a makeover show and is given the opportunity to see where she can go with her art and marketing skills, both of which she hides under a bushel. As she begins to grow and shine, she and the cameraman start falling for each other. Unfortunately, the show and Everly both become victims of sabotage. Can Everly and the show remain on the plus side?

—Patti Cheney, Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library, NC
NoveList read-alike: One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

The Other Mothers
Katherine Faulkner
(Gallery Books)

Choose your friends wisely! Tasha needs to jump start her journalism career, so when a nanny turns up dead in a neighboring community, she begins to investigate. She enrolls her son in school and becomes friendly with the other mothers. Exploring class and motherhood, this clever, twisty plot alternates between the nanny's past and Tasha’s present narration of events.

—Jayme Oldham, Highland Park Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Mother of All Secrets by Kathleen Willet

Rebecca, Not Becky
Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene
(Amistad)

Two mothers—one Black, one white–form an uneasy relationship when their daughters become friends at their "progressive" private school. A must-read for those wanting contemporary fiction that addresses important issues but maintains a brisk plot and relatable characters. Book clubs looking for something both funny and compelling should definitely consider this one.

—Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, VA
NoveList read-alike: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

This Spells Love
Kate Robb
(Dial Press)

Gemma just broke up with her ex, so her aunt, sister, and best friend Dax help her perform a love cleanse. Suddenly, she wakes up in another timeline where Dax doesn’t know who she is! Though now she has her own store, she wants to get back to her own reality. Or can she have Dax here as something more than a friend? Readers of Lana Harper's Witches of Thistle Grove series will love this.

— Jessica C. Williams, Cleveland Public Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

The Vacation
John Marrs
(Hanover Square Press)

As the reader explores the distance between unlikable and likable, each character reveals that they are not who they seem to be. When they intersect at a run-down hostel, these travelers—whether killers or caretakers—drive this fast- paced narrative in which each viewpoint is well fleshed out.

—Beth Emmerling, Enoch Pratt Free Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: This Train by James Grady

Board Bonus pick:

Perfect Little Lives
Amber and Danielle Brown
(Graydon House)

Notable Nonfiction: 

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel
Shahnaz Habib
(Catapult)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

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 the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order.

The Engagement
Party Darby Kane
(William Morrow)
NoveList read-alike: The Twelve Days of Murder by Andreina Cordani

The Frozen River
Ariel Lawhon
(Doubleday)
NoveList read-alike: Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekback

The Gentleman's Gambit
Evie Dunmore
(Berkley)
NoveList read-alike: The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

Technically Yours
Denise Williams
(Berkley)
NoveList read-alike: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

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