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Friday, December 15, 2023

LibraryReads: January 2024

  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 January 2024 list.... 



Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands

Fawcett, Heather    

Del Rey 

After the events of the first book, Emily sets a new goal of creating the first Map of the Folk. Her plans progress well until an attack from Wendell's stepmother forces Emily to embark on a quest for an elusive door. Will they find it this time? This fun series installment has fantastical new creatures and realms to discover, and the dynamic between Wendell and Emily is sweet and exciting. Recommended for fans of cozy academia with a dash of magic.


—Lisa Leinhos, Marx Library, AL
NoveList read-alike: A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske


Now for the rest of the list:


The Busy Body   

Donovan, Kemper   

Kensington

A very talented ghostwriter signs on to help a failed female presidential candidate (shades of you know who!) write her memoir. Their initial work weekend is going well until there is a mysterious drowning next door. The politician feels called upon to investigate, taking her ghostwriter along—a Watson to her Holmes. An enjoyable mystery tale ensues.

—Joan Hipp, Florham Park Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Girl Who Took What She Wanted by Stewart Hoag

First Lie Wins   

Elston, Ashley

Pamela Dorman Books    

Nothing is ever as it seems in this fast-paced novel. All the reader knows is that nothing about Evie is true. It's her job to lie and wrangle her way into situations, gather info, and create situations that put others at risk. Yet this time, things are different. During a con, someone shows up with her actual birth name and history. Perfect for readers who enjoy books with twists and turns around every corner.

—Larissa Porach, Jefferson County Public Library, CO
NoveList read-alike: The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

Diva: A Novel

Goodwin, Daisy

St. Martin's Press    

Readers get behind the scenes of Maria Callas's life and her complicated relationships. She’d hoped to marry Aristotle Onassis, but instead he wed Jackie Kennedy. Callas ended up alone, even with all the money and accolades for her phenomenal soprano voice. This fictional portrait takes some creative license, but that doesn't detract from this well-researched portrait of an international superstar.

—Sandra Meyers, Frankford Public Library, DE
NoveList read-alike: Jackie & Maria by Gill Paul

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years: A Novel    

Khan, Shubnum    

Viking  

Hoping for a fresh start after tragedy, Sana and her father move into a South African apartment building with a host of quirky neighbors. Sana becomes fascinated by the story of Meena, a former resident when it was the estate of a wealthy troubled family. A lonely girl, a heartbroken djinn, and long-buried secrets come together in this gorgeously gothic tale of love and grief.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods

The Clinic

Quinn, Cate

Sourcebooks Landmark  

Meg enters an exclusive rehab facility undercover after the supposed suicide of her sister. In the process, she exposes some ugly truths about people who profess to have her best interests at heart. Quinn does a terrific job creating quirky characters and keeping readers guessing. The unexpected twists and eerie location make this a great pick for readers in the mood for atmospheric suspense!

—Michelle Meeks, Wetumpka Public Library, AL

NoveList read-alike: I'll Be You by Janelle Brown  


Come and Get It

Reid, Kiley 

G.P. Putnam's Sons  

Millie is a 24-year-old RA in a dorm of typical college girls. All she wants is to get through her delayed senior year, start saving for a home to call her own, and find a good job for when she graduates. When she makes some increasingly bad choices, she puts all of that in jeopardy and has to face the fact that she may not like the person she is becoming.

—Linda Quinn, LibraryReads Ambassador

NoveList read-alike: Wahala by Nikki May 


Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect     

Stevenson, Benjamin

Mariner Books  

Ernest is struggling to write his second book. He hits the jackpot, so to speak, when a murder is committed on a train hosting the literary festival he is attending. He now has his new topic and narrates this murder mystery. Full of quick dialogue, clever clues, and odd characters, this off-beat offering will be much fun for the right reader.

—Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO

NoveList read-alike: There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh  


Twenty-Seven Minutes   

Tate, Ashley  

Poisoned Pen Press

A young woman died in a car accident while her brother Grant, who was driving, survived, along with another passenger. What really happened that evening is a mystery. Why did Grant wait so long to call for help—and what was his sister so angry about? Readers looking for a page- turning narrative with a strong sense of place will find this compulsive thriller a great read.

—Carri Genovese, Indianapolis Public Library, IN
NoveList read-alike: The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda


All Rhodes Lead Here: A Novel    

Zapata, Mariana     

Avon    

Rhodes, the ultimate silver- fox grump, and bright ray of sunshine Aurora, are complete opposites in many ways. This gentle and sweet love story is built through action as the characters learn to trust each other. Including Rhodes's son Amos in the story adds a level of care between the couple by being the first thing they bond over.

—Jordan Abitz, Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: Said No One Ever by Stephanie Eding

Board Bonus pick:

Family Family: A Novel

Frankel, Laurie 

Henry Holt


Who Owns this Sentence: A History of Copyrights and Wrongs

Belols, David and Alexandre Montagu

W.W. Norton

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 Heiress: A Novel   

Hawkins, Rachel

St. Martin's Press


The Fury

Michaelides, Alex

Celadon Books   


Mislaid in Parts Half-Known

McGuire, Seanan

Tordotcom  


Only If You're Lucky:  A Novel    

Willingham, Stacy 

Minotaur Books   


Midnight Ruin   

Robert, Katee   

Sourcebooks Casablanca   

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