LibraryReads: September 2024

Note: As a LR Ambassador, I advocated for the NF bonus pick to be included. As a result, when it was officially decided by those in charge, I got to write the annotation. I am excited to get to highlight Horror for Weenies by Emily Hughes in this way. Since I wrote the annotation, I have added it below as well.

          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 the September 2024 list.... 

The Night Guest

Hildur Knútsdóttir

(Tor Nightfire)

If you’re in the mood for a wonderfully disturbing book, this should be on your radar. A woman who can’t explain her constant exhaustion and inexplicably weary body discovers that she has been walking for miles overnight—but it’s what’s been happening during these excursions that will shock her and the reader alike. Delightfully chilling

—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

Now for the rest of the September 2024 list!

The Book Swap
Tessa Bickers
(Graydon House/HTP)

English majors, librarians, and romance readers will love this book. Watching the relationship unfold between Erin and her Mystery Man over the pages of beloved books is delightful, plus they are each on their own individual journeys of self-discovery. This novel is a must read for book lovers everywhere!

—Jennifer Sullivan, Sno-Isle Libraries, WA
NoveList read-alike: The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams

A Kid from Marlboro Road: A Novel
Edward Burns
(Seven Stories Press)

This coming-of-age adventure/family story by director and actor Edward Burns features relatable Irish American characters and summer experiences. It's a well-written, sweet read about a family full of life while dealing with death.

—Katharine Phenix, Boulder Public Library, CO
NoveList read-alike: Another Brooklyn by Jaqueline Woodson

Sky Full of Elephants
Cebo Campbell
(Simon & Schuster)

After all the white people have died in the U.S., Charlie reunites with his biracial daughter, Sydney. This debut is both a dystopian tale and a beautiful story of a daughter coming of age, learning more about herself and her relationship with her father.

—Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, TX

NoveList read-alike: The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

An Academy for Liars
Alexis Henderson 
(Ace)

This dark academia fantasy is an immersive, glittering jewel shot through with tendrils of true horror. In Savannah, GA,a young woman gets recruited to a mysterious academy of magic teeming with secrets. Fans of Lev Grossman and Olivie Blake will enjoy this book, yet Henderson is a wholly unique voice in the genre.

—Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel
Anna Johnston
(William Morrow)

Frederick Fife lost his home, but he finds much-needed shelter and loving care in a nursing home when he is mistaken for one of the residents, Bernard, while out on a walk. Assuming another person’s identity is not something Frederick set out to do, and how this story unfolds is anybody's guess in this sweet, funny, and heartwarming novel.

—Andrienne Cruz, Azusa City Library, CA
NoveList read-alike: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Playground: A Novel
Richard Powers
(W.W. Norton & Co.)

Residents of the island of Makatea must decide on a seasteading proposal that would forever change their way of life in this epic tale of activism, ambition, relationships, and the wonders of the oceans. For readers who love National Geographic documentaries, happily look for life on every watery horizon, and enjoy a variety of well- developed characters.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, TX
NoveList read-alike: North Woods by Daniel Mason

A Dark and Drowning Tide: A Novel
Allison Saft
(Del Rey)

On an expedition to find an enchanted spring, Lorelei and Sylvia must work together to solve the murder of their leader. Exploring themes of magic, romance, adventure, political intrigue, academic rivalry, racism and classism, grief, and healing make for a really good read. The strange unpredictability of the magic makes the plot engaging.
—Shannon Carney, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

Colored Television: A Novel
Danzy Senna
(Riverhead Books)

Jane has been working on her second novel for a decade, but the finished product is met with a not very enthusiastic response by her agent. Stymied by her circumstances, Jane pins her hopes on a collaboration with a TV producer and makes some questionable choices. Readers will root for Jane to get out of the hole she’s dug for herself in this sharp dark comedy.

—Angela Strathman, Mid-Continent Public Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: Erasure by Percival Everett

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society
C. M. Waggoner
(Ace)

Small-town librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle doesn't find it strange that she is always on hand to solve local murders. But when a loved one is targeted, she realizes that a demon may be possessing the town. This cozy paranormal mystery is full of likable, quirky characters.
—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: Emily Wilde series by Heather M. Fawcett

Board Bonus picks:

Entitlement : A Novel  

Rumaan Alam      

Riverhead Books

Notable Nonfiction:

Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know About the Films You're Too Scared to Watch 

Emily C. Hughes

Quirk Books

In the first in a new series of “Outsider’s Guides” from Quirk, Hughes, well-known for her work in the horror community, presents an accessible, entertaining, and informative book that will prove indispensable in helping all readers participate in the pop culture conversation surrounding horror—no matter how much of a fraidy-cat they may be. Whether they want to read only a chapter, the fascinating lists peppered throughout, or the book in its entirety, readers will realize just how these films become an obsession of millions of viewers without scaring those who cannot watch them. Hughes reveals her purpose in an effortless conversational style, explaining why these movies are terrifying, important, and influential.

--Becky Spratford, LibraryReads Ambassador

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

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.

Death at the Sign of the Rook: A Jackson Brodie Book
Kate Atkinson
(Doubleday)

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust: A Flavia de Luce Novel
Alan Bradley
(Bantam)

The Night We Lost Him
Laura Dave
(S&S/Marysue Rucci Books)

The Life Impossible: A Novel
Matt Haig
(Viking)

So Thirsty
Rachel Harrison
(Berkley)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea
TJ Klune
(Tor Books)

Here One Moment
Liane Moriarty
(Crown)

Buried Deep and Other Stories
Naomi Novik
(Del Rey)

We Solve Murders: A Novel
Richard Osman
(Pamela Dorman Books)

Tell Me Everything: A Novel
Elizabeth Strout
(Random House)