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Tuesday, October 15, 2024

LibraryReads: November 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.

Now let's get to the November 2024 list.... 



Lost and Lassoed: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel

Lyla Sage

Dial Press

This romance has everything: a small town, cowboys, and an enemies-to- lovers plot, all packed in one little book. Sage's books are quick reads with likable characters and relatable story arcs. This will be sure to tick all the boxes for romance novel fans.


—Kellie Gillespie, Olathe Public Library, KS

NoveList read-alike: Chelsea Springs Romances by Elsie Silver



The Songbird  & The Heart of Stone

Carissa Broadbent

(Tor)


Mische, once the chosen girl by the Sun God, is now disgraced and awaits her fate in prison. Asar, the bastard son of the Shadowborn King, needs her magic for his mission. Together they navigate the five realms of the underworld to find relics that have been scattered, and face their past, fears, and their worst secrets during their travels.


—Melissa Turner, Maricopa Library & Cultural Center, AZ

NoveList read-alike: Nytefall by Chloe Penaranda


Eleanor of Avignon: A Novel

Elizabeth DeLozier

(Dutton)


Based on actual events, this is a fascinating look at early medicine and the ways women worked to heal, even as they were persecuted as witches. Apprentice midwife Elea hides her talents, but as the Black Plague reaches France, she’s called on to heal the Pope and an exiled Italian queen. Fans of historical fiction will have a hard time putting this down.


—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, TX

NoveList read-alike: Nicked by M.T. Anderson


The Co-Op: A Novel

Tarah DeWitt

(St. Martin's Griffin)


LaRynn has inherited her grandmother's beachside home, but there’s a catch: her ex Deacon inherited half of it. With funds running low, they marry in order to access her trust fund, leading them to fall in love again. This atmospheric tale is set against a stunning backdrop and will appeal to fans of slow-burn, emotionally charged romances.


—Migdalia Jimenez, Chicago Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz



The Lake of Lost Girls

Katherine Greene

(Crooked Lane)


When Lindsey was six, her sister went outside to grab her birthday cake and disappeared. Three other girls from the college she attended also went missing. Now, twenty five years later when a body is found, Lindsey must face the past. Readers who enjoy cold- case mysteries will devour this dual-timeline novel.


—Carly Hathaway, Salem Public Library, VA

NoveList read-alike: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai


Before We Forget Kindness 

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

(Hanover Square Press)


Each story here follows an individual who wishes to go back in time at the magical

cafe. As the individuals experience the past, they reflect on their life, which in turn serves to heal old wounds. Each tale tugs at the heartstrings and makes you want to wrap them up in a hug. This is another soft, gentle addition to the Before the Coffee Gets Cold universe.


—Arianna Van Dam, Brown County Library, WI

NoveList read-alike: The Kamogawa Food Detectives series by Hisashi Kashiwai


The Serviceberry: Abundance Reciprocity in the Natual World

Robin Wall Kimmerer

(Scribner)


A lovely and powerful essay on reciprocity and the potential of a gift economy in the face of our unsustainable current models—illustrated by the analogous natural systems that create the serviceberry

and its ecosystem. This illustrated gem brings a timely message, truly thought- provoking and inspiring.


—Jessica Trotter, Capital Area District Libraries, MI

NoveList read-alike: The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing


The Teller of Small Fortunes: A Novel

Julie Leong

(Ace)


Tao lives a quiet and lonely life, traveling to villages telling fortunes, with her mule as sole

companion. That all changes when an ex-mercenary asks for her help finding a child. Their

not-so-merry band is complemented by a baker and a magical cat, creating an unusual family for Tao, but one she may have desperately needed. A lovely cozy fantasy debut.


—Jennifer Winberry, LibraryReads Ambassador, NJ
NoveList read-alike: Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne


The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel

Haruki Murakami

(Knopf)


In this reworking of a Murakami short story, the narrator grieves the loss of his teenage love. Through mysterious circumstances, he finds himself in a fantastical town, while his shadow self toils in an unfulfilled existence in Tokyo. An absolute treat for Murakami fans.


—Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL

NoveList read-alike: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell


The Author's Guide to Murder: A Novel

Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

(William Morrow)


What starts off as bawdy Scottish entertainment for three authors evolves into a sincere, deeply emotional story of women’s strength and survival, each woman experiences a complete story arc, and more than one double entendre. Equal parts fun and sincere.


—Tina Panik, Avon Free Public Library, CT

NoveList read-alike: Amy Among the Serial Killers by Jincy Willett


Board Bonus picks:

Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation

Jim O'Heir

William Morrow

Notable Nonfiction:

Ingenious: A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist

Richard Munson

W. W. Norton & Company


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.


Is She Real Is She Really Going Out with Him?: A Novel

Sophie Cousens

(G.P. Putnam's Sons)


The Mirror: The Lost Bride Trilogy: Book 2

Nora Roberts

(St. Martin's Press)



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