LibraryReads: December 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 December 2024 list.... 

 Not in My Book

Katie Holt

(Alcove Press)

If there's such a thing as "light academia" this book embodies it, with collegiate setting-fueled banter in a cute, enemies-to-lovers romance. As Rosie and her nemesis, the uppity Aiden, are forced to write a book together, opposites attract as they produce each chapter. Readers will love the chemistry between the two writers in this debut novel.

—Maddie Paul, Bartholomew County Public Library, IN

NoveList read-alike: L ove Story by Lindsey Kelk

Now for the rest of the December 2024 list!

I Might Be in Trouble

Daniel Aleman

(Grand Central)

When struggling novelist David wakes up next to a dead body after a hookup with a stranger, he realizes inspiration for his next book may have finally struck. But he'll need his agent's help to move the body and avoid the blame first. This mystery thriller is funny, suspenseful, and surprisingly touching.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews

Keep Me

Sara Cate

(Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Killian is a brute who let his past dictate his life until he met Sylvie. She's entitled and has a foul mouth according to Killian, but she is the only woman he'd consider entering into a fake marriage with. Sylvie agrees, knowing that 10 million dollars awaits at the finish line. What neither of them expected was to actually fall in love.

—Erica Moses, Genesee Area Library, PA

NoveList read-alike: Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love

Marianne Cronin

(Harper Perennial)

Unexpected friendships and second chances come alive in this life-affirming story. 90-year-old Eddie, a volunteer in a resale shop, meets 24-year-old Bella, who brings in the things of her boyfriend who died last year. Through their friendship, Bella discovers Eddie has never been kissed. This read is hope and humanity in a book.

—Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO

NoveList read-alike: Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim

The Resurrectionist

A. Rae Dunlap

(Kensington)

This gothic novel is a delightfully atmospheric tale of a medical student turned grave robber, set amidst the dark alleyways of 19th-century Edinburgh. The combination of historical fiction and murder mystery with plenty of medical history will make this a crossover hit with several audiences. Readers will be looking for more from this author.

—Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Library, KS

NoveList read-alike: Anatomy by Dana Schwartz

A Monsoon Rising

Thea Guanzon

(Harper Voyager)

Readers who follow this series will be happy to see Talasyn and Alaric work through their tension and angst and come together in order to save the world from being devoured. The slow burn of the enemies-to-lovers romance really sets the pace for the entire book.

—Ashley M., Morton Grove Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Bridge Kingdom series by Danielle L. Jensen

Booked for Murder

P.J. Nelson

(Minotaur Books)

Madelaine has to live in her late aunt’s home/bookstore for six months in order to inherit. It’s only her first night and she’s already putting out fires, getting threatening phone calls, and finding a body.Does she flee? Nope! She sets out to find the villain. Add in some eccentric women and small town characters for a great cozy mystery.

—Joan Hipp, Florham Park Public Library, NJ

NoveList read-alike: Chapter and Curse by Elizabeth Penney

The Rivals: A Novel

Jane Pek

(Vintage)

Claudia works for a company verifying information for online matchmaking programs. As she digs deeper into a possible A.I. conspiracy, danger rises. With the uncomfortable feeling that the people she's investigating are being eliminated, Claudia races to solve the case and to manage her complicated personal life. Readers will enjoy the banter, multifaceted characters, and interesting storyline.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library (Austin), TX

NoveList read-alike: Swiped by L.M. Chilton

North is the Night

Emily Rath

(Erewhon Books)

Finnish gods meet mortals in this journey to the underworld featuring two strong heroines, one captured by the Witch Queen of Death and the other determined to rescue her. Aina

and Siiri's bond intensifies even when they are separated. Rath's world is peppered with gods, shamans, and assorted witches, pushing the story into new territory and making this a unique and original tale.

—Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, MD

NoveList read-alike: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Rental House: A Novel

Weike Wang

(Riverhead)

Keru and Nate decide to rent a summer house, inviting their parents on different weekends of their vacation. She is the child of Chinese immigrants, and he is the son of working class Appalachians. The novel's dry humor focuses on how each family views Keru and Nate's marriage compared with their more traditional ideas, making this an interesting study of contemporary marriage.

—Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, TX

NoveList read-alike: Long After  We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris

Board Bonus picks:

How to Steal a Galaxy

Beth Revis

(DAW) 

Notable Nonfiction:

Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Escaped Nazi Germany  and Made Scientific History 

Olivia Campbell

(Park Row)

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.

Under Loch and Key

Lana Ferguson

(Berkley)

Invisible Helix

Keigo Higashino

(Minotaur Books)

What the Wife Knew

Darby Kane

(William Morrow)