Editors note: I wanted to thank all of the library workers who voted for Why I Love Horror. I am honest and humbled that you are so excited about my book. See you on tour!
It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All
- I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.
Now let's get to the September 2025 list....
Heart the Lover
Lily King
Grove Press
A young woman meets two friends, Sam and Yash, in her senior year college literature class. Impressed with their intellect, she gets pulled into their circle and starts dating Sam. This coming-of-age story begins as they are all completing college, then finishes as they reconnect as adults. With beautiful writing and a character-driven story, this novel is perfect for fans of Sally Rooney.
-- Sophia Geron, Chesterfield Public Libraries, VA
NoveList read-alike: We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
Now for the rest of the September 2025 list!
We Love You, Bunny
Mona Awad
S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books
This atmospheric, wickedly funny prequel to Bunny is a treat. Readers get to know the bunnies and their first creation intimately. Arieus experiences many firsts: love, heartache, frat parties, being made a muse. Awad fans will rejoice and new fans will be made with this riotous little novel.
--Brooke G., DeKalb County Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutano
People Watching: A Novel
Hannah Bonam-Young
Milo, an eternal wanderer, and Prue, happily settled in her hometown, seem to have nothing in common. Through some tangled family challenges, they find that they have a lot to learn from each other. This wonderful romance features messy, moving, and complex characters who fight hard for their happily ever after.
—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: Single Dads Club by Therese Beharrie
A Land So Wide: A Novel
Erin A. Craig
Pantheon
Greer, a mapmaker in the town of Mistaken who fantasizes about leaving, notices strange things happening. Then her lover, Ellis, mysteriously leaves town. In her attempts to save him, she learns about herself, her cursed town, and the lore surrounding both. This suspenseful and emotional romantasy is well plotted and has great world building.
—Margaret Balwierz, Villa Park Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis
The Wilderness: A Novel
Angela Flournoy
Mariner Books
Over the course of twenty years in New York and Los Angeles, Desiree, Danielle, January, Monique, and Nakia face both the universal hardships of growing up and the specific challenges of doing so in 21st century America. These intertwining stories of five Black women finding their way into adulthood create a deeply moving portrait of friendship.
—Jennifer Alexander, St. Louis County Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: Wahala by Nikki May
The Phoebe Variations: A Novel
Jane Hamilton
Zibby Publishing
Told in flashback, Phoebe, about to graduate high school, is forced by her adoptive mother to meet her birth family, jumpstarting a search for identity and belonging that reveals layers of uncertainty and mistrust surrounding her best friend and the family of fourteen who take her in. Illuminating and lush, this literary jewel will spark numerous discussions and best-of lists.
—Ron Block, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Sam by Allegra Goodman
Breathe In, Bleed Out
Brian McAuley
Poisoned Pen Press
Hannah and four friends join a private retreat to relax and regroup after experiencing big life incidents and time apart. One by one, they start disappearing, and it's up to Hannah to figure out where her friends are going and the cause of their disappearance. Readers will enjoy this blend of horror and suspense with twists they won’t see coming.
—Kristi Shepherd, Springfield-Greene County Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature
Becky Siegel Spratford
Saga Press
With introductions by renowned horror expert Spratford and essays from contemporary writers, this collection will be a great resource for library staff and horror fans. The essays get to the heart of why horror is such an important genre and why it speaks to such a diverse audience, with personal and entertaining passages as well as recommended reads. Any horror reader or book recommender will find this invaluable.
--Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: 101 Horror Books to Read Before You Are Murdered by Sadie Hartmann
The Librarians
Sherry Thomas
Berkley
This intriguing mystery is also an in-depth character study of a group of people working for a small public library in Austin, Texas. No one is quite who they seem, but when two suspicious deaths happen in the area, with both victims having recently been in the library, the staff must band together to try to decipher what happened. Books about librarians are always a win/win, and this one is particularly well done.
-- Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
You Weren't Meant to Be Human
Andrew Joseph White
S&S/Saga Press
Heed the trigger warnings. This book is about a self-harming, autistic trans man who finds himself unwillingly pregnant and forced to carry to term. The story is compelling and explicit enough as is, but then there's the Hive...which brings in a gross, sci-fi element. Readers will be completely invested in Crane's life and struggles. Very political, important, and memorable.
--Sarah Hamil, Twin Lakes Library System, GA
NoveList read-alike: Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfit
Board Bonus picks:
It's Me They Follow
Jeannine A. Cook
Amistad
Notable Nonfiction:
We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution
Jill Lepore
Liveright
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. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.
Tessa Bailey
Every Step She Takes
Alison Cochrun
Play Nice
Rachel Harrison
The Academy
Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
What Stalks the Deep
T. Kingfisher
The Summer War
Naomi Novik
The Impossible Fortune: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery
Richard Osman
Lauryn Harper Falls Apart
Shauna Robinson
No comments:
Post a Comment