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 January 2026 list....
Is This a Cry for Help
Emily Austin
(Atria Books)
After she learns of the death of her ex-boyfriend, librarian Darcy has a mental breakdown and takes a leave from her job at a public library. With time, therapy, and support from her wife, Darcy returns to work while coping with guilt and book-banning protests. This reflective, heartwarming, and character-driven read delves into grief and identity with care and humor.
—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
Bell, A. D.
The Bookbinder's Secret
St. Martin's Press
Lily is in limbo. She loves books and her binding trade, but her father is distant and her employer seems not to value her. Her life is turned upside down when she is given a burned book and the secrets it holds. This is truly a wonderful read full of mystery, love, and intrigue.
-- Susan Willis, Chanute Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: The Binding by Bridget Collins
Cobb, May
All the Little Houses
Sourcebooks Landmark
Cobb’s latest gasp-out-loud read doesn’t disappoint, bringing readers back to the East Texas town of Longview, where wealth, booze, secrets, sex, and very bad—some might even say murderous—behavior abound. Readers will not be able to take their eyes off this propulsive thriller.
-- Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman
Elston, Ashley
Anatomy of an Alibi: A Novel
Pamela Dorman Books
This is a tale of two women: Wealthy Camille is living the high life, while Aubrey works as a bartender. Who is telling the truth? An unhappy marriage, skeletons in the closet, and a murdered husband make this a story worth reading!
-- Jo Hic, Phillips Public Library, WI
NoveList read-alike: T he Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Everhart, Donna
Women of a Promiscuous Nature
Kensington
In this stunning character-driven novel set in the 1940s, Everhart introduces the inmates and staff of the Industrial Farm Colony for Women. As readers are drawn into the life of the Colony, the lofty goals as well as the terrible cruelty and injustice of the place are slowly revealed. Highly recommended.
-- Vicki Nesting, St. Charles Parish Library, LA
NoveList read-alike: T he Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church
Hannah, Sophie
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done
Sourcebooks Landmark
In this satirical book-within-a-book, the Lamberts’ dog, Champ, accused of biting the neighbor’s daughter. The eccentric pet-obsessed matriarch Sally refuses to believe this, so the family goes on the run with Champ in tow. Twisty and puzzling.
-- Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL
NoveList read-alike: Cat Fight by Kit Conway
Mara, Andrea
It Should Have Been You: A Novel
Pamela Dorman Books
When a woman accidentally sends a private message meant for her sisters to the entire neighborhood group chat, the ensuing chain of events exposes secrets and causes deadly anguishThis book was a wild ride that will captivate readers from the first page.
-- Debbie Frizzell, Johnson County Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: You Deserve to Know by Aggie Bloom Thompson
McConigley, Nina
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder: A Novel
Pantheon
When their uncle arrives from India, two sisters' adjustment to a dual culture life in small-town Wyoming in the mid-1980s becomes complicated. This debut hits on touchy subjects with grace, as the sisters choose to fight instead of being silent victims. Those of us who spent many hours at teen sleepovers will also delight in the nostalgia scattered amidst the actual crime and justice served.
-- Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithewaite
Saunders, George
Vigil: A Novel
Random House
Saunders knows how to capture the essence of life in a story all about death. This climate story effectively hammers home that climate change affects everyone and everything irreparably, but we must also carry on. This message is wrapped in a Christmas Carol package about a ghost ushering a greedy, selfish man into the afterlife.
-- Sabrina Unrein, Mahwah Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: T he Apology by Jimin Han
Sotto Yambao, Samantha
The Elsewhere Express: A Novel
Del Rey
This enchanting, whimsical fantasy is a warm hug for the soul. A magical train that appears to those who are lost is absolutely charming, and creativity shines in the descriptions of the train's wondrous cars, from lily-pad picnics to jellyfish swimming through clouds. A journey not just through a magical world, but also of self-discovery, hope, and finding one's sense of purpose.
-- Lee V., New York Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Rainfall Market by Yeong Gwang You
Board Bonus picks:
The Poet Empress
Shen Tao
(Bramble)
Notable Nonfiction:
When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History and America's Black Botanical Legacy
Beronda L. Montgom
(Henry Holt and Co)
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.
Butcher, Jim
Twelve Months
Ace
Dave, Laura
The First Time I Saw Him
Scribner
Feeney, Alice
My Husband's Wife
Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar
Hawkins, Rachel
The Storm
St. Martin's Press
McFadden, Freida
Dear Debbie
Poisoned Pen Press
McGuire, Seanan
Through Gates of Garnet and Gold
Tordotcom
9781250339409
1/6/2026
McLain, Paula
Skylark: A Novel
Atria
Murphy, Julie and Sierra Simone
Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl
Avon
St. James, Simone
A Box Full of Darkness
Berkley
Segura, Jo
The Lust Crusade
Berkley
Umrigar, Thrity
Missing Sam
Algonquin Books
Winstead, Ashley
The Future Saints
Atria Books
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