LibraryReads: October 2020

[Editors Note:  It's another 2 horror book month!!!! [Ring Shout and Plain Bad Heronies] And both titles will be in the October 2020 issue of Library Journal with a star review by me.]

It's Library Reads 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 Library Reads 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 Library Reads 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.

The LibraryReads Board has also started another great book discovery and suggestion tool for you, a monthly What We're Reading column. This means there are even more library worker approved titles, new and old, for you to choose from. 

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 that list....

Announcing the October LibraryReads list! "Addie is an adventurer and not ready to settle for village life, so she makes a deal with the devil. Instead of relinquishing her soul, however, she becomes immortal, and also completely forgotten by anyone who meets her. Then, after a lonely 300 years, she meets Henry. For fans of the Shades of Magic series, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Life after Life." —Patti Lang, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ  NoveList read-alike: The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North The rest of the list..... Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Gallery/Saga Press) “Fans of epic fantasy looking for something new will surely love the amazing world- building and strong characters in this pre-Columbian Americas story about prophecy, destiny, politics, and revenge, all with a healthy dose of magic. For fans of Gods of Jade and Shadow and the Broken Earth series.” —Dan Brooks, Wake County Public Libraries, Raleigh, NC  NoveList read-alike: The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley Beaulieu Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger (Park Row) “Serena finds out that her husband is sleeping with the nanny, and then confides in a mysterious woman she meets on the train. The woman continues to contact Serena as her world implodes. Who is this strange woman, and is she responsible for the mess Serena finds herself in? Full of twists, turns, and many POVs, this page turner is perfect for those who like Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.” —Shari Suarez, Genesee District Library, Goodrich, MI  NoveList read-alike: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy (Harper) “Dr. Statler, a psychologist, reformed womanizer, and new husband, is staring down his demons and trying to be a better man. Sam and Annie relocate to upstate New York to try their hand at a simpler life and to care for his dementia-ridden mother. One night Sam leaves his office and never makes it home. For fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Silent Patient.” —Vanessa Phillips, Pelion Branch Library, Pelion, SC NoveList read-alike: You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam (Ecco) “What appears on the surface to be a simple story of a family on vacation morphs into a narrative about humanity, shared fear, misconceptions of people, and more. Amanda, Clay, and their two children rent an AirBnB. Then homeowners Ruth and G.H. appear on the doorstep in a panic, and suddenly nothing is normal. For readers who enjoyed Station Eleven and The Children’s Bible.” —Marika Zemke, Commerce Township Library, Commerce Township, MI NoveList read-alike: Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook) "In a world where women and magic have been burned and bound, three sisters set about to bring power and rights back to women and in doing so, find their way back to each other. For fans of Uprooted and Circe." —Melanie Liechty, Logan Library, Logan, UT NoveList read-alike: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Plain Bad Heroines by emily m. danforth (William Morrow) "A horror-comedy centered around a New England boarding school, follows characters across four different time periods exploring themes of sexuality, female agency, authenticity, and self- worth. For readers who enjoyed Bunny." —Alicea Porterfield-Block, New York Public Library, New York, NY NoveList read-alike: The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom) "Set in 1920s Georgia, this fantastical horror story follows Maryse Boudreaux. a bootlegger seeking revenge for the killing of her family who joins a motley group of soldiers in a battle against the Ku Klux Klan. For fans of Friday Black." —Anna Mickelsen, Springfield City Library, Springfield, MA NoveList read-alike: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (Avon) "Marcus, the star of a fantasy TV series, secretly writes fanfiction and becomes online friends with April, who he asks out on a date after a post of her cosplay costume goes viral. This delicious romance deals with topics like fatphobia, dyslexia and toxic families in a way that feels real and grounded, but which does not damper the triumphant happiness of the ending. For fans of Dangerous Curves Ahead." —Christi Hawn, Naperville Public Library, Naperville, IL  NoveList read-alike: Well Played by Jen DeLuca The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg (Random House) "Revisits the small town of Whistle Stop, Alabama. Dot, the postmistress, sends out a yearly Christmas letter and brings the former residents up to speed with one another. Each chapter focuses on a different year, from the thirties through the present day, tied together with Dot’s annual letter. For readers who enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." —Sharon Hutchinson, Keytesville Library, Keytesville, MO NoveList read-alike: The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues by Edward Kelsey Moore

October 2020 Hall of Fame Authors

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 our Hall of Fame.

Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (Berkley Jove) “Another enjoyable addition to the Bromance Book Club series. One of the elements I like about this series is how the author uses the book club as a tool to analyze various themes within the romance genre. This one was particularly good because it dealt with abandonment and forgiveness.” —Erica Naranjo, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, CA  Read-alike: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne Read-alike: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (Gallery Books) “Mae and Andrew's families always vacation together at Christmas. This year's no different, except Mae keeps experiencing the same days over and over, à la Groundhog Day. Can she get out of the loop long enough to tell Andrew she's in love with him? Christina Lauren doesn’t disappoint!” —Michelle Magnotta, Greenburgh Public Library, Elmsford, NY Read-alike: Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan Read-alike: The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez Invisible Girl A Novel by Lisa Jewell (Atria Books) “A teenage girl disappears. A loner living where she was last seen is taken into custody. Case closed? Nothing is this book is that simple. Jewell is a master at complex characters and plots that keep the reader constantly guessing.” —Linda Quinn, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT Read-alike: The Party by Robyn Harding  Read-alike: The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen Love Your Life A Novel by Sophie Kinsella (The Dial Press) “Ava and Matt’s whirlwind romance at a writers’ retreat turns upside down when they return to London and really get to know one another. Kinsella delivers another charming rom-com full of quirky characters and lighthearted humor.” —Annabelle Mortensen, Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL Read-alike: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters  Read-alike: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall Magic Lessons The Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (Simon and Schuster) “In the 1600s, witch/healer Hannah Owens finds a baby girl abandoned in a basket guarded by a crow. The resulting tale provides the backstory to the ‘Owens curse’ central to Hoffman’s 1995 novel. Those who’ve read Practical Magic will want a re-read after devouring this prequel.” —Donna Ballard, East Meadow Public Library, East Meadow, NY Read-alike: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield  Read-alike: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry The Searcher A Novel by Tana French (Viking) “Cal is an ex-Chicago cop now living in a small Irish town. His hopes for a quiet retirement are dashed when he’s drawn into local intrigue. With intricate plotting and an atmosphere thick as fog, this standalone combines the attitude of the Dublin Murder Squad with the politics of small town life.” —Caitlin Loving, Bedford Public Library, Bedford, NH Read-alike: Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell  Read-alike: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn