RA FOR ALL...THE ROAD SHOW!

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Monday, November 16, 2020

LibraryReads: December 2020

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.
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.


Now let's get to that list.... 

Announcing the December LibraryReads List!

How to Fail at Flirting 

by Denise Williams

(Berkley Jove)


“Naya, a straight-laced professor, meets charismatic Jake at a bar. He might check off one item on Naya's boundary-pushing to-do list—if only he wasn't in charge of defunding her department at the university. How can they balance a relationship and a professional career? For fans of The Kiss Quotient, The Wedding Date, and The Hating Game.”

—Kari Bingham-Gutierrez, Olathe Public Library, Olathe, KS 
NoveList read-alike: The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel

The rest of the list.....

________________________


The Arctic Fury: A Novel 

by Greer Macallister

(Sourcebooks Landmark)


“Virginia Reeve is a take-no- prisoners adventurer and trail guide when she's asked by a mysterious benefactor to lead a group of 12 women to find the lost captain of the shipwrecked vessel "The Franklin." Not for the squeamish or easily offended, this thrilling read is recommended for those who enjoyed Into the Wild and In the Kingdom of Ice.”

—Joy Matteson, Downers Grove Public Library, Downers Grove, IL 
NoveList read-alike: The North Water by Ian McGuire

How to Catch a Queen: Runaway Royals 

by Alyssa Cole

(Avon)


"Shanti and Sanyu are in an arranged marriage, thrown together as his father the King lays dying. As they begin to work together to better the kingdom, they grow closer. Cole weaves humor into the storyline in a way that does not undercut the themes of political action, equity, and adaptation. And as always, Cole's female characters are driven, smart, sexy, and savvy. For fans of Talia Hibbert and Alexa Martin.”

—Sarah Skrobis, Staunton Public Library, Staunton, VA 
NoveList read-alike: The Betting Vow by K.M. Jackson

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder: A Novel 

by T.A. Willberg

(Park Row)

“Marion is a new recruit of a detective agency that works undercover and under the streets of London. When she gets involved in investigating the death of one of their own agents, she is not sure who she can trust, or what forces are working against her.This is a great start to a new series that is perfect for Agatha Christie and Harry Potter fans alike.”

—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, Huntington Station, NY
NoveList read-alike: Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart


Pretty Little Wife: A Novel 

by Darby Kane

(William Morrow Paperbacks)

“When Aaron doesn't show up for work and no one hears from him, an unofficial investigation begins. What secrets is Lila, his beautiful wife, keeping? The more the police discover, the more questions they have. A thriller for fans of Gone Girl and The Last Mrs. Parrish.”

—Chris Markley, Kingsport Public Library, Kingsport, TN
NoveList read-alike: No One Knows by J.T. Ellison

Take It Back: A Novel 

by Kia Abdullah

(St. Martin's Press)


"Jodie, a teen with facial deformities, accuses four Muslim boys of raping her after a party. Jodie’s mom, her best friend, and her classmates don’t believe her. The only one who believes her is Zara Kaleel, a former high powered attorney who now works as a sexual assault advocate. For fans of The Holdout and Night Swim."

—Yvonne Selander, Somerset County Public Library, Bridgewater, NJ
NoveList read-alike: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

Ten Rules for Faking It 

by Sophie Sullivan

(St. Martin's Griffin)


"Anxious Evelyn becomes a sudden podcast star and the romance she was sure was a one-way street, maybe isn’t anymore. She can’t let her nerves get in the way of happiness.
Did I mention that the leading man is completely swoony? For readers who enjoyed The Roommate."

—Emily Flynn, Berkeley County Library System, Summerville, SC
NoveList read-alike: Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke: A Difficult Dukes Novel 

by Loretta Chase

(Avon)


"In the second book of the Difficult Dukes series, Cassandra Pomfret has a reputation for having strong opinions and not keeping them to herself. Lucius, the Duke of Ashmont, is a devastatingly handsome trouble maker. Let the battle of wills begin. For readers who enjoyed The Rules of Scoundrels series or the Bow Street Bachelors series."

—Jessica McGee, Red Wing Public Library, Red Wing, MN
NoveList read-alike: The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman


This Time Next Year 

by Sophie Cousens

(Putnam)


"Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton were born in the same hospital on January 1, 1990. After a series of missed connections, they are about to meet again on New Year’s Day 2020. This Time Next Year hits the perfect note for readers who enjoyed Bridget Jones' Diary and the original Shopaholic."

—Janet Schneider, Peninsula Public Library, Lawrence, NY
NoveList read-alike: One Day in December by Josie Silver

The Wrong Family: A Thriller 

by Tarryn Fisher

(Graydon House)


"The Crouches—Winnie, Nigel, and their teenage son Samuel—are perfect on the outside. In reality, Winnie is controlling, Nigel is tuned out, and confused Samuel is trying to forge his own identity. Juno, a former therapist who has become attracted to the Crouches, gets caught up in their family drama and takes the story in a surprising direction. For fans of Ruth Ware and B. A. Paris."

—Connie Laing, Great River Regional Library, St. Cloud, MN
NoveList read-alike: Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy


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.

 

The Dark Archive 

by Genevieve Cogman

(Ace)


“Time-traveling librarian/spy Irene Winters is having a week: dodging assassins, training a Fae intern, and contending with her dragon lover’s meddling brother. Colorful characters, a lightning pace, and a surprising revelation will please fans of Cogman’s Invisible Library series.”

—Lucy Lockley, St. Charles City County Library, St. Peters, MO
Read-alike: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Read-alike: The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
Read-alike: Ex Libris: Stories of Librarians, Libraries, and Lore edited by Paula Guran



The Mystery of Mrs. Christie: A Novel

by Marie Benedict

(Sourcebooks Landmark)


"Taking the 11 days that Agatha Christie went missing in the 1920s and adding a fictional twist, Benedict produces this gem of a historical novel with psychological thriller overtones. This novel appeals on so many levels; there is much to love and discuss here.”

—Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore, MD
Read-alike: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
Read-alike: The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey
Read-alike: And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall



Perestroika in Paris: A Novel 

by Jane Smiley

(Knopf)


“Smiley writes the perfect book to help you escape: Like Charlotte’s Web for grown-ups (but no spiders die!). Lovable, charming animals--an adventurous racehorse, a lonely dog, a know-it- all raven, a pair of ducks--interact with one another and with the compassionate humans they encounter in the City of Lights.”

Nancy Wiseman, Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel, IN
Read-alike: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Read-alike: Sirius by Jonathan Crown
Read-alike: A Dog’s Life by Peter Mayle

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