RA FOR ALL...THE ROAD SHOW!

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Monday, November 15, 2021

LibraryReads: December 2021

    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 that list.... 

  

Announcing the November 2021 LibraryReads List!

The Ballerinas: A Novel 

by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

St. Martin's Press


“Delphine is returning to Paris to choreograph her own ballet. Here she meets up with her lifelong friends and fellow dancers Margaux and Lindsay. This absorbing and thrilling character-driven novel explores the world of ballet and its mysteries

and secrets. Give to fans of Luster, Trust Exercise, and My Dark Vanessa.”


—Terri Smith, Cornelia Library, Mt. Airy, GA 

NoveList read-alike: The Turn-Out by Megan Abbott

And now the rest of the list:


Beasts of a Little Land: A Novel 

by Juhea Kim

Ecco

“Hauntingly tragic and beautifully tender, the story of Jade Ahn is interwoven with the fate of Korea in the early 20th century. Jade is apprenticed to a courtesan at a young age, and her friendships there form an unbreakable bond that leads them through multiple tragedies and loves. Recommended for fans of Min Jin Lee and Amy Tan.”

—Joy Matteson, Downers Grove Public Library, Downers Grove, IL 
NoveList read-alike: If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim

Bright Burning Things: A Novel 

by Lisa Harding

HarperVia

“A searing portrait of addiction and recovery, told in the voice of Sonya, a former actress, raging alcoholic, and mother to four-year-old Tommy. When she almost sets the house on fire, her father forces her to rehab, if not for her sake, then for Tommy's. Sonya travels the difficult road to reintegrate into society and reclaim her beloved son. For fans of Shuggie Bain and All Fall Down. ”

—Lisa Burris, Bear Public Library, Bear, DE
NoveList read-alike: Catch Us When We Fall by Juliette Fay

The Cat Who Saved Books: A Novel 

by Sosuke Natsukawa

HarperVia

“A used bookstore, a grieving teen with an appreciation of reading, and a talking cat! What more could you ask of a fantasy? Throw in a mission to free lost and damaged books and a bit of readers' advisory, and you have a thoughtful exploration of the truths behind the pleasures of reading. For fans of author Roselle Lim and The Little Paris Bookshop.”

—Lucy Lockley, St. Charles City-County Library, St. Peters, MO 
NoveList read-alike: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi


A History of Wild Places: A Novel 

by Shea Ernshaw

Atria Books

“Travis has a gift: when he touches something, he experiences the memories associated with it. His path to find a missing author leads him to a remote commune. Then he too disappears. When one of the residents of that commune finds his truck years later, he realizes that the darkness they fled may already be in Pastoral. For fans of Saint X and The Girls.”

—Deborah Smith, Weber County Library, Roy, UT 
NoveList read-alike: Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt

 

The Love Con 

by Seressia Glass

Berkley Jove

“Engineer Kenya is a finalist on the reality show Cosplay or No Way, but to win she needs pal Cam to pretend he’s her boyfriend. This is a fun friends-to- lovers, fake dating romance that will best suit folks into cosplay, cons, or geeky pursuits. For fans of Jen Deluca and Sara Desai.”

—Alezandra Troiani, Sno-Isle Libraries, Marysville, WA 
NoveList read-alike: Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert

Murder Under Her Skin: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery

By Stephen Spotswood

Doubleday

“These fun throwback hard- boiled mysteries feature two female sleuths in the post- war 1940s--Lillian Pentecost, an unorthodox Brooklyn detective, and her unlikely partner, circus runaway Will Parker. Their second case involves a murder at Will’s former circus, and is perfect for readers of Rex Stout and Agatha Christie.”

—Patti Cheney, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ
NoveList read-alike: Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood


My Darling Husband: A Novel 

by Kimberly Belle

Park Row

“Atlanta restaurateur Cam Lasky seemingly has it all, until a fire at his eatery and a terrifying home invasion threaten to destroy all he holds dear. With multiple perspectives adding to the mystery, this is another clever, fast-paced thriller from Belle. For readers of Lisa Gardner and Chevy Stevens.”

—Jayme Oldham, Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park, IL 
NoveList read-alike: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The Replacement Wife

By Darby Kane

William Morrow Paperbacks

"Elisa's best friend, fiancée to her brother-in-law Josh, has disappeared and no one else seems worried. Elisa is suspicious of Josh, especially since he already has one dead wife. Will anyone believe her before it’s too late? For readers of The Girl on the Train and other unreliable-narrator thrillers.”

—Chris Markley, Kingsport Public Library, Kingsport, TN 
NoveList read-alike: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

True Crime Story: A Novel 

by Joseph Knox

Sourcebooks Landmark

“What happened to Zoe Nolan? She walked out of her dorm room and hasn’t been seen since. Knox weaves together interviews, emails, and police reports into an immersive missing persons case that will leave readers gasping for breath up until the last page. For fans of The Word Is Murder and the Six Stories series.”

—Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, Merrick, NY
NoveList read-alike: Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar



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.


Click here to access the Hall of Fame Archive with annotations and readalikes

 

The Midnight Hour 

by Elly Griffiths

Mariner Books


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