RA FOR ALL...THE ROAD SHOW!

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Wednesday, December 15, 2021

LibraryReads: January 2022

    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.... 

  

January 2022 LibraryReads List!

 


The Maid 
by Nita Prose
Ballantine Books

“As a maid in a posh hotel, Molly is very proud of her work and the care she takes of the guests, even though she often has difficulty navigating social cues. When she finds a wealthy guest dead, she never imagines she has the keys to uncover a killer, and finds, after the death of her beloved Gran, there are many people willing to help her. For fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and How Lucky.”

—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ 
NoveList read-alike: Pretty as a Picture by Elizabeth Little

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections: A Novel 

by Eva Jurczyk

Poisoned Pen Press

“When the director of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections suffers a stroke, Liesl is put in charge. Then a newly acquired manuscript goes missing, and Liesl’s leadership is questioned. A fast read that features older and imperfect characters, and addresses mental illness. For fans of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore and The Lions of Fifth Avenue.”

—Alison Zaya, Lowell Library, Lowell, MA
NoveList read-alike: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Electric Idol 

by Katee Robert

Sourcebooks Casablanca

“A fantastic, modern retelling of the old myth of Psyche and Eros. Their romance is lovely, exploring the trope of fake relationships and forced marriage while both characters are struggling to make it out alive. For those who loved Neon Gods and Lore Olympus."

—Brenna Timm, High Plains Library District, Greeley, CO 
NoveList read-alike: Dark Desires series by Zara Cox

A Flicker in the Dark: A Novel 

by Stacey Willingham

Minotaur Books

“Chloe knows what it’s like to be judged and whispered about, and how it feels to have your family torn apart by a serial killer: your own father. Now on the 20th anniversary of the murders, bodies start turning up, and she finds herself in the middle of the investigation. Unique, riveting, and thrilling. For fans of Jennifer McMahon and Laura Lippman.”

—Shellie Taylor, Iredell County Library, Statesville, NC
NoveList read-alike: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Must Love Books 

by Shauna Robinson

Sourcebooks Landmark

“An inspiring romcom debut that tackles the question “Are you happy?” After five years of working for a publisher, Nora gets a pay cut instead of an expected promotion. She decides to work freelance on the side for a competitor, which leads to a hectic juggling of business and personal relationships. For fans of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and Beach Read.”

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: My Salinger Year by Joanna Smith Rakoff

The Overnight Guest: A Novel 

by Heather Gudenkauf

Park Row

“A violent, suspenseful page turner with a compelling plot: A young girl narrowly escapes harm when her parents are shot dead in their home and her brother and best friend (who was sleeping over) disappear. The story then toggles to follow a true-crime writer investigating the town years later. For fans of Dark Places and When You See Me.”

—Heidi Sandiford, Hillsdale Free Public Library, Hillsdale, NJ 
NoveList read-alike: Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Reckless Girls: A Novel 

Rachel Hawkins

St. Martin's Press

“When Lux and her boyfriend agree to ferry two women to a beautiful island near Hawaii, it seems like the perfect refuge for Lux, who’s still grieving her mother’s death. But then more people join them on the island and they find danger lurking everywhere. Give this inventive slow-burn thriller to fans of Ruth Ware and Riley Sager.”

—Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburg, OH 
NoveList read-alike: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

The Roughest Draft 

By Emily Wibberley; Austin Siegemund-Broka

Berkley

“In this bookish romance, two estranged co-authors are pressured into fulfilling the last book on their contract after their relationship goes haywire. It's always fun to read about the writing/publishing process, and there’s great chemistry between the leads. For fans of Christina Lauren and Emily Henry.”

— Rebecca Swanson, Fitchburg Public Library, Fitchburg, WI 
NoveList read-alike: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams


The School for Good Mothers: A Novel 

by Jessamine Chan

Simon & Schuster

“When recently-divorced Frida leaves her daughter home alone, she’s sentenced to a reeducation center where she must prove she's a good mom by bonding with a lifelike doll. This chilling dystopian novel highlights how performative and competitive parenting can be; for readers of The Handmaid’s Tale and Klara and the Sun.”

—Elizabeth Zielinski, Olathe Public Library, Olathe, KS 
NoveList read-alike: Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh

Weather Girl 

by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Berkley

“Ari and Russell scheme to get their feuding divorced bosses back together, Parent Trap-style, and regain peace in the workplace. Instead, they find love. A touching, surprisingly weighty romance, exploring issues of depression and body image and incorporating glimpses of Jewish faith. For fans of Get a Life, Chloe Brown and The Matzah Ball.”

—Alicia Ahlvers, Henrico County Public Library, Henrico, VA 
NoveList read-alike: The Marriage Code by Brooke Burroughs




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 Accomplice: A Novel 

by Lisa Lutz

Ballantine Books


Her Hidden Genius

By Marie Benedict

Sourcebooks Landmark


The Last House on the Street: A Novel 

by Diane Chamberlain

St. Martin's Press


The Magnolia Palace: A Novel 

by Fiona Davis

Dutton

Where the Drowned Girls Go 

by Seanan McGuire

Tordotcom

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