RA FOR ALL...THE ROAD SHOW!

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Wednesday, May 15, 2024

LibraryReads: June 2024

       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.

Ed note for the June 2024 list: There are 15 Hall of Fame Authors!!!! That is a list and a half of books and authors that would NOT have been given the promotion on the LR list this month without the Hall of Fame. Also there are 2 Horror books on the list [Malerman and Tremblay]. I have added my reviews of these titles below.

Now let's get to the June 2024 list.... 



Sandwich: A Novel
Catherine Newman
(Harper)

This story focuses on Rocky, a woman filled with menopausal rage and immense love for her family. The witty banter and poignant musings will have readers laughing hysterically while mopping up tears a few pages later. This is a no-brainer for fans of Ann Patchett and those who enjoy a good family drama. Perfect for women's book discussion groups.

—Robin Beerbower, LibraryReads Ambassador, AZ
NoveList read-alike: Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore

Now for the rest of the June 2024 list!

Swift River

Essie Chambers
(Simon & Schuster)

In this heartbreaking debut set in the 1980s, Diamond, a Black girl growing up in New England town, feels like a misfitWhen she gets a letter from an estranged branch of the family, everything she thought she knew about herself is turned upside- down. Secrets from the women that came before her allow Diamond to realize her full potential.

—Kaite Stover, Kansas City Public Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis

Love Letters to a Serial Killer: A Novel
Tasha Coryell
(Berkley Books)

Twisty denouements abound in this psychological suspense about a woman falling for a suspected serial killer as she corresponds with him in jail. The author is able to depict the questionable choices of a down-on-her-luck woman who naively becomes entangled with a dangerous man. This is a darkly humorous, sexy, and entertaining thriller.

—Andrienne Cruz, Azusa City Library, CA
NoveList read-alike: I Told You This Would Happen by Elaine Murphy

That Night in the Library
Eva Jurczyk
(Poisoned Pen Press)

A group of students gather for a party in the library's basement the night before graduation. Things quickly go awry, and bodies start piling up. There are seven main characters and multiple POVs, but readers will be able to keep up thanks to Jurczyk’s witty writing. It’s a bonus to get an inside look at a rare books library.

—Danielle Hansard, Westland Public Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: If We Were Villains by ML Rio

Same As It Ever Was: A Novel

Claire Lombardo
(Doubleday Books)

Julia is in her late fifties and seemingly has it all, but a chance meeting with an old acquaintance quickly uncovers the fissures in her carefully constructed existence. Lombardo skillfully moves back and forth in Julia's life with an incredible gift for writing seemingly mundane but charged moments in her characters' lives.

—Alisa Stanfield, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL
NoveList read-alike: Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close

The Housemaid Is Watching
Freida McFadden
(Poisoned Pen Press)

Millie's just moved into her dream house but soon discovers it may not be as ideal as she'd hoped, with strange neighbors and happenings in the house. Those unfamiliar with the first two Housemaid books will still enjoy this standalone novel, an engrossing, psychological thriller with plot twists that will keep readers guessing.

—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
Kirsten Miller
(William Morrow)

Lula Dean's mission is to rid schools and libraries of all books she deems inappropriate, and she erects a Little Free Library filled with her chosen titles. But someone is changing the books by leaving the covers and substituting a wide variety of banned books. This timely tale shows how hate is banished and books can better your life when not restricted.

—Judy G. Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Bookish People by Susan Coll

Service Model
Adrian Tchaikovsky
(Tordotcom)

This is a hilariously biting dystopian tale about a world where human civilization has collapsed and robots are stuck in poorly programmed loops that cause them suffering. We follow the adventures of a valet robot as he wanders across a bleak post- apocalyptic landscape, seeking a position where he can be of service to humans. Give this to Murderbot fans.

—Ariel Zeitlin, Montclair Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Chosen Twelve by James Breakwell

Margo's Got Money Troubles
Rufi Thorpe
(William Morrow)

A heartwarming and luminous coming-of-age tale of a 20-year-old single mother trying to make it on OnlyFans. Readers will be rooting for Margo and will fall in love with the wacky cast of characters, especially her dad. Thorpe perfectly captures the intensity of caring for a newborn while crafting a smart and relatable heroine.

—Shannon Gruber, River Forest Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin

Shelterwood: A Novel
Lisa Wingate
(Ballantine Books)

In this emotional dual narrative, National Parks Ranger Val is determined to solve a mystery surrounding the recently uncovered gravesite of three children. Shifting to the early 1900s, the narrative expands to expose the abuse of Choctaw children and feature the women crusading against illegal child labor at the dawn of Oklahoma’s statehood.

—Erin Downey Howerton, Wichita Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Board Bonus picks:

Fire Exit: A Novel
Morgan Talty
(Tin House)

One of Our Kind: A Novel
Nicola Yoon
(Knopf)

Notable Nonfiction:

12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic
Jen Ruiz
(Blackstone)

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.

Winter Lost
Patricia Briggs
(Ace Books)

NoveList read-alike: S.P.E.A.R. Mission Files series by Ileandra Young

The Rom-Commers
Katherine Center
(St. Martin's Press)

NoveList read-alike: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

The Next Mrs. Parrish
Liv Constantine
(Bantam)

NoveList read-alike: The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

The Midnight Feast
Lucy Foley
(William Morrow)

NoveList read-alike: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Not In Love
Ali Hazelwood
(Berkley Books)

NoveList read-alike: The Build Up by Tati Richardson

Swan Song
Elin Hilderbrand
(Little, Brown and Co.)

NoveList read-alike: Summer on Highland Beach by Sunny Hostin

Tangled Up In You: A Meant to Be Novel
Christina Lauren
(Hyperion Avenue)

NoveList read-alike: How to Find a Princess by Jasmine Guillory

Incidents Around the House
Josh Malerman
(Del Rey Books)

NoveList read-alike: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

Summer Romance
Annabel Monaghan
(G.P. Putnam's Sons)

NoveList read-alike: This Summer will Be Different by Carley Fortune

What You Leave Behind
Wanda M. Morris
(William Morrow)

NoveList read-alike: A Spy in the Struggle by Aya DeLeon

A Novel Love Story
Ashley Poston
(Berkley Books)

NoveList read-alike: Eighty Days to Elsewhere by KC Dyer

Middle of the Night
Riley Sager
(Dutton)

NoveList read-alike: Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

A Talent for Murder
Peter Swanson
(William Morrow)

NoveList read-alike: Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

Horror Movie: A Novel
Paul Tremblay
(William Morrow)

NoveList read-alike: Burn the Negative by Joshua Winning

Husbands & Lovers
Beatriz Williams
(Ballantine Books)

NoveList read-alike: Homecoming by Kate Morton

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