Eds note: I am one day late posting this due to StokerCon
It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All
- I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.
Now let's get to the July 2025 list....
The Enchanted Greenhouse
Sarah Beth Durst
(Bramble)
On a remote island during a snowstorm, outside a magical greenhouse, Turlu the librarian wakes from her punishment as a statue—fully human again, and really cold. How did she get here? How was she freed Who is the mysterious and attractive gardener, and can he help? Readers of cozy fantasy will be enchanted with this parallel story set in the world of The Spellshop.
Now for the rest of the July 2025 list!
[With access to my reviews where applicable]
How to Survive a Horror Story
Mallory Arnold
(Poisoned Pen Press)
Seven strangers, all horror writers, are brought together for a reading of the will of Mortimer Queen. They have to survive the night in a classic old house. There are riddles, secrets, tales within tales, and a bit of gore wrapped up into an intricate and pulse-pounding evening. This debut is sure to appeal to fans of mystery and horror.
—Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Typewriter Beach
Meg Waite Clayton
(Harper)
A Hollywood starlet is sent to a cottage until her "condition" goes away. She creates a masterpiece with the outcast screenwriter next door. Years later, the screenwriter's granddaughter returns, finding closure with the legendary actress. Under the shimmer of 1950s movie magic and the shadows of the McCarthy era, this romantic, moody mystery spotlights life in front of the camera.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: Death Upon a Star by Amy Meade
Party of Liars
Kelsey Cox
(Minotaur Books)
A sweet 16 party at a Texas mansion takes a deadly turn. A host of unsavory narrators add to the story, revealing a myriad of shocking secrets. Multiple intertwined characters help create a sense of urgency and intrigue, contributing to a buildup of suspense to a shocking conclusion.
—Cyndi Larsen, Avon Free Public Library, CT
NoveList read-alike: The Block Party by Jamie Day
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes
Sandra Jackson-Opoku
(Minotaur Books)
Savvy Summers is trying to keep her soul food cafe on the South Side of Chicago open, despite a customer being murdered via one of her own pies. She and her coworker, Penny Lopés, attempt to solve the case while fending off developers. This series has fun characters and good food, as well as interesting history and culture.
—Becky Abbott, Santa Fe Public Library, NM
NoveList read-alike: Body & Soul Food by Abby Collette
Not Quite Dead Yet: A Novel
Holly Jackson
(Bantam)
Jet Mason has seven days to solve her own murder after being attacked on Halloween. Throughout the week, she uncovers shocking hidden truths about her family and community. This incredibly propulsive adult debut from a YA powerhouse author lives up to the incredible hook. Feisty, snarky Jet is such a fun lead, and the ticking clock towards her death will keep readers flying through the pages.
—Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Don't Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine
The Library at Hellebore
Cassandra Khaw
(Tor Nightfire)
Things at school can be tough. Your roommate thinks you like her boyfriend, your friend won't shut up about her sorority, and sometimes the faculty's desire for flesh coincides inconveniently with graduation. What's a kidnapped, devil-touched girl to do? Flee to the library, of course! Come for the body horror, stay for the revolutionary spirit.
—Krista Feick, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: Book 1 of the Dearly Beloathed Duology
Brigitte Knightley
(Ace)
In a world of amazing and strange magic, a healer and a killer make an unlikely alliance that may inadvertently save the lives of thousands. This debut is an absolutely delightful spin on enemies-to- lovers with fantastic prose, intelligent characters, sarcastic and quippy conversation, and desperately denied pining.
—Brenna Timm, High Plains Library District, CO
NoveList read-alike: Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
Sangu Mandanna
(Berkley)
Sera had great powers until she performed a spell that cost nearly all of her magic. Now, there’s a chance she could get her magic back, and become more than just an innkeeper with a house full of quirky boarders under her (falling apart) roof. She will need the help of an attractive historian, a nefarious talking fox, and the rest of her hodgepodge found family. Utterly delightful, and a bit bittersweet.
—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski
The Satisfaction Cafe
Kathy Wang
(Scribner)
Taiwanese immigrant Joan realizes her childhood dream—a café where hosts ask diners questions and
provide pleasant conversation. Wang brings up the issues of sadness, isolation, and loneliness in a quiet, restrained way, and offers a graceful pragmatic character in Joan. If cafés can offer cats to make people happier, why can't true human companionship be offered?
—Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, NY
NoveList read-alike: Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto
Board Bonus picks:
Maggie; or, A Man, and a Woman Walk Into a Bar: A Novel
Katie Yee
(Scribner)
Notable Nonfiction:
The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature
Charlie English
(Random House)
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.
Overruled: A Novel
Lana Ferguson
Berkley
The Frozen People: A Mystery
Elly Griffiths
Pamela Dorman Books
She Didn't See It Coming: A Novel
Shari Lapena
Pamela Dorman Books
These Summer Storms: A Novel
Sarah MacLean
Ballantine
You Belong Here
Megan Miranda
Marysue Rucci Books
The Bewitching
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Del Rey
Link to my starred review is here
Maid for Each Other
Lynn Painter
Berkley
The Woman in Suite 11
Ruth Ware
Gallery Books
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