LibraryReads: June 2026

      

 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. 

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the June 2026 list.... 

MaggieMaggie O'FO'Farrarrell

Land: A Novel

(Knopf(Knopf)

A breathtakingly beautiful story of one Irish family and the fates of its members as they navigate the world in the years just after the Great Famine. O'Farrell's rich writing vividly captures both the characters and the wild beauty of the Irish landscape, creating an unforgettable and emotionally riveting narrative that will have readers rapt.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Clear by Carys Davies

Now the rest of the list...

The Children

Melissa Albert

(William Morrow)

Childhood in their family's isolated Vermont farmhouse was magical for siblings Guin and Ellis, until it wasn't. Years later, facades and a carefully curated life begin to crack, and they must face the truths of what happened two decades ago. This page-turning novel is full of magic and heartbreak.

—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ

NoveList read-alike: The Book of Love by Kelly Link

The Housewife

Natalie Barelli

(Poisoned Pen Press)

Jodie can't go to the police with suspicions about how her husband’s first wife died, because she's hiding

something too. The secrets are on a collision course, with an early twist that only breeds more questions. The suspense builds steadily and the payoff genuinely delivers, keeping readers second-guessing right up to the last page.

—Lupe Herrera, Mount Pleasant Public Library, TX

NoveList read-alike: The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Villa Coco: A Novel

Andrew Sean Greer

(Doubleday)

“Our young man" narrates this quirky story of falling in love with Tuscany while doing all manner of work (except the work he was actually hired for, cataloging her belongings) for the wealthy 92-year-old

Baronessa. Odd developments, interesting relationships, and excellent storytelling combine for a winning summer read.

—Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO

NoveList read-alike: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle 

The Shampoo Effect: A Novel    

Jenny Jackson

(Pamela Dorman Books)

Caroline receives a scholarship and moves into a cottage near the shore of Massachusetts. There, she meets an attractive young man and is drawn into his friend group. Caroline finds it challenging to fit in and discovers there’s a lot of baggage among these friends as well as a few secrets. This novel is a fantastic character-driven read.

—Toni Nako, Cincinnati Public Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

Tropesick

Lauren Okie

(Avon)

A clever, wink-and-a-nod masterpiece that is as much a puzzle as a romance. Katie and Tyler find that the

romantic conventions they are writing for a reclusive author are manifesting in their real lives. The novel playfully deconstructs the mechanics of fate and storytelling. A joyful celebration of the genre that manages to be both self-aware satire and deeply felt love story.

—Lee V., New York Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

The Disaster Gay Detective Agency    

Lev AC Rosen

(Poisoned Pen Press)

When Brandon leaves his front desk duty and sleeps with a handsome hotel guest who then disappears, his campy group of friends gets pulled into a murder mystery they might just regret. This is a light- hearted wild goose chase with spying dog walkers, tattooed assassins, and a lovelorn desk clerk certain that his one night stand was anything but.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX

NoveList read-alike: A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas Didomizio

Marion: A Novel    

Leah Rowan

(St. Martin's Press)

This gripping and darkly entertaining reimagining of Psycho will keep readers hooked from start to finish. The story is fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of twists, with a protagonist who is messy, morally complex, and impossible not to follow. Rowan balances suspense, dark humor, and chaos in a way that makes the book both thrilling and oddly fun.

—Amanda Ladd, DeRuyter Free Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: Molka by Monika Kim

Scandal of the Summer        

Alexandra Vasti

(St. Martin's Griffin)

Three ladies masquerading as royal staff at a secluded villa clash with a band of smugglers posing as the

actual servants. When Captain Malcolm Archer tries to scare them off, the clever Lady Ruby refuses to budge, sparking a fierce, witty battle of wits in this spicy grumpy/sunshine Regency romance.

—Nicole Guerra-Coon, Morrill Memorial Library, MA

NoveList read-alike: Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

The Jellyfish Problem        

Tessa Yang

(Berkley)

Blaming herself for her co-writer’s fatal diving accident, a heartbroken scientist studying jellyfish accepts an invitation to a troubled Maine island. When she discovers an unknown creature that locals want to exterminate, she is plunged into a mystery of loss and connection. A book readers will savor and remember.

—Di Herald, Mesa County Libraries, CO

NoveList read-alike: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Board Bonus pick:

Sublimation

Isabel J. Kim

(Tor Books) 

Notable Nonfiction: 

   

The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss  

Robert Macfarlane

(W. W. Norton & Co)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

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. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.

Andrews, Mary Kay    

Road Trip      

St. Martin's Press    

 

Arden, Katherine    

The Unicorn Hunters: A Novel    

Del Rey      

Benedict, Marie and Victoria Christopher Murray    

A Pair of Aces        

Berkley           

              

Hall, Alexis    

Father Material        

SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca       

                   

Jewell, Lisa    

It Could Have Been Her    

Atria Books         

Patchett, Ann    

Whistler: A Novel    

Harper     

Poston, Ashley   

The Someday Garden        

Berkley            

 

See, Lisa    

Daughters of the Sun and Moon    

Scribner