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 August 2026 list....
Turner, Dawn
Majestic Hills
Scribner
Dr. Blaque just wants to live somewhere quiet, and his wife Josephine—wary of the suburbs—agrees to move on a one-year trial basis. At first, their predominantly white neighbors seem like the picture-perfect, friendly community, but after an awful crime, prejudice starts showing up in full force. As the year deadline creeps closer, the couple wonders: can they make it, or is their marriage—and safety—about to blow up?
--Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL
NoveList read-alike: Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar
And now the rest of the list....
Blake, Olivie
Dreamland
Tor Books
Anya's an ambitious actress looking for her big break in L.A. At a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of famed Emmanuelle de Witt, who hires her as a personal assistant and invites her to the de Witt Villa. Anya quickly realizes the family’s image hides something sinister. As Anya gets involved in the family drama, the question becomes whether or not she'll be able to survive it.
--Rachel Gable, Milanof-Schock Library, PA
NoveList read-alike: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-GarciaGardner, Lisa
You'll Be Sorry
Grand Central Publishing
In a small town, a new couple is restoring an abandoned estate where a family of six mysteriously disappeared decades ago. They find a body in an abandoned well, witches, pirate treasure, and a police chief who is desperate to solve this cold case. This is a book readers won’t be able to put down.
--Judy G Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Buyer, Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard
Johnston, Anna
When Lemons Give You Life
William Morrow
In this tender, heartwarming read, a man fakes dementia to be in a nursing home alongside his husband. This story acknowledges hard realities about Alzheimer's and senior care, lovingly blending the sweet and cozy with the serious and sour, much like a lemon tart.
--Stephanie Larkins, Westmont Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer
Kang, Minyoung (tr. Shanna Tan)
Plant Lady
Berkley
This cozy, literary horror story, translated from the original Korean, is about a plant shop entrepreneur and former office worker. In addition to changing careers to something that makes her happiest, she helps change the lives of numerous female customers. This novella germinates quietly, blossoming into a garden of vengeance.
--Maggie Hurle, Anythink Library Rangeview Library District, CO
NoveList read-alike: Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Moriarty, Jaclyn
Time Travel for Beginners
Berkley
When Anna is offered a job at The Time Travel Agency, she expects to have to promote a scam. Instead she finds friendly colleagues and a rich life in many pasts, all for her choosing. This charming story about ordinary people features well-rounded characters, a touch of romantic tension, suspenseful danger, and a satisfying ending. The lessons about quantum physics are also surprisingly understandable.
—Sally Leahey, McArthur Library (ret.), ME
NoveList read-alike: The Second Chance Year by Melissa Weisner
Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., eds.
Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II
Vintage
This horror anthology delivers in SPADES. In fact, it's hard to decide whether to read just one story each night or binge the whole thing in one sitting. Featuring a mix of established horror authors and exciting new voices, this is an accomplished collection of creepy tales.
--Jason Wells, Poquoson Library, VA
NoveList read-alike: Out There Screaming ed. by Jordan Peele
Sue, Natalie
You’ll Love It Here
William Morrow
Becoming a reluctant building super pulls Mona into a cast of eccentric neighbors. A warm, grown-up version of The Breakfast Club: funny, tender, and quietly affirming, with sharp humor and found-family vibes. Perfect for readers feeling stuck, burnt out, or who just need a reminder that sometimes belonging shows up in the messiest places.
—Robin F., Librarian, PA
NoveList read-alike: T he Storied L if e of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Viall, Grace
(Mostly) Human Resources
Crooked Lane Books
9798892427753
8/4/2026
Alexys joins a corporation in the Appalachian Mountains that handles cryptic creatures, records sightings, and conducts missions to handle the most dangerous beings. This book starts out cozy with straight-from-folklore tales, and slowly introduces horror aspects that will grab the reader's attention.
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--Marlene Robles Ortiz, Placer County Library, CA
NoveList read-alike: Mothman is My Boyfriend by McKayla Coyle
Yu, Stacey
Kitten: A Novel
Random House
Katie is floundering in adulthood—no friends, no job, estranged mother, and soon, no apartment. A vacation with her boyfriend sparks an obsession with his elderly cat, Silver. With Katie's obsession growing deeper and her life and relationships unraveling, will she be able to pull herself back together? A coming of age story that is great for fans of Sylvia Plath and Ottessa Moshfegh.
--Kari Bingham-Gutierrez, Olathe Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: Piglet by Lottie Hazell
Shay, K.S.
Portrait of a Witch Undone
Erewhon Books
Ha, Robin
Instant Noodles and Beyond: A Comic Book with Recipes for Souped-Up Ramen, Mac & Cheese, and More
William Morrow
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. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.
Bennett, Robert Jackson
A Trade of Blood
Del Rey
Bohjalian, Chris
The Amateur: A Novel
Doubleday
Cabot, Meg
The Magic We Made
Avon
Constantine, Liv
Promise Me Never: A Novel
Bantam
DeWitt, Tarah
Lost and Found
St. Martin's Griffin
Hillier, Jennifer
Heart of Glass
Minotaur Books
Kingfisher, T.
Daggerbound
Bramble
McAllister, Gillian
That Night
William Morrow
McFadden, Freida
Brain Damage
Poisoned Pen Press
McMahon, Jennifer
Stay Buried
Gallery Books
Pekkanen, Sarah
The Women in White
St. Martin's Press
Sager, Riley
The Unknown: A Novel
Dutton
9798217044092
Slaughter, Karin
The Secrets We Hide
William Morrow
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