Quarterly issue of LJ Audio in Depth and Catching Up with Audio Resources In General

4x a year, Library Journal does an "Audio In Depth" issue. The March 2026 installment can be accessed here.

Use this link to access all of the starred audio reviews which have appeared in the magazine since the last "in depth" issue." LJ runs these Audio in Depth columns in 4 issues a year, March, June, September, and December. When you scroll down they have easy access to the backlist of columns going back to 2022, all with one click.

Backlist access to these audio reviews is key because often, audio books come out AFTER the book releases, and sometimes, there is an audio that we don't have at first, but then the book gets popular, so finding a review to go back and check to see if we can add it is important.

Also while we are on the subject of audio book resources, AudioFile magazine was acquired by Kirkus. All of AudioFiles excellent audiobook reviews are now here. However, the jury is still out on Kirkus Audiobook reviews as a resource. You can still search by Earphone winners, but the depth of searching and interviews with narrators and more, all of that does not appear to be available anymore, at least not for free.

Another great resource is of course the Audie Awards lists from this year and year's past. All of that can be accessed here.

Stay on top of your audio specific resources because narrators do matter to most audio book listeners. There are specific differences in print and audio and these resources capture that. And even if you are not purchasing for an audio collection, these reviews and resources will help you find some sure bet options to offer to your readers. 

Flashback Post: Allow People to Dislike the Books You Suggest

Today I am reposting something from 2017. There are a few reasons why I am doing this.

First, I know there is a lot of good content buried on the blog, content that I use in my live training programs, so I think more people are seeing it than they really are. I need to be better about pulling out older content that is foundational to everything I teach.

Which leads to second, in 2023 I debuted the idea of using "conversation starters" as the basis for all of your service to readers but again, the foundation for this goes back much further. Here is one of those examples of where I worked through these ideas in real time with all of you.

Third, I get new people on this journey with me all of the time. By pulling out older posts, you can see examples of what is there to find if you dig through the archives and use the tags to guide you.

So here is today's flashback post.

Call to Action: Allow People To Dislike The Books You Suggest

For today’s Call to Action, I want to remind you of something very important, something that can derail library workers as they begin to help more readers...

If patrons don't like every book you suggested to them, that’s not only okay, it is actually a good thing!

Failure in general teaches you way more than success.  But in particular, why is getting a book suggestion wrong a good thing in our work with leisure readers? Well, honestly, we learn so much more from patrons when they don’t like something. They share much more detail about what they want to read and why when they are talking about what they did not enjoy. Think about yourself. It is much easier to articulate why you disliked a book than why you liked it. And, this information helps us to fine tune future book suggestions.

Take the example from my own reading that I include on my staff reader profile exercise:

Just about every single RA resource [from computers to people] has told me over the years that I should like Outlander, but I don’t. Understanding this nuance as to why I did not like it, has helped me to not only understand how to find better books for myself, but it has also made me more aware of the intricacies in helping readers. It has also allowed me to understand that everyone makes a bad suggestion now and again and no amount of research can stop that from happening because working with people is never predictable.

Now, while failure is both inevitable and leads to more information we can use to help our patrons better, there is actually a larger, more overarching reason why getting a suggestion wrong is helpful. In general, the biggest missing piece in established RA Service in America today is feedback. I know this from my personal experience and from the hundreds of library workers I encounter in my work.

More often that not, we suggest a book or two or three to a patron and we never hear back about how we did. Many times patrons come to us over and over for suggestions without ever letting us know what they have liked or disliked about our suggestions. We can’t even get them to tell us which methods of book discovery we are providing they like the most. Now, over the years, I have worked intensely with a few patrons [I still continue to work with one from my former library, weekly] to get very specific and detailed responses to every book I suggest. This non-scientific research has been time consuming, but I have learned a few things I want to share with you.

The best way we can encourage feedback is to make time and space for conversation at the library.

People are afraid to tell us that they didn’t like the book not because they think we will get it wrong again; no, that is not what is going on at all. I have found that more often than not, they are afraid to tell us we got it wrong because they are worried that we will have hurt feelings and won’t help them anymore.

That’s right, they still want our help when we get it wrong. This fact alone should free you up to accept more failure. They don’t want to lose you, their book discovery tool. They care much less about how much they liked your suggestion than we think they do. Add to this that we, as a group of library workers serving leisure readers, are starved for more feedback and you can begin to see one of our biggest hurdles we have to taking the next step toward more robust RA Service.

So how to stop this vicious cycle and create the space to fail on a suggestion but win at RA Service overall? One of my favorite tools is to make sure every time I suggest a book to a patron that I tell him or her something like, “Based on what you have told me about the books you have enjoyed in the past, this seems like a good option. But, if you aren’t enjoying it, bring it back and let me know. I have thousands of more options. We will find the right book for you. Besides, it’s no skin off my back, I didn’t write it.”

This mix of humor with a gentle reminder that not only do I not mind criticism, but that I have so many more books that I can substitute this one “dud” with, goes a long way toward enraging feedback and creating a space where the RA Conversation can not only live but flourish.

Of course, you don’t have a physical interaction with every patron; therefore, why don’t you start including statements like this on your digital and paper lists and bibliographies, or even stick a note at the end of some of the books. Have a statement like the one above. Something like, “Let us know if you loved this book, hated it, or fell somewhere in between. We want to know so we can help you better!” Have an email address, your phone number, your Facebook page-- multiple places where feedback can be given, but you have to make sure you are letting them know that negative feedback is okay.

When we make the RA conversation-- a truly honest back and forth sharing of ideas and preferences-- our priority and stop making the book we suggest our ultimate goal, then we are encouraging the RA journey. When you encourage the journey it doesn’t matter if your patrons love every book you give them. What begins to matter is HOW they felt about the book-- positively or negatively. Then we learn what our patrons want to read and why-- each one individually and overall as a population we are serving as a whole.

When you encourage the journey and do not put the focus on yourselves [or your employees] to get every suggestion right, you encourage the feedback we all desperately crave.

Now don’t worry about having to force a failure in order to practice this Call to Action; they will come.  The more RA work you do, the more you will get wrong. And, the more you help a specific patron the more he or she will feel comfortable telling you the honest truth about how much they liked or disliked a suggestion.

Get out there and make suggestions. Don’t be afraid of failure; in fact, let the patrons know you might get it wrong and encourage them to come back and work with you more. Let them know how helpful it is for them AND you to have the most feedback-- positive and negative-- possible. It will  help them get access to the perfect book for them and it will help you to help even more readers.

For past Call to Action posts, click here.

LibraryReads: April 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 April 2026 list.... 

Burke, Caro Claire    

Yesteryear: A Novel    

Knopf    

Natalie is an influencer with a seemingly perfect life: 6 perfect children, a perfect, if simple, husband, and a perfectly beautiful Idaho farm. Never mind the dozens of workers who actually run the farm, the nannies who care for the children. And never mind the “Angry Women” online who are jealous that Natalie can afford to be a trad wife who serves her family and, most importantly, her God. Natalie wakes one morning in her house...except it's not her house—electricity has been replaced by a fire, her children are dirty, and her husband is old and gruff. Where are the hidden cameras? Where is her real family? Creative, mind-bending, and incredibly well-written, this one is sure to be a blockbuster.

—Jenny Davies, Oak Creek Public Library, WI

NoveList read-alike: T he Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore

Now the rest of the list...

Baker, Kylie Lee    

Japanese Gothic    

Hanover Square Press    

A troubled young man in 2026 begins communicating with the ghost of a female samurai from 1877 when he visits his father's new home in Japan. Both hold bloody secrets. A gory and suspenseful horror read that combines lyrical, dream-like writing with a compelling story of past meeting present.    

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: The Fervor by Alma Katsu

Clarke, Evelyn    

The Ending Writes Itself   

Harper    

An oft-used trope—people lured to a remote island, then cut off from the outside world—gets a new life. Six writers, following the death of their famous host, must compete to finish his final manuscript for a massive payday. While hesitant at first, the competition soon becomes intense, no one is quite who they seem to be, and death stalks the halls. A wonderfully twisty mystery and a wickedly satirical look at the world of publishing.

—Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: You Are F atally Invited by Ande Pliego

Corrigan, Moorea    

Thistlemarsh        

Berkley    

WWI nurse Mouse receives notice that she is next in line to inherit the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall in the English countryside. But she must do the impossible: fix the crumbling manor in just one month with the surprise aid of a handsome Faerie who can help defeat the magic protecting the manor.  Fantastic atmospheric style, world-building elements, and sympathetic characters.  

—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI

NoveList read-alike: The Cottingly Secret by Hazel Gaynor

Cowan, Anna    

The Duke        

St. Martin's Griffin    

 

The romance between Celine and Kate is fraught with obstacles (mostly themselves) and the secret they are keeping from the ton: that Celine is a courtesan who is blackmailing Kate, a member of the House of Lords. A traditional historical full of yearning and intrigue, this is what every Sapphic Regency reader has been waiting for.

—Dontaná M., Oak Park Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: A Lady for All Seasons by T.J. Alexander

Grey, Emma    

Start at the End       

Zibby Publishing    

A thoughtful, emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about love, loss, and new beginnings. This “sliding-doors” novel balances tenderness and hope, offering a meaningful reading experience that lingers after the final page. An excellent choice for patrons who enjoy contemporary literary fiction and book club–worthy reads.

—Janie Hermann, Princeton Public Library, NJ

NoveList read-alike: What Might Have Been by Holly Miller

Keefe, Patrick Radden    

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth

Doubleday    

In November 2019, the lifeless body of teenager Zac Brettler was discovered in the Thames River. Police conclude that Zac was suicidal but his parents believe that something more nefarious led to his death and soon discover he was caught in a web of lies, surrounded by gangsters and criminals. Compelling narrative non-fiction that's deeply intimate and unnerving.

—KC Davis, LibraryReads Ambassador, CT

NoveList read-alike: Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough

Kim, Monika    

Molka        

Erewhon Books (Kensington)  

Dahye lives in the shadow of her late older sister, more perfect than she could ever be. She finds herself in a relationship with a rich, handsome man. But when a video scandal involving the two erupts, he flees the country, leaving Dahye alone. When she realizes the extent of the betrayal, she seeks a terrible bloody revenge. An unapologetic dive into female rage, exploitation, misogyny, and powerlessness. 

—Lila Denning, St. Petersburg Library System, FL

NoveList read-alike: My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Kliewer, Marcus    

The Caretaker   

Atria/12:01 Books    

Macy thinks she’s finally caught a break when she answers an ad for a weekend house-sitting gig that pays a ridiculous amount of money, even if it comes with some...unsettling instructions.  Unsettling turns eerie, which turns to horrifying as Macy realizes—too late—this is one job that she should have never accepted. The chills ramp up fast and never stop in this page-turner horror novel.

—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: The Spite House by Johnny Compton

Semple, Maria    

Go Gentle        

Putnam    

Adora is an Upper West Side philosopher who seems to have her life together. She practices stoicism, and it keeps her grounded and happy—until it doesn't. Who is the mysterious man who wants her to deliver a letter? What are her employers up to? How did she become a stoic? Readers follow along with Adora as she tries to find answers.

—Joan Hipp, LibraryReads Ambassador, NJ

NoveList read-alike: Crush by Ada Calhoun

Board Bonus picks:

Vlautin, Willy
The Left and the Lucky 

Harper 

Notable Nonfiction: 

Stark, Peter

The Lost Cities of El Norte: Coronado’s Quest, the Unconquered West, and the Birth of American Indian Resistance

Mariner Books

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.

Clayborn, Kate   

The Paris Match        

Berkley    

  

Hepworth, Sally   

Mad Mabel    

St. Martin's Press        

Klune, TJ    

We Burned So Bright        

Tor Books    

9781250881236    

4/28/2026    

Liese, Chloe    

Happy Ending        

Gallery Books    

O'Leary, Beth    

The Name Game        

Berkley 

 

Perrin, Kristen    

How to Cheat Your Own Death: A Novel    

Dutton      

Richardson, Kim Michele    

The Mountains We Call Home: The Book Woman's Legacy    

Sourcebooks Landmark   

Rowell, Rainbow    

Cherry Baby

William Morrow     

Shaffer, Meg    

The Book Witch: A Novel    

Ballantine Books    

 

Straub, Emma    

American Fantasy: A Novel   

Riverhead Books