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Debut author Wood has expertly mixed romance with mystery in a novel that leaves more questions than answers. This fast-paced thriller will work well for book clubs and fans of the unreliable narrator trope.

Harrow’s breathtaking debut delves deep into the raw emotions of grief and the pure beauty of rediscovering joy in an exquisite tale of second chances, featuring an enemies-to-lovers romance.

Fans of Carmen Maria Machado will find in this debut novelist a new author to follow every bit as voraciously.

The top reads from our June issue, ranging across mystery, suspense, romance, fiction, horror, science fiction, fantasy, arts, science, and more.

This sometimes unsettling yet consistently delightful fairy tale feels like a marriage of the clever schemes of Trip Galey’s A Market of Dreams and Destiny and the metaphors of Kelly Barnhill’s The Crane Husband.

In this delightful spy thriller romance, disrespectful kids and mob bosses alike fall victim to special agent Gabby Greene, a stay-at-home mom with the lethal combination of a dart gun, just-dyed roots, and a minivan. Bad guys beware.

Inspired by a real-life crime in Australia, the sixth DI Fawley novel is an intricate, carefully plotted police procedural comparable to the best of Ann Cleeves’s Vera novels or Louise Penny’s mysteries.

Soltani’s debut is perfect for fans of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive To Survive docuseries and brings a unique subcategory and delightful addition to the sports romance genre.

YA author Kim’s adult debut is an action-filled contemporary fantasy based in Korean mythology, featuring morally gray characters and a little heat.

This powerful, unforgettable historical mystery is for fans of Mary Anna Evans’s Justine Byrne series, and stories with strong women characters.

This sparkling novel is highly recommended for all collections.

The top reads from our May issue, ranging across audio, mystery, suspense, romance, fiction, horror, science fiction, fantasy, arts, science, and more.

The newest edition of Life+Style features key reads across cooking, crafts, fashion, gardening, interior design, self-help, travel, and more.

Coryell’s engrossing bent comedy isn’t afraid to delve into scathing and frank analyses of modern dating culture, American classism, and serial killer fixation, while still being a thrilling read with twists throughout. 

Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi’s debut.

The top reads from our April issue, ranging across audio, mystery, suspense, romance, fiction, graphic novels, horror, science fiction, fantasy, arts, science, and more.

A believable, timely, edge-of-one’s-seat thriller involving climate change and a virus...it’s disaster on a grand scale.

Lee’s latest is a tender and sexy romance that foodies will absolutely devour. A great read for fans of commoner-and-royalty storylines, such as Alyssa Cole’s “Reluctant Royals” series.

In Chandrasekera’s newest, the characters’ journey through fantastical worlds across millennia is reminiscent of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Recommended for fans of ambitious speculative fiction that tackles systems of oppression in fresh ways.

Check out these starred fantasy debuts about a Trans-Siberian luxury train, an underwater humanity, a department store that sells dreams, and a hotheaded hero with nothing to lose.

Reference works contain entire worlds, arranged, indexed, and designed to support research and exploration. These aids—hefty both in physical form and in depth and resonance—provide new interpretations, offer access into decades of academic work, and foster fresh ways of thinking.

Free reference sources, vetted, smart, and endlessly useful, are a rich resource for scholars and students. Here are our five top picks for 2023.

Databases foster deep research, expansive reading, and a myriad of inquiry avenues. These 10 tools, covering food, Shakespeare, study skills, and much more, are our selections for the best databases of 2023.

The March 2024 Audio in Depth issue features several standout listens, from fiction titles across genres to multiple memoirs, poetry, and more.

Excellent audio productions of three emotional and entertaining romantic comedies.

In the excellent follow-up to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Emily’s new research project/adventure is more dangerous and action-packed than her last.

An incredibly written and performed historical horror novel and a spellbinding debut that follows the crew of a paranormal investigations TV show are must-listens.

Well-portrayed performances enhance these suspenseful stories.

Nonstop sparkling banter and absolutely delicious chemistry make this one of Bellefleur’s best and steamiest rom-coms yet. Truly, deeply fun from page one to the touching happily-ever-after.

This humorous mystery with a touch of romance was auctioned to Fox TV for development as a series, with Mack writing the pilot. For fans of the movie Knives Out or E.J. Copperman’s “Jersey Girl Legal Mysteries.”

A thoughtful and compelling story about one robot’s journey through their own version of Dante’s circles of hell, complete with all the other hells they’d rather never have imagined. 

A partially submerged Nigeria and a world at the edge of apocalypse, being destroyed by climate disasters and corporate greed, are settings for these starred climate fiction novels.

The top reads from our March issue, ranging across mystery, suspense, romance, fiction, Christian fiction, science fiction, fantasy, arts, science, social science, and reference.

The plot follows the tried-and-true sports romance formula that will please fans, while the love story and the tenacious, hopeful hero at its center will give readers the warm fuzzies.

This romantic fantasy has a great balance of grimness and humor that will appeal to fans of T. Kingfisher’s fantasy titles.

This lyrically written and utterly romantic novel from Siegel will appeal to readers of historical fiction and epic love stories.

Chase debuts his lonesome, reflective lawman with this well-written, complex case. Fans of Craig Johnson’s Longmire will enjoy.

This wildly surprising caper fantasy from Clark will keep readers on the edge of their seats working out who “dunit,” and how and why, as they explore the gritty underbelly of this world of living contracts, dead gods, and legal necromancy, reminiscent of Max Gladstone’s “Craft Sequence” and “Craft Wars” series. This will appeal to all lovers of urban fantasy.

The top reads from our February  issue, ranging across audio, mystery, horror, romance, fiction, science fiction, horror, arts, science, social science, and reference.

The experiences that authors and narrators supply to those who read with their ears seem to resonate ever more strongly, as our annual list of the best audiobooks, 10 fiction and 10 nonfiction, attests. 

Film is a deeply satisfying medium, supplying a myriad of delights for those who prefer their stories and learning in visual form. Our list of the best feature films released on DVD/Blu-ray in 2023 ranges from this year’s Oscars contenders to older movies getting fresh editions and attention.

Documentary films are a unique visual outlet for creative nonfiction, journalism, memoir, history, and more. Our list of the best documentaries released on DVD/Blu-ray in 2023 explores topics as diverse as sports and space.

Top picks for great reads for cooks, crafters, and those seeking balance, recovery, and connection.

Librarian Westerbeke’s debut is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys armchair travel and stories that open wide to embrace every experience, even the sad ones.

The top reads from our January issue, ranging across mystery, romance, fiction, science fiction, horror, arts, science, and social science. 

Fans of Louise Penny should try this gripping story that combines the best elements of a cold-case investigation with a well-developed suspense novel.

A stellar romance, rich in voice, humor, and expressive writing; a must-read for fans of Emily Henry.

A technothriller with heart that will appeal to fans of Martha Wells’s “Murderbot Diaries” but also to readers looking for more AI-led stories.

From mystery to romance to social science, these are the outstanding listens from our December Audio in Depth issue.

Edge-of-the-seat listens for crime solvers and armchair sleuths.

Imagined realms and future landscapes come alive in audio.

Sparks fly in these engaging, flawlessly voiced audio romances.

Even devoted horror fans may want to listen with the lights on to these tales of haunted houses, cursed media, and severed limbs.  

We asked Adriana Trigiani for her favorite book of the year, and this is what she suggests to readers.

At turns humorous and heart-wrenching, with a smoldering sensuality that underlies even the most fraught of the protagonists’ encounters, this novel is highly recommended for all library collections.

The top reads from our December issue, ranging across mystery, romance, fiction, science fiction, horror, arts, science, and social science. 

Nethercott plays with language and structure in this collection of whimsical yet unsettling tales full of lush prose. 

This swoony contemporary romance is well-written and paced, but what really makes it shine are the intricate characters that Dade has brought to life.

The ninth Veronica Speedwell book is possibly the best in the series, with Raybourn’s trademark banter, innuendo, and outstanding lead characters, along with a fascinating plot and supporting cast.

The best pop fiction novels of 2023 journey to self-realization and survival, untangle family ties, slay social shibboleths, and uncover hidden histories.

This year’s best crime fiction novels contain simmering secrets, rage and revenge, dogged detectives, and plenty of murder and mayhem. Dig in!

Full of riveting speculative stories, sci-fi/mystery blends, and enchanting fantasy worlds, the best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2023 provide engrossing reading adventures.

From intensely unsettling to heartbreakingly beautiful moments, the best horror novels of 2023 offer fresh spins on terrifying tropes.

Flying pirate ships, a family finding its way, and a delightful rendition of the fake-marriage trope are just a few highlights of the best romance books of 2023.

The best literary fiction titles of 2023 probe human nature, celebrate creativity, depict history, and investigate the stories we tell ourselves.

The best world literature books of 2023 examine colonialism, limn loss, juxtapose past and present, and scrutinize human relationships.

The best short stories of 2023 provide bite-sized but potent looks at life, loss, grief, oppression, isolation, and, of course, wonder and joy.

Impactful illustrations complement poignant, thought-provoking tales and memoirs in these unforgettable best graphic novels of 2023.

Discover verse with style and substance, unsettling proclamations, and contained majesty in the best poetry collections of 2023.

The Best Arts & Humanities titles of 2023 include intriguing conversation starters, special tributes to pioneers, and fresh takes on creative art forms and people.

The delights of snacking bakes, the flavors of fruit, and the wonders of yogurt and whey help bakers and home cooks discover technique and tastes in the best cookbooks of 2023.

The best memoirs and biographies of 2023 have three traits in common: they’re insightful, evocative, and direct.

Racism, poverty, and burnout are dominant themes of many of 2023’s best social sciences books. But there is also joy, along with journeys to find comfort and welcoming communities.

The best science and technology titles of 2023 entice, educate, and entertain readers. These books are a mixture of dirt, delight, and a demand for change.

The top 10 book covers of the year, selected from our 2023 Best Books, offer a fabulous first impression, inviting readers to appreciate their design, ponder what might be inside, and, best of all, dive in.

From film costumes to business statistics to the afterlife, 19 reference titles earned starred reviews from LJ since the start of 2023 through the November issue. 

The claustrophobic atmosphere of a raging wildfire and the presence of an unreliable narrator add to this read, which fans of Jane Harper’s Australian novels will want to try.

Readers looking for a contemporary romance with a passionate and grand love story, characters that leap off the page, and an original storyline will relish screenwriter and director Kuang’s debut novel.

Starred titles reviewed in our November 2023 print issue, spanning audio, fiction, SF/fantasy, romance, science, sociology, and more.

Nayler’s compelling sci-fi thriller contemplates human greed and de-extinction through science. Hand it to readers of ecoterrorism thrillers and climate fiction.

This contemporary romance is a must-have for all libraries and for readers who relish a bit of angst and a lot of joy with their happily-ever-afters.

Clark’s second Detective Harriet Foster title (after Hide) provides a compelling plot as well as significant character growth.

Books about cooking meals with ease and excitement, crafting custom sneakers, collecting ties, and enriching the lives of dogs top this fall edition of LJ’s Life+Style section.

Fay’s debut is highly recommended for fans of pulse-pounding combos of sci-fi with sympathetic characters and melting hearts, like that from Valerie Valdes, K.B. Wagers, Rachel Bach, and Cat Rambo.

Must-read fantasy for readers who appreciate the catharsis of horror; perfect for fans of Whalefall by Daniel Kraus and Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison.

Glass’s funny, sexy, and geeky romance features Samara, an avid gamer, and Aron, a gaming-company CEO. This gem of a novel is highly recommended for all collections.

With its well-crafted, interesting characters and intriguing storyline, this debut novel will fly off shelves.

Starred titles reviewed in our October 2023 print issue, spanning audio, literary fiction, crime fiction, arts, history and more.

Offering a satisfying slow burn that transforms into delightful heat, the dazzling chemistry in this life-altering rom-com shows how love that transcends dimensions is worth the risk. This debut is an essential purchase for romance shelves.

Readers who like their historical mysteries embellished with plenty of gothic ambience and enhanced with an abundance of dry wit will adore this splendid debut.

Full of political intrigue and impressive worldbuilding, Jacobs’s superb debut launches this space opera trilogy.

Starred audiobooks reviewed in our September 2023 Audio in Depth issue, spanning mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, romance, arts, sciences, and more.

The tension ratchets up when crime fiction spins out in soundscapes.

Soundscapes lead listeners into new words and future times.

Swoony lines and great banter only get better on audio.

Horror is amplified when fed directly into the ears.

Starred titles reviewed in our September 2023 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, romance, and more.

Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romances with strong social justice and family themes.

Suggest this enjoyable caper with its well-developed characters to Lee Goldberg’s fans.

This prequel to Legends & Lattes is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.