Readers avidly tuning into Growing Floret now have two seasons to enjoy Erin Benzakein’s garden, but it likely will not be enough. Support fans of all things Floret with these resources.
All the November 2023 Prepub Alerts in one place, plus a downloadable spreadsheet of all titles from every post.
Edith Wilson and Eleanor Roosevelt (and Roosevelt’s friend Mary McLeod Bethune) take center stage in these historical novels.
Calling all vegetarians and veggie lovers; the inspiration you have been looking for might be found in these new cookbooks out in May.
From a nonfiction work about the gentle giants gliding through the deep and vast seas, to a speculative-fiction book imagining getting swallowed alive by one of these goliaths, LJ’s May issue offers readers of many interests a whale of a story.
A beguiling prince vanishes and Sleeping Beauty’s fairy godmother takes center stage in these mixed-up tales.
This lively mix of big names and new discoveries offers quickly engaging plots and summery settings whether readers are miles from the beach, atop a city skyscraper, at a lake house, or on the sidelines of a Little League game. Get ready to dive into the deep end. Summer will go swimmingly with these 19 selections.
All the October 2023 Prepub Alerts in one place, plus a downloadable spreadsheet of all titles from every post.
All these years later, beloved author Jane Austen still inspires authors. Check out these 67 fiction titles that include retellings of her classic stories, feature Austen herself, or simply pay homage.
July’s Disability Pride Month commemorates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which President George H.W. Bush signed into law on July 26, 1990. This month-long observance promotes the de-stigmatization of disability, combats ableism, celebrates visibility, and honors the accomplishments, influence, strengths, and joys of the disability community. The titles on this list communicate a wide range of perspectives and include memoirs, literary fiction, contemporary romance, and more.
This eclectic mix of titles below highlights the many facets of social justice. Many of the characters and nonfiction subjects encounter multiple forms of discrimination and hatred. While some handle their situations quietly, others sound the alarm with calls to action.
Featuring meditation, manifestation, astrology, breathwork, and more, these are the 20 body, mind, and spirit titles that library patrons are seeking.
Authors explore the lives of women artists in these works of historical fiction, centering the talents, concerns, and interests of those who made their way in the world through creative endeavors.
In these reissues of his memoirs (reviewed in the April 2023 issue of LJ), record producer Simon Napier-Bell, known for his work with Wham! and the Yardbirds, gives readers a racy but shrewd glimpse of the British music scene.
First proclaimed Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999 and expanded by President Obama in 2011, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month marks the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. The titles on this list range from short stories to a dystopian novel and from a graphic memoir to social sciences. This list also contains historical fiction and nonfiction history titles that librarians may want to feature in October, the month designated in 1994 to spotlight exemplary figures of the LGBTQIA+ community and their contributions.
In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared more than 3.5 million enslaved people living in Confederate states to be “forever free.” It wasn’t until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, TX, on June 19 two years later, however, that the enslaved first learned of their freedom. That date became known as Juneteenth, first celebrated in 1866, first declared a federal holiday in 2021. This book list is a Juneteenth commemoration in the form of fiction and nonfiction about its history and the long-standing implications of enslavement and the Jim Crow era.
With themes ranging from nature and climate change to love and war, these 18 resonant collections from debut and established poets make strong suggestions for reading during National Poetry Month.
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the contributions and recognizes the complex histories of Asians, Asian Americans, and Indigenous Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The following books include historical fiction, mysteries, graphic novels, memoirs, and short stories, all of which provide a window into the resilience, creativity, and breadth of experience within this diverse group.
Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental wellness and promotes advocacy, sharing, compassion, and the dismantling of stereotypes. The following books—literary fiction, romance, memoirs, and essays—were written by authors who have personal experience living with mental health challenges and speak to the importance of continued dialogue surrounding mental health.
Women’s history is not confined by borders or dates. It is unfolding in the headlines every day, around the globe. It is in the pages of these books too, which range across time and continents while considering the varied lives and histories of women.
Occurring in April, Autism Acceptance Month recognizes the conscious shift away from the stigmatized term “autism awareness,” towards an inclusive attitude of respect, listening, parity, and empowerment. The following titles by scientists, teachers, romance novelists, memoirists, and more offer great stories and a range of perspectives. Readers will find literary fiction, science fiction, and social science titles among these selections. The following books are currently in print and are ready to be shared far and wide.
In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, first recognized by the Biden administration in April 2021, this booklist celebrates the diverse experiences, cultures, and contributions of Arab American people. The authors illuminate a wide range of topics, from gender identity and coming of age to politics, history, diaspora, romance, poetry, cooking, comedy, and so much more. These books are currently in print and are ready to be shared with friends, family, patrons, and readers everywhere.
Featuring wildlife gardens, flowering houseplants, the basics of succulent care, and more, these are the 20 gardening titles that library patrons are seeking.
Hiking, biking, Disney World, and the urban wild—these are the 20 titles library patrons are seeking.
If you're looking for display inspiration or need to update your collection, check out these 26 books on organizing, decluttering, and cleaning.
Searching for display inspiration or looking to update your collection? Here are 54 enticing vegan cookbooks.
African American culture and experiences are celebrated in this Black History Month booklist. These essential works of forthcoming fiction and nonfiction will enrich collections in the coming months, and they reflect that Black history is made every day: it’s not just a thing of the past. The books on this list were written by both debut and experienced authors, and the topics range from poetry, trauma, enslavement, and freedom, to civil rights, ongoing obstacles for Black people, triumphs, justice, and workplace successes.
The restaurant cookbook is a classic subgenre. This menu of titles is designed to highlight recent restaurant cookbooks that include a true sense of place and impressive recipes. The books evoke memories of restaurant visits past with their beautiful photography, and also share their locale, as they center the communities that influenced them. Steeped in the inspiration that chef-authors used to open their restaurants and create signature recipes, these books will motivate readers to recreate wonderful meals in their home kitchens.
From the earliest days of the novel, works of fiction have attempted to pass themselves off as nonfiction. These fictional works all imitate that most popular form of nonfiction, true crime.
Featuring witches, magic, time twists, and more, these are the 20 SFF titles that library patrons are seeking.
Desert Star, by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown; LJ starred review), is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Going Rogue, by Janet Evanovich (Atria), is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
All the April 2023 Prepub Alerts in one place, plus a downloadable spreadsheet of all titles from every post.
In the coming season, folklore, fairy tales, and ancient stories become new fantastic tales, while others speculate about the near and far future of life on Earth and beyond.
Starred titles reviewed in our November 2022 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, romance, and more.
No Plan B, by Lee Child & Andrew Child (Delacorte), is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
From Augmented, about the attempt to link the brain to robotic limbs, to The Beatles: Get Back, an intimate and lyrical insider look at the band, these are documentaries to dig into this month.
Don't miss the essential The U.S. and the Holocaust from Ken Burns or several newly restored gems, including Lost Highway directed by David Lynch and The Rainmaker from Joseph Anthony.
Drama, dramedy, and comedy are in store for viewers this month with winning picks such as Exotica, The Duke, and I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing.
Perfect for the spooky reading season, these novels feature evil spirits that refuse to stay dead, as well as the people they’ve decided to torment.
From witches falling in love to classics getting romantic retakes, the upcoming season offers many titles to add to TBR piles with many happily-ever-afters in store for readers.
These titles and sources can help librarians serve their community’s writers across different skill levels, potential publishing paths, or genres.
Addressing baking, making dinner, planning snacks, and more, these are the 20 titles library patrons are seeking.
September’s “Picks of the Month” showcase great reading. Share these titles with genre fans, add them to booklists, and dive in yourself.
Like the graphic novel series from which is it adapted, Netflix’s The Sandman delivers a cast of complex characters in a richly developed world that blends elements of dark fantasy, horror, and mythology. Here are a few series, graphic novels, and novels sure to satisfy fans hankering for stories in a similar vein.
LJ focuses on the most promising debut novels for fall, with titles ranging widely in theme and genre.
The last few years have seen people looking inward in a deeper, more personal way, while they also look outward, striving to change the social landscape. To this end, readers can anticipate a new crop of great novels for curling up with and cookbooks to tempt them back into the warmth of the kitchen, but there are also books that make readers question notions of home and where they fit in the world.
This season offers illuminating and transformative reads: from nonfiction books that turn the volume up on underrepresented voices to novels that spotlight seasoned sleuths. Here the LJ Reviews editors highlight just some of the books we are suggesting to one another and fellow readers in the last half of 2022.
From TV to film, the Gilded Age is all the rage. The following novels illuminate multiple facets of the luxurious—though not-so-golden—era.
The sports and recreation books most in-demand with readers cover basketball, hiking, baseball, golf, and more.
New key authors are taking possession of the genre by claiming old tropes and making them new; small presses are making huge waves; and the voices of marginalized authors are creating change and energy.
Public and academic libraries alike can benefit from books that draw both browsers and researchers looking for quick facts. Many of the recent and upcoming titles listed offer that versatility, compellingly and factually covering everything from objects carried on the famed Silk Roads to the United States Constitution.
Looking for ways to celebrate Pride Month outside of the parade? Many institutions and organizations have made their projects and collections accessible online, so readers can brush up on their knowledge of queer history. Alternatively, there are an array of films and books that cover topics ranging from the origin of Pride Month to personal queer histories. With this list, readers can discover history that may be new to them in the comfort of their home.
Starred titles reviewed in our June 2022 print issue, spanning mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, horror, reference, and more.
To celebrate Pride Month, here are 12 fiction titles featuring queer characters to expand your library's LGBTQIA+ collection.
To celebrate Pride Month, here are 12 nonfiction titles, along with additional resources, to expand your library's LGBTQIA+ collection.
These four books were selected by LJ reviewers and editors as titles of particular note in the May 2022 issue of the magazine. Along with all the starred reviews of the May issue, these are essential titles to know, buy, suggest, and read.
Starred titles reviewed in our May 2022 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, parenting, reference, and more.
With the May 3 news that the U.S. Supreme Court may be poised to reverse Roe v. Wade, which held that pregnant Americans have a constitutional right to choose abortion, readers might be looking for titles addressing the topic to contextualize the issue. Here are five titles, all recently reviewed in LJ.
Librarian Irina Kurylec (Ukrainian Library at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, PA) suggests titles in history, political science, graphic novels, poetry, and literature for U.S. library patrons looking to read about the history of Ukraine and recent events in the country.
Essential titles reviewed in our April 2022 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, graphic novels, reference, and more.
The sea has fascinated authors throughout time. Popular fiction genres from domestic fiction to wartime novels involve a profusion of pelagic topics and themes.
Olha Aleksic, Jacyk Bibliographer for Ukrainian Collections at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, suggests the following titles for U.S. library patrons looking to learn more about the history of Ukraine and more recent events.
Essential titles reviewed in our March 2022 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, social sciences, reference, and more.
Essential titles reviewed in our February 2022 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, graphic novels, social sciences, reference, and more.
It’s been 50 years since the release of The Godfather. To mark the occasion, LJ has curated a list of titles that are musts for fans.
Readers who love both science and fiction but not necessarily science fiction should find much to enjoy in these thought-provoking literary works that dramatize the challenges and rewards of real-life scientific inquiry.
Best known for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, Betty White died on December 31, 2021, just before her 100th birthday. Anyone wanting to know more about her remarkable life will enjoy these books.
Essential titles reviewed in our January 2022 print issue, spanning audio, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, social sciences, reference, and more.
We caught up with the author-illustrator to get some insight on the creative process and what's next.
Holiday menus, drinks, and food gifts for every palate, whether you're planning dinner for two, cocktails with friends, or a cookie swap. These titles are an excellent source of inspiration to get you through the holidays and beyond, with seasonal options, board style feasts, vegan and gluten-free menus, and more.
Essential titles reviewed in our December 2021 print issue, spanning graphic novels, mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, social sciences, reference, and more.
Essential titles reviewed in our November 2021 print issue, spanning mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, social sciences, reference, audiobooks, and more.
Jeremy Dauber's book sets itself apart, and comics enthusiasts will be enthralled. Douglas Wolk's analysis of Marvel Comics is both a useful introduction and reference guide.
This edition of LJ’s thrice-yearly list of top debut novels focuses on the winter season, including a few late 2021 titles and stretching to March 2022. They are all promising titles, with eight especially intriguing offerings highlighted.
Essential titles reviewed in our October 2021 print issue, spanning mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, social sciences, reference, audiobooks, and more.
Librarians are often asked to help patrons with genealogy research; these print titles and online resources will be valuable, whether librarians are experienced with the topic or relative newcomers.
With The Book of Magic, Alice Hoffman's sequel to Practical Magic, coming out in October, now is the perfect time to round up some witchy fiction to get readers in the Halloween mood. Read on for both adult fiction and young adult works with crossover appeal.
The personal finance books most in-demand with readers discuss paying for college, retirement and Social Security, handling money during a crisis, and more.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney.
Essential titles reviewed in our September 2021 print issue, spanning mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, arts and humanities, social sciences, reference, audiobooks, and more.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read The Noise by James Patterson and J. D. Barker.
Take one mysterious literary work and embed it inside another, and the result can be greater than the sum of its parts. These complex, riddling novels fully display their authors’ ingenuity and stylistic versatility while providing fiction lovers with a richer, more rewarding reading experience.
Perkins blends personal experiences and pop culture, and will keep readers turning the pages to the very end. Turner examines how three girls from a similar starting place ended up on varying life paths.
Keisha N. Blain offers a manifesto for anyone committed to social justice. Kate Clifford Larson writes an in-depth portrait of the civil rights activist.
Interested in biographies of Anthony Bourdain? Producer and director Tom Vitale writes a candid account of his longtime friend. Laurie Woolever, Bourdain's longtime assistant, offers a heartfelt retrospective.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read Vortex by Catherine Coulter.
Essential titles reviewed in our August 2021 print issue, spanning mystery and suspense, SF/fantasy, social sciences, reference, audiobooks, and more.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas.
When looking to update a music collection, librarians should consider works that reflect diversity of identity, genre, and experience. The list below can serve as a starting point to ensure that collections convey the contributions of women, especially women of color and queer women. These materials will help ensure that the artists’ legacies remain intact, that their voices are not silenced, and that future generations will recognize their achievements.
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