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Library displays highlight the collection and aid readers as they browse and find their next read, view, or listen. To help prompt display ideas and find titles to keep them stocked, LJ offers Display Shelf. Use this list to generate a quick display on the circulation desk or to fill an end-cap. The suggestions also offer RA librarians a handy list of popular titles on a range of high-interest genres and subjects. This list features books perfect for a summer escape.
Nightshade by Michael Connelly is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Not since Michael Crichton entertained and thrilled readers with science-driven novels like Sphere and Jurassic Park has there been anything this frightfully fun.
Fast-paced fun that will appeal to fans of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan and Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Meddelin Chan.
Anders’s latest is a breathtaking work of magic, grief, and love. The vulnerable depiction of relationships and challenges within queer and trans communities is heart-wrenching but still reflects hope and optimism throughout.
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
The Tenant by Freida McFadden is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Readers of Elizabeth Strout or Mary Gaitskill will love this book. Huneven hits it out of the ballpark again.
PREMIUM
Kitemaster
Providing a cozier fantasy experience that’s both familiar and distinct, Hines’s latest is recommended for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone.
PREMIUM
Across the Crying Sands
Kirkpatrick (Beneath the Bending Skies) writes of Western expansion with an eye for people whom history books often forget. There are no 21st-century anachronisms in this tale based on a real-life couple. Readers who like to see the day-to-day unfolding slowly in unexpected ways, as in the work of Sandra Dallas and Tracie Peterson, will enjoy.
PREMIUM
The Atlas of Untold Stories
Brunsvold writes utterly realistic modern characters searching for connection and meaning. Literary fans will enjoy the plethora of references to authors with Midwest connections, from Langston Hughes to Laura Ingalls Wilder to Flannery O’Connor.
PREMIUM
Capture the Moment
Multigenerational characters are well-represented with humor and zest, giving this novel broad appeal. Readers will be eager to travel vicariously in the next installment of Fisher’s new series, but Karen Barnett’s “Vintage National Parks” novels will satisfy until then.
PREMIUM
From the Valley We Rise
Readers who enjoy nuanced French Resistance stories such as Sarah Sundin’s Until Leaves Fall in Paris and Pam Jenoff’s The Lost Girls of Paris will appreciate this novel and root for victory for its motley crew of ordinary people who become heroes during a terrible time in history.
Green (The Foxhole Victory Tour) expertly captures the complicated bonds between mother and daughter while writing a cracking spy adventure. Those who enjoyed Katherine Reay’s The Berlin Letters will be thrilled.
This work is a tremendous achievement: more literary and ambitious than Walter’s previous popular books, with an urgency that may make it one of the strongest realist but dystopian novels of the present era.
This is the book Trigiani’s fans have been waiting for. Her hallmark charm and love of family, along with a touch of romance, make for a captivating and memorable read. Recommend to those who enjoy the work of Dorothea Benton Frank, Lisa Scottoline, or Kristy Woodson Harvey.
From Reid’s tender introductory letter to readers, all the way through the final chapter, this gritty and glorious book challenges what it means to look at the universe from different vantage points, but it never loses sight of the plot’s urgency or authenticity of the characters.
This is McCall Smith, so expect a beautifully written and moving take on humanity, warts and all. The idyllic setting on a Scottish island and the romantic elements are reminiscent of Jenny Colgan’s cozy novels and should appeal to her fans. An excellent entry point for any McCall Smith newcomer.
PREMIUM
The Phoenix Pencil Company
Using diary entries to explore the power and danger of sharing one’s story, this epistolary, dual-timeline debut will appeal to readers interested in historical fiction, particularly about China during World War II and Chinese American experiences.
Fay’s enjoyable yet convoluted tale of friendship, love, and tribulations, set mostly in the breathtaking Grand Canyon area, is an intriguing look into the world of the Harvey Girls, with a well-developed plot and characters that bring the era to life.
PREMIUM
The Homemade God
Joyce is skilled at creating fragile, complex characters, and book club members will enjoy hashing over this insightful family drama.
PREMIUM
The Catch
The first work in Liveright’s Well-Read Black Girl Books line (a collaboration with the book club founded by Glory Edim) is recommended for readers who appreciate finely wrought descriptions of people, places, and moments in time and are open to redefining what constitutes a happy ending.
This powerful and unforgettable novel is a poignant and enlightening look into a sad chapter of recent history. Read-alikes include Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys and William Kent Krueger’s This Tender Land.
Equal parts madcap caper, contemporary allegory, and wartime reckoning, Reva’s debut offers a fresh take on the current Russia-Ukraine war from a diasporan point of view.
PREMIUM
Death and the Librarian
A perfect cozy mystery, from the setting and characters to the pacing and plot development. Readers may prefer to start with book one, but this installment has enough background that it could be read independently; of course, readers might then want to go back to find the earlier entries.
PREMIUM
Death at the White Hart
Chibnall’s spectacular novel offers intriguing suspense and drama, plus an outstanding cast of characters and a mystery that will keep readers riveted until the fulfilling climax. Fans of Knives Out and Murder on the Orient Express should thoroughly enjoy.
PREMIUM
A Mother Always Knows
The suspenseful plot and pacing work well to keep readers engaged and turning pages quickly. Fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will enjoy.
PREMIUM
Pariah
Fesperman (Winter Work) creates an intriguing, entertaining and fast-paced plot, possibly mirroring events in the real world. Thoroughly satisfying.
PREMIUM
She Didn’t See It Coming
Lapena has written another solid domestic thriller with all the twists and red herrings that her readers have come to expect. The author’s fans and those who enjoy twisty domestic thrillers will flock to this one.
PREMIUM
A Terribly Nasty Business
A witty entry in the period cozy mystery genre, this is a fun example of a woman breaking the bonds of society to pursue her own dreams.
Goodman’s latest (after Return to Wyldcliffe Heights) delivers a mash-up of Greek mythology and Agatha Christie’s classic mysteries, to delightful effect. Readers who enjoy Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series, where a journey into history and culture weaves through a twisty mystery, will find lots to appreciate here.
This is another standout thriller from Robotham. Fans of Peter Swanson and Liz Moore will delight in the complex characters and layered plotlines that he delivers.
Hart (The Paradox Hotel) launches a fun and clever thriller series. It’s rare for a novel to be so engaging and intense while also leaving a smile on readers’ faces. Hart knows how to tell original stories with strong characters, and his latest should be on every thriller fan’s to-be-read list.
PREMIUM
Proof
Flawed protagonist Jake, driven to do the right thing, centers this complex, gripping thriller. Fans of Michael Connelly’s “Lincoln Lawyer” novels should jump on this one.
Preston and Child were brilliant to team up Kelly and Swanson in their own series, bringing the legends and geography of the New Mexico badlands to life. This installment would be a great launching point for readers who haven’t read one of their books.
PREMIUM
The Frozen People
The time-travel element adds something fresh for the author and the readers. Fans of Griffiths, police procedurals, and/or historical mysteries will find a lot to enjoy.
A critique of colonialism that still reads with the coziness of a cup of tea. Caroline Bingley proves herself worthy of her own mystery series.
Fast-paced fun that will appeal to fans of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan and Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Meddelin Chan.
PREMIUM
He’s To Die For
This witty, sexy, and mysterious debut is certain to satisfy both whodunit fans and romance lovers.
PREMIUM
The Game Is Afoot
A must-read for fans of It’s Elementary, but newcomers will also enjoy meeting feisty Mavis.
PREMIUM
A Murder for Miss Hortense
Infused with humor and heartbreak, playwright and screenwriter Pennant’s delightful first novel is for readers who enjoy community-based mysteries led by amateur detectives of an older generation, like Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers or Robert Thorogood’s The Marlow Murder Club.
This new entry in Hart’s solid series is just as good as the first, with thrills, humor, and an ingenious plot. The cast of characters continues to grow, and each is fleshed out enough to lead their own book. Readers should get on the Assassins Anonymous wagon.
Not since Michael Crichton entertained and thrilled readers with science-driven novels like Sphere and Jurassic Park has there been anything this frightfully fun.
PREMIUM
Everyone Is Lying to You
Readers will be drawn into the story by what feels like a backstage peek into the world of influencers and kept there by the fast pace and twisty plot.
PREMIUM
What the Night Brings
Anyone familiar with the reputation of Billingham’s outstanding police procedural series won’t be surprised at the novel’s ending. Readers who’ve quaffed a pint in a pub with Ian Rankin’s John Rebus or Colin Dexter’s Endeavour Morse will welcome this generous ploughman’s lunch with Tom Thorne.
PREMIUM
The Good Boy
This magical, slow-burn romance from Hayward (We Are All Made of Stars as Rowan Coleman) is filled with humor, witty banter, and quirky characters.
PREMIUM
Battle of the Bookstores
The latest from Brady (Until Next Summer) features a great cast of characters set in the wonderful world of books and is a perfect read for fans of the classic rom-com You’ve Got Mail.
PREMIUM
Maid for Each Other
Filled with laughs and a warmhearted spirit, this quick-reading romance from Painter (Happily Never After) is a charmer.
PREMIUM
Sunny Side Up
An affirming body-neutrality read and a romance wrapped into one package. Recommend to readers of Jennifer Weiner or Olivia Dade.
Harding makes her solo debut (after cowriting the “For the Love of Austen” series with Audrey Bellezza) with this romance that has a fantastic New York City setting. A perfect balm for the love-shy heart.
PREMIUM
Totally and Completely Fine
Told in two timelines that show the evolution of Lauren’s relationships with both Spencer and Ben, Sussman’s signature sharp writing shines in this gripping, emotional read, even if she leans to much on telling readers what’s happening instead of showing them. Longtime fans of Sussman’s work will also appreciate catching up with Gabe and Chani from her 2022 novel Funny You Should Ask.
PREMIUM
Never Been Shipped
This engaging, heartwarming, steamy contemporary romance is well-written, with depth, emotion, and absolute sincerity on every page. Fans of Thompson’s With Love, from Cold World will enjoy seeing familiar characters, and readers who love second-chance romance and forced proximity will be in dual-trope heaven.
Carter’s follow-up to The Blonde Identity is a thrilling and amusing romance featuring finely drawn characters and a twisty, page-turning story. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, unable to put this book down until they discover what happens to Alex and Michael, in spydom and in love.
PREMIUM
An Irish Summer
Paige (Weekends with You) has written what feels like an adult coming-of-age story, with a rather reluctant heroine unsure of the consequences of spreading her wings and the double-whammy of a swoony, fairy-tale-telling hero in a lush setting. Perfect for readers looking for a transatlantic romantic escape this summer.
Readers will fall hard for Nava’s (The Truth According to Ember) steamy rom-com, brimming with themes of family, community, and belonging.
PREMIUM
What Happens in the Highlands
Bradley’s Georgian-era “Cairncross Castle” series will charm readers with a delightful blend of romance, adventure, unexpected twists, and witty humor. This is an engaging page-turner that swiftly draws readers into the world of the Highland sisters, leaving them eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.
Armstrong (Finding Mr. Write) delivers a hit for fans of second-chance romance, a perfect summer beach read.
PREMIUM
Steal My Breath Away
Readers will love the drama of this emotional New Adult romance, set in the same world as The Sound of Us. Perfect for fans of Ana Huang and Anna Todd.
PREMIUM
To Sketch a Scandal
Everlee handles the complicated characters of Matty and Warren well and creates a believable and compelling historical gay romance, recommended for readers of Cat Sebastian and K.J. Charles.
PREMIUM
Zomromcom
Dade’s (At First Spite) hilarious, ridiculous, and steamy paranormal romance is full of puns and witty banter. The plot is fantastic, and readers will be turning pages long into the night to find out what happens next.
PREMIUM
Heart Marks the Spot
Hubscher (Play for Me) returns with a tale destined to be enjoyed on a beach with its mismatched but charming duo.
PREMIUM
Sounds Like Love
Poston writes another lyrical and magical tale set in a cozy beach town that will make readers want to savor reading it while sitting on the sand themselves. Hand to those who also enjoy B.K. Borison and Tarah DeWitt.
PREMIUM
Wearing the Lion
Wiswell (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) offers a unique and delightful retelling of the mythology of Heracles, balancing both tragedy and emotional character arcs with humorous dialogue and interactions.
The first in the “Dearly Beloathed” duology is a wickedly humorous, slow-burn love story between two protagonists who epitomize the opposites-attract trope. It’s sure to delight readers of debut novelist Knightley’s popular fanfic and garner her a new audience.
Anders’s (The City in the Middle of the Night) latest is a breathtaking work of magic, grief, and love. The vulnerable depiction of relationships and challenges within queer and trans communities is heart-wrenching but still reflects hope and optimism throughout.
An unputdownable novel of family bonds and ordinary people fighting corporate greed, sure to appeal to fans of Carrie Vaughn’s Bannerless and Cory Doctorow’s Walkaway.
PREMIUM
Infinite Archive
Mallory’s third SF mystery outing (after Chaos Terminal) takes on murder and the future of the internet. The fast pace still leaves room for continuing character subplots and snappy dialogue.
Truelove’s (Crying Wolf) wild combination of pulp horror and classic sci-fi takes the best of both and makes something incredible out of “The Captain’s Log” chapter from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Readers who enjoy SF horror, such as Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes and The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown, will find this a delightfully creepy treat.
Filled with all Mandanna does so well, including lushly whimsical descriptions, engaging and charming dialogue, and gentle and sparkling romance, the book also has a melancholy edge.
PREMIUM
If Wishes Were Retail
Habershaw’s (The Far Far Better Thing) story begins as a bit of a fantasy farce and turns into something heartwarming and cozy.
PREMIUM
The Palace of Illusions
Miller’s (The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill) atmospheric writing creates a richly detailed historical fantasy that lets readers see The Nutcracker in a unique way.
McEwan’s follow-up to the “Glacian” trilogy is another unique romantasy that seamlessly blends genres while weaving interesting political and emotional elements, like class warfare and betrayal, into the story. It will resonate with readers who have enjoyed McEwan’s previous series and books such as Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games and Rebecca Ross’s Divine Rivals.
Highly recommended for readers searching for new myths and difficult truths and anyone who loves the combination of legend and fantasy similarly embodied in the works of Nnedi Okorafor and Tobi Ogundiran.
PREMIUM
The Mercy Makers
The novel’s intriguing plot twists will appeal to fans of Game of Thrones who crave that same epic, sprawling sense of story, betrayal, sex, and politics, but Gratton more closely examines the effects of imperialism. It’s a smart idea that could use a more refined execution.
PREMIUM
Volatile Memory
In Haddon’s (Reclaimed) latest, Murderbot meets Firefly in a Thelma & Louise–style, high-tech, thrill-a-minute hunt for freedom, justice, and revenge. In the novel’s world run by corporate hegemonies, the only way to freedom is to be the efficient worker-drone the companies require.
A triumph of an audio, this is a must-listen for Erdrich’s many fans and those seeking thoughtful literary fiction with hidden depths.
PREMIUM
Lazarus Man
An affecting portrait of urban life. While the audio requires close listening, it will resonate with those seeking literary fiction about community, purpose, and meaning.
PREMIUM
Before We Forget Kindness
A feel-good, reflective novel offering a comforting take on grief, separation, and regret.
PREMIUM
Mr. Nice Spy
An unputdownable forced-proximity romance, full of intrigue, adventure, and chemistry.
This novel by an award-winning French author, translator, and editor at the publishing house Gallimard is stupendously clever; the writing is so good that some passages beg to be read at least twice. Laclavetine’s highly recommended satire (his first book to be translated into English) is a must-read for anyone who ever considered writing a novel or working in publishing.
In this important work of early feminism, which shocked its readers but reflected its times, Chopin mirrors the sensibilities of her age while universally underscoring the desire to reject prescribed roles and definitions.
Carpenter conveys Dazai’s discordant voices while sweeping away some of the rhetorical cobwebs of Donald Keene’s 1956 translation and its dated introduction, making this the definitive edition of an epochal classic of postwar Japan for a new generation.
PREMIUM
Treasures in Heaven
A more conventional historical saga than its fragmentary predecessors, Alcalá’s timely novel highlights small but meaningful acts of rebellion and casts light on the illusory nature of the borders we draw within, around, and between us.
Neider’s timeless novel sneaks up on readers with a kind of elliptical genius that simultaneously celebrates and subverts its mythos, anticipating and surpassing many of the revisionist Westerns that were to follow.
PREMIUM
Fish Tales
Uncompromising in its raw carnality, Jones’s bold account of a woman’s lost decade eschews conventional racial and gender issues, immersing readers in a deeply personal odyssey as fervid as it is unforgettable.
PREMIUM
The Ghostwriter
With a fast-paced plot that blurs boundaries between present and past, along with a psychologically compelling cast of characters, Clark’s (The Lies I Tell) new thriller is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and will have readers reconsidering what it means to write, right, and rewrite personal stories.
Edward (the pen name of children’s author Remy Lai) makes her adult debut with this quirky, charming, and cozy romance that’s perfect for fans of Sangu Mandanna and April Asher.
PREMIUM
Alice Chen’s Reality Check
This is a satisfying genre blend that will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic suspense. Recommended for fans of contemporary romance seeking mystery elements and complex family dynamics alongside their slow-burn love.
PREMIUM
Well, Actually
Readers who enjoy remarkably strong women leads and crave emotionally redemptive story arcs will adore this radiantly hot enemies-to-lovers romance from Eddings (Late Bloomer).
PREMIUM
The Deathless One
Hamm’s (Whispers of the Deep) first entry in a new romantasy trilogy offers an occasionally grim, romantic slow burn.
A grim, authentic exploration of death for those who appreciate mythology-infused fantasy, such as Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon or Joanne M. Harris’s Orfeia.
PREMIUM
The Two Lies of Faven Sythe
O’Keefe’s (The Bound Worlds) new space opera will appeal to readers who enjoy sci-fi that focuses on the protagonists’ growth and self-discovery.
PREMIUM
Engines of War
Brimming with conflict, rebellion, and the fusion of magic and machines, this immersive epic brings a richly detailed world to life. Great for fans of Miles Cameron and John Gwynne.
Lambert, pen name of Jeffe Kennedy (Reluctant Wizard), weaves a heart-wrenching tale of guilt and longing, with two star-crossed lovers finding much-needed absolution in each other, only to be forced apart once again. This captivating romantasy is a resounding delight and will leave readers dreaming of a sequel.
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