Related
PREMIUM
The Last Light over Oslo
Purchase where WWII novels with women protagonists fly off the shelves.
PREMIUM
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes
First published in Japan in 2014, this novel serves as the equivalent of delightful comfort food.
PREMIUM
The Autumn of Ruth Winters
This is a feel-good novel that should appeal to fans of Phaedra Patrick, Jojo Moyes, and Kirsten Miller. Utterly charming. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Model Home
This is an intense read with an increasing sense of unease as more and more of the truth is revealed. It will appeal to readers interested in exploring childhood trauma, secrets, and their long-term effects as in Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey or The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher.
PREMIUM
The Cat Who Cracked a Cold Case
This third “Conrad the Cat Detective” title (after The Cat Who Solved Three Murders) will satisfy those looking for a book that blends cozy sensibilities and more gritty mystery-thriller elements and explores an unusual crime-fighting partnership.
PREMIUM
Libby Lost and Found
This novel is a moving reflection on how a deeply rooted sense of brokenness can be a common thread that brings people together. Capturing both the pain and the beauty of their journeys, this title gives readers an insightful, evocative glimpse into the lives of characters affected by memory loss.
This powerful, provocative novel humanizes the staggering statistics of thousands of Indigenous women who go missing or are murdered. This gripping story is for readers of Rendon’s Cash Blackbear series or Ramona Emerson’s books.
An easy read with genuinely creepy scares, this is a good addition to libraries that are interested in quality small-press horror. Great companion books would be The Rack, a short-story collection edited by Tom Deady, and Living in Cemeteries by Corey Farrenkopf, which both offer pulp horror sensibilities and extremely palatable style.
PREMIUM
The Finest Print
Langston is a skilled crafter of scene, plot, and character, and she showcases those talents in this earnest, heartrending novel.
PREMIUM
Run with the Wind
This title is not just a story about a marathon; it’s a testament to the power of friendship, resilience, and the beauty of pushing beyond one’s limits. Miura’s writing style is atmospheric, evoking the rhythm of running and the mental and physical endurance required to chase such an ambitious dream.
PREMIUM
Hotline
Readers seeking insight into immigrant experiences will appreciate this novel, which was a bestseller in Canada.
This debut novel is sheer magic, a perfect read. It exudes a palpable warmth, and there’s no waste in verbiage or plot.
Like a classic Golden Age mystery, this clever, snappy, and enjoyable cozy offers solid characterizations and comical twists and turns.
The Waiting 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.
Sandra Dallas writes an homage to True Grit, Joanna Miller debuts with a story set at Oxford University in 1920, and Danielle Steel offers a sweeping historical novel.
Get ready to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November with a display shelf of fiction from Indigenous authors.
Stars’s drag-themed cozy mystery debut is a must-purchase. Give it to fans of Kitty Murphy, Rob Osler, and Frank Anthony Polito.
Leong’s debut is a delightful cozy fantasy that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Sosuke Natsukawa returns with a sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books; plus new titles from Jennifer Haigh and Lydia Millet.
Dolen Perkins-Valdez returns with a novel inspired by the real-life Kingdom of the Happy Land, Jennifer Weiner pens a story about sisters who form a pop supergroup, and Nancy Thayer offers another Nantucket-set novel.
It is game, set, and match as romances capture readers’ attention and provide swoony delights. Sports romances set pulses racing, romantasy rises, and moms star in rom-coms.
Jamie Wesley is the author of A Legend in the Baking, Fake It Till You Bake It, and the “One-on-One” series. When she’s not writing or reading romance, Jamie can be found watching TV, rooting for her favorite sports teams, or planning her next trip to Disney World. She talks with LJ about the appeal of romance, athletes as protagonists, and favorite tropes.
A gritty crime novel with a pace that never lets up; Mosley’s best work since the incomparable Easy Rawlins series.
This fun, well-written adventure romance from Segura is unputdownable. Perfect for readers who enjoy a slow burn, witty banter, and plot twists and turns.
Readers who have been swept up in the cozy charm of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee will fall hard for the mix of magical realism, fantasy mystery, and star-crossed romance in this novel.
Bestselling Chuck Wendig returns with a tale of small-town scares and a mysterious staircase to nowhere, while S.A. Barnes offers more space horror; plus multiple terrifying debuts.
Juliette Cross launches a series featuring a dragon shapeshifter, Venessa Vida Kelley debuts with a historical romantasy about a Coney Island merman, and RuNyx offers a twist on the Hades and Persephone myth, set in a dark academia world.
Olivie Blake returns with the story of three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted siblings, and Nghi Vo continues the story of Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby from her acclaimed novel The Chosen and the Beautiful.
The Boyfriend 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.
PREMIUM
The Serpent and the Wolf
With intricate worldbuilding and a unique magic system, Robinson draws readers in and delivers a compelling debut that will captivate fans of Nicola Tyche’s North Queen.
Readers who have been swept up in the cozy charm of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee will fall hard for the mix of magical realism, fantasy mystery, and star-crossed romance in this novel from Sotto Yambao (The Beginning of Always). Highly recommended.
Vaughn’s (Questland) historical fantasy captures both the science and the magic of the natural world, as well as 19th-century sexism. With a unique magic system and engrossing character arcs, this novel will speak to fantasy and lit fic readers alike.
Readers who found the struggle to communicate in Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea will enjoy the equally fraught miscommunications between the minarchs, the “stickmen,” and the humans, while fans of the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Darmok” will find this to be a familiar and similarly complex and heartbreaking tale.
Highly recommended for readers who love mythological retellings like Madeline Miller’s Circe or those who enjoy tales of fierce women seizing control of their own destiny.
PREMIUM
Twisted Shadows
Will satisfy those looking for more momentum in the series’ central romance as well as fans compelled by the investigation. Second-act revelations will have readers clamoring for the next installment; those new to the series should begin with book one, Liar City.
PREMIUM
A Sky of Emerald Stars
This sequel to A River of Golden Bones carries forward its intriguing relationships and high-stakes adventures, along with exploring gender and race in a high-fantasy setting.
Lakshminarayan (The Ten Percent Thief) offers an engaging story that dives into themes about the appreciation of food, colonization, and xenophobia and features two morally gray queer women attempting to find their footing with each other.
PREMIUM
At the Fount of Creation
Readers still reeling from the plummet off the edge of the cliff-hanger ending of the first book will be desperate to get their hands on this epic conclusion to the “Guardians of the Gods” duology, while those who have loved the African-inspired epic stories of lies, secrets, and powerful tricksters found in the works of Moses Ose Utomi and Nnedi Okorafor will be thrilled to add Ogundiran to their lists of must-reads.
Even as the character arcs pack emotional punches and the plot builds with intensity, the story is balanced with the humor and wry character introspection Klune (In the Lives of Puppets) is known for. Previously self-published, this reissued stand-alone only solidifies Klune’s reputation for skillful prose and worldbuilding.
Leong’s debut is a delightful cozy fantasy that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
PREMIUM
How To Steal a Galaxy
Readers who love an old-fashioned heist story, anyone who loves witty, banter-driven romps, and those who have gotten caught up in SF/mystery stories, such as The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal or Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis, will love the fluffy but ultimately dangerous misdirection of this one.
PREMIUM
Boudicca
The real history of the red-haired warrior queen is given new life in Cast’s (Out of the Dawn) well-told reimagining and worldbuilding, with prose that allows readers to see both a battle-hardened leader and a mother fighting for those she loves.
PREMIUM
The Shiver Tree
Searcy’s debut novel is a fun romp that will feel nostalgic to players of Dungeons & Dragons, as it seems to be the first adventure in a larger campaign. This will appeal to readers (teens and up) who love a good fantasy with a mix of humor and interesting worldbuilding.
A solid Pentecost and Parker installment, Spotswood’s newest title takes on another closed-door mystery to great effect. He balances the tension, the red herrings, and the clues well, and fans of the series will be in for a treat. Mystery readers in general would do well to place this series on their TBR lists to enjoy the twists and turns that make these titles a joy to read.
Fans of Armstrong’s debut and other gothic mysteries will appreciate this haunting, intriguing novel.
Stars’s drag-themed cozy mystery debut is a must-purchase. Give it to fans of Kitty Murphy, Rob Osler, and Frank Anthony Polito.
PREMIUM
The Note
Burke’s trademark style creates tension and suspense, but the deeply flawed protagonists might turn off some readers.
PREMIUM
Knife Skills for Beginners
It might disappoint readers seeking a character-led story, but this novel speaks to budding foodies, who will appreciate the recipes and culinary setting, as well as readers who favor a neatly tied-up mystery.
PREMIUM
Haunting and Homicide
Fans of Ellen Byron’s cozies will appreciate this new series centered on an atmospheric, haunted New Orleans.
PREMIUM
Chain Reaction
Byrne’s sequel to Deadlock is a fast-paced, explosive thriller with a charming hero, Russian terrorists on U.S. soil, high-stakes money schemes, and a worthy opponent.
PREMIUM
Pretty Dead Things
Though it can be slow-moving and repetitive, this novel may interest readers who enjoy cold cases with dual timelines.
PREMIUM
Alter Ego
This entertaining sequel vividly depicts the IP-obsessed contemporary comic book world and its threats to comic artists, such as being replaced by artificial intelligence. It’s a compelling setting for Segura’s richly complicated characters, who make up for some clunkiness and contrivance in the plotting.
PREMIUM
The Crime Brûlée Bake Off
Connolly (A Sporting Season), known for romances, ably opens this new ro-mystery series, crafting a slow, charming, sweet fall and filling the case with details of baking, estate living, and reality TV filming.
PREMIUM
She Doesn’t Have a Clue
The dialogue sparkles and the eccentric characters will delight readers. For fans of the movie Knives Out and those who zipped through Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Dial A for Aunties.
As much as Griffiths’s fans will be excited for this collection, mystery readers in general will enjoy these fun mystery and ghost stories. This is a strong purchase for mystery collections.
PREMIUM
They All Fall the Same
The follow-up to Hillbilly Hustle is vicious, violent rural noir, a story of warring Kentucky drug kingpins who are reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys. The language and violence will turn some off, but it may remind readers of S.A. Cosby’s novels, without the humor.
A gritty crime novel with a pace that never lets up; Mosley’s best work since the incomparable Easy Rawlins series.
This atmospheric mystery from a pseudonymous novelist, actor, dramatist, and professor will appeal to readers who enjoy Southern or bookstore settings, quirky characters, and beautiful, descriptive writing.
Tipping her literary cap to Stephen King’s The Shining, Konen serves up a superbly crafted novel of suspense that will thrill and delight fans of Lucy Foley, Alice Feeney, and Sarah Pearse.
PREMIUM
Imposter Syndrome
Readers may find this an unnecessarily complicated puzzle mystery with little real suspense and few memorable characters. The ending will be unanticipated, though perhaps too tricky to fall for.
Fans of Benedict’s previous novels and those who enjoy historical whodunits will find this hard to put down.
Clark follows Fall with the third in the series featuring a complex Black police officer haunted by multiple violent deaths in her life. Characters are well-developed in this hard-hitting police procedural that examines justice, and who metes it out.
Cozies don’t often work when the author removes the amateur sleuth from their usual environment, but Gemma’s gang comes along to comfort series readers. Fans who traveled to London with the crew in There’s a Murder Afoot will enjoy the return.
PREMIUM
Private Rites
The skillfully written familial dynamics and the success of Armfield’s previous novel, Our Wives Under the Sea, make this an easy purchase recommendation for most libraries.
PREMIUM
Apartment Women
Via breezy, engaging storytelling, Gu’s realist novel explores the roles of women, with protagonists who discuss parenting and work-life balance while contending with meeting social, cultural, and societal mores. Readers will eagerly follow this story through to see which couples, if any, succeed in meeting the concept behind this distinctive living situation. A good pick for book clubs.
At times a meditation on romance, reality vs. fantasy, ghosts, and the power of written words, this metaphysical novel examines the questionable value of timekeeping while thoroughly exploring unconditional love, self-imposed constraints, and deaths of one’s body and soul.
PREMIUM
Lazarus Man
Price paints a tableau full of activity, compassion, and complexity that expertly demonstrates how messy and difficult life can be.
PREMIUM
The Greatest Lie of All
This well-written novel evokes other Hollywood-centric fictional biographies, such as Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Recommended for readers who enjoy a book that deals with human nature, relationships, heartache, and love; a bit of Hollywood glamour makes it even better.
This fantastical, spectacular, riveting tale is incredibly well-written, and it gives off a vibe that is fiercely intense and consuming. An existential detective thriller from an engaging writer and thinker.
With its elegant plot, endearing characters and subtle humor, this is a lovely Christmas miracle of a book.
A satirical look at the cultish nature of beauty and influencer mentality, Sathue’s debut deserves to be heard. Jackson’s narration pops and snaps the sharp dialogue and alliterative writing like bubblegum. Similarly disturbing tales about the dark side of the beauty industry are Ling Ling Huang’s Natural Beauty and Mona Awad’s Rouge.
PREMIUM
The Twilight Garden
An uplifting story about shared space, shared lives, and the benefits of individuals working together for a common purpose.
PREMIUM
Man’s Best Friend
A disagreeable story about the dubious trade-offs of wealth and privilege. Optional for most libraries.
PREMIUM
Cabaret Macabre
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a richly detailed historical mystery with a classic Christie-esque detective denouement. Recommended for fans of Nicola Upson, Fiona Davis, and Jessica Fellowes.
PREMIUM
All This and More
Despite the thought-provoking premise and outstanding narration, Shepherd’s choose-your-own-adventure novel is somewhat confusing in audio and may be better experienced in print.
PREMIUM
The Wren in the Holly Library
Fans of fairy tales and romantasy will be delighted. Perfect for those who enjoyed the sexy intrigue of Kerri Maniscalco’s Throne of the Fallen.
PREMIUM
Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life
Recommended for all libraries and for reflective listeners seeking tenderly depicted characters who tug at the heartstrings. Perfect for fans of Frances Maynard’s The Seven Rules of Elvira Carr.
Everhart’s (Wanderlust) latest is a perfect love story for cautious wounded hearts who need a bit of hope.
PREMIUM
Ghost Station
Barnes crafts an oppressive space horror that’s equally a psychological and bodily nightmare, with Johnson’s narration providing additional layers of dread. Fans of the Alien film franchise will feel right at home with this title.
PREMIUM
The Stone Home
Harrowing and powerful, this audiobook captures a heartbreaking moment in South Korean history.
PREMIUM
The Astrology House
The fraught relationships, deeply held secrets, and mysteries of astrology might pique the interest of listeners seeking suspense about betrayal and revenge.
PREMIUM
Lavash at First Sight
A great choice for libraries adding to LGBTQIA+ romance collections or wanting to broaden their contemporary romance section.
PREMIUM
The Widow Spy
Recommended for those who enjoyed Greer Macallister’s Girl in Disguise or Eric Lerner’s Pinkerton’s Secret, both of which imagine other adventures with Kate Warne at the center.
PREMIUM
Cross the Line
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a steamy, sporty contemporary romance. Recommended for fans of Elena Armas, Tessa Bailey, and Libby Hubscher.
PREMIUM
Hidden Rooms
Featuring genuinely moving depictions of women facing chronic, mysterious illnesses, this fresh debut will be welcomed by those who love strong women protagonists and small-town mysteries.
PREMIUM
The Witches of Bellinas
Jones’s lyrically written fever dream of a novel turns power and submission upside down, questioning the nature of gender hierarchy, agency, and empowerment. A haunting pick for fans of Nicola Yoon’s One of Our Kind.
PREMIUM
The Sound of Us
Castille’s (Rocco) latest will appeal to fans of Colleen Hoover and readers who enjoy emotional, drama-filled romances.
PREMIUM
For One Night Only
A lyrical dual-POV romance debut that’s perfect for readers who enjoy elements of oral and print storytelling devices, such as in Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but crave a happily-ever-after too.
PREMIUM
The Girl Most Likely To
Tieu (Fancy Meeting You Here) offers a light-hearted, relatable read for those who appreciate second-chance romances and the nuances of family dynamics.
PREMIUM
A Legend in the Baking
This fast-paced second-chance romance from Wesley (Fake It Till You Bake It) is sweet and hot, with a sexy cinnamon-roll hero and a determined, strong-willed heroine.
Another bright and gratifying love story from Cousens (The Good Part). She tackles the enemies-to-lovers trope with characteristic humor and thoughtfulness, while injecting it with complex characters and realistic situations.
While this novel can stand alone, first-time readers will want the entire series. Highly recommended.
articles
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LOG IN
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LOG IN
Thank you for visiting.
We’ve noticed you are using a private browser. To continue, please log in or create an account.
