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Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
PREMIUM
Five-Star Stranger
A moving portrait of a man coming to terms with the past and shedding his protective emotional armor.
PREMIUM
Bad Witches
Akumiah’s witchy fantasy debut introduces an intricate and intriguing world. Engaging characters and a cliffhanger ending will have listeners eager for more.
Reyes’s short stories take listeners down rocky paths to experience firsthand what it means to rebuild a life when faced with inhospitable elements. Each unique account gives a human voice to the Central American experience, blurring the Rio Grande boundary with heartache and humor to find a new middle ground.
This series continues to delight and is perfect for readers of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series or Sherry Thomas’s Lady Sherlock mysteries.
Fans of Vera Wong will be delighted to experience more laugh-out-loud funny moments with the dedicated amateur sleuth and her found family.
PREMIUM
Our Secrets Were Safe
DEBUT Caroline and Brooke seem to have it all: they’re beautiful, blonde, and come from money...
PREMIUM
The Secrets We Keep
Readers of Amish romance in the vein of Beverly Lewis looking for a genre switch will enjoy, but police procedural fans may be disappointed.
PREMIUM
Don’t Let Him In
A large portion of the story is from Nick/Alistair’s perspective, and spending this much time in the mind of a devilish sociopath may be a turnoff for some readers. Jewell consistently creates compelling characters, so even with the predictable twists, this will delight her many fans and readers of domestic suspense.
PREMIUM
Shaw Connolly Lives To Tell
Readers familiar with French will love this book, as will those who like true crime, strong female protagonists, and stories where the dog is the hero.
PREMIUM
Knave of Diamonds
This solid series is perfect for fans of Sherry Thomas’s Lady Sherlock series or Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen mysteries.
PREMIUM
The Bachelorette Party
Sten effectively uses flashbacks in this page-turner to keep up the suspense. Recommended for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.
PREMIUM
Jill Is Not Happy
With relentless pacing, this novel is perfect for fans of domestic thrillers. Every chapter dives deeper into the couple’s deceit, obsession, and the lengths they will both go to get what they want. A true page-turner, this is a must-read for fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.
PREMIUM
Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie
Burke’s trademarks of sudden violence, rough justice, and lyrical descriptions of people and places are on full display here. A knowledge of the other books about the Hollands is not necessary but will add poignancy to Bessie’s story.
PREMIUM
The God and the Gwisin
This sequel to The God and the Gumiho brings a semblance of K-drama to the page with amusing side characters, good pacing, and mythological romance.
PREMIUM
What We Leave Behind
Halpern, author of moving and lyrical fiction like Summer Hours at the Robbers Library, as well as notable nonfiction including A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home, writes a novel that is populated with complex yet sympathetic characters who will touch readers’ hearts and open their minds.
PREMIUM
Weepers
Ed’s narration, a combination of hard-earned wisdom and darkly humorous faux-Biblical rambling, makes for compelling reading. However, the novel’s esoteric themes and frustrating pace might limit its broader appeal.
PREMIUM
The Seven O’Clock Club
Readers who are invested in accurate depictions of the therapeutic process may find this plot twist challenging to accept, though many of the rather magical events that unfold near the end of the book ring true emotionally.
PREMIUM
What Kind of Paradise
Brown’s (I’ll Be You) latest is part coming-of-age story, part psychological thriller, and part social commentary. The engaging characters and fast-paced plot take readers on a journey from the isolated mountains of Montana to the energetic tech boom of 1990s Silicon Valley.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
This is an utterly charming and absolutely delightful slow-burn romantasy, featuring a bumbling beta hero, a strong heroine, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that is sweet with heat. Romantasy readers will love this one.
Caitlin Starling is the bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence, Last To Leave the Room, and the Bram Stoker–nominated The Luminous Dead. Her upcoming novels The Starving Saints and The Graceview Patient epitomize her love of genre-hopping horror, like her other works spanning besieged castles, alien caves, and haunted hospitals. Here, Starling discusses her latest book, medieval horror, and complicated women protagonists.
PREMIUM
A Novel Murder
With its cozy bookish setting and mystery-writer protagonist, this will be a hit with fans of Janice Hallett and Robert Thorogood.
PREMIUM
The French Honeymoon
Switching between past and present tense helps build the suspense and provides enough foreknowledge to make this a page-turner. For readers interested in psychological thrillers such as Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, and The Perfect Marriage.
A lively story with engaging characters and fascinating bits about British colonial governance in Fiji. Rao’s second tale about Sgt. Akal is first-rate.
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
PREMIUM
Realm of Thieves
Halle’s (The Royals Upstairs) first in a new action-packed, sexy thrill ride is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
PREMIUM
Death on the Caldera
This debut novel takes Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Orient Express, sets it in a gas-lamp fantasy world of magic versus alchemical chemistry, and layers on desperate secrets and literal earthshaking lies into a breakneck fantasy/mystery thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
PREMIUM
In the Veins of the Drowning
Cassidy’s outstanding debut offers a slow-burning tender romance in a grim world that escalates to a bonfire before a cliffhanger ending.
Readers who loved the first book, and anyone who adores an antihero with a heart of gold and a brain filled with terrible one-liners is going to swoon over Dark Lord Davi’s surprising but well-earned happy ending.
PREMIUM
The Knight and the Moth
Gillig (Two Twisted Crowns) excels at creating an eerie world, rife with creepy legends and macabre creatures, sure to please any fan of gothic fantasy; it’s a perfect setting for the love-to-hate-you romance between Six and Myndacious. Excellent for fans of Deborah Harkness, Sarah A. Parker, or Leigh Bardugo.
Darkshire (Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller) makes his fiction debut with this humorous fantasy novel that every library needs.
PREMIUM
The Nightshade God
The final volume of “The Nightshade Crown” trilogy (after The Hemlock Queen) is another opulent and romantic dark fantasy. With its fast pace, delicious love triangle, and high stakes, readers will devour this book.
Safrey (Against All Obstacles) offers a delightful feminist take on the continuing lives of protagonists after the traditional fairy tale has ended. Sharp characters and a twisting plot create an empowering and enchanting tale inspired by iconic princesses.
PREMIUM
Heir of Light
Fans of Sagara’s long-running “Chronicles of Elantra” epic fantasy series, especially those who began Robin’s journey in Shards of Glass, will be thrilled to see him through to the climactic finish of the “Academia Chronicles” duology. Robin’s quick and intensive introduction to the halls of power gives new readers a starting point for entry, while fans will enjoy experiencing it all again, including the old friends and new enemies that make this series such a rich and intricately woven fantasy tapestry.
Rousing seafaring adventure, combined with contemplative musings on life wrapped around a compelling romance make this a fascinating tale that is difficult to put down; the combination of dire ecological challenges and imaginative future discovery combine in this very engrossing read from Weed (A Field Guide to Murder & Fly Fishing).
In the third heartfelt entry of the delightful “Hart and Mercy” series (following The Undermining of Twyla and Frank), Bannen brings readers back to Eternity a decade after the events in the last installment to dive deeper into the mythology surrounding the old and new gods. Hand this romance/fantasy to readers who enjoy unconventional main characters, opposites-attract romances, and novels that explore complicated family relationships.
The latest entry in Bear’s “White Space” series (following Machine) showcases her smart and introspective command of space opera. Well-developed characters highlight not only the big ideas of artificial intelligence, xenophobia, and data preservation but family dynamics and scientific rivalries.
PREMIUM
Written on the Dark
In addition to being a profound meditation on history, identity, and the human condition, this novel stands as a testament to Kay’s unparalleled storytelling.
In Older’s latest series entry, the further exploration of the colony’s academic scene will delight readers of dark academia, and the mystery will enthrall those looking for more sci-fi/mystery blends, while Mossa and Pleiti’s relationship is a delight for sapphic romance readers.
Elliott’s (The Keeper’s Six) fantastic first in a new duology is filled with rich worldbuilding, political intrigue, and themes of class and family secrets. Readers will anxiously await the second book in the series, which arrives later this year.
Higgins’s (The Forever Game) pulse-pounding political thriller is a must-read for fans of Vince Flynn and Lee Child. Based on events in the news, it is thought-provoking, scary, and hugely entertaining.
PREMIUM
A Purrfect Date
Erickson’s latest is a fun, well-paced cozy mystery with a memorable protagonist and cast of supporting characters. Recommended for readers who enjoy Lilian Jackson Braun’s “The Cat Who…” series or the novels of Donna Andrews and Krista Davis.
Horowitz crafts a deliciously witty, clever, and hefty mystery--two mysteries in one, really--in a terrific art-imitating-life send-up that works as a stand-alone as well as a series entry.
PREMIUM
Kill Your Darlings
An addictive read brimming with jaw-dropping surprises. The unique timeline will intrigue fans of psychological thrillers.
Edgar Award winner Abbott (Beware the Woman) effortlessly excels at exploring the complexities of women’s relationships with suspenseful, atmospheric storytelling. Unsettling and darkly clever, her latest will delight her many fans and attract new ones.
PREMIUM
Dying To Meet You
Readers who crave suspense novels written with an acerbic sense of wit and graced with a compelling cast of characters are in for a treat.
Pitts follows up Trouble in Queenstown with a literary, absorbing whodunit encompassing murder, human compassion, and grief. It’s a welcome addition to the Vandy Myrick series.
PREMIUM
The Busybody Book Club
The intertwining perspectives of the disparate members will tug at readers’ armchair sleuthing abilities as they try to puzzle out whodunit and why. A good fit for fans of bookish mysteries featuring reluctant allies who learn to work together.
PREMIUM
Emma on Fire
Patterson and Raymond (coauthors of Raised by Wolves) write a dramatic, quick-paced read that explores the power of grief, the questions left for the living after a loved one’s suicide, and a statement that through loss there can be hope for the future.
A dandy mystery with a surprising twisty plot, strong characterizations, and a village librarian whose sharp memory and no-nonsense demeanor make her an unexpected but invaluable ally to Polly.
PREMIUM
The Rushworth Family Plot
Austenites will delight in Gray’s deft retellings of the scandals at the center of Mansfield Park, with plenty of sly allusions woven into a plot that will keep readers guessing, as much about murders as about marriages.
Tracking the elapsed time from initial collapse encourages speed reading as if to aid the Shaws in their efforts. Perfect for a one-sitting read.
In her second adventure, Quinn’s heroine brings the same charm, humor, and sturdy constitution that readers enjoyed from book one. Mrs. Plansky uses others’ perceptions of older people to her detecting advantage to find answers. Fans of Only Murders in the Building, Richard Osman’s “Thursday Murder Club” series, and senior detectives in general will love Loretta and wish for many more adventures.
PREMIUM
Making Friends Can Be Murder
This lighthearted cozy with a charming premise addresses deeper themes of identity, loyalty, and forgiveness. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman or TV’s Only Murders in the Building.
PREMIUM
Detective Aunty
Recommended for fans of Sujata Massey’s Perveen Mistry books and Robert Thorogood’s “Marlow Murder Club” series.
A lively story with engaging characters and fascinating bits about British colonial governance in Fiji. Rao’s second tale about Sgt. Akal (after A Disappearance in Fiji) is first-rate.
PREMIUM
The Retirement Plan
It all adds up to unlikable people doing crazy things in increasingly outlandish situations, with a tone that switches between mordant humor and camp.
PREMIUM
Guilty by Definition
Martha and her team are whip-smart and fun, providing a light juxtaposition to the suspense elements, while the lush and vibrant descriptions of Oxford create a lovely sense of place; readers will be both informed and entertained. Recommended for fans of Pip Williams’s The Dictionary of Lost Words and Jodi Picoult’s By Any Other Name.
PREMIUM
The Battle of the Bookshops
For fans of Alexander’s previous novels or those seeking a bookish, slice-of-life romantic read.
PREMIUM
Rebel in the Deep
Robert offers a high-heat polyamorous relationship between her three protagonists in this second-chance romance, with a satisfying ending for series readers, complete with a full reunion of characters from previous books.
PREMIUM
This Much Is True
This book is perfect for romance fans who are looking for some excitement, intrigue, and passion in their historical novel.
This lighthearted romance has just enough D&D to delight role-players and also welcome unfamiliar readers. Romance fans will be drawn to the growing friendships and blossoming love interest that will keep them engaged from start to finish. A natural 20 on both story and sizzle.
Lowell gives readers another entertaining, emotional, and educational romp with a romantic pair that is easy to fall in love with.
PREMIUM
Flirty Dancing
Readers will love taking a trip to Shady Queens Resort in this effervescent rom-com.
PREMIUM
The Re-Write
Blackburn’s (Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband??) charming romantic comedy touches on difficult subjects, combining them with well-written characters and an engrossing story.
PREMIUM
Writing Mr. Right
Khawaja (Maya’s Laws of Love) has written another heartfelt story centering Pakistani American and Muslim characters. Set in New York City and featuring a prominent literary plot and fun fantastical elements balanced with real world storylines, this uplifting novel is a must read for fans of multicultural and cozy romances.
PREMIUM
Here for a Good Time
The friends-to-lovers romance is secondary to the mystery of the armed invaders and the struggle to escape the island, but readers looking for a summer beach read should find the latest from War (I Did Something Bad) a fun and exciting diversion.
PREMIUM
It’s a Love Story
Monaghan (Summer Romance) writes another charming rom-com, this time with enemies-to-lovers and forced-proximity tropes. Monaghan fans will not be disappointed.
PREMIUM
The Last Sunrise
Fans of Todd’s “After” series and Colleen Hoover will get lost in this summer romance that delivers a heartfelt message of living life to its fullest and relying on others to help during the worst times.
PREMIUM
The Lamplighter’s Bookshop
With many side characters and subplots, debut author Austin keeps the pacing lively and crafts a vivid York, but the romance gets a little lost among too many plotlines. Still, this Victorian-era story is a promising and engaging start for a new author.
Adler (Happy Medium) mixes witty banter and well-drawn characters with her signature heart and humor to bring Nina and Quentin’s story to a satisfying resolution in her best novel to date.
PREMIUM
Courtroom Drama
A good pick for all romance collections, Alexander’s (In a Not-So-Perfect World) funny and moving novel is likely to be popular with reality television fans and those who enjoy the estranged friends-to-lovers trope.
PREMIUM
Heart of the Sun
This dystopian tale from Sheridan (Falling for Gage) blends survival with second-chance romance, perfect for fans of The Last of Us and gripping, postapocalyptic stories.
PREMIUM
The Charmer
A must-read contemporary romance that offers multicultural perspectives, complex family dynamics, and sophisticated relationship development. Perfect for fans of marriage-of-convenience stories.
PREMIUM
Ten Sleep
A coming-of-age, visceral Weird Western marked by palpable terror and populated by uncanny creatures, in the vein of The Gunslinger by Stephen King, Little Heaven by Nick Cutter, and Sundown in San Ojuela by M.M. Olivas.
A brilliantly constructed and thoroughly unnerving fever dream that Starling’s fans will gulp down. It will also appeal to readers nestled in the space where Brom’s Slewfoot, Agustina Bazterrica’s The Unworthy, and Nick Cutter’s The Queen overlap.
PREMIUM
Overgrowth
Grant (“Newsflesh” series) presents another engaging, existentially terrifying, and thought-provoking SF-tinged horror novel. An easy hand-sell for fans of Chuck Wendig’s Wanderers and the novels of Jeff VanderMeer.
Although heartbreaking, this novel, told through anecdotes and vignettes, thrums with strength. A powerful audio that takes listeners on an unforgettable roller coaster of emotions.
PREMIUM
Libby Lost and Found
A moving debut about fandom, family, fiction, and writing. Despite some audio missteps, this should appeal to fans of Meg Shaffer’s The Wishing Game.
This genre-defying feminist novel is sure to appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction with elements of mystery, romance, and family secrets.
PREMIUM
Mob Queen
Will appeal most to readers looking for gritty historical fiction about a resilient woman unsure who she can trust in a glitzy but treacherous world with life-and-death stakes.
PREMIUM
The Original Daughter
This novel should appeal to readers who appreciate relationship-based stories within families; also a good candidate for book clubs.
PREMIUM
The Book of Records
To say that Thien’s novel is relevant to most contemporary audiences is inadequate; it would resonate with readers of any era. This philosophical work might best be savored in short bursts. Like a visiting a vast museum, to take everything in at once is to have too much information to absorb fully.
Amerie, who recently founded a book club to highlight a diversity of voices, crafts a captivating story that’s not merely about ghosts and the living but about human desire, confronting one’s own faults and misdeeds, and the healing power of friendship.
Tackling Oates’s lengthy novel feels something like running a marathon, breathless, through a foreboding landscape. She is at her best here: insightful, unrelenting, and devastating.
PREMIUM
I’ll Be Right Here
Bloom’s (White Houses) insightful new novel is a quick and affecting read. Recommended for all collections.
PREMIUM
A Beautiful Family
Written from Alix’s point of view, this suspenseful coming-of-age debut is hard to put down. Readers will sympathize with the young protagonist.
As in her other popular World War II–set reads, Harmel (The Paris Daughter) ultimately delivers an emotional tale with likable characters and a feel-good ending. The moral ambiguity of the protagonist’s choices should help keep conversation flowing for the many book clubs who call Harmel a favorite.
PREMIUM
Storybook Ending
Ideal for fans of thirtysomething second-chance love stories with appealing secondary characters.
PREMIUM
Dear Virginia, Wait for Me
Butler offers a literary coming-of-age story with the feel of a contemporary romance, which will appeal to a wide swath of fiction readers.
PREMIUM
Mansion Beach
Though the plot sometimes moves a little slowly, Moore deftly addresses questions of wealth and privilege and paints a picturesque portrait of an island caught between eras.
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