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Library Journal is proud to announce a new partnership with the “Libraries Lead” podcast. Hosted by Mike Eisenberg (Professor and Dean Emeritus, U. of Washington iSchool), David Lankes (Virginia & Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship, University of Texas at Austin), and Beth Patin (Assistant Professor, Syracuse University's School of Information Studies), the show explores the various social, cultural, and technological issues shaping (and being shaped by) libraries and librarians. New episodes drop monthly, and past episodes are now available at librarieslead.libraryjournal.com.
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.
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The Twilight Garden
An uplifting story about shared space, shared lives, and the benefits of individuals working together for a common purpose.
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Man’s Best Friend
A disagreeable story about the dubious trade-offs of wealth and privilege. Optional for most libraries.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Stone Home
Harrowing and powerful, this audiobook captures a heartbreaking moment in South Korean history.
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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.
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Can You Hear Me?
This fascinating peek into the mind of a remarkable inventor is appropriate for family listening.
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Lavash at First Sight
A great choice for libraries adding to LGBTQIA+ romance collections or wanting to broaden their contemporary romance section.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Nearly half of current audiobook consumers had borrowed a digital audiobook from their library in the last year, according to the survey. “The BookTok/Bookstagram space has changed discoverability,” says Jolene Barto, marketing director of Dreamscape Media. “And with Spotify entering as a retailer this year, we’re seeing new opportunities.
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You Know What You Did
A layered psychological thriller examining the complexities of mental illness and healing. For fans of Lisa Jewell or Gillian Flynn.
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The Material
Thoughtful and profound, but less funny than one might expect, this examination of the lives of comedy students may appeal to fans of Julius Taranto’s How I Won a Nobel Prize.
This is a powerful work with beautiful prose, heartbreaking dialogue, and emotional heft. The superb narration enhances the book, making it a valuable addition to any audio fiction collection.
Audio cookbooks, memoirs, fantasy, horror, and more. This fall’s audiobook stars offer auditory delights across all genres.
This season’s unputdownable audiobooks include irreverent adventures, heart-pounding thrillers, and nuanced crime fiction.
From bloody folk horror to the terrors lurking behind small-town facades, audio horror fans will find nightmares aplenty.
Three titles offer sensitive portraits of sisters navigating tensions wrought by childhood trauma, mental illness, and grief, and the engaging, exasperating dynamics of family drama.
These three dynamic listens provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of the people behind the music, including the trailblazing all-women Liverpudlian band the Liverbirds, Hootie & the Blowfish lead Darius Rucker, and Serj Tankian, the lead of Armenian American heavy metal band System of Down.
A singular short story collection about Lagosian women grappling with romance, sexuality, agency, and betrayal. Share with those who are interested in emerging African writers and don’t mind a dose of raunch.
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When Among Crows
A great recommendation for listeners seeking an action-packed fantasy without the romance. Recommend to fans of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods or Cassandra Clare’s “The Shadowhunter Chronicles” series.
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Cobra Pose
Listeners hoping for a little armchair travel, complete with a fun mystery and endearing characters, need look no further.
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When I Was Alice
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a historical Hollywood mystery with a time-travel twist. Recommended for fans of Renee Patrick and Kelley Armstrong.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census predicts that by 2060, one in three Americans will claim Latino heritage. Their story is an American tale that deserves to be heard.
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The Return of Ellie Black
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate, intensifying suspense about kidnapping and control. Recommended for fans of Stacy Willingham, Karin Slaughter, and Amy Tintera.
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The Library of Borrowed Hearts
Gilmore’s (The Lonely Hearts Book Club) romantic tale is recommended for fans of bookish listens with a twist.
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Instructions for Traveling West
A sincere and moving narration. Sullivan’s raw, enigmatic debut will easily win listeners over and will be a collection to revisit again and again. A marvel.
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The Sleepwalkers
A bleakly amusing he said/she said that makes excellent use of the audio format.
This nuanced work on the history of museums addresses debates about cultural appropriation and offers solutions to help museum workers become more adept at addressing colonial legacies. A good pairing with Bénédicte Savoy’s Africa’s Struggle for Its Art, which describes African nations’ attempts to repatriate looted artworks.
Nussbaum’s well-researched and philosophical discussion of the impact of reality television reveals the influence that it has had, not only on the entertainment industry but on society as a whole. Insightful, unsettling, and thought-provoking.
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The Main Character
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking compelling contemporary suspense with nods to Agatha Christie classics. Recommended for fans of Laura Dave, Alice Feeney, and Paula Hawkins.
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Leaving
Listeners will recognize parallels with operatic tragedy in the structure of Robinson’s (Dawson’s Fall) latest novel. Recommended for those who love high drama and fraught family dynamics.
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Swamp Kings: The Story of the Murdaugh Family of South Carolina & a Century of Backwoods Power
A solid recommendation for true crime buffs and those who enjoyed Mandy Matney’s Blood on Their Hands.
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Jackpot Summer
An engaging listen, highlighting the importance of family, the inevitability of change, and the allure of money. Friedland’s fans will be pleased.
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The Lady He Lost
Delacour’s debut romance is sure to delight those seeking historical romance with echoes of Persuasion and the TV show Poldark.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking cinematic science biography. Recommended for fans of Markel’s previous medical histories, such as The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek.
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Kill for Me, Kill for You
Tension builds steadily, and while some may guess the central mystery in this tale of many mysteries, they’ll enjoy the ride nonetheless.
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Twilight Territory
Romance, war, and the politics of colonialism come together in a tragic, intricately described historical fiction.
Enhanced by strong narration, this timely debut sensitively addresses a crucial and divisive topic. Pair with Kathleen M. Crowther’s Policing Pregnant Bodies or Felicia Kornbluh’s A Woman’s Life Is a Human Life.
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Tree Pose
An entertaining, superbly narrated audio mystery for those seeking action, intrigue, and romance.
This will have listeners believing in a new, inclusive resurgence of the urban fantasy subgenre. Recommended for fans of Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter” series.
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Truly, Madly, Deeply
Lambda Literary Award winner Bellefleur (The Fiancée Farce) is a genius when it comes to contemporary queer romances. Her newest novel, full of delicious thrills and steamy intimacy, is a delight.
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The Familiar
Bardugo’s venture into the Spanish Golden Age translates well into audio, emphasizing a deeply seductive and lushly detailed atmosphere that intrigues and delights. Suggest to listeners of romantasy and those who enjoy fantastical elements in historical settings.
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The Lost Story
Shaffer’s (The Wishing Game) second novel presents a marvelous fairy-tale world, channeling the nostalgic wonder of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. Despite some similarities in the characters’ voices, this enchanting portal story is highly recommended.
Huston’s (Skinner) newest is an excellent listen for those seeking a reality-bending fantasy with a quirky protagonist. Libraries hoping to offer tales that are off the beaten path will want to check this out.
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Old Flames and New Fortunes
A warm start to a small-town, magic-laced romance series. Recommended for fans of witchy romances in the vein of Ann Aguirre’s Witch Please.
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A Grave Robbery
A sparkling production and highly recommended purchase for any audio mystery collection. Recommend to fans of Elizabeth Peters’s Amelia Peabody series.
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Cinema Love
A standout debut that is both a queer love story and an immigrant tale. Tang is a writer to watch.
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Murder by Lamplight
A deliciously atmospheric historical mystery, sure to delight fans of C.S. Harris and Ambrose Parry.
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Summer After Summer
A modern take on a classic novel, recommended for fans of other Austen retellings such as Taylor Hahn’s The Lifestyle or Vanessa King’s A Certain Appeal.
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The Gathering
Tudor’s latest, an atmospheric blend of horror, fantasy, and police procedural, is both riveting and highly recommended.
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Looking for a Sign
The perfect romance for listeners looking for a humorous story with lots of character growth and just the right amount of heat.
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The Shabti
Supernatural danger and an affirming queer romance set this Depression-era thriller apart. Recommended.
Listeners who enjoyed Madia’s first memoir will be thrilled to hear more about her life, her struggles and successes, and her amazing dogs.
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One of Us Knows
A twisty, atmospheric thriller with a creepy gothic setting and a cast of unforgettable characters. For fans of Maria Dong’s Liar, Dreamer, Thief.
The history and cultural perpetuation of disordered eating, especially in women, are deeply, compellingly explored. A must-buy.
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Reboot
Zany and full of surprises, this inventive novel will keep listeners engaged and amazed.
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American Daughters
A winning portrait of a complicated friendship, linking the popular Alice Roosevelt to the lesser-known Portia Marshall Washington Pittman. Recommended for fans of Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray’s First Ladies or Stephanie Marie Thorton’s American Princess.
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An Inconvenient Wife
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a contemporary cozy-ish mystery with a Tudor twist. Recommended for fans of Jilly Gagnon, Richard Osman, and Angie Kim.
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Not in Love
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a steamy, sex-positive contemporary romance about biotech and betrayal. Recommended for fans of Chloe Liese, Abby Jimenez, and Elena Armas.
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Pearce Oysters
This tale of heartache and destruction is both moving and compelling. Share with listeners seeking layered, issue-oriented fiction.
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Malas
Listeners will appreciate Fuentes’s intricately drawn portrait of two unforgettable women searching for connection.
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Close to Death
Horowitz’s fans will enjoy the many twists in this clever mystery, complete with Horowitz’s signature frames-within-frames structure.
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Blessings
Ibeh’s sobering tale sensitively traces a young gay man’s journey, shielded by his mother’s prayers and bolstered by his own convictions and the knowledge that healing is possible even in the face of adversity.
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My Year of Meats
In today’s increasingly corporate-sponsored media-driven world, Ozeki’s 25-year-old novel is as relevant as ever. This new audio rendition is the perfect avenue to revisit her beloved debut.
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Monsters We Have Made
This book is a haunting portrayal of the defining power of stories and family, perfect for fans of cerebral horror.
This literary prequel warns against current tall tales masquerading as truth and will appeal to fans of Gregory Maguire’s and Ann Claycomb’s repurposed classics.
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This Summer Will Be Different
A fun romantic romp with a lovable cast of characters as warm as the summer sun.
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Making It
An uplifting, romantic coming-of-age story featuring a sympathetic protagonist and a cast of heartwarming characters.
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Effie Olsen’s Summer Special
Romance lovers will appreciate this sweet and sexy listen, served up with a satisfying, happy ending.
A must-listen, providing insight into the imprisonment of Japanese American people and suggesting connections to current sociopolitical battle lines. Those interested in furthering their knowledge will want to check out Only What We Could Carry, edited by Lawson Fusao Inada, or Abe’s We Hereby Refuse, coauthored with Tamiko Nimura.
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Four Squares
A heartwarming, funny novel about belonging and community, recommended for fans of Mike Gayle’s similarly uplifting All the Lonely People.
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Tell Me Who You Are
For fans of intense psychological thrillers in the vein of Stacy Willingham’s A Flicker in the Dark.
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Pay Dirt
The disappearance of a young athlete and the unearthing of a property’s seamy secrets makes for compelling listening. Paretsky’s many fans will clamor for this.
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Husbands & Lovers
An entertaining story for those who enjoy romance and historical fiction and fans of Kristin Hannah or Fiona Davis.
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Blue Ruin
A moving examination of art, friendship, and desire, perfect for those who enjoyed Chelsea Martin’s Tell Me I’m an Artist.
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The Limits
This coming-of-age story, simmering with tension and insight, should have broad appeal.
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Welcome Home, Caroline Kline
Recommended for libraries seeking new titles for book groups and for fans of Linda Holmes and Marian Keyes.
Graff’s mighty work is a timely update to Russell Miller’s Nothing Less Than Victory and should appeal to fans of the movie Saving Private Ryan or the Band of Brothers miniseries. Essential for all WWII collections.
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The Bump
Karger’s sophomore novel (after Best Men) takes listeners on an epic road trip across the United States with a loving but still growing couple. Their bumpy but uplifting babymoon will have listeners rooting for the charming fathers-to-be.
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The Summer of Love and Death
Fans of this series and those who enjoy murder mysteries should enjoy this deft and surprising police procedural.
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