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Miller’s debut is a sweeping historical romance and spy thriller rolled up into a novel highlighting a little-known aspect of World War II. For fans of the deep research of Amanda Barratt and the war-era romances of Sarah Sundin. Miller is definitely a rising star in the genre.
PREMIUM
Her Part To Play
Destined to be a smash-hit rom-com similar to Toni Shiloh’s “Love in the Spotlight” series. In her fiction debut, Erlingsson’s (Milk & Honey in the Land of Fire & Ice) voice is warm, funny, faith-filled, and perfect for Hallmark movie lovers.
PREMIUM
The Song of Sourwood Mountain
Readers interested in the hardscrabble mountain life, as depicted in Michelle Shocklee’s Appalachian Song and Lynn Austin’s Wonderland Creek, will want to add the latest from Gabhart (In the Shadow of the River) to their TBR lists.
PREMIUM
A Run at Love
A charming friends-to-lovers story that will satisfy fans of Shiloh’s “Love in the Spotlight” series and its previous entry, The Love Script.
Hauck (The Best Summer of Our Lives) pulls out all the stops in this heartwarming novel of perseverance and family, with her trademark dual-era nostalgia and mysterious, heaven-sent character. Her loyal fans will also appreciate nods to her “True Blue” series.
Wassmer’s debut novel succeeds in being the opposite of its title. He might become a new favorite for fans of John Scalzi and David Wong (a.k.a. Jason Pargin).
It is a rare page-turner that sets readers to wondering who they are and why they are here, and in a just world this skillful exploration of the human predicament via riveting fiction would earn Harris his own unique place in the canon, alongside Joseph Conrad, Ernest Hemingway, Iris Murdoch, and Graham Greene.
PREMIUM
A Novel Summer
Plot twists and redemption abound in this sweet story from Brenner (Gilt; Blush). Robyn Carr and Debbie Macomber fans, this one’s for you!
Moore’s novel is wild yet delicate, with complex characters and an immersive reading experience that will draw audiences. Its explorations of class, crime, and family dynamics, in addition to Moore’s incredible storytelling, will appeal to readers of Lisa Jewell, Tana French, and Lucy Foley.
This meticulously researched and lyrically written portrait of Jackie will appeal not only to baby boomers who experienced the historic events of her life but also to anyone who appreciates intimate novels about into women’s hearts, minds, and souls. A must-purchase.
PREMIUM
Jenny James Is Not a Disaster
This sweet novel serves as a good reminder that sometimes the worst days can kick-start positive changes. Johnson’s Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater was turned into a Hallmark movie, and her latest has a similar tone.
PREMIUM
Hidden Faces
This isn’t as entertaining as Dalí’s gleefully self-mythologizing memoirs, but the outré decadence of his lone novel is not without its perverse delights, marking this out for cult status among devotees of Joris-Karl Huysmans and the Marquis de Sade.
PREMIUM
The Great State of West Florida
This novel won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s savage, funny, and, in these fractious days, doesn’t seem as exaggerated as it might have only 20 years earlier.
With their energetic narrative and relentless humor, Ryan’s stories are both entertaining and thought-provoking, making this book endlessly quotable and hard to put down. Fans of Ryan’s observational TikTok shorts will enjoy the same irreverent humor in this longer, immersive format.
The many admirers of Perrin’s previous novel, Fresh Water for Flowers, will be equally charmed by this beguiling tale. All other readers might be doubly rewarded.
PREMIUM
Bear
By focusing on the characters’ relationships with one another, Phillips brings complicated, very human characters to life in a tale filled with sadness. Literary fiction readers looking for complicated family stories will be immersed in the novel’s haunting tragedy.
Wise, subtle, and revelatory, Cullinan’s stories rank among the best of Alice Munro, Grace Paley, and Edith Pearlman.
PREMIUM
This Strange Eventful History
A meticulous tale about one family, rich in historical detail. Recommended for historical fiction readers who enjoy epic family histories and cerebral characters.
Adopting yet subtly subverting the prevalent imperialist biases of their day, these popular tales offer a diverting glimpse of the cultural ferment and ambivalence of late colonial Bengal.
PREMIUM
All Fours
While the protagonist’s self-obsessions and erotic escapades won’t be to everyone’s liking, July’s novel is a quirky, funny, even tender feminist tale that defies expectations about the lives women can lead.
PREMIUM
Wives Like Us
Light and fun with just a hint of gentle satire, this novel will delight Sykes’s fans.
PREMIUM
Our Narrow Hiding Places
Jansma (Why We Came to the City) shows the impact of generational trauma in one family. Book clubs and readers of World War II fiction will enjoy his perceptive take on survival, family, and starting over.
PREMIUM
The Bookshop Sisterhood
An inspiring read about the power of women’s friendships and how learning to trust those one loves best can be risky but ultimately rewarding.
A juicy and fun novel about the women who pioneered the sexy page-turner with Valley of the Dolls and Hollywood Wives.
Contemporary romance author Katelyn Doyle and historical romance author Scarlett Peckham are one and the same, with both a unique, sizzling second-chance rom-com and a sexy, bawdy, and fun historical romance coming out this summer.
These three romances offer new takes on classic stories, including a steamy modern “Beauty and the Beast” tale, a rom-com reimagining of Rapunzel, and a unique contemporary twist on The Great Gatsby.
These novels span centuries, featuring a woman-centered Trojan War retelling, a midwife in 14th-century Provence, a 1920s jazz era singer, and two World War II stories.
Funny Story by Emily Henry is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
PREMIUM
Reluctant Bride’s Baby Bombshell
With passion that is off the charts and a unique story, lovers of contemporary romances will be devouring this second “One Year To Wed” title, after Secretly Married to a Prince by Ally Blake.
PREMIUM
His Princess on Paper
A contemporary royal romance with the added flair of a marriage of convenience, Rohan and Elora’s love story will keep readers’ attention from start to finish in Milne’s (Wedding Planner’s Deal with the CEO) latest.
Colter’s (Winning Over the Brooding Billionaire) latest is a contemporary romance perfect for readers who like their couples to have a history together.
PREMIUM
Breaking the Best Friend Rule
This friends-to-lovers romance from Lewis (Beauty and the Playboy Prince) will have readers oohing and aahing over the couple that is truly meant to be.
PREMIUM
Socialite’s Nine Month Secret
Seeing these two protagonists, both burned by their respective times in the spotlight, find love together makes for a charming story sure to please readers in the latest from Pembroke (Cinderella in the Spotlight).
PREMIUM
Secretly Married to a Prince
First in a new series, Blake’s (Cinderella Assistant to Boss’s Bride) second-chance romance has it all: an instant connection that returns after years apart, plenty of steamy glances, and royalty.
PREMIUM
Highland Fling with Her Boss
This contemporary romance from Baine (Pregnant Princess at the Altar) is a perfect read for those who want to do some armchair traveling, with the added bonus of an HEA.
PREMIUM
It Started with a Proposal
In Meier’s (Fling with the Reclusive Billionaire) latest, the fake-engagement trope gets a fun twist in this charming story, perfect for readers who love a story with a close-knit family.
PREMIUM
The Next Mrs. Parrish
With scheming worthy of the soapiest television drama, readers will enjoy watching the match of wits and wills in this entertaining beach read.
PREMIUM
Do What Godmother Says
Stratton delivers a tightly woven dual-timeline thriller. Elements of occult horror, historical fiction, and whodunit will intrigue readers of all stripes. Give this to fans of Alyssa Cole’s When No One Is Watching.
A must-buy to complete Winspear’s great series. The satisfying and emotional ending is perfect for fans.
LJ Best Book author Hailey Piper offers a twist on vampire mythology; plus new books from Kelley Armstrong, Richard Chizmar, and Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Nuzo Onoh.
A Calamity of Souls 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.
Monika Kim is a second-generation Korean American living in Los Angeles’s Koreatown. She learned about eating fish eyes from her mother, who immigrated to LA from Seoul in 1985. The Eyes Are the Best Part is her first novel.
PREMIUM
The Library Thief
Shenjé shines a light on LGBTQIA+ love and people of color in Victorian England. No stone is left unturned or unexamined in this gothic mystery that offers a counterpoint to what is often a cis-het and white genre. Fans of Sarah Waters and Bridget Collins might have in Shenjé a new author to add to their TBR lists.
PREMIUM
One Cursed Rose
Zanetti (Frostbitten) launches a new series with this shadowy and violent twist on “Beauty and the Beast” that will appeal to readers looking for a uniquely magical world filled with seduction and betrayal.
PREMIUM
A Punishing Breed
Readers who like campus mysteries and intriguing, gruff detectives with a few redeeming qualities will enjoy this first book in a planned series.
These 800 pages are gone in a surprising flash. Highly recommended; don’t miss the invaluable author’s note.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi’s debut.
Coryell’s engrossing bent comedy isn’t afraid to delve into scathing and frank analyses of modern dating culture, American classism, and serial killer fixation, while still being a thrilling read with twists throughout.
PREMIUM
Dreadful
Silly but earnest, this cozy fantasy will appeal to fans of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree.
PREMIUM
The Guncle Abroad
This follow-up has a humor and affection for the characters in a story with just the right amount of domestic tension but will still be a balm to readers.
PREMIUM
The Unicorn Woman
Jones (The Birdcatcher) rambles somewhat aimlessly, like Buddy, offering a character that should have been more compelling and a story that plods along.
PREMIUM
The Woman in the Sable Coat
Told in multiple POVs, Brooks’s latest features complex yet fragile characters that will engage readers until the end.
Fans of twisted cat-and-mouse thrillers, unconventional underdog protagonists, fiendish evil-doers, and surprise “holy cow” endings will devour this unputdownable novel.
Lee’s latest is a tender and sexy romance that foodies will absolutely devour. A great read for fans of commoner-and-royalty storylines, such as Alyssa Cole’s “Reluctant Royals” series.
A believable, timely, edge-of-one’s-seat thriller involving climate change and a virus...it’s disaster on a grand scale.
Dragon, witches, and myths abound this month, and there's even a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in space.
Several paranormal romances, featuring wolves, witches, and ghosts, and holiday stories set during Christmas and Hanukkah are out this month.
Ranging from cozy to dangerous these romances set in fantasy worlds offer magical artifacts, swordsmen, pirates, and life-and-death choices.
In Chandrasekera’s newest, the characters’ journey through fantastical worlds across millennia is reminiscent of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Recommended for fans of ambitious speculative fiction that tackles systems of oppression in fresh ways.
Just for the Summer 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
Jackpot Summer
A fun read that poses deeper questions about marriage, sibling relationships, and inevitable change in life.
Art, murder, and the Parisian atmosphere combine in a delightful, detailed mystery for Francophile fans of Rhys Bowen or Betty Webb.
PREMIUM
Requiem for a Mouse
Charlie is on the periphery of the case in this sequel to Hiss Me Deadly, but fans of the series will be happy with the return of Charlie and Diesel, their friends and family, and preparations for a upcoming wedding.
PREMIUM
Tangled Up in You
A romantic joyride with roller-coaster plot reveals. Readers of Lauren’s (The True Love Experiment) books and fans of the beloved Disney original Tangled will adore this rom-com retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale.
Mukherjee approaches terrorism and terrorist actors with a view that is more nuanced than cut-and-dried.
PREMIUM
Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade
A compelling remembrance of real librarians who could very easily have been lost to history. Readers who like historical novels with strong women characters will enjoy.
PREMIUM
The Next Best Fling
Gamez debuts with a contemporary rom-com, featuring hot chemistry and emotional depth.
PREMIUM
Cuckoo
No one writes like Felker-Martin (Manhunt), and her unrelenting and brutally honest novels are crucial inclusions to all horror collections. Pair with Chuck Tingle’s Camp Damascus or Lucy Snyder’s Sister, Maiden, Monster. This is also a great update to the classic film Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
PREMIUM
Summers at the Saint
For readers who’d enjoy a blend of friendships (old and new), budding romance, and secrets held within the walls of a hotel that needs rescuing, as in Elin Hilderbrand’s The Hotel Nantucket.
Those unfamiliar with Wallis Simpson may wish for more backstory, but Blalock (An Indiscreet Princess) sketches out enough of the history that readers won’t be lost for long. A solid entry into the World War II subgenre that will entertain and educate historical fiction fans.
PREMIUM
A Wedding in Lake Como
This book comes with discussion questions and is great for those who enjoyed Jodi Picoult novels or Ann Brashares’s “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” series. Will make a great addition to library shelves and book clubs this summer.
PREMIUM
Running Close to the Wind
Rowland (A Taste of Iron and Gold) dials up the humor, innuendo, and laugh-out-loud escapades in this pirate novel. Fans of the show Our Flag Means Death should definitely take a look.
PREMIUM
We Were the Universe
Stream of consciousness is a literary device that doesn’t appeal to everyone, so buy for demand only. Steer this novel toward readers who loved Melissa Broder’s Death Valley, Jonathan Safran Foer’s Everything Is Illuminated, or Joyce Maynard’s The Bird Hotel.
PREMIUM
Lady Scandal
A warmly refreshing read for the genre. Highly recommended for those who like historical romance, spirited characters, hard-earned success stories, and second chances.
PREMIUM
In the Shadow of the Fall
In Ogundiran’s (Jackal, Jackal) West African–based epic fantasy, the first in a duology, Ashâke learns the truths of her world and becomes a linchpin in the coming conflict between gods and godslayers. A sure hit for fans of Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Moses Ose Utomi, and N.K. Jemisin.
PREMIUM
Beautiful Villain
Kenney’s (A Hunt So Wild and Cruel) unique contemporary retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is perfect for fans of classics with a twist. New Adult and paranormal romance readers will enjoy the novel’s mystery and steamy, action-packed drama.
A great read for fans of authors who embrace slasher-movie tropes in their storytelling such as Brian McAuley, Grady Hendrix, and Stephen Graham Jones, and also those who love tales where artists and cursed objects collide, such as Gothic by Philip Fracassi.
Readers who were caught up in the political shenanigans, hopeless battles, and pyrrhic victories of Brian McClellan’s In the Shadow of Lightning or Daniel Abraham’s Age of Ash will be enthralled, while those who like their grimdark fantasy to trip over into horror will find similarities between the characters of Galva and Alex Easton from T. Kingfisher’s What Feasts at Night.
PREMIUM
The Spice Gate
This is a sweeping, smart, and heartfelt tale that is perfect for readers who enjoy action-packed epic fantasy about family, survival, and the steadfast strength of the oppressed.
Sebastian’s (We Could Be So Good) latest is full of grumpy/sunshine goodness, with an absolutely delicious slow-burn romance.
PREMIUM
A Ruse of Shadows
Understanding this historical mystery requires thorough knowledge of the rest of the series, so it’s best for devoted fans.
PREMIUM
Oye
Luciana’s emotional journey to self-acceptance, via the many trials she encounters, is compelling. The unique structure of the novel and its emotional and often hilarious dialogue will appeal to all audiences.
Highly recommended for readers who can’t resist a story featuring brave knights, stalwart queens, and magic.
PREMIUM
The Alone Time
A steady build-up that questions the origins of a tragedy and the motives of the survivors and pits survival, ambition, and perhaps the truth against each other, leading to a finale that will surprise even the most perceptive readers. Will appeal to fans of Jennifer Hillier, Jordan Harper, and Michelle Sacks.
Saintcrow’s attention to detail and fantastical worldbuilding, inspired by Norse Viking legends and places, merits her series’ comparison to classic epic fantasies like J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” and Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time.”
PREMIUM
The Z Word
King-Miller’s (Ask a Queer Chick: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life for Girls who Dig Girls) fiction debut expertly balances social commentary with fun in a novel that will have readers cheering for her queer heroes and questioning their own brand loyalties. Will have wide appeal for fans of Jennifer Government by Max Barry, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, and Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin.
PREMIUM
In Our Stars
Campbell asks powerful questions about the way social structures collapse and how the loudest voices take advantage, all in a pulse-pounding adventure about saving the world and staying one step ahead of the forces that would destroy it.
PREMIUM
A Pose Before Dying
While cat yoga may be an extremely cozy activity and setting for a novel, Erickson (“Bookstore Café Mystery” series) also offers a vexing murder mystery that will unsettle and intrigue readers. This series starter quickly piles up the tension and conflict and establishes a main character who’s worth rooting for.
PREMIUM
An Ocean of Courage and Fear
Especially for historical fiction buffs with knowledge of World War II’s Pacific theater of operations.
Peckham pairs polar opposites in a sexy, bawdy, fun, and yet deeply compassionate romance. A fitting end (after The Portrait of a Duchess) to the “Society of Sirens” series.
PREMIUM
Lavash at First Sight
Voskuni (Sorry, Bro) writes a heartfelt, fade-to-black sapphic romance that focuses on Ellie’s Armenian-diaspora and queer communities.
With obvious nods to the serious issues that underpin Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, and clearly inspired by Gillian Flynn’s seminal Gone Girl, Kim has written a novel that every library needs to own.
PREMIUM
The Heirloom
More women’s fiction than rom-com, this novel will find fans but it isn’t top of the pack.
PREMIUM
The Queen City Detective Agency
While the historical mystery is slow-moving at times, it evokes the atmosphere and tension of the 1980s American South, emphasizing the rage and emotions of a woman of color who’s faced with the political clout of ruthless white power brokers.
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