Romance fans will delight in the story, the addition of sweet bakery treats, and the showdown between the judgmental town, the snooty Buenaventuras, and the pull of the love that got away.
With witty insults, drunk dancing, and pranks, Tanamachi’s extra fun follow-up to The Second You’re Single is positively enjoyable and should be suggested reading for those who loved books by Sally Thorne and Suzanne Park.
Sullivan’s (A Guide to Being Just Friends) satisfying opposites-attract, fish-out-of-water romance (complete with fictional fish) is sure to make readers smile.
In flashback-laden, dual-POV style, Williams (Do You Take This Man) uploads her best yet contemporary romance, full of complex characters, the highs and lows of being a Black woman in STEM, and plenty of steam. Recommend to readers who enjoyed Jasmine Guillory and Chloe Liese.
Frampton fills the next amusing installment in the “School for Scoundrels” series (after His Study in Scandal) with a smoldering artist and a smart, guileless woman, who are opposites and yet somehow the perfect pairing, as well as lots of cameos from Simeon’s fellow scoundrels.
An engaging series installment offering a second chance at love to a spunky heroine and a hero with hidden depths. Best read in sequence, starting with The Siren of Sussex.
Rocha’s (“Mercenary Librarians” series) new offering is set in a rich, erotic fantasy world, filled with lush characters and a magical landscape of secrets, power, and betrayal.
Allain’s (Miss Lattimore’s Letter) Regency romance engagingly features wronged women who empower each other to take control of their love lives. The power-play dynamics between Diana and Max offer enjoyable fun.
Fans of Taylor Swift and author Bridget Morrissey will especially enjoy this emotional second-chance romance from married writing duo Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka (Do I Know You??).
With several ’90s flashbacks and plenty of character growth, Saunders’s debut will appeal to nostalgic readers and those who enjoy mature romances and novels featuring celebrities.
An ambitious woman finding her way in the world and the heart-meltingly caring man who loves her for who she is combine to make this a charming romance from Wiesner (It All Comes Back to You).
Ruiz (Luck and Last Resorts) writes sensitively about two people trying to thrive amid personal issues and the relief one feels in finding a kindred soul.
This book will appeal to readers seeking a fast-paced historical romance that is passionate and playful, with a heavy dose of modern movie inspiration. Recommended for fans of Eloisa James, Sabrina Jeffries, and Tessa Dare.
Irish author Coughlan’s debut offers a mildly suspenseful narrative that effectively conveys the challenges working women faced in the 1960s. Readers interested in exploring the historical quest for women’s rights and independence will enjoy.
There’s a face-off between organized religion and friendship in Jones’s well-written, compelling sequel to Dead of Winter. It’s a gritty crime novel for fans of Joe Ide’s “IQ” series or David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s Winter Counts.
In an unusual mash-up, the author of the Eve Ronin books combines police procedural, Western historical, and time travel. An entertaining story for those who can suspend disbelief.
The mystery itself often seems to take a backseat to personal dramas playing out among the engaging cast of characters concocted by award-winning Herren, author of the “Chanse MacLeod” and “Scotty Bradley” series. However, readers who enjoy crime fiction with a vividly evoked setting and an entertaining story frame will find this series launch to be the perfect literary lagniappe.
Readers of the other books in Frost’s series will be pleased with this newest addition, full of Christmas foods, decorations, and festivities, with an intriguing central mystery; it’s sure to be a hit with cozy-mystery lovers.
Spufford has written an astounding homage to noir mysteries. A poignant drama-filled novel that his fans and readers of Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian will thoroughly enjoy.
Libraries looking for cozy St. Patrick’s Day mysteries might want to add this volume to a holiday mystery collection. Fans of the three authors will enjoy the returns of their favorite amateur sleuths.
The follow-up to Uncanny Times continues to build Gilman’s delightful world. Fans of gaslamp fantasy, Sherlock Holmes, and wry siblings should take a look.
Lares’s debut is an action-filled historical fantasy set in an alternate 16th-century Mexico, featuring Mesoamerican mythology and a unique blend of magic and adventure.
With a fascinating fictional scenario that connects history with the future, Holmes once again tackles conspiracy, subterfuge, and murder, but he takes it out of this world in his latest novel. Readers who enjoy Andy Weir’s novels, books like The Manchurian Candidate and 2001: A Space Odyssey, and TV shows such as Babylon 5 will want to put this one on their to-read lists.
Must-read fantasy for readers who appreciate the catharsis of horror; perfect for fans of Whalefall by Daniel Kraus and Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison.
Evocative and a little mysterious, this literary fantasy is immersive and full of Nigerian mythology. Recommend this lustrous coming-of-age story to those who like to read across genres.
Fay’s debut is highly recommended for fans of pulse-pounding combos of sci-fi with sympathetic characters and melting hearts, like that from Valerie Valdes, K.B. Wagers, Rachel Bach, and Cat Rambo.
Butcher’s long-awaited sequel to The Aeronaut’s Windlass is an exciting epic fantasy, set in the sky and filled with airships, magic, and the connections of blood and found family.
A contemporary fantasy debut that draws on Trinidadian culture, modern medical concerns, and family bonds. Fans of magical realism will find this tale engrossing.
With delicate touches of magical realism and an abiding sense of comfort, Linden offers a gentle hug of a story. Suggest to fans of Sarah Addison Allen.
Gentle, wholesome, and satisfying, with pops of the unexpected, this tenderhearted tale with a touching, uplifting storyline will please March’s fans and anyone looking for a captivating escape.
Highly recommended, especially for fans of stories of generational relations and the connections between women. The tender, tough, funny, and heartbreaking voices of the characters will seep into readers’ souls.
An intriguing thought experiment that imagines the lasting impact of Chaplin’s real-life visit to Cambodia. Readers looking for deep biographical details should look elsewhere, but those who are interested in the 1930s and world history might appreciate.
A real nail-biter, this impeccably written debut from journalist Adegoke (coauthor of Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible) keeps audiences wondering until the end. Boasting cinematic qualities that will ease its jump to the screen, this book has already been sold for a TV series.
Lagioia’s literary thriller provides a more complicated picture of crime and punishment than many crime novels, and the vivid depictions of Rome leap from the page, but readers will require a firm resolve to wade through the detailed horrors of Varani’s murder.
Full of witty dialogue and steamy sexual tension, the novel unfolds at a steady pace and draws the reader in. Though this is only her sophomore effort, Hawley is bound to become a staple for readers of paranormal romances. Recommend to fans of Katie MacAlister, Lana Harper, and Molly Harper.
The sequel to Righteous Prey reunites Davenport and Flowers in an intricate crime novel. The strong characters, known for their deep friendship and jokey relationship, will continue to appeal to fans of the long-running series.
While “Psy-Changeling” series author Singh’s numerous fans will appreciate this intricate psychological thriller, there’s nothing new in the plot. Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None set the bar high for this storyline.
Illustrated in gorgeous black-and-white brushstrokes and moodily evocative painted washes, this twisty thrill ride through old Hollywood features a large cast of complex and often surprisingly nuanced characters.
A fast-paced mystery, propelled by a fascinating cast of characters, that builds to a profoundly moving and deeply romantic climax. Absolutely not to be missed.
Foxe’s (Dark X-Men) scripting emphasizes thrills and chills over exposition without shortchanging character development in this exhilaratingly pulpy horror thriller.
This totally unique depiction of Sherlock Holmes and Watson is likely to be embraced by fans of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories and also by those who enjoy abstract or experimental comic art.
Bookended by the events of March 2020, when the world went into pandemic lockdown, the novel lands lightly on the major happenings of British life, from the queen’s coronation to Diana’s funeral and the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Coe (Middle England) deftly encapsulates 80 years of British history in this tender portrait of a woman, based on his mother, who lived through it all.
This commendable compilation could be considered an octogenarian writer’s valedictory gift to the literary community, who will revel in its thematic originality and stylistic bravura.
Chang’s delicate writing, enhanced by Lin’s expert narration, breathes life into Eleanor’s character, allowing listeners to connect deeply with her journey of self-discovery and healing.
Although the suspenseful elements of this book fall short, Dar’s portrait of a community captivates. For fans of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer.
A tense, moving narrative centered on feminism, women’s rights, and one woman’s journey to reclaim herself. Fans of Stephen King’s Carrie, which depicts a more destructive but less nuanced rage, will find much to love here.
This slow-burn horror thriller full of Mexican history and culture and laced with social commentary is perfect for fans of horror and film history and listeners looking for moody thrillers with supernatural elements. For listen-alikes about cursed media, suggest Josh Winning’s Burn the Negative, Clay McLeod Chapman’s The Remaking, or Kiersten White’s Mister Magic.
Twenty-three-year-old Ani, who wrote his novel by hand and typed it into his cell phone, stuns with this emotional roller-coaster of a story about finding love in the worst possible circumstances.★
Tingle’s foray into a new genre pays off. Share with horror fans looking for complex, multilayered characters and unexpected storylines or anyone seeking piercing commentary on faith, conversion therapy, and religious trauma.
With its shifting cast of characters, this reads more like a series of interconnected stories than a novel. Share with readers who appreciate meandering character studies in the vein of Miaojin Qiu’s Notes of a Crocodile.
An engaging listen for those who enjoy quirky characters, intricate plots, and a strong sense of place. Share with fans of Sandra Winter-Dewhirst’s Rebecca Keith mysteries.
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Wolfe (1931–2019) has always been considered one of the most literary of SFF writers; though he hewed closely to genre tropes, he also sent them in directions no one had imagined. This collection picks up where 2009’s The Best of Gene Wolfe left off and will be appreciated most by readers and scholars of the author’s work.
As atmospheric and cozy as its precedent, the vivid writing and imaginative worldbuilding makes this a lovely addition to the series and all witchy romance collections.
Although all of the stories here have been previously published, this is always a much anticipated collection, and readers of SF/F in short form will be glad to have so many standout stories, some already award-winners, in a single volume.
Maher’s well-researched novel explores pressing issues without sounding too didactic. Historical-fiction readers who are looking to stretch beyond World War II will find a lot to enjoy here.
Readers who like their historical mysteries embellished with plenty of gothic ambience and enhanced with an abundance of dry wit will adore this splendid debut.
The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Offering a satisfying slow burn that transforms into delightful heat, the dazzling chemistry in this life-altering rom-com shows how love that transcends dimensions is worth the risk. This debut is an essential purchase for romance shelves.
The Christmas details are light, memorably centering on Catchpool decorating multiple trees while simultaneously interviewing suspects, but the case is heavy and offers much to consider. Fans will devour this novel, but it is also a nice place to jump into Hannah’s series.
Recommended for readers who have been caught up in the fantasy mystery trend, anyone looking for a way into Elantra without wading through its vast lore, and those who fell away from the series and are looking for a route back.