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PREMIUM
They Drown Our Daughters
The novel takes a while to untangle the mystery, but its themes of familial bonds and generational curses, along with its overall spooky atmosphere, should keep readers hooked until the end.
With an overarching theme of a quaint museum visit and an introduction by medieval horror writer Christopher Buehlman, this is a delightfully terrifying trip through history.
Kierkegaard is an imperfect hero, an efficient soldier who bridles at the bumbling orders of high command. Fans of the movies Jarhead and Full Metal Jacket will appreciate the journey Kierkegaard is on.
PREMIUM
Bet on It
An excellent read full of heart, sass, and steam that’s perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Jasmine Guillory.
A chair on the sand or a window seat near a fireplace would be the perfect venue to soak in this simply delightful read.
PREMIUM
Ashton Hall
With a strong sense of place and thorough research, this novel is a celebration of the academic work that goes into uncovering historical puzzles. For lovers of libraries and Tudor history.
PREMIUM
Lady of Bones
Fans of the series will welcome another visit with Sarah Booth and the other quirky characters. So will fans of Southern-based sleuths. This fast-paced book, with its well-developed plot, will keep readers turning pages and following the action.
PREMIUM
What a Match
This book is a sequel to Make a Scene but stands alone well. While it’s relatively short, it’s also somewhat slowly paced; romance readers who appreciate a steady journey from slightly oblivious friends to lovers will be its ideal match.
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren (Gallery) is the top holds title of the week (5/16/22). LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Highly recommended for readers of climate fiction, social engineering sf, and dystopian catastrophe novels.
A fine historical romance full of wit and banter. Recommended as a read-alike for Julia Quinn’s “Bridgerton” series or Mimi Matthews’s The Siren of Sussex.
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner (Atria) is the top holds title of the week (5/9/22). LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Fans of John Scalzi’s Lock In and Brandon Sanderson’s Legion will be enthralled with this deft blend of murder mystery and science fiction. In the end, the motives for the crime are all too human, while the means, methods, and opportunities are all firmly part of this futuristic setting. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The Lies I Tell
This follow-up to Clark’s previous thriller, The Last Flight, will twist readers through an intricate, domestic thriller as the two women’s lies unravel. Perfect for fans of Kimberley Belle, Alice Feeney, and Michael Robotham.
Robotham brings a lesser-known chapter of World War II to life with heart-pounding close calls and heartbreaking captures. The personal stories, set against the backdrop of an event that changes the world, allow readers to see the effect of the war beyond battles. Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale will enjoy this book.
PREMIUM
The Scent of Burnt Flowers
This story has magic, political conspiracy, and romance, along with the historical elements of the U.S. civil rights movement and Ghanian colonization. It will appeal to readers of many genres who enjoy an eccentric cast of characters in a vibrant historical setting.
PREMIUM
A New Clan
The large cast of characters and multiple points of view might be off-putting to those who want to spend all their time with Stephanie and Climbs Quickly, but the story flows smoothly, the already remarkably established world holds wide appeal, and there is plenty of fast-paced drama and trauma. All fans of this crossover YA series will appreciate the ongoing bonds between the humans and treecats.
This highly recommended novel, with its well-written characters who revisit their pasts and reconnect with the present, illustrates exactly why Weiner is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to summer reads.
PREMIUM
The Lunar Housewife
Woods (Fraulein M) intersperses chapters from Louise’s manuscript throughout her story, giving readers a clear view of how subversive her thoughts and beliefs are. An engrossing tale of a talented young woman longing to break free from the restrictive gender roles of the 1950s; ideal for fans of Anna Pitoniak and Suzanne Rindell.
PREMIUM
My Wife Is Missing
Fans of psychological suspense will not be disappointed in this entertaining, fast-paced, and highly addictive page-turner.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
PREMIUM
To Get to the Other Side
This gentle contemporary romance has a unique close-proximity story line. Unfortunately, the writing style is primarily exposition and fails to draw in readers. Bear and Trixie are quirky and likable, but they remain flat characters and their interactions lack chemistry. Overall, the premise promises more than the novel is able to deliver.
The latest in Booth’s Hank Worth series (following Fatal Divisions) balances well-developed characters and dry humor with a solid police procedural. Readers who appreciate the teamwork in Steven F. Havill’s “Posadas County” books or Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder mysteries should catch up with the sheriff’s department in Branson.
Ned Kelly Award winner Gentill (Crossing the Lines) presents a complex, riveting story within a story. The fictional story of an author writing about another writer with messy, complicated friendships and suspicion is an innovative literary mystery.
PREMIUM
Other Birds
Languid and peaceful, gentle and comforting, Allen’s newest showcases her talent for tender stories of near magic. Her fans will be lining up for this.
PREMIUM
Death Casts a Shadow
Skalka gives her readers a satisfying mystery with all the quirky residents of the peninsula and nicely wraps up loose ends from earlier books in the series. Fans of atmospheric locations and quirky characters will want to give this one a try.
PREMIUM
The Men
Intriguing, but will be most appealing to readers with a high tolerance for the unresolved.
PREMIUM
Dele Weds Destiny
The intricacies of female friendships and the complex nature of mother/daughter relationships are at the heart of this absorbing novel from BuzzFeed culture editor Obaro, a sharp new voice on the literary scene.
PREMIUM
Voices in the Dead House
Lock captures the strong personalities of Whitman and Alcott without glossing over their flaws in this fascinating snapshot of history.
PREMIUM
Adult Assembly Required
Not Waxman’s best effort, but fans of light romance with a bit of serious stuff mixed in might enjoy it.
The twists and turns are nonstop, and knowledge of the previous book is not necessary to enjoy this thrill ride. Doetsch’s previous novels have been both high concept and imaginative, and this one is no exception. Nothing in the novel is predictable, and readers who enjoy the work of Blake Crouch will find a new favorite author.
PREMIUM
The Return of the Duke
In Heath’s third installment to the “Once Upon a Dukedom” series (following The Duchess Hunt), readers can finally enjoy Marcus’s story, and it is well worth the wait for those who love a strong heroine who breaks down all the preconceived notions that the hero has of her. Hand to readers who already love Heath, as well as fans of Stephanie Laurens and Lisa Kleypas.
PREMIUM
An Honest Living
Murphy’s writing is smart, ruminative, and referential. His narrator knows he’s in a story that mirrors the plot of the film Chinatown, and though the mystery itself is light on twists, it’s all worth it for this lovingly rendered snapshot of an already-bygone city, with details reeking of authenticity, down to the last barstool.
An impressive first in an expected trilogy, one that hits high notes of several popular themes and trends (found families, classics retold), but offers fresh perspectives as well. It will delight readers who appreciate highly atmospheric books. Share widely, not just with fantasy readers.
The continuation of the adventures of Penric and Desdemona are given room in this story filled with all the adventure, humor, and action Bujold is known for. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The City Inside
Readers will empathize with Joey’s dilemma and get caught up in the minutiae of her life. The novel’s theme, that the truth does not and cannot set anyone free, is as disturbing as it is thought-provoking.
PREMIUM
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven
Readers who love a big fight between good and evil, who enjoy seeing magic in the everyday world, and those who like their heroine’s journeys to include all facets of heartbreak will savor the cut and thrust of this battle.
PREMIUM
Daughter of Redwinter
McDonald (“Raven’s Mark” trilogy) begins an immersive new fantasy series, good for fans of George R. R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson.
PREMIUM
The Knave of Secrets
This novel’s sleight-of-hand mix of gaming, thievery, secrets, and politics will remind readers fondly of Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, although Valen’s crew is not quite as loyal or memorable. Fans of politically inspired fantasy will love watching the game.
While readers may beat the sleuths to the punch, the fifth in Freeman’s “Countess of Harleigh Mystery” series (following A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder) is a delightful cozy that educates readers about the role of women in Victorian England and entertains at the same time.
PREMIUM
Paradise Close
Ranging from the 1970s to the 2010s, this forthright and exuberant tour-de-force effectively plumbs a young woman’s artistic and sexual awakening.
PREMIUM
The Book of Gothel
Readers who have enjoyed Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked Years” series will find McMyne’s perspective delightful.
PREMIUM
Season of My Enemy
Avid readers will snap up this World War II homefront tale, which contains timely messages of overcoming prejudice. Musch (Song for the Hunter) weaves moral lessons with a gentle touch and strong background research. The unlikely friendships are reminiscent of classic stories like Bette Greene’s Summer of My German Soldier and Jack Cavanaugh’s Dear Enemy.
Offer supplemental resources for further exploration of these groundbreaking women, and how they were treated after the end of World War I, to keep avid history readers engaged.
PREMIUM
Buried in a Good Book
Fans of quirky small-town cozies, such as Joan Hess’s “Maggody” mysteries, might want to try this. The far-fetched scenarios and characters might also appeal to readers who enjoy the offbeat, including fans of Paige Shelton’s “Alaska Wild” books.
PREMIUM
You Were Made To Be Mine
With a new set of intriguing circumstances and the familiar cast of charming characters, Long returns to “The Palace of Rogues” series in this fifth welcome visit (following After Dark with the Duke) to the Grand Palace on the Thames.
Fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club will like the amateur sleuths introduced in this puzzle from Thorogood (author of the “Death in Paradise” mysteries, which have been turned into a BBC TV series). While avid mystery readers might recognize the twist, the finale and its grand solution are worthy of Agatha Christie.
The character-driven sequel to The Last Commandment is riveting and fast-paced. Readers will be hooked on the twisting story from Shepherd, whose screenwriting credits include The Equalizer and Miami Vice.
PREMIUM
Red Blossom in Snow
Lin’s historical romance will satisfy readers who enjoy a well-paced mystery braided into their love story.
Once again, Shupe delivers a sparkling, sexy romance in a well-crafted and entertaining historical setting, filling the book to the brim with vivid, appealing characters that readers can’t help but love.
PREMIUM
Wherever Is Your Heart
This new novella from Kelly (Love & Other Disasters) is recommended for readers who appreciate a character-focused romance and some quality queer postcoital processing. There’s nothing external preventing Mal and June from getting together; rather, they gradually unpack assumptions that each has internalized about what makes them undesirable to potential partners.
Fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Courtney Kae will clamor for this slow-burn, opposites-attract holiday treat.
Poet and short story writer Van Pelt has written an irresistibly wonderful, warm, funny, heartbreaking first novel, full of gentle people (and one octopus) bravely powering through their individual scars left by lives that have beaten them up but have not brought them down.
PREMIUM
The Bridesmaids Union
Family drama, politics, and religion are interesting fodder but may turn off some readers. Should appeal to fans of Jonathan Tropper.
PREMIUM
Death Doesn’t Forget
Once again, it’s hellzapoppin’ time in Taipei. If readers haven’t tried Lin’s stylish mysteries, here’s a good place to start.
PREMIUM
Vigil Harbor
Deftly weaving together eight intersecting stories, Glass offers fiction steeped in current events that her loyal followers will appreciate.
Perceptive and personal, this compelling novel eloquently clarifies ongoing issues of race and racism while authentically telling a unique story. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Dream On
Fans of Hockman’s debut novel, Shipped, will be excited to enjoy another delightful rom-com. Hand to those who appreciate a slow burn and the sweetest surprises for their heroines. Cassidy is a smart, independent, and strong woman who will have readers rooting for her happy ending and hanging on for the gratifying twist late in the book that shows that dreams and fate are not always as straightforward as they appear.
Superlative in her ability to portray the interior lives of mothers and their 24/7 litany of self-recrimination, Momplaisir also tackles themes of racism, immigration, and the lasting effects of colonialism. A notable achievement.
Byrd (“Daughters of Hampshire” series) delivers a crossover hit for fans of Susie Finkbeiner and Cynthia Ruchti. This is women’s fiction as it is meant to be written with intriguing characters making decisions that ripple through generations. This is also a timely pick featuring the story of an Asian immigrant and her descendants facing both struggles and triumphs while creating community in the U.S.
PREMIUM
An Island Wedding
Fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy this latest addition, but others may want to start with the first book, The Cafe by the Sea. For those who enjoy Felicity Hayes-McCoy, Katie Fforde, and Sophie Kinsella.
PREMIUM
A Duchess by Midnight
A charming story of people learning to live with their past and commit to their futures, Michaels’s fairy tale finale is joyful and redemptive. The mix of retold stories, the governess trope, and winning characters makes this a solid addition for all libraries and a great pick for readers new to the author.
PREMIUM
Mistakes Were Made
Wilsner’s steamy, fast-paced secret-lovers contemporary romance features fully realized queer protagonists and secondary characters. Told from Erin’s and Cassie’s perspectives, it gives readers a window into their relationship, in and out of the bedroom. It’s not a romantic comedy, but definitely has humor, as well as great dialogue and hot sex scenes. Recommended for general purchase.
Perfect for readers who love winter-themed thrillers in the vein of Allie Reynolds’s Shiver and Ruth Ware’s One by One.
Undeniably bleak but littered with small beauties and a powerful discourse on the dehumanizing effects policing can have on marginalized communities, bodies, and minds (and especially on Black women). Mottley’s novel understands that sometimes a happy ending just means surviving.
PREMIUM
The Roughest Draft
Well written, but excruciating in terms of human behavior. Better to read than to listen.
PREMIUM
Getting His Game Back
De Cadenet’s debut romance is a great listen as a sympathetic, inspiring, encouraging story of how far compassion and patience can go to helping depression.
PREMIUM
What the Fireflies Knew
This wonderfully written and beautifully narrated story will be a big favorite for book clubs and audiobook clubs.
PREMIUM
Quicksilver
Koontz’s fans will enjoy the familiarity of the novel, while new listeners will enjoy the plot.
PREMIUM
Mermaid Confidential
Longtime series fans will enjoy this entry with its usual offering of murder, sex, Florida-isms, well-known tourist sites, and offbeat characters. Newbies should skip this entry and start from the beginning of the series when the material was fresh and original.
PREMIUM
The Astronaut and the Star
Comfort’s debut lighthearted beach read (or listen) is only recommended for those with an interest in “opposites attract” rom-coms.
PREMIUM
The Missing Piece
This enjoyable, labyrinthine legal thriller will keep listeners on the edge of their seats.
PREMIUM
Nobody’s Princess
A strong title in an essential collection-building series. Ridley, who has a deft hand with dialogue and detail and crafts bookmark-it scenes and byplay, is fast becoming an auto-buy author and makes a good read-alike suggestion for fans of Lisa Kleypas, Grace Burrowes, and Elizabeth Hoyt.
PREMIUM
Her Favorite Rebound
A strong choice for readers who are skeptical about the ethics and logistics of dating a billionaire, but still interested in assertive heroes who get what they want.
PREMIUM
Our Last Days in Barcelona
Historical fiction fans will love this novel by Cleeton (The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba) and its perfectly detailed descriptions of a long-gone era.
PREMIUM
The Accidental Pinup
Body positivity and inclusivity are popular current topics which, combined with the fast-paced plot and fascinating descriptions, make Jackson’s debut novel a good choice for general purchase.
PREMIUM
Blind Owl
Ranking alongside the masterworks of Poe, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, and Pessoa, this indelible existential nightmare is rendered with startling clarity through Tabatabai’s assured new translation, in an accessible edition certain to expand Hedayat’s renown, and notoriety.
While it isn’t clear that Zipes’s fine translation improves upon the prior one, this handsomely illustrated unabridged edition of an enchanting and moving fable for adults (and older children) belongs in every library.
PREMIUM
Dr. B
This complexly plotted, fact-based tale filled with shadowy characters and unlikely coincidences is an altogether engaging piece of literary historical fiction.
This grim but poignant debut showcases a bleak Victorian England, engaging characters, and the desire to belong.
PREMIUM
Bayou Book Thief
Fans of Byron’s award-winning “Cajun Country” mysteries will enjoy her return to New Orleans with an engaging, fun cast of characters.
PREMIUM
For the Throne
This lush feminist world may draw inspiration from European fairy tales, but the magic, politics, and relationships are firmly rooted in adult reading. Fans of Naomi Novik and Alix Harrow will enjoy this duology.
Swirsky’s slice-of-life UBI stories present just a few possible effects of this hotly debated topic. Without either political rhetoric or exhortation, these brief glimpses of other lives give readers the chance to see what might be in a world with a social safety net. Highly recommended for readers of political and social science–oriented SF.
PREMIUM
The Clockwork Man
Odd but no mere curiosity, this whimsical yet haunting novella reads like a missing link between Victorian and Golden Age science fiction, as befits the aim of MIT Press’s new “Radium Age” series to recover neglected classics of early 20th-century science fiction.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read Dream Town by David Baldacci.
As much a mystery as a character study of three young women coping with love, loss, and trauma while struggling with the discovery of being deceived by the one they count on most. This title will appeal to fans of Jamie Brenner, Jodi Picoult, and Celeste Ng.
PREMIUM
The Girl They All Forgot
Seven years after The Dungeon House, Edwards returns to England’s Lake District for a bleak, leisurely paced mystery. Some might find there are too many viewpoints represented in this novel, but readers who appreciate an atmospheric story with a strong sense of place will be satisfied.
PREMIUM
Look Closer
The characters are papier-mâché-thin, and the story (narrated by four characters and in passages from Simon’s secret journal, jumping backward and forward in time) is hard to believe, but Ellis’s thriller will appeal to fans of bad-guy novels set among the hyper-rich.
PREMIUM
Summer at the Cape
The fourth captivating “Cape Sanctuary” novel (following The Path to Sunshine Cove) shows how overcoming past hurts and tragedy can pave the way for positive change. Will please readers of the series as well as fans of authors such as Susan Mallery and Debbie Macomber.
Horror author and licensed counselor Mark Matthews writes about addiction horror and his three anthologies.
LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read The Investigator (Letty Davenport, Bk. 1) by John Sandford.
PREMIUM
The Fell
Is it too soon for pandemic-era novels? For anyone who can bear a reminder of lockdowns, masking, isolation, and social distancing while still living through them, this fast-paced gem is worth the novel exposure.
PREMIUM
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle
With its wealth of historical detail, Ryan’s latest historical novel (The Kitchen Front) will appeal to World War II buffs as well as lovers of cozy English village novels.
PREMIUM
Let’s Not Do That Again
A bit lopsided, but fans of television’s Veep may enjoy this political comedy-drama.
PREMIUM
Feathers of Hope
Tough spiritual and societal issues are addressed in this new installment making for a difficult, if necessary read. A strong addition for libraries with large spiritual collections and fans of Brown’s “Sensible Shoes” series.
PREMIUM
Ocean State
Readers who enjoy the fiction of Elizabeth Strout or Kent Haruf will love this book, which shows a big heart without a whiff of sentimentality.
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