Library Love Fest

Dorothea Benton Frank

By now you have no doubt heard the heartbreaking news about our beloved author, Dottie Frank, who passed away on Monday, September 2, 2019.

Dot was a force of nature: brilliant, generous, gregarious. She had a wicked sense of humor that could break up any room. She was devoted to friends and family (and was always quick to share the latest photos of her beloved young grandson, Teddy.) In short, she loved life. Which makes it that much harder to accept this loss.

Dot could walk into a room filled with strangers and leave with newfound friends. (She’d also have a handful of dates confirmed to speak at their book clubs or libraries!) She adored her readers and she loved librarians. Google ‘Dorothea Benton Frank’ and ‘Public Libraries’ and you’ll find an endless list of appearances she’d made over the years at libraries, conferences, fundraisers, book clubs, etc. She was tireless, enthusiastic, and genuine.

Dot made her William Morrow debut in 2006 with her novel, Full of Grace. That year she spoke at the Texas Library Association conference in Houston. It was an author dinner held on the top floor of the Petroleum Club which overlooked the city. She lit up that room with her sharp wit and sassy asides. The audience loved her. We all did. Ironically, her last library conference was the Texas Library Association conference in 2018. Here is a photo of her signing at the HarperCollins booth. You can almost hear her laughing.

She had a great time at library shows and she loved meeting librarians. Sharing her beloved Low Country books with readers gave her the greatest joy.

It’s unfathomable that she is gone—but how fortunate we all were to have had her in our lives.

With the permission of William Morrow President and Publisher Liate Stehlik, here is the internal memo which was sent out to HarperCollins employees this week:

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved author Dorothea Benton Frank, who died Monday following a brief struggle with leukemia at the age of 67. 

Dottie was the author of 20 bestselling novels set in the Low Country of South Carolina, and we were honored to publish her for the last 15 years, including her most recent bestseller, Queen Bee. 

She wrote her first book, Sullivan’s Island: A Low Country Tale, shortly after the death of her mother in 2000, determined to buy back her childhood family home—the last physical connection she had to her beloved hometown—with the money she earned. The book went on to debut on the New York Times bestseller list at number nine and now has well over one million copies in print. Thus started a bestselling franchise that was often celebrated for its tart humor, honesty, and strong-willed female characters that struggled with the real slings and arrows of everyday life: love and heartbreak, fortune and ruin, bliss and disappointment, and the folly of youth and the wisdom of experience.

Dottie was an avid cook, and enjoyed fly fishing the one time she tried it, reading, traveling, and mentoring young writers on the creative process. She divided her time between her home on Sullivan's Island and New Jersey. 

She was a friend to so many here and will be missed by us all.   

“I want my books to entertain and inform, and I want somebody to be glad that they spent the time reading it. So I try to write a satisfying story about something that’s important in all our lives and is contemporary. I don’t think people read my books to get lost in them so much as they read my books to find themselves in them.”  
—Dorothea Benton Frank

It’s only fitting that we end this post by raising a glass in honor of Dot, using her very own recipe* for her beloved Mint Julep. 

To Dot: Who brought the sass of New Jersey and the charm of South Carolina like no other. We will never forget you.

-Virginia, Chris, and Lainey

 

*Dot's Mint Julep

Ingredients: simple syrup, Makers Mark, muddled mint leaves, and crushed ice.

One part syrup to two parts Makers Mark; freeze julep cup.

1. Fill shaker with ice, simple syrup, and Makers Mark
2. Muddle leaves in cup, fill with ice
3. Shake shaker like mad
4. Strain and pour into cup
5. Repeat until happiness takes over

 

Bookreporter Talks To: Linwood Barclay

Our good friend Carol Fitzgerald, President of The Book Report Network (and world-class book talker), sat down with author Linwood Barclay to discuss his latest thriller, Elevator Pitch, on sale now from William Morrow! 

In addition to receiving a STARRED review from Library Journal, who says "Barclay’s latest combines an engrossing, fast-moving, well-twisted modern-day plot with believable characters," Elevator Pitch has also been named a Bookreporter Bets On selection!

This is a can't-miss interview, available below as both a podcast and video interview. Get your copy of Elevator Pitch here. For more great "Bookreporter Talks To..." interviews, click here.

 

 

-Chris

Editors Unedited: Upcoming Titles from Editor Lucia Macro

On this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, we are joined by Executive Editor Lucia Macro. Lucia presented some of her upcoming Winter 2020 titles. Be sure to listen to the audio below and add the titles to your TBR list. 

Titles Presented:

The Queen's Secret by Karen Harper

Little Wonders by Kate Rorick

St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin

Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Never Kiss a Duke by Megan Frampton

 

As promised, here is a photo from my visit to the Juneau Public Library in Alaska!

And my new favorite bookmark:

-Lainey

The October LibraryReads List is Here!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that we have TWO selections for the October LibraryReads List: Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson and The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld!

Additionally, Full Throttle has earned Joe Hill a place in the LibraryReads Hall of Fame!

Click here to see the full list.

***

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson: In this moving and uproarious novel—a HarperCollins Lead Read selection for Fall 2019—a woman finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities.

"[An] exceptional, and exceptionally hilarious, novel."
 —Publishers Weekly review

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Click below to listen to an interview between Kevin Wilson and LLF's Virginia Stanley!

Click below to watch Kevin Wilson speak at the UFL Editor's Panel at ALA Annual!

 

The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld: The dark and haunting companion to Rene Denfeld’s acclaimed novel The Child Finder, a riveting story of lost children and one haunted woman’s search for what may never be found.

"[Denfeld's] depictions of women and girls surviving horrific conditions through the power of their own imaginations will stay with readers."
 —Booklist  

"Equal parts chilling, tragic and hopeful, Rene Denfeld’s new novel combines her haunting, lyrical prose with a page-turning and harrowing mystery, putting The Butterfly Girl into a league of its own. Fans of The Child Finder will devour this."
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

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Full Throttle by Joe Hill: The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Strange Weather returns with a dark and ingenious collection of thirteen compelling short stories that showcase his ability to "push genre conventions to new extremes" (New York Times Book Review). 

"The poet laureate of everyday terrors returns with a baker’s dozen of deliciously sinister tales.... Miniature masterworks of modern horror, proving that life is hard, weird, and always fatal."
—Kirkus review

"The tale that will be the biggest hit with library workers and patrons is the beautiful, elegiac 'Late Returns,' featuring a grieving bookmobile driver who sometimes delivers books to ghosts."
—Booklist review

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***

Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the October LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the November LibraryReads list by October 1st. You can see our recommendations here. Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

AFTER THE FLOOD by Kassandra Montag Selected as a Libraries Transform Book Pick!

We are very excited to share that Kassandra Montag's After the Flood has been selected as a Libraries Transform Book Pick!

“Montag’s thrilling debut takes place in a future climate-change-altered world overrun by water…Anchored by a complicated, compelling heroine, this gripping, speculative, high-seas adventure is impossible to put down.”
—Booklist (starred review)

Find out more in the press release below.

Congratulations, Kassandra! 

 

###

NEWS
For Immediate Release 

ALA AND OVERDRIVE COLLABORATE TO OFFER PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS U.S. A NEW ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURE FOR A “DIGITAL BOOK CLUB”

CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) and Rakuten OverDrive have collaborated on a digital reading program – a national “digital book club” – which connects readers nationwide with simultaneous access to the same ebook through their public libraries. This program, called the Libraries Transform Book Pick, offers the new riveting post-apocalyptic novel “After the Flood” by Kassandra Montag, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. 

“After the Flood” will be available as an ebook with no waitlists or holds from Oct. 7—21, 2019 at public libraries through OverDrive. Public libraries in the U.S. already partnering with OverDrive can lend ebook copies of “After the Flood” at no cost during the two-week program. Free marketing resources are available for public libraries to help promote the program and encourage checkouts, including a flyer template, social media graphics, a sample press release and more. A discussion guide and other materials for libraries to fuel discussion about the book will be available in late September. 

“ALA is happy to partner with OverDrive and sincerely thanks them for their innovative and generous efforts in support of communities and information literacy,” said ALA President Wanda Brown. “The ebook lending environment is a challenging one today, so I’m particularly thrilled ALA was able to work together with OverDrive on an innovative project like the Libraries Transform Book Pick. ALA will continue to forge relationships to make progress on critical issues to help our members and libraries meet the needs of the communities they serve.”  

Readers will only need a library card and the Libby app to borrow and read the ebook. 

“Digital book clubs are a fun and engaging way for readers across the country to unite over and discuss a book specifically chosen for the event,” said Shannon Lichty, OverDrive Vice President of Partner Services. “We’re proud to partner with the American Library Association to bring this Libraries Transform Book Pick to our nation’s public libraries and their readers.”

“After the Flood” is an inventive and riveting epic saga from a promising new author. In a starred review, Booklist describes Montag’s thrilling debut: “Anchored by a complicated, compelling heroine, this gripping, speculative, high-seas adventure is impossible to put down.” And Karin Slaughter, international bestselling author of “The Last Widow,” calls Montag “a visionary new talent!”   

Kassandra Montag is an award-winning poet, fiction writer and freelance medical journalist. Her work has appeared in journals and anthologies such as Midwestern Gothic, Nebraska Poetry, Prairie Schooner and Mystery Weekly Magazine, among others. She holds an MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Creighton University, and makes her home in Omaha, Nebraska.

The selection of “After the Flood” for the Libraries Transform Book Pick was made in consultation with experts at Booklist. 

Libraries transform lives every day by advancing literacy and fostering a love of reading in people of all ages. The Libraries Transform Book Pick will give public libraries and their staff the opportunity to bring readers in their community together to discover a new ebook and celebrate the very best in reading.

For more information about the Libraries Transform Book Pick, please visit ilovelibraries.org/libraries-transform-book-pick. You can also follow the Libraries Transform Book Pick on ALA’s Facebook and Twitter and join the discussion on social media using the hashtag #LTBookPick.

The Libraries Transform Book Pick is a collaboration between Booklist, the book review magazine of the American Library Association; Libraries Transform, the American Library Association’s public awareness initiative; and OverDrive, ALA Library Champion and lead sponsor of Libraries Transform.  

About Rakuten OverDrive
OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Named one of PCMag’s Best Free Software of 2019 and one of TIME's Best Apps of 2018, the award-winning Libby is the "one-tap reading app" for libraries. We are dedicated to “a world enlightened by reading” by delivering the industry’s largest catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital media to a growing network of 43,000 libraries and schools in 76 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. www.overdrive.com

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

###

Contact: 
Macey Morales 
Deputy Director 
Communications and Marketing Office, ALA 
312-280-4393
mmorales@ala.org 

 

LLF Staff Suggestions for the November LibraryReads List

Hello, librarians!

Our latest round of LibraryReads suggestions includes a can't-miss rom-com from rising star Talia Hibbert, a much-anticipated sequel to Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, and Mitch Albom's first work of nonfiction in over 10 years. Keep reading to find out more!

Enjoy!

***

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
For fans of: The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Talia Hibbert, one of contemporary romance’s brightest new stars, delivers a witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being "boring" and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her get a life—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne.

"Will readers giggle at the cuteness of the banter and weep at the emotional truths...? Absolutely. Is this book what the word 'charming' was invented for? Probably. This interracial romance with a disabled heroine is an #OwnVoices treat that will satisfy readers who love a cinnamon-roll hero and love scenes that scorch the dang pages."
—Booklist review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2019

 

The Andromeda Evolution by Michael Crichton and Daniel H. Wilson
Also from the author: Dragon Teeth and Pirate Latitudes
Fifty years after The Andromeda Strain made Michael Crichton a household name—and spawned a new genre, the technothriller—the threat returns, in a gripping sequel that is terrifyingly realistic and resonant.

"The story’s premise (the justification for the existence of this sequel) is rigorously developed, and the story deftly blends science, suspense, and character interaction in a way that will be familiar to Crichton’s fans.... Oh, and the glorious final-sentence cliff-hanger is just beautiful. In every way, this is a wonderful sequel to a classic novel, written in the spirit of Crichton but in Wilson’s own powerful voice. Terrific."
—Booklist review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2019

 

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
Also from the author: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven and The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
Bestselling author Mitch Albom returns to nonfiction for the first time in more than a decade in this poignant memoir that celebrates Chika, a young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change his heart.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2019

Restless Rancher by Jennifer Ryan
Also from the author: The Me I Used to Be and Dirty Little Secret
Meet the women of the Wild Rose Ranch—and the men who want to tame them—in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s breathtaking series of romance and scandal.

"Ryan delights with exciting twists and one hot, protective cowboy." 
—Library Journal 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2019

 

For more great reading suggestions for November, check out our
November LibraryReads Suggestions Edelweiss catalog!

The deadline to submit your votes is October 1! 

 

Looking Ahead: Reading Suggestions for December

Africaville by Jeffrey Colvin
For fans of: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan and 
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
A ferociously talented writer makes his stunning debut with this richly woven tapestry, set in a small Nova Scotia town settled by former slaves, that depicts several generations of one family bound together and torn apart by blood, faith, time, and fate.

"Colvin’s intriguing and memorable debut shines a light on a little-known black experience: the freed slaves from the Caribbean and U.S. who established a community in Canada in the 1800s.... this is a penetrating, fresh look at the indomitable spirit of black pioneers and their descendants."
—Publishers Weekly

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LibraryReads Votes Due: November 1, 2019

 

The Network by L. C. Shaw
For fans of: Dead Man Running by Steve Hamilton and
The Bishop's Pawn by Steve Berry
A pulse-pounding, page-turning thriller involving corruption, secrets, and lies at the very deepest levels of government and media.

"The Network offers a superb blend of a political, speculative, and action thriller.  Lynne Constantine manages this delicate balancing act with a skill and aplomb that is both a throwback to Robert Ludlum and testament to Dan Brown.  The kind of tale Alfred Hitchcock would have loved to adapt and thriller lovers are certain to devour." 
—Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong as Steel

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LibraryReads Votes Due: November 1, 2019

***

We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!

-Chris

Services for Dorothea Benton Frank

There will be a memorial service for Dot Frank on September 14, 2019 at 2:00 pm in Charleston.

If you are in the area and would like to attend, please do.

All are welcome.

LLF Guest Post: Alex Speier, Author of HOMEGROWN: How the Red Sox Built a Champion from the Ground Up

Homegrown: How the Red Sox Built a Champion from the Ground Up chronicles how the Red Sox assembled a historically talented core of young players and the many years of successes and failures that it took to help those young players to navigate through the minor leagues and then gain their footing in the big leagues before achieving the ultimate form of individual and collective success, a historic 108-win season and World Series title for the 2018 Red Sox. The book explores not just the growth trajectories of individual players such as Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts but also the scouting infrastructure that allowed the Red Sox to identify exceptional amateur talents as well as the coaches and team officials who helped them to emerge as stars.

Today, we welcome a guest post from Alex Speier, author of Homegrown. Alex has covered the Red Sox for the Boston Globe since 2015 and, before that, for a variety of media outlets for more than a decade.

***

I always felt at home in libraries—hardly a surprise given that my mom spent my entire childhood as a librarian in the D.C. Public Schools. On days when our schedules were misaligned—when her school was open and mine wasn’t, perhaps due to teacher workdays—I loved accompanying her, sitting in a corner, and piling a stack of books to peruse, while also listening as she did her best to enthrall grade school classes while reading to them. Hers was the voice of my original narrator, and some of her students surely felt the same.

Yet her library at Stevens Elementary School wasn’t just a setting for storytelling. On the days we spent together in her “office,” my mom put me to work—trusting me to help her organize the books on her shelves, an awesome responsibility that I treated with appropriate seriousness. The Dewey Decimal Classification system seemed like the invention of the almighty Oz, and I recognized the weight of accurately ordering the books so that they would not be lost to those who sought them—or, for that matter, me, as I pulled books by the handfuls from the 790s (Sports) during my visits.

Evidently, the combination and relationship of imagination, storytelling, and structure made an impression, permeating my understanding of the sport that represented my foremost passion. The skills developed organizing books in a library translated neatly into the way that I catalogued my baseball cards, and then baseball thoughts, and ultimately baseball writing, while the notion of baseball as an undertaking that translated to the written word possessed an obvious resonance for a kid who always understood the limits of his playing abilities.

This summer, when I received my first copies of my first book–Homegrown: How the Red Sox Built a Champion from the Ground Up—one of the most satisfying moments came when I brought copies to gift to our two neighborhood libraries. The fact that my book is now in circulation is both enormously fulfilling and wondrous, and perhaps excuses the fact that my new favorite number is 796.357.

***

Wow! Thanks to Alex for such a moving letter to librarians. Homegrown is available now! We are giving away finished copies to the first 10 librarians who email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

-Lainey

An Interview with Elizabeth Wetmore, Author of VALENTINE

On this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, I sat down with Editor Emily Griffin to speak with Elizabeth Wetmore, author of Valentine. This knockout debut is much loved within the the LLF team and it was such a pleasure to have a chance to talk with Elizabeth. We discussed how Emily received this book on submission, the editorial process, and the charming, perfectly imperfect, and ultimately, unforgettable characters Elizabeth has brought to life in Valentine.

Valentine is a haunting exploration of the intersections of violence and race, class and region in a story that plumbs the depths of darkness and fear, yet offers a window into beauty and hope. Told through the alternating points of view of indelible characters who burrow deep in the reader’s heart, this fierce, unflinching, darkly funny, and surprisingly tender novel illuminates women’s strength and vulnerability, and reminds us that it is the stories we tell ourselves that keep us alive.

Be sure to listen to the interview below:

You can download an egalley of Valentine on Edelweiss and NetGalley. If you would like a physical galley please write to librarylovefest@harpercollins.com. Valentine is coming out on April 7th, 2020.

-Lainey

THE READING LIFE by C.S. Lewis

“In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself.” –C.S. Lewis

More than fifty years after his death, revered intellectual and teacher C.S. Lewis continues to speak to readers, thanks not only to his intellectual insights on Christianity but also his wondrous creative works and deep reflections on the literature that influenced his life. Beloved for his instructive novels including The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, and The Chronicles of Narnia as well as his philosophical books that explored theology and Christian life, Lewis was a life-long writer and book lover.

Cultivated from his many essays, articles, and letters, as well as his classic works, The Reading Life provides guidance and reflections on the love and enjoyment of books. Engaging and enlightening, this well-rounded collection includes Lewis’ reflections on science fiction, why children’s literature is for readers of all ages, and why we should read two old books for every new one.

A window into the thoughts of one of the greatest public intellectuals of our time, this collection reveals not only why Lewis loved the written word, but what it means to learn through literature from one of our wisest and most enduring teachers.

You can download an Egalley on Edelweiss now. We are also giving away finished copies of The Reading Life, available on October 15, 2019, to the first 25 librarians who email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

Guide to HarperCollins Library Hardcover Editions for 2019 and 2020!

Dear librarians, please check out the below list for details on all HarperCollins library hardcover editions releasing in 2019 and 2020! Have questions? Email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

WINTER 2019 - ON SALE NOW!

JANUARY

Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson William Morrow 9780062846136 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Gown by Jennifer Robson William Morrow 9780062884275 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands Avon 9780062890672 $26.99 Edelweiss link

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne William Morrow 9780062884282 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Guhrke Avon 9780062890689 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Playing for Keeps by Jill Shalvis Avon 9780062741851 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Moonlight Scandals by Jennifer L. Armetrout Avon 9780062890696 $26.99 Edelweiss link

FEBRUARY

American Duchess by Karen Harper William Morrow 9780062884299 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath Avon 9780062890719 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Huntress by Kate Quinn William Morrow 9780062884343 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas Avon 9780062890702 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Don't Wake Up by Liz Lawler Harper Paperbacks 9780062886224 $26.99 Edelweiss link

MARCH

To Wed an Heiress by Karen Ranney Avon 9780062890726 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Night Visitors by Carol Goodman William Morrow 9780062884367 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Tiny Americans by Devin Murphy Harper Perennial 9780062886248 $26.99 Edelweiss link

In Another Time by Jillian Cantor Harper Perennial 9780062886231 $26.99 Edelweiss link

APRIL

Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson William Morrow 9780062884336 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Highland Ever After by Maya Banks Avon 9780062868770 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Trouble With Vampires by Lynsay Sands Avon 9780062855206 $26.99 Edelweiss link

 

SUMMER 2019 - ON SALE NOW!

MAY

The Song of the Jade Lily by Kirsty Manning William Morrow 9780062938657 $26.99 Edelweiss link

It's Hot in the Hamptons by Holly Peterson William Morrow 9780062913586 $26.99 Edelweiss link

To Tame a Wild Cowboy by Lori Wilde Avon 9780062912961 $26.99 Edelweiss link 

You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue William Morrow 9780062913562 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Such a Perfect Wife by Kate White Harper Paperbacks 9780062886262 $26.99 Edelweiss link

JUNE

Say No to the Duke by Eloisa James Avon 9780062912954 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan William Morrow 9780062913555 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis William Morrow 9780062741912 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr Harper Paperbacks  9780062913807 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Friend by Joakim Zander Harper 9780062914996 $26.99 Edelweiss link

How to Read the Constitution--and Why by Kim Wehle Harper 9780062914361 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Dear America \ Querida América (Spanish edition) by Jose Antonio Vargas HarperCollins Espanol 9780062931641 $25.99 Edelweiss link

JULY

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb William Morrow 9780062913548 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Never Look Back by Alison Gaylin William Morrow 9780062884350 $26.99 Edelweiss link

One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell Avon 9780062913074 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean Avon 9780062912978 $26.99 Edelweiss link

AUGUST

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews Avon 9780062952585 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Man in the White Linen Suit by David Handler William Morrow 9780062930019 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Duchess in His Bed by Lorraine Heath Avon 9780062952592 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare Avon 9780062952561 $26.99 Edelweiss link

I Spy by Claire Kendal Harper 9780062914507 $26.99 Edelweiss link

 

FALL 2019 - COMING SOON!

SEPTEMBER

Wrapped Up in You by Jill Shalvis Avon 9780062952608 $26.99 Edelweiss link

No Judgments by Meg Cabot William Morrow 9780062913579 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands Avon 9780062855244 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Heiress Gone Wild by Laura Lee Guhrke Avon 9780062952615 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty William Morrow 9780062952165 $26.99 Edelweiss link

OCTOBER

Ribbons of Scarlet by Kate  Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Sophie Perinot, Heather Webb, and E. Knight William Morrow 9780062952196 $26.99 Edelweiss link

If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman William Morrow 9780062952189 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler William Morrow 9780062964373 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Lying Room by Nicci French William Morrow 9780062676733 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Christmas Dare by Lori Wilde Avon 9780062952622 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan William Morrow 9780062952219 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Mistletoe Matchmaker by Felicity Hayes-McCoy Harper Perennial 9780062954466 $26.99 Edelweiss link

NOVEMBER

Restless Rancher by Jennifer Ryan Avon 9780062952646 $26.99 Edelweiss link

To Bed the Bride by Karen Ranney Avon 9780062952653 $26.99 Edelweiss link

DECEMBER

The Playground by Jane Shemilt William Morrow 9780062952172 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams William Morrow 9780062660312 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Network by L. C. Shaw Harper Paperbacks 9780062955852 $26.99 Edelweiss link

 

WINTER 2020 - COMING SOON!

JANUARY

Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis William Morrow 9780062961396 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands Avon 9780062975034 $26.99 Edelweiss link

St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin William Morrow 9780062981295 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost Avon 9780062913081 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Grace is Gone by Emily Elgar Harper 9780062972101 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Sanctuary by Luca D'Andrea Harper 9780062972125 $26.99 Edelweiss link

FEBRUARY

The Lucky One by Lori Rader-Day William Morrow 9780062938060 $26.99 Edelweiss link

His Secret Mistress by Cathy Maxwell Avon 9780062975058 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas Avon 9780062975041 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Promises of the Heart by Nan Rossiter Harper 9780062972132 $26.99 Edelweiss link

MARCH

First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn Avon 9780062975065 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Early Takes a Fancy by Lorraine Heath Avon 9780062975072 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Death in Avignon by Serena Kent Harper 9780062869890 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Sea of Lost Girls by Carol Goodman William Morrow 9780062979636 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Tough Talking Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan Avon 9780062975089 $26.99 Edelweiss link

An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale Avon 9780062975096 $26.99 Edelweiss link

On the Corner of Hope and Main by Beverly Jenkins William Morrow 9780062952202 $26.99 Edelweiss link

APRIL

You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer William Morrow 9780062993861 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan William Morrow 9780062979643 $26.99 Edelweiss link

The Queen's Secret by Karen Harper William Morrow 9780062979650 $26.99 Edelweiss link

No Going Back by Sheena Kamal William Morrow 9780062869777 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Expectation by Anna Hope Harper 9780062994707 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Something She's Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell Harper 9780062953926 $26.99 Edelweiss link

Have You Seen Me? by Kate White Harper 9780062972088 $26.99 Edelweiss link

 

 

Editors Unedited: Editor Emily Krump in Conversation with Author Nicci French

On our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, Editor Emily Krump interviews the English wife-and-husband team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French (together they make Nicci French, the internationally bestselling author of the Frieda Klein series) about their upcoming novel, The Lying Room. 

The Lying Room is a thrilling standalone about a married woman’s affair with her boss that spirals into a dangerous game of chess with the police when she discovers he’s been murdered and she clears the crime scene of all evidence.

Be sure to listen to the interview below. The authors talk about their writing process, managing writing as a duo, and what they are working on next.

You can download an egalley on Edelweiss and NetGalley now. We also have physical galleys to give away. If you are interested in receiving a galley, please email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

-Lainey

HarperCollins Sci-Fi Titles That are Out of This World!

Here's a list of all the stellar titles that were included in the August 15th Sci-Fi issue of Booklist.

Anyone by Charles Soule

• Charles Soule brings his signature knowledge—and wariness—of technology to his sophomore novel set in a realistic future about a brilliant female scientist who creates a technology that allows for the transfer of human consciousness between bodies, and the transformations this process wreaks upon the world.

The Andromeda Evolution by Michael Crichton and Daniel H. Wilson

• Fifty years after The Andromeda Strain made Michael Crichton a household name—and spawned a new genre, the technothriller—the threat returns, in a gripping sequel that is terrifyingly realistic and resonant.

Cold Storage by David Koepp

• For readers of Andy Weir and Noah Hawley comes an astonishing debut by the screenwriter of Jurassic Park: a wild and terrifying adventure about three strangers who must work together to contain a highly contagious, deadly organism.

A Lush and Seething Hell by John Hornor Jacobs

• The award-winning and critically-acclaimed master of horror returns with a pair of chilling tales—both never-before-published in print—that examine the violence and depravity of the human condition.

The General Zapped an Angel by Howard Fast

• An imaginative, strange, and boldly inventive collection of stories from a singular mind, with a new introduction from Mark Harris.

Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes

• A hilarious, offbeat debut space opera that skewers everything from pop culture to video games and features an irresistible foul-mouthed captain and her motley crew, strange life forms, exciting twists, and a galaxy full of fun and adventure.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

• A stand-alone science fiction novella from the award-winning, bestselling, critically-acclaimed author of the Wayfarer series.

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

• The Compton Crook award–winning author of The Prey of Gods and Temper returns with a dazzling stand-alone novel, set in deep space, in which the fate of humanity rests on the slender shoulders of an idealistic and untested young woman—a blend of science fiction, dark humor, and magical realism that will appeal to fans of Lauren Beukes, Ian McDonald, and Nnedi Okorafor.

Sudden Traveler by Sarah Hall

• Featuring her signature themes of identity, eroticism, and existential quest, the stories in Sarah Hall’s third collection travel far afield in location and ambition—from Turkish forest and coastline to the rain-drenched villages of Cumbria.

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag

• An unforgettable, inventive, and riveting epic saga with the literary force and evocative imagination of Station Eleven, Zone One, and The Road, that signals the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.

Full Throttle by Joe Hill

• The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Strange Weather returns with a dark and ingenious collection of thirteen compelling short stories that showcase his ability to “push genre conventions to new extremes” (New York Times Book Review).

Boundless by R.A. Salvatore

• This second book in New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore’s all-new trilogy—full of swordplay, danger, and imaginative thrills—features one of fantasy’s most beloved and enduring characters, Drizzt Do’Urden.
  
  

Additional upcoming Sci-Fi titles:

The Blue Eye by Ausma Zehanat Khan

• A band of powerful warrior women continues its resistance against an oppressive dark regime in this penultimate installment in the Khorasan Archives fantasy quartet—a series that lies “somewhere between N. K. Jemisin and George R. R. Martin” (Saladin Ahmed).

Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik

• To save her brother and protect her family’s future, a powerful princess must join forces with a dashing man from her past in this thrilling space adventure, the second novel in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy.

Flamebringer by Elle Katharine White

• Monsters, manners, and magic combine in this exciting final volume in the Heartstone Trilogy—an exhilarating blend of epic fantasy and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice—in which a fearless healer and her dragon-riding husband must stop a reawakened evil from destroying their world.

Highfire by Eoin Colfer

• From the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series comes a hilarious and high-octane adult novel about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who lives an isolated life in the bayous of Louisiana—and the raucous adventures that ensue when he crosses paths with a fifteen-year-old troublemaker on the run from a crooked sheriff.

Daughter from the Dark by Sergey and Marina Dyachenko

• In this extraordinary stand-alone novel, the authors and translator of Vita Nostra—a “dark Harry Potter on steroids with a hefty dose of metaphysics” (award-winning author Aliette de Bodard)—return with a story about creation, music, and companionship filled with their hallmark elements of subtle magic and fantasy.

Carved from Stone and Dream by T. Frohock

• In this sequel to Where Oblivion Lives, the first entry in the Los Nefilim series set during the Spanish Civil War, a coded notebook containing the identities of Los Nefilim’s spies falls into enemy hands, and Diago is faced with an impossible choice: betray Los Nefilim or save his family.

The Puzzler's War by Eyal Kless

• The intriguing futuristic dystopian story begun with The Lost Puzzler continues in this expansive speculative science fiction adventure.

Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands

• Nothing compares to the physical chemistry between an Immortal and his life mate—or to the spellbinding thrills in a new Argeneau novel by New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands.

Happy Reading!

-Lainey

The September LibraryReads List is Here!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that we have THREE selections for the September LibraryReads List: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, No Judgments by Meg Cabot, and Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane. Click here to see the full list.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett: Ann Patchett, the New York Times bestselling author of ​Commonwealth and State of Wonder, returns with her most powerful novel to date: a richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go.

"Patchett is at her subtle yet shining finest in this gloriously incisive, often droll, quietly suspenseful drama of family, ambition, and home.... Patchett gracefully choreographs surprising revelations and reunions as her characters struggle with questions of heredity, altruism, forgiveness, social expectations, and the need to be one’s true self."
 —Booklist review

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No Judgments by Meg Cabot: In New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot’s latest novel, a young woman must deal with the aftermath of a fierce hurricane—and an equally stormy romance.

"The ever-delightful Cabot charms in her latest, which is equal parts sweet and steamy. Animal lovers unite—this one’s for you."
—Booklist

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Click below to listen to an interview between Meg Cabot and LLF's Lainey Mays!
 

 

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane: Bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane delivers a funny, romantic novel about a young woman who, after getting fired and dumped on the same night, takes the first job available without realizing the one that got away is her new boss—and he doesn’t recognize her.

"McFarlane strikes romantic comedy gold with this tale of reunited sweethearts who have to grapple with the past.... deeply satisfying on several levels.... a beautiful balance of tenderness, wry humor, and deep emotion."
—Publishers Weekly review

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Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the September LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the October LibraryReads list by September 1st. You can see our recommendations here. Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

August Facebook Live Book List

We are back from ALA Annual and we have a lot of great book recommendations! On Friday, August 2, we jumped under a brand new tiki hut for our monthly Facebook Live video. Since August is "Read a Romance Month," we decided to present a wide array of titles and genres that all fall under the category of books we are LOVING! Below is a list of the titles we discussed.

If you couldn't join us, you can still watch the archived video above via Facebook, or on Youtube.

We started off our chat with Associate Publisher Tara Parsons, a special guest from the newly launched HarperVia imprint. HarperVia will publish books from around the world, mostly in translation. Find out more about our new imprint by reading a special article from Shelf Awareness. Tara brought four upcoming titles from HarperVia to the tiki hut:

It Would Be Night in Caracas by Karina Sainz Borgo

The German House by Annette Hess

The End of the Ocean by Maja Lunde

Lost in the Spanish Quarter by Heddi Goodrich

 

After Tara left us, Chris joined us in the hut for our regularly scheduled programing. Find a list of the titles discussed below:

No Judgments by Meg Cabot

• Lainey did an interview with Meg! Watch the video here or listen to the podcast episode.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams

• Want more Rom-Coms?? Find a digital version of the handout we referenced here.

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands

• The 30th book in Lynsay's Argeneau series, Immortal Born, is coming out on September 24! Find the full list of books from the series here.

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean

• We mentioned the interview between Sarah and Librarian Stephanie Anderson. Watch the video or listen to the podcast episode.

Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness

Mercy House by Alena Dillon

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe

Inside Out by Demi Moore

Face It by Debbie Harry

Little Gods by Meng Jin

The Little Book of Otter Philosophy by Jennifer McCartney

Kindness and Wonder by Gavin Edwards

Overtime by John U. Bacon

For The Love Of Greyhounds by Alex Cearns

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

• Be sure to listen to Virginia's interview with Kevin, live on the show floor at ALA here.
  
  

Hope you enjoyed the August Facebook Live and all of the book recommendations! See you next month.

-Lainey

LLF Staff Suggestions for the October LibraryReads List

Hello, librarian friends!

We hope you're enjoying these remaining weeks of summer. Here at the HarperCollins offices in muggy New York City, we can't help but look forward to the cool embrace of fall. In preparation, we've pulled together a selection of fantastic upcoming October reads we think you'll love. So cuddle up and treat yourself to a great book (or two, or THREE)!

***

Full Throttle by Joe Hill
Also from the author: NOS4A2 and Horns
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Strange Weather returns with a dark and ingenious collection of thirteen compelling short stories that showcase his ability to "push genre conventions to new extremes" (New York Times Book Review).

"Every piece is driven by anxiety and unease and feature Hill's trademark characters who feel absolutely real. But it is also the sense of place that dazzles, whether it's a sinister version of Narnia in 'Faun,' on a coastal pier in 'Dark Carousel,' or on a plane as WWIII breaks out in 'You Are Released.' Hill lulls the reader into deep enjoyment, even as the terror lies just around the corner."
—Library Journal review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

 

A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie
Also from the author: Garden of Lamentations and To Dwell in Darkness
New York Times bestselling author Deborah Crombie returns with a mesmerizing entry in her Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series, in which Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James are pulled into a dangerous web of secrets, lies, and murder buried beneath the surface of a picturesque Cotswolds village.

"The eighteenth entry in this bestselling series is notable for its portrayals of Duncan and Gemma's children (especially the oldest, Kit), and for the addition of food as an item of interest, a factor that will extend the appeal from the series' procedural-loving fan base to the foodie mystery crowd. This character-driven series just continues to get better."
—Booklist review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

 

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha
For fans of: The Wife by Alafair Burke and Wonder Valley by Ivy Pochoda
A powerful and taut novel about racial tensions in LA, following two families—one Korean-American, one African-American—grappling with the effects of a decades-old crime.

"Cha, blend[s] a shrewd knowledge of cutting-edge media and its disruptive impact with a warm, astute sensitivity toward characters of diverse cultures weighed down by converging traumas. Cha's storytelling shows how fiction can delicately extract deeper revelations from daily headlines." 
—Kirkus Reviews review

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Ribbons of Scarlet by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Sophie Perinot, Heather Webb, and E. Knight 
For fans of: Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and The Huntress by Kate Quinn 
Six bestselling and award-winning authors bring to life a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—six unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.

"The French Revolution comes alive through the eyes of six diverse and complex women, in the skilled hands of these amazing authors." 
—Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld
For fans of: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena and All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
The dark and haunting companion to Rene Denfeld's acclaimed novel The Child Finder, a riveting story of lost children and one haunted woman’s search for what may never be found.

"Equal parts chilling, tragic, and hopeful, Rene Denfeld's new novel combines her haunting, lyrical prose with a page-turning and harrowing mystery, putting The Butterfly Girl into a league of its own. Fans of The Child Finder will devour this."
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

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It Would Be Night in Caracas by Karina Sainz Borgo
For fans of: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Told with gripping intensity, It Would Be Night in Caracas chronicles one woman's desperate battle to survive amid the dangerous, sometimes deadly, turbulence of modern Venezuela and the lengths she must go to secure her future.

"Sainz Borgo renders the psychological and emotional toll of government collapse with both nuance and authority, thrusting the reader into Adelaida's struggle for existence and the stark choices before her.... A propulsively written, harrowing story, as desperate as it is timely."
—Kirkus Reviews review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

 

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden
For fans of: Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
The Compton Crook award–winning author of The Prey of Gods and Temper returns with a dazzling standalone novel, set in deep space, in which the fate of humanity rests on the slender shoulders of an idealistic and untested young woman—a blend of science fiction, dark humor, and magical realism that will appeal to fans of Lauren Beukes, Ian McDonald, and Nnedi Okorafor.

"Everything about the Afrofuturistic worldbuilding is exquisitely imaginative, and the characters are three-dimensional, occasionally offering flashes of dark humor."
—Kirkus Reviews 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

The House of Brides by Jane Cockram
For fans of:The Lake House by Kate Morton and The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Jane Cockram makes her thrilling debut with this page-turning tale of psychological suspense in which a young woman whose life is in tatters flees to the safety of a family estate in England, but instead of comfort finds chilling secrets and lies.

"Jane Cockram captivates with her haunting debut novel, The House of Brides. Gripping, atmospheric, and with an ending you won’t see coming, this book held me in its spell long after the final page."
—Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-in-Law

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

 

The Christmas Boutique by Jennifer Chiaverini
Also from the author: Resistance Women, Enchantress of Numbers, and The Giving Quilt
Twenty years after the publication of The Quilter's Apprentice, the novel that launched the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with another delightful chapter featuring Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson and friends, a captivating, heartwarming tale sure to become a holiday favorite.

"This is an outstanding series of novels about a fascinating craft. Quilting, in the hands of Chiaverini, allows us to explore human relationships in all their complexity."
—Booklist

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

 

The Mistletoe Matchmaker by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
For fans of: Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan and An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer
Beloved author Felicity Hayes-McCoy returns with an enchanting, cozy new novel—It’s Christmas in Ireland, and when Cassie Fitzgerald arrives from Toronto to visit her grandparents, she learns that it’s never too late to come home.

"A delightful read filled with wintry days, cups of tea, and more than few tidings of comfort and joy, the pages of The Mistletoe Matchmaker weave together the lives and secrets of a family—separated by years and distance, but with deep Irish roots, and leaves the reader longing to spend Christmas in Ireland."
—Nan Rossiter, bestselling author of More Than You Know

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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2019

For more great reading suggestions for October, check out our
October LibraryReads Suggestions Edelweiss catalog!

The deadline to submit your votes is September 1! 

 

Looking Ahead: Reading Suggestions for November

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
For fans of: French Exit by Patrick deWitt and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Family Fang and Perfect Little World comes a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities.

"Laugh out loud funny. I love the way Kevin Wilson writes."
—Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming

Click below to listen to an interview between Kevin Wilson and LLF's Virginia Stanley!

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2019

 

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
For fans of: The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Talia Hibbert, one of contemporary romance’s brightest new stars, delivers a witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being "boring" and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her get a life—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne.

"[An] incredibly funny, romantic, and uplifting book. Red is as charming, sexy, and vulnerable as can be, but Chloe steals the show with her sarcasm, wit, and eccentric coping mechanisms. Even better, Chloe is surrounded by a family of remarkable, glamorous women, including two sisters who will be featured in later installments.... A revelation. Hilarious, heartfelt, and hot. Hibbert is a major talent." 
—Kirkus Reviews review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2019

***

We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!

-Chris

NPR's Interview with Author Laura Lippman

NPR just released a fantastic interview with author Laura Lippman. In the interview with Terry Gross, they talk about Laura's background as a journalist, her family, and her new novel, Lady in the Lake. 

Lady in the Lake is a novel set in 1960s Baltimore that combines modern psychological insights with elements of classic noir, about a middle-aged housewife turned aspiring reporter who pursues the murder of a forgotten young woman.

Check out all of the starred reviews the book has received:

“Riveting…This is a superb character study, a terrific newspaper novel, and a fascinating look at urban life and racial discrimination in the ’60s…Lippman’s critical acclaim and sales figures continue to climb, and this genre-crossing thriller will extend her reach still further.”
—Booklist review

“Lippman’s fans will devour this sophisticated crime novel, which captures the era’s zeitgeist while painting a striking portrait of unapologetic female ambition.”
—Publishers Weekly review

“The story is bigger than the crime, and the crime is bigger than its solution, making Lippman’s skill as a mystery novelist work as icing on the cake. The racism, classism, and sexism of 50 years ago wrapped up in a stylish, sexy, suspenseful period drama...”
—Kirkus Reviews review

Listen to the podcast episode here:

You can also read a transcript of the audio interview here.

-Lainey

Happy Book Birthday to Joshilyn Jackson's NEVER HAVE I EVER!

The Library Love Fest team wishes Joshilyn Jackson's Never Have I Ever a very happy book birthday! Never Have I Ever is a twisting novel of domestic suspense in which a group of women play a harmless drinking game that escalates into a war of dark pasts.

There has been a lot of brand new buzz coming in for this book. It was named one of USA Today's "5 books not to miss." The Wall Street Journal calls it: "...a tale of moral suspense in addition to a psychological thriller. Its several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative. Many books claim to be the perfect beach read. This one doesn’t, but it certainly fits the bill." 

There was a ton of library love for this book. We were lucky enough to have Joshilyn speak at this year's Texas Library Association conference. It was also inducted into the LibraryReads Hall of Fame in June. Check out some of the amazing library reviews it previously received:

“Best-selling Jackson successfully trades her usual quirky Southern lit for darker psychological suspense in this latest highly recommended novel. Her prowess at writing affecting, character-driven fiction is on full display, and readers will devour the twisty, consuming story.”
—Library Journal review

“Nail-biting suspense… Jackson builds on her talent for creating imperfect, capable, and multi-layered characters to write smart suspense, driven by the intelligence and determination of the instigator and her prey… Never Have I Ever marks a new high in Jackson’s career.”
—Booklist review

In celebration of Never Have I Ever's book birthday, we are giving away finished copies to the first 10 people to email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

-Lainey

Star-Studded Reviews for Laura Lippman's LADY IN THE LAKE!

The day is almost here: Laura Lippman's Lady in the Lake will be available next Tuesday, July 23rd! 

Lady in the Lake is a novel set in 1960s Baltimore that combines modern psychological insights with elements of classic noir, about a middle-aged housewife turned aspiring reporter who pursues the murder of a forgotten young woman.

Stephen King just gave a rave review in the New York Times Book Review:

“extraordinary…Lippman walks a fine line, balancing a cracking good mystery with the story of a not always admirable woman working to stand on her own. … Lippman answers all outstanding questions with a totally cool double twist that your reviewer—a veteran reader of mysteries—never saw coming.”

Check out all of the starred reviews!

“Riveting…This is a superb character study, a terrific newspaper novel, and a fascinating look at urban life and racial discrimination in the ’60s…Lippman’s critical acclaim and sales figures continue to climb, and this genre-crossing thriller will extend her reach still further.”
—Booklist review

“Lippman’s fans will devour this sophisticated crime novel, which captures the era’s zeitgeist while painting a striking portrait of unapologetic female ambition.”
—Publishers Weekly review

“The story is bigger than the crime, and the crime is bigger than its solution, making Lippman’s skill as a mystery novelist work as icing on the cake. The racism, classism, and sexism of 50 years ago wrapped up in a stylish, sexy, suspenseful period drama...”
—Kirkus Reviews review

In honor of Lady in the Lake's book birthday, we are giving away 10 finished copies of the book to the first 10 people who email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

-Lainey

Karin Slaughter's PIECES OF HER and Netflix Fit Together Perfectly

It's no puzzle—Karin Slaughter's New York Times bestselling novel Pieces of Her is much loved! The LLF team has a dedicated puzzle table at the office and this limited edition Pieces of Her puzzle made a perfect addition to our collection.

Pieces of Her, much like this puzzle, shows how many different pieces make up a human being and asks if it's possible to know someone fully. When a trip to the mall explodes into violence, Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to her mother Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Check out all the library love for Pieces of Her:

“[Slaughter’s] talent for writing convincingly flawed yet sympathetic characters is in high relief here...Readers will find themselves totally immersed in the suspenseful, alternating story lines and won’t want either of them to end.”
—Booklist  review

“With an intrigue and suspense-filled plot, Slaughter’s well-crafted, tense, and exhilarating story will keep readers on the edge of their seats.” —Library Journal

Be sure to watch out for the eight-episode series coming soon to Netflix. We're also excited to announce that Karin's latest novel in the Will Trent mystery series, The Last Widow, was selected for the August LibraryReads list! Download an egalley on Edelweiss or NetGalley now.

We are giving away a finished copy of Pieces of Her and a puzzle to the first 10 people who email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

-Lainey

The August LibraryReads List is Here!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that we have THREE titles selected for the August LibraryReads List: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai (the Top Pick for August!), The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter, and Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews. Click here to see the full list.

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai (the Top Pick for August!): Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

"Both Rhi and Samson are learning how to enjoy life and balance each other beautifully as they face realistic conflicts and tantalizing romance and sensuality. This winning novel will enhance any romance reader’s collection."
 —Publishers Weekly review

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The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter: New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with another electrifying thriller in the beloved Will Trent mystery series, this time pitting Will and Sara against a mysterious group planning to unleash a deadly epidemic.

"With familiar characters, further developed here, and a plot as timely as it is riveting, Slaughter's latest will enthrall her ever-growing legion of fans."
—Booklist  review

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Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society.

"Imaginative and high-octane.... Another creative, thrilling paranormal romance from the masterful Andrews."
—Kirkus review

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Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the August LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the September LibraryReads list by August 1st. You can see our recommendations here. Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris