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February is Black History Month and we have some great reading suggestions that highlight Black voices. Find a list of recent and upcoming reads below and then head over to this link to learn about even more books that are available to fill your shelves.
We also hosted a Door to Door featuring anti-racist reads in June. Our panel included Wendy Bartlett, the Collection Development Manager/Book Buyer for the Cuyahoga County Library in Ohio, K.C. Boyd, Library Media Specialist at Jefferson Academy in the District of Columbia Public Schools System, as well as Tracy Sherrod, Editorial Director of Amistad at HarperCollins. Watch that video below and find a list of titles discussed here.
For this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, Chris Connolly sat down with Kathy Wang, acclaimed author of Family Trust, to talk about her upcoming novel Impostor Syndrome, on sale June 15th.
Following Julia, Russian spy and COO of Tangerine, one of America's hottest tech companies; Alice, a low-level employee at Tangerine who begins to suspect Julia of misdoing; and Leo, Julia's Russian handler, Impostor Syndrome is part spy thriller and part fly-on-the-wall peek into the tech industry's upper rungs. It also feels startlingly prescient as the world begins to reckon with the power of Google, Facebook, and other tech giants.
So, without further ado, we're happy to share the conversation below! Be sure to keep reading to see more praise for Impostor Syndrome.
"Kathy Wang’s Impostor Syndrome is a smart, ambitious, and hugely original novel that succeeds on every level. It’s part gripping spy thriller, part sharp-eyed Silicon Valley satire, part nuanced character study—and fully, deeply entertaining every step of the way." —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of November Road
"Like John le Carré filtered through Tom Wolfe, Impostor Syndrome encapsulates our Facebook anxieties perfectly." —The Millions
"A skilled satirist of the Northern California dream." —Harper's Bazaar
Dear librarians, please check out the below list for details on all HarperCollins library hardcover editions releasing in 2021! Have questions? Email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.
The Poetry Society of America has named N. Scott Momaday the 2021 recipient of the Frost Medal for distinguished lifetime achievement in poetry!
The Frost Medal, named for Robert Frost, was first given in 1930 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in American poetry. Previous winners of the award include Marianne Moore, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Allen Ginsberg, to name a few.
A note from the Poetry Society of America’s Board of Governors on N. Scott Momaday:
"...his poems, often meditations on mortality, love, and loss, as well as reflections on the American landscape, evoke the essence of human experience. He is also a much beloved teacher who built his reputation specializing in Native American oral traditions."
You can see the full announcement and read a poem from N. Scott Momaday here.
Get a copy of his latest publication, Earth Keeper, and find a list of past publications here.
His Pulitzer Prize-winning classic about a stranger in his native land, House Made of Dawn, will be available as a limited Olive Edition from Harper Perennial on September 7, 2021.
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett has been selected for the March LibraryReads List! We also have two new additions to the LibraryReads Hall of Fame: Talia Hibbert, author of Act Your Age, Eve Brown and Kate Quinn, author of The Rose Code. Rounding things out, LibraryReads Hall of Fame author Peter Swanson's latest novel Every Vow You Break was also selected.
Want to hear how our authors reacted to being selected for the March LibraryReads List? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!
The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett: The first book in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties, perfect for fans of The Crown.
"[A] pitch-perfect murder mystery…. If The Crown were crossed with Miss Marple…the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit." —Ruth Ware
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert:In USA Today bestselling author Talia Hibbert’s newest rom com, the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.
"Their biting banter and saucy looks will delight readers who enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers tale that doesn’t shy away from epic sex scenes or raw emotions. Hibbert concludes the brilliant Brown Sisters series on high a note." —Booklist ⭐ review
Previous LibraryReads Selections: Take a Hint, Dani Brown (June 2020) Get a Life, Chloe Brown (Nov. 2019)
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson: A bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up in this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders.
"The further we go into [Swanson’s] devilishly twisty tales, the more hooks he sets.... Bride-to-be Abigail had a booze-fueled one-night stand…and is now being stalked by the man with whom she dallied. Fatal Attraction, right? Well, maybe, but we quickly see there's more to it than that." —Booklist
Previous LibraryReads Selections: Eight Perfect Murders (March 2020) All the Beautiful Lies (April 2018) Her Every Fear (Jan. 2017)
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn: The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.
"The Rose Code effortlessly evokes the frantic, nervy, exuberant world of the Enigma codebreakers.... Quinn’s meticulous research and impeccable characterization shine through this gripping and beautifully executed novel." —Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight
Previous LibraryReads Selections: The Huntress (Feb. 2019) The Alice Network (June 2017)
Watch Kate Quinn on Door to Door!
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Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the March LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the April LibraryReads List by March 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
On this week's podcast episode we welcome Lucia Macro, VP and Executive Editor at William Morrow, back to the podcast to speak with Alena Dillon, author of The Happiest Girl in the World.
More about The Happiest Girl in the World (on sale April 20, 2021): A gripping novel about a young woman’s dreams of being an Olympic gymnast—and the dark history that one has to keep secret on the road to the top.
Listen to the episode with Alena and Lucia below:
Alena's last book, Mercy House, was selected for the February 2020 LibraryReads list. Listen to Alena's reaction to making the list on our podcast here.
Find Alena's website here. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on her book event she mentioned in the episode.
The ALA Midwinter Conference was held virtually at the end of January. The Library Love Fest Team had a virtual booth at the show where we chatted with many of you and gave away egalleys. We also presented many of the great books HarperCollins has coming out this summer.
Several of our authors were featured speakers at this conference:
Cicely Tyson, Author of Just As I Am The late Cicely Tyson, actress, lecturer, activist, and one of the most respected talents in American theater and film history, discussed her memoir, Just As I Am, with Donald Bogle, film historian and author of the modern classic, Dorothy Dandridge, coming out for the first time in paperback in August 2021.
You can watch the replay on Facebook below, shared courtesy of the American Library Association.*
*Should you wish to share/repost, please be sure to credit the American Library Association.
Natalie Baszile, Author of We Are Each Other's Harvest Natalie Baszile, author of Queen Sugar—now a critically acclaimed series on OWN directed by Ava Duvernay—spoke about her upcoming book We Are Each Other's Harvest at the ALA Midwinter Diversity in Publishing stage. We Are Each Other's Harvest is a beautiful exploration and celebration of Black farming in America.
Sara Nisha Adams, Author of The Reading List Sara Nisha Adams, author of The Reading List, joined authors from Macmillan (Jayci Lee, author of The Dating Dare) and Workman Publishing (Polly Samson, author of A Theater for Dreamers) on a panel called "Forget Your Troubles" which was followed by happy* reading recommendations from Library Love Fest’s Virginia Stanley, Talia Sherer from Macmillan, and Annie Mazes from Workman.
*Happy, defined as: enjoyable, escapist, pleasant, feel-good, why we got into this business in the first place…
LLF's Lainey Mays moderated "Representing," a panel of three authors who discussed the importance of writing diverse characters.
You can watch the replay on Facebook below, shared courtesy of the American Library Association.*
*Should you wish to share/repost, please be sure to credit the American Library Association.
Book awards are announced at ALA Midwinter. HarperCollins did quite well! Awards ceremonies will take place in June at the ALA Annual Conference—which will also be virtual.
Here’s the list of winners and honors. Congratulations to all!
Rainbow Roundtable Award (Books that exhibit commendable literary quality and significant authentic LGBTQIA+ content)
Black Caucus of the ALA (For excellence in Adult fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by African American authors published in 2020)
The Honor Book for Fiction: Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston
The Honor Book for Nonfiction: Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey
The Honor Book for Best Poetry: We Want Our Bodies Back by jessica Care moore
Notable Awards (An annual best-of list composed of 25 titles written for adult readers and published in the US including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry)
Reading List (Best in 8 different genres of fiction for adult readers as well as a shortlist of 4 honor titles)
Adrenaline – 3 shortlist titles included: A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Historical fiction – 1 shortlist title included: The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
Mystery – 1 shortlist title included: A Trace of Deceit by Karen Odden
Romance – 3 shortlist titles included: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Science Fiction – 2 shortlist titles included: Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots A Pale Light in the Black by K. B. Wagers
As you might have gathered from the above book collage, there are A LOT of fantastic titles coming your way in April. Not a bad problem to have! With a few more months of winter yet to come, we think getting a jump start on spring reading will warm us right up! We hope you agree. Happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey).
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The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin For fans of: The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner and Wonder Valley by Ivy Pochoda The award-winning author of The Free and Don't Skip Out on Me explores the impact of trickle-down greed and opportunism of gentrification on ordinary lives in this scorching novel that captures the plight of a young woman pushed to the edge as she fights to secure a stable future for herself and her family.
"We…race to the end to see if good hearts can maybe, just this once, make a difference." —Bill Ott, Booklist ⭐ review
"The story resonates, with characters we come to feel we know and dialog that is so natural we hear it, not just read it…. This is literary art that will keep readers in their seats until the last page." —Library Journal ⭐ review
"This gritty page-turner sings with pitch-perfect prose.... Vlautin has achieved a brilliant synthesis of Raymond Carver and Jim Thompson." —Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
"Vlautin has written a soulful thriller for the age of soulless gentrification." —Kirkus ⭐ review
Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney For fans of: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin A warm, incisive new novel about the enduring bonds of marriage and friendship from the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Nest.
"Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney plumbs the depths of marriage, motherhood and friendship with warmth and wit. I devoured it in one gulp! Treat yourself to some Good Company." —Maria Semple, bestselling author of Today Will Be Different
"With candor and humor, Good Company tackles big issues—the reckoning between artistic ambition and family life, the strange tension between honesty and loyalty, the way time’s inevitable passage affects friendships and romance and our sense of self. Once again, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney has written a book you’ll stay up all night reading." —Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind
Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson For fans of: Someone We Know by Shari Lapena The New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Ever builds on her success with this addictive novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves.
"Terrifying, timely and thought-provoking, I couldn't tear my eyes away from Mother May I." —Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Mrs.
Caul Baby by Morgan Jerkins For fans of: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré and Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson The New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing and Wandering in Strange Lands makes her fiction debut with this electrifying novel, for fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jacqueline Woodson, that brings to life one powerful and enigmatic family in a tale rife with secrets, betrayal, intrigue, and magic.
"The writing is sharp with an empathetic undertone, encouraging readers to understand characters' choices even if they don’t agree. Readers are taken through a spectrum of emotions with a satisfying payoff. On the heels of her excellent memoir Wandering in Strange Lands (2020), Jerkins solidifies herself as one of our guiding literary lights, no matter the genre." —Booklist ⭐ review
The Souvenir Museum by Elizabeth McCracken Also from the author: Bowlaway, Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry, and The Giant's House One of the most treasured writers of our day, award-winning author Elizabeth McCracken, is an undisputed virtuoso of the short story, and this new collection features her most vibrant and heartrending work to date.
"McCracken’s sly, emotionally complex collection focuses on characters uprooted from their usual surroundings.... Each story opens to reveal a whole life spent within the web of a family, chosen or not. Full of gems, this collection is a winner." —Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion For fans of: The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone One of the most important stories of World War II, already optioned by Steven Spielberg for a major motion picture: a spectacular, searing history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who became resistance fighters—a group of unknown heroes whose exploits have never been chronicled in full, until now.
"In a vigorous narrative that draws on interviews, diaries, and other sources, Batalion delivers an objective view of past events that are too quickly being forgotten—and a story much in need of telling." —Kirkus ⭐ review
Listen to an interview with Judy Batalion on The Library Love Fest Podcast!
Love in Color by Bolu Babalola For fans of: Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell and Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi In her debut collection, internationally acclaimed writer Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.
"Perfection in short story form, I am in love with every single word Bolu Babalola has written. So rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully." —Candice Carty-Williams, internationally bestselling author of Queenie
All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis For fans of: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane and Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal A sweeping saga following a foster family through almost a decade of dazzling triumph and wrenching heartbreak—from the author of The Orphans at Race Point.
"This beautifully wrought novel is a sometimes wrenching but ultimately uplifting story of murder and betrayal in the face of faith, family in its truest sense, and—most of all—love." —Booklist ⭐ review
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne For fans of: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai and The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory From the USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women—under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager.
"Second First Impressions is the warmest, coziest, sweetest book of the year, an absolutely perfect blend of humor and heart. I want to live inside Sally Thorne’s brain." —Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers Also from the author: To Be Taught, If Fortunate and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Return to the sprawling, Hugo Award-winning universe of the Galactic Commons to explore another corner of the cosmos—one often mentioned, but not yet explored—in this absorbing entry in the Wayfarers series, which blends heart-warming characters and imaginative adventure.
"[A] delightful, cozy novel. Devoted fans and newcomers alike will thrill with this imaginative sci-fi confection." —Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
Sensational by Kim Todd For fans of: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott A vivid social history that brings to light the "girl stunt reporters" of the Gilded Age who went undercover to expose corruption and abuse in America, and redefined what it meant to be a woman and a journalist—pioneers whose influence continues to be felt today.
"Sensational brings the stories and battles of Gilded Age newspaperwomen to gritty, effervescent life." —Stephanie Gorton, author of Citizen Reporters
The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon For fans of: Whisper Network by Chandler Baker From the acclaimed author of Mercy House comes a gripping novel about a young woman’s dreams of being an Olympic gymnast—and the dark history that one has to keep secret on the road to the top.
"Whether readers can name every Olympian gymnast from the past 40 years or can't tell a Yurchenko from a Mustafina, Dillon's latest novel will enthrall. A natural next read for fans of Hannah Orenstein's Head over Heels (2020)." —Booklist ⭐ review
A Brief History of Earth by Andrew H. Knoll For fans of: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte Acclaimed Harvard geologist Andrew Knoll delivers a sweeping and definitive new narrative history of Earth, charting our home planet's epic 4.6 billion year history and placing our current environmental crisis in deep context.
"In A Brief History of Earth, Knoll treats us to a 4.6-billion-year detective story revealing the origins and inner workings of our home in the solar system. In these pages you'll discover something profound: how our past, present, and future are grounded in Planet Earth." —Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish and Some Assembly Required
Little and Often by Trent Preszler For fans of: H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald A moving, beautifully written memoir of grief and love, understanding and forgiveness, and the curative power of creativity, detailing how the author coped with the death of his estranged father by building a wooden boat with the tools he had inherited.
"Little and Often is a beautiful memoir of grief, love, the shattered bond between a father and son, and the resurrection of a broken heart. Trent Preszler tells his story with the same level of art and craftsmanship that he brings to his boat making, and he reminds us of creativity’s power to transform and heal our lives. This is a powerful and deeply moving book. I won’t soon forget it." —Elizabeth Gilbert
World Travel by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever For fans of: Around the World in 60 Seconds by Nuseir Yassin A guide to some of the world’s most interesting places, as seen and experienced by the late writer, television host, and relentlessly curious traveler Anthony Bourdain.
"Charming…. Irresistible…. An exhilarating and worthwhile choice for those planning an actual trip and for stay-at-home travelers." —Library Journal ⭐ review
Goodbye, Again by Jonny Sun For fans of: We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby The wonderfully original author of Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too gives us a collection of touching and hilarious personal essays, stories, poems—accompanied by his trademark illustrations—covering topics such as mental health, happiness, and what it means to belong.
"This poetic, humorous, and heartfelt collection will have readers nodding along, laughing, and maybe even crying, but more than anything they will be engrossed and craving more. Similar to Sun’s previous work, this is another standout." —Library Journal ⭐ review
Permission to Dream by Chris Gardner: In the spirit of The Last Lecture, The Secret, and The Alchemist, this small book presents big ideas for turning your "one day" into today, including the generational transfer of a dream and a powerful blueprint for a masterpiece life—from the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir and major motion picture The Pursuit of Happyness.
I'm Waiting for You by Kim Bo-Young: In this mind-expanding work of speculative fiction, available in English for the first time, one of South Korea’s most treasured writers explores the driving forces of humanity—love, hope, creation, destruction, and the very meaning of existence—in two pairs of thematically interconnected stories.
Anywhere for You by Abbie Greaves: From the author of The Silent Treatment, the heart-wrenching story of a woman's decade-long search for answers after the love of her life disappears—a timeless and deeply moving exploration of what it means to love and lose, and hope and carry on.
Sure, I'll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Philippe: In the biting, hilarious vein of What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life—comes Ben Philippe’s candid memoir-in-essays, chronicling a lifetime of being the Black friend (see also: foreign kid, boyfriend, coworker, student, teacher, roommate, enemy) in predominantly white spaces.
Love in Case of Emergency by Daniela Krien: Writing with the wry realism of Sally Rooney, one of Germany's most promising literary talents demonstrates her incisive understanding of the complexities of relationships and the depths of the human heart in this witty and compulsively readable novel about five very different women whose lives intersect.
Promises to Keep by Nan Rossiter: In this heartwarming sequel to Promises of the Heart in the Savannah Skies series, USA Today bestselling author Nan Rossiter returns to Tybee Island off the Georgia coast to focus on beloved characters Maeve and Gage as their relationship is tested by secrets they are keeping from each other.
Stargazer by Anne Hillerman: Murder, deception, Navajo tradition, and the stars collide in this enthralling entry in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, set amid the beautiful landscape of the American Southwest.
Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer: Following her acclaimed debut novel, You and Me and Us, Alison Hammer offers a deeply moving story of family and identity. When a DNA test reveals a long-buried secret, a woman must look to the past to understand her mother and herself.
You Belong Here Now by Dianna Rostad: In this brilliant debut reminiscent of Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train and Kristina McMorris’s Sold on a Monday, three orphans journey westward from New York City to the Big Sky Country of Montana, hoping for a better life where beautiful wild horses roam free.
Meant to Be Immortal by Lynsay Sands: In the newest Argeneau novel from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands, an immortal barely escapes a raging fire only to kindle a sizzling passion with his potential life mate.
Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey: A man and a woman continually cross paths in different realities in this speculative love story that explores what truly defines us and how our choices can change everything—a stunning, affecting debut with the emotional resonance and imaginative flair of Kate Morton and Audrey Niffenegger.
My Ride or Die by Leslie Cohen: A timely and hilarious millennial women’s fiction novel about two friends who decide to give up their search for a perfect man and devote their lives to each other—but their careful plan soon begins to unravel with unexpected consequences.
When the Library Love Fest team loves a book like The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin, we can’t stop talking about it!
If you've followed Library Love Fest over the years, then you know we're HUGE fans of Willy Vlautin's work, whether it's The Motel Life, Northline, Lean on Pete, The Free, or his most recent novel Don't Skip Out on Me, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and an ALA Notable Book. As Ann Patchett stated, "The straightforward beauty of Vlautin’s writing, and the tender care he shows his characters, turns a story of struggle into indispensable reading."
Truly, Willy Vlautin's combination of beautiful prose, unforgettable characters, and a tender eye for the stories of people struggling to persevere in a world in which they're rarely seen results in heart-wrenching and redemptive reads that earned Willy praise from Ursula K. Le Guin, who compared him to an "unsentimental Steinbeck, a heartbroken Haruf."
In his upcoming book The Night Always Comes, Willy Vlautin confronts many of the anxieties of our changing world, including working-class greed, class division, home ownership, and mental health. Set in contemporary Portland, Oregon, the novel takes place over the course of two days and two nights and follows a young woman on a desperate quest to collect enough funds to put a down payment on her family's long-time home before it's too late.
Below, you'll find the replay of our Door to Door with Willy Vlautin, where we talk more about the book, his music, and his unforgettable characters. As an added bonus, Willy performs a song he wrote!
The Night Always Comes has received enormous early praise:
"... 'You never give up and you've got a good heart, a damaged heart, but a good heart.’ We concur, of course, and race to the end to see if good hearts can maybe, just this once, make a difference. With Vlautin, you never know for sure." —Bill Ott, Booklist⭐ review
"The story resonates, with characters we come to feel we know and dialog that is so natural we hear it, not just read it....This is literary art that will keep readers in their seats until the last page." —Library Journal⭐ review
"This gritty page-turner sings with pitch-perfect prose, and Lynette’s desperation is palpable. Vlautin has achieved a brilliant synthesis of Raymond Carver and Jim Thompson." —Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
"Vlautin has written a soulfulthriller for the age ofsoulless gentrification." —Kirkus⭐review
"I finished reading this novel dripping with admiration for Willy Vlautin and the tough wonder he has brought forth. The Night Always Comes hits the high-water mark; there is skillful and beautiful objectivity to the writing, characters so real that when they bleed you get a few drops on your sleve, and a story of economic want and desperation and heart." —Daniel Woodrell, author of Winter’s Bone and The Maid’s Version
Another incredible aspect to Willy Vlautin's literary work is how closely connected it is to his life as a musician. The founding member of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines, Willy has often talked about his novels beginning as songs, and growing from there.
We are very excited to share one of the songs from the upcoming The Night Always Comes book soundtrack, titled "Lynette's Lament," which is performed by Willy's band The Delines and written by band member Cory Gray. Click below to listen!
To learn more about Willy's thoughts on the connection between his music and his writing, check out the short clip below from our interview in 2018 on the publication day of Don't Skip Out on Me:
This was a very special interview, which Willy capped off spectacularly by playing the titular song "Don't Skip Out on Me." You can watch his performance below!
The full book soundtrack for Don't Skip Out on Me is available on Spotify. Click below to listen! You can also read Willy's notes on the soundtrack here.
This week's podcast episode is a MUST-LISTEN! We featured a conversation between New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson and her editor at William Morrow, Emily Krump. They talk about the misconceptions of the editor/author relationship, the double standard for successful working women, and literary Easter Eggs in Joshilyn's work, as well as her new domestic suspense novel Mother May I.
Listen to the interview below:
More about Mother May I (available April 6, 2021): The New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Everbuilds on her success with this addictive novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves—a chilling and thoughtful tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.
Check out these great early reviews:
"Chilling, thought-provoking, and hauntingly written, Mother May Ikept me on the edge of my seat with its breathless race against time." —Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl from Widow Hills
"Joshilyn Jackson does it again with this explosive, white-knuckle read about a mother who will stop at nothing to protect her family. Terrifying, timely and thought-provoking, I couldn't tear my eyes away...."
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Mrs.
“Mother May Isets a new standard for the genre: it’s razor-sharp, merciless, and masterful.”
—Rose Carlyle, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Mirror
We are so excited to announce the adult HarperCollins titles that were nominated for the 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, announced by Mystery Writers of America. These awards honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, and television published or produced in 2020. Check out our nominated titles below:
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the end of the Holocaust and marking the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.
Below are some current and upcoming titles to help remember, learn, and heal.
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The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku: In this uplifting memoir in the vein of The Last Lecture and Man’s Search for Meaning, a Holocaust survivor pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom, and living his best possible life. On sale May 4th Request the egalley on Edelweiss+ Request the egalley on NetGalley
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion: One of the most important stories of World War II, already optioned by Steven Spielberg for a major motion picture: a spectacular, searing history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who became resistance fighters—a group of unknown heroes whose exploits have never been chronicled in full, until now. On sale April 6th Request the egalley and audiobook egalley on Edelweiss+ Request the egalley on NetGalley Request the audiobook egalley on NetGalley
The Note Through the Wire by Doug Gold: Praised as an "unforgettable love story" by Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is the real-life, unlikely romance between a resistance fighter and prisoner of war set in World War II Europe. On sale March 16th Request the egalley on Edelweiss+ Request the egalley on NetGalley
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris: This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity. Available now
Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson: To survive the Holocaust, a young Jewish woman must pose as a Christian farmer's wife in this unforgettable novel from USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson—a story of terror, hope, love, and sacrifice, inspired by true events, that vividly evokes the most perilous days of World War II. Available now
The Children's Train by Viola Ardone: Based on true events, a heartbreaking story of love, family, hope, and survival set in post-World War II Italy—written with the heart of Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours—about poor children from the south sent to live with families in the north to survive deprivation and the harsh winters. Available now
The Brothers of Auschwitz by Malka Adler: An extraordinary novel of hope and heartbreak, this is a story about a family separated by the Holocaust and their harrowing journey back to each other. Available now
The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton: The New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Exiles conjures her best novel yet, a pre-World War II-era story with the emotional resonance of Orphan Train and All the Light We Cannot See, centering on the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe—and one brave woman who helped them escape to safety. Available now
The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield: The #1 Sunday Times bestseller—a remarkable story of the heroic and unbreakable bond between a father and son that is as inspirational as The Tattooist of Auschwitz and as mesmerizing as The Choice. Available now
The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg: Set during the height of World War II, a powerful and unsettling tale about a woodcutter and his wife, who finds a mysterious parcel thrown from a passing train. Available now
The Survivors by Adam Frankel: A memoir of family, the Holocaust, trauma, and identity, in which Adam Frankel, a former Obama speechwriter, must come to terms with the legacy of his family’s painful past and discover who he is in the wake of a life-changing revelation about his own origins. Available now
The Art of Resistance by Justus Rosenberg: 100-year-old literature professor Justus Rosenberg escaped the Holocaust and spent four daring years in the French Underground during World War II. Now he finally writes his own unforgettable epic. Available now
50 Children by Steven Pressman: Based on the acclaimed HBO documentary, the astonishing true story of how one American couple transported fifty Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Austria to America in 1939—the single largest group of unaccompanied refugee children allowed into the United States—for readers of In the Garden of Beasts and A Train in Winter. Available now
And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer: The New York Times bestselling author of A Fierce Radiance and City of Light returns with a new powerful and passionate novel—inspired by historical events—about two women, one European and one American, and the mysterious choral masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach that changes both their lives. Available now
For this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew J. Graff, whose debut novel Raft of Stars publishes March 23rd. Following two young boys who think they've committed a horrible crime and make a daring escape into the woods of Northern Wisconsin, Raft of Stars has a timeless quality and is filled with a cast of unforgettable supporting characters that make it a joy to read from beginning to end.
Listen to the episode below and keep reading to check out some of the praise!
Praise for Raft of Stars:
"The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys’ closeness and bravery are especially affecting.... facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat.... Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation." —Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal ⭐ review
"I had no idea people wrote books like Andrew J. Graff’s Raft of Stars anymore—a rousing adventure yarn full of danger and heart and humor and characters worth worrying about. It’s as if, after observing the deplorable state we’re all in right now, the author took it upon himself to raise our collective spirits. Bravo!" —Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls and Chances Are...
"Graff has crafted not only an adventure story with a warm heart at its center, but a whole town of characters for readers to fall in love with." —J. Ryan Stradal, author of The Lager Queen of Minnesota
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson has been selected for the February LibraryReads List! Additionally, Alisha Rai has officially joined the LibraryReads Hall of Fame with the selection of First Comes Like!
Want to hear how our authors reacted to being selected for the February LibraryReads List? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson: For fans of Tayari Jones and Jacqueline Woodson, a thought-provoking, page-turning debut about race, class, identity, and the pursuit of the American dream.
"The Kindest Lie is the story of one family that reveals the larger story of America itself. Taut and surprising, Nancy Johnson’s debut novel tackles complex issues—ambition, romance, class—with the lightest of touches." —Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind
Watch Nancy Johnson and Nikki Giovanni on Door to Door!
First Comes Like by Alisha Rai: The author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes.
"With twists and turns right out of a Bollywood drama, Rai's delightful romance introduces another Ahmed sister in her Modern Love series to a family struggling with fame and loss. Jia and Dev are appealingly dimensional, as is the varied cast of minor characters.... Another win from this rising romance star." —Booklist
Previous LibraryReads Selections: The Right Swipe (Top Pick, August 2019) Girl Gone Viral (April 2020)
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Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the February LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the March LibraryReads List by February 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
Happy book birthday to Viola Ardone's The Children's Train. There are so many great reviews for this powerful novel, based on true events, that tells a heartbreaking story of love, family, hope, and survival set in post-World War II Italy about poor children from the south sent to live with families in the north to survive deprivation and the harsh winters. You can get your copy here.
The New York Times Book Review included The Children's Train in their Globetrotting preview for 2021. Read the feature here.
Just check out some of the praise below!
"With a mix of stark realism and wistful reflection, Ardone succeeds in portraying the challenges of growing up under trying circumstances." —Publishers Weekly
"Beautifully written in Amerigo’s first-person voice, this sometimes melancholy novel, translated from Italian, offers a deeply satisfying portrayal of the universality of love." —Booklist
"Ardone’s novel will appeal to fans of Elena Ferrante, but it stands on its own as a fictionalized account of an exceptional—and exceptionally complicated—social experiment." —BookPage
"Ardone’s beautifully crafted story explores the meaning of identity and belonging...recommended to fans of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels." —Library Journal
Congratulations to Viola Ardone for this wonderful publication.
We hope you'll watch the replay of our Door to Door with Willy Vlautin, author of The Night Always Comes and Andrew J. Graff, author of Raft of Stars, which took place on Tuesday, January 12th.
If you've followed Library Love Fest over the years, then you know we're HUGE fans of Willy Vlautin's work, whether it's The Motel Life, Northline, Lean on Pete, The Free, or his most recent novel Don't Skip Out on Me, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and an ALA Notable Book. As Ann Patchett stated, "The straightforward beauty of Vlautin’s writing, and the tender care he shows his characters, turns a story of struggle into indispensable reading."
Truly, Willy Vlautin's combination of beautiful prose, unforgettable characters, and a tender eye for the stories of people struggling to persevere in a world in which they're rarely seen results in heart-wrenching and redemptive reads that earned Willy praise from Ursula K. Le Guin, who compared him to an "unsentimental Steinbeck, a heartbroken Haruf."
In his upcoming book The Night Always Comes, Willy Vlautin confronts many of the anxieties of our changing world, including working-class greed, class division, home ownership, and mental health. Set in contemporary Portland, Oregon, the novel takes place over the course of two days and two nights and follows a young woman on a desperate quest to collect enough funds to put a down payment on her family's long-time home before it's too late.
The book has received enormous early praise:
"... 'You never give up and you've got a good heart, a damaged heart, but a good heart.’ We concur, of course, and race to the end to see if good hearts can maybe, just this once, make a difference. With Vlautin, you never know for sure." —Bill Ott, Booklist⭐ review
"The story resonates, with characters we come to feel we know and dialog that is so natural we hear it, not just read it....This is literary art that will keep readers in their seats until the last page." —Library Journal⭐ review
"This gritty page-turner sings with pitch-perfect prose, and Lynette’s desperation is palpable. Vlautin has achieved a brilliant synthesis of Raymond Carver and Jim Thompson." —Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
"I finished reading this novel dripping with admiration for Willy Vlautin and the tough wonder he has brought forth. The Night Always Comes hits the high-water mark; there is skillful and beautiful objectivity to the writing, characters so real that when they bleed you get a few drops on your sleeve, and a story of economic want and desperation and heart." —Daniel Woodrell, author of Winter’s Bone and The Maid’s Version
Another incredible aspect to Willy Vlautin's literary work is how closely connected it is to his life as a musician. The founding member of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines, Willy has often talked about his novels beginning as songs, and growing from there.
We are very excited to share one of the songs from the upcoming The Night Always Comesbook soundtrack that Willy wrote and recorded with his band The Delines, titled "Lynette's Lament." Click below to listen!
To learn more about Willy's thoughts on the connection between his music and his writing, check out the short clip below from our interview in 2018 on the publication day of Don't Skip Out on Me:
This was a very special interview, which Willy capped off spectacularly by playing the titular song "Don't Skip Out on Me." You can watch his performance below!
The full book soundtrack for Don't Skip Out on Me is available on Spotify. Click below to listen! You can also read Willy's notes on the soundtrack here.
It was a joy to talk to Andrew J. Graff, whose debut novel Raft of Stars publishes in March. This novel about two hardscrabble young boys who think they’ve committed a crime and flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin is filled with heart and with a poised, clear-eyed consideration of a town and a people who've fallen on hard times.
The timelessness and hope of this novel immediately swept through the HarperCollins Publishers sales staff when we first read it. We even selected it as our Lead Read pick for Winter 2021! If you're unfamiliar with the Lead Read program, every season the HarperCollins sales staff votes for one special title we think has a chance for both critical and commercial success. Past picks include News of the World by Paulette Jiles, November Road by Lou Berney, My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, and Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey. Just as these works were welcomed and beloved by the library community, we think Raft of Stars will also be an instant classic and a cherished title in library circulations for a long time to come.
You can check out a sample of the early praise below!
"The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys’ closeness and bravery are especially affecting.... facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat.... Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation." —Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal ⭐ review
"In ruggedly beautiful prose, and with a deep affection for his damaged, but always loveable characters, Graff delivers a novel with real heart and soul. An authentic look into the heartland of America, into one-parent households, where mothers and grandparents are supporting the next generation while fathers are either absentee, or should be. Like a barrel going over a waterfalls, Raft of Stars sweeps its reader downstream, and fast. Hold on for the ride." —Nickolas Butler, author of Little Faith
There is so much to love about this novel, whether it be "Bread" and "Fish", the two young boys at the heart of the story, the resounding sense of hope in the book's pages, or the absorbing sense of place that immediately sweeps the reader away. Below, you can watch a short video Andrew J. Graff recorded, where he shows us one of the locations that inspired the book!
Well, 2021 couldn't get here soon enough. 2020 was an unimaginably tough year for so many of us, grappling with stress, loss, and uncertainty. Throughout it all, we were incredibly grateful that we were able to connect virtually with so many of you in the library community.
We hope you'll join us as we hit the ground running in 2021! We have some very exciting reading suggestions for the March 2021 LibraryReads List. Happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
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Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff For fans of: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger and The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal An instant classic for fans of Jane Smiley and Kitchens of the Great Midwest: when two hardscrabble young boys think they’ve committed a crime, they flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Will the adults trying to find and protect them reach them before it’s too late?
"The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys’ closeness and bravery are especially affecting.... facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat.... Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation." —Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal⭐ review
Foregone by Russell Banks For fans of: Quichotte by Salman Rushdie A searing novel about memory, abandonment, and betrayal—and a man’s end-of-life need for forgiveness and redemption—from the acclaimed and bestselling Russell Banks.
"Banks, a conduit for the confounded and the unlucky, a writer acutely attuned to place and ambiance, is at his most magnetic and provocative in this portrait of a celebrated documentary filmmaker on the brink of death." —Booklist⭐ review
"[A] dark, affecting work.... Banks explores aging, memory, and reputation in thoughtful and touching ways.... A challenging, risk-taking work marked by a wry and compassionate intelligence." —Kirkus Reviews⭐ review
Watch Russell Banks on Door to Door with special guest Nancy Pearl!
The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett For fans of: A Cruel Deception by Charles Todd and The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz The first book in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties, perfect for fans of The Crown.
"[A] pitch-perfect murder mystery…. If The Crown were crossed with Miss Marple…the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit." —Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One by One
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn For fans of: We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.
"The Rose Code effortlessly evokes the frantic, nervy, exuberant world of the Enigma codebreakers.... Quinn’s meticulous research and impeccable characterization shine through this gripping and beautifully executed novel." —Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight
Let's make Kate Quinn a LibraryReads Hall of Fame author!
Previous LibraryReads Selections: The Huntress (February 2019) The Alice Network (June 2017)
Watch Kate Quinn on Door to Door!
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi For fans of: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.
Praise for Nadia Hashimi: "Her always engaging multigenerational tale is a portrait of Afghanistan in all of its perplexing, enigmatic glory, and a mirror into the still ongoing struggles of Afghan women." —Khaled Hosseini, author of The Mountains Echoed and The Kite Runner
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson Also from the author: All the Beautiful Lies and Her Every Fear
In this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders, a bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up.
"The further we go into [Swanson’s] devilishly twisty tales, the more hooks he sets…. Bride-to-be Abigail had a booze-fueled one-night stand… and is now being stalked by the man with whom she dallied. Fatal Attraction, right? Well, maybe, but we quickly see there's more to it than that." —Booklist
Previous LibraryReads Selections: Eight Perfect Murders (March 2020) All the Beautiful Lies (April 2018) Her Every Fear (January 2017)
The Note Through the Wire by Doug Gold For fans of: The Choice by Edith Eva Eger Praised as an "unforgettable love story" by Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is the real-life, unlikely romance between a resistance fighter and prisoner of war set in World War II Europe.
"Gold delivers a cinematic account of an unlikely romance that blossomed in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia.... Gold...sets a brisk pace and vividly describes the landscape of war-torn Europe. This WWII love story enthralls." —Publishers Weekly
Half Life by Jillian Cantor For fans of: The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton The USA Today bestselling author of In Another Time reimagines the pioneering, passionate life of Marie Curie using a parallel structure to create two alternative timelines, one that mirrors her real life, one that explores the consequences for Marie and for science if she’d made a different choice.
"Jillian Cantor's beautifully written Half Life is a poignant exploration of ambition, family, gender, and love. I couldn't put down this tender, nuanced, and inspiring novel." —Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation
When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong For fans of: The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara The New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry we know today.
"With crisp, electrifying prose, Armstrong recounts the hard work and struggles of four women trailblazers who shaped the dawn of television.... Armstrong deftly illustrates how this quartet of women battled skepticism, sexism, and even the infamous Cold War blacklist to become vital players in the burgeoning days of the small screen." —Booklist⭐ review
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig Also from the author: The Summer Country A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story—a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig.
"A crackling portrayal of everyday American heroines…. A triumph." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
The Lowering Days by Gregory Brown For fans of: Bearskin by James McLaughlin and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah A promising literary star makes his debut with this emotionally powerful saga, set in 1980s Maine, that explores family love, the power of myths and storytelling, survival and environmental exploitation, and the ties between native land and cultural identity.
"In The Lowering Days Gregory Brown gives us a lush, almost mythic portrait of a very specific place and time that feels all the more universal for its singularity. There’s magic here." —Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls and Chances Are...
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst Also from the author: Race the Sands and The Deepest Blue From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of aging warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss.
Praise for Sarah Beth Durst: "Sarah Beth Durst is one of the most prolific authors I know, yet each of her beautiful stories is infused with exciting action and fully rounded characters whose struggles are both relatable and fantastical." —Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Demon Cycle series
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert For fans of: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey In USA Today bestselling author Talia Hibbert’s newest rom com, the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.
"Their biting banter and saucy looks will delight readers.... Hibbert concludes the brilliant Brown Sisters series on high a note." —Booklist⭐ review
Let's make Talia Hibbert a LibraryReads Hall of Fame author!
Previous LibraryReads Selections: Take a Hint, Dani Brown (June 2020) Get a Life, Chloe Brown (November 2019)
The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear Also from the author: The American Agent and To Die but Once As Europe buckles under Nazi occupation, Maisie Dobbs investigates a possible murder that threatens devastating repercussions for Britain's war efforts in this latest installment in the New York Times bestselling mystery series.
Praise for Jacqueline Winspear: "In Winspear’s capable hands, Maisie has evolved into a deeply sympathetic character. Readers will eagerly await her next outing." —Publishers Weekly⭐ review
Wilde Child by Eloisa James Also from the author: My Last Duchess and Say Yes to the Duke Eloisa James returns to the Wildes of Lindow Castle series with the next Wilde child who runs and joins a theatre troupe—and the duke who tries to save her reputation.
The Secret Talker by Geling Yan For fans of: Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien Combining the dark twists of The Silent Patient with the unsettling beauty of The Vegetarian, a tense, gripping, and wholly original psychological tale of a woman with a secret admirer—who is hiding secrets of her own.
The Library Love Fest team has many thoughts about ALA Midwinter. Mainly...
We can't wait to see you all at the virtual ALA Midwinter conference! Check out all of the amazing author events, panels, and booth chats we have planned below.
Friday, January 22
11:00-11:30 AM ET Featured Speaker in the Diversity in Publishing Stage Natalie Baszile, author of We Are Each Other's Harvest Find out more here.
12:00-1:00 PM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
Saturday, January 23
9:00-10:00 AM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
1:00-1:15 PM ET Don’t miss the Library Love Fest Book Buzz! HarperCollins Buzzes Upcoming Adult Books from the Spring/Summer 2021 Seasons. Watch it here.
Sunday, January 24
9:00-10:00 AM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
1:30-2:00 PM ET Featured Speaker Cicely Tyson, author of Just As I Am Find out more here.
Monday, January 25
9:00-10:00 AM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
4:00-5:00 PM ET Forget Your Troubles: Hear about books from authors and publishers that will lift your spirits and gladden your heart! Register here.
On Demand Programs
Diversity in Publishing Stage — Representing: HarperCollins Authors on the Importance of Diverse Characters. Featuring:
This week, we wish you a happy holiday break with our last episode of 2020! The library team is joined by Andrew Kaberline, Senior Marketing Associate from HarperAudio. We talk all about recent audiobooks that will make your holiday drives fly by and a few audio egalleys that are available on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley. We also play a few clips from the audios that Andrew brought. We hope you enjoy this discussion and have a wonderful, safe holiday season!
Listen to the episode:
Titles discussed:
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, read by Patton Oswalt, Melissa McBride, and Alex Brightman -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Pirate Stew by Neil Gaiman, read by Neil Gaiman -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Mistletoe in Paradise by Jill Shalvis, read by Erin Mallon -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Dearly by Margaret Atwood, read by Margaret Atwood -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Talking to GOATS by Jim Gray, read by Tom Brady and Jim Gray, featuring appearances by Bob Costas, Vin Scully, Carol Burnett, and Snoop Dogg. -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Nancy Johnson’s stunning debut novel, The Kindest Lie, is a powerful story set in 2008 as Obama takes office and Black communities are filled with a sense of hope and promise. We meet Ruth, an Ivy League-educated Black engineer searching for the son she walked away from and Midnight, a poor, young white boy who finds himself adrift in a dying Indiana factory town. This unlikely connection sets the scene for The Kindest Lie: a prescient, beautiful inspection of motherhood, race, class, and the pursuit of the American Dream. If you haven’t read this novel yet, we urge you to dip in. (And good luck finding a place in this book to stop reading for the night!) Librarians and authors who have read The Kindest Lie have, well, the kindest words to say about this unforgettable debut. Check out some of the praise below!
"Nancy Johnson leads her readers into a story about race and family, weaving her characters in nuanced ways that are relevant today. It will be a long time before I stop thinking daily about Ruth and Midnight. Their emotional and very human stories will leave readers breathless and wanting to talk about every scene of this stunning and important book." —Ron Block, Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH)
"Johnson’s sharp debut takes a deep dive into the life of a Black Chicago woman after the 2008 presidential election…. Powerful insights emerge on the plurality of Black American experience and the divisions between rural and urban life, and the wealthy and the working class. Johnson’s clear-eyed saga hits hard." —Publishers Weekly STARRED review
"The Kindest Lie is a deep dive into how we define family, what it means to be a mother, what secrets we owe to those we love, and what it means to grow up Black. This beautifully crafted debut will keep you asking these questions and more." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Two Ways and Small Great Things
"The Kindest Lie is the story of one family that reveals the larger story of America itself. Taut and surprising, Nancy Johnson’s debut novel tackles complex issues—ambition, romance, class—with the lightest of touches." —Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind
"A gloriously written, stunning heart scorcher about who we are and what we could be." —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Cruel Beautiful World
We were thrilled to welcome Nancy Johnson on our recent Door to Door episode, which also featured renowned poet Nikki Giovanni. These two incredible writers had a wonderful conversation to open the episode. You can watch the replay below!
The Kindest Lie is an important, all-encompassing debut novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. We hope you will give it a read and submit your votes for LibraryReads. As a reminder, votes are due January 1, 2021.
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