Library Love Fest

Library Love Fest's Full ALA Annual Conference 2023 Schedule + Adult Book Buzz RSVP!

Hi, librarians! The Library Love Fest team is incredibly excited for the ALA Annual Conference 2023 this year. We're taking on Chicago with Books, Breakfast, and All That Jazz! Below, you'll find our full schedule for ALA along with our RSVP link to our world famous book buzz.

RSVP to our book buzz here.

***

Appearing virtually at the ALA digital experience:

GRAHAM NORTON
Internationally bestselling author and host of The Graham Norton Show discusses his forthcoming novel, Forever Home, with Lainey Mays, Library Marketing Associate at HarperCollins Publishers.
This will be a pre-recorded session available on demand. Register here.

***

See a full list of our author signings and programs below. Stop by booth #3511 and say hello!

SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH:

8:30-10:00
HarperCollins Adult Book Buzz
McCormick Place Convention Center
Room W192
RSVP link above

8:30-10:00
PLA President's Program*
Hilton Chicago, Continental A
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman
*PLA members only
bit.ly/3BAeDCr

10:00-11:00
Sy Montgomery, Of Time and Turtles
Booth signing

11:00-12:00
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman
Booth signing

11:30-1:30
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Signing in Sisters in Crime Booth #1951

12:30-1:30
Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity
Booth signing

2:00-3:00
Wanda Morris, Anywhere You Run & All Her Little Secrets
Booth signing

2:30-3:30
UFL Program: Isn't It Romantic?
McCormick Place CC, Room W185d
Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity

4:00-5:00
ALMA/LibraryReads Adult Author Program: Feel-Good Reads
McCormick Place CC, Room W184A
Sy Montgomery, Of Time and Turtles
RSVP: bit.ly/FeelGoodReadsALA2023

SUNDAY, JUNE 25TH:

8:00-10:00
Literary Tastes Breakfast
McCormick Place CC, Room W183B
Piper Huguley, By Her Own Design
Wanda Morris, Anywhere You Run 
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Register here for this RUSA ticketed event: bit.ly/436g6fz

10:00-11:30
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Signing in Sisters in Crime booth #1951

11:00-12:00
Piper Huguley, By Her Own Design
Booth signing

12:30-1:30
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Booth signing

2:00-3:00
Ehigbor Okosun, Forged by Blood
Booth signing

2:30-3:30
UFL Program: It's a Mystery to Me
McCormick Place CC, W185a
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us

3:30-4:30
Aida Rodriguez, Legitimate Kid
Booth signing

5:30-7:30
UFL Program: The Laugh's On Us
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Jackson Park ABCD
Aida Rodriguez, Legitimate Kid

8:00-10:00
BCALA Awards
Hilton Chicago Hotel

MONDAY, JUNE 26TH:

8:30-10:00
ALMA/LibraryReads Adult Author Program: Your Morning is Booked
McCormick Place, Room W175ab
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman
RSVP: bit.ly/YourMorningIsBooked2023

10:00-11:00
Kim van Alkemade, Counting Lost Stars
Booth signing

2:00-4:00
UFL Gala Author Tea
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park ABCD
Kim van Alkemade, Counting Lost Stars

LLF Staff Suggestions for the July LibraryReads List

Hello, librarians!

How is it May?? We have so many book-related events this month. We just had Juan Mila, Editorial Director of HarperVia, on our Galley Gab Fest event. We also had fun tweeting at Early Word Galley Chat and hearing authors speak at Library Journal's Day of Dialog—it's a month full of reading recommendations! If that weren't enough, we have even more book picks for you to peruse.

Check out these books eligible for the July LibraryReads list. Find out more about our picks and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the July LibraryReads list in by June 1st!

—The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

New Podcast Episode: An Interview With Aisha Harris, Author of Wannabe, Bonus Material From Writers to Watch, & a Book Buzz From HarperVia!

Hi, librarians! The Library Love Fest team hopes you’re enjoying May’s flowers and the warmer weather. To keep you company as you’re lounging in the sun, we’ve got a new podcast episode for you!

Listen here:

The Library Love Fest Podcast · An interview with author Aisha Harris, bonus material, and new books from HarperVia!

Lainey sat down with Aisha Harris, author of Wannabe, for a nostalgia-filled conversation! It is an absolute joy to listen to, and you’re going to want to take a deep dive into your 90s faves after! More about Wannabe (on sale 6/13/2023): In nine lively, incisive essays, NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour co-host Aisha Harris reflects on the cultural touchstones of her childhood and adolescence that have shaped her, setting them in context with current sensations transforming culture now.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our April Writers to Watch episode! We spoke with Mona Susan Power, Kim van Alkemade, Lena S. Andrews, and Jennifer Chiaverini. All of their books centered women in history. They discussed their research, personal stories/histories, and inspiration. It was a lovely discussion, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Check out that episode of Writers to Watch episode here: 

This episode also grabs some highlights from our May Galley Gab Fest episode! We went live with Juan Mila, Editorial Director of HarperVia, to talk about forthcoming books. HarperVia is an imprint dedicated to publishing extraordinary international voices, offering readers the chance to encounter other lives and other points of view via the language of the imagination.

We showed this amazing video of HarperVia authors reading the first line of their novels. Check out the whole video!

Hear the whole book buzz from Juan here:

HarperCollins titles discussed:

• Wannabe by Aisha Harris. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Counting Lost Stars by Kim van Alkemade. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Valiant Women by Lena S. Andrews. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Walking Practice by Dolki Min, translated by Victoria Caudle. Buy this title now.
• The Tatami Galaxy by Tomihiko Morimi, translated by Emily Ballistieri. Buy this title now.
• The Tatami Time Machine Blues by Tomihiko Morimi, translated by Emily Ballistieri. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• My Husband by Maud Ventura, translated by Emma Ramadan. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout. Learn more about this title on Edelweiss.

Want more from us? We have an exciting episode of Writers to Watch for May! The Library Love Fest team will be sitting down with Jonathan Lethem, author of Brooklyn Crime Novel; Jean Kwok, author of The Leftover Woman; Rachelle Unreich, author of A Brilliant Life; and Dinah Jefferies, author of Night Train to Marrakech. Join us on May 18^th at 7 PM ET!

RSVP on FB: https://fb.me/e/wpRE9ARh

Register on Crowdcast: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/writerstowatch/5

So much wonderful content in this episode! Thank you for listening, and until next time…

Best,

Virginia, Lainey, & Grace

🕶 We're here with staff suggestions for the June LibraryReads List!

Hello, librarians!

We hope some warmer weather has made it your way. April is packed with great reads, and we have some fabulous programs later this month. Be sure to join us for our Galley Gab Fest and Writers to Watch events.

But, first, we have a list of books eligible for the June LibraryReads list. Find out more about our picks and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the June LibraryReads list in by May 1st!

And! Listen to our latest podcast episode below for even more reading suggestions:

-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

New Podcast Episode: An Interview With Wesley Lowery, Author of American Whitelash, and a Book Buzz!

Happy April, librarians! We’re here to spring a new podcast episode on you! The Library Love Fest team will tell you about the books that are currently blooming on our shelves. Okay, okay, enough with the puns.

Listen here:

The Library Love Fest Podcast · An interview with Wesley Lowery, author of AMERICAN WHITELASH, and a book buzz!

The true highlight of this episode is a conversation between Wesley Lowery, author of American Whitelash, and his editor, Rakia Clark! More about American Whitelash (on sale 6/27/2023): Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Wesley Lowery confronts the sickness at the heart of American society: the cyclical pattern of violence that has marred every moment of racial progress in this country, and whose bloodshed began anew following Obama’s 2008 election.

Stick around after Wesley and Rakia’s insightful conversation to hear a voicemail from a librarian like you and reminders about our upcoming events.

HarperCollins titles discussed:

• American Whitelash by Wesley Lowery. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Happy Couple by Naosie Dolan. Learn more about this title on Edelweiss.
• The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Counting Lost Stars by Kim van Alkemade. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Valiant Women by Lena S. Andrews. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.

RSVP to our April episode of Galley Gab Fest to get the inside scoop on upcoming titles, and Writers to Watch to hear from Jennifer Chiaverini, Mona Susan Power, Kim van Alkemade, and Lena S. Andrews!

Until next time,

Virginia, Lainey, and Grace

The April LibraryReads List is Here!

Hello, librarians!

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

This month, we are thrilled to share that Kate Morton's Homecoming and HelenKay Dimon's Moorewood Family Rules have made the April LibraryReads list! And we have two books that made the Hall of Fame list: Alexandria Bellefleur's The Fiancée Farce and Elly Griffiths' The Last Remains. Find out more about these titles and download egalleys here.

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear their responses:

-LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

LLF Guest Post: "The library helped me dream, create, escape all at once" by Arielle Estoria, author of THE UNFOLDING

The Library Love Fest Team is excited to welcome Arielle Estoria, author of The Unfolding, to the blog for a guest post! 

More about The Unfolding (on sale 3/7/23): In this beautiful collection of poems, essays, and meditations, Arielle Estoria tenderly reveals the places in her life where she has been broken open and mended back together in new ways. In doing so, she shows each of us how when we walk through our own process of “unfolding,” though it may be uncomfortable at times, there is light on the other side. Let these words guide your soul, and return home to the person you were always meant to be.

***

So many of my pivotal memories as a child and a youth were created in the bookshelves of a library. Spending Saturday mornings tucked away in a corner not many ventured to, holding whatever book bound adventure I was devouring that day in my hands. The library helped me dream, create, escape all at once. It was a portal to a dimension outside of my present reality and into a space where I could be the detective or the damsel without the distress or the heroine or even the villain when I so chose to be. There was something that a trip to the library always offered: the realm of possibility. There are no limits when entering the sacred world of books, the stories of so many cradled between wooden hugs.

The accessibility of a library is one that will never not be necessary. Not everyone is able to afford a handful of book purchases a month or a year. The opportunity that libraries offer to learning the sacred art of borrowing and returning is a vital memory I personally have on practicing responsibility and trust. Though never perfectly executed because I also vividly remember my mother reprimanding us many times for keeping books for way too long, or hoarding too many under our beds to reach for when we needed to settle or activate our minds.

Now I think back on these core memories, as an adult who has fully entered, embraced, and owned her creative titles as poet, author, actor, and storyteller it is a beautiful realization to play part in the wonders of a library. To be able to contribute to other youth or adult persons experiencing the captivating, life-shaping deep connection to the books on the seemingly infinite shelves, where they can be reminded not only of who they are but who they can be, is a great honor and one I do not take lightly.

***

Thank you, Arielle! We are so appreciative of your thoughtful words, and are very excited for readers to experience The Unfolding.

Learn more on Edelweiss+, and watch the book trailer for The Unfolding here:

-Grace

🌻 We're here with staff suggestions for the May LibraryReads List!

Hello, librarians!

Spring is on its way and we are ready for some refreshing new reads! We have so many amazing reads eligible for the May LibraryReads list. Find out more about our picks and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the May LibraryReads list in by April 1st! 

And! Listen to our latest podcast episode below for even more reading suggestions.

-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

New Podcast Episode! March’s Episode Featuring Writers to Watch Bonus Material, an Interview With Jade Song, Wild Library Stories, & Our Friend/Colleague Deb Murphy.

It’s that time again! We’re back for our full-length episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast.

The Library Love Fest Podcast · An interview with author Jade Song, bonus Writers to Watch material, and a book buzz!

Wondering who that cute bark belongs to? Meet Lainey's pup, Fig!

Listen to a snippet of our behind-the-scenes chats from the February episode of Writers to Watch. We were joined by authors R. F. Kuang, Jacqueline Winspear, Megan Clawson, and Rachel Cochran. If you haven’t watched the latest episode of Writers to Watch, you’ll want to after listening to this bonus material! Watch the replay here:

Dive deep into Chlorine by Jade Song! Jade joined Grace to talk about their debut, writing process, and inspirations. More about Chlorine (on sale 3/28/2023): In the vein of The Pisces and The Vegetarian, Chlorine is a debut novel that blurs the line between a literary coming-of-age narrative and a dark unsettling horror tale, told from an adult perspective on the trials and tribulations of growing up in a society that puts pressure on young women and their bodies…a powerful, relevant novel of immigration, sapphic longing, and fierce, defiant becoming.

Colleague and friend, Deborah Murphy, joined the Library Love Fest team to talk about some of her favorite upcoming books. Deb is the National Accounts Representative who sells to library wholesalers, and you’re going to want to hear what she’s been reading! Digressions include a chat about knitting. Here's Deb's beautifully knitted sweater:

Our phone was ringing off the hook! Librarians like you called in and answered this month’s question: what’s the wildest thing that’s happened in your library? Didn’t get a chance to call in yet? Have no fear! You can still give us a call for the chance to be featured in our LibraryReads episode.

HarperCollins titles discussed:

• Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Gulf by Rachel Cochran. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Chlorine by Jade Song. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Evidence of Things Seen edited by Sarah Weinman, foreward by Rabia Chaudry. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Womb by Leah Hazard. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Lost Americans by Christopher Bollen. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Carmen and Grace by Melissa Coss Aquino. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Unraveling by Peggy Orenstein. On sale now!

Don’t forget to give us a call! You can reach us at 212-207-7773. What happens in the library, stays in the library…until you call Library Love Fest.

Talk soon!

-Virginia, Lainey, and Grace

Daisy Wood, author of THE FORGOTTEN BOOKSHOP IN PARIS, picks her favorite bookshops!

Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris, picks her favorite bookshops!

Everyone who enjoys reading is bound to love a bookstore. This is our happy place, where we can spend hours browsing the shelves in search of new treasures, despite a teetering pile of books still to be read on the bedside table. It’s hard to choose, but here are five of my all-time favorite bookstores from across the world:

Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France: The first Shakespeare and Company was established in Paris in 1919 by the American Sylvia Beach, patron and friend to expat writers like Hemingway and James Joyce. The current store on the banks of the Seine was renamed in honor of the original, and aims to preserve the same freewheeling spirit and literary breadth. ‘I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel,’ said founder George Whitman, ‘building each room like a chapter.’ Also, there are cats!

The Strand, New York City, USA: There’s only one word to describe the Strand: iconic. This literary landmark in the heart of New York is still a family-owned business, full of character and charm despite its size. Knowledgeable staff will help you find whatever you’re looking for, from the latest release to the rarest first edition, among the staggering 18 miles of books.

Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece: Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean, famous for its sunsets and whitewashed buildings spilling down to the volcanic shore. Six friends drove a van from London to open a bookstore in a sea captain’s house beneath the castle in the village of Oia, building shelves from driftwood and decorating the plastered walls with handpainted poetry. Books in many languages beside Greek are sold in this cool refuge from the burning sun and tourist hordes.

Persephone Books, Bath, England: I adore the Persephone booklist: neglected gems written mostly by women in the twentieth century and brought back to life for the twenty-first. The reprinted books themselves are exquisite, each in a subtle grey jacket with glorious flowery endpapers and matching bookmarks, and the store is a joy: a peaceful haven in one of the most beautiful cities in England. I would like to live there—not just in Bath but in that actual shop.

The Moravian Bookshop, Bethlehem PA, USA: I partly love this bookstore because it’s on the picturesque Main Street of Bethlehem, where my wonderful American cousins live. Apart from that USP, it’s also the oldest bookstore in America—founded in 1745—and the oldest continuously operating bookstore in the world. There are friendly staff, tons of books (including textbooks for the nearby Moravian University students), craft beers, delicious food and coffee. What’s not to like? (No cats, though.)

The March LibraryReads List is Here!

Hello, librarians!

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

This month, we are thrilled to share that Peter Swanson's The Kind Worth Saving has made the Hall of Fame list! And! Connie Briscoe's You Never Know was selected as the bonus pick for the month of March. Find out more about these titles and download egalleys here.

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear their responses:

In the episode, we played voicemails answering our question: "What's your favorite romance trope?" Titles mentioned were Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert and The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur. You can answer our next question ("What is the funniest or wackiest thing that has ever happened in your library?") now! Call 212-207-7773 now!

We also talked about Connie's interview on a previous podcast episode. Listen to that episode here.

-LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

LLF Staff Suggestions for the April LibraryReads List

Hello, librarians!

We have so many amazing reads eligible for the April LibraryReads list. Grab an egalley and snuggle up inside, away from this blah weather, and enjoy! Find out more about our picks and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the April LibraryReads list in by March 1st!

Looking for some reads even further out? Listen to our latest podcast episode below for a cornucopia of reading suggestions.

-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

 

New Podcast Episode: We're back! Featuring an interview with author Connie Briscoe, upcoming audiobooks, and Amistad titles.

On this week’s episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, the team gives you an update on our new podcast format and lets you know about our upcoming events.

In addition to our updates, we chat with Bethany Johnsrud, National Accounts Rep, and Abby West, VP Editorial Director of Amistad. Bethany talks about audiobooks with the utmost enthusiasm accompanied by many laughs from the LLF team. Abby shares her hopes for Amistad and a few beloved books; you’ll have lots to add to your TBR list!

The excitement doesn’t end there! Hear from Connie Briscoe about her upcoming domestic suspense novel, You Never Know. More about You Never Know (on sale 3/14/2023): The revered New York Times bestselling writer makes her triumphant return with this electrifying novel of domestic suspense that marks an exciting turn in her career, a twisting, tension-filled thriller in which a hearing-impaired woman must battle her rising terror as she fights for her life.

We asked and you answered! The team listens to voicemails from librarians like you, answering our monthly question. This month’s question: what’s your favorite romance trope?

At the end of the episode, you’ll hear a short clip from four fabulous authors. We interviewed Gail Tsukiyama, Nicole Chung, Thao Thai, and Jasmin Iolani Hakes for our new program, Writers to Watch. After you hear those clips, you’ll want to watch the whole interview. Catch the replay here.

Listen to the episode below:

The Library Love Fest Podcast · We're back! Feat. an interview with author Connie Briscoe, upcoming audiobooks, and Amistad titles

HarperCollins titles discussed:

• Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson, read by Pamela Anderson. On sale now!
• Paris by Paris Hilton, read by Paris Hilton. Find out more about this title on Edelweiss.
• The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro, read by Ari Shapiro. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Chita by Chita Rivera, read by Chita Rivera. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Top Billin’ by Bill Bellamy, read by Bill Bellamy. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Wannabe by Aisha Harris, read by Aisha Harris. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Seen, Loved and Heard: A Guided Journal for Feeding the Soul by Tabitha Brown, read by Tabitha Brown. Find out more about this title on Edelweiss.
• The Farewell Tour by Stephanie Clifford, read by Carrington MacDuffie. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson, read by Keith Szarabaijka, Kathleen Early, Helen Laser, and Micky Shiloah. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi, read by Steve West and Sura Siu. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley. Listen to Roshani accept her LibraryReads award on the podcast here.
• Wade in the Water by Nyani Nkrumah. On sale now!
• Black Earth Wisdom by Leah Penniman. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Africana by Lerato Umah-Shaylor. Find out more about this title on Edelweiss.
• The Way Home by Kardea Brown. On sale now!
• The Overnights by Ian K. Smith. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• You Never Know by Connie Briscoe. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Ms. Demeanor by Elinor Lipman. On sale now!
• The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. On sale now!
• Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson. On sale now!
• Boy Parts by Eliza Clark. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• The Brightest Star by Gail Tsukiyama. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.
• A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung. Download this title on Edelweiss or NetGalley.

Want to hear more about our upcoming books? RSVP to our world-famous book buzz on February 14^th hosted by Library Journal! Learn more about this event and register here. Our next monthly book buzz, Galley Gab Fest, is on February 7^th. It will be hosted on Facebook and Crowdcast.

Don’t forget to give us a call! Leave a voicemail and let us know your wildest library story. You can reach us at 212-207-7773. What happens in the library, stays in the library…until you call Library Love Fest.

Until next time!

-Virginia, Lainey, and Grace

HarperCollins Titles Nominated for the Mystery Writers of America 2023 Edgar Allan Poe Awards

We're so excited to announce the HarperCollins authors selected for the Mystery Writers of America's 2023 Edgar Allan Poe Awards! These awards honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, and television published or produced in 2022. The 77^th Annual Edgar® Awards will be celebrated on April 27, 2023, at the New York Marriott Marquis Times Square. Find out more about the awards here.

Best Novel nomination includes:

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Listen to an interview with Danya on our podcast:

Best First Novel by an American author:

More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez

Watch Katie on our Galley Club program on Facebook Live:

Best Critical/Biographical

• The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and Their Creators by Martin Edwards 

Best Television Episode Teleplay

• “Episode 1” – Magpie Murders, written by Anthony Horowitz (Masterpiece/PBS)

The Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award

• The Disinvited Guest by Carol Goodman
• A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers

Congrats to all!

-Lainey

LLF Staff Suggestions for the March LibraryReads List

Hello, librarians!

We have a list of staff suggestions eligible for the March LibraryReads List. Reminder: votes for the March LibraryReads List are due February 1st.

-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)

The February LibraryReads List is Here!

Hello, librarians!

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

This month, we are thrilled to share that Roshani Chokshi's The Last Tale of the Flower Bride has been selected for the February LibraryReads list! Additionally, Tessa Bailey's Secretly Yours and Shannon Chakraborty's The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi have made the Hall of Fame!

Find out more about our titles and see the full February 2023 LibraryReads list here.

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear their responses:

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller THE JANUARY 6 REPORT: a conversation with Ari Melber on January 11th!

 

Video clips courtesy of MSNBC.

Hear from Ari Melber, Emmy Award-winning host of The Beat and the Chief Legal Correspondent at MSNBC, as he discusses the instant #1 New York Times bestseller, THE JANUARY 6 REPORT. He will be interviewed by Barbara Genco, Library Consultant.

 

Tune in January 11th at 2pm ET on Facebook!

 

More about THE JANUARY 6 REPORT (on sale now!): The official report and findings of the bipartisan Congressional investigation into the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and Donald Trump’s related coup conspiracies to overthrow the election, with an original foreword by attorney and Emmy-winning MSNBC anchor Ari Melber.

Roundup Galore!

Lit Hub released their compilation of books on "best of..." lists! The books mentioned were on four or more lists. We are thrilled that multiple HarperCollins titles have been included:

• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (on sale 10/18/2022): From the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, a brilliant novel that enthralls, compels, and captures the heart as it evokes a young hero’s unforgettable journey to maturity.
  
  
• Babel by R.F. Kuang (on sale 8/23/2022): From award-winning author R. F. Kuang
  comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History and a tonal retort to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British empire.
  
  
• The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken (on sale 10/4/2022): A taut, groundbreaking new novel from bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth McCracken, about a writer’s relationship with her larger-than-life mother—and about the very nature of writing, memory, and art.
  
  
• How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu (on sale 1/18/2022): For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, a spellbinding and profoundly prescient debut that follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague—a daring and deeply heartfelt work of mind-bending imagination from a singular new voice. 
  
  
• South to America by Imani Perry (on sale 1/25/2022): An essential, surprising journey through the history, rituals, and landscapes of the American South—and a revelatory argument for why you must understand the South in order to understand America.
  
  
• Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson (on sale 11/8/2022): An exuberant, bighearted novel about two teenage misfits who spectacularly collide one fateful summer, and the art they make that changes their lives forever.
  
  
• Finding Me by Viola Davis (on sale 4/26/2022): In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.
  
  
• The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland (on sale 10/18/2022): Award-winning journalist and bestselling novelist Jonathan Freedland tells the incredible story of Rudolf Vrba—the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz, a man determined to warn the world and pass on a truth too few were willing to hear—elevating him to his rightful place in the annals of World War II alongside Anne Frank, Primo Levi, and Oskar Schindler and casting a new light on the Holocaust and its aftermath.
  
  
• American Midnight by Adam Hochschild (on sale 10/4/2022): From legendary historian Adam Hochschild, a "masterly" (New York Times) reassessment of the overlooked but startlingly resonant period between World War I and the Roaring Twenties, when the foundations of American democracy were threatened by war, pandemic, and violence fueled by battles over race, immigration, and the rights of labor.

So many of our books have appeared on other "best of" lists and have received stunning reviews. For instance, Wanda Morris' Anywhere You Run has appeared on multiple lists like the New York Times' Best Mystery Novels, South Florida Sun Sentinel's Best Mystery Novels, and NPR's Books We Love. It was also an ALA's Editor's Choice Pick for 2022.

We are beyond grateful for all of the love our books received this year, and are looking forward to another wonderful year in 2023!

Reviews Are Pouring in for INDEPENDENCE by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni!

We are thrilled to hear about all of the buzz surrounding Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's upcoming book INDEPENDENCE (on sale 1/17/2023)! This stunning historical fiction novel, set during the partition of British India in 1947, follows three sisters and their everlasting bond. Simultaneously deeply moving and informative, this book is sure to stay with you for a long time.

Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, stating, "Divakaruni seamlessly weaves the political upheaval into the characters’ lives...while also depicting the beauty, vitality, and vastness of India. This is a must." 

INDEPENDENCE also received a starred review from Booklist, praising Divakaruni's nuance and attention to detail. Booklist says, "Woven throughout their stories is the violence, rage, and anguish of a divided nation, all stirringly depicted by Divakaruni in unforgettable prose."

Other fantastic reviews...

"Lyrical and richly detailed, Independence explores the implications of its title not only for a country, but for the young women who must learn to deal with a perilous, exciting new world." — Shelf Awareness

"The author’s latest novel is an engaging family saga that explores resilience against a backdrop of violent national upheaval. The story is well paced as it follows its cast of characters through a chaotic world while still capturing the rich interiority of each of the three daughters." — Kirkus

"Divakaruni tells the story of India’s independence through the eyes of three sisters, each of whom is uniquely different, with her own desires and flaws. I cheered for them and cried with them as they move through the history of their country that is at once devastating, inspiring, and triumphant. You will, too." — Lisa See, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The Library Love Fest team had the pleasure of talking to Chitra during our Historical Fiction Door to Door in November. You can watch the replay here. After hearing all of these stunning reviews, I'm sure you want to dive into reading! Head over to Edelweiss or Netgalley to get your digital copy of the galley. Congratulations to Chitra on all of the praise for INDEPENDENCE!

-Grace

The January LibraryReads List is Here!

Hello, librarians!

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

This month, we are thrilled to share that Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Joanna Shupe's The Duke Gets Even have been selected for the January LibraryReads list! 

See the full January 2023 LibraryReads list here.

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear their responses:

Reminder: RSVP for our February 14th buzz here.

LLF Staff Suggestions for the February LibraryReads List

Hello, librarians!

We hope you are having a wonderful start to the holiday season! You won't be lacking any reading recommendations this month! A list of staff suggestions eligible for the February LibraryReads List is here. Reminder: votes for the February LibraryReads List are due January 1st.

One more reminder: sign up for our next WORLD-FAMOUS BOOK BUZZ for even more reading recommendations, and most importantly, never-before-buzzed books coming in 2023! RSVP for the Spring/Summer 2023 Adult Preview on February 14th at 2:00 PM ET here.

-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)