Library Love Fest

Happy National Library Week!

It's no secret that we love librarians, libraries, and all the books that call the library home. We wanted to give librarians, authors, and patrons a chance to tell the world how much they love their local library during National Library Week.

To start things off, we're so excited to share a video message to librarians from Julia Quinn, bestselling author of the Bridgerton series!

Some information on National Library Week:

• National Library Week takes place this year from April 4-10.

• The theme for National Library Week this year is “Welcome to Your Library.” The theme promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building—and that everyone is welcome to use their services.

• Natalie Portman is the 2021 National Library Week Honorary Chair.

• Tuesday, April 6 is National Library Workers Day, Wednesday, April 7 is National LIbrary Outreach Day, and Thursday, April 8 is Take Action for Libraries Day.

Find out more about how to celebrate or different ways to get involved on the American Library Association website here.

How LLF is Celebrating National Library Week:

During the week, we will be featuring authors' thoughts on what libraries mean to them. We kicked off this #librarylove on our Door to Door episode on Tuesday, April 6th with Laura Lippman, author of Dream Girl, and Kate White, author of The Fiancée—both daughters of librarians!

This is Laura Lippman's quote about libraries: "So, yes, the pandemic sucks. But a bright light in our lives is that the Baltimore city branches of the Enoch Pratt are open—and my branch is literally four blocks from where I live. My daughter, who is almost 11, and is desirous of independence, can walk there and back. Her face when she comes through the door shines with happiness and reminds me of myself at the same age, how excited I was for our weekly trips to the library."

Watch the replay on Facebook or YouTube.

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We continued reading the authors' statements (and heard audio clips!) on our podcast that was posted on Wednesday, April 7th. We heard from authors: Laura Lippman, Rumaan Alam, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, Sarah McCoy, Andrew J. Graff, Mia Mercado, Morgan Jerkins, Lori Rader-Day, Sarah MacLean, Catherine Coulter, Gail Tsukiyama, Jacqueline Winspear, emily danforth, Rebekah Taussig, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Kimberly McCreight, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Wiley Cash, and Wanda M. Morris.

Listen to the episode on our SoundCloud feed:

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Lastly, we would like to continue to invite librarians and patrons alike to leave a comment on our interactive message board, answering the prompt "I love my library because..." and we'll feature the messages throughout the week. Leave a message/gif/photo here.

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Check back for more information and updates! We are so excited to share the wonderful sentiments about libraries and we thank you for all the hard work you do to uplift authors, promote free information, and rise up to serve your community in dark times. Thank you.

-LLF

Bookreporter's Carol Fitzgerald interviews Nadia Hashimi, author of SPARKS LIKE STARS

We have a new interview from Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network! She recently interviewed Nadia Hashimi, author of Sparks Like Stars—on sale now. Nadia is the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low. In her latest book, Sparks Like Stars, an Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives. NPR said: “Suspenseful…emotionally compelling. I found myself eagerly following in a way I hadn’t remembered for a long time, impatient for the next twist and turn of the story."

You can watch Carol's video interview or listen to the audio on Carol’s podcast!

Be sure to visit The Book Report Network and Bookreporter.com for more great content! 

Watch Nadia's Door to Door episode:

-Lainey

Great July Titles Available Now on NetGalley

The Minister Primarily by John Oliver Killens: A major literary event—the eagerly anticipated publication of a long-lost novel from legendary writer and three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee John Oliver Killens, hailed as the founding father of the Black Arts Movement and mentor to celebrated writers, including Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Arthur Flowers, and Terry McMillan.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Appleseed by Matt Bell: A "work of incandescent imagination" (Karen Russell) from Young Lions Fiction Award–finalist Matt Bell,
a breakout book that explores climate change, manifest destiny, humanity's unchecked exploitation of natural resources, and the small but powerful magic contained within every single apple. 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Nobody, Somebody, Anybody by Kelly McClorey: A moving and darkly comic debut novel about an anxious young woman who administers a self-made "placebo" treatment in a last-ditch attempt to rebuild her life.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

The Stranger in the MIrror by Liv Constantine: A diabolically twisty, psychologically unsettling novel about a woman with no recollection of her past from the authors of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Wife Stalker.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers: The 2020 National Book Award–nominated poet makes her fiction debut with this magisterial epic—an intimate yet sweeping novel with all the luminescence and force of Homegoing; Sing, Unburied, Sing; and The Water Dancer—that chronicles the journey of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous era. 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

The Comfort of Monsters by Willa C. Richards: Set in Milwaukee during the "Dahmer summer" of 1991, a remarkable debut novel for fans of Mary Gaitskill and Gillian Flynn about two sisters—one who disappears, and one who is left to pick up the pieces in the aftermath.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Vessel by Cai Chongda: An unprecedented and heartfelt memoir that illuminates the lives of rural Chinese workers, offering a portrait of generational strife, family, love, and loss that crosses cultures and time.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

 

False Witness by Karin Slaughter: From the New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her and The Silent Wife, an electrifying standalone thriller about a successful defense attorney whose latest case has chilling ties to a decades-old secret.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

The Women's March by Jennifer Chiaverini: New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with The Women’s March, an enthralling historical novel of the woman’s suffrage movement inspired by three courageous women who bravely risked their lives and liberty in the fight to win the vote.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley: A remarkable, sweeping historical novel based on the incredible true life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a free woman of color who rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners in the colonial West Indies. 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

An Irish Hostage by Charles Todd: In the uneasy peace following World War I, nurse Bess Crawford runs into trouble and treachery in Ireland—in this twelfth book in the New York Times bestselling mystery series.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

 

London's Number-One Dog Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall: The irresistibly charming memoir of a young woman who started her own business as a dog walker for London’s busy, well-heeled dog lovers. A true love letter to London, dogs, and growing up. 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey: Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who’s cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

I Couldn't Love You More by Esther Freud: A sweeping story of three generations of women, crossing from London to Ireland and back again, and the enduring effort to retrieve the secrets of the past. 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton: From the internationally bestselling and beloved author of the critically acclaimed Boy Swallows Universe, a mesmerizing, uplifting novel of adventure and unlikely friendships in World War II Australia—calling to mind The Wizard of Oz as directed by Baz Luhrmann.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Lights Out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey: A mordantly funny, all-too-real novel in the vein of Tom Perotta and Emma Straub about a suburban American family who have to figure out how to survive themselves and their neighbors in the wake of a global calamity that upends all of modern life.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev: The author of Recipe for Persuasion—"not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today" (Shelf Awareness)—adds an Indian American twist to Jane Austen's classic Sense and Sensibility in this delightful retelling that is a feast for the senses.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb: From Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, the bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco, comes a coming-of-age novel set in pre-WWII Europe, perfect for fans of Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, and Kate Quinn.  

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

Lost and Found Family by Jennifer Ryan: If you love Jill Shalvis, Lori Wilde, and Susan Mallery, then you won't want to miss New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s riveting new novel about family, secrets, and a woman ready to embrace who she really is by facing down her past.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

 

The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman: In the tradition of Daphne du Maurier and Shari Lapena, comes the newest mystery thriller from New York Times bestselling author Carol Goodman—a twisty, chilling story set in a former Magdalen Laundry in Manhattan that explores today’s #MeToo complexities.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: 6/1/2021

LLF Staff Suggestions for the June LibraryReads List

The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
For fans of: Inland by Téa Obreht and 
Transcription by Kate Atkinson
In this enthralling historical epic, set in New York City and the Middle East in the years leading to World War I—the long-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed New York Times bestseller The Golem and the Jinni—Helene Wecker revisits her beloved characters Chava and Ahmad as they confront unexpected new challenges in a rapidly changing human world.

"A blend of romance, Mary Shelley-esque horror, and folklore…. Wecker skillfully combines the storylines of Chava the Golem and Ahmad the Jinni and numerous other players, good and evil, in an enchanting tale that pleases on every page."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

Listen to a podcast interview between LLF's Chris Connolly and Helene Wecker!

 

Impostor Syndrome by Kathy Wang
For fans of: Followers by Megan Angelo and 
American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
From the critically acclaimed author of Family Trust comes a new Silicon Valley satire, exploring the cutthroat world of women in tech through the lens of a thrilling tale of foreign espionage and secrets.

"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

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

Listen to a podcast interview between LLF's Chris Connolly and Kathy Wang!

 

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
by Marianne Cronin
For fans of: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
A charming, fiercely alive and disarmingly funny debut novel in the vein of John Green, Rachel Joyce, and Jojo Moyes—about the unexpected friendship between 17-year-old Lenni, living on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital, and Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined.

"With a sensibility that's as compassionate and quirky as those of her two indelible heroines, Marianne Cronin offers a deceptively lighthearted response to life’s heaviest questions. As Lenni and Margot leave their mark on one another, so too does this tearjerker of a book leave its mark on the reader."
—Kathleen Rooney, author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

Dream Girl by Laura Lippman
Also from the author: Lady in the Lake 
and Sunburn
Following up on her acclaimed and wildly successful New York Times bestseller Lady in the Lake—one of the top selling books of her career—Laura Lippman returns with a dark, complex tale of psychological suspense with echoes of Misery involving a novelist, incapacitated by injury, who is plagued by mysterious phone calls.

"My dream novel. I devoured this in three days. The sharpest, clearest-eyed take on our #MeToo reckoning yet. Plus: enthralling."
—Megan Abbott, Edgar Award-winning author of Dare Me and The Fever

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Lady in the Lake (July 2019)
Sunburn (March 2018)
Wilde Lake (May 2016)
After I'm Gone (February 2014)

Watch Laura Lippman on Door to Door!

 

 

When Stars Collide 
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Also from the author:
Dance Away with Me and
First Star I See Tonight
#1 New York Times bestseller Susan Elizabeth Phillips returns to her beloved Chicago Stars series with a romance between a Chicago Stars quarterback and one of the world’s greatest opera singers—and a major diva.

"Re-entering the world of the Chicago Stars is like a beloved friend come to call."
—Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021 

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Dance Away with Me (June 2020)
First Star I See Tonight (August 2016)
Heroes Are My Weakness (August 2014)

 

An Unlikely Spy by Rebecca Starford
For fans of: The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton
A twisting, sophisticated World War II novel following a spy who goes undercover as a part of MI5—in chasing the secrets of others, how much will she lose of herself?

"Readers will travel breathlessly along with Evelyn as she navigates the treacherous waters of lifelong allegiances and new alliances, foreign dangers and secrets uncovered much closer to home. Starford has penned both a beguiling tale of espionage and a noteworthy commentary on torn loyalties and the unthinkable choices of war."
—Pam Jenoff, author of The Orphan's Tale and The Lost Girls of Paris

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams
For fans of: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
From the author of the "full-throttle thriller" (A. J. Finn) No Exit—a riveting new psychological page-turner featuring a fierce and unforgettable heroine who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her estranged twin sister's supposed suicide. But as her twin’s final hours come into focus, her search turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival—one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister and herself...

"A shot of adrenaline straight to the heart! Propulsive and unpredictable, Hairpin Bridge will have you on edge from the first page to the last."
—Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Home Before Dark

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021 

 

The Fiancée by Kate White
For fans of: Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle
The New York Times bestselling author returns with an unsettling but riveting psychological thriller about a captivating woman who joins a family and threatens to upend their picture-perfect lives.

"A skillfully constructed page-turner.... Expert pacing, characters readers can love to hate, and an intelligent heroine make this a winner. White consistently entertains."
—Publishers Weekly

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021 

Watch Kate White on Door to Door!

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
For fans of: The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden and
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
In the vein of Naomi Novik’s New York Times bestseller Spinning Silver, this unforgettable debut— inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology—follows a young pagan woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a tyrant.

"A thought-provoking, thrilling magical twist on the history of religion and politics that I couldn't put down. In her stunningly rendered--and frankly terrifying--forbidden forests, Reid conjures up some of the ghastliest monsters I've ever read, and yet never lets us forget the worst horrors are perpetuated by human hands."
—S.A. Chakraborty, bestselling author of The Empire of Gold

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021  

 

A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams
For fans of: The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis and 
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
A heartwarming Avon debut of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings set in the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry about a bridal gown designer returned home and a military veteran and widowed father trying to keep his business afloat. 

"With superb character development and great emotional depth, Afro Filipina writer Williams stitches together a quietly powerful love story that is beautifully enriched by the deft and insightful incorporation of weighty issues such as grief and medical conditions into the compelling plot and brightly enhanced by glimpses into the vibrant culture and history of Charleston."
—Booklist ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021 

 

How to Kidnap the Rich by Rahul Raina
For fans of: Beijing Payback by Daniel Nieh and 
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
An exhilarating and propulsive debut novel from an emerging talent—a fresh, bitingly hilarious, sweeping satire of modern-day India for fans of Aravind Adiga, Trent Dalton, and Mohsin Hamid.

"Rahul Raina’s voice crackles with wit and the affecting exuberance of youth. His ripping good story grabs you on page one and doesn’t let go, taking you on a monstrously funny and unpredictable wild ride through a thousand different Delhis at top speed. How To Kidnap the Rich roars with brilliance, freshness and so much heart."
—Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021 

 

The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea
For fans of: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
In the dark days of World War II, an unlikely romance blossoms between a Scottish woman and an Italian prisoner of war in this haunting novel with the emotional complexity of The Boat Runner and All the Light We Cannot See—a powerful and atmospheric story of love, jealousy, and conscience that illuminates the beauty of the human spirit from the author of
The Glass Woman.

"The story of true innocents caught up in the machinery of war. Exquisitely researched, beautifully told, this tiny corner of Scotland came alive for me in all of my senses and I found myself rooting for the central characters with all my heart."
—Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again,Yes

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
Also from the author: The Golden Hour and The Summer Wives
The New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight returns with a gripping and profoundly human story of Cold War espionage and family devotion that proves again why Elin Hilderbrand says Beatriz Williams "is writing the best historical fiction out there."

"Williams sharply observes the inequities women faced at the end of WWII and the simmering suspense of the Cold War. Historical fiction fans will be riveted by the complex family relationships and the intriguing portrayal of espionage."
—Publishers Weekly

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

The Godmothers by Camille Aubray
For fans of: The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams and
Tony's Wife by Adriana Trigiani 
Big Little Lies set in World War II Greenwich Village! From the author of Cooking for Picasso, an irresistible, suspenseful novel about four women who marry into an elegant, prosperous Italian family, and then must take charge of the family’s business when their husbands are forced to leave them during the war.

Praise for Cooking for Picasso:
"With lively characters and a twisting plot, Aubray’s novel is a smart and satisfying tale of family, creativity, romance and intrigue."
—Booklist

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian 
Also from the author: Two Rogues Make a Right and 
Unmasked by the Marquess
Critically acclaimed author Cat Sebastian makes her trade paperback debut in a stunning historical romance about a reluctantly reformed highwayman and the aristocrat who threatens to steal his heart.

"Sebastian’s prose is entertaining and delightful, with many steamy scenes.... It’s also full of intelligent and thought-provoking political debates.... An irresistible story of love and adventure that will delight both newcomers and regular readers of queer romance."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

Watch LLF's Lainey Mays Interview Cat Sebastian
on ALA's Diverse Characters Panel!

 

Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells
For fans of: The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel
Set in the thick of the Paris Resistance movement during WWII, this exciting novel tells of the deep involvement of Catherine Dior and two young women who risked their lives to support her efforts—perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Jennifer Chiaverini.

"As dazzling as a Dior gown! Sisters of the Resistance tells the fascinating story of two sisters working with Catherine Dior and the French Resistance during WWII. With a gorgeous blend of fashion, heartbreak, heroism, and love this book will transport you to France..."
—Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

The Vixen by Francine Prose
For fans of: The Burning Girl by Claire Messud
 Critically acclaimed, bestselling author Francine Prose returns with a dazzling new novel set in the glamorous world of 1950s New York publishing, the story of a young man tasked with editing a steamy bodice-ripper based on the recent trial and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg—an assignment that will reveal the true cost of entering that seductive, dangerous new world.

"A rollicking trickster of a novel, wondrously funny
and wickedly addictive."
—Maria Semple, New York Times bestselling author of Today Will Be Different

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

Painting the Light by Sally Cabot Gunning
For fans of: Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini
From the critically acclaimed author of Monticello and The Widow’s War comes a vividly rendered historical novel of love, loss, and reinvention, set on Martha’s Vineyard at the turn of the nineteenth century.

Praise for Monticello:
"Gunning’s writing is elegant, the period details exact."
—USA Today

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard
For fans of: Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars. 
by Joyce Carol Oates
In her most ambitious novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard takes on the story of a family from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce, and its costly aftermath—to illuminate how the mistakes of parents are passed down through generations to fester, or to be healed.

"How did Maynard know that this is exactly the book we all need now? This exhilaratingly brilliant novel isn’t just an indelible story of the falling dominoes of a family struggling through crisis and through generations, it’s also about the times we live through.... This gorgeous story reminds us that love is always, always worth it."
—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler
For fans of: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
L. M. Montgomery’s classic tale, Anne of Green Gables, gets a romantic, charming, and hilarious modern adaptation, set in New York City.

"Adaptations of beloved children’s books are difficult to pull off, but Starler’s debut—a romantic, modern-day riff on Anne of Green Gables—brings impressive heart and sensuality to a classic."
—Publishers Weekly

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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2021

 

Click here for more great June reads!

 

 

The deadline to submit your votes is May 1!

***

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

-Chris

LLF Guest Post: "Libraries are dependable things, like family." by Dianna Rostad, author of YOU BELONG HERE NOW

Last week, we featured a podcast episode with Dianna Rostad, author of You Belong Here Now, in conversation with her editor. This week, we are so excited to feature a guest blog post from Dianna on the day of publication! You Belong Here Now tells a story of three orphans as they journey westward from New York City to the Big Sky Country of Montana, hoping for a better life where beautiful wild horses roam free. 

 

 

***

My earliest remembrance of the library was at seven. I had been given my special library time and found a book: James and The Giant Peach. I sat down right there and leaned against the shelves reading that fantastical book, letting it draw me into a totally different world. I come from the Pacific Northwest where Jack London is a fixture, so I read books like White Fang and Call of the Wild, and from there, Judy Blume’s books like Blubber. As a teenager, I worked in my school library. I enjoyed the quiet, the order of the Dewey Decimal System and all its mysterious little drawers. Libraries are dependable things, like family.

You Belong Here Now is a story deeply rooted in my family’s lore. The passion for the story began when my father came to Christmas one year and brought with him all these amazing old pictures from my grandfather’s time of the ranch houses and life in Montana. On the backs of these photos were all these anecdotes. It broke open a whole big world where I could see my characters and their lives. So, it seemed pretty natural to base many of the characters on family members. The voices you hear are echoes of my father and his father. People I love and have lost.

When I told my father I wanted to set my new book in Montana, we went to the library straight away to research. Later on, he gave me a list of recommendations for books by writers from Montana like Larry Watson and Ivan Doig. These stories helped me frame the mindset and everyday lives of people living in this quiet, rural place. 

As the manuscript began to take shape, he would often read for me. One time, he came back with the advice to cut the man fight out of the book, as he didn’t think guys would really believe it. I told him I needed it, and could he help me make it better. We argued about whether butane was available in 1925. Throughout the process of bringing this book into the world, my father was there, giving me advice on rifles vs. shotguns, how they were loaded, cocked, etc. He and my Uncle Jim gave me lots of good feedback on old cars from that era, which they both own and restore. My Aunt Dee Dee dug up old pictures from the family archives, which you’ll see here of my grandfather. He sang and played the guitar, all the songs in the book were his or songs that were sung in Montana in the early 20^th century. My Aunt Marilyn found old reels of music or just remembered the lines from grandpa’s old songs. My eldest daughter Jessica read for me many times over, and she helped me greatly with the ending. Jessica is the basis for Nara in my story. You Belong Here Now has been a family project and always, always, we’ll go to the library.

My grandfather’s cousins

My grandfather in boots with chickens

My grandfather’s old ranch house with a windmill he put on top of the roof to power a light bulb

My grandfather and his brother after church or school

***

Listen to the podcast episode with Dianna here:

Thanks so much and Happy Book Birthday, Dianna! You can get a copy of You Belong Here Now here.

-Lainey

Mysterious Reads

Check out these mysterious reads we featured in our April Library Journal ad:

• Homegrown Hero by Khurrum Rahman
• The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine
• Vortex by Catherine Coulter
• The Fiancée by Kate White
• The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn
• The Sister-in-Law by Pamela Crane
• An Irish Hostage by Charles Todd
• The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman
• What to Do When Someone Dies by Nicci French
• Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams
• Arctic Storm Rising by Dale Brown
• The Cellist by Daniel Silva
• Down Range by Taylor Moore
• Island of Thieves by Glen Erik Hamilton
• False Witness by Karin Slaughter
• Find You First by Linwood Barclay
• Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas
• The Secret Talker by Geling Yan
• Dream Girl by Laura Lippman
• A Double Life by Charlotte Philby

More Mysterious Reads:

• Safe and Sound by Philippa East
• Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins
• Girl in the Walls by A.J. Gnuse
• How Lucky by Will Leitch

-LLF

Editors Unedited: Lucia Macro interviews Dianna Rostad, author of YOU BELONG HERE NOW

This week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast features a conversation between Lucia Macro, VP/Executive Editor at William Morrow, and Dianna Rostad, author of You Belong Here Now. They discuss how the author/editor relationship began, the editing process (including an extended original opening scene in NYC), and the rich history behind this book. 

More about You Belong Here Now (on sale April 6, 2021):
In this brilliant debut 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.

William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of This Tender Land said:
"Set against the harsh backdrop of Montana, You Belong Here Now is a novel as straightforward and powerful as the characters who populate it. I love this book, and I guarantee you won’t find a finer debut work anywhere.” 

Listen to the episode here: 

Listen to a clip from the audiobook here: 

A big thank you to Lucia and Dianna for a wonderful episode!

-Lainey

Dazzling Debuts

Check out some of our upcoming debut novels!

• An Unlikely Spy by Rebecca Starford: A twisting, sophisticated World War II novel following a spy who goes undercover as a part of MI5.
• Nobody, Somebody, Anybody by Kelly McClorey: A darkly comic novel about a young woman who administers a self-made “placebo” treatment in an attempt to rebuild her life.
• Down Range by Taylor Moore: An action-packed thriller featuring a DEA agent’s fight to protect his home on the Texas High Plains from a vicious criminal enterprise.
• Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen: A young Black woman must rely on courage, laughter, and love—and the support of her two longtime friends—to overcome an unexpected setback that threatens the most precious thing she’s ever wanted.
• The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers: An intimate yet sweeping novel that chronicles the journey of one American family from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous time.
• The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid: Inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology, a young pagan woman is betrayed by her village to a vengeful cleric seeking to exploit her magic in a quest of religious purity.
• God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney: Set in northern Texas, two sisters discover a dark secret about their father, the head pastor of an evangelical megachurch, that upends their lives and community.
• Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson: A novel that reveals the untold, true story of the only all-Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps and their dangerous voyage to Europe during World War II.
• In Polite Company by Gervais Hagerty: A captivating novel that looks inside the private lives of Charleston aristocracy, where a former debutante learns that sometimes good behavior leads to bad decisions.
• All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris: A twisty mystery about a Black lawyer who is thrust into her employer’s shady executive circle after her boss mysteriously dies.

Additional debuts:

• The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams: A chance encounter and a list of library books help forge an unlikely friendship between two very different people—a lonely London widower and a troubled teenager.
• Fault Lines by Emily Itami: A witty, sharp, and moving novel exploring the frustrations of motherhood, the imbalance of a marriage, and the loss of self as a family builds around you.
• The Comfort of Monsters by Willa C. Richards: Set in Milwaukee during the “Dahmer summer” of 1991, a remarkable novel for fans of Mary Gaitskill and Gillian Flynn about two sisters—one who disappears and one who is left to pick up the pieces in the aftermath.
• Edge Case by YZ Chin: When her husband suddenly disappears, a young woman must uncover where he went—and who she might be without him—in this striking novel of immigration, identity, and marriage.
• The Radio Operator by Ulla Lenze: Based on a true story, a gripping historical novel about a German immigrant who becomes embroiled in a Nazi spy ring operating in New York City in the early days of World War II.
• The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn: A modern tale of American striving, social media stardom, a fatal love triangle, and a young woman on trial for murder—a mesmerizing reimagining of Theodore Dreiser's classic novel of crime and punishment, An American Tragedy.
• We Two Alone by Jack Wang: A bold and brilliant collection, in the vein of The Refugees, which dramatizes the Chinese diaspora across the globe over the past hundred years.
• Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam: When working together reignites their passion, will these former flames sizzle or get burned all over again?
• The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin: A brave testament to the power of living each day to the fullest, a tribute to the stories that we live, and a reminder of our unlimited capacity for friendship and love.
• How to Kidnap the Rich by Rahul Raina: A fresh, bitingly hilarious, sweeping satire of modern-day India.
• Lights Out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey: A suburban American family have to figure out how to survive themselves and their neighbors in the wake of a global calamity that upends all of modern life.
• When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen: A haunting novel about a black woman who returns to her hometown for a plantation wedding and the horror that ensues as she reconnects with the blood-soaked history of the land and the best friends she left behind.
• Her Turn by Katherine Ashenburg: A journalist who stumbles into an unusual relationship with the woman married to her former husband.
• A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams: A heartwarming Avon debut of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings set in the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry.

-LLF

An Interview with Helene Wecker, Author of THE HIDDEN PALACE

We are so excited to share this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, featuring an interview between LLF's Chris Connolly and Helene Wecker, acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of The Golem and the Jinni and the upcoming sequel The Hidden Palace, on sale June 8th. 

The Golem and the Jinni quickly became a librarian-favorite upon its publication in 2013, with its unique and immersive literary blend of fantasy and historical fiction. The excitement surrounding The Hidden Palace is surely rewarded with an ambitious, deeply satisfying story that welcomes readers back into the lives of beloved characters Chava, a golem, and Ahmad, a jinni, as they navigate their intertwining lives in early-20th century New York City. 

Listen to the interview with Helene below to learn much more about this one-of-a-kind literary experience!

We are also excited to share an early STARRED review for The Hidden Palace from Kirkus Reviews:

"A blend of romance, Mary Shelley-esque horror, and folklore.... Wecker skillfully combines the storylines of Chava the Golem and Ahmad the Jinni and numerous other players, good and evil, in an enchanting tale that pleases on every page."

Download an egalley of The Hidden Palace on NetGalley and Edelweiss+ now.

The Hidden Palace publishes on June 8th, 2021. LibraryReads votes are due May 1st!

-LLF

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 The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin and Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne have been selected for the April LibraryReads List! We're also excited to announce that LibraryReads Hall of Fame author Joshilyn Jackson's latest novel Mother May I was selected.

Want to hear how our authors reacted to being chosen for the April LibraryReads List? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!

Click here to see the full April LibraryReads List!

***

The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin: Award-winning author Willy Vlautin 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.

"...'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

Join LLF and Willy Vlautin on Thursday, 3/18, to celebrate Willy's first selection for the LibraryReads List!

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Watch Willy Vlautin on Door to Door!

 

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne: 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.

"Each scene between the protagonists—whose first meeting will make you laugh and wince simultaneously—is a delight, as is Ruthie’s motley found family."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

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Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson: From the New York Times bestselling author of Never Have I Ever comes 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.

"Gripping.... The dark secret at the novel's heart rings all too true. Jackson knows how to ratchet up the suspense."
—Publishers Weekly

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Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Never Have I Ever (July 2019)
The Almost Sisters (July 2017)
The Opposite of Everyone (Feb. 2016)
Someone Else's Love Story (Nov. 2013)

Watch Joshilyn Jackson on Door to Door!

***

Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the April LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the May LibraryReads List by April 1st. Click here to find out what we're recommending!  

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

Editors Unedited: Mickey Maudlin in conversation with Maryanne O'Hara, author of LITTLE MATCHES

This week on the podcast, we feature a conversation between Mickey Maudlin, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor at HarperOne, and Maryanne O'Hara, author of Little Matches. Little Matches is an emotionally raw and inspiring memoir that illuminates a mother’s grief over the loss of her adult child and considers the hope of soulful connections that transcend the boundary of life and death.

This is a very special book that addresses the universal experience of loss and how we move on. The wonderful thing about this interview is that you get a behind-the-scenes look at the editor and author relationship; a relationship that takes great care and thought. Mickey's thoughtfulness is apparent in the interview, bringing joyful moments with Caitlin to the forefront. We are very glad we get to share this episode with you. 

Listen to the episode:

They mentioned Maryanne's blog: 9livesnotes.com

Be sure to tune into our Door to Door episode with Maryanne on March 23 at 2:00 PM ET. Sign up for notifications here.

Little Matches goes on sale April 20, 2021.
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-Lainey

Celebrating Women—Now and Always! Reading Suggestions for Women's History Month.

March is Women's History Month and the LLF team has a ton of reading suggestions to fill your days with more #girlpower. Find a list of suggestions below.

 

Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson (available now): At last, the Academy, Tony, and three-time Emmy Award-winning actor and trailblazer, Cicely Tyson, tells her stunning story, looking back at her six-decade career and life.

With Courtesy of the American Library Association, you can watch a video of Cicely Tyson in conversation with Donald Bogle at the ALA Midwinter Virtual 2021 conference.

The Women's March by Jennifer Chiaverini (on sale July 27, 2021): New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with The Women’s March, an enthralling historical novel of the woman’s suffrage movement inspired by three courageous women who bravely risked their lives and liberty in the fight to win the vote.

 

 

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (on sale March 9, 2021): 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.

Watch Kate on Door to Door.

 

When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (on sale March 23, 2021): 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.

Watch Jennifer on Door to Door.

 

Sensational by Kim Todd (on sale April 13, 2021): 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.

Watch Kim on Door to Door.

 

The Women's History of the Modern World by Rosalind Miles (available now): From the internationally bestselling author of Who Cooked the Last Supper?, The Women’s History of the World presents a wickedly witty and very current history of the extraordinary female rebels, reactionaries, and trailblazers who left their mark on history from the French Revolution up to the present day.

 

 

Own the Arena by Katrina M. Adams (available now): From the former President and CEO of the United States Tennis Association—the first black woman and youngest person ever to hold the position—comes a behind-the-scenes look at the leadership skills involved in hosting the U.S. Open, the largest and most lucrative sports event in the world—lessons that can be applied across business and to any life challenge. 

 

The Great Mrs. Elias by Barbara Chase-Riboud (on sale August 24, 2021): The author of the award-winning Sally Hemings now brings to life Hannah Elias, one of the richest black women in America in the early 1900s, in this mesmerizing novel swirling with atmosphere and steeped in history.

 

 

My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnson with Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore (on sale May 25, 2021): The remarkable woman at heart of the smash New York Times bestseller and Oscar-winning film Hidden Figures tells the full story of her life, including what it took to work at NASA, help land the first man on the moon, and live through a century of turmoil and change.

 

 

Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson (on sale August 3, 2021): Kaia Alderson’s debut historical fiction novel reveals the untold, true story of the Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, who made the dangerous voyage to Europe to ensure American servicemen received word from their loved ones during World War II.

 

 

And that's just the beginning! See even more suggestions in our LLF Staff Suggestions for Women's History Month Edelweiss+ catalog. Discover EVEN MORE recommendations in the "Must-Read Books by and About Inspirational Women" list on HC.com.

-LLF

LLF Staff Suggestions for the May LibraryReads List

Hello librarians!

We hope you all are safe, healthy, and enjoying the promise of spring!

Below, you'll find our staff suggestions for the May LibraryReads List. Whether you are looking for a stand-out coming-of-age story (definitely read Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau!), a mystery with an unexpected but much-needed protagonist (might we recommend How Lucky by Will Leitch), or an impactful memoir (see My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnson and The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku), we are sure you'll find a new favorite amongst our full line-up of staff suggestions. 

Happy reading!

***

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
For fans of: All Adults Here by Emma Straub and 
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Almost Famous meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this funny, wise, and tender novel about a fourteen-year-old girl’s coming of age in 1970s Baltimore, caught between her straight-laced family and the progressive family she nannies for—who happen to be secretly hiding a famous rock star and his movie star wife for the summer.

"I LOVED Jessica Anya Blau’s novel. Mary Jane is about an oppressed teenager being given a jolt of life and joy by an eccentric found family of therapists, a child, a rock star and a movie star in the 1970s.... If you have ever sung along to a hit on the radio, in any decade, then you will devour Mary Jane at 45rpm."
—Nick Hornby

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnson, with Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore
For fans of: Code Girls by Liza Mundy and Chasing Space by Leland Melvin
The late Katherine Johnson, the remarkable woman at heart of the smash New York Times bestseller and Oscar-winning film Hidden Figures, tells the full story of her life, including what it took to work at NASA, help land the first man on the moon, and live through a century of turmoil and change.

"Her brilliance and numbers helped me and many others reach the stars. A storied and rich legacy that will resonate with many generations of explorers."
—Leland Melvin, astronaut and author of Chasing Space

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
For fans of: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
In a delightful follow-up to Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur delivers another #ownvoices queer rom-com about a hopeless romantic who vows to show his childhood crush that romance isn’t dead by recreating iconic dates from his favorite films.

"Smart, sexy, and sweet. Readers will be over the moon for this rom-com."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

How Lucky by Will Leitch
For fans of: Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Beloved journalist and sportswriter Will Leitch makes his fiction debut with this novel, as suspenseful as it is moving, about a young man suffering from a debilitating disease who believes he has witnessed the kidnapping of a young college student.

"It's a testament to Will Leitch's ability that he can blend seemingly disparate elements—mystery and illness and humor and football—and come away with something so winning."
—Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

Watch Will Leitch on ALA Midwinter's Diverse Characters Panel,
shared courtesy of the American Library Association

 

 

Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin
For fans of: It's Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan
Emmy Award winner, renowned lawyer and journalist, and The View cohost Sunny Hostin makes her literary debut with this dazzling novel about a life-changing summer along the beaches of Martha's Vineyard.

"Summer on the Bluffs...is a delicious, shimmering novel about the lives of Amelia Vaux Tanner and her three, grown-up godchildren. I was riveted by these fascinating, complicated women, and looked forward every day to opening Hostin's luminous novel and escaping, through its pages, to the golden dunes of Martha's Vineyard." 
—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

Girl in the Walls by A. J. Gnuse
For fans of: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and 
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
A mesmerizing and suspenseful coming-of-age novel about an orphan hiding within the walls of her former family home—and about what it means to be truly seen after becoming lost in life.

"Tense and terrifying, with echoes of Shirley Jackson, Girl in the Walls is a spectacular debut. An elegant meditation on grief, love, and family, this truly extraordinary novel is a page-turner with deeply imagined characters, and A. J. Gnuse’s prose is as sharp and precise and muscular as any I’ve seen."
—Elizabeth Wetmore, New York Times bestselling author of Valentine

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

The Anatomy of Desire by L. R. Dorn
For fans of: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell and 
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
 For fans of riveting true crime docuseries a la Serial and Making a Murderer, The Anatomy of Desire is a modern tale of crime and punishment exploring unbridled ambition, blinding passion, and the dark side of desire.

"A truly innovative, fantastic book. Emphatically recommended. Reads like your favorite podcast, the hit crime doc you'll want to binge...."
—Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

Watch L. R. Dorn on Door to Door!

The Radio Operator by Ulla Lenze
For fans of: The German House by Annette Hess and 
Under Occupation by Alan Furst
Based on a true story, a gripping historical novel about a German immigrant who becomes embroiled in a Nazi spy ring operating in New York City in the early days of World War II.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam
For fans of: Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory and 
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
With her debut novel, Thien-Kim Lam serves up a sexy second-chance romance about exes with unfinished business. When working together reignites their passion, will these former flames sizzle or get burned all over again?

"Unabashedly sex-positive, Happy Endings is a paean to second-chance romance—as well as friendship, family, food, and inclusive communities. The story's undeniable warmth makes it a pleasure to read."
—Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
For fans of: Beach Read by Emily Henry and 
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Internationally bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane explores life-long friendships, long-buried secrets, and unexpected love in a heartfelt, emotional new novel, perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over Linda Holme and In Five Years by Rebecca Serle.

"McFarlane deftly balances the weight of grief and secrets with the lighthearted banter of both long friendships and surprising new connections.... Charming, emotionally satisfying, and unforgettable."
—Booklist ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

Find You First by Linwood Barclay
For fans of: Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
The New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch and master of psychological suspense returns with a riveting thriller in which the possible heirs of a dying tech billionaire are mysteriously being eliminated, one by one.

"Find You First starts with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. Barclay is a terrific writer, but he’s outdone himself with this. It’s the best book of his career. I couldn’t put it down, and you won’t be able to, either. If you enjoy thrillers, this is the real deal. It never lets up."
—Stephen King

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

The Mothers by Genevieve Gannon
For fans of: If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman
What if you gave birth to someone else’s child? An emotional family drama about two couples, one baby, and an unimaginable choice. Inspired by a real-life case of an IVF laboratory mix-up.

"Engagingly and unflinchingly told, The Mothers is the story of every parent's worst nightmare.... Like all my favorite books, The Mothers is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and it leaves you with a lot to think about after you turn the final page. I sobbed my way through this wonderful book."
—Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-in-Law

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
For fans of: Don't Give Up, Don't Give In by Louis Zamperini
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.

"A beautifully told, poignant story that should become required reading. Thank you, Eddie, for sharing your story of courage, resilience, kindness and love. Your book is our tonic, our medicine, our hope for living the happiest life we can."
—Heather Morris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

Watch Eddie Jaku's TED Talk!

 

 

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.

 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

The Betrayals by Bridget Collins
For fans of: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
An intricate and utterly spellbinding literary epic brimming with enchantment, mystery, and dark secrets from the highly acclaimed author of the #1 international bestseller The Binding.

"The Betrayals is a beautiful dystopian romance about coming of age as an artist and the love affair artistic collaboration can be, while also being an acute political novel about the fate of spiritual values in a totalitarian system. A rich delight."
—Sandra Newman, author of The Heavens and The Country of Ice Cream Star

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

 

The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey Wilson
For fans of: Little Weirds by Jenny Slate and This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps
Laugh-out-loud, deeply insightful, and emotion-filled essays from multi-talented actress, comedian, podcaster, and writer Casey Wilson.

"Casey Wilson is laugh-out-loud funny, vulnerable, and honest. Reading this book made me feel like I’m hanging out with a best friend. What a pleasure and privilege to spend time with such an absolute treasure."
—Phoebe Robinson, bestselling author of You Can’t Touch My Hair 

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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021

 

Click here for more great May reads!

 

The deadline to submit your votes is April 1!

***

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

-Chris

An Interview with LaTanya McQueen, Author of WHEN THE RECKONING COMES

This week on the podcast, we feature an interview with LaTanya McQueen, author of When the Reckoning Comes, a book that has completely knocked me off my feet and quickly became my favorite read of the season. It has a little something for everyone: a strong female protagonist, unknown history, a love interest, dark, thrilling scenes that will have your pulse pounding. It has so many things to discover, but I was drawn to the exploration of plantations and the timely discussion of using these historically horrific sites as romanticized "destinations" in the South. I hope you'll give the podcast a listen and check out this amazing read!

More about When the Reckoning Comes (on sale August 3, 2021):
A haunting novel about a black woman who returns to her hometown for a plantation wedding and the horror that ensues as she reconnects with the blood-soaked history of the land and the best friends she left behind.

I mentioned LaTanya's website. Find that here.

When the Reckoning Comes goes on sale August 3, 2021. LibraryReads votes are due July 1st!

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-Lainey

Sparks are Flying for Nadia Hashimi's SPARKS LIKE STARS!

Bestselling author Nadia Hashimi's new novel, Sparks Like Stars, went on sale this week! This novel is about an Afghan American woman who returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives. So many rave reviews have been coming in for Sparks Like Stars. It was included in Ms. Magazine's "Most Anticipated Reads of 2021" round-up, as well as included in "Best Book" round-ups in POPSUGAR, Marie Claire, and Woman's Day.

Check out some more reviews:

“Hashimi's latest novel for adults, following A House without Windows (2016), is both thrilling and moving.”
—Booklist

“History is usually impersonal and flat. With Sparks Like Stars Hashimi has brought history off the page, personified in one person’s struggle to deal with the consequences of being caught up in its turmoil…Hashimi has created a riveting, heartbreaking, and eventually, affirming story. You will find yourself hanging onto every word and breathing in every sentence.”
—Seattle Post Intelligencer

“The novel is an elegiac tribute to family and civilization—fragile collective entities that should be cherished while they still hold.”
—Bookpage

Read Nadia's "8 Books by and About Afghan Women" recommendations on Electric Lit.

Watch our episode of Door to Door with Nadia:

Congrats, Nadia!

-Lainey

Upcoming Debut Novels

Find a list of debut titles listed in our March Library Journal ad below:

• An Unlikely Spy by Rebecca Starford: A twisting, sophisticated World War II novel following a spy who goes undercover as a part of MI5—in chasing the secrets of others, how much will she lose of herself?
  
  
• Nobody, Somebody, Anybody by Kelly McClorey: A moving and darkly comic debut novel about an anxious young woman who administers a self-made “placebo” treatment in a last-ditch attempt to rebuild her life.
  
  
• Down Range by Taylor Moore: In this action-packed debut thriller for fans of C.J. Box, DEA agent Garrett Kohl fights to protect his home on the Texas High Plains when a vicious criminal enterprise threatens his family.
  
  
• Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen: The first novel in a captivating three-book series about modern womanhood, in which a young Black woman must rely on courage, laughter, and love—and the support of her two longtime friends—to overcome an unexpected setback that threatens the most precious thing she’s ever wanted.
  
  
• The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers: The award-winning poet and essayist makes her fiction debut with this magisterial epic—an intimate yet sweeping novel with the freshness and forcefulness of Homegoing, The Turner House, and The Water Dancer—that chronicles the journey of one American family from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous time.
  
  
• The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid: In the vein of Naomi Novik’s New York Times bestseller Spinning Silver and Katherine Arden’s national bestseller The Bear and the Nightingale, this unforgettable debut— inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology—follows a young pagan woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a tyrant.
  
  
• God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney: A mesmerizing debut novel set in northern Texas about two sisters who discover a dark secret about their father, the head pastor of an evangelical megachurch, that upends their lives and community—a coming-of-age story of family, identity, and the delicate line between faith and deception.
  
  
• Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson: Kaia Alderson’s debut historical fiction novel reveals the untold, true story of the Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, who made the dangerous voyage to Europe to ensure American servicemen received word from their loved ones during World War II.
  
  
• In Polite Company by Gervais Hagerty: This luminous and captivating debut novel sneaks the reader inside the private lives of Charleston’s aristocracy, following the journey of a former debutant who forges a path from tradition to seize a future meant for her all along.
  
  
• All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris: In this fast-paced thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a Black lawyer who gets in over her head after the sudden death of her boss—a debut perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

Additional debuts:

• A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams: A heartwarming Avon debut of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings set in the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry.
  
  
• The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu: Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.
  
  
• Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam: With her debut novel, Thien-Kim Lam serves up a sexy second-chance romance about exes with unfinished business. When working together reignites their passion, will these former flames sizzle or get burned all over again?
  
  
• The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn: A modern tale of American striving, social media stardom, a fatal love triangle, and a young woman on trial for murder—a mesmerizing reimagining of Theodore Dreiser's classic novel of crime and punishment, An American Tragedy.
  
  
• The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams: An unforgettable and heartwarming debut about how a chance encounter and a list of library books helps forge an unlikely friendship between two very different people—a lonely London widower and a troubled teenager.
  
  
• Fault Lines by Emily Itami: For fans of Sally Rooney and Helen Fielding, a witty, sharp, and moving debut novel exploring the frustrations of motherhood, the imbalance of a marriage, and the loss of self as a family builds around you.
  
  
• Nice Girls by Catherine Dang: A pulse-pounding and deviously dark debut, written with the psychological acuity and emotional punch of Luckiest Girl Alive and All the Missing Girls, that explores the hungry, angry, dark side of girlhood and dares to ask what is most dangerous to a woman: showing the world what it wants to see, or who she really is?

-Lainey

An Interview with Kathy Wang, Author of IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

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

Download an egalley of Impostor Syndrome on NetGalley and Edelweiss+ now.

Impostor Syndrome publishes on June 15th, 2021. LibraryReads votes are due May 1st!

-LLF

Guide to HarperCollins Library Hardcover Editions for 2021!

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.

WINTER 2021  

JANUARY

The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis 9780063059399 27.99

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson 9780063059405 27.99

Highland Treasure by Lynsay Sands 9780063058842 27.99

The Children's Train by Viola Ardone 9780062940506 27.99

FEBRUARY

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai 9780063059436 $27.99

Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins 9780063075153 $27.99

We Can Only Save Ourselves by Alison Wisdom 9780063048171 $26.99

Confident Women by Tori Telfer 9780063065130 $26.99

 

MARCH

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn 9780063059412 $27.99

Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath 9780063059337 $27.99

Wilde Child by Eloisa James 9780063059313 $27.99

Love of a Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan 9780063059320 $27.99

Half Life by Jillian Cantor 9780062969873 $26.99

 

APRIL

Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer 9780063059429 $27.99

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne 9780063007130 $27.99

All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis 9780063065079 $26.99

Meant to Be Immortal by Lynsay Sands 9780062956354 $27.99

Sure, I'll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Philippe 9780063065062 $26.99

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers 9780062936035 $27.99

 

SUMMER 2021

MAY

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn 9780063142121 $27.99

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn 9780063141339 $27.99

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn 9780063141322 $27.99

JUNE

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn 9780063141346 $27.99

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 9780063141353 $27.99

Love for Beginners by Jill Shalvis 9780063082243 $27.99

Sunrise by the Sea by Jenny Colgan 9780062911391 $27.99

Maps for the Getaway by Annie England Noblin 9780063082311 $27.99

The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea 9780063092747 $26.99

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin 9780063092761 $26.99

The Fiancée by Kate White 9780063092723 $26.99

American Portrait by PBS 9780063098909 $39.99

 

JULY

The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn 9780063141407 $27.99

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn 9780063141391 $27.99

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn 9780063141377 $27.99

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn 9780063141360 $27.99

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey 9780063082359 $27.99

The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman 9780063082342 $27.99

Thee Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb 9780063082335 $27.99

All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton 9780063092754 $26.99

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas 9780063082168 $27.99

AUGUST

Bombshell by Sarah MacLean 9780063118973 $27.99

Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas 9780063092730 $26.99

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen 9780063142992 $26.99

 

FALL 2021

SEPTEMBER

The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova by Ruth Hogan 9780063119277 $27.99

No Words by Meg Cabot 9780063082250 $27.99

Mile High with a Vampire by Lynsay Sands 9780062956422 $27.99

The Royal Correspondent by Alexandra Joel 9780063143043 $26.99

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington 9780063030923 $26.99

OCTOBER

The Demon Liquor by Beatriz Williams 9780063144736 $27.99

The Last Checkmate by Gabriella Saab 9780063143388 $27.99

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan 9780063143258 $27.99

The Unheard by Nicci French 9780063137769 $27.99

The Hidden Child by Louise Fein 9780063119246 $27.99

Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day 9780062938039 $27.99

Second Chance Christmas by Lori Wilde 9780062953223 $27.99

But You Seemed So Happy by Kimberly Harrington 9780063143005 $26.99

NOVEMBER

The French Gift by Kristy Manning 9780063082328 $27.99

The City of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 9780063143159 $26.99

Do I Know You? by Sarah Strohmeyer 9780063143265 $26.99

You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor and Janina Matthewson 9780063143074 $26.99

The Month of Borrowed Dreams by Felicity Hayes-McCoy 9780063143067 $26.99

When a Killer Calls by John Douglas 9780063074477 $27.99

 

DECEMBER

The Replacement Wife by Darby Kane 9780063119680 $27.99

 

N. Scott Momaday announced as the 2021 Frost Medalist by the Poetry Society of America

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.

A big congratulations to N. Scott Momaday!

-Lainey

The March LibraryReads List is Here!

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!

Click here to see the full March LibraryReads List.

***

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 

Request the egalley and audiobook egalley on Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
Request the audiobook egalley on NetGalley

Watch SJ Bennett on Door to Door!

 

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

Request the egalley on Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley

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 

Request the egalley on Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley

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

Request the egalley and audiobook egalley on Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
Request the audiobook egalley on NetGalley

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
The Huntress (Feb. 2019)
The Alice Network (June 2017)

Watch Kate Quinn on Door to Door!

***

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!  

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

Editors Unedited Podcast Episode: Lucia Macro interviews Alena Dillon, author of THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD

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.

Download an egalley on Edelweiss+
Download an egalley on NetGalley

LibraryReads votes are due March 1st!

-Lainey