Permission Granted! Give a Virtual Reading of HarperCollins books!
Check out our Daily Blog—chock full of online resources!
Door to Door: Virtual offerings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube, including author interviews, book buzzes, and much more!
Get suggestions for your next virtual Book Club Gathering!
Hear, Hear! Author interviews can be heard right here, on the Library Love Fest Podcast!
Academic Resources for Students
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Hello, librarians!
Below, you will find our staff suggestions for the June LibraryReads list. We have novels by beloved bestselling authors, new entries in librarian-favorite series, and acclaimed debuts sure to make a splash. Keep reading to find out more!
Enjoy and happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
Remember, votes for the June LibraryReads list are due May 1st!
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Also from the author: Resistance Women and
Enchantress of Numbers
The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker returns to her most famous heroine, Mary Todd Lincoln, in this compelling story of love, loss, and sisterhood rich with history and suspense.
"Through meticulously researched historical detail and sympathetic portrayal of each character, including Mary herself, Chiaverini provides a fascinating glimpse into the women of an influential family on the front lines of some of the most important moments of that indelible time."
—Booklist
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone and Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
One of the most important stories of World War II, already optioned by Steven Spielberg for a major motion picture: a spectacular, searing history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who became resistance fighters—a group of unknown heroes whose exploits have never been chronicled in full, until now.
"A remarkable portrait of young Jewish women who fought in the Polish resistance during WWII.... pays vivid tribute to the breadth and scope of female courage. "
—Publishers Weekly review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
Listen to a podcast interview between Judy Batalion and her editor!
Watch Judy Batalion's presentation at the UFL Gala Author Tea at ALA Midwinter 2020!
Also from the author: First Star I See Tonight and
Heroes Are My Weakness
At long last, the legendary New York Times bestselling author returns with a heartfelt novel of womanhood, a wild heart, and the healing power of love.
"In this superbly written stand-alone, this master storyteller's flair for highly imaginative plots and flawless characterization are on full display, resulting an emotionally enriching, breathtakingly brilliant tale of heartbreak and hope...lively writing liberally laced with multiple layers of delicious wit and snarky charm."
—Booklist review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
Also from the author: The Golden Hour and The Summer Wives
The beloved New York Times bestselling author returns with a remarkable novel of both raw suspense and lyric beauty—the story of a lost pilot and a wartime photographer that will leave its mark on your soul.
Praise for The Golden Hour: "Bestselling author Beatriz Williams skillfully sets a story of love and sacrifice against the backdrop of war in her fascinating new novel.... Readers will be spellbound by Williams’ elegant prose, fascinating characters and unforgettable settings while fully engrossed by the novel’s dual plots."
—BookPage
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey and
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
The author of Get a Life, Chloe Brown (a LibraryReads pick for November 2019!) returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him "rescuing" her from their office building goes viral.
"Hibbert’s follow up to Get a Life, Chloe Brown, featuring Dani’s sister, is another superb and emotionally rich romance. Grief and turmoil are expertly balanced with hilarious wit, making the story both complex and immensely readable. The characters are vibrant, and their chemistry is scorching. Remarkable."
—Library Journal review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
Watch a replay of Talia Hibbert's guest appearance on Door to Door!
Watch on : https://youtu.be/A4MMMxeaLqo
For fans of: The Lost Man by Jane Harper and
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the author of The Hunting Party.
"I didn’t think Lucy Foley could top The Hunting Party, but she did! I loved this book. It gave me the same waves of happiness I get from curling up with a classic Christie. A remote, atmospheric island, a wedding no one is particularly happy to be at, old secrets – and a murder. The alternating points of view keep you guessing, and guessing wrong. I can’t wait for her next book."
—Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: Assymetry by Lisa Halliday and
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
An intimate, bracingly intelligent debut novel about a millennial Irish expat who becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer.
"Echoes of Sally Rooney's Conversations with Friends resound in this exacting debut novel about a young Irish woman living in Hong Kong who becomes embroiled in a love triangle with a wealthy man and woman."
—O, the Oprah Magazine
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: America Was Hard to Find by Kathleen Alcott and The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon
A stunning literary saga in the tradition of Don DeLillo and Jennifer Egan—a luminous debut novel chronicling the unexpectedly, eerily intersecting lives of a line of dreamers over the course of half a century that reveals the divided heart of modern America itself.
"Sharply-tuned, funny, satisfyingly strange, and preternaturally poised, unspooling in immaculate prose. Brian Castleberry has that rare, can’t-be-taught ability to turn smoothly at any point in any direction, giving each sentence, no matter how casual, a quiet current of electric suspense."
—William Finnegan, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Barbarian Days
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton and
The Weight of an Infinite Sky by Carrie La Seur
A young boy finds himself at the center of a murder mystery in this timely and twisty thriller from the author of the acclaimed The Lost Girls—a compelling and indelible story set in small town America that examines the burden of guilt, the bitter price of forgiveness, and the debts we owe our dead, both recent and distant.
"Stunning.... An ideal recommendation for fans of Kate Atkinson."
—Booklist review
"[The Distant Dead] is at heart about the timelessness of human curiosity, the eternal possibility of forgiveness, and the everyday miracle of survival. Electrifying, ambitious, and crushingly beautiful."
—Kirkus review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: Severance by Ling Ma and
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
A stylish, stunningly precise, and suspenseful meditation on adolescent desire, female friendship, and the female body that shimmers with rage, wit, and fierce longing—an audacious, darkly observant, and mordantly funny literary debut for fans of Emma Cline, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Jenny Offill.
"A complex, psychological study of a young woman haunted by her past—and her capacity to hunger for violence and self-destruction.... A dark, glittering fable about the terror of desire."
—Kirkus review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: Dietland by Sarai Walker
A dark, edgy, voice-driven literary debut novel about twin sisters that explores body image and queerness as well as toxic diet culture and the power of sisterhood, love, and lifelong friendships, written by a talented protégé of Roxane Gay.
"From one sentence to the next, Clarke leaves her readers splayed open, throbbing with the most beautiful, necessary ache. She writes with unyielding honesty and breathtaking tenderness. Thin Girls is a brutal, and unrelenting examination of what it means to be a woman in a body, wanting, needing, wanting, needing so much. With her assured, elegant prose Clarke makes you hope against all hopes that both Rose and Lily can find a way to satiate and save themselves and each other."
—Roxane Gay
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: Dear America by Jose Antonio Vargas
A searing tale of the human lives behind the Trump administration-made immigration crisis, written by two remarkable mothers—a Central American woman whose children were taken from her by the United States government at the southern border, and the American who helped reunite the family—offering a timely and urgent look at a migrant experience, family separation and reunification, and the power of individuals banding together to overcome even the cruelest and most unjust circumstances.
"[The] haunting and eloquent…narrative of a Guatemalan woman's desperate search for a better life."
—Kirkus review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
Watch a video introduction by Rosy and Julie!
Also from the author: The City of Brass and
The Kingdom of Copper
The final chapter in the bestselling, critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.
"Chakraborty (The City of Brass) brings her epic fantasy series to a stunning conclusion. Rich details, familial ties, and magical politics sing in this lush world built from Middle Eastern history and imagination."
—Library Journal 
review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
Also from the author: Almost Just Friends and
The Lemon Sisters
From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes a friends-to-frenemies-to-sisters story...and then add in a love story (okay, two love stories).
"Readers will find it easy to root for Shalvis’s stubborn, vulnerable heroines to recognize both the decency and compassion of the sexy men who love them and their own worthiness to be loved. This heartfelt tale is thoroughly satisfying."
—Publishers Weekly
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne and The Dry by Jane Harper
An electrifying, page-turning debut about a young woman haunted by her tragic past, who returns to her hometown and discovers that there might be more to her police detective mother’s death—and last case—than she ever could have imagined.
"Dark August is a tightly-paced cauldron of a thriller about small town corruption, murder and mayhem, in the vein of Sharp Objects and All The Missing Girls. A macabre and confidently twisty debut."
—Lisa Gabriele, internationally bestselling author of The Winters
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
For fans of: The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy and
Sunburn by Laura Lippman
The riveting follow up to Jessica Barry’s debut Freefall—a controversial, of-the-moment thriller about two women fighting for their right to live.
"Jessica Barry has written a grab-you-by-the-throat novel of suspense that follows the trail of two women pushed to the extreme. Don’t Turn Around is the female-driven thriller you've been waiting for."
—Danielle Trussoni, New York Times bestselling author of Angelology and The Ancestor
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LibraryReads Votes Due: May 1, 2020
We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!
-Chris
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Below you will find a list of the titles that were featured in our April Booklist Summer Reading ad.
Additional summer reads:
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This week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast features an interview with Mary Adkins, author of Privilege. This interview was recorded LIVE on the show floor of PLA 2020 in Nashville.
Privilege is a smart, sharply observed novel about gender and class on a contemporary Southern college campus in the spirit of The Female Persuasion and Prep.
Listen to the interview below.
Listen to a previous podcast episode with Mary and her editor talking about Mary's debut novel, When You Read This, here:
Listen to an excerpt of the audiobook of Privilege here:
Privilege and When You Read This are both available now.
-Lainey
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The Library Love Fest Podcast has a dedicated voicemail number for librarians! Call us, leave a message, and (with your permission) we’ll include it on our next podcast!
Hear previous messages featured on the podcast below!
We want to hear from you!
Go ahead and Li-bare-your soul (™️ Chris Connolly)! Call now—operators are standing by...
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Video: Bookreporter Talks To: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaDQ6Pg1tzM
Podcast: Bookreporter Talks To: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Podcast: https://tbrnetwork.com/podcasts/bookreporter-talks-to/bookreporter-talks-to-kate-elizabeth-russell/
We also recommend you check out Bookreporter's Book Group Video for Late March/Early April:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImPDdm9Xqyo&t
-Virginia
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Tomorrow, Thursday, April 2nd at 2:00pm EDT, hear Pam Jaffee, Avon Senior Director, Publicity and Brand Development (and all around superstar) talk all things Romance, including the Avon & Morrow titles that appeared on Oprah Magazine’s “Best of 2020 List” for romance titles. Romance fans, tune in to hear about books by Sarah MacLean, Tessa Bailey, Talia Hibbert, and more!
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We are ecstatic to announce that Elizabeth Wetmore's Valentine was selected as a Today Read with Jenna Book Club Pick for April! We are all big fans of this breathtaking story here at LLF and we send our biggest congratulations to Elizabeth.
You can watch the announcement from Today here.
Written with the haunting emotional power of Elizabeth Strout and Barbara Kingsolver, Valentine is an astonishing debut novel that explores the lingering effects of a brutal crime on the women of one small Texas oil town in the 1970s. It's a haunting exploration of the intersections of violence and race, class and region in a story that plumbs the depths of darkness and fear, yet offers a window into beauty and hope. Told through the alternating points of view of indelible characters who burrow deep in the reader’s heart, this fierce, unflinching, and surprisingly tender novel illuminates women’s strength and vulnerability, and reminds us that it is the stories we tell ourselves that keep us alive.
Listen to Elizabeth Wetmore speak at ALA Midwinter below.
Listen to an interview with Elizabeth on the podcast.
We just wrapped up an episode of Door to Door where I gushed about how much I loved this book and announced the book club pick. You can watch below.
Congrats, Elizabeth! You can get a copy of Valentine now.
-Lainey
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We are calling on all of our library friends to send any resources that they are using to keep folks safe during the Coronavirus outbreak.
On our last Facebook Live video, Wendy Bartlett from Cuyahoga County Public Library shared this video on how to keep your food clean.
The White Plains Public Library has donated their 3D printers to St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers. Find the Facebook post here.
Karen Beach from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library let us know that the library donated the use of eight of their 3D printers to help assemble face shields urgently needed by area hospitals. Read the full story here.
Let us know about your library's efforts to help. You can email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com or leave us a voicemail at (212) 207-7773.
Check back here for updates.
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Our new video series, Door to Door, is coming to you EVERY Tuesday and Thursday at 2:00pm EDT via Facebook Live. Join us for title presentations, book talks from editors, author talks/readings, and so much more! Be sure to follow us on Facebook to receive notification every time we're live. If you don't use Facebook, not to worry! Each Door to Door episode will be available on our Youtube channel immediately following the Facebook Live broadcast!
Every episode is also available below!
In addition to its regular programming on Facebook Live, Door to Door will periodically feature virtual tours of authors' writing spaces on our Instagram page. Follow us on Instagram so you don't miss a thing!
Thursday, March 19th: DOOR TO DOOR - Virginia Stanley Discusses Monogamy by Sue Miller
Watch on : https://youtu.be/cv4yHbbtDss
Monday, March 23rd: DOOR TO DOOR - Special Guest Don Winslow, author of Broken
Watch on : https://youtu.be/iZkUwsMsoS0
Thursday, March 26th: DOOR TO DOOR - The LLF Team Catches Up and Talks Books
Watch on : https://youtu.be/B1fBkY4_Khk
Tuesday, March 31st: DOOR TO DOOR - LLF is Joined by Special Guest Megan Giddings, Author of Lakewood
Watch on : https://youtu.be/e2PSW7L5yNc
Thursday, April 2nd: DOOR TO DOOR - LLF is Joined by Avon's Pam Jaffee and Author Talia Hibbert to Discuss All Things Romance
Watch on : https://youtu.be/A4MMMxeaLqo
Tuesday, April 7th: DOOR TO DOOR - LLF is Joined by Elizabeth Wetmore, Author of Valentine
Watch on : https://youtu.be/-lbmn44JPdw
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We have a can't-miss interview with The Light of Days author Judy Batalion on our podcast this week. Listen in as she and her editor Rachel Kahan, Executive Editor at William Morrow, discuss how Judy found out about a forgotten piece of history and her immersive research journey after this discovery.
The Light of Days is one of the most important stories of World War II, already optioned by Steven Spielberg for a major motion picture: a spectacular, searing history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who became resistance fighters—a group of unknown heroes whose exploits have never been chronicled in full, until now.
Listen here:
Find Judy's ALA Midwinter speech here:
Please download an egalley and let us know what you think. You can leave us a message on our voicemail at (212) 207-7773.
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Thanks to Judy and Rachel for such a wonderful conversation!
-Lainey
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Bruce Feiler's The Council of Dads is an uplifting story that touched the world and inspired families everywhere to rethink what matters most in their lives. As a young dad, Bruce Feiler, New York Times bestselling author and television host, received shattering news. A rare form of cancer was threatening not only his life but his family's future as well. A singular question emerged: Who would be there for his wife and daughters if he were gone?
Bruce reached out to six extraordinary men who helped shape him and asked them to be present in the lives of his daughters. The Council of Dads is the unforgettable portrait of these men, who offer wisdom, humor, and guidance on how to live, love, question, and dream.
On March 24th, NBC premiered Council of Dads, a new drama based on Bruce's memoir. You can watch the show online on NBC.com, Hulu, or Amazon. We also have a paperback edition available with tie-in cover art available now.
Bruce also wrote an original piece for the Los Angeles Times about what it was like to go through a crisis, offering tips for everyone navigating a time when a strong support system is important.
-Lainey
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"Winner of the prestigious Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction in her native Korea, Sohn presents a 15-year-old neurodiverse protagonist with much resonance."
—Booklist review
We are so excited to announce that Sohn Won-pyung's Almond—a Virginia Stanley favorite—has received a STARRED review from Booklist!
In Almond, The Emissary meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, telling the story of an emotionless teenaged boy and a hotheaded troublemaker discovering how love, friendship, and persistence can change their lives forever.
You can still download an egalley below and be sure to get your LibraryReads votes in by April 1st!
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We just launched our new video series, Door to Door, featuring book talks, author chats, and so much more!
Catch the replays below and be sure to follow us on Facebook to receive an alert the next time we go live. We'll keep this page updated with every episode, so you won't miss a thing!
Our inaugural episode features Don Winslow, author of Broken, on sale April 7th!
Thursday, March 19th: DOOR TO DOOR - Virginia Stanley Discusses Monogamy by Sue Miller
Watch on : https://youtu.be/cv4yHbbtDss
Monday, March 23rd: DOOR TO DOOR - Special Guest Don Winslow, author of Broken
Watch on : https://youtu.be/iZkUwsMsoS0
Thursday, March 26th: DOOR TO DOOR - The LLF Team Catches Up and Talks Books
Watch on : https://youtu.be/B1fBkY4_Khk
Tuesday, March 31st: DOOR TO DOOR - LLF is Joined by Special Guest Megan Giddings, Author of Lakewood
Watch on : https://youtu.be/e2PSW7L5yNc
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Hello Friends,
We hope you, your families, and your patrons are all well and safe.
While the situation with COVID-19 is ever-changing, we want you to know what remains steady is our concern for all of you.
We know you are committed to your patrons and we recognize the challenges you’re facing.
HarperCollins is expanding our pay-per-circulation catalog to make sure patrons have immediate access to as many of our titles as possible. Please check with your preferred wholesaler for details. Additionally, all of our reading guides and activity sheets are available on the Overdrive, Hoopla, and Baker & Taylor resource sites, accessible to parents and teachers.
For online resources, go to www.LibraryLoveFest.com to access our online Book Club Catalog, author interviews on our podcast, and videos of the Library Love Fest Team talking about books they love. All of our videos are also archived on YouTube here.
You can get whitelisted to receive our egalleys on Edelweiss and NetGalley. Just send an email to us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.
The Library Love Fest Team is determined to keep things as ‘normal’ as possible during a time that is anything but normal. We’ll be coming to you via Facebook Live now more than ever to connect, talk about books, authors, and life in general. Virginia just went on Facebook Live this week to catch up and talk about Monogamy by Sue Miller. Watch the replay here. Be sure to like us on Facebook to receive alerts when we go live.
So while we all wade through these uncharted waters, let’s check in on each other. Give us a call and leave us a voicemail at (212) 207-7773. Be sure to let us know how to get in touch with you. Tell us how you are. Tell us how you’re reaching your patrons and let us know how we can help.
Take good care and thank you for all you do for readers and writers everywhere.
-Virginia, Chris, and Lainey
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You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai has been selected for the April LibraryReads list!
Want to know how Alisha reacted to being selected for the April LibraryReads list? Lainey Mays called her to let her know about the big news! Click below to listen!
Click here to see the full list.
***
"Rai handles her characters’ mental health issues with incredible care while not shying away from depicting the effects such issues would have on a relationship. Katrina and Jas’s loving, mutual support of one another is truly touching. This sensitive and sexy contemporary is sure to be a hit."
—Publishers Weekly review
"Rai's lovely, slow-building romance between the very appealing Katrina and Jasvinder will delight readers."
—Booklist
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Recently, Alisha had her own viral moment when she tweeted about cake pops and a first date gone wrong:
The story of the tweet, and its ensuing popularity, was quickly picked up by national outlets, including Today, HuffPost, and Fox News. But as unexpected as the response was to this lone tweet, even more shocking was the backlash. Below, you can read Alisha's Huffpost article that reflects on the toxic online harassment that she faced as a result of the tweet. It's an eye-opening, can't-miss read that adds an extra dimension to her upcoming novel Girl Gone Viral.
You can read Alisha's HuffPost article here.
***
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
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Our next podcast episode recorded LIVE from PLA is with Alexandria Bellefleur, author of Written in the Stars. This debut is a charming #ownvoices queer rom-com about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve, with nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice.
I got to sit down with Alexandria at the Public Library Association conference in Nashville to discuss her writing process and the enduring popularity of the "fake relationship" story line in romance. Be sure to listen to the episode and find the adorable astrology quiz from the book that we referenced below.
Download an egalley:
Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Let us know if you loved the book and what rom-com you are by using the chart above. Give us a call on our new voicemail number: (212) 207-7773. Your recording might end up on the show!
-Lainey
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Kate Elizabeth Russell is on sale today!
If you've been following us the last year or so, then you'll know how struck we all were by the power and nuance of this unforgettable debut. Librarians, your support has been truly special, including making My Dark Vanessa a #1 LibraryReads pick for March. My Dark Vanessa explores the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a precocious yet naïve teenage girl and her magnetic and manipulative teacher. It's been called "brilliant and stunning...an absolute must read" by Gillian Flynn and "a well-constructed package of dynamite" by Stephen King, in addition to being included in a host of "most-anticipated" lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Marie Claire, and more.
Dive even deeper into this complex novel via our podcast episode below, featuring author Kate Elizabeth Russell in conversation with her editor, Jessica Williams. You can find out more about the book here.
-Chris
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Hello, librarians!
We are thrilled to launch a new video series, Got a Minute? We know you're busy, so we've recorded three short, sweet, and right-to-the-point videos that drive home what we're loving and why! On this month's episode, Virginia talks about A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight, Chris buzzes Wandering in Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins, and Lainey sings the praises of Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore.
First up on Got a Minute?:
Why Virginia Stanley LOVES
A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
"A Good Marriage is a smart, provocative, insightful page-turner. I couldn’t put it down."
—Harlan Coben, author of Don't Let Go
"I loved A Good Marriage, a fast-paced page-turner that combines the complexity of a legal thriller with the emotional resonance of domestic suspense. You won't be able to put it down!"
—Lisa Scottoline, author of Someone Knows
"Filled with emotional urgency, sharp insights, and profound revelations, Kimberly McCreight's newest novel is a marvel—both a compelling mystery and a discerning exploration of love and marriage."
—Jean Kwok, author of Searching for Sylvie Lee
"Part legal thriller, part domestic suspense, pure page-turner, this is a novel that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about marriage."
—Mary Kubica, author of The Other Mrs.
Next up on Got a Minute?:
Why Chris Connolly is in AWE of
Wandering in Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
"A thrilling, emotional, and engaging ride that almost commands the reader to turn the page, Wandering in Strange Lands is required reading, accurately widening the lens of American history."
—Booklist review
"Driven by a need to understand her own identity, cultural critic Jerkins mounted an investigation into her family's tangled history, recounting in this candid memoir the surprising discoveries that emerged from her emotional journey.... A revelatory exploration of the meaning of blackness."
—Kirkus Reviews
And on this month's final Got a Minute?:
Lainey Mays and her new FAVORITE beach read,
Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore
Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Praise for The Islanders:
"[Moore’s] characters are strong, and the realistic situations are both heartfelt and heartbreaking. An excellent combination of character exploration and intrigue."
—Booklist
"Moore’s narrative is fast-paced, and her lead characters are flawed and believable. Readers looking for an emotional tale will find much to enjoy."
—Publishers Weekly
"Meg Mitchell Moore fills [Maeve Binchy’s] big shoes.... If you’re feeling landlocked and water-deprived, The Islanders is the ticket to the getaway you need."
—New York Times Book Review
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We hope you enjoyed the videos! To discover even more amazing May titles, click here!
-Chris
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This week's podcast episode features an interview with David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of Winter Counts. Chris was able to sit down with David at the Public Library Association conference in Nashville to talk about David's upcoming book!
Winter Counts is an addictive and groundbreaking debut thriller set on a Native American reservation. It features Virgil Wounded Horse, the local enforcer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When justice is denied by the American legal system or the tribal council, Virgil is hired to deliver his own punishment, the kind that’s hard to forget. But when heroin makes its way into the reservation and finds Virgil’s own nephew, his vigilantism suddenly becomes personal. He enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend and sets out to learn where the drugs are coming from, and how to make them stop.
Be sure to listen to the interview below:
Download an egalley:
Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley from NetGalley
Let us know your favorite panel you went to at PLA by calling our new voicemail number: (212) 207-7773. Your recording might end up on the show!
-Lainey
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Hello, librarians!
Below, you will find our staff suggestions for the May LibraryReads list. Propulsive debuts, unforgettable historical fiction, powerful memoirs, delicious rom-coms—it's all here. So without further ado, happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
Remember, votes for the May LibraryReads list are due April 1st!
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For fans of: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and Tangerine by Christine Mangan
A gothic-infused debut of literary suspense, set within a secluded, elite university and following a dangerously curious, rebellious undergraduate who uncovers a shocking secret about an exclusive circle of students...and the dark truth beneath her school’s promise of prestige.
"Spellbinding.... Surreal imagery, spare characterization, and artful, hypnotic prose lend Thomas’s tale a delirious air, but at the book's core lies a profound portrait of depression and adolescent turmoil. Fans of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History will devour this philosophical fever dream."
—Publishers Weekly review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Click below to watch Elisabeth Thomas speak at the LibraryReads Author Breakfast at ALA Midwinter 2020!
Click below to listen to an interview between Elisabeth Thomas and her editor!
For fans of: The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy
Big Little Lies meets Presumed Innocent in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia and Where They Found Her (a previous LibraryReads pick!), in which a woman’s brutal murder reveals the perilous compromises some couples make—and the secrets they keep—in order to stay together.
"A Good Marriage is a smart, provocative, insightful page-turner. I couldn’t put it down." —Harlan Coben
"Full of dark secrets and surprising twists, A Good Marriage explores what lies beneath the surface of friendships, families, and communities. A captivating, can’t-put-it-down psychological thriller that gripped me from beginning to end."
—Megan Miranda, author of The Last Guest House
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai and The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (a May 2019 LibraryReads pick!) comes another clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time with a twist on Persuasion.
"Dev continues the story of the Raje family...with this nuanced and powerful second chance romance.... Dev balances the toe-curling romance with high-octane family drama.... Dev’s candor and sensitivity in both story lines set this family-centric romance apart. Readers are sure to be impressed."
—Publishers Weekly review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
From the acclaimed cultural critic and New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing—a writer whom Roxane Gay has hailed as "a force to be reckoned with"—comes this powerful story of her journey to understand her northern and southern roots, the Great Migration, and the displacement of black people across America.
"Driven by a need to understand her own identity, cultural critic Jerkins mounted an investigation into her family's tangled history, recounting in this candid memoir the surprising discoveries that emerged from her emotional journey.... A revelatory exploration of the meaning of blackness."
—Kirkus Reviews
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: The Lost Man by Jane Harper and An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the author of The Hunting Party.
"I didn’t think Lucy Foley could top The Hunting Party, but she did! I loved this book. It gave me the same waves of happiness I get from curling up with a classic Christie. A remote, atmospheric island, a wedding no one is particularly happy to be at, old secrets—and a murder. The alternating points of view keep you guessing, and guessing wrong. I can’t wait for her next book."
—Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton
The #1 Sunday Times bestseller—a remarkable story of the heroic and unbreakable bond between a father and son that is as inspirational as The Tattooist of Auschwitz and as mesmerizing as The Choice.
"Today, when studies are showing many Americans know little about the Holocaust, this will serve as a compelling remedy: a personal and universal account of brutality at its worst and of family devotion at its best."
—Kirkus Reviews review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: The Feral Detective by Jonathan Lethem and Sunburn by Laura Lippman
From the award-winning author of Wonder Valley and Visitation Street comes a serial killer story like you’ve never seen before—a literary thriller of female empowerment and social change.
"Heartbreaking.... This deep dive into the lives of women too often unseen in the shadows makes them vividly unforgettable."
—Publishers Weekly review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and
The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.
"Rarely does historical fiction get everything so right as Universe of Two: compelling characters, faithful detail, a story packed with unexpected twists, and a sure, authentic voice that never wavers. In this novel of the dawn of the atomic age and its profound consequences, Stephen Kiernan leads us along a journey of conscience as complex and infinite as the science itself."
—Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Golden Hour
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
From the New York Times bestselling author of Love Walked In and Belong to Me comes a profound and heart-rending story about a horrific tragedy that marks one woman and her hometown and about the explosive secrets that come to light twenty years later.
"As fans know, de los Santos uses exquisitely luxurious, poetic writing to tell her characters’ stories. She knows exactly where she’s going and how and when to get there. The rhythm of the prose will more than please those who love the thoughtful, precise language of Anne Tyler and Joshilyn Jackson."
—Booklist
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Also from the author: Noir, Secondhand Souls, and The Serpent of Venice
Shakespeare meets Dashiell Hammett in this wildly entertaining murder mystery from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore—an uproarious, hardboiled take on the Bard’s most performed play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring Pocket, the hero of Fool and The Serpent of Venice, along with his sidekick, Drool, and pet monkey, Jeff.
"Manic parodist Moore…returns with a rare gift for Shakespeare fans who think
A Midsummer Night’s Dream would be perfect if only it were a little more madcap.... A kicky, kinky, wildly inventive 21st century mashup with franker language and a higher body count than Hamlet."
—Kirkus Reviews
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and
When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica
The bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish returns with a psychological thriller, filled with chilling serpentine twists, about a woman fighting to hold onto the only family she’s ever loved—and how far she’ll go to preserve it.
"A twisty, engrossing house of mirrors...smart, propulsive, and tricky-in-all-the-best-ways psychological suspense."
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger Inside
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: Convenience Store Women by Sayaka Murata and The Emissary by Yoko Tawada
This unforgettable novel follows a young man—born with a brain condition robbing him of emotions like fear and anger—whose life is shattered by a random act of violence and whose only hope is an unlikely friendship with the school bully.
"Won-pyung Sohn understands that those who think, feel, and communicate differently aren't society's villains, they are its saviors. Her writing possesses seemingly unlimited empathy and tenderness."
—Madeleine Ryan, author of A Room Called Earth
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Also from the author: Lady in the Lake, Sunburn, and
Wilde Lake
New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman, a journalist for many years, collects here her recent essays exploring motherhood as an older mom, her life as a reader, her relationships with her parents, friendship, and other topics that will resonate with a large audience.
"Candid and quirky, this book will have special appeal to fans of her crime fiction. A wryly observed collection from a reliably good writer."
—Kirkus Reviews
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
From the author of The Islanders comes a warm, witty and suspenseful novel filled with small-town secrets, summer romance, big time lies and spiked seltzer, in the vein of Liane Moriarty.
Praise for The Islanders: "[Moore’s] characters are strong, and the realistic situations are both heartfelt and heartbreaking. An excellent combination of character exploration and intrigue."
—Booklist
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai and Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
From talented new writer Yaffa S. Santos comes this unforgettable, heartwarming, and hilarious rom-com about chefs, cooking, love, and self-discovery that is a cross between The Hating Game and Sweetbitter.
"This delightful debut charms the reader with its unique conflict, savory dishes, and engaging characters that warm your heart."
—Priscilla Oliveras, USA Today bestselling author of Island Affair
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Also from the author: American Duchess, The It Girls, and
The Royal Nanny
If you love Jennifer Robson or The Crown, you will love New York Times bestselling author Karen Harper’s novel about Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, that lifts the veil on one of the world’s most fascinating families, and how its "secret weapon" of a matriarch maneuvered her way through one of the most dangerous chapters of the century.
"If you thought the Queen Mum was a benign, plump, cheery old lady, think again. In Karen Harper’s novel she is tough, determined, and fabulously gossipy. Reading this novel is like sitting next to an indiscreet royal insider at a private dinner."
—Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Click below to listen to editor Lucia Macro present The Queen's Secret and other can't-miss upcoming titles!
For fans of: Heartland by Sarah Smarsh and When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors
What J. D. Vance did for Appalachia with Hillbilly Elegy, CNN analyst and one of the youngest state representatives in South Carolina history Bakari Sellers does for the rural South, in this important book that illuminates the lives of America’s forgotten black working-class men and women.
"My Vanishing Country solidifies Bakari Sellers as a major voice for his generation. He has taken the torch from his father Cleveland Sellers and soared. His brutally honest look at the systemic racism that continues to hold back the black working class is revelatory. His ownership of being Black, Country, and Proud is refreshing."
—Angela Rye, CNN Commentator and CEO of IMACT Strategies
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff and The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester
A spellbinding story of impossible love set against the backdrop of the Nazi regime about the dutiful daughter of a high-ranking Nazi officer and a dangerous love affair that will upend her life—perfect for fans of The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See.
"Louise Fein's Daughter of the Reich is so real—a beautifully written and emotional wrenching journey into World War II tumult and tragedy. Amazingly, this novel is both sweeping and intimate. Although the book brings history to life, its dynamic characters present a timely truth we should all grasp and embrace: We must stand up against those who preach hate."
—Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Queen's Secret
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: Smokejumper by Jason A. Ramos
Soon to be a major motion picture written and directed by Peter Farrelly, who won two Academy Awards for Green Book—a wildly entertaining, feel-good memoir of an Irish-American New Yorker and former U.S. marine who embarked on a courageous, hare-brained scheme to deliver beer to his pals serving Vietnam in the late 1960s.
"John Donohue happens to be one of the best storytellers anywhere. He knows that though life may be funny, it is no joke. In this book you will see through his eyes the absurdity of the human condition. Chick takes us thousands of miles on a hilarious quest laced with sorrow, but never dull. You will laugh and cry, but you will not be sorry that you read this rollicking story."
—Malachy McCourt, author of Singing My Him Song
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
Also from the author: Say No to the Duke and Born to Be Wilde
A shy wallflower meets her dream man—or does she?—in the next book in New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James' Wildes of Lindow Castle series.
Praise for Eloisa James: "Eloisa James’ new series, The Wildes of Lindow Castle, is addictive.... Eloisa James spins yet another entertaining romance with intelligent protagonists and a wonderful supporting cast."
—Historical Novel Society
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
For fans of: Your Duck Is My Duck by Deborah Eisenberg
A landmark new collection of stories from Richard Ford that showcases his brilliance, sensitivity, and trademark wit and candor.
"A collection of stories about lives shattered by divorce or death, with protagonists discovering that the pieces they are trying to put together no longer fit, and perhaps never did.... Powerfully unsettling stories in which men nearing the end of their lives wonder, befuddled, if that's all there is."
—Kirkus Reviews
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2020
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We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!
-Chris
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