This week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast was packed with great reading suggestions, highlighting titles that are both available and coming out soon from our Ecco Books imprint. Our special guest this week was Meghan Deans, Senior Marketing Director of Ecco Books. You can learn more about the amazing books that Ecco publishes and some history of the imprint on the episode below:
This week, we are rounding out our interviews recorded live at the Public Library Association conference with an episode featuring Walter Thompson-Hernández, author of The Compton Cowboys.
In this book, a rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of The Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America’s most notorious cities.
It's my favorite nonfiction title of the season and I was so honored to sit down and speak with Walter at PLA.
Listen to the interview below:
We also mentioned Walter's Whiting Award. You can read the full announcement here.
The Compton Cowboys are on Instagram! Follow them here.
You can read more of Walter's articles on his website.
At the end of the conversation, we featured a voicemail that librarian Jennifer Winberry sent to us. She talks about her experience reading Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas. Listen to the audio below.
Thanks, Jennifer! And a big thank you to Walter for coming on the podcast!
This week, we welcome Scarlett Peckham, author of The Rakess, and her editor at Avon Books, Nicole Fischer, to the podcast! We love to talk about romance on the podcast and this conversation is another great addition. They talk about the writing process, flipping gender roles, and femininity throughout history. (Stick around to hear a wild story from history about Mary Shelley!)
The Rakess is the first book in the Society of Sirens series—featuring three radical, libertine ladies determined to weaponize their scandalous reputations to fight for justice and the love they deserve.
Listen to the interview below:
-Listen to Nicole's past podcast episode here:
-Find the link to Scarlett's website for the "Unlikeable Heroine" sticker she spoke about here.
Check out this compelling book review by Harper’s own Kate McCune, who splits her time between working as a sales rep in Michigan and assisting in Harper’s sales department. This was an internal email Kate sent to fellow Harper sales reps. It’s such a perfect description of this book and Kate gave me her blessing to share with librarians.
There isn’t a better booktalker in the business than Kate. One day, in my next life, I’d like to be like her.
-Virginia
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Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
This is a smart, commercial, scary and thought provoking novel.
The sense of texture and nuance Alam brings to his characters is on full display here and he’s still writing about upper middle class life, race, class and parenting—but this time he’s got a much larger, darker agenda.
To start: This is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. Probably wasn’t a great idea to have read it on vacation last weekend but it was such a character-driven page turner that I couldn’t stop even as it scared me silly.
But for those of you who like straight-up horror or psychological suspense, it’s not scary in that spine-tingling, thrill-fest way where you close the book knowing you’re pretty sure you’re not going to run across Cujo or El Cuco in the real world. This is scary in an “Uh oh, this is remarkably plausible” kind of way. Alam’s pacing and use of dread is just masterful. It’s more Bird Box than Jordan Peele.
You know the plot: Affluent middle-class white couple on vacation with their two kids at a rented house in the Hamptons. Then communications go out. That’s all. The power’s still on, the vacation can continue. Then the owners of the house show up and they happen to be Black. But I think it’s a mistake to settle the point of this book on the racial piece. The Black couple is also rich, accomplished, thoughtful and kind. Rather than setting up racial and class strife here, Alam uses these characters to show that the white couple is suspicious and fearful of all the wrong things. There’s something much bigger to dread and they can’t see it unfolding around them.
An economist whose name I forget said that the future arrives like this: slow, slow, quick. This is a book about what the world looks like in the moment the quick arrives. I couldn’t figure out how Alam could possibly end this book and I admire how he pulls it off with a gesture of hopefulness. But in Alam’s world, it’s a dark hopefulness—and most of us probably won’t be part of it.
You can now watch the adaptation of Robert Kolker's Lost Girls on Netflix and then dive deep into this captivating true crime read.
Lost Girls is the bestselling account of the lives of five young women whose fates converged in the perplexing case of the Long Island Serial Killer. It's a portrait of unsolved murders in an idyllic part of America, of the underside of the Internet, and of the secrets we keep without admitting to ourselves that we keep them. Long considered “one of the best true-crime books of all time” (Time), this edition includes a new epilogue that speaks to developments in the case, including the shocking fate of Mari Gilbert, Shannan’s mother, for whom this case became the crusade of a lifetime.
Check out this extraordinary praise that the book has received:
“Beautifully and provocatively written…. [Lost Girls] will make all but the hardest-hearted empathetic. Add a baffling whodunit that remains, as the subtitle indicates, unsolved, and you have a captivating true crime narrative that’s sure to win new converts and please longtime fans of the genre.” —Publishers Weeklyreview
“Immensely evocative…we are left with is a visceral understanding of the lives of the victims and why they should have mattered more.” —New York Daily News
“A gothic whodunit for the Internet age…nearly unputdownable…[Lost Girls is] a horrific, cautionary tale that makes for a very different kind of beach read…Kolker expertly chronicles the sad cycle of poor, uneducated white women faced with lots of kids and few resources.” —Mimi Swartz, New York Times Book Review
“Librarians have been incredibly brave about being on the front lines of keeping our speech private and available. There’s just no institution outside maybe the people who are working on patients in the coronavirus pandemic that I value as highly as I do America’s librarians. So thank you for keeping the faith for all of us.”
—Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author, recipient of the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America
Dear Librarians,
We hope this finds you and your loved ones well.
In honor of National Library Week, the Library Love Fest team would like to take a moment to thank you for the important work you’ve done and continue to do—especially in the face of this global crisis. Thank you for keeping all of us informed and connected.
Now more than ever we want to remind you that we are here to help. Whether you want to host a virtual author visit, get suggestions for your virtual book clubs, hear about new books we’re loving, or join in on live author presentations, we’re here for you.
Let us know how we can help.
Thank you, dear librarians, for ‘keeping the faith for all of us.’
Due to COVID-19, many of our authors are appearing virtually at libraries.
Let us know if you’d like to host an author!
Do you have a platform (such as Zoom or Crowdcast) that can support an event?
Does your library partner with a bookstore? Share their link on your event page!
To view the available HarperCollins authors from our catalogs, you will need to be registered on Edelweiss+. Once you're registered, please email us to request access to our Edelweiss Event Grids.
Once you are registered and granted access, you can view our available authors here: https://tinyurl.com/hceventgrids (please note: You will need to be registered and signed in on Edelweiss+ and granted access in order to view these grids)
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, revered author of the bestselling The Hidden Life of Dogs will talk about her new book, Growing Old: Notes on Aging with Something Like Grace, a witty, engaging, life-affirming account of the joy, strength, and wisdom that comes with age.
"Growing Old is unlike anything you've read before about old age. It's not a chirpy guidebook to successful aging (often written by people in their forties and fifties—who haven't gotten there yet!) but something far deeper and revelatory. By turns hilarious, poignant, fascinating, and disturbing, every page is brutally honest. If you ever plan to grow old or know anyone else who's already there, you'll find insights here you'll see nowhere else." —Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus
Anne Basting, a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient will talk about her new book, Creative Care:A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care, which offers a radical change in how we interact with our older loved ones, utilizing the creative arts to bring light and joy to elderly lives.
"Upends the bleak ideas of caregiving and dementia as a disease that robs us of our humanity. Basting shows otherwise. Together–caregiver and person with dementia–can create something meaningful. Caregivers will value this; it ought to be required reading for all clinicians and policymakers." —Jason Karlawish, MD, co-director of the Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania and author of The Disease of the Century
Hello, everyone. Today we have another can't-miss interview from our friend Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network. Carol recently sat down with New York Times bestselling author Don Winslow to talk about his new novella collection Broken, on sale now. They discuss each of the novellas, Don's writing process, his characters (including the one he relates to most), what’s inspired him, and more!
You can watch the video interview or listen to the audio on Carol’s podcast! The podcast also includes an audiobook excerpt from Broken at the end! Watch and listen below.
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight, Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev, and The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine have been selected for the May LibraryReads List!
Want to know how the authors reacted to being selected for the May LibraryReads List? Listen to their reactions below!
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A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight: 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
Watch LLF's Virginia Stanley buzz about A Good Marriage!
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev: 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
The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine The bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish (a previous LibraryReads pick!) 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
"Wickedly entertaining. With The Wife Stalker, Liv Constantine proves once again to be a master of domestic malice." —Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Lock Every Door
Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the May LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the June LibraryReads list by May 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
We had to share all of the fantastic praise that has been coming in for David Heska Wanbli Weiden's Winter Counts, including a quote from the one-and-only Louise Erdrich! Check it out below:
“Winter Counts is both a propulsive crime novel and a wonderfully informative book. David Heska Wanbli Weiden has written the first of what I hope is a series of books about life on Rosebud Reservation. Virgil Wounded Horse, his nephew Nathan, and Marie Short Bear are more than characters; they brim with intrigue and authentic life.” —Louise Erdrich, author of The Night Watchman
Check out all of this amazing praise Winter Counts has received:
“WinterCounts is a marvel. It’s a thriller with a beating heart and jagged teeth. This book is a brilliant meditation on power and violence, and a testament to just how much a crime novel can achieve. Weiden is a powerful new voice. I couldn’t put it down.” —Tommy Orange, author of There There
“David Heska Wanbli Weiden's WinterCounts marks the rise of a powerful new Native American voice in fiction, one that possesses an unnameable quality. With brilliant and precise prose, Weiden has created a deeply moving, heartfelt crime novel through Virgil Wounded Horse and his experiences of Native life. An astonishing debut novel.” —Brandon Hobson, National Book Award Finalist and author of Where the Dead Sit Talking
“One part gritty procedural, one part hard-edged literature, WinterCounts is more than a novel—it’s a testament in napalm you won’t be able to put down because it burns and holds fast.” —Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries
“I’ve been waiting most of my life for this book without realizing it. WinterCounts is a knowing, authentic, closely observed novel about modern-day Lakotas that rings absolutely true, warts and all. The sense of place is breathtaking and raw. It’s a hell of a debut.” —C.J. Box, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Long Range
“The full-throttle, can't-put-it-downness of this novel is a fact. WinterCounts is a hell of a gripping debut, perfectly plotted, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden is a major new voice in crime fiction, indigenous fiction, and American literature.” —Benjamin Percy, author of Suicide Woods and Red Moon
“Winter Counts is a terrific debut—tight and tense, hard-eyed and big-hearted. David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s main character, Virgil Wounded Knee, is as compelling, complex, and sharply observed as the world he inhabits.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone
“With this unique, cogent debut, David Heska Wanbli Weiden announces himself as a formidable new voice in crime fiction. The images haunt, the action crackles, and Virgil Wounded Horse makes a lasting impression as he knuckles his way through a heroin ring that threatens life as he knows it on his South Dakota reservation. Winter Counts is a heartfelt page-turner with compelling characters, keen cultural insight, and a climax unlike any I’ve read before.” —Steph Cha, author of Your House Will Pay
“Winter Counts is a gripping, richly textured thriller and an urgent dispatch from Indian Country. Crimes are solved, violence happens, and Virgil Wounded Horse, a hard-fisted, big-hearted, irresistible Lakota enforcer, guides us through the complicated realities of contemporary Native life on and off the reservation. Weiden writes with impressive authority and insight in this entirely original, enlightening, cliché-destroying novel.” —James McLaughlin, Edgar Award-winning author of Bearskin
Wow! Congrats, David!
Winter Counts is on sale August 25, 2020. Download an egalley on Edelweiss and NetGalley now.
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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Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini 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
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion 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
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!
Dance Away with Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips 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
Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams 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
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert 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
The Guest List by Lucy Foley 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
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan 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
Nine Shiny Objects by Brian Castleberry 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
The Distant Dead by Heather Young 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
The Lightness by Emily Temple 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
Thin Girls by Diana Clarke 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
The Book of Rosy by Rosayra Pablo Cruz and Julie Schwietert Collazo 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
The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty 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
The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis 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
Dark August by Katie Tallo 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
Don't Turn Around by Jessica Barry 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
Below you will find a list of the titles that were featured in our April Booklist Summer Reading ad.
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas -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.
The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine -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.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley -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.
Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore -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.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever by John "Chick" Donohue and J.T. Molloy -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 in Vietnam in the late 1960s.
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev -From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another, clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.
Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams -The beloved 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.
Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin (Moved to Summer 2021) -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.
500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan –New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan returns to the beloved Scottish Highland town of Kirrinfief, which readers first met in The Bookshop on the Shore, and adds a dash of London’s bustling urban landscape.
Sisters and Secrets by Jennifer Ryan –Sisters and Secrets is a moving novel of sisterhood, second chances, and the secrets that have the power to break or bond families—and alter destinies, from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan.
Lucky's Beach by Shelley Noble –New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble takes her readers on another beach adventure where a young woman discovers the power of family and forgiveness.
The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis -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). Shake. Stir. Read on a lazy summer day at the beach.
Fly Into the Wind by Lt Colonel Dan Rooney -A decorated F-16 fighter pilot—awarded the Whitehouse Volunteer Service medal by President George W. Bush and named one of ABC World News' Persons of the Year—shares the self-help and spiritual philosophy that has guided him toward a life filled with faith, purpose, and connection.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert -Talia Hibbert 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.
An Ocean Without a Shore by Scott Spencer -A wildly entertaining and occasionally heartbreaking story of frustrated longing, and the lengths we will go for those we love—even if they don’t love us in return.
Dance Away with Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips -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.
The Order by Daniel Silva -From Daniel Silva, author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The New Girl and The Other Woman, comes a stunning new action-packed thriller of high stakes international intrigue featuring the enigmatic art restorer and master spy Gabriel Allon.
The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama -From the New York Times bestselling author of Women of the Silk and The Samurai's Garden comes a gorgeous and evocative historical novel about a Japanese-American family set against the backdrop of Hawaii's sugar plantations.
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter -Atlanta, Georgia. Present day. A young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead. The police investigate but the trail goes cold. Until a chance assignment takes GBI investigator Will Trent to the state penitentiary, and to a prisoner who says he recognizes the MO. The attack looks identical to the one he was accused of eight years earlier. The prisoner’s always insisted that he was innocent, and now he’s sure he has proof. The killer is still out there.
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs -In this thought-provoking, wise, and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"
Fast Girls by Elise Hooper -Acclaimed author Elise Hooper explores the gripping, real life history of female athletes, members of the first integrated women’s Olympic team, and their journeys to the 1936 summer games in Berlin, Nazi Germany.
The Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid -In this twisty, compelling thriller, a young woman quickly embarks on what she thinks is the relationship and love of a lifetime, and she’s thrilled when her new husband insists they follow one rule: they don’t talk about the past, but it’s a rule that has dangerous consequences—perfect for fans of A Simple Favor and The Kiss Quotient.
Missing and Endangered by J.A. Jance -Cochise County Sheriff Joanna Brady’s professional and personal lives collide when her college-age daughter is involved in a missing persons case in this evocative and atmospheric mystery in J. A. Jance’s New York Times bestselling suspense series, set in the beautiful desert country of the American Southwest.
No Offense by Meg Cabot –New York Times-bestselling author Meg Cabot's returns with a charming romance between a children's librarian and the town sheriff in the second book in the Little Bridge Island series.
The Boys' Club by Erica Katz –Sweetbitter meets The Firm in this buzzy, page-turning debut novel—already optioned to Netflix—about sex and power in the halls of corporate America.
Additional summer reads:
The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson -Part H Is for Hawk, part The Soul of an Octopus, The Book of Eels is both a meditation on the world’s most elusive fish—the eel—and a reflection on the human condition.
I'd Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos -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.
Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore -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.
These Women by Ivy Pochoda -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.
A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight –Big Little Lies meets Presumed Innocent in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia, in which a woman’s brutal murder reveals the perilous compromises some couples make—and the secrets they keep—in order to stay together.
Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan -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.
Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini -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.
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan -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.
Don't Turn Around by Jessica Barry -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.
You Again by Debra Jo Immergut -From Edgar Award nominee Debra Jo Immergut, a taut, twisting work of suspense about a woman haunted by her younger self.
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey -A chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir of a daughter reckoning with the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of her former stepfather, and the moving, intimate story of a poet coming into her own in the wake of a tragedy.
Mother Land by Leah Franqui -From the critically acclaimed author of America for Beginners, a wonderfully insightful, witty, and heart-piercing novel, set in Mumbai, about an impulsive American woman, her headstrong Indian mother-in-law, and the unexpected twists and turns of life that bond them.
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria -RITA Award winning author Alexis Daria brings readers an unforgettable, hilarious rom-com set in the drama-filled world of telenovelas—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin and The Kiss Quotient.
Final Cut by S.J. Watson -In this mind-blowing psychological thriller S.J. Watson, the internationally bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep, explores themes of memory and identity as a young documentary filmmaker travels to a quiet fishing village to shoot a new film, only to encounter a dark mystery surrounding the disappearance of a local girl.
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden -An addictive and groundbreaking debut thriller set on a Native American reservation.
Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul -From the #1 bestselling author of The Secret Wife comes a story of love, passion, and tragedy as the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas are intertwined—and they become the ultimate rivals, in love with the same man.
The Wright Sister by Patty Dann -From the #1 bestselling author of The Secret Wife comes a story of love, passion, and tragedy as the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas are intertwined—and they become the ultimate rivals, in love with the same man.
Operation Vengeance by Dan Hampton -The New York Times bestselling author of Viper Pilot delivers an electrifying narrative account of the top-secret U.S. mission to kill Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese commander who masterminded Pearl Harbor.
The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham -From the author of the bestselling The German Midwife comes another unputdownable tale of the bravery of everyday women in the darkest corners of WWII, set between German-occupied 1940s Venice and modern-day London.
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:
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!
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Call 212-207-7773
Leave us a message. You can tell us about a book you are loving, questions you have for the LLF team, or thoughts on the podcast. Make sure to tell us your name, library, and address (we won't include your address on the show).
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Our good friend, Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network, recently sat down with Kate Elizabeth Russell, author of My Dark Vanessa—a New York Times bestseller and the #1 LibraryReads pick for the month of March. This is a terrific interview which you can view online or listen to on Carol’s podcast! The podcast also includes a My Dark Vanessa audiobook excerpt at the end! Watch and listen below. Be sure to visit The Book Report Network and Bookreporter.com for more great content! Enjoy.
Video: Bookreporter Talks To: Kate Elizabeth Russell
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!
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.
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.
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