We are so excited to announce the adult HarperCollins titles that were nominated for the 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, announced by Mystery Writers of America. These awards honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, and television published or produced in 2020. Check out our nominated titles below:
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the end of the Holocaust and marking the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.
Below are some current and upcoming titles to help remember, learn, and heal.
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The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku: In this uplifting memoir in the vein of The Last Lecture and Man’s Search for Meaning, a Holocaust survivor pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom, and living his best possible life. On sale May 4th Request the egalley on Edelweiss+ Request the egalley on NetGalley
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion: One of the most important stories of World War II, already optioned by Steven Spielberg for a major motion picture: a spectacular, searing history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who became resistance fighters—a group of unknown heroes whose exploits have never been chronicled in full, until now. On sale April 6th Request the egalley and audiobook egalley on Edelweiss+ Request the egalley on NetGalley Request the audiobook egalley on NetGalley
The Note Through the Wire by Doug Gold: Praised as an "unforgettable love story" by Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is the real-life, unlikely romance between a resistance fighter and prisoner of war set in World War II Europe. On sale March 16th Request the egalley on Edelweiss+ Request the egalley on NetGalley
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris: This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity. Available now
Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson: To survive the Holocaust, a young Jewish woman must pose as a Christian farmer's wife in this unforgettable novel from USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson—a story of terror, hope, love, and sacrifice, inspired by true events, that vividly evokes the most perilous days of World War II. Available now
The Children's Train by Viola Ardone: Based on true events, a heartbreaking story of love, family, hope, and survival set in post-World War II Italy—written with the heart of Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours—about poor children from the south sent to live with families in the north to survive deprivation and the harsh winters. Available now
The Brothers of Auschwitz by Malka Adler: An extraordinary novel of hope and heartbreak, this is a story about a family separated by the Holocaust and their harrowing journey back to each other. Available now
The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton: The New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Exiles conjures her best novel yet, a pre-World War II-era story with the emotional resonance of Orphan Train and All the Light We Cannot See, centering on the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe—and one brave woman who helped them escape to safety. Available now
The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield: The #1 Sunday Times bestseller—a remarkable story of the heroic and unbreakable bond between a father and son that is as inspirational as The Tattooist of Auschwitz and as mesmerizing as The Choice. Available now
The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg: Set during the height of World War II, a powerful and unsettling tale about a woodcutter and his wife, who finds a mysterious parcel thrown from a passing train. Available now
The Survivors by Adam Frankel: A memoir of family, the Holocaust, trauma, and identity, in which Adam Frankel, a former Obama speechwriter, must come to terms with the legacy of his family’s painful past and discover who he is in the wake of a life-changing revelation about his own origins. Available now
The Art of Resistance by Justus Rosenberg: 100-year-old literature professor Justus Rosenberg escaped the Holocaust and spent four daring years in the French Underground during World War II. Now he finally writes his own unforgettable epic. Available now
50 Children by Steven Pressman: Based on the acclaimed HBO documentary, the astonishing true story of how one American couple transported fifty Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Austria to America in 1939—the single largest group of unaccompanied refugee children allowed into the United States—for readers of In the Garden of Beasts and A Train in Winter. Available now
And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer: The New York Times bestselling author of A Fierce Radiance and City of Light returns with a new powerful and passionate novel—inspired by historical events—about two women, one European and one American, and the mysterious choral masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach that changes both their lives. Available now
For this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew J. Graff, whose debut novel Raft of Stars publishes March 23rd. Following two young boys who think they've committed a horrible crime and make a daring escape into the woods of Northern Wisconsin, Raft of Stars has a timeless quality and is filled with a cast of unforgettable supporting characters that make it a joy to read from beginning to end.
Listen to the episode below and keep reading to check out some of the praise!
Praise for Raft of Stars:
"The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys’ closeness and bravery are especially affecting…. facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat…. Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation." —Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal ⭐ review
"I had no idea people wrote books like Andrew J. Graff’s Raft of Stars anymore—a rousing adventure yarn full of danger and heart and humor and characters worth worrying about. It’s as if, after observing the deplorable state we’re all in right now, the author took it upon himself to raise our collective spirits. Bravo!" —Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls and Chances Are…
"Graff has crafted not only an adventure story with a warm heart at its center, but a whole town of characters for readers to fall in love with." —J. Ryan Stradal, author of The Lager Queen of Minnesota
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson has been selected for the February LibraryReads List! Additionally, Alisha Rai has officially joined the LibraryReads Hall of Fame with the selection of First Comes Like!
Want to hear how our authors reacted to being selected for the February LibraryReads List? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson: For fans of Tayari Jones and Jacqueline Woodson, a thought-provoking, page-turning debut about race, class, identity, and the pursuit of the American dream.
"The Kindest Lie is the story of one family that reveals the larger story of America itself. Taut and surprising, Nancy Johnson’s debut novel tackles complex issues—ambition, romance, class—with the lightest of touches." —Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind
Watch Nancy Johnson and Nikki Giovanni on Door to Door!
First Comes Like by Alisha Rai: The author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes.
"With twists and turns right out of a Bollywood drama, Rai's delightful romance introduces another Ahmed sister in her Modern Love series to a family struggling with fame and loss. Jia and Dev are appealingly dimensional, as is the varied cast of minor characters…. Another win from this rising romance star." —Booklist
Previous LibraryReads Selections: The Right Swipe (Top Pick, August 2019) Girl Gone Viral (April 2020)
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Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the February LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the March LibraryReads List by February 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
Happy book birthday to Viola Ardone's The Children's Train. There are so many great reviews for this powerful novel, based on true events, that tells a heartbreaking story of love, family, hope, and survival set in post-World War II Italy about poor children from the south sent to live with families in the north to survive deprivation and the harsh winters. You can get your copy here.
The New York Times Book Review included The Children's Train in their Globetrotting preview for 2021. Read the feature here.
Just check out some of the praise below!
"With a mix of stark realism and wistful reflection, Ardone succeeds in portraying the challenges of growing up under trying circumstances." —Publishers Weekly
"Beautifully written in Amerigo’s first-person voice, this sometimes melancholy novel, translated from Italian, offers a deeply satisfying portrayal of the universality of love." —Booklist
"Ardone’s novel will appeal to fans of Elena Ferrante, but it stands on its own as a fictionalized account of an exceptional—and exceptionally complicated—social experiment." —BookPage
"Ardone’s beautifully crafted story explores the meaning of identity and belonging…recommended to fans of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels." —Library Journal
Congratulations to Viola Ardone for this wonderful publication.
We hope you'll watch the replay of our Door to Door with Willy Vlautin, author of The Night Always Comes and Andrew J. Graff, author of Raft of Stars, which took place on Tuesday, January 12th.
If you've followed Library Love Fest over the years, then you know we're HUGE fans of Willy Vlautin's work, whether it's The Motel Life, Northline, Lean on Pete, The Free, or his most recent novel Don't Skip Out on Me, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and an ALA Notable Book. As Ann Patchett stated, "The straightforward beauty of Vlautin’s writing, and the tender care he shows his characters, turns a story of struggle into indispensable reading."
Truly, Willy Vlautin's combination of beautiful prose, unforgettable characters, and a tender eye for the stories of people struggling to persevere in a world in which they're rarely seen results in heart-wrenching and redemptive reads that earned Willy praise from Ursula K. Le Guin, who compared him to an "unsentimental Steinbeck, a heartbroken Haruf."
In his upcoming book The Night Always Comes, Willy Vlautin confronts many of the anxieties of our changing world, including working-class greed, class division, home ownership, and mental health. Set in contemporary Portland, Oregon, the novel takes place over the course of two days and two nights and follows a young woman on a desperate quest to collect enough funds to put a down payment on her family's long-time home before it's too late.
The book has received enormous early praise:
"… 'You never give up and you've got a good heart, a damaged heart, but a good heart.’ We concur, of course, and race to the end to see if good hearts can maybe, just this once, make a difference. With Vlautin, you never know for sure." —Bill Ott, Booklist⭐ review
"The story resonates, with characters we come to feel we know and dialog that is so natural we hear it, not just read it….This is literary art that will keep readers in their seats until the last page." —Library Journal⭐ review
"This gritty page-turner sings with pitch-perfect prose, and Lynette’s desperation is palpable. Vlautin has achieved a brilliant synthesis of Raymond Carver and Jim Thompson." —Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
"I finished reading this novel dripping with admiration for Willy Vlautin and the tough wonder he has brought forth. The Night Always Comes hits the high-water mark; there is skillful and beautiful objectivity to the writing, characters so real that when they bleed you get a few drops on your sleeve, and a story of economic want and desperation and heart." —Daniel Woodrell, author of Winter’s Bone and The Maid’s Version
Another incredible aspect to Willy Vlautin's literary work is how closely connected it is to his life as a musician. The founding member of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines, Willy has often talked about his novels beginning as songs, and growing from there.
We are very excited to share one of the songs from the upcoming The Night Always Comesbook soundtrack that Willy wrote and recorded with his band The Delines, titled "Lynette's Lament." Click below to listen!
To learn more about Willy's thoughts on the connection between his music and his writing, check out the short clip below from our interview in 2018 on the publication day of Don't Skip Out on Me:
This was a very special interview, which Willy capped off spectacularly by playing the titular song "Don't Skip Out on Me." You can watch his performance below!
The full book soundtrack for Don't Skip Out on Me is available on Spotify. Click below to listen! You can also read Willy's notes on the soundtrack here.
It was a joy to talk to Andrew J. Graff, whose debut novel Raft of Stars publishes in March. This novel about two hardscrabble young boys who think they’ve committed a crime and flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin is filled with heart and with a poised, clear-eyed consideration of a town and a people who've fallen on hard times.
The timelessness and hope of this novel immediately swept through the HarperCollins Publishers sales staff when we first read it. We even selected it as our Lead Read pick for Winter 2021! If you're unfamiliar with the Lead Read program, every season the HarperCollins sales staff votes for one special title we think has a chance for both critical and commercial success. Past picks include News of the World by Paulette Jiles, November Road by Lou Berney, My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, and Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey. Just as these works were welcomed and beloved by the library community, we think Raft of Stars will also be an instant classic and a cherished title in library circulations for a long time to come.
You can check out a sample of the early praise below!
"The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys’ closeness and bravery are especially affecting…. facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat…. Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation." —Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal ⭐ review
"In ruggedly beautiful prose, and with a deep affection for his damaged, but always loveable characters, Graff delivers a novel with real heart and soul. An authentic look into the heartland of America, into one-parent households, where mothers and grandparents are supporting the next generation while fathers are either absentee, or should be. Like a barrel going over a waterfalls, Raft of Stars sweeps its reader downstream, and fast. Hold on for the ride." —Nickolas Butler, author of Little Faith
There is so much to love about this novel, whether it be "Bread" and "Fish", the two young boys at the heart of the story, the resounding sense of hope in the book's pages, or the absorbing sense of place that immediately sweeps the reader away. Below, you can watch a short video Andrew J. Graff recorded, where he shows us one of the locations that inspired the book!
Well, 2021 couldn't get here soon enough. 2020 was an unimaginably tough year for so many of us, grappling with stress, loss, and uncertainty. Throughout it all, we were incredibly grateful that we were able to connect virtually with so many of you in the library community.
We hope you'll join us as we hit the ground running in 2021! We have some very exciting reading suggestions for the March 2021 LibraryReads List. Happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
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Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff For fans of: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger and The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal An instant classic for fans of Jane Smiley and Kitchens of the Great Midwest: when two hardscrabble young boys think they’ve committed a crime, they flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Will the adults trying to find and protect them reach them before it’s too late?
"The characters are expertly drawn in their shifting relationships, and the two boys’ closeness and bravery are especially affecting…. facing the life issues examined here in an unforgiving if beautifully rendered wilderness is no easy feat…. Highly recommended, whether you want literate thrills or thoughtful, affirming meditation." —Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal⭐ review
Foregone by Russell Banks For fans of: Quichotte by Salman Rushdie A searing novel about memory, abandonment, and betrayal—and a man’s end-of-life need for forgiveness and redemption—from the acclaimed and bestselling Russell Banks.
"Banks, a conduit for the confounded and the unlucky, a writer acutely attuned to place and ambiance, is at his most magnetic and provocative in this portrait of a celebrated documentary filmmaker on the brink of death." —Booklist⭐ review
"[A] dark, affecting work…. Banks explores aging, memory, and reputation in thoughtful and touching ways…. A challenging, risk-taking work marked by a wry and compassionate intelligence." —Kirkus Reviews⭐ review
Watch Russell Banks on Door to Door with special guest Nancy Pearl!
The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett For fans of: A Cruel Deception by Charles Todd and The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz The first book in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties, perfect for fans of The Crown.
"[A] pitch-perfect murder mystery…. If The Crown were crossed with Miss Marple…the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit." —Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One by One
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn For fans of: We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.
"The Rose Code effortlessly evokes the frantic, nervy, exuberant world of the Enigma codebreakers…. Quinn’s meticulous research and impeccable characterization shine through this gripping and beautifully executed novel." —Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight
Let's make Kate Quinn a LibraryReads Hall of Fame author!
Previous LibraryReads Selections: The Huntress (February 2019) The Alice Network (June 2017)
Watch Kate Quinn on Door to Door!
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi For fans of: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.
Praise for Nadia Hashimi: "Her always engaging multigenerational tale is a portrait of Afghanistan in all of its perplexing, enigmatic glory, and a mirror into the still ongoing struggles of Afghan women." —Khaled Hosseini, author of The Mountains Echoed and The Kite Runner
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson Also from the author: All the Beautiful Lies and Her Every Fear
In this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders, a bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up.
"The further we go into [Swanson’s] devilishly twisty tales, the more hooks he sets…. Bride-to-be Abigail had a booze-fueled one-night stand… and is now being stalked by the man with whom she dallied. Fatal Attraction, right? Well, maybe, but we quickly see there's more to it than that." —Booklist
Previous LibraryReads Selections: Eight Perfect Murders (March 2020) All the Beautiful Lies (April 2018) Her Every Fear (January 2017)
The Note Through the Wire by Doug Gold For fans of: The Choice by Edith Eva Eger Praised as an "unforgettable love story" by Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is the real-life, unlikely romance between a resistance fighter and prisoner of war set in World War II Europe.
"Gold delivers a cinematic account of an unlikely romance that blossomed in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia…. Gold…sets a brisk pace and vividly describes the landscape of war-torn Europe. This WWII love story enthralls." —Publishers Weekly
Half Life by Jillian Cantor For fans of: The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton The USA Today bestselling author of In Another Time reimagines the pioneering, passionate life of Marie Curie using a parallel structure to create two alternative timelines, one that mirrors her real life, one that explores the consequences for Marie and for science if she’d made a different choice.
"Jillian Cantor's beautifully written Half Life is a poignant exploration of ambition, family, gender, and love. I couldn't put down this tender, nuanced, and inspiring novel." —Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation
When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong For fans of: The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara The New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry we know today.
"With crisp, electrifying prose, Armstrong recounts the hard work and struggles of four women trailblazers who shaped the dawn of television…. Armstrong deftly illustrates how this quartet of women battled skepticism, sexism, and even the infamous Cold War blacklist to become vital players in the burgeoning days of the small screen." —Booklist⭐ review
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig Also from the author: The Summer Country A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story—a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig.
"A crackling portrayal of everyday American heroines…. A triumph." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
The Lowering Days by Gregory Brown For fans of: Bearskin by James McLaughlin and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah A promising literary star makes his debut with this emotionally powerful saga, set in 1980s Maine, that explores family love, the power of myths and storytelling, survival and environmental exploitation, and the ties between native land and cultural identity.
"In The Lowering Days Gregory Brown gives us a lush, almost mythic portrait of a very specific place and time that feels all the more universal for its singularity. There’s magic here." —Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls and Chances Are…
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst Also from the author: Race the Sands and The Deepest Blue From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of aging warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss.
Praise for Sarah Beth Durst: "Sarah Beth Durst is one of the most prolific authors I know, yet each of her beautiful stories is infused with exciting action and fully rounded characters whose struggles are both relatable and fantastical." —Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Demon Cycle series
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert For fans of: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey In USA Today bestselling author Talia Hibbert’s newest rom com, the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.
"Their biting banter and saucy looks will delight readers…. Hibbert concludes the brilliant Brown Sisters series on high a note." —Booklist⭐ review
Let's make Talia Hibbert a LibraryReads Hall of Fame author!
Previous LibraryReads Selections: Take a Hint, Dani Brown (June 2020) Get a Life, Chloe Brown (November 2019)
The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear Also from the author: The American Agent and To Die but Once As Europe buckles under Nazi occupation, Maisie Dobbs investigates a possible murder that threatens devastating repercussions for Britain's war efforts in this latest installment in the New York Times bestselling mystery series.
Praise for Jacqueline Winspear: "In Winspear’s capable hands, Maisie has evolved into a deeply sympathetic character. Readers will eagerly await her next outing." —Publishers Weekly⭐ review
Wilde Child by Eloisa James Also from the author: My Last Duchess and Say Yes to the Duke Eloisa James returns to the Wildes of Lindow Castle series with the next Wilde child who runs and joins a theatre troupe—and the duke who tries to save her reputation.
The Secret Talker by Geling Yan For fans of: Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien Combining the dark twists of The Silent Patient with the unsettling beauty of The Vegetarian, a tense, gripping, and wholly original psychological tale of a woman with a secret admirer—who is hiding secrets of her own.
The Library Love Fest team has many thoughts about ALA Midwinter. Mainly…
We can't wait to see you all at the virtual ALA Midwinter conference! Check out all of the amazing author events, panels, and booth chats we have planned below.
Friday, January 22
11:00-11:30 AM ET Featured Speaker in the Diversity in Publishing Stage Natalie Baszile, author of We Are Each Other's Harvest Find out more here.
12:00-1:00 PM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
Saturday, January 23
9:00-10:00 AM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
1:00-1:15 PM ET Don’t miss the Library Love Fest Book Buzz! HarperCollins Buzzes Upcoming Adult Books from the Spring/Summer 2021 Seasons. Watch it here.
Sunday, January 24
9:00-10:00 AM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
1:30-2:00 PM ET Featured Speaker Cicely Tyson, author of Just As I Am Find out more here.
Monday, January 25
9:00-10:00 AM ET Library Love Fest Team Live Chat! Stop by the HarperCollins Booth so we can answer your questions and offer reading recommendations!
4:00-5:00 PM ET Forget Your Troubles: Hear about books from authors and publishers that will lift your spirits and gladden your heart! Register here.
On Demand Programs
Diversity in Publishing Stage — Representing: HarperCollins Authors on the Importance of Diverse Characters. Featuring:
