Hello, librarians!
We are back with a fresh round of reading suggestions for the October LibraryReads List! Remember, votes for the October LibraryReads List are due September 1st.
Happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
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Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day
Also from the author: The Lucky One, Under a Dark Sky, and The Day I Died
From the award-winning author of The Day I Died and The Lucky One, a captivating suspense novel about nurses during World War II who come to Agatha Christie’s holiday estate to care for evacuated children, but when a body is discovered nearby, the idyllic setting becomes host to a deadly mystery.
"Death at Greenway is a book Lori Rader-Day was born to write. The characters are deeply moving, the suspense and World War II research are impeccable. The language, as is always the case with Rader-Day, is beautiful, but in Death at Greenway, she shows her suppleness: her pitch-perfect dialogue brings England in the Blitz to life."
—Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Land
Sign up to see Lori Rader-Day on Door to Door on Tuesday, 8/10, 2pm ET!
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall
For fans of: Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman and
The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper
The first in a thrilling new series from Emmy Award–winning journalist Tamron Hall, in which a reporter unravels the disturbing mystery around the deaths of two Black girls, the work of a serial killer terrorizing Chicago.
"A pulse-pounding story that also provides a fascinating and important look into the difficulties of reporting on and finding justice for Black victims…. Emmy Award–winning Hall’s extensive background as a TV journalist, including reporting for NBC and anchoring for MSNBC, infuses a great deal of credibility and behind-the-scenes verve to her first crime novel."
—Booklist ⭐ review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Watch the replay of "In the Spotlight: Tamron Hall, Lori Rader-Day, and Sarah MacLean in Conversation"
A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz
For fans of: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The New York Times bestselling author of the brilliantly inventive The Word Is Murder and The Sentence Is Death returns with his third literary whodunit featuring intrepid detectives Hawthorne and Horowitz.
"The most conventional of Horowitz’s mysteries to date still reads like a golden-age whodunit on steroids." —Kirkus Reviews
Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Moonflower Murders (November 2020)
The Word is Murder (June 2018)
Magpie Murders (June 2017)
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Watch a must-see conversation between
Anthony Horowitz and Jeffrey Archer on Door to Door!
Reprieve by James Han Mattson
For fans of: Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam and
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
A chilling and blisteringly relevant literary novel of social horror centered around a brutal killing that takes place in a full-contact haunted escape room—a provocative exploration of capitalism, hate politics, racial fetishism, and our obsession with fear as entertainment.
"Mattson (The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves, 2017) presents a brilliant hybrid, a thought-provoking look at marginalization and systemic oppression expertly nestled inside a high-anxiety tale about the horror industry itself…. This is a rare treat of a novel that will be devoured by fans of pulp horror titles like The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz (2019) and by those who like the juxtaposition of supernatural and real-world horrors found in the works of Victor LaValle."
—Booklist ⭐ review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
All the Feels by Olivia Dade
For fans of: Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai and
Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein
Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.
"Dade’s charming, sexy contemporary romance (a sequel to Spoiler Alert) will be hard to put down. Alex and Lauren are likable, well-developed characters with emotional depth and relatable backstories…. The writing is excellent, with witty, banter-filled dialogue…. Highly recommended for public libraries."
—Library Journal ⭐ review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Last Checkmate by Gabriella Saab
For fans of: When We Were Young & Brave by Hazel Gaynor and The German Heiress by Anika Scott
Readers of Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz and watchers of The Queen’s Gambit won’t want to miss this amazing debut set during World War II following a young Polish resistance worker, imprisoned in Auschwitz as a political prisoner, who plays chess in exchange for her life, and in doing so fights to bring the man who destroyed her family to justice.
"The Last Checkmate is a winner. Gabriella Saab’s debut kept me turning the pages and I was rooting for our young, brave, and resourceful chess prodigy every step of the way."
—Elise Hooper, acclaimed author of Fast Girls
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers
For fans of: Old Baggage by Lissa Evans and
Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley
The dark horse literary novel that has taken Britain by storm! In the best tradition of Tessa Hadley, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Ann Patchett—an astonishing, keenly observed period piece about an ordinary British woman in the 1950s whose dutiful life takes a sudden turn into a pitched battle between propriety and unexpected passion.
"Small Pleasures is a tender and heart-rending tale that will draw you in from the first page and keep you gripped until the very end. Exquisitely compelling!"
—Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Brides of Maracoor by Gregory Maguire
Also from the author: Wicked and A Wild Winter Swan
Multimillion-copy bestselling author Gregory Maguire unveils the first in a three-book series spun off the iconic Wicked Years, featuring Elphaba’s granddaughter, the green-skinned Rain.
Praise for Gregory Maguire:
"Maguire’s work is melodic, symphonic and beautiful; it is dejected and biting and brave…. In fabulous details and self-mocking language, Maguire displays his gift for whimsical portrayals of the broken, the powerless, the hopeless, the bad."
—Los Angeles Times
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl
For fans of: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
In his first work of narrative nonfiction, Matthew Pearl, bestselling author of acclaimed novel The Dante Club, explores the little-known true story of the kidnapping of legendary pioneer Daniel Boone’s daughter and the dramatic aftermath that rippled across the nation.
"A deliciously intricate and utterly absorbing retelling of the Daniel Boone family saga—and particularly the complex roles played by the Cherokee and Shawnee across Boone's southern Appalachian stamping grounds. The Taking of Jemima Boone adds an intriguing dimension to an issue of keen importance to modern society."
—Simon Winchester, New York Times bestselling author of Land
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Watch the replay of Matthew Pearl on Door to Door!
The Hidden Child by Louise Fein
For fans of: The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester
In this new historical novel by the author of Daughter of the Reich, Londoners Eleanor and Edward Hamilton have wealth, status, and a happy marriage—but the 1929 financial crash is looming, and they’re harboring a terrible, shameful secret. How far are they willing to go to protect their charmed life—even if it means abandoning their child to a horrific fate?
"Louise Fein’s The Hidden Child is a poignant rendering of love and motherhood, human frailty and redemption, exquisitely told against the backdrop of the unthinkable. A heroine for the ages, Eleanor Hamilton’s predicament will tear your heart apart while her resolve is a testament to the power of intuition. Fein deftly takes the reader back to a terrifying turning point in history and, with grace and compassion, reminds us of the importance of standing up for what we believe in our souls to be true."
—Judithe Little, author of The Chanel Sisters
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield
For fans of: The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney and
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson
A smart, witty, crackling novel of psychological suspense in which a girl from a hardscrabble small town meets a gorgeous Instagram influencer from the big city, with a murderous twist that will shock even the most savvy reader.
"A clever and surprising psychological thriller…. The superb character-driven plot delivers an astonishing, believable jolt."
—Publishers Weekly ⭐ review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
Also from the author: Sunrise by the Sea and
500 Miles from You
Perfect for the holidays! A brand-new heartwarming Christmas novel from the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner and Christmas at the Island Hotel.
Praise for Jenny Colgan:
"An evocative sweet treat."
—Jojo Moyes on Little Beach Street Bakery
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Alien Nation edited by Sofija Stefanovic
For fans of: Dancing in the Mosque by Homeira Qaderi
A collection of 36 extraordinary stories originally told on stage, featuring work by writers, entertainers, thinkers, and community leaders. Spanning comedy and tragedy, Alien Nation brilliantly illuminates what it’s like to be an immigrant in America.
"In this celebratory essay collection, Stefanovic (Miss Ex-Yugoslavia), host of the N.Y.C. storytelling series 'This Alien Nation,' spotlights the 'deep and complex' stories of immigrants in America…. A moving look at what the American dream means today."
—Publishers Weekly
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Woodrow on the Bench by Jenna Blum
For fans of: Will's Red Coat by Tom Ryan
The New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Those Who Save Us pays tribute to her beloved black Lab, Woodrow, in this beautiful memoir that recalls the last six months of his life and the ways in which he taught her to live.
"Woodrow on the Bench is a touching tribute as well as a gripping story that will make you laugh and cry. It will also make you understand the majesty and wisdom imparted by the animals we are lucky to keep by our sides for as long as we can."
—Elizabeth Berg, New York Times bestselling author of The Confession Club
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Bat Fat Black Girl by Sesali Bowen
For fans of: God Save the Queens by Kathy Iandola
From funny and fearless entertainment journalist Sesali Bowen, Bad Fat Black Girl combines rule-breaking feminist theory, witty and insightful personal memoir, and cutting cultural analysis for an unforgettable, genre-defining debut.
"Sesali Bowen is poised to give Black feminism the rejuvenation it needs. Her trend-setting writing and commentary reaches across experiences and beyond respectability. I and so many Black girls still figuring out who they are in this world will gain so much from whatever she has to say."
—Charlene A. Carruthers, activist and author of Unapologetic: A Black, Queer and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Wicked Widow by Beatriz Williams
Also from the author: Our Woman in Moscow, Her Last Flight, and The Golden Hour
Gin Kelly, the wicked redhead, is back! Readers will delight in next installment of the Wicked City series by New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams.
Praise for Beatriz Williams:
"I think Beatriz Williams is writing the best historical fiction out there. It’s lush with period detail but feels immediate."
—Elin Hilderbrand
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Unheard by Nicci French
Also from the author: House of Correction and The Lying Room
In this new heart-pounding standalone from the internationally bestselling author that People calls "razor sharp," a single mother suspects her young daughter has witnessed a horrible crime when she draws a disturbing picture—but the deadly path to unravel the truth could cost her everything.
Praise for Nicci French:
"Nicci French is a specialist in the kind of evil that burrows from within." —New York Times Book Review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Miss Eliza's English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs
For fans of: The Summer Country by Lauren Willig
In a novel perfect for fans of Hazel Gaynor’s A Memory of Violets and upstairs-downstairs stories, Annabel Abbs, the award-winning author of The Joyce Girl, returns with the brilliant real-life story of Eliza Acton and her assistant as they revolutionized British cooking and cookbooks around the world.
"A feast for the senses, rich with the flavors of Victorian England, I prepared every dish with Eliza and Ann and devoured every page. A literary—and culinary—triumph!"
—Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of When We Were Young & Brave
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday
For fans of: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday follows A Princess for Christmas with another delightful contemporary Christmas romance between a playboy baron and a woman who has said goodbye to love.
Praise for Jenny Holiday:
"Delightfully sexy and sweet, Holiday knows how to deliver the perfect combination of sexual tension and happily-ever-after."
—Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author of To Sir, with Love on A Princess for Christmas
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole
For fans of: We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
An enchanted Christmas dress brings two generations of women together for the magic of the season in this delightful holiday story from New York Times bestselling author Courtney Cole.
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LibraryReads Votes Due: September 1, 2021
The deadline to submit your votes is September 1!
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We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!
-Chris
