Hello librarians!
We hope you all are safe, healthy, and enjoying the promise of spring!
Below, you'll find our staff suggestions for the May LibraryReads List. Whether you are looking for a stand-out coming-of-age story (definitely read Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau!), a mystery with an unexpected but much-needed protagonist (might we recommend How Lucky by Will Leitch), or an impactful memoir (see My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnson and The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku), we are sure you'll find a new favorite amongst our full line-up of staff suggestions.
Happy reading!
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Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
For fans of: All Adults Here by Emma Straub and
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Almost Famous meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this funny, wise, and tender novel about a fourteen-year-old girl’s coming of age in 1970s Baltimore, caught between her straight-laced family and the progressive family she nannies for—who happen to be secretly hiding a famous rock star and his movie star wife for the summer.
"I LOVED Jessica Anya Blau’s novel. Mary Jane is about an oppressed teenager being given a jolt of life and joy by an eccentric found family of therapists, a child, a rock star and a movie star in the 1970s…. If you have ever sung along to a hit on the radio, in any decade, then you will devour Mary Jane at 45rpm."
—Nick Hornby
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnson, with Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore
For fans of: Code Girls by Liza Mundy and Chasing Space by Leland Melvin
The late Katherine Johnson, the remarkable woman at heart of the smash New York Times bestseller and Oscar-winning film Hidden Figures, tells the full story of her life, including what it took to work at NASA, help land the first man on the moon, and live through a century of turmoil and change.
"Her brilliance and numbers helped me and many others reach the stars. A storied and rich legacy that will resonate with many generations of explorers."
—Leland Melvin, astronaut and author of Chasing Space
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
For fans of: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
In a delightful follow-up to Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur delivers another #ownvoices queer rom-com about a hopeless romantic who vows to show his childhood crush that romance isn’t dead by recreating iconic dates from his favorite films.
"Smart, sexy, and sweet. Readers will be over the moon for this rom-com."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
How Lucky by Will Leitch
For fans of: Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Beloved journalist and sportswriter Will Leitch makes his fiction debut with this novel, as suspenseful as it is moving, about a young man suffering from a debilitating disease who believes he has witnessed the kidnapping of a young college student.
"It's a testament to Will Leitch's ability that he can blend seemingly disparate elements—mystery and illness and humor and football—and come away with something so winning."
—Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Watch Will Leitch on ALA Midwinter's Diverse Characters Panel,
shared courtesy of the American Library Association
Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny HostinFor fans of: It's Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan
Emmy Award winner, renowned lawyer and journalist, and The View cohost Sunny Hostin makes her literary debut with this dazzling novel about a life-changing summer along the beaches of Martha's Vineyard.
"Summer on the Bluffs…is a delicious, shimmering novel about the lives of Amelia Vaux Tanner and her three, grown-up godchildren. I was riveted by these fascinating, complicated women, and looked forward every day to opening Hostin's luminous novel and escaping, through its pages, to the golden dunes of Martha's Vineyard."
—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Girl in the Walls by A. J. GnuseFor fans of: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
A mesmerizing and suspenseful coming-of-age novel about an orphan hiding within the walls of her former family home—and about what it means to be truly seen after becoming lost in life.
"Tense and terrifying, with echoes of Shirley Jackson, Girl in the Walls is a spectacular debut. An elegant meditation on grief, love, and family, this truly extraordinary novel is a page-turner with deeply imagined characters, and A. J. Gnuse’s prose is as sharp and precise and muscular as any I’ve seen."
—Elizabeth Wetmore, New York Times bestselling author of Valentine
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
The Anatomy of Desire by L. R. Dorn
For fans of: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell and
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
For fans of riveting true crime docuseries a la Serial and Making a Murderer, The Anatomy of Desire is a modern tale of crime and punishment exploring unbridled ambition, blinding passion, and the dark side of desire.
"A truly innovative, fantastic book. Emphatically recommended. Reads like your favorite podcast, the hit crime doc you'll want to binge…."
—Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
The Radio Operator by Ulla LenzeFor fans of: The German House by Annette Hess and
Under Occupation by Alan Furst
Based on a true story, a gripping historical novel about a German immigrant who becomes embroiled in a Nazi spy ring operating in New York City in the early days of World War II.
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Happy Endings by Thien-Kim LamFor fans of: Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory and
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
With her debut novel, Thien-Kim Lam serves up a sexy second-chance romance about exes with unfinished business. When working together reignites their passion, will these former flames sizzle or get burned all over again?
"Unabashedly sex-positive, Happy Endings is a paean to second-chance romance—as well as friendship, family, food, and inclusive communities. The story's undeniable warmth makes it a pleasure to read."
—Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
For fans of: Beach Read by Emily Henry and
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Internationally bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane explores life-long friendships, long-buried secrets, and unexpected love in a heartfelt, emotional new novel, perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over Linda Holme and In Five Years by Rebecca Serle.
"McFarlane deftly balances the weight of grief and secrets with the lighthearted banter of both long friendships and surprising new connections…. Charming, emotionally satisfying, and unforgettable."
—Booklist ⭐ review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Find You First by Linwood BarclayFor fans of: Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
The New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch and master of psychological suspense returns with a riveting thriller in which the possible heirs of a dying tech billionaire are mysteriously being eliminated, one by one.
"Find You First starts with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. Barclay is a terrific writer, but he’s outdone himself with this. It’s the best book of his career. I couldn’t put it down, and you won’t be able to, either. If you enjoy thrillers, this is the real deal. It never lets up."
—Stephen King
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
The Mothers by Genevieve GannonFor fans of: If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman
What if you gave birth to someone else’s child? An emotional family drama about two couples, one baby, and an unimaginable choice. Inspired by a real-life case of an IVF laboratory mix-up.
"Engagingly and unflinchingly told, The Mothers is the story of every parent's worst nightmare…. Like all my favorite books, The Mothers is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and it leaves you with a lot to think about after you turn the final page. I sobbed my way through this wonderful book."
—Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-in-Law
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie JakuFor fans of: Don't Give Up, Don't Give In by Louis Zamperini
In this uplifting memoir in the vein of The Last Lecture and Man’s Search for Meaning, a Holocaust survivor pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom, and living his best possible life.
"A beautifully told, poignant story that should become required reading. Thank you, Eddie, for sharing your story of courage, resilience, kindness and love. Your book is our tonic, our medicine, our hope for living the happiest life we can."
—Heather Morris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
Watch Eddie Jaku's TED Talk!
The Secret Talker by Geling YanFor fans of: Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Combining the dark twists of The Silent Patient with the unsettling beauty of The Vegetarian, a tense, gripping, and wholly original psychological tale of a woman with a secret admirer—who is hiding secrets of her own.
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
The Betrayals by Bridget CollinsFor fans of: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
An intricate and utterly spellbinding literary epic brimming with enchantment, mystery, and dark secrets from the highly acclaimed author of the #1 international bestseller The Binding.
"The Betrayals is a beautiful dystopian romance about coming of age as an artist and the love affair artistic collaboration can be, while also being an acute political novel about the fate of spiritual values in a totalitarian system. A rich delight."
—Sandra Newman, author of The Heavens and The Country of Ice Cream Star
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey WilsonFor fans of: Little Weirds by Jenny Slate and This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps
Laugh-out-loud, deeply insightful, and emotion-filled essays from multi-talented actress, comedian, podcaster, and writer Casey Wilson.
"Casey Wilson is laugh-out-loud funny, vulnerable, and honest. Reading this book made me feel like I’m hanging out with a best friend. What a pleasure and privilege to spend time with such an absolute treasure."
—Phoebe Robinson, bestselling author of You Can’t Touch My Hair
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LibraryReads Votes Due: April 1, 2021
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We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!
-Chris