Hello, librarians!
We made it back from ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia! There were fantastic authors, thrilling book buzzes, and, of course, cheesesteaks! If you couldn't attend the show, do not fret: we recorded our world-famous book buzz, our three incredible author panelists, and all of our signing authors for your listening and viewing pleasure!
Below, you'll find our staff suggestions for the April LibraryReads List.
As a reminder, votes are due March 1st!
Happy reading!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
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Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles
For fans of: Varina by Charles Frazier and
The Son by Philipp Meyer
The critically acclaimed, bestselling author of News of the World and Enemy Women returns to Texas in this atmospheric story, set at the end of the Civil War, about an itinerant fiddle player, a ragtag band of musicians with whom he travels trying to make a living, and the charming young Irish lass who steals his heart.
Listen to an audiobook sample below!
"Jiles brings her singular voice to the young couple's travails, her written word as lyrical and musical as Simon's bow raking over his strings. Loyal Jiles readers and fans of Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See (2014), and Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge (2008) will adore the author's latest masterpiece."
—Booklist 
review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
The Coyotes of Carthage by Steven Wright
For fans of: The Feral Detective by Jonathan Lethem and
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
A blistering and thrilling debut—a biting exploration of American politics, set in a small South Carolina town, about a political operative running a dark money campaign for his corporate clients.
"The Coyotes of Carthage is at once timely and timeless, an astonishing and assured debut. Like two-faced Janus, it looks back at where we’ve been and forward to where we might be going. Steven Wright's novel should be required reading for 2020—or any year in which there’s an election at any level."
—Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author of The Lady in the Lake
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
For fans of: 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne and The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
In Alisha Rai’s second novel in her Modern Love series, following The Right Swipe, a live-tweet event goes viral for a camera-shy ex-model, shoving her into the spotlight—and into the arms of the bodyguard she’d been pining for.
"Rai follows up The Right Swipe with a sweet and spicy romance that delves into some deep issues of mental health for both main characters (severe anxiety and PTSD), as well as the effects of social media on people’s lives. Essential for public libraries."
—Library Journal 
review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
For fans of: Maid by Stephanie Land and
Dopesick by Beth Macy
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.
"Thompson-Hernández's portrayal of Compton's black cowboys broadens our perception of Compton's young black residents, and connects the Compton Cowboys to the historical legacy of African Americans in the west. An eye-opening, moving book."
—Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
The Silent Treatment by Abbie Greaves
For fans of: Ghosted by Rosie Walsh and Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
Resonant with the emotional power of the bestselling novels of David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes, a rich and poignant debut about lies, loss, and a transcendent love at the heart of a troubled marriage.
"Abbie Greaves held me spellbound with this intimate, emotional story of the brutal power of silence and ostracism. Yet this deep dive into a troubled marriage is ultimately uplifting as Frank and Maggie make their way through the challenges of isolation, mental health, aging, and the yearning for connection. Keep the tissues handy for this lovely read."
—Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Oysterville Sewing Circle
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Something She's Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell
For fans of: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell and
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Simple Favor comes an electrifying domestic thriller of how one woman’s life is turned upside down when her brother brings his new girlfriend to visit—and no one is telling the truth about who they really are.
Listen to an audiobook sample below!
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni
For fans of: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield and
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
From the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of the Angelology series comes a bewitching gothic novel of suspense that plunges readers into a world of dark family secrets, the mysteries of human genetics, and the burden of family inheritance.
"The Ancestor is a wonderful shape-shifter of a novel. One minute you’ll suppose you’re in a haunted house: think Shirley Jackson. The next, you’re transported into the sort of world Mary Shelley might have created for Frankenstein."
—Chris Bohjalian, bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and The Red Lotus
Click below to watch a video of Danielle Trussoni at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia!
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan
For fans of: Still Me by Jojo Moyes and First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
From the wildly popular bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things comes a surprising and uplifting story about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and the magic of chosen family.
Praise for The Keeper of Lost Things:
"Hogan’s writing has the soothing warmth of the cups of cocoa and tea her characters regularly dispense…old-fashioned storytelling with a sprinkling of magic."
—Kirkus Reviews
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Have You Seen Me? by Kate White
For fans of: Sunburn by Laura Lippman
From New York Times bestselling author Kate White comes a gripping novel about one woman’s dangerous quest to recover lost memories someone would rather she never find.
"Provides the twists and shocks that any reader of domestic thrillers expects and savors, but she also manages to use some of our expectations to create clever dead ends…. An engaging novel that turns some clichés of recent thrillers on their heads."
—Kirkus Reviews
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst
Also from the author: The Deepest Blue
In this epic standalone fantasy, the acclaimed author of the Queens of Renthia series introduces an imaginative new world in which a pair of strong and determined women risk their lives battling injustice, corruption, and deadly enemies in their quest to become monster racing champions.
"Durst imbues a thrill-filled story about monster racing with impressive thematic depth and a refreshing spectrum of female characters…. Durst consistently defies expectations in both plot and characterization while exploring sophisticated themes of found family, integrity, and morality. This excellent epic fantasy will appeal to adult fans of Tamora Pierce and Megan Whalen Turner."
—Publishers Weekly 
review
Click below to watch a video of Sarah Beth Durst at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia!
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
The Astonishing Life of August March by
Aaron Jackson
For fans of: Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson
In this enchanting first novel, an irrepressibly optimistic oddball orphan is thrust into the wilds of postwar New York City after an extraordinary childhood in a theater—Candide by way of John Irving, with a hint of Charles Dickens.
"Aaron Jackson's debut is a footlight parade of post war originals in a story that will break your heart and put it back together again with wisdom, hilarity and hope. August March is a misfit miracle. You will root for him every step of the way on his path to true love in this most glorious debut."
—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of Tony's Wife
Click below to watch a video of Aaron Jackson at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia!
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Passage West by Rishi Reddi
For fans of: Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli and
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
A sweeping, vibrant first novel following a family of Indian sharecroppers at the onset of World War I, revealing a little-known part of California history.
"Reddi’s engrossing first novel (after the collection Karma) explores the immigrant experience of Indian-Americans in early 20th-century California…. Reddi vividly evokes the landscape and the characters’ place in it, making the conclusion all the more wrenching. Reddi’s Steinbeck-ian tale adds a valuable contribution to the stories of immigrants in California."
—Publishers Weekly
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer
For fans of: Still Me by Jojo Moyes and Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins
The heartbreaking, yet hopeful story of a mother and daughter struggling to be a family without the one person who holds them together—a perfect summer read for fans of Jojo Moyes and Marisa de los Santos.
"You and Me and Us is that rare novel you want to savor even as you’re turning the pages as fast as possible. This poignant and heartrending story of a family redefining their roles in the face of a crisis made me smile and cry. Alison Hammer is an exciting new voice in women’s fiction, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next."
—Camille Pagán, bestselling author of I’m Fine and Neither Are You
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
The German Heiress by Anika Scott
For fans of: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris and The Huntress by Kate Quinn
For readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany.
"Meticulously researched and plotted like a noir thriller, The German Heiress tells a different story of WWII— of characters grappling with their own guilt and driven by the question of what they could have done to change the past."
—Jessica Shattuck, New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Kid Quixotes by Stephen Haff
For fans of: Dear America by Jose Antonio Vargas and
The Education of Eva Moskowitz by Eva Moskowitz
The unlikely yet inspiring true story of a teacher struggling with mental illness, a silent daughter of an undocumented mother, and the amazing one-room schoolhouse that helped them find their voices, heal their pain, and become empowering models of resilience.
"A kindhearted, engaging story of helping modern immigrant children via a 400-year-old classic text."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Educators, immigration activists, and school reformers will find inspiration in this frequently lyrical account."
—Publishers Weekly
Click below to watch a video of Stephen Haff at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia!
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn
Also from the author: The Other Miss Bridgerton and The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband
Continuing her delightful Bridgerton Prequel series, #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn presents the latest love story between the Bridgerton and Rokesby families.
Praise for Julia Quinn:
"Quinn is a master of historical romance."
—Entertainment Weekly
"Quinn’s clever dialogue makes the characters sparkle."
—Publishers Weekly
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
For fans of: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne and What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell
Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide—a stunningly poetic and heartrending literary debut for fans of André Aciman and Alan Hollinghurst.
"Tomasz Jedrowski is a remarkable writer, alive to the ramifications of history and politics, in which the violence of a corrupt state can never fully stamp out the flourishing of beauty, grace, and resistance."
—Justin Torres, bestselling author of We the Animals
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
Growing Old by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
For fans of: Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher and The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
From the revered author of the bestselling The Hidden Life of Dogs, a witty, engaging, life-affirming account of the joy, strength, and wisdom that comes with age.
"Octogenarian Thomas tackles old age in this clever and astute memoir…. Thomas is an inspiring example of a life well lived, and her sense of humor, honesty, and curiosity will resonate."
—Publisher’s Weekly 
review
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LibraryReads Votes Due: March 1, 2020
For more great reading suggestions for April, check out our
April LibraryReads Suggestions Edelweiss catalog!
The deadline to submit your votes is March 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