Author name: Library Love Fest

Check out these forthcoming debut novels that were included in our recent Library Journal and Booklist ads!

• Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (on sale 12/7/21): An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, following the intertwined fates of a young girl sold to a courtesan school and the penniless son of a hunter.
• Velorio by Xavier Navarro Aquino (on sale 1/4/22): Set in the wake of Hurricane Maria, Xavier Navarro Aquino’s unforgettable debut novel follows a remarkable group of survivors searching for hope on an island torn apart by both natural disaster and human violence.
  -Also available in a Spanish edition!
   
• Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (on sale 1/11/22): A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm and sets her on a dangerous path—where choices come with deadly consequences, and she risks losing more than her heart.
• How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu (on sale 1/18/22): For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, a spellbinding and profoundly prescient debut that follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague—a daring and deeply heartfelt work of mind-bending imagination from a singular new voice. 
• Wahala by Nikki May (on sale 1/11/22): An incisive and exhilarating debut novel of female friendship following three Anglo-Nigerian best friends and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group—the most unforgettable girls since Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda.
  
  
• Shadows of Pecan Hollow by Caroline Frost (on sale 2/8/22): Set in Texas in the 1970s and 90s, Shadows of Pecan Hollow is a literary debut about a fierce woman and the partner-in-crime she can’t escape, perfect for readers of Where the Crawdads Sing and Valentine.

• Nightshift by Kiare Ladner (on sale 2/8/22): A haunting, compelling debut novel of complex female friendship and obsession, following one young woman’s decision to abandon her normal life and join the otherworldly, nocturnal existence of London’s nightshift workers.
• Asking for a Friend by Andi Osho (on sale 2/1/22): Comedian Andi Osho’s hilarious and uplifting debut novel features her trademark wit and is perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Mhairi McFarlane. 
• Garden Variety by Christy Wilhelmi (on sale 3/29/22): Upbeat women’s fiction about an urban community garden, life’s growing pains, and how fellow gardeners rally and come together to save their own. Includes a PS section with gardening tips and information.
• The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers (on sale 3/1/22):For the audience of Fiona Davis and Lisa Wingate, a vibrant historical debut set in 1947 North Carolina following a young female seamstress who uncovers dangerous truths about the Big Tobacco empire ruling the American South.
• The Blood Trials by N. E. Davenport (on sale 4/5/22): Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.
• The Caretakers by Amanda Bestor-Siegal (on sale 4/12/22): Set in a wealthy Parisian suburb, an emotionally riveting debut told from the point of view of six women, and centered around a group of au pairs, one of whom is arrested after a sudden and suspicious tragedy strikes her host family—a dramatic exploration of identity, class, and caregiving from a profoundly talented new writer.
• Hope and Glory by Jendella Benson (on sale 4/19/22): A brilliant debut by a British-Nigerian author—a heartfelt family drama that will delight book club readers and fans of books like Transcendent Kingdom, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, and The Girl with the Louding Voice.
• Cover Story by Susan Rigetti (on sale 4/5/22): Catch Me If You Can meets Sweetbitter in this debut novel about an ambitious and impressionable young woman who gets caught up in a charismatic con artist’s scam.

-Lainey

This week's episode of the podcast is all about books that will be on the big screen!

We discuss five HarperCollins titles that will be available as a movie or TV show very soon. Find a list of the books below along with any links we mentioned.

But first, listen to the podcast here:

Titles discussed:

• House of Gucci by Sara Gay Forden, soon to be a movie starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver
  –Watch the trailer
• The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, soon to be a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell
  -Check out the official Instagram account for updates on the movie here. 
  -See Sally Thorne's Instagram takeover here.
• Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie, a movie starring Gal Gadot and Kenneth Branagh, among others
• The Black Phone by Joe Hill, soon to be a movie starring Ethan Hawke
  –Watch the trailer
• The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, which will be the main focus in the second season of Bridgerton on Netflix
  –Check out this teaser for season two

We also mentioned a few older titles that have been, or we think should be, made into movies:

• This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff
  –Watch the trailer
• Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel 
• Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore

Be sure to listen to the full episode to hear of a fun giveaway!

Thanks for listening, 
-Lainey

Hello, librarians!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that Wanda Morris' All Her Little Secrets (the #1 selection!), Julie Tieu's The Donut Trap, and Louise Erdrich's The Sentence have been selected for the November LibraryReads list! AND—Ann Patchett adds to her Hall of Fame list with the selection of her upcoming essay collection These Precious Days!

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear their responses:

Click here to see the full November LibraryReads List!

#1 Pick — All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris: In this fast-paced thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a black lawyer who gets caught in a dangerous conspiracy after the sudden death of her boss. A debut perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

“All Her Little Secrets is a brilliantly nuanced but powerhouse exploration of race, the legal system, and the crushing pressure of keeping secrets. Morris brings a vibrant and welcome new voice to the thriller space.”
—Karin Slaughter, New York Times and international bestselling author

"In her debut thriller, corporate attorney Morris deftly combines a creepy Nazi-esque sect with a murderous plot and rounds out the intrigue with a striking commentary on racism, sexual assault, and misogyny."
—Library Journal

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Watch Wanda on Door to Door.

Watch Wanda's reaction to be selected for the LibraryReads list:

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu: Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.

"While Jasmine and Alex’s swift romance is adorable, Jasmine's post-college struggles and feelings of uncertainty carry Tieu's thoughtful debut. The Donut Trap isn't just a tale where a boy meets a girl, and they fall in love. It’s a family story in which Tieu perfectly builds tension between Jasmine and her parents as she tries to find her own path."
—Booklist 

"Donut miss this tasty treat! Julie Tieu is going on my auto-buy list. Her writing is as fresh and warm as a newly baked glazed. You need this book now."
—Meg Cabot, author of the Little Bridge Island and Princess Diaries series

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The Sentence by Louise Erdrich: In this stunning and timely novel, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author Louise Erdrich creates a wickedly funny ghost story, a tale of passion, of a complex marriage, and of a woman's relentless errors.

“The many-hued, finely patterned weave of Erdrich’s funny, evocative, painful, and redemptive ghost story includes strands of autobiography…Erdrich’s insights into what her city Minneapolis experienced in 2020 are piercing; all her characters are enthralling, and her dramatization of why books are essential to our well-being is resounding.”
—Booklist ⭐️ review

"The Sentence is a novel that reckons with ghosts—of both specific people but also the shadows resulting from America’s violent, dark habits."
—Kirkus ⭐️ review

“Scintillating…More than a gripping ghost story, The Sentence offers profound insights into the effects of the global pandemic and the collateral damage of systemic racism. It adds up to one of Erdrich’s most…illuminating works to date.”        
—Publishers Weekly ⭐️ review

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Future Home of the Living God (November 2017)

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Welcome to the Hall of Fame:

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett: The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays.  

"The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike."
—Publishers Weekly ⭐️ review

"An enviable life shared with candor, emotion, and knockout storytelling power."
—Kirkus ⭐️ review

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Commonwealth (September 2016)
The Dutch House (September 2019)

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Watch Ann Patchett on Door to Door:

***

Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the November LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the December LibraryReads List by November 1st. Click here to find out what we're recommending!  

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Lainey

Step back in time on Door to Door next Tuesday, October 19th at 2 PM ET! LLF welcomes USA Today bestselling author Jillian Cantor to the program. Hear all about Beautiful Little Fools, a reimagining of the literary classic The Great Gatsby. An atmospheric historical novel with echoes of Big Little Lies, told in three women’s alternating voices.

Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue says: “Jillian Cantor’s shifting kaleidoscope of female perspectives makes F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic tale of Jazz Age longing and lust feel utterly modern. A breathtaking accomplishment.”

You can watch the interview on Facebook here but if you don't have Facebook, not to worry! The video will also be available on our YouTube account shortly after the event. 

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-Lainey

The day has arrived! Lori Rader-Day's new novel, Death at Greenway, is on sale today, October 12th! Death at Greenway is 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.

Check out all of the love for this book:

We have a very special podcast episode for you this week. On this episode, Julie Will, Vice President/Editorial Director at Harper Wave, interviews Dr. Traci Baxley. They discuss Dr. Baxley's upcoming book Social Justice Parenting—an empowering, timely guide to raising anti-racist, compassionate, and socially conscious children, from a diversity and inclusion educator with more than thirty years of experience.

Listen to the episode below:

One very cool part of this essential read is that Dr. Baxley included a reading resource guide. Among many, her favorite author to recommend is Jacqueline Woodson—mainly because she has a book for every generation!

Social Justice Parenting is on sale October 19, 2021.

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-Lainey

This week, we welcome our honorary Library Love Fest member Andrew Kaberline, Senior Marketing Associate from HarperAudio, back to the podcast! Andrew brings some recent audiobooks to share and we play clips from each title. You'll hear newly discovered audio of Jim Morrison reading poetry, Jennifer Jason Leigh inhabit the characters of Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Pacino from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and an audio-exclusive title from Gary John Bishop.

Listen to the episode:

Titles discussed:

• The Collected Works of Jim Morrison by Jim Morrison, read by Jim Morrison, Patti Smith, Liz Phair, Oliver Ray, Tom Robbins, Frank Lisciandro, Anne Morrison Chewning, Sefton Graham, and Ian Morrison
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino, read by Jennifer Jason Leigh
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Sanity by Gary John Bishop, read by Gary John Bishop
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen, read by Kara Young
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
  -We also mentioned Lainey's podcast interview with LaTanya—listen here.
  -Watch LaTanya on Door to Door here.
  -We also mentioned Chris' podcast interview with James Han Mattson, author of Reprieve—listen here.

• Her Heart for a Compass by Sarah Ferguson, read by Sarah Ferguson and Ell Potter
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• BONUS! We mentioned Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson. The audio book is read by Marin Ireland and you can hear a clip here.

Check out of all our audio egalleys available on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley.

A big thank you to Andrew! Find more about HarperAudio on their website.

-Lainey

Hello, librarians!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that Olivia Dade's All the Feels (the #1 selection!) and Lori Rader-Day's Death at Greenway have been selected for the October LibraryReads list! We are also over the moon that Anthony Horowitz adds to his Hall of Fame list with the selection of his upcoming novel A Line to Kill!

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear their responses:

Click here to see the full October LibraryReads List!

***

All the Feels by Olivia Dade: 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 will be hard to put down…. The writing is excellent, with witty, banter-filled dialogue."
—Library Journal ⭐️ review

"[All the Feels] weaves in sharp wit and dry humor even as it tugs at the reader's heartstrings…. A consistently entertaining and often insightful romance."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐️ review

"After wowing readers with Spoiler Alert, Dade returns with another stunning contemporary romance that brilliantly celebrates the redemptive power of love."
—Booklist ⭐️  review

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Spoiler Alert (October 2020)

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Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day: 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.

"Rader-Day, known for masterfully weaving historical elements into her female-focused literary thrillers, imbues this wartime whodunit with palpable emotion as Bridey reconciles her family’s bombing deaths through a plan to save another life."
—Booklist

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
The Black Hour (July 2014)

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Watch Lori Rader-Day on Door to Door:

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz: 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 often prickly relationship between the Watson-like Horowitz and the Holmes-like Hawthorne complements the intricate detective work worthy of a classic golden age whodunit."
—Publishers Weekly ⭐️ review

Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Magpie Murders (June 2017)
The Word Is Murder (June 2018)
Moonflower Murders (November 2020)

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Watch Anthony Horowitz on Door to Door:

***

Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the October LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the November LibraryReads List by October 1st. Click here to find out what we're recommending!  

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Lainey

Hello, librarians!

Fall is in the air and we are back with a fresh round of reading suggestions for the November LibraryReads List! Reminder: votes for the November LibraryReads List are due October 1st.

Happy reading!

-The LLF Team (Virginia and Lainey)

***

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
For fans of: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

In this fast-paced thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a Black lawyer who gets in over her head after the sudden death of her boss—a debut perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

“Wanda M. Morris hits all the right notes in All Her Little Secrets, a taut, sleek thriller that’s also a searing story about the secrets we can never manage to leave behind. A stunning debut.”
—Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2021

Watch Wanda M. Morris on Door to Door and listen to a podcast interview with LLF's Lainey Mays:

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Also from the author: The Night Watchman, Future Home of the Living God, and LaRose

In this very brave, unusual, and forceful novel, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author Louise Erdrich creates a wickedly funny ghost story, a tale of passion, of a complex marriage, and of a woman's relentless error.

"Scintillating…. More than a gripping ghost story, The Sentence offers profound insights into the effects of the global pandemic and the collateral damage of systemic racism. It adds up to one of Erdrich’s most…illuminating works to date."
—Publishers Weekly ⭐ review

"The Sentence is a novel that reckons with ghosts—of both specific people but also the shadows resulting from America’s violent, dark habits."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2021

Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
Also from the author: Fall; or, Dodge in Hell and The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Neal Stephenson returns with a visionary technothriller about climate change and the man-made forces that shape our present and future. Intricately imagined and richly plotted, Termination Shock is trademark Stephenson—a gripping and propulsive epic of the modern world that shows this remarkable author at his very best.

"This book is the rare climate thriller that's realistic about political stonewalling in the face of disaster yet unafraid to imagine a possible future where people might actually come together and try to save civilization. The kind of climate-change fiction we all need."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2021

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Also from the author: The Dutch House and Commonwealth

The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships, and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays.  

"An enviable life shared with candor, emotion, and knockout storytelling power."
—Kirkus Reviews ⭐ review

"Breathtakingly candid, Patchett attains graceful velocity and tilt, her vibrant sentences serving as divining rods for piquant life lessons."
—Booklist

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2021

Watch Ann Patchett on Door to Door: 

The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton
Also from the author: The Last Train to London and The Race for Paris

The New York Times bestselling author of The Last Train to London revisits the dark early days of the German occupation in France in this haunting novel—a love story and a tale of high-stakes danger and incomparable courage—about a young American heiress who helps artists hunted by the Nazis escape from war-torn Europe.

"Clayton's lyrical, thought-provoking prose breathes life into her characters. This sterling portrait of a complex woman stands head and shoulders above most contemporary WWII fiction."
—Publishers Weekly ⭐ review

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2021

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
Also from the author: Finding Chika and The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be "the Lord." And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.

"Unanswerable questions wrapped inside a thought-provoking yarn."
—Kirkus Reviews

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LibraryReads Votes Due: October 1, 2021

***

We hope you enjoy the books! For more information about LibraryReads, visit their website. Remember: Vote early! Vote often!

-Lainey

"I started writing All Her Little Secrets on my lunch breaks from work at the library around the corner from my job (thank you Vinings Branch!). I sat in the same carrel and wrote for an hour and a half each day."
—Wanda M. Morris' Library Journal interview

The Library Love Fest team loves debut novelist Wanda M. Morris' upcoming novel All Her Little Secrets. It has been named a Lead Read title for the sales team at HarperCollins. Wanda was recently featured on the COVER OF LIBRARY JOURNAL! Woah! See the image below. Suffice to say: everyone is in love with this pulse-pounding thriller about a black corporate attorney who gets caught in a dangerous conspiracy after the sudden death of her boss. She will have to reveal the company's secrets in the present and repress her own secrets from the past. It's the perfect read for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng—with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

Read the full Q&A with Library Journal here.

Listen to our podcast episode with Wanda here:

There is so much love coming in for All Her Little Secrets, including:

One thing we love is this Spotify playlist Wanda put together:

Find the full playlist and other assets here.

Wanda was just on our Door to Door episode with fellow author and friend Lori Rader-Day (Lori taught Wanda at the Yale Writers' Workshop!). Watch the replay here:

All Her Little Secrets goes on sale November 2, 2021. LibraryReads votes are due October 1st, 2021.
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-Lainey

We're back with another wonderful Editors Unedited podcast episode! This week, we feature a conversation between LLF podcast pro Lucia Macro, VP/Executive Editor at William Morrow, in conversation with her author Lisa Berne! Julia Quinn calls Lisa “one of the most exciting new historical writers in a long time.” This conversation is a must-listen for romance fans! In addition to discussing Lisa's latest book in the Penhallow Dynasty series called The Redemption of Philip Thane, they also talked about the books that made them fall in love with the romance genre and the difficulties of writing redeemable heroes. 

Listen to the episode here:

Find out more about Lisa and the rest of the Penhallow Dynasty series on her website.

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The Redemption of Philip Thane goes on sale December 28, 2021. LibraryReads votes are due November 1st!

-Lainey

We had an afternoon packed-to-the-brim with reading recommendations on our Door to Door episode today. We welcomed our friend and colleague Jean Marie Kelly, Affiliate Publisher of HarperCollins 360, to talk about some forthcoming titles from the Fall/Winter list, including books by Jeffrey Archer, Dinah Jefferies, and Donna Hay.

Jean Marie has been with HarperCollins since 2003. In 2012, she launched HarperCollins 360 as a way to publish books from our sister companies around the world (India, Australia, UK, and others) and introduce these authors to a larger audience in the United States.

We love hearing what books Jean Marie and her team are bringing to the US market. Grab a cocktail (we chose Donna Hay's Grapefruit Vodka Punch. Find the recipe here.) and catch the replay of the event below:

Find a list of titles discussed on our Edelweiss+ catalog here.

We also mentioned our Door to Door episode with Jeffrey Archer and Anthony Horowitz, Jeffrey Archer's interview with Donna Seaman for Booklist's Shelf Care podcast, and our LibraryReads podcast episode with Meg Cabot.

Follow HarperCollins 360 on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Be sure to join us next Tuesday, August 24th at 2 PM ET for a conversation with Alice Henderson, author of A Blizzard of Polar Bears, and Blair Braverman, author of Dogs on the Trail.

-Lainey

Hello, librarians!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that Meg Cabot officially joins the LibraryReads Hall of Fame with the selection of her upcoming novel No Words!

Want to hear how Meg reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear her response!

Click here to see the full September LibraryReads List!

***

No Words by Meg Cabot: Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries, returns to Little Bridge Island with a new story about a children’s book author with a case of writer’s block and an arrogant novelist who have to set aside their differences as they get through a weekend long book festival that just might change everything—including their feelings for each other.

"Effervescent…. witty prose, an entertaining cast of diverse characters, and a romance that’s enchanting."
—Publishers Weekly

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Previous LibraryReads Selections:
No Judgments (September 2019)
No Offense (August 2020)

***

Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the September LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the October LibraryReads List by September 1st. Click here to find out what we're recommending!  

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

On this week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast, LLF's Chris Connolly sits down with author James Han Mattson to discuss his upcoming novel Reprieve, on sale October 5th. 

In his second novel following the acclaimed The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves, James turns his sight towards a murder that takes place within a full-contact haunted escape room in Nebraska, and explores topics of racial fetishism, hate politics, the horror genre, and so much more. Biting, observant, and told through court transcripts and three unforgettable voices, Reprieve has garnered praise from authors and reviewers alike. Check out some of the praise below:

"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

"Reprieve is an eventual American classic that is unrelenting in its beauty and incisive cultural critique. But it is James Han Mattson's treatment of his fully flawed characters that clutches my heart and head. Every room in this book has a secret room. Every character has a shadow trying to swallow them whole. I'm not sure there is 'fearless' American writing, but a few times a generation, there is innovative writing that appears to confront, shred, and accept the fears of its author and its readers with a wicked joy. Reprieve is that book. It really is."
—Kiese Laymon, bestselling author of Heavy: An American Memoir

"Reprieve takes horror as its subject, while also using the genre as its means, delivering twists and fright and the kind of storytelling that keeps you turning pages. But the brilliance of James Han Mattson’s novel is in deploying the haunted house as a metaphor for our nation, where the true scare is a cultural reckoning with whiteness itself."
—Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind 

You can listen to the interview below! Also be sure to read James's Behind the Book essay, which illuminates many of the topics discussed during the interview.

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Thank you James! Reprieve goes on sale October 5th.

-Chris

This week's podcast episode features a conversation between bestselling and prizewinning author Joyce Carol Oates and her editor Gabriella Doob. They discuss Joyce's new book Breathe, a novel of love and loss set amid a starkly beautiful but uncanny landscape in New Mexico. In Breathe, a married couple from Cambridge, MA takes residency at a distinguished academic institute. When the husband is stricken with a mysterious illness, misdiagnosed at first, their lives are uprooted and husband and wife each embarks upon a nightmare journey.

Reviews for Breathe:

Many thanks to Joyce and Gabriella for this wonderful conversation!
Breathe is on sale August 3, 2021.

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-Lainey

Hello, librarians!

You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!

This month, we are thrilled to share that Battle Royal by Lucy Parker and The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams have been selected for the August LibraryReads List!

We're also excited to share that LibraryReads Hall of Fame author Sarah MacLean's latest publication, Bombshell, was selected.

Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!

Click here to see the full August LibraryReads List!

***

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker: Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits, where two bakers learn they will be fighting for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bake a cake for an upcoming royal wedding.

"Lucy Parker’s books are marvels of wit and warmth and empathy, and Battle Royal is no exception. It’s as delicious as the cakes baked by Sylvie and Dominic, from first page to last."
—Olivia Dade, bestselling author of Spoiler Alert

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The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams:
An unforgettable and heartwarming debut about how a chance encounter and a list of library books helps forge an unlikely friendship between two very different people—a lonely London widower and a troubled teenager.

"If you love books, read this. If you love people, read this. If you love crying with sadness, crying with happiness, and feeling like you have been wrapped in the blanket of someone else's life, read this."
—Debbie Johnson, bestselling author of Maybe One Day

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Bombshell by Sarah MacLean: New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

Praise for Sarah MacLean: 
"Sarah MacLean's books are fierce." —Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

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Previous LibraryReads Selections:
Brazen and the Beast (July 2019)
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover (November 2014))
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (December 2013)

Watch Sarah MacLean, Lori Rader-Day, and Tamron Hall in Conversation!

***

Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the August LibraryReads List! Be sure to submit your votes for the September LibraryReads List by August 1st. Click here to find out what we're recommending!  

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

On this week's podcast episode, we feature a conversation between New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight—author of Friends Like These—and her editor Jennifer Barth, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor at Harper.

Friends Like These is a relentlessly twisty literary thriller in which a desperate intervention brings together a group of college friends 10 years after graduation—a reunion marked by lies, betrayal, and murder.

Check out some of the rave reviews:

Listen to the episode here: 

A big thank you to Jennifer and Kimberly for taking the time to record this episode. What a fascinating peek behind-the-scenes of the publishing process!

Friends Like These goes on sale September 7, 2021.

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-Lainey

This week's podcast episode features a conversation between editor Sara Birmingham and Adam Harris, author of The State Must Provide. We were so excited to facilitate this important conversation. The State Must Provide serves as a definitive history of the pervasiveness of racial inequality in American higher education. Adam is a staff writer at The Atlantic where he has covered education and national politics since 2018. He was previously a reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education where he covered federal education policy and historically black colleges and universities. In the interview, Adam and Sara spoke about some of the history of racial injustice within higher education and how the book came to be. It was also interesting to hear Sara's experience editing this book because she came on board after the initial draft was written. 

Check out some of the reviews:

Calling all romance fans! This week's episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast features a conversation between New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean and her editor Carrie Feron, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor at Avon and William Morrow. This is a conversation NOT TO BE MISSED! In addition to Sarah's books, Carrie edits many beloved romance authors, including Lisa Kleypas, Eloisa James, Lenora Bell, and Diana Quincy. Between Sarah and Carrie, the romance knowledge overflows in this podcast episode. They discuss the famous "clinch" romance covers and other elements of romance novels through the years. You'll also hear about Sarah's latest book, Bombshell, the first in a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

Listen to the episode here:

Links mentioned in the episode:

-Listen to Sarah's 99% Invisible podcast interview here.
-Authors edited by Carrie: Lisa Kleypas, Eloisa James, Lenora Bell, and Diana Quincy
-Sarah has her own romance novel podcast! Listen to Fated Mates here.

Want to hear more about Bombshell? We hope you can join us for our "In the Spotlight" event with Sarah MacLean, Lori Rader-Day, and Tamron Hall next Tuesday, June 29th from 7:00-8:00 PM ET.

A big thanks to Sarah and Carrie for taking the time to do this podcast recording. Bombshell goes on sale August 24, 2021.

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LibraryReads votes are due August 1st!

-Lainey

Please join us for a night of stories by and about
strong women told through three genres:
mystery, history, and romance.

June 29, 2021
7:00 – 8:00pm ET

Register for the 6/29 CrowdCast event!

About As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall: 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.

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Register for the 6/29 CrowdCast event!

About Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day: 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.

Request the egalley on Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
Register for the 6/29 CrowdCast event!

About Bombshell by Sarah MacLean: New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

Request the egalley on Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
Register for the 6/29 CrowdCast event!

-LLF

So, you've finished the first season of Bridgerton on Netflix…now what? Well, not to fear! We have you covered. Below you will see a list of all the Bridgerton books in the series and books within that world as well as other books to read after the Bridgerton series.

Check out this message that Julia Quinn recorded for librarians during National Library Week:

Find all of Julia Quinn's books here. 

Happy Reading!

-Lainey