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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:
  

  Watch on demand here.

• Listen to The Library Love Fest Podcast in the Sound Garden Pavilion’s 'Live from the 25.'
• Mark your calendar! Don’t Miss the next Library Love Fest World-Famous Book Buzz on February 10th! Register here.

This week, we wish you a happy holiday break with our last episode of 2020! The library team is joined by Andrew Kaberline, Senior Marketing Associate from HarperAudio. We talk all about recent audiobooks that will make your holiday drives fly by and a few audio egalleys that are available on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley. We also play a few clips from the audios that Andrew brought. We hope you enjoy this discussion and have a wonderful, safe holiday season! 

Listen to the episode:

Titles discussed:

• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, read by Patton Oswalt, Melissa McBride, and Alex Brightman
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Pirate Stew by Neil Gaiman, read by Neil Gaiman
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Mistletoe in Paradise by Jill Shalvis, read by Erin Mallon
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Dearly by Margaret Atwood, read by Margaret Atwood
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Talking to GOATS by Jim Gray, read by Tom Brady and Jim Gray, featuring appearances by Bob Costas, Vin Scully, Carol Burnett, and Snoop Dogg. 
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy, read by Charlie Mackesy
  –Watch Charlie's interview on CBS This Morning
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
  

• Alright, Alright, Alright by Melissa Maerz, read by Brittany Pressley and George Newbern
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• The Killer’s Shadow by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, read by Holt McCallany
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, read by Marin Ireland
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy, read by Val Toomey, George Newbern, Marin Ireland, and Joel Froomkin
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, read by Marin Ireland
  -Listen to a clip from the audiobook here.

Audio Egalleys:

• The Light of Days by Judy Batalion, read by Mozhan Marno (on-sale April 6, 2021)
  –Request the audio egalley on Edelweiss+
  –Request the audio egalley on NetGalley
  –Listen to our podcast episode with Judy Batalion, in conversation with her editor.

• The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett, read by Jane Copland (on-sale March 9, 2021)
  –Request the audio egalley on Edelweiss+
  –Request the audio egalley on NetGalley
  –Watch our Door to Door with SJ Bennett

• Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, read by Marin Ireland (on-sale April 6, 2021)
  –Request the audio egalley on Edelweiss+

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

-Lainey

Download the egalley on Edelweiss+
Download the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2021

Hello friends! Happy holidays!

Nancy Johnson’s stunning debut novel, The Kindest Lie, is a powerful story set in 2008 as Obama takes office and Black communities are filled with a sense of hope and promise. We meet Ruth, an Ivy League-educated Black engineer searching for the son she walked away from and Midnight, a poor, young white boy who finds himself adrift in a dying Indiana factory town. This unlikely connection sets the scene for The Kindest Lie: a prescient, beautiful inspection of motherhood, race, class, and the pursuit of the American Dream. If you haven’t read this novel yet, we urge you to dip in. (And good luck finding a place in this book to stop reading for the night!)  Librarians and authors who have read The Kindest Lie have, well, the kindest words to say about this unforgettable debut. Check out some of the praise below!

"Nancy Johnson leads her readers into a story about race and family, weaving her characters in nuanced ways that are relevant today. It will be a long time before I stop thinking daily about Ruth and Midnight. Their emotional and very human stories will leave readers breathless and wanting to talk about every scene of this stunning and important book."
—Ron Block, Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH)

"Johnson’s sharp debut takes a deep dive into the life of a Black Chicago woman after the 2008 presidential election…. Powerful insights emerge on the plurality of Black American experience and the divisions between rural and urban life, and the wealthy and the working class. Johnson’s clear-eyed saga hits hard."
—Publishers Weekly STARRED review

"The Kindest Lie is a deep dive into how we define family, what it means to be a mother, what secrets we owe to those we love, and what it means to grow up Black. This beautifully crafted debut will keep you asking these questions and more."
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Two Ways and Small Great Things

"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

"A gloriously written, stunning heart scorcher about who we are and what we could be."
—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Cruel Beautiful World

We were thrilled to welcome Nancy Johnson on our recent Door to Door episode, which also featured renowned poet Nikki Giovanni. These two incredible writers had a wonderful conversation to open the episode. You can watch the replay below!

Watch on  : https://youtu.be/EGM23kdcX0Q

The Kindest Lie is an important, all-encompassing debut novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. We hope you will give it a read and submit your votes for LibraryReads. As a reminder, votes are due January 1, 2021.

Download the egalley on Edelweiss+
Download the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2021

-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)

This week, we welcome romance author Alisha Rai to the podcast! We talk about her latest, and final, book in her Modern Love series, First Comes Like. The first book in the series, The Right Swipe, was the #1 LibraryReads selection for August 2019, and the second book, Girl Gone Viral, was selected for the April 2020 LibraryReads list.

Listen to the episode below:

A few mentions from the episode:

• Find Alisha's TikTok feed here.
• Read the HuffPost article Alisha wrote here.
• Alisha mentioned Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder as well as author Nalini Singh

Download an egalley of First Comes Like on NetGalley and Edelweiss+ now.

The book publishes on February 16th, 2021. LibraryReads votes are due January 1st!

-Lainey

Watch the official trailer for Bridgerton, a new series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix, based in the Regency-set world of New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn's charming, powerful Bridgerton family.

You can read the first book now before the series comes out on December 25th. Find the TV tie-in edition here. This novel includes the 2nd epilogue, a peek at the story after the story.

Listen to an interview with author Julia Quinn on the Book Club Girl Podcast.

The Skimm also created an interactive "scandal sheet" written from the perspective of the fictional Lady Whistledown in the series. Check it out here.

We can't wait for the series—and to hear more scandals from Lady Whistledown. Watch on Netflix starting December 25th.

-Lainey

In The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, British illustrator, artist, and author Charlie Mackesy has created an insightful story that takes us on an exploration of life’s universal lessons, featuring 100 color and black-and-white drawings. It is the perfect book for readers of all ages. It is a #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller. This story is a complete delight to read and we hope you will pick up a copy for yourself and anyone else who might need a pick-me-up this holiday season.

Listen to an audio excerpt from the book:

Check out Charlie's Instagram feed.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is available now.

-Lainey

Hello librarians! 

We've all been eagerly anticipating the movie adaptation of Paulette Jiles's beloved novel News of the World starring Tom Hanks. Well, the wait is almost over: it will officially premiere in theaters nationwide on December 25th! You can watch the trailer below and keep reading for the early RAVE reviews! We also recommend you read a recent Wall Street Journal holiday film roundup where Paulette Jiles shares her thoughts on the film adaptation.

"Every day it seems this story becomes more urgently vital in shining a light on contemporary America, perhaps much more than the filmmakers ever could have imagined while they were making it. In so doing, this is a tale of another time in America that couldn’t be more important for these times. Journalistically, I shouldn’t be burying the headline, but News of the World is a towering piece of moviemaking." —Deadline review 12/11/2020 (read the full review here)

"The touching story of these two refugees of a divided country is entirely different in mood and tempo from anything Greengrass has done up to now. With its painstakingly detailed production and costume design and stirring sense of time and place, this is a lovingly crafted drama that conveys a gentle message about examining the pain of our past to find a place of peace, belonging and even joy in our future." —Hollywood Reporter review 12/11/2020 (read the full review here)

You can stay up-to-date with additional clips and news via the News of the World movie Instagram page. The trade paperback edition of News of the World is available now and the movie tie-in edition goes on sale December 29th!

-Chris

We have a new interview from Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network! She recently interviewed Sue Miller, author of Monogamy—on sale now. Monogamy has been named a New York Times Notable Book of 2020, NPR Best Book of 2020, and O, the Oprah Magazine called it: “A sensual and perceptive novel…. With humor and humanity, Miller resists the simple scorned-wife story and instead crafts a revelatory tale of the complexities—and the absurdities—of love, infidelity, and grief.” Don't miss this great conversation!

You can watch Carol's video interview or listen to the audio on Carol’s podcast!

Be sure to visit The Book Report Network and Bookreporter.com for more great content! 

-Lainey

This week, we welcome Harper Executive Editor Emily Griffin back to the podcast. Emily interviewed Meg Mason, author of the debut novel Sorrow and Bliss. There have been so many amazing quotes for this book. Ann Patchett said: "Sorrow and Bliss is a brilliantly faceted and extremely funny book about depression that engulfed me in the way I'm always hoping to be engulfed by novels. While I was reading it, I was making a list of all the people I wanted to send it to, until I realized that I wanted to send it to everyone I know." Wow! Check out some of the other great reviews:

"Brutal, tender, funny, this novel—a portrait of love in all of its many incarnations—came alive for me from the very first page. I saw myself here. I saw the people I love. I am changed by this book."
—Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes

—Publishers Weekly review

Hello librarians! 

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! It's hard to believe winter is almost here, but alas, Jack Frost waits for no one. But not to worry! We're here to help prepare for his arrival with a fresh round of reading suggestions for LibraryReads. Enjoy!

Remember: Votes for the February LibraryReads List are due January 1st.

***

The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson
For fans of: The Leavers by Lisa Ko and
The Mothers by Brit Bennett
A thought-provoking, page-turning debut about race, class, identity, and the pursuit of the American dream.

"The Kindest Lie is a deep dive into how we define family, what it means to be a mother, what secrets we owe to those we love, and what it means to grow up Black. This beautifully crafted debut will keep you asking these questions and more."
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Two Ways

"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

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
For fans of: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
An achingly beautiful and wickedly funny story of female friendship, betrayal, and a mysterious disappearance, set in the changing landscape of San Francisco.

"A nimble and arresting drama about the spell cast by beauty, the compulsion to lie, the valor of forthrightness, and the inevitability of the inexplicable." 
—Donna Seaman, Booklist STARRED review

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Watch Vendela Vida on Door to Door!

The Removed by Brandon Hobson
For fans of: Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
Steeped in Cherokee myths and history, a novel about a fractured family reckoning with the tragic death of their son long ago—from National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson.

"Brandon Hobson has given us a haunted work, full of voices old and new. It is about a family’s reckoning with loss and injustice, and it is about a people trying for the same. The journey of this family’s way home is full—in equal measure—of melancholy and love. The Removed is spirited, droll, and as quietly devastating as rain lifting from earth to sky."
—Tommy Orange, New York Times bestselling author of There There

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Raceless by Georgina Lawton
For fans of: This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins
From The Guardian’s Georgina Lawton, a moving examination of how racial identity is constructed—through the author’s own journey grappling with secrets and stereotypes, having been raised by white parents with no explanation as to why she looked black.

"Lawton’s examination of identity and family is a compelling account that will resonate with many readers."
—Booklist

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Watch Georgina Lawton on Door to Door!

The Upstairs House by Julia Fine
For fans of: The Need by Helen Phillips and
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
The author of What Should Be Wild returns with a provocative meditation on new motherhood—Shirley Jackson meets
The Awakening—in which a postpartum woman’s psychological unraveling becomes intertwined with the ghostly appearance of children’s book writer Margaret Wise Brown.

"Macabre and funny, spooky and soulful, Julia Fine's 
The Upstairs House lets the reader inhabit a massively entertaining and slyly enlightening story nestled inside another story like a ghost within its host. Love and resentment, madness and clarity compete and comingle in this unforgettable tale of literature and legacy."
—Kathleen Rooney, author of Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey and Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins
Also from the author: On the Corner of Hope and Main 
and Rebel
USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins continues her captivating Women Who Dare series with a female rancher who forges her own path in the wake of the Civil War.

"Memorable characters and fun, if fraught, dialogue make the highly anticipated second book in romance star Jenkins' Women Who Dare series a refreshing and keenly innovative historical romance. Readers will be clamoring for more well-researched and inclusive love stories featuring strong women in the American West." 
—Booklist STARRED review

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Watch Beverly Jenkins on Door to Door!

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
For fans of: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
Alisha Rai, author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral, returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes.

"Another win from this rising romance star."
—Booklist

Let's make Alisha Rai a LibraryReads Hall of Fame author!

Previous LibraryReads selections:
The Right Swipe (Top Pick – August 2019)
Girl Gone Viral (April 2020)

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Lola on Fire by Rio Youers
For fans of: If She Wakes by Michael Koryta and No Exit by Taylor Adams
British Fantasy Award nominee Rio Youers combines vengeance and deceit, love and bullets, secrets, and twists in this high-octane action thriller with a vibrant emotional core.

"Lola on Fire serves up all the gonzo action, quotable lines, and unforgettable characters a reader could want, in a novel that rivals Killing Eve in intensity and atmosphere."
—Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
For fans of: The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer
A compulsively readable debut novel—spiky, sharp, intriguingly dark, and tender—about a woman on the edge that combines the psychological insight of Sally Rooney with the sharp humor of Nina Stibbe and the emotional resonance of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

"Sorrow and Bliss is a brilliantly faceted and extremely funny book about depression that engulfed me in the way I'm always hoping to be to be engulfed by novels. While I was reading it, I was making a list of all the people I wanted to send it to, until I realized that I wanted to send it to everyone I know."
—Ann Patchett

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

We Can Only Save Ourselves by Alison Wisdom
For fans of: The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
With echoes of The Virgin Suicides and The Fates Will Find Their Way, Alison Wisdom’s debut novel is the story of one teenage girl’s unlikely indoctrination and the reverberations in the tight-knit community she leaves behind.

"In this tense, complicated novel, the loss of a daughter is observed through the singular, haunting voice of the town’s mothers as they wage a daily battle for safety under the guise of conformity and belonging…. taut, steely prose reveals new complexities, questions, and dangers with each turn of the page."
—Elizabeth Wetmore, New York Times bestselling author of Valentine

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

City of a Thousand Gates by Rebecca Sacks
For fans of: Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
A novel of great humanity, compassion, and astonishing immediacy, this inventive and unique debut captures the emotional reality of contemporary life in the West Bank and the irreconcilable Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a collage of narrative voices and different viewpoints centered on a particular set of events.

"A stunning first novel…imbued with foreboding at every turn…. Through her vibrant characters, Sacks paints a moving and powerful portrait of those who love the region passionately despite its many tensions and dangers."   
—Booklist STARRED review

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

Love and Other Lies by Ben McPherson
For fans of: The Wife by Alafair Burke and
Grace is Gone by Emily Elgar
A mother and father search for the truth behind their daughter’s disappearance in this stunning psychological suspense novel that takes Nordic noir to a level that is "emotional, painful, and utterly memorable" (Alex Marwood, Edgar Award-winning author of
The Poison Garden).

"[A] stunning psychological thriller…. McPherson dramatically highlights the tensions between Norway’s native and immigrant populations as the plot builds to a devastating conclusion. This powerful, thought-provoking novel deserves a wide readership."
—Publishers Weekly STARRED review

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: January 1, 2020

***

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

-Chris

"The ending of this book is one of the most beautifully written final chapters that I have ever worked on in my twenty-plus year career…. It's the most contemplative and gorgeously realized piece of writing about characters who you have really come to hold close to your heart."
—Rachel Kahan, editor of The Heiress

This week's podcast episode features a conversation between Molly Greeley, author of The Heiress, and her editor at William Morrow, Rachel Kahan. The Heiress is a spellbinding historical novel based on Pride and Prejudice that combines the knowing eye of Jane Austen with the eroticism and Gothic intrigue of Sarah Waters to reimagine the life of the mysterious Anne de Bourgh. This is the second book Molly has written with characters from Jane Austen's beloved novel Pride and Prejudice, the first being The Clergyman’s Wife. 

This novel is jam-packed with historical detail and unforgettable characters, sure to interest fans of Pride and Prejudice as well as general historical fiction readers.

Read a behind-the-book essay from Molly here.

A big thank you to Molly and Rachel for taking time to come on the podcast! 

The Heiress goes on sale January 5, 2021.

Download an egalley of The Heiress on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley now.

-Lainey

Our friend Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network, recently interviewed the “master of clever misdirection” (Kirkus Reviews) Aimee Molloy, author of Goodnight Beautiful—on sale now. Carol had such insightful thoughts on this book as well as Aimee's first book, The Perfect Mother. They talk about plotting a suspenseful read and how Aimee decided to change the whole book in the middle of the publishing process. 

You can watch Carol's video interview or listen to the audio on Carol’s podcast!

Be sure to visit The Book Report Network and Bookreporter.com for more great content! 

-Lainey

On our latest podcast episode, The Library Love Fest team wishes you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. We sat around our virtual dinner table to discuss a book we all love: Willy Vlautin's The Night Always Comes, on-sale April 6, 2021.

Take a listen:

Find out more about The Night Always Comes here. You can also see the full video from Willy to librarians below:

We had to include a photo of Willy’s long-time editor (in his dreams), Myrna Loy:

We also mentioned Willy's album for Don't Skip Out on Me. Find that audio here. You can listen to Chris' interview with Willy here. Find a list of all of Willy's books here.

Download an egalley of The Night Always Comes, on-sale April 6, 2021, on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley.

Thanks for listening and have a safe Thanksgiving!

-Lainey

The editors of The New York Times Book Review have selected 2020’s top 100 works of notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction. We are proud to share that HarperCollins has FOUR titles on the list! Keep reading for details and click here to see the full list. Congratulations to our wonderful authors!

The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson: Part H Is for Hawk, part The Soul of an Octopus, The Book of Eels is both a meditation on the world’s most elusive fish—the eel—and a reflection on the human condition.

"Poses questions about philosophy, the metaphysical, and the spiritual, as well as scientific issues, in a way that will stir readers. This beautifully crafted book challenges us not only to understand eels but our own selves. Highly recommended."
—Library Journal STARRED review

Click here to purchase your copy.

The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey: The New York Times bestselling author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy delivers another "luminous, unforgettable, and perfectly rendered" (Dennis Lehane) novel—a poignant and probing psychological drama that follows the lives of three siblings in the wake of a violent crime.

"Every character rings true; every observation and reaction feels real. Braiding three separate views of the same incident, Livesey weaves a masterful tapestry of emotion and action focused on the indelible impact of random events."
—Booklist STARRED review

Click here to purchase your copy. 

Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey: A finalist for the 2021 Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction—a chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir of a daughter reckoning with the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of her former stepfather, and the moving, intimate story of a poet coming into her own in the wake of a tragedy.

"I've not read an American memoir where more happens in the assemblage of language…. Memorial Drive forces the reader to think about how the sublime Southern conjurers of words, spaces, sounds and patterns protect themselves from trauma when trauma may be, in part, what nudged them down the dusty road to poetic mastery…. The more virtuosic our ability to use language to probe, the harder it becomes to protect ourselves from the secrets buried in our—and our nation's—marrow. This is the conundrum and the blessing of the poet. This is the conundrum and blessing of Memorial Drive."
—The New York Times Book Review

Click here to purchase your copy.

Monogamy by Sue Miller: A brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness and sorrow, from New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller.

"A robust, character-driven examination of the inner workings of a lengthy marriage…. The novel is grounded by vibrant prose, vividly portrayed secondary characters, and the resiliency of everlasting love…. A spectacular, powerful return."
—Publishers Weekly STARRED review

Click here to purchase your copy.

Congratulations to these wonderful authors!

-Chris

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

This month, we are thrilled to share that we have THREE titles selected for the December LibraryReads List: How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole, Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane, and Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase. Congratulations, all!

Want to hear how our authors reacted to being selected for the December LibraryReads List? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!

Click here to see the full list.

***

How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole: An arranged marriage leads to unexpected desire, in the first book of Alyssa Cole’s Runaway Royals series.

"Cole’s majestic new Runaway Royals series spins off from her excellent Reluctant Royals trilogy, adding more dazzling depth… Cole’s contemporary romances shine with unique settings and complex characters. Fans will eagerly await her next royal match." —Booklist STARRED review

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
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Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane: Debut author Darby Kane thrills with this twisty domestic suspense novel that asks one central question: shouldn’t a dead husband stay dead?

"Debut mystery author Kane blends tense domestic suspense with procedural details and legal thriller–like verbal sparring. A page-turner built on skillfully layered plotting and an intriguing protagonist." —Booklist STARRED review

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
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Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase: USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this delightful spin on Shakespeare's classic, 
The Taming of the Shrew.

Praise for Loretta Chase: "One of the finest romance authors of all time." —Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
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***

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

Click here to learn more about LibraryReads.

-Chris

When I heard that William Morrow was planning to publish an Anne of Green Gables Rom-Com retelling called Anne of Manhattan, I immediately started emailing the editor for a manuscript. What started as a simple call-to-action tweet from the editor melded into an amazing story sure to make the hearts of all Anne fans soar. I am so excited to share the final cover and an excerpt of Anne of Manhattan with librarians!

-Lainey

Read a note from the author, Brina Starler, here.

And now, kindreds, we are excited to share an excerpt from Anne of Manhattan:

   ***

Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson
The long anticipated second novel from the bestselling author of Be Frank with Me, a charming story of endings, new beginnings, and the complexities and complications of friendship and love, set in late 1930s Reno.

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

Watch Julia Claiborne Johnson on Door to Door!

The Rib King by Ladee Hubbard
The acclaimed author of The Talented Ribkins deconstructs painful African American stereotypes and offers a fresh and searing critique on race and class in this story centered on the Black servants of a down-on-its heels upper-class white family.

Request the egalley from Edelweiss+
Request the egalley on NetGalley
LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

Watch Ladee Hubbard on Door to Door!

The Captive by Fiona King Foster
A rural noir set in a near-future secessionist state that follows a mother who, along with her family, must venture on a pulse-pounding expedition to deliver a dangerous fugitive to the authorities—and who is forced to confront her own past on the journey.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, a gorgeous retelling of the Trojan War from the perspectives of the many women involved in its causes and consequences—for fans of Madeline Miller.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames by Justine Cowan
A riveting family drama evocative of Angela’s Ashes and The Glass Castle, about a woman who discovers the shocking secret at the center of her mother’s life.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

Register for our upcoming 11/17 episode of Door to Door featuring Justine Cowan and Georgina Lawton, author of Raceless.

People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd
A razor-sharp, wickedly smart suspense debut about an ambitious influencer mom whose soaring success threatens her marriage, her morals, and her family’s safety.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion
A haunting, suspenseful literary debut that combines a classic coming-of-age story with a portrait of a fractured American family dealing with the fallout of one summer evening gone terribly wrong.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

The Divines by Ellie Eaton
With the emotional power of Normal People and the reflective haze of The Girls, a stunning literary debut set in a secluded boarding school, exploring the intoxicating, destructive relationships between teenage girls.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

Watch Ellie Eaton on Door to Door! 

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 about poor children from the south sent to live with families in the north to survive deprivation and the harsh winters.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly
A princess with a powerful and dangerous secret must find a way to save her country from ruthless invaders in this exciting debut fantasy, the first novel in a thrilling duology perfect for fans of R. F. Kuang.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

The Historians by Cecilia Ekbäck
The Secret History meets The Alice Network in this riveting tale of murder and conspiracy in Sweden during WWII by the critically acclaimed author of Wolf Winter.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

Surrender the Dead by John Burley
From the award-winning author of The Absence of Mercy comes an emotionally powerful and gripping psychological thriller about the dark secrets dividing a family and community and the dangers of digging into the past.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

The Heiress by Molly Greeley
In this gorgeously written and spellbinding historical novel based on Pride and Prejudice, the author of The Clergyman’s Wife combines the knowing eye of Jane Austen with the eroticism and Gothic intrigue of Sarah Waters to reimagine the life of the mysterious Anne de Bourgh.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

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.

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

Nora by Nuala O'Connor
Acclaimed Irish novelist Nuala O’Connor’s bold reimagining of the life of James Joyce’s wife, muse, and the model for Molly Bloom in Ulysses is a "lively and loving paean to the indomitable Nora Barnacle" (Edna O’Brien).

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LibraryReads Votes Due: December 1, 2020

***

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

-Chris

We are thrilled to have an author guest post from Kathy Iandoli, author of God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop, which releases in paperback today, November 10, 2020. God Save the Queens was named an NPR Best Book of the Year. It pays tribute to the women of hip-hop—from the early work of Roxanne Shante, to hitmakers like Queen Latifah and Missy Elliot, to the superstars of today. Exploring issues of gender, money, sexuality, violence, body image, feuds, objectification and more, God Save the Queens is an important and monumental work of music journalism that at last gives these influential female artists the respect they have long deserved.

There's so much love for this book:

"Iandoli's book is rigorous, insightful, and authoritative—but it's also deadly personal."
—NPR Books

"In writing God Save the Queens, Kathy finally does what dozens of histories of Hip-Hop have never even attempted, telling the stories of women in the genre…Without God Save the Queens, it is possible that the contributions of dozens of important female hip-hop artists who have sold tens of millions of albums, starred in monumental films, and influenced the direction of the culture would continue to go unrecognized."
—AllHipHop.com

"Intended to be a narrative homage to women in hip-hop, this latest work by Iandoli is that and more…. Iandoli gives female artists the recognition they deserve, while showing that there is still work to do. Place this book in the hands of fans of Hanif Abdurraqib and Jeff Chang."
—Library Journal

“Music lovers will celebrate this much-needed exploration of the overlooked experiences of women in hip-hop.”
—Publishers Weekly

Now, a few words from Kathy:

***

It’s safe to say that I fell in love with libraries in utero. I come from a family of library lovers. There’s my Great Aunt who was a school librarian, my Mom, whose first job was working at a library, and me, the music-loving book nerd who hung out in libraries a lot. The fascination started during my summer vacations in grade school. My Mom was a teacher, so she was on vacation as well. Every week we would go to the library and pick out a new book. I had summer reading assignments from my school, but I would make it a point to either breeze past those in June or right before the school bell rang in September.

The most fun I had was picking out the books I liked with my Mom at the library. I was a huge Nancy Drew fan, and while I inherited most of my Mother’s collection (she lost a significant number of them during a basement flood in her childhood home), I would read the Nancy Drew books available at the library before I committed to buying them. We would sit on our deck in my backyard and read for hours on end. I would then provide my Mom with an unsolicited book report. We kept the same tradition during winter breaks, only then we would sit in the library and read. This was in my hometown of Hawthorne, NJ also the hometown of Blondie’s Debbie Harry, one of the first names I mention in God Save The Queens. When I found out that my book was acquired by so many different libraries across the country, I was thrilled.

When I was writing my book, I returned to that library. I sat at the same table where my mother and I would sit. I had a pile of music books next to me, cross-referencing my research. When I turned in my book, my Mother passed away, and I edited part of my book at that library. It made me feel closer to her. I just sold my childhood home recently, and while I was saying goodbye to it, I walked back on the deck. I saw a young me, sitting on a lounge chair reading my newest find, with my Mother right next to me. I hope there’s a young girl reading my book in her backyard, with her Mom right beside her.

***

Thank you for this fantastic note about libraries, Kathy! Kathy supplied us with a photo of her and her Mother:

It's very fitting that this book has a companion playlist available to listen to while reading. Listen to Kathy's playlist here:

In celebration of the paperback release of God Save the Queens, we are giving away 10 copies to the first 10 librarians who email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com. 

-Lainey

Everyone is in love with Alyssa Cole's How to Catch a Queen!

It's been featured in Buzzfeed's "24 Romance Novels That Will Make Your Heart Feel Warmer And Cozier Than a Cable-Knit Sweater" list and included in best-of round-ups in Elite Daily and Book Riot.

You can read an excerpt from the book here.

Check out these THREE STARRED REVIEWS:

“Cole (An Extraordinary Union) launches the “Runaway Royals” series with a bang, introducing a sexy but shy king, a determined and caring queen, and a host of characters who leap off the page into the reader’s imagination. Fans of the “Reluctant Royals” series will adore cameos by some of their favorites, but this is a solid starting point for new readers.”
—Library Journal  review

“Cole’s contemporary romances shine with unique settings and complex characters. Fans will eagerly await her next royal match.”
—Booklist  review

“Genre traditionalists may balk at the abundant attention to politics and slow emotional burn, but the vivid prose, lively characters, and steamy encounters will keep readers hooked, and the intersections between politics, gender, and ideology will resonate the world over. This strikingly feminist saga raises the bar for contemporary romance.”
—Publishers Weekly  review

We just had Alyssa on our Door to Door episode and she did an Instagram takeover. 

How to Catch a Queen goes on sale December 1, 2020 but you can download an egalley on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley now.

-Lainey

This week on the podcast we are featuring an interview Virginia conducted with David Highfill, Vice President and Executive Editor at William Morrow. He has a jam-packed list of upcoming books that will have your TBR list overflowing. Find the episode and a list of titles discussed below.

Titles Discussed:

• High Treason by Sean McFate (available now)
• American Traitor by Brad Taylor (on sale January 5, 2021)
• The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett (on sale March 9, 2021)
  —Download the egalley on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley.
• Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson (on sale March 23, 2021)
  —They also discussed Peter's past books. Find out more about them here.
  —Download the egalley on Edelweiss+ and NetGalley.
• The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn (on sale May 11, 2021)

-Lainey

We're back with another stellar interview from our friend Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network. Carol recently sat down with Rose Carlyle, author of The Girl in the Mirror, on sale now.

AJ Finn calls The Girl in the Mirror: "Ferociously entertaining…. Drop Knives Out and Double Indemnity into the blender, shake some Dead Calm over the froth, power it on, and you’ve got a cocktail like The Girl in the Mirror…"

You can watch Carol's video interview or listen to the audio on Carol’s podcast!

Be sure to visit The Book Report Network and Bookreporter.com for more great content! 

-Lainey

We are so proud to have Nikki Giovanni's latest book of poetry, Make Me Rain, on our list. This powerful book is a deeply personal collection of verse that speaks to the injustices of society while illuminating the depths of her own heart, from one of America’s most celebrated poets. 

So many people are excited about this book. Make Me Rain has been included as one of the "11 Books Feminists Should Read in October" by Bitch Media as well as paired with Aries readers in Book Riot's "October 2020 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations."

“Giovanni’s latest collection is her finest to date. Imbued with the classic, accessible, and deeply empathetic style of this venerated American poet…Giovanni’s ability to pare down complex subjects in exquisitely succinct poetic forms makes her work timeless and profoundly resonant..”
—Booklist

“[Giovanni’s] unique voice, bold yet tender, is on display again with a new relevance. One of the most remarkable qualities of Giovanni’s poetry is that it can be direct and uncompromising while also being deeply honest and utterly human.”
—Chapter16

O Magazine also shared an excerpt from the book, including a poem about the importance of voting, quoting:
"It’s not cookies
Nor cake
But it is the icing
That is so sweet"

Read the full poem here and get a copy of Make Me Rain now!

-Lainey

This week, we welcome James Bailey, author of The Flip Side. He is interviewed by Tessa Woodward, Executive Editor at William Morrow/Avon. They chat about writing a Rom-Com from the male perspective and how they took steps to edit the book for a global audience.

More about The Flip Side, available on November 17, 2020:
Penny wise or pound foolish? A heartbroken young Brit decides to turn his love life over to the flip of a coin—in this delightfully British rom-com in the vein of Jenny Colgan, Rosie Curtis, Nick Hornby, and David Nicholls.

Listen to the interview below:

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Thank you to Tessa and James for coming on the podcast!

-Lainey

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

This month, we are thrilled to share that we have two titles selected for the November LibraryReads List: The Burning God by R. F. Kuang and Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur. Additionally, Anthony Horowitz joins the LibraryReads Hall of Fame with the selection of Moonflower Murders!

Want to hear how our authors reacted to being selected for the November LibraryReads List? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast below to hear their responses!

Click here to see the full list!

***

The Burning God by R. F. Kuang: The exciting end to
The Poppy War trilogy, R. F. Kuang's acclaimed, award-winning epic fantasy that combines the history of twentieth-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating, enthralling effect.

"Bringing her complex Poppy War trilogy to a poignant conclusion, Kuang shines a searing light on the devastating price and valiant sacrifices that warfare requires of all involved."
—Booklist STARRED review

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Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur:
With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, a charming #ownvoices queer holiday rom-com debut about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict!

"Written in the Stars is everything I want from a romcom: fun, whimsical, sexy. This modern Pride and Prejudice glitters with romance."
—Talia Hibbert, USA Today bestselling author of Get a Life, Chloe Brown

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Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz: Featuring his famous literary detective Atticus Pund and Susan Ryeland, hero of the worldwide bestseller Magpie Murders, a brilliantly complex literary thriller with echoes of Agatha Christie from New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz.

"Moonflower Murders showcases Horowitz’s full battalion of strengths: the whiplash plotting, the leather-smooth prose, the bold energy…. Sophisticated, literate novels aren’t supposed to be so much fun." 
—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

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

***

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.

-Chris