Writers to Watch with Louise Erdrich, Sophie Jordan, Michael Ralph, & Elyse Graham – 5.22.24
Watch the full episode on :https://youtu.be/vGQJotGFbhc?si=VX5qI3ZmWGQyMzca
Howdy! Looking for your next read? We have you covered!
Check out our staff picks for the July LibraryReads list here and start downloading! Don't forget to get your votes for the July LibraryReads list in by June 1st!
We're looking forward to seeing you at Library Journal's Day of Dialog event on May 9th. We have an exciting round-up of author panels and two buzzes in our booth. RSVP for the FREE event here.
Happy reading,
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
“Go get the book from the library. That's so romantic and sexy to do.”
—Chloé Caldwell
***
Like many readers, I look for books that make me feel something. WOMEN by Chloé Caldwell is all feeling. In WOMEN, an unnamed narrator grapples with the heartbreak from her first queer relationship with fervor and vulnerability. It captured my attention with its visceral and punchy prose and held it with its intimate intricacies of queer love and fall out. This small but mighty novella lingered long after I finished it. Caldwell writes without inhibition and that is a gift to all of her readers. My hope is that WOMEN ends up in libraries, that it passes through hands of those who need it.
—Grace Caternolo, Library Marketing Assistant at HarperCollins
Listen to the full interview on YouTube:
Did you hear?! There's a new thriller from Kate White coming out on May 14th! Hear from Kate directly about her forthcoming novel THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM!
We are SO excited for librarians to read this one. Congrats, Kate!
Can you believe it's already time to vote for the JUNE LibraryReads List?! There are too many books and too little time, so we will get right to it.
Check out our staff picks for the June LibraryReads list and start downloading! Don't forget to get your votes for the June LibraryReads list in by May 1st!
Happy reading,
The Library Love Fest Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
As National Library Week comes to a close, we want to extend one more big THANK YOU to all of you. For the Library Love Fest team, it's National Library Week EVERY week.
Libraries have played an important role in all three of our lives and we aren't the only ones. Authors are always thrilled to do programming for libraries and share their own library stories.
Five Minutes With…is a series where authors speak directly to librarians about their forthcoming titles. These bitesized videos are an accessible way to hear about new books from writers who love libraries! All of our previous videos can be found here, but check out this wonderful example from Yulin Kuang, author of the forthcoming novel HOW TO END A LOVE STORY:
Again, we are wishing you a very happy National Library Week! Thank you for all that you do. Librarians make the world go around!
Love,
Virginia, Lainey, & Grace
Listen to Virginia gush about THE COAST ROAD by Alan Murrin! This is a poignant debut novel about the lives of women in a claustrophobic coast town and the search for independence in a society that seeks to limit it.
Want to hear right from the author? Check out Virginia's interview with him below:
We sincerely hope you get the chance to read this beautiful novel. Download an egalley on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley and be sure to get your LibraryReads vote in by May 1st.
It is never lost on us how many hats librarians wear and that's why we do our best to make things easier for you! We've worked on programs to help with readers' advisory, book clubs, and more. Check out a few below!
Book Club Snug was a special program we did featuring Catherine Newman, author of the forthcoming novel SANDWICH, and Laura Zigman, author of SMALL WORLD. The episode was a treat for all! Watch the whole episode here:
Bookmarked by Lainey is Lainey Mays' personalized guide to the books that have given her “you must read this” glee. Check out Bookmarked by Lainey for books that resonate, hand-picked for librarians and their patrons to savor. Here are some recommendations to get you started:
We hope these resources are useful and make things easier for you. Another massive thank you for your dedication and hard work!
Love,
Virginia, Lainey, & Grace
Watch the full episode on : https://youtu.be/8fH2o6be1S4?si=VSatlVARrTFpRwHw
When I read the first page of The Coast Road, I knew it was all over for me. I was all in. This debut novel is set in County Donegal in 1994 when divorce was not yet legal. The main characters, two women who find themselves in unhappy marriages, are so real and accessible, and their stories—their situations—are unique but in a larger sense, the same. Their voices and their conversations with friends, family, enemies, themselves are all so real. I was reminded of Wally Lamb’s writing in that Alan Murrin has that same sensibility to so fully and respectfully capture the essence, movement, and emotions of women. The Coast Road is a gift to anyone who loves a good story with characters you feel for, root for, and miss when the last page is turned. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
—Virginia, HarperCollins Library Marketing Directer
The Coast Road goes on sale 6/04/2024. Vote for LibraryReads by May 1st! Download an egalley here.
Watch the interview here:
This week, April 7th through 13th, is our favorite week of the year…National Library Week! Libraries are the heart of communities; connecting readers to books, resources, and so much more. Librarians like you make it all possible. From the bottom of our hearts: THANK YOU!
On top of being vital to communities, librarians have been on the frontlines of the fight against book banning and censorship. The right to read freely is one that should not be infringed upon. We know that it has been incredibly difficult during this time of increased attacks on the freedom to read and access to crucial books. Books change lives and so do you. Thank you for fighting the good fight.
Throughout the years, we've been able to connect with so many librarians and authors through our online programming. From Writers to Watch to Galley Gab Fest to Instagram reels, we love spreading the library love and meeting so many of you.
Speaking of authors who LOVE libraries…here's a message that Julia Quinn recorded for you a couple years ago! Hear from her below:
For the rest of the week, we'll be sharing more highlights of past programming, so stay tuned. Again, THANK YOU for all that you do!
Love,
Virginia, Lainey, & Grace
We are excited to see everyone in Columbus, OH for the Public Library Association conference from April 3rd-April 5th. Stop by our booth (#1407) and say hi! We have a great roster of authors joining us. See our full schedule below!
Wednesday, April 3rd
Exhibit hours: 3:00 – 6:00 PM
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Library Journal Evening of Dialog with Dan Kois

From the author of the Washington Post notable novel Vintage Contemporaries, something completely unexpected: a hair-raising and rollicking adventure set on one night in 1987, when six paperboys must confront a slew of monsters as well as their own personal demons in a haunted Midwestern neighborhood.
RSVP for the event here.
Thursday, April 4th
Exhibit hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Rainbow Rowell booth signing at HCP booth (#1407)

Slow Dance
A bright, beaming power ballad of a novel from Rainbow Rowell—the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Landline, Fangirl, and Eleanor & Park—Slow Dance tells the humorous and heartbreaking love story of best friends Shiloh and Cary from their inseparable teen years to their far-flung adulthoods as they try to figure out what their relationship is, where it went wrong, and how to finally make it right.
9:00 -10:30 AM
ALMA muli-publisher book buzz (part 1)
Show Floor
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Ace Atkins booth signing at the Baker & Taylor booth (#2214)
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM
Ace Atkins booth signing at HCP booth (#1407)

Don't Let the Devil Ride
S.A. Cosby meets Don Winslow in the breakout thriller from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins. A Memphis woman hires a PI to find her missing husband, only to discover that he is involved in a dangerous web of international intrigue—and she and her children are now at risk.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Ace Atkins speaking at the Mystery Panel with signing to follow
Room GCCC A210-215
12:30 – 1:45 PM
PLA Luncheon with Rainbow Rowell

Slow Dance
A bright, beaming power ballad of a novel from Rainbow Rowell—the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Landline, Fangirl, and Eleanor & Park—Slow Dance tells the humorous and heartbreaking love story of best friends Shiloh and Cary from their inseparable teen years to their far-flung adulthoods as they try to figure out what their relationship is, where it went wrong, and how to finally make it right.
Hilton Columbus Downtown – Aminah Robinson Ballroom C
Signing to follow
Get a ticket here
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Booklist Book Buzz
Room GCCC A110-115
More info on the PLA scheduler
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Dan Kois booth signing at HCP booth (#1407)

From the author of the Washington Post notable novel Vintage Contemporaries, something completely unexpected: a hair-raising and rollicking adventure set on one night in 1987, when six paperboys must confront a slew of monsters as well as their own personal demons in a haunted Midwestern neighborhood.
5:30 – 6:30 PM
LibraryReads Your Evening is Booked
Room C150-151
Dan Kois
Hampton Heights
RSVP here
Friday, April 5th
Exhibit hours: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
9:00 – 10:00 AM
L.M. Elliott, author of Bea and the New Deal Horse (Scott O'Dell Award Winner) booth signing at HCP booth (#1407)
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
We are thrilled to share that Alyssa Cole's One of Us Knows and Alexandria Bellefleur's Truly, Madly, Deeply have made the LibraryReads Hall of Fame for April! A big congratulations to both! Find out more about each book and download egalleys here.
Want to hear how our authors reacted to the big news? Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear from them:
Dear librarians, below is a list of all HarperCollins simultaneous hardcover editions releasing in 2024! Find the Edelweiss catalog with these titles here. Have questions? Email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.
WINTER 2024
JANUARY
Divine Might by Natalie Haynes (9780063377097, $30.00)
The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein (9780063359710, $32.00)
The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis (9780063235762, $30.00)
FEBRUARY
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (9780063308350, $30.00)
MARCH
The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski (9780063319875, $30.00)
The Inheritance by Joanna Goodman (9780063329010, $30.00)
In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander (9780063377103, $30.00)
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French (9780063298347, $32.00)
Studies at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan (9780063359703, $30.00)
APRIL
Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John (9781460765241, $29.00)
One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole (9780063297135, $30.00)
SUMMER 2024
MAY
The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White (9780063382626, $30.00)
The Amethyst Kingdom by A.K. Mulford (9780063388482, $30.00)
The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr (9780063382619, $30.00)
JUNE
The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis (9780063235823, $30.00)
The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan (9780063386679, $30.00)
What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris (9780063359734, $30.00)
JULY
Close Knit by Jenny Colgan (9780063386662, $30.00)
The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon (9780063248762, $30.00)
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (9780063308428, $30.00)
Between Friends & Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi (9780063307308, $30.00)
The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas (9780063382633, $30.00)
Return to Wyldcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman (9780063386686, $30.00)
AUGUST
Bad Feminist [Tenth Anniversary Edition] by Roxane Gay (9780063388291, $30.00)
The Hidden Book by Kirsty Manning (9780063389182, $30.00)
The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling (9780063411166, $30.00)
FALL 2024
SEPTEMBER
A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan (9780008670795, $30.00)
The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman (9780063396227, $30.00)
Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin (9780063383500, $30.00)
The Highlander's Return by Lynsay Sands (9780063411135, $30.00)
OCTOBER
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey (9780063330054, $30.00)
No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle (9780063411159, $30.00)
The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen (9780063392878, $30.00)
The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes (9780063418301, $30.00)
The Best American Short Stories 2024 edited by Lauren Groff and Heidi Pitlor (9780063275966, $30.00)
Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (9780063411142, $30.00)
Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 3 by Yuval Noah Harari (9780063387430, $40.00)
NOVEMBER
Murder Town by Shelley Burr (9780063411173, $30.00)
The Dispossessed [50th Anniversary Edition] by Ursula K. Le Guin (9780063414334, $35.00)
Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler (9780063378933, $30.00)
DECEMBER
Buried Road by Katie Tallo (9780063396234, $30.00)
What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane (9780063352001, $30.00)
The Bride Bet by Tessa Dare (9780063035461, $30.00)

Really hoping that these Spring showers will bring May flowers soon…
Until then, stay dry inside with a good book by your side!
Check out our staff picks for the May LibraryReads list and start downloading! Don't forget to get your votes for the May LibraryReads list in by April 1st!
We also have a lot of great author interviews and book buzzes coming in March. Check out our schedule of events at this link.
Happy reading,
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
“Joyce Maynard's How the Light Gets In grabbed ahold of me in the first chapter and didn't let go until I'd finished the epilogue. A master storyteller at the top of her game, Maynard populates her story with characters I worried about, rooted for, and related to. I LOVED this book!”
— Wally Lamb, author of She's Come Undone and
I Know This Much Is True
New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard's forthcoming novel How the Light Gets In (on sale 6/25/24) is receiving so much love! This follow-up to her beloved novel Count the Ways is a complex story of three generations of a family and its remarkable, resilient, indomitable matriarch, Eleanor.
If you haven't read Count the Ways yet, have no fear! How the Light Gets In can be read as a standalone novel. But we promise, after reading How the Light Gets In, you'll want to go back and read Joyce's backlist.
We adore this novel and we aren't the only ones. Check out the love:
“Joyce Maynard has stitched together a warm, rich patchwork quilt of a novel that reminds us history is made up simply of our stories; and that even in broken, imperfect things one finds beauty and strength.”
— Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“In turns joyful and heartbreaking, How the Light Gets In is a wise and bittersweet portrait of a complicated family. Joyce Maynard writes the kind of books that readers adore – bighearted, beautifully crafted, propulsively readable, and full of flawed and fickle characters who make difficult decisions and big mistakes, stumbling through life and love, trying to do their best. A word of advice: clear your calendar before you start reading!”
— Adrienne Brodeur, nationally bestselling author of Little Monsters and Wild Game
“How the Light Gets In feels like a conversation with a trusted sister about a wide circle of family members in order to discover their secrets and hopes. The story of Eleanor and her family is told in marvelous loops that fill in the gaps between the past and the present, the personal and the news of the day, difficult challenges and their remedies. Joyce Maynard has given us another generous, satisfying novel: she is a wonder.”
— Alice Elliott Dark, author of Fellowship Point and In the Gloaming
After reading all the praise, we know you will want to dive into How the Light Gets In. You can download an egalley on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley.
Congratulations to Joyce for writing such a beautiful novel! We can't wait for librarians and their patrons to read How the Light Gets In.
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
We are thrilled to share that Cristina Henríquez's The Great Divide has been selected for the March LibraryReads list! A big congratulations to Cristina!
Want to hear how our author reacted to the big news? She stopped everything to record her reaction. Listen to our latest episode of The Library Love Fest Podcast to hear:
The April LibraryReads list is right around the corner. Check out our staff picks for April and start downloading! Don't forget to get your votes for the April LibraryReads list in by March 1st!
Happy reading,
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)