Hello, librarians!
The temperature is changing and leaves are starting to FALL, so enjoy these December reads while you savor the cool breezes and start of sweater weather.
Here you will find a list of titles eligible for the December LibraryReads list. Don't forget to get your votes for the December LibraryReads list in by November 1st!
'Til next time,
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
Happy Book Birthday to The Death of Us by Lori Rader-Day, the Edgar® Award-nominated and Agatha, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark award-winning author of The Death of Us, Death at Greenway, The Lucky One, Under a Dark Sky, The Day I Died, Little Pretty Things, and The Black Hour.
The Death of Us is a chilling suspense novel in which the discovery of a submerged car in a murky pond reveals betrayals and family secrets that will tear a small town apart. You can learn more about The Death of Us here.
Look at all of the love for The Death of Us:
“Another compelling thriller from Rader-Day, who skillfully hides a murderer behind relatable ambitions and jealousies.”
—Booklist
“Lori Rader-Day is a master of psychological suspense, and her talent shines in The Death of Us. This tale of dangerous secrets and family tensions sucked me right in and kept me reading late into the night.”
—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Spy Coast
“Wow…I was up until 4.00 am finishing The Death of Us! It’s bloody brilliant. So sharp and tight. And real.”
—Ann Cleeves, internationally bestselling author of the Shetland, Vera, and Two Rivers novels
Be sure to check out Lori’s guest post for CrimeReads, “Nine Crime Novels Featuring Found Families” which went live today, 10/3.
You can read a few chapters of The Death of Us here!
Happy Book Birthday, Lori Rader-Day!
Hello, librarians!
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced! We have an AMAZING list of selections this month!
We are thrilled to share that Jean Kwok’s The Leftover Woman, Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy's A Holly Jolly Ever After, and Thea Guanzon's The Hurricane Wars have been selected for the October LibraryReads list! We also are thrilled to announce that Tessa Bailey's Wreck the Halls has made the Hall of Fame! Congratulations to all! Find out more about these books, watch the replay of events with these authors, 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 our authors:
Hello, librarians!
You just finished voting for the October list…now it's time for the next round of reading recommendations!
Here you will find a list of titles eligible for the November LibraryReads list. Don't forget to get your votes for the November LibraryReads list in by October 1st!
Happy reading,
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
Happy Book Birthday to Karin Slaughter! After That Night, her latest installment in the Will Trent series, is on sale today, August 22, 2023.
More about After That Night:
Will Trent and Sara Linton are back in an electrifying thriller featuring GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton. Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her. Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes.
This book is getting SO much love! Check out these reviews:
“It’s a signal achievement of Slaughter that the climactic revelations add still another layer of horror to her tale.” —Kirkus ★STARRED★ review
“Slaughter's fans will be avid for the latest in this bestselling series, while its costar, state investigator Will Trent, has inspired a show on ABC, further expanding Slaughter's already vast audience.” —Booklist ★STARRED★ review
“Slaughter skillfully weaves misogyny, wealth, violence, power, and control into a thrilling police procedural while poignantly addressing the lasting effects of trauma and the toll cases take on investigators.” —Library Journal
Be sure to take a look at Karin's website for all you need to know about her books and the TV series!
Congrats to Karin on another fantastic thriller!
Watch the full episode on : https://youtu.be/ESABqSdkjAc
Hello, librarians!
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced! We have an AMAZING list of selections this month!
We are thrilled to share that Hannah Kaner’s Godkiller has been selected for the September LibraryReads list! We also are thrilled to announce that Sy Montgomery's Of Time and Turtles has been selected as the Bonus Pick and Meg Cabot's Enchanted to Meet You has made the Hall of Fame! Congratulations to all!
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 our authors:
Hello, librarians!
How is it almost Fall??? We are coping by downloading some egalleys and going to the park to soak up the last few rays of Summer. Will you join us?
Find out more about our picks for the October list and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the October LibraryReads list in by September 1st!
Happy reading,
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
Library Love Fest is thrilled to share a letter to librarian by Nina Simon, author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night! She details her background in the library world in this compelling piece to librarians.
More about Mother-Daughter Murder Night (on sale 9/5/23): The Maid meets The Last Thing He Told Me in this fun, fresh, and twisty debut whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio who come together as amateur sleuths to solve a murder in their coastal California town.
Download an egalley on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley.
***
Dear Librarians,
I’m thrilled my debut novel, Mother-Daughter Murder Night, is coming out so soon, September 5, 2023.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would write a murder mystery. I’ve spent the past two decades working with museums and libraries to build more relevant, joyful community spaces. But I’ve always been a voracious reader. My mom first introduced me to whodunnits as a young girl, at the Buena Vista branch of the Burbank Public Library. My love started with Nancy Drew, but I quickly graduated to my mom’s picks—Sue Grafton, Faye Kellerman, Janet Evanovich. Every week, we’d borrow stacks of books featuring savvy female detectives and pass them back and forth.
When life hit me hard in 2020, I found myself going back to the books that bring me comfort. And then, I decided to try to write my own mystery, with a character like my mom—a tough, smart California businesswoman—as the amateur detective. Now, Mother-Daughter Murder Night is being published, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Libraries have always been central to my life, both personally as an enthusiastic user and professionally as a designer and advocate for equity and inclusion. Over the past twenty years, I've collaborated with thousands of librarians on in-service days, IMLS projects, and global library conferences. I love visiting my neighborhood branch and volunteering with my local Friends group. And when I’m on the road, I always stop into the public library. I know I’ll find diverse communities and passionate professionals behind your doors.
Some authors dream of bestseller lists. Me? I hope I might someday write a book worthy of a Lucky Day shelf at a public library. I like to imagine a reader walking in, perusing the shelves, stumbling on this story of mothers, daughters, and murder. Mother-Daughter Murder Night brought so much pleasure to me while writing, and I hope this story might bring joy to the readers in your community—and to you, too.
With appreciation,
Nina Simon
***
Thank you, Nina, for your heartfelt message to librarians. We know that everyone will love Mother-Daughter Murder Night as much as we do!
Check out Nina's website here.
-Grace
Hi, librarians!
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that we had THREE books make the LibraryReads list and TWO authors make the Hall of Fame! Elizabeth Acevedo's Family Lore, Ally Carter's The Blonde Identity, and Lucy Parker's Codename Charming made the list. Ann Patchett made the Hall of Fame with Tom Lake and Sarah MacLean with Knockout. Congrats to all of the authors and their fantastic books!
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:
We were thrilled to feature author Graham Norton at the American Library Association (ALA) 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition as part of their Digital Experience.
This was a wonderful conversation that covered everything: the writing life, the banning of books, the importance of libraries (Mr. Norton’s sister is a librarian), and the transformative power of a good novel.
Graham Norton is the author of multiple novels, winning numerous awards and gaining bestseller status for his writing. His most recent novel, Forever Home, became an instant bestseller in both the UK and Ireland, earning him dazzling reviews. It goes on sale in the US on September 19, 2023. Download the egalley on Edelweiss+ or NetGalley.
This was an intimate, warm, and funny conversation between Graham Norton and Lainey Mays.
Enjoy!
Hello, librarians!
We hope you had a great holiday and are ready to jump back into the summer reading zone. Hope that everyone returning home from Chicago/ALA got home safely. It was a conference full of energy and we were so happy to see long-time friends (and make new ones)!
Find out more about our picks and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the September LibraryReads list in by August 1st!
Stay cool out there!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
The LLF team is crazy about Katherine Hall Page's latest, The Body in the Web! On sale now, this is the 26th installment in the Faith Fairchild mystery series. Her fans will love this latest novel! If you're new to the series, start here with The Body in the Web. We're sure you'll be so hooked you'll want to go back and start the series from the beginning with The Body in the Belfry.
More about The Body in the Web: Katherine Hall Page’s beloved amateur detective is hunkered down with her family during the pandemic when a Zoom-bombing scandal sends the community into a tailspin…and a dead body is discovered.
Happy book birthday to The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt!
There has been so much wonderful and well-deserved buzz for this moving novel from the bestselling and award-winning author Patrick deWitt about the story of Bob Comet, a man who has lived his life through and for literature, unaware that his own experience is a poignant and affecting novel in itself. Buy your copy here!
We were thrilled when The Librarianist was announced as a LibraryReads pick for the month of July! Patrick recorded his reaction and message to librarians for The Library Love Fest Podcast.
Listen here:
No wonder it was a LibraryReads pick! There was so much love for this book:
"Readers come to deWitt (French Exit, 2018) for his brand of slightly off-kilter storytelling blessed with exuberant characterizations, gleeful dialogue, and a proprietary blend of darkness and charm, all strung up in lights here. Gripping, random, and totally alive? Check, check, and check."
—Booklist ★starred★ review
"deWitt imbues the people he meets with color and quirks, leaving a trail of sparks through an otherwise low-key narrative. This one gradually takes hold until it won’t let go."
—Publishers Weekly
Congratulations to Patrick on all of the love for The Librarianist. Run, don't walk, to get your copy now!
-Grace
Hello, librarians!
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that Patrick deWitt’s The Librarianist has made the July LibraryReads list! We are also thrilled to announce that Laura Lippman's Prom Mom has made the Hall of Fame! Woohoo! Congratulations to both.
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 our authors:
Hello, librarians!
We are in full ALA planning mode but don't think we forgot about our titles that are eligible for the August LibraryReads list!
Find out more about our picks and download egalleys here. Don't forget to get your votes for the August LibraryReads list in by July 1st!
For a full ALA 2023 schedule, go here.
—The LLF Team (Virginia, Lainey, and Grace)
Hi, librarians! The Library Love Fest team is incredibly excited for the ALA Annual Conference 2023 this year. We're taking on Chicago with Books, Breakfast, and All That Jazz! Below, you'll find our full schedule for ALA along with our RSVP link to our world famous book buzz.
Did you miss our buzz? No worries! Here is a link to our handout which includes all the titles we presented. The QR code will take you to an Edelweiss+ catalog.
***
Appearing virtually at the ALA digital experience:
GRAHAM NORTON
Internationally bestselling author and host of The Graham Norton Show discusses his forthcoming novel, Forever Home, with Lainey Mays, Library Marketing Associate at HarperCollins Publishers.
This will be a pre-recorded session available on demand. Register here.
***
See a full list of our author signings and programs below. Stop by booth #3511 and say hello!
SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH:
8:30-10:00
HarperCollins Adult Book Buzz
McCormick Place Convention Center
Room W192
RSVP link above
8:30-10:00
PLA President's Program*
Hilton Chicago, Continental A
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman
*PLA members only
bit.ly/3BAeDCr
9:00-10:00
Nancy Johnson, The Kindest Lie
Booth signing
10:00-11:00
Sy Montgomery, Of Time and Turtles
Booth signing
11:00-12:00
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman
Booth signing
11:30-1:30
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Signing in Sisters in Crime Booth #1951
12:30-1:30
Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity
Booth signing
2:00-3:00
Wanda Morris, Anywhere You Run & All Her Little Secrets
Booth signing
2:30-3:30
UFL Program: Isn't It Romantic?
McCormick Place CC, Room W185d
Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity
3:00-4:00
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, When Stars Collide
Booth signing
4:00-5:00
ALMA/LibraryReads Adult Author Program: Feel-Good Reads
McCormick Place CC, Room W184A
Sy Montgomery, Of Time and Turtles
RSVP: bit.ly/FeelGoodReadsALA2023
4:00-5:00
Lillian Stone, Everybody's Favorite
Booth signing
5:30-7:30
UFL Program: The Laugh's On Us
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Jackson Park ABCD
Lillian Stone, Everybody's Favorite
SUNDAY, JUNE 25TH:
8:00-10:00
Literary Tastes Breakfast
McCormick Place CC, Room W183B
Piper Huguley, By Her Own Design
Wanda Morris, Anywhere You Run
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Register here for this RUSA ticketed event: bit.ly/436g6fz
9:00-10:00
Mary Kay Andrews, Hissy Fit
Booth signing
10:00-11:30
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Signing in Sisters in Crime booth #1951
11:00-12:00
Piper Huguley, By Her Own Design
Booth signing
12:30-1:30
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
Booth signing
2:00-3:00
Ehigbor Okosun, Forged by Blood
Booth signing
2:30-3:30
UFL Program: It's a Mystery to Me
McCormick Place CC, W185a
Lori Rader-Day, The Death of Us
8:00-10:00
BCALA Awards
Hilton Chicago Hotel
MONDAY, JUNE 26TH:
8:30-10:00
ALMA/LibraryReads Adult Author Program: Your Morning is Booked
McCormick Place, Room W175ab
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman
RSVP: bit.ly/YourMorningIsBooked2023
10:00-11:00
Kim van Alkemade, Counting Lost Stars
Booth signing
2:00-4:00
UFL Gala Author Tea
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park ABCD
Kim van Alkemade, Counting Lost Stars
