What better way to ring in the New Year than by reading some New Books. Please enjoy this monthly list compiled by library workers across the country who are excited to read the following titles:
The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D. Bell (St. Martin’s Press)
Lily is in limbo. She loves books and her binding trade, but her father is distant and her employer seems not to value her. Her life is turned upside down when she is given a burned book and the secrets it holds. This is truly a wonderful read full of mystery, love, and intrigue. —Susan Willis, Chanute Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: The Binding by Bridget Collins
All the Little Houses by May Cobb (Sourcebooks Landmark)
Cobb’s latest gasp-out-loud read doesn’t disappoint, bringing readers back to the East Texas town of Longview, where wealth, booze, secrets, sex, and very bad—some might even say murderous—behavior abound. Readers will not be able to take their eyes off this propulsive thriller.
—Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman
Anatomy of an Alibi: A Novel by Ashley Elston (Pamela Dorman Books)
This is a tale of two women: Wealthy Camille is living the high life, while Aubrey works as a bartender. Who is telling the truth? An unhappy marriage, skeletons in the closet, and a murdered husband make this a story worth reading!
—Jo Hic, Phillips Public Library, WI
NoveList read-alike: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Women of a Promiscuous by Nature Donna Everhart (Kensington)
In this stunning character-driven novel set in the 1940s, Everhart introduces the inmates and staff of the Industrial Farm Colony for Women. As readers are drawn into the life of the Colony, the lofty goals as well as the terrible cruelty and injustice of the place are slowly revealed. Highly recommended.
—Vicki Nesting, St. Charles Parish Library, LA
NoveList read-alike: The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah (Sourcebooks Landmark)
In this satirical book-within-a-book, the Lamberts’ dog, Champ,is accused of biting the neighbor’s daughter. The eccentric pet-obsessed matriarch Sally refuses to believe this, so the family goes on the run with Champ in tow. Twisty and puzzling.
—Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL
NoveList read-alike: Cat Fight by Kit Conwa
It Should Have Been You: A Novel by Andrea Mara (Pamela Dorman Books)
When a woman accidentally sends a private message meant for her sisters to the entire neighborhood group chat, the ensuing chain of events exposes secrets and causes deadly anguish. This book was a wild ride that will captivate readers from the first page
—Debbie Frizzell, Johnson County Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: You Deserve to Know by Aggie Bloom Thompson
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder: A Novel by Nina McConigley (Pantheon)
When their uncle arrives from India, two sisters’ adjustment to a dual culture life in smalltown Wyoming in the mid-1980s becomes complicated. This debut hits on touchy subjects with grace, as the sisters choose to fight instead of being silent victims. Those of us who spent many hours at teen sleepovers will delight in the nostalgia scattered amidst the actual crime and justice served.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithewait
Vigil: A Novel by George Saunders (Random House)
Saunders knows how to capture the essence of life in a story all about death. This message is wrapped in a Christmas Carol package about a ghost ushering a greedy, selfish man into the afterlife. This climate story effectively hammers home that climate change affects everyone and everything irreparably, but we must also carry on.
—Sabrina Unrein, Mahwah Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Apology by Jimin Han
The Elsewhere Express: A Novel by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Del Rey)
This enchanting, whimsical fantasy is a warm hug for the soul. A magical train that appears to those who are lost is absolutely charming, and creativity shines in the descriptions of the train’s wondrous cars, from lily-pad picnics to jellyfish swimming through clouds. A journey not just through a magical world, but also of self-discovery, hope, and finding one’s sense of purpose.
—Lee V., New York Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike:The Rainfall Market by Yeong Gwang You
Bonus Pick:
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (Bramble)
Top Non-Fiction:
When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery (Henry Holt & Co.
Pick of the Month:
Is This a Cry for Help? By Emily Austin (Atria Books)
After she learns of the death of her ex-boyfriend, librarian Darcy has a mental breakdown and takes leave from her job at a public library. With time, therapy, and support from her wife, Darcy returns to work while coping with the guilt and book-banning protests. This reflective, heartwarming, and character-driven read delves into grief and identity with care and humor.
—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
While library workers may be slightly biased (the top pick features a librarian as the main character, for example), perhaps we can all agree that there are few things in this life better than a fine, fine, list. Oh the lists I have known, what joy. If none of the featured titles are causing brain excitement, please consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Books tool, or Your Next Five Movies, if the occasion calls for cinema.
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