October may be over, but I don’t think there’s ever a bad time to recommend something gloriously grim. When you’re craving the decaying splendor and unspeakable secrets of a gothic novel, nothing else will do. Each of these selections puts a unique contemporary spin on the gothic genre, and all will be an excellent accompaniment to the cold days and long nights coming right around the corner.
Jane Shoringfield is aware that her hasty marriage to Dr. Augustine Lawrence is highly irregular. Dr. Lawrence insists upon certain unusual rules – particularly that Jane never set foot in Lindridge Hall, the Lawrence family’s ancestral home. But when Jane finds herself with no choice but to break her husband’s prohibitions, she realizes her marriage comes with more than she bargained for: magical secrets and the very literal ghosts of Augustine’s past. In The Death of Jane Lawrence, Caitlin Starling has deftly crafted a gothic novel that feels like the classics while speaking directly to what modern readers want. At first, this book appears to be a fantasy-influenced homage to gothic mainstays, such as Rebecca and Jane Eyre. But gradually, alongside the heroine, the reader comes to realize that this is in no way the story that they were expecting. The ending was one of the best twists I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. Naturally, I wouldn’t dream of spoiling it.
I have found that while I read a bit from just about every genre under the sun, I tend to go through what I like to call “genre phases”. Last year I was in quite the science fiction phase and the bulk of my reading was focused in that genre. This summer has seen me in quite the horror and thriller phase. Like a ravenous undead beast I have found myself devouring whatever dark tome I can get my hands on. The following recommendations are books that I have digested over the month of July. Please, enjoy the menu!
S.A. Barnes is a wonderful author that skillfully blends the genres of science fiction and horror. In this particular novel we find ourselves with a scrappy crew of astronauts who work at the outer edges of explored space repairing communication relays. They are due to return to the company soon and be shipped off to different assignments. Before that can happen, they follow a strange distress beacon to a discovery that embroils our crew in a decades long unsolved mystery.
The Aurora was one of a kind. No ship was built like it before or since. It was supposed to be the Titanic – but in space: a state of the art cruise vessel for the rich and famous. It disappeared years ago and no one alive knows what happened to it. Hoping that the find will bring them fame and fortune, our crew boards the Aurora. The scene aboard is one of blood and violence. What happened on the Aurora that drove the passengers to their doom? Are there survivors lurking on this ghost ship? Read Dead Silence and prepare for a wild ride full of jump scares and horror worthy of a big screen movie. This is exactly what I want when I pick up a horror novel!
Ordinarily, when I’m putting together a post for this blog, I tailor my recommendations to follow a certain theme. This can be a good way to get creative energies flowing, but unfortunately, it also means that if I haven’t been able to talk about some of my absolute favorites, just because I haven’t been able to fit them into a theme. Today, I aim to fix that. July just so happens to be my birthday month, so as a birthday gift to myself and all of you wonderful readers, I’ve compiled a selection of books for no reason other than because I love them. Just because of my personal tastes, most of these will fall into the fantasy genre, but there are a couple wildcards! Let’s get started!
Genly Ai is a human emissary to the planet Winter, home of the Gethenians, an alien species who have no concept of gender and change their sex in order to reproduce. Mounting political strife throws Genly into the path of the Gethenian Estraven. Soon, the two realize they will have to overcome their differences and depend on one another in order to survive, and possibly bring Winter into a new era in the process. All of this is told with the compassionate characterization and beautiful prose that made Ursula K. LeGuin a master of the science fiction genre. As much as I adore this book, it is worth noting that it was originally published in 1969, and therefore readers should be mindful of encountering some language and content that is considered outdated today. LeGuin herself later expressed regret that the book’s narration uses “he” to refer to the Gethenian characters rather than singular “they”. The novel’s themes, however, are timeless. I think everyone has one or two novels they encountered in college that expanded their ideas of what fiction could do, and this is one of mine. The story and characters of The Left Hand of Darkness will remain with you long after the final page is turned. If you haven’t read it yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough, and if you have, it’s a book worth revisiting again and again.
Dear readers, welcome back and thank you for letting me share with you the books that I have been enjoying. As usual, I delight in a diverse range of genres. This month’s reads come from the genres of non fiction, fantasy, and horror. I greatly enjoyed reading these titles and I hope one of these catches your eye!
A shout out to my fellow librarian, Aubrey, for recommending this title is in order. Thank you Aubrey! If you are looking for a book that stays with you long after the closing page, this one is it! It has been a week or so since I finished this book, but I still find myself thinking about it. Dear reader, this book is a work of fiction, but it could very easily be set in the real world present day. FantasticLand is a theme park in Florida built by an eccentric billionaire. What sets FantasticLand apart is that it is designed to be many mini theme parks in one. There are different sections of the park. All are designed to be their own unique world. There are places like The Pirate Cove, The Fairy Prairie, and so on. Everything is great until a super hurricane hits. In theory, the staff that stay behind to care for the park should be fine. There is enough food and water for everyone. Dear reader, if that were the case we would not have a story. What results is something that resembles a slasher movie as the young people trapped in the park turn on each other. Each faction fights for dominance as supplies dwindle. The sordid tale is told from the point of view of interviews with those who made it out alive. Only the survivors can tell the tale of what REALLY happened inside FantasticLand. What keeps me thinking about this book is that this is no ordinary slasher. It poses psychological questions about the effects of phone addiction on our young population. Yes, it is a fiction, but it makes one wonder.
Here they are, the top ten books of the month selected by library workers across the country. I really look forward to this blog publishing for many reasons. I like to read lists. I like to hear what other people are excited to read. And I like learning about up-and-coming authors before they hit the mainstream. This is the blog that introduced me to Sarah Gailey, Grady Hendrix, Lucy Foley, Martha Wells, Alix E. Harrow, Nnedi Okorafor, T. Kingfisher and dozens of other incredible authors. I love discovering a new favorite author and the understanding that the world will never run out of fresh voices and ideas. And now, I present to you, the Library Reads picks for July, 2025:
How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold (Poisoned Pen Press) Seven strangers, all horror writers, are brought together for a reading of the will of Mortimer Queen. They have to survive the night in a classic old house. There are riddles, secrets, tales within tales, and a bit of gore wrapped up into an intricate and pulse-pounding evening. This debut is sure to appeal to fans of mystery and horror. —Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, MD NoveList read-alike: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton (Harper) A Hollywood starlet is sent to a cottage until her “condition” goes away. She creates a masterpiece with the outcast screenwriter next door. Years later, the screenwriter’s granddaughter returns, finding closure with the legendary actress. Under the shimmer of 1950s movie magic and the shadows of the McCarthy era, this romantic, moody mystery spotlights life in front of the camera. —Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX NoveList read-alike: Death Upon a Star by Amy Meade
Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur Books) A sweet 16 party at a Texas mansion takes a deadly turn. A host of unsavory narrators add to the story, revealing a myriad of shocking secrets. Multiple intertwined characters help create a sense of urgency and intrigue, contributing to a buildup of suspense to a shocking conclusion. —Cyndi Larsen, Avon Free Public Library, CT NoveList read-alike: The Block Party by Jamie Day
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (Minotaur Books) Savvy Summers is trying to keep her soul food cafe on the South Side of Chicago open, despite a customer being murdered via one of her own pies. She and her coworker, Penny Lopés, attempt to solve the case while fending off developers. This series has fun characters and good food, as well as interesting history and culture. —Becky Abbott, Santa Fe Public Library, NM NoveList read-alike: Body & Soul Food by Abby Collette
Not Quite Dead Yet: A Novel by Holly Jackson (Bantam) Jet Mason has seven days to solve her own murder after being attacked on Halloween. Throughout the week, she uncovers shocking hidden truths about her family and community. This incredibly propulsive adult debut from a YA powerhouse author lives up to the incredible hook. Feisty, snarky Jet is such a fun lead, and the ticking clock towards her death will keep readers flying through the pages. —Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL NoveList read-alike: Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine
The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw (Tor Nightfire) Things at school can be tough. Your roommate thinks you like her boyfriend, your friend won’t shut up about her sorority, and sometimes the faculty’s desire for flesh coincides inconveniently with graduation. What’s a kidnapped, devil-touched girl to do? Flee to the library, of course! Come for the body horror, stay for the revolutionary spirit —Krista Feick, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH NoveList read-alike: The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: Book 1 of the Dearly Beloathed Duo by Brigitte Knightley (Ace) In a world of amazing and strange magic, a healer and a killer make an unlikely alliance that may inadvertently save the lives of thousands. This debut is an absolutely delightful spin on enemies-tolovers with fantastic prose, intelligent characters, sarcastic and quippy conversation, and desperately denied pining. —Brenna Timm, High Plains Library District, CO NoveList read-alike: Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (Berkley) Sera had great powers until she performed a spell that cost nearly all of her magic. Now, there’s a chance she could get her magic back, and become more than just an innkeeper with a house full of quirky boarders under her (falling apart) roof. She will need the help of an attractive historian, a nefarious talking fox, and the rest of her hodgepodge found family. Utterly delightful, and a bit bittersweet. —Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY NoveList read-alike: The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski
The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang (Scribner) Taiwanese immigrant Joan realizes her childhood dream—a café where hosts ask diners questions and provide pleasant conversation. Wang brings up the issues of sadness, isolation, and loneliness in a quiet, restrained way, and offers a graceful pragmatic character in Joan. If cafés can offer cats to make people happier, why can’t true human companionship be offered? —Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, NY NoveList read-alike: Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto
BONUS PICK
Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar: A Novel by Katie Yee (Scribner)
NOTABLE NONFICTION
The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English (Random House)
JULY TOP PICK
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (Bramble) On a remote island during a snowstorm, outside a magical greenhouse, Turlu the librarian wakes from her punishment as a statue—fully human again, and really cold. How did she get here? How was she freed? Who is the mysterious and attractive gardener, and can he help? Readers of cozy fantasy will be enchanted with this parallel story set in the world of The Spellshop. —Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO NoveList read-alike: The Honey Witch by Sidney J. Shields
If none of the one dozen new books listed above are ringing any bells of excitement, please consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Books reader’s advisory tool. Provide us with your favorite books, authors, and genres and Mead staff will send you list of five books we suspect you will enjoy. Try also Your Next Five Movies for a list of film suggestions because Mead has a super bonkers DVD collection and I think you can benefit from it.
Part I: Are Ghosts Real? Exploring the Supernatural
Dear reader have you ever heard the phrase “I went down a rabbit hole.”? Usually this is spoken when one looks up a fact that they do not know and are inevitably sucked deeper and deeper into a topic pulled along by their curiosity. They usually emerge from this “rabbit hole” filled with a wealth of random knowledge about this particular topic. Lately I have found myself pulled “down the rabbit hole” by the books I have been reading. One book recommends another and that book recommends yet another book on the topic I have been reading. Join me as I take you down the rabbit hole and share with you my strange journey through these books on topics of my interest.
I may have blogged about this title before as I first read this book last year. At that time I had no idea it would tie into the other books in my journey. Ghostland tells the story of famous American hauntings while exploring the real and true history behind the stories. This book features such famed paranormal places as the Winchester House, Alcatraz Prison, and the cemeteries of New Orleans to name just a few. Besides exploring the true histories of these haunted locations Colin Dickey asks some hard psychological questions. Why do we tell ghost stories? What makes a location haunted? Why is this haunting more famous than that haunting? What does the tale tell us about our values or guilt as a society? In exploring America’s tales of the paranormal, Dickey forces us to look within ourselves to discover truths about human nature, our society, and historical truths we may be too scared to face.
This was a very different read than other books on the paranormal that I have read. I would recommend this book to both believers and skeptics alike as it sheds light on the true origins of our ghost stories whether you believe in them or not.
Every so often, I like to spend some time with a book that reminds me of how I fell in love with reading. For me, that means memories of being curled up under the covers with a fairy tale. These four little books prove that magical things often come in small packages. They may offer new interpretations of old stories that many of us might have come to love when we were young, but each also speaks to the wisdom and perspective of adulthood. I have such a deep love for this little subgenre, and I hope you’ll join me as I share a few of my favorites.
Sisters Esther and Isobel live at the river’s edge, guardians of a pair of enchanted willow trees. The two are inseparable, but tragedy strikes when the actions of a jealous suitor threaten to separate them forever. With the help of her faerie sweetheart Rin, Esther will have to struggle her way back across the boundary between real and unreal to save her sister before it’s too late. This novella was El-Mohtar’s highly anticipated solo debut after the smash success of her collaboration with Max Gladstone, This Is How You Lose The Time War. It’s everything her fans were looking for. El-Mohtar’s lyrical prose is excellently matched to a story interwoven with the themes of traditional folk ballads, particularly Twa Sisters, although this book flips the script on hero and villain from the original tale. The book also features evocative illustrations by Kathleen Neeley, as well as a sneak preview of El-Mohtar’s upcoming short story collection.
Keep up with literacy skills this summer by checking out a read-along book! We have a collection of VOX Books and Wonderbooks in our children’s library to read along with. These are print books with an attached audio device which allows readers to listen to the story being read, as they read along with the text. Our collection has a variety of books of different genres and reading levels. We have picture books, early beginning readers, chapter books, graphic novels, and non-fiction titles. Each book includes instructions on how to use the audio device. Readers have the option to listen to the story through the attached speaker, or by plugging in their headphones. The picture books also play a sound to signal to readers of when it’s time to turn the page. Reading the story while listening helps with literacy development, so these books are a great option for new and struggling readers. And the audio in many of these books include sound effects and music to create an enjoyable reading experience for all readers. I’ve included some recent additions to our read-along book collection below, along with publishers’ summaries.
When Grandma comes for a visit, silliness and creativity are guaranteed, in this funny and endearing book by bestselling novelist Emma Straub; her kids’ gaga, Susan Straub; and award-winning illustrator Jessica Love. Gaga days are the best! That’s when this eccentric, mischievous grandma babysits her delighted granddaughter. These Gaga days are always full of the silliest “mistakes,” like swapping eyeglasses and walking backwards to the park. Like making the house safe by eating all the marshmallow goblins, filling the tub to bursting with bubbles, and then reading a bedtime story all the way through upside down. With touches of Amelia Bedelia and Eloise, this irrepressible granny might just inspire deliciously goofy, endlessly creative, and bursting-with-love grandma-grandchild playdates!
It is that time of year again. The weather is getting warmer and most of us just want to be outside. I grew up in Dundee Wisconsin surrounded by the vast Kettle Moraine State Forest. I would spend hours as a child running through the meadows, climbing rocks and trees, and exploring the woods. When I was very little my grandfather would babysit me at his office at the Ice Age Center. He was a naturalist there. He and Grandma made sure that my cousins and I had the chance to travel and explore many of the national parks where Grandpa had worked in his younger years. Each summer they took us somewhere new. I was blessed to be able to see The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Mesa Verde, and The South Dakota Badlands. Our grandparents also took us east to Niagara Falls, Gettysburg, The Finger Lakes of upper New York, and Washington D.C. As an adult it is more difficult to travel to these places as life is busy. This time of year I get out and explore the many beautiful natural areas closer to home. Though I am unable to travel to the national parks whenever I may like, I do still carry a deep appreciation for our country’s protected wilderness areas. These national parks deserve to be celebrated and protected for all future generations to enjoy. Dear reader, please join me on a literary tour and celebration of our national parks through the books I have selected below.
Hear me out. There are a couple reasons why you might want to watch a scary movie on Mother’s Day. Firstly, maybe your mom just likes horror movies! But if I may put my film nerd hat on for a second, one of the most important tricks in the horror toolkit is taking something people typically think of as safe and comforting and making it frightening. When a director or a screenwriter focuses on familial relationships alongside or within the scares, they can reliably create a memorably chilling cinematic experience. The following films include scared moms, scary moms, and sometimes both, and all of them are excellent picks for any horror fan at any time of year.
The Xenomorph, the iconic creation of artist H.R. Giger, is technically only doing what comes naturally for the propagation of her species. Unfortunately, that involves using the crew of the Nostromo as hosts. Only Ellen Ripley may have the strength not only to survive, but to fight back. In the forty-six years (!) since this film’s release, Alien has become the gold standard for sci-fi horror. Anchored by Sigourney Weaver’s unforgettable protagonist, the film provides both spine-tingling suspense and heart-pounding adrenaline rushes. The Xenomorph may be one of the all-time feats of cinematic creature design. As far as the film’s applicability to Mother’s Day, the sequel just so happens to contain one of the most iconic Mama Bear one-liners in all of cinema. You know the one.
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