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.
There’s nothing like watching a scary movie when fall is in the air. Every year, horror buffs look forward to the countdown to Halloween, when it’s socially acceptable to binge-watch as many horror movies as you want, and even the squeamish might give the genre a try. Today’s list isn’t complicated. It’s just a selection of horror films, all available at Mead, that I really liked, and that I hope you’ll like too. One quick note: these are the preferences of a long-time horror aficionado – viewer discretion is advised for all of these selections. With that out of the way, let’s get started!
Stopmotion follows Ella, creative assistant to her mother Suzanne, a celebrated stop-motion animator. Ella yearns to find her own artistic voice, but she’s been smothered by Suzanne’s personal and professional mistreatment. When Suzanne’s health takes a turn for the worse, a mysterious young girl begins to haunt Ella. The apparition encourages her to abandon her mother’s unfinished film and tell a different, very macabre story. Ella thinks she’s found her chance to come into her own – until the film begins to haunt her. Stopmotion is a brilliant work of psychological horror – I was literally on the edge of my seat by the end. I really appreciate how the film doesn’t overexplain itself. It’s left up to interpretation whether the haunting represents Ella’s abusive upbringing, the toll of her devotion to art, fear of mortality triggered by her mother’s failing health, or something else entirely. Furthermore, the stop-motion animation sections of the film impress, both on a technical level and in scare factor. Stopmotion is a good story well told, capable of sending shivers up a jaded horror buff’s spine, and it absolutely deserves a place on your watchlist.
In my opinion, it’s never too early to start thinking about the scary movies you’re going to watch in the lead-up to Halloween. Vampires are having a bit of a moment right now, so there’s no better time to explore the history of one of the most iconic and enduring subgenres of horror cinema. Unfortunately, it would be pretty much impossible to cover the entire history of vampire movies in a single blog post: there are just too many great ones! So, with the acknowledgement that any short list of vampire movies will also necessarily be an incomplete one, I’d like to use this space to talk about a few of my favorites. Let’s get started!
Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula is indisputably the grandfather of the modern vampire story, and I thought for a while about which of its’ many, many cinematic adaptations should go on this list. Should I spotlight F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, the loose adaptation of Dracula that invented the vampire film genre as we know it today? Or should I highlight the legendary performance of Bela Lugosi? How about Christopher Lee? While those are all great options, in the end I decided on this 1992 adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola. Forget what you’ve heard about Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, because this movie also features excellent performances from Gary Oldman as Dracula, Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, Winona Rider as Mina Harker, and Tom Waits (!) as Renfield. This take on the story departs from Stoker’s novel in that it explores the idea of a potential romantic connection between Dracula and Mina Harker. No matter how you feel about the adaptational changes to the original story, this film is undeniably stylish. With Coppola’s directorial touch, a haunting score by Wojciech Kilar and gorgeous Oscar-nominated costumes by Eiko Ishioka, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is nothing short of an unforgettable cinematic experience.
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.
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.
There’s at least one thing I will never become tired of as a lover of books and libraries, and that’s learning what everyone has been reading lately. I also love to learn what everyone is excited to read in the future, which is why I find Library Reads so incredibly useful. This condensed ten-book list highlights some of the most unique and anticipated reading material for each month. The mission here is to promote inclusivity and diversity in a world that doesn’t always value these things. Amplifying emerging author voices via grassroots word-of-mouth is that pure library activism I signed up for in library school, so I am happy to be able to post the list here.
Below, I listed the top ten fiction books and non-fiction book of interest recommended by library workers and patrons all over the country. It’s early enough in the month that several titles have not reached their publication day at the time I am writing this blog, so keep checking back for their availability status.
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie (Tor Books)
In an alternative medieval Europe, a young monk is tasked to lead a disparate group of supernatural beings on a holy quest using very unholy methods. Abercrombie’s endlessly quotable wit, deft character work, crackling dialog, and gift for large cinematic action set pieces are on full display. This novel about found families will absolutely draw in new readers.
—Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Library, KS NoveList read-alike: The Maleficent Seven by Cameron Johnson
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Berkley)
Alice is more comfortable behind a camera than living her life. When her Nan has surgery, Alice takes her for rest and relaxation at their favorite lake cottage. Alice falls for their handyman neighbor Charlie, who brings her out of her shell and lets her discover who she really is in this fun and flirty romance.
—Jacquie Daddato, Cherry Hill Public Library, NJ NoveList read-alike: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Silver Elite by Dani Francis (Del Rey)
In a grim future, a military dictator sends forces after modified humans with psychic powers. Most have a tell when they use their powers. Wren wants revenge on those who destroyed her family, but she has a secret: she has powers, but no tell. Nonstop action, great worldbuilding, and a blisteringly hot enemies-to-lovers romance make this a winner.
—Jayna McDaniel-Browning, Delaware Library, OH NoveList read-alike: Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
The Names: A Novel by Florence Knapp (Pamela Dorman Books)
This debut novel is told in three alternating storylines based on three different names that the main character could have been given at birth. What results is a beautiful and nuanced story of a family attempting to survive and overcome domestic abuse and forge their own identities in the process.
—Jessica Sweetland, Manchester Public Library, CT
NoveList read-alike: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
A Fate Forged In Fire: A Novel by Hazel McBride (Delacorte Press)
Stakes are high for the kingdom of Tir Teine. A toxic influence looms in the form of the True Religion, a patriarchal group that condemns magic. Aemyra is fierce, headstrong, and unapologetically ambitious as she prepares to claim the throne. Fast action, romantic drama, mythical creatures, and the sinister allure of a dangerous cult will pull readers in.
—Marcie Fitzherbert, Fort Myers Regional Library, FL NoveList read-alike: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
Maine Characters: A Novel by Hannah Orenstein (Dutton)
Two half-sisters meet for the first time at their father’s lake house after his passing. Lucy and Vivian have led very different lives and knew very different versions of their dad. Readers will enjoy the characters, setting, and the twists and turns this story delivers.
—Shelby, Thomas B. Norton Public Library, AL NoveList read-alike: If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan (Forever)
Hendrix, a strong, intelligent Black woman, has big goals and no time for love. Then she meets billionaire Maverick, and everything changes. The characters are compelling and have strong chemistry. Ryan continues to excel at bringing big topics—in this case Alzheimer’s and racism—to her romances.
—Laura, West Bloomfield Public Library, MI NoveList read-alike: Forbidden Promises by Synithia Williams
The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson (Berkley)
In this modern take on a classic small-town mystery, book club members get drawn into amateur sleuthing when money to repair the town’s community center goes missing. The characters are well drawn and likable, the setting is cozy, and the motives are plentiful. The mystery twists and turns with several reveals leading to a satisfying conclusion.
—Laura Eckert, Clermont County Public Library, OH NoveList read-alike: The Mystery of the Crooked Man by Tom Spencer
Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang (Tordotcom)
The tale of Yeva, a masked dragon slayer who has never felt truly at home, is both mythic and achingly human. Her journey to Quanbao sets the stage for an exploration of identity, duty, and love. The world building, storytelling, and representation has made Yang an author to watch in the realm of queer fantasy.
—Addy, Montrose Regional Library District, CO NoveList read-alike: Singing Hills Cycle series by Nghi Vo
BONUS PICK:
A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love by Alice Murphy (Union Square & Co.)
NOTABLE NON-FICTION:
The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna (Harper)
PICK OF THE MONTH:
The Missing Half: A Novel by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester (Bantam)
Nic has been messed up since her older sister went missing. Enter Jenna, who is searching for connections between her sister’s disappearance and Nic’s. They decide to work together to uncover what happened, but the deeper they get the harder it becomes. A twist ending completely turns the tables on this tightly written thriller.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX NoveList read-alike: Night Will Find You by Julia Haberlin
If this crop of Library Reads book picks is not causing you excitement, please consider using Your Next Five Books, Mead’s book recommendation tool. There is a team of voracious readers on staff who are at the ready. All we dream of is (metaphorically) hurling our favorite book picks at a receptive audience of readers. See you at the library, and happy reading.
Mead Public Library Blog 