Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: NYPL's Young Lions Fiction Award Edition

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.  

The New York Public Library recently announced their finalists for the You Lions Fiction Award. From the About page:

Established in 2001, The New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award is a $10,000 prize awarded each spring to a writer age 35 or younger for a novel or a collection of short stories. Each year, five young fiction writers are selected as finalists by a reading committee of Young Lions members, writers, editors, and librarians. A panel of judges selects the winner.

Founded by Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Rick Moody, and Hannah McFarland—and made possible by an endowment created with generous gifts from Russell Abrams, Nina Collins, Hannah and Gavin McFarland, Ethan Hawke, Stephan Loewentheil, Rick Moody, Andrea Olshan and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh—this annual award recognizes the work of young authors and celebrates their accomplishments publicly, making a difference in their lives as they continue to build their careers. ​

This prize is part of the Library's Young Lions program, a membership group for people in their 20s and 30s who are committed to supporting the organization and to celebrating young writers and artists who are making an impact on this city's cultural life.

The Young Lions Fiction Award is given each spring during a special ceremony at The New York Public Library.  

Before we get to the 5 finalists this year, I want to talk about how important the finalists list is for libraries. This is a LIBRARY making sure the world knows about young voices that are worth their time. We should be collecting the books called out by this award every single year. They also link to their catalog so you can borrow each book. Love it!

Speaking of every single year, because this award is from a library, at the very top of the main page for the Young Lions Fiction Award you have access to the link to see all past winners and finalists and judges. 

Speaking of judges, I love that every year, the winner gets to be one of the judges for the next year. Too often when authors are asked to be a part of literary prizes, they are not asked until they are far into their careers. Who better than to judge the best book by an author 35 or under, than the last person to win it?

Back to the award's backlist though, the authors and titles are names you know. This is an award of sure bet books for the literary fiction audience, which is very popular with library patrons.

Also, let's talk money. $10,000 is enough money for some of these young writers to keep going; the difference between having to cut back on writing because the day job needs attention to cutting back on those day job hours because you have a cushion. 

Now, I know that there is no other library in America that can offer this kind of money to an emerging writing who lives in their city (well maybe LA), but I think this is an example everyone should consider. Find ways to locate the writers in your  community and raise them up. Maybe it's by having a local writers festival, maybe it is to give them a "writer in residence" tag for a year. You can buy all their books, put them on display, and have them host a few programs throughout the year. An honorarium of any size along with buying their books would be a great boost to them AND part of your mission to promote reading and life long learning. You don't need a $10,000 prize to uplift the authors in your community.

Below are this year's finalists. I know you have a few of these, but probably not all. Go back and check the last 10 years as well. Many of these titles you own and the authors have broken out. Why not make a display of authors who have been singled out as finalists over the years. People will flock to it, especially when they see a back list title or author they never got to but remember wanting to read. You look brilliant and super helpful when you remind them of good reads they would not have found on their own.

Here is the link to the landing page for the award with the finalist announcement for this year below:

The New York Public Library is excited to announce the finalists for the 24th annual Young Lions Fiction Award. The finalists are: 

• Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah for Chain-Gang All-Stars
• Monica Brashears for House of Cotton
• Eskor David Johnson for Pay As You Go
• E. J. Koh for The Liberators
• C Pam Zhang for Land of Milk and Honey

Judges: A. M. Homes, Caoilinn Hughes, Zain Khalid (last year's winner)

Ask Patrons What They Didn't Find and Then Actually Listen To Their Answers

This is a repost from 2019

One of the biggest changes in RA Service from when I began until now is that we have gone from it being a transactional service like reference-- where we only worry about being asked for a title suggestion and then giving it-- to a conversation based service-- where we create a culture where books and reading are discussed, titles are shared both by staff and patrons, and ultimately books are discovered through the overall experience.

To that end, I have posted a variety of conversation starters here on the blog. These are ideas to spark conversations about books in our libraries-- both our in buildings and online.

We spend a lot of time creating conversations around the books we have. We try to book talk under the radar titles, we ask patrons to share books they have liked, or even the ones they have tried and did not enjoy. All in order to learn about how our collections are working for our patrons.

However, one thing we do not do explicitly ask them bout is what we don't have. Things they wish we did, but don't. In the wake of spending so much time thinking and talking about how we provide Reader Focused Collection Development one of the questions that kept coming up is how do we craft collections for those who don't use our libraries. How do we know what they want so that we can have it for them? So we can get them to come and use it. So that we can be for everyone, not just our regulars.

Now there is no easy answer to this question, but I think the key to starting this conversation is encapsulated in this tweet from a librarian in SC from back in April. [I am using it with her permission.]

Click here for original Tweet

Since we cannot figure out the best way to bring non users in to our buildings, if we begin by asking those who do come what they wanted but didn't find, we can start to see what we are NOT providing for everyone.

Our users already love and appreciate us. Yes, they ask for us to purchase specific things they want, but often these are new items or something on a topic or genre that is new to them. However, this larger question, which isn't about a specific title or item, just to ask them what they wanted but they couldn't;t find, this is a great way for us to start to get to the root of where we are not meeting our community's needs.

Now, as I said above, there is no easy answer to this question of how do we craft collections for the the people who aren't coming in, but I think asking our users where there are gaps in our collections, that is a great place to begin delving into this important topic.

So take Andria's advice and instead of asking if they found everything they NEEDED today, change it up and ask if there was anything they WANTED that they couldn't find. And then, here is the most important part....

....Listen to their answers. Take note of them. No matter how pie in the sky or completely undoable they seem.

Within those answers, be they super practical or way too expensive or anything in between, those answers hold the key to making our collections and services better. We have to be able to listen to what we don't have without freaking out that we already do too much and we can't be everything to everybody.

I am not saying we have to do everything our patrons ask. Rather, what I am saying is we can learn a lot more from our patrons and their needs [especially about our collections] when we ask the right questions, listen, and really ponder where the gaps are. And especially if we look at a variety of different answers to this question, put them together, and see where the commonality is. 

For example, I have a friend at a large library near me whose World Languages collection is exploding, and yet many people still don't even know they have it and keep asking why they don't have one. She realized it would probably be doing even better if they moved it from the back corner, to right up front. This would both raise its physical visibility and it will also give her room to grow it with more accurate data on who actually wants it.

That is just one small example. No matter where you work, try asking what patrons couldn't find and see what happens. Just asking them will make your patrons happy, but when you listen and take note, you have the chance to make a well reasoned change for the better too.

Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: LA Times Book Prize Edition

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.  

Tonight the 44th Annual LA Times Book Prizes will be given out. Click here for all of the details, including a list of finalists in 12 categories.

Of course I am parietal to the SF/FSY finalists-- 3 of which were among my favorite reads of 2023:

• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
• Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
• Lone Women by Victor LaValle.

But the LA Times Book Prize finalists are a stacked bunch. Click here to browse all of the categories, but also here is a screen shot of what they are:

I love that these categories take how readers see books into play. You can use words like "History" and "Current Events" to have conversations with readers about what they are looking for.

Go forth and do the usual with this list (see the header if you are new to this rodeo). Remember, these are all books that came out in 2023, so they will probably be available on shelf to suggest and display. You should 100% own every single one of these titles. Hand down, no excuses. These are all titles you can own and suggest to a wide variety of readers with confidence.

This would be such a great display near the entrance of the library. Gather the fiction, nonfiction, poetry, YA, and audiobooks all together in one display. Print out something from the website to post as well. They have some great graphics. Show people the breadth of your holdings and promote a current event, with books that are ready for check out right now. They will love it, and really, it is not that much work for you to do. This is the power of using resources to help readers in a nutshell.

There is also a "History" tab for the awards which allows easy and graphically appealing access to finalists and winners in every category going back to 2011. 

Remember "best" does not have a shelf life. The titles from the last 8 years especially, are still excellent sure bet suggestions to your readers. And the conversation starter is on the page for you.. Ex: "This book was a finalist for the SciFi/Fanatsy award in 2019. You might have missed it but here you go." Remember, if it is new to your reader, you have helped them find something they could not have found without you. It does not have to be new to the world, just new to them. The backlist is our best asset. It is what we have that bookstores do not. We also have a human helping them to find the titles they might like, not an algorithm. Lean in to this. 

Back to that display near your entrance-- grab some titles from the last two years if you need help filling the display out.

One last note, the awards ceremony tonight kicks off a full weekend of the LA Times Festival of Books. I think some of it may be available online, but if not, simply looking at the schedule and panels will give you a great idea of topics and genres and books that are worth your time.

Good luck to my friends, Due, Kraus, and LaValle. I know you can't all win, but you all deserve it. 

GoodReads Cross-Genre Trends As a Resource to Help Your Readers

One of my favorite resources to use as I help readers is Goodreads. Look, I know the site has issues, but it is the best resource we have to access data and trends about readers in real time. I can go there and get a snapshot of what people are reading and how they feel about it. Yes, I know some people use it to be racist, sexist, homophobic etc.... but the vast majority of information is from passionate readers sharing their opinions in a public space.

The people behind the database know this as well and they use the data they are gathering on every single user in so many ways, some probably nefarious, but also, some that help us serve readers better. 

At our individual libraries., we are never going to be able to get a wide enough picture of what people are most interested in reading in real time. We might find out about trends after they crest, when really we need to be ahead of the wave so that we can not only have the books but also have them displayed in a way that shows people we know what they are looking for without them having to ask.

Here is a great example of how Goodreads uses their data in a way that helps us. At the beginning of the month they had this article listing the Five Cross-Genre Trends that they are noticing. I have posted the introduction below, but please click through and see what they have gathered and then look at the comments as well. Of course normally the comments are a place to avoid, but in this case, it is simply a continuation of the conversation but readers adding their own thoughts. 

This is a treasure trove of information about readers-- from all over-- and their preferences right now. Also, since cross-genre books are one of the biggest trends in all of fiction AND it is a trend that has been driven by readers, following this conversation is essential to staying relevant in the eyes of your patrons.

First and foremost, an article like this one is a resource for you. Make sure you are aware of these cross-genres and the titles that readers are excited about. Order them if you don't have them. Suggest them or readalikes for them as you place holds.

Second, turn these 5 categories into mini-displays or lists. You can use Goodreads or NoveList or simply a Google search to find more titles that you already own to add to these ready made display titles. Get those displays up in your buildings, on your websites, and out on social media. Use a link to the Goodreads article to draw even more interest.

Do not underestimate how much more alluring your displays look to your patrons when they see that the wider book world is talking about the same thing as their library. Too often we think that references make us look less competent when it comes to helping leisure readers, but that is completely wrong. When we show our readers that we are engaged with and part of the larger "book atmosphere" (credit Robin Bradford on that phrase), they trust us even more. 

Third, this article is a great example of a conversation starter like the ones I suggest in this "Conversation Starter to Display" handout. Why not show your patrons that you want to know what they are enjoying. Put up a display simply entitled, "Cross-Genre Trends." Don't specify the specifics of which genres are crossing. Trust me, they won't care. The "cross-genre" alone will be a huge draw. Then use the information in my "Conversation Starter to Display" post to gather information from you patrons about their favorite genre blends, both specific titles and any names they are giving to those blends. 

There is so much we can do with the data Goodreads is already collecting. This post is simply a starting point. They are not going to stop and readers are there in numbers we cannot replicate, so why not use it all for good.

From Time Travel to Tech Startups: Five Cross-Genre Book Trends We're Noticing 

As life’s rich pageant of books passes through Goodreads World Headquarters, we often take note of certain thematic and topical trends that suddenly feel like they're everywhere. These aren’t genre trends, exactly. In fact, what makes them interesting is that they often manifest across multiple genres.
 
We like to catalog these strange little pulses while they’re still in circulation, so we've gathered below a selection of new (published since 2022) and upcoming books sorted into five cross-genre trends we're currently spotting. Some are familiar and tend to come in waves over time—vampires are back, for instance—while others feel like distinctly 21st-century concerns. What's with all the books that are set in 2040, anyhow?
 
We’ve added some quick introductions and synopses. Click on the book cover images for more information about each book. Have fun, and if you want to add books or compare notes on other cross-genre trends you're noticing in books these days, feel free to continue the discussion in the comments section!

Click here to read the whole article. which includes annotated book lists, and use it to start conversations with your readers.

A Unique Take on Best Books: Tournament of Books 2024

The Morning News' Tournament of Books is one of my favorite "best books" resources for a few reasons. 

Every year, I take a moment, after the competition is completed to remind you of what a great resource the ToB is to help your readers looking for thought provoking reads across the full spectrum of genres and storytelling styles.

Click here to see the 2024 list of books with summaries.

On the surface this appears to be just another list of "best books," so why do I think it such a valuable resource? Well you can read their full explanation here, on their "About" page here, but here is an excerpt that I think sums up why I like it so much:

But it’s not really a contest. We’re not even sure it’s a “tournament.” What the ToB has been and will be, as long as we’re putting it on, is a month-long conversation about novels and reading and writing and art that takes place on weekdays in March.

Here’s how it works. Throughout the year, we gather, read, and assess the works of fiction we think would make worthy Tournament competitors. In December we present our findings in the form of a "long list." We then cull it to a final shortlist of 16 or so books. (Some years we expand the list beyond the core 16 to include an extra set of two or more books that compete in a pre-Tournament play-in match.)

When the Tournament of Books begins in March, each weekday two works of fiction go head to head, with one of our judges deciding which book moves forward in the brackets, according to whatever criteria matters to them. Along the way, the judges reveal their biases and interests, any connections they have to the participating authors, and, most importantly, an elaborate explanation of how they decided between the two books.

The ToB is not your average book award and not only because it is a battle between the books as judged by other writers using a bracket system. With ToB we also get the most diverse list of “best books” you will see anywhere, both diverse in authorship and genre. 

And because it happens in March each year, but the books are from the year before-- so the 2024 ToB uses 2023 books--there are a lot of titles that are already off holds. So it's a current "best list" option of a wide range of best books, many of which are on the shelf.

With ToB you not only learn about great books and why they are wonderful, but you also learn about the judges themselves, also a very diverse group of people throughout the publishing industry. You can learn about the judges who always get their own page here. Just the list of judges alone makes for it's own resource to suggest books to readers.

Each “battle” has a full write up which gets to the heart of the two books’ appeal and structure. These essays give us valuable information on who would like the book and why. Readalikes are also often mentioned. This is the easiest link to use to pull up each match-up and enjoy it for fun while also learning something new and unique about these popular books. 

Oh and the comments. The readers who follow along religiously and have entire discussions about each pairing of books for pages and pages are THE BEST. Following just the comments is like reading a novel itself. Plus those are the comments of regular readers. There is even a running commentary on the battle itself by the tournament organizers. Again use this link and click on one of the matches to see what I mean.

And don’t forget the back list. From 2005 to the present. Each with their own full bank of the above mentioned information and more! It is no longer all on one page like it used to be but, if you want to see the archive of ToB from the old format from 2005-2020, click here and scroll to the bottom of the right gutter for all the links. And then click on the years for 2023, and 2024 to see the details of those tourneys. For 2021 and 2022, I cannot figure out the link (they don't do a full list with links to the matches after 2020), but you can see their announcement of the books for the 2021 and 2022 tourneys my clicking on the year.

ToB has also become my go-to resource for "literary fiction." Why? Because the ToB takes the idea of "literary" titles, titles worthy of being deemed as worth your time [which I hate, but it is a thing], and gives it a wide berth. I especially love using the backlist titles for book discussions. 

Speaking of backlist, I love the "Wall of Champions," which you can click here and scroll down to see. That page alone is an awesome "sure bet" resource.

In terms of actively using the ToB to help readers, beyond keeping the cache of suggestions readily available, you can stage your own ToB at any time. Use theirs as an inspiration. Here's an example, kick off Summer Reading by taking a look at your most circulated titles-- overall or in specific genres-- or stage a tourney based on your Summer Reading Theme. This is a great participatory display that can be put up in the building or online. Have your patrons vote yes, but also have your library workers do commentary. Get everyone on staff involved who wants to be and have fun with it. You will showcasing your staff's expertise and your collection.

I hope you use the ToB as a resource to get your patrons excited about reading. You can use all of the past years to create a diverse (in every way) display to attract a wide swatch of readers.

If you want to take a deeper dive, you can read "A Brief History of the Tournament of Books." 

If you want more "Rooster Events," scroll to the bottom of the "About" page to see the "Super Rooster" (a contest to decided the champion of champions), "Camp ToB" (a summer book club of past titles: 2023 event is here; archive is here), and "The Nonfiction Pop-Up" (a one time event).

Graphic Novels Preview via LJ (Includes an Interview with Emil Ferris)

Today I am finishing up my Horror Review Column for the June issue of Library Journal and then later this week, I will begin my Horror Genre Preview article for the July issue. As I mentioned a few months ago here, LJ has streamlined their Genre Preview articles to make them more standard and as a result, more helpful. 

This month, they have a format preview-- Graphic Novels. And guess what the first trend is? Horror!

Click here to read
the interview

Below you will find the introductory paragraph, a direct link to read the full article, and the downloadable list of titles to make your ordering easier.

But first, each preview is also paired with an interview of a key person in the Genre at that moment (or format in this case). I have an AWESOME person lined up for mine, a LibraryReads Hall of Famer who has one of the hottest books of the Fall. But the Graphic Novel Preview issue may rival my upcoming interview as they chatted with Emil Ferris about My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book 2, which I have already preordered. Click here to read that.

Graphic Novels Preview | Forthcoming Reads and Format Trends

by Melissa DeWild and Neal Wyatt
Apr 10, 2024 | Filed in Reviews+

The opportunity to experiment with line and form, matching design to mood and carrying story through innovative panel layout and art, clearly holds deep appeal for graphic novel creators and readers alike. Design of both story and page is the point in many of the key works this season. Frank Silva, marketing and communications coordinator at Mad Cave Studios, notes, “The trend of presenting stories in unconventional formats…showcases a growing interest in experimenting with narrative structures.” Look toward Attaboy, Iris, and Between Two Sounds for examples. At the same time, underscoring the format’s avid readership, trends from text-only fiction and nonfiction are finding equal home in graphic novels—particularly with a focus on horror, SFF, adaptations, and memoirs. A downloadable list of all titles mentioned can be found here.

Click here to read the full Graphic Novel Preview. 

LibraryReads: May 2024

      It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. Click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month.

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the May 2024 list.... 

The Last Murder at the End of the World

Stuart Turton

(Sourcebooks Landmark)

After a deadly fog decimates most of humanity, the small population that’s left lives on an island. As one villager begins investigating a murder, what once seemed like utopia begins to reveal dark secrets that no one could have predicted. Turton raises tantalizing social questions, presents an inventive world structure, and keeps readers intrigued and surprised throughout the novel.

—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: Clean Air by Sarah Blake

Now for the rest of the May 2024 list!

The Ministry of Time: A Novel
Kaliane Bradley
(Avid Reader Press)

An employee of the Ministry of Time becomes a "bridge," helping an Arctic explorer adjust to modern life after being rescued from the lost Franklin expedition of 1845. But as she begins to grow closer to him, she finds herself wondering who she can trust, what the real reason for pulling people out of time may be, and whether her life might be in danger. Totally gripping, with great character development.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Daughters of Shandong
Eve J. Chung
(Berkley)

At times both heartbreaking and uplifting, this novel follows the journey of the women of the Ang family from their farm in rural China to Taiwan during the horrific land reforms of 1948-1950. With this story based on Chung’s grandmother’s experience of a turbulent era, readers will be riveted from page one by the mother/daughter bonds and their will to survive.

—Martha DiVittorio, Bellmore Memorial Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata

Savor It
Tarah DeWitt
(St. Martin's Griffin)

This Pacific Northwest rom- com has delicious tension from the first interaction. Add in fake dating and a steamy scene in a library, and who could ask for more? Readers will appreciate how much attention and care DeWitt put into creating fully-formed characters grappling with grief, chasing dreams, and figuring out how to live in the moment.

—Ebby Bowles, Hingham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Chef's Choice by TJ Alexander

This Summer Will be Different
Carley Fortune
(Berkley)

Filled with emotional moments as well as fun and flirty scenes, this wonderful story set in picturesque Prince Edward Island is about friendships and found family. More than a love story, this novel has a lot that readers will relate to, including friendship and family. A perfect steamy romance book for the summer.

—Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador
NoveList read-alike: How To Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson

Lies and Weddings: A Novel
Kevin Kwan
(Doubleday)
Arabella Leung is doing everything she can to match her son Rufus to a very wealthy titled woman in this romp around the world with controlling parents, one of whom is desperately matchmaking to save the family estate. Readers who love high entertainment and the bad behavior of the haves and the have-even-mores will devour this wild ride.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, TX
NoveList read-alike: Family Trust by Kathy Wang

When Among Crows
Veronica Roth
(Tor Books)

This painful and fascinating (but ultimately hopeful) urban fantasy set in Chicago is a packed novella steeped in Slavic folklore. Dymitr is on a quest to retrieve a guarded plant that might relieve the demon Ala of a deadly curse so he can bargain with her for a hint on how to seek an audience with Baba Yaga herself.

—Jessica Trotter, Capital Area District Libraries, MI
NoveList read-alike: Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

Long After We Are Gone
Terah Shelton Harris
(Sourcebooks Landmark)

This moving story follows four siblings trying to hold onto their family property. Secrets and dubious life choices threaten to break the family apart as the siblings experience despair followed by self-discovery and self-determination, seeking what truly matters. An engaging and satisfying read, featuring believable, complex characters.

—Monica McAbee, PGCMLS Surratts-Clinton Branch, MD
NoveList read-alike: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club
Helen Simonson
(The Dial Press)

Constance, companion to an elderly woman, meets Poppy, a young woman trying to start a business for women motorcycle riders. Constance gets drawn into the circle of friendship and independence the motorcycle ladies enjoy. Readers will love the characters, the setting, and the portrayal of life after The Great War.

— Linda Quinn, LibraryReads Ambassador
NoveList read-alike: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea
Rebecca Thorne
(Bramble)

This book is so cozy, readers will want to snuggle under a heap of blankets with a delicious cup of tea. Kianthe and Reyna were the perfect opposites-attract couple—determined to make things work no matter the obstacles. Lots of humor with a serious amount of heart. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes.

—Laura Eckert, Clermont County Public Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans

Board Bonus pick:

The Return of Ellie Black
Emiko Jean
(Simon & Schuster)

Notable Nonfiction:

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth
Zoë Schlanger
(Harper)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order.

Summers at the Saint
Mary Kay Andrews
(St. Martin's Press)
NoveList read-alike: An Island Summer by Jenny Hale

If Something Happens to Me
Alex Finlay
(Minotaur Books)
NoveList read-alike: Just Another Missing Person by Gillian Mcallister

The Paradise Problem
Christina Lauren
(Gallery Books)
NoveList read-alike: The Fiance Farce by Alexandra Bellfleur

Love at First Book 
Jenn McKinlay
(Berkley)
NoveList read-alike: Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin

Mind Games
Nora Roberts
(St. Martin's Press)
NoveList read-alike: Hold Back the Dark by Kay Hooper

You Should Be So Lucky
Cat Sebastian
(Avon)
NoveList read-alike: The Prospects by KT Hoffman

The Guncle Abroad
Steven Rowley
(G.P. Putnam's Sons)
NoveList read-alike: The Bump by Sidney Karger

One Perfect Couple
Ruth Ware
(Gallery/Scout Press)
NoveList read-alike: The Guest List by Lucy Foley