Add to your to-be-read list and maybe your holiday gift list with your librarians' favorite books of the year.
For the Fiction Lover
Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie
From the first few pages, this author pulls us on stage and into the lives of these talented musicians. Jane’s career begins at a hippie filled rock concert and you follow her on tour as she navigates the business of rock n roll and the joy of falling in love.
The Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen
I loved the short stories and felt that the characters were well-developed by the first few pages of the story. There is just enough irony and satire in the essays to make you smile and be able to relate to the protagonist's flaws. This is a quick read, but that doesn't mean the stories won't stay with you long after you finish this book.
This book starts out strong and keeps going until the last page. A bastard of the crown Marie is sent away to live a pious life of prayer and isolation. By sheer force of Margaret’s personality, she takes control of this world, becomes a strong and interesting women all described with mesmerizing details. One of the best books I have read this year.
The London House by Katherine Reay
France, England, Fashion and Intrigue. An uncovered family secret sets one woman on the journey of a lifetime through the history of Britain’s WWII spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris in an effort to understand her past, save her family, and claim her future.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Mick Riva is a nationally acclaimed singer, his wife and children are his life, and everything seems right in the world. Fame has reached his head, however, and he leaves his family to tour the world and sleep with whomever wants - much like real-life pop singers. Left to fend for themselves, the Riva children and their mother accept the challenge, and as a result, become closer and more loyal to one another until their bond is unbreakable. By the end of this book, you will have felt that you’ve know the Riva family your whole life, and you will be rooting for them with every turn of the page.
The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe
The art world can be mysterious and intriguing; this is a gripping, nail-biting story of self-invention, intrigue, greed, trust, and ambition and a young woman who lives a double life.
For the Foodie
The Art of Tablescaping: Deck Out Your Table with the Queen of Theme by Bugsy Drake
Deck out your table with the queen of theme. Beautiful photos, fun themes and helpful tips make this a great party guide.
Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch by Erin French
Erin French effectively tells her life's story within the pages of her memoir. From helping her dad with his diner as a child to starting her own restaurant, the reader will be rooting for her with every turn of the page. Growing up in rural Maine, raising a child by herself, marrying a manipulative alcoholic, getting kicked out of rehab, and opening a restaurant from scratch are just a few things French has to share. Possible trigger: French describes the butchering process of chickens on a farm.
Eat Run Enjoy: Recipes for Running Performance and Pleasure by Billy White
Recipes for running performance and pleasure. This book combines two passions: trail running and delicious food. Eat, Run, Enjoy is a recipe book designed for runners of all levels.
Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide by Cecily Wong
Travel the weird and wonderful world of food in this colorful and information-packed book. From Sardinia’s “Threads of God” pasta Texas’ pecan pie vending machine, your knowledge of cultures and traditions through food and drink is about to be broadened.
Very fun and very different, you can really create some excitement at your next get together. This book is here to show you just how easy it is to make delicious, one-of-a-kind mixed drinks with common flowers, berries, roots, and leaves that you can find along roadsides or in your backyard.
For the Armchair Detective
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
In a final attempt to save their marriage, Adam and Alice spend a remote weekend together. Little do they know that the secrets from their pasts are about to be revealed. I read a lot of thrillers and am a huge sceptic when it comes to them. In my opinion, thrills are like potato chips, easy to consume and get through but not often individually memorable. This book was different, however, and I was completely thrown off with the ending!
Another heart pounding thriller from this talented author. Tess is told she is overprotective, but what mother isn’t? When her daughter witnesses a crime, she feels that she must keep her safe…but who or where is the danger?
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
For eight years, Cooper and his daughter Finch have lived off the grid, relying on annual visits from Cooper's former army buddy Jake who brings supplies. One year, however, he doesn't show up, and Cooper must face his fears in order to provide for Finch and stay alive. This is a slow burn thriller, so don’t expect any fast-paced drama. Instead, it is an atmospheric and thoughtful work that pays tribute to the strength of a father-daughter bond with an unforgettable ending.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
From the author who brought us The Silent Patient comes a fresh thriller set at Cambridge University. Group therapist Mariana becomes obsessed with Greek Tragedy professor Edward Fosca because she is certain he’s a murderer. Set on proving him guilty, Mariana does everything in her power to make him confess. This is an excellent read for fans of Greek mythology and thrillers with academic settings.
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
If locked room mysteries are your thing, you won’t want to miss this atmospheric debut thriller. Set in a former sanatorium turned exclusive five-star hotel, Detective Elin Warner tries to relax on vacation. When a guest goes missing and Elin is the last person to have seen her, things start to get spooky.
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
Based on a true story, this book combines elements of mystery, romance, and historical fiction that will keep you reading to the last page. Three men mysteriously disappear from a remote lighthouse. Their bodies are never found and the door to the lighthouse is locked from the inside. Twenty years later, the women they left behind are still struggling to move on and keep secrets buried. This is a well-written debut novel that will have you thinking about it long after you turn the last page.
Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
Falling in love so quickly was exhilarating and so wonderful, until he disappeared. She fell for him—hard. It happens sometimes, a powerful connection with a perfect stranger takes you by surprise. But then, just as things were getting real, he stood her up. Then he disappeared, his profile deleted, phone disconnected. She was ghosted. Is he safe or is he not to be trusted?
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
The author wanted to write a crime thriller that he would want to read, and he sure did. The characters are appealing, the crime is daring, and the fall out is spectacular. Harlem Shuffle's ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It's a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power.
For the Nonfiction Enthusiast
Provence Style: Decorating with French Country Flair by Shauna Varvel and Alexandra Black
Take a trip from your armchair as you page through this beautiful book. It includes chapters on the public spaces of the home, from entrances to living rooms, the private realm of bedrooms and bathrooms, and outdoor areas including patios and kitchen gardens.
Couple Found Slain: After a Family Murder by Mikita Brottman
After admitting to murdering his parents and claiming that he acted in a moment of insanity, Brian Bechtold was transferred to the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Maryland in 1992. Bounced around the center in various levels of security and with multiple doctors and psychologists evaluating his mental stability, Brian is still appealing for his release or transfer to prison. The majority of this book focuses on Brian and his story, but a portion of it discusses mental health facilities and the ethics of treating people with mental disorders like schizophrenia in an approachable manner.
Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown
From the author of The Boys in the Boat. An exhilarating, tense and exiting true story of Japanese American heroes in WWII. In early 1943, the Roosevelt administration decided to create an all-Japanese American segregated fighting unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. They wound up being one of the most decorated units of its size in World War II.
Three Dreamers: A Memoir of Family by Lorenzo Carcaterra
Told in 3 parts, this is a moving tribute to the 3 women who made the author who he is today. Beginning with his sharp-witted Italian grandmother Nonna Maria, then moving to Raffaela, his insensitive but tough mother, and ending with Susan, the love of his life, the reader will feel that they personally know these women by the end of this memoir. It will make you laugh and cry and come away with a greater respect for the women and mothers who influence your life.
The Optimist: A Case for the Fly Fishing Life by David Coggins
Witty and clever, Coggins is the perfect guide to time on the river. He shares the secrets, frustrations, and triumphs of the great tradition of fly fishing, which has captivated anglers worldwide.
Warrior: Audrey Hepburn by Robert Matzen and Luca Dotti
This biography focuses on the work this amazing actress does as an advocate for those in need. This book is filled with wonderful photographs from her private collection.
Miseducated: A Memoir by Brandon P. Fleming
This is the story of one man's journey from drug-addiction and abuse to saving other teen's lives and teaching at one of the top schools in the country. Throughout this autobiography, the author remains humble and honest about himself. Even when he is asked to coach the Harvard debate team, Fleming undermines himself. The reader will be rooting for him to succeed with every new challenge he faces.
TW: Child abuse, racial slurs, drugs, suicide, rape (not explicit)
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Clint Howard and Ron Howard
Join award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and audience-favorite actor Clint Howard as they frankly and fondly share their unusual family story of navigating and surviving life as sibling child actors. From The Andy Griffith Show to Happy Days to Gentle Ben, this is the delightful and fascinating coming-of-age story of two kids growing up in Hollywood.
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
Told by a master storyteller, this new book reveals the triumphs and challenges of more than 10,000 women who worked behind the scenes of wartime intelligence.
These stories consider a range of creatures—the household pets we dote on, the animals we raise to end up as meat on our plates, the creatures who could eat us for dinner, the various tamed and untamed animals we share our planet with who are central to human life. Equal parts delightful and profound, enriched by Orlean’s stylish prose and precise research, these stories celebrate the meaningful cross-species connections that grace our collective existence.
Mary and Bill Yoder have spent many happy years together and own their own chiropractic company. Their son's girlfriend, a pretty and reticent college student named Katie, maintains the business aspect so that the Yoder's can pour all their energy into caring for their patients. One day, however, Mary doesn't feel right, and Bill rushes her to the ER. She dies within hours, and the family is left with the question “was it an accident or premeditated murder?”