LJ

The winter edition of Life+Style showcases wonderful reads across cooking, crafts, gardening, self-help, travel, and more.

In reviews that offer insight, invitation, and illumination, these four LJ reviewers showcase the life-affirming work of reading and writing about books.

Titles not to miss across fiction, nonfiction, and audio.

The theme of the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2025 LibLearnX, “Reimagine, Refocus, Reset: Charting a Path for the Future,” has particular resonance, as this will be the final LibLearnX. The event, which replaced ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in 2022, had seen low attendance—just over 2,000 at last year’s conference in Baltimore—and ALA has opted to stop hosting the conference.

Audio horror, fantasy, mystery, social sciences, and more. This winter’s audiobook stars offer auditory delights across a wide range of subjects and genres.

Captivating mystery audios, showcasing octogenarian amateur detectives, intricate psychological thrillers, and a pulse-pounding installment in a beloved series.

Exhilarating listens, from classic high fantasy to thrilling tales of intrigue in extraterrestrial settings.

Key fiction, nonfiction, and reference titles.

As much as LJ editors love to read, we also hold deep admiration for book and cover design. Each year we gather to debate how image, text, and color help create the mood of a book and invite readers into the story. These 10 choices represent the standout covers from our best books and highlight trends in jacket design, arresting imagery, and just how important the aesthetics of book art can be.