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The NYT announces the 10 best books of 2024. Reese Witherspoon selects City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim for her December book club. The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall is GMA’s pick. Target’s pick is Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet by Samantha Allen. Liza Minnelli’s forthcoming memoir, due out in 2026, will be adapted for television. Peter Mackay has been named Scotland’s national poet, and Kate Beaton wins the Jan Michalski Prize for Literature. Marian Keyes’s “Walsh Sisters” books will be adapted for TV in Ireland and the UK. Plus, Oxford University Press selects “brain rot” as its word of the year.
Brandon Sanderson’s Wind and Truth leads holds this week. People’s book of the week is Trial by Ambush: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth About the Case of Barbara Graham by Marcia Clark. Jon Ransom wins the Polari Book Prize. LJ's Best Books 2024 arrives, NYT names 100 Notable Books of 2024, and NPR releases their 2024 Books We Love. Costco announces it will stop selling books year-round in stores. Plus, LJ’s December starred reviews.
Family stories, trailblazing actors and activists, a wedding crasher, and more populate these engaging novels.
Explore powerful titles by marquee-name and debut authors, a translator, several poets, and short-story scribes.
Real-life historical figures solve and commit crimes, a puzzle master faces an ancient challenge, and an avenging equine rides to the rescue.
Sea dwellers, fortune tellers, tricksters, faeries, roving robots, and other fantastical creatures inhabit the pages of these out-of-this-world novels.
Readers will need to leave the lights on as they devour these tales of terror that are sure to delight.
Eight meaningful, whimsical, philosophical, historical, and fantastical works that are a joy for both reading and viewing.
These volumes’ lyric and reflective lines cry out against oppression, war, and annihilation and praise the complexity and absurdity of human existence.
Moving memoirs, historical accounts, lively performing arts books, and scientific inquiries number among these real-world reads.
Discover the delights of illustrated nonfiction about crafts, travel, cooking, self-help, and gardening.
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.
PREMIUM
The Devil’s Charm
Frampton (Her Adventures in Temptation) starts a new series with this Victorian-set novel that stresses friendship, being true to oneself, and finding appreciation.
PREMIUM
Autism: Your Questions Answered
Well written and useful for teens and caregivers. While there are plenty of materials on autism, few Q&A resources are as teen-oriented as this one.
Fans of Penny’s beloved audiobooks can breathe a sigh of relief, for new series narrator Brassard doesn’t miss a step. This latest trip to Three Pines is well worth the price of admission.
PREMIUM
Ginseng Roots: A Memoir
Thompson fuses lyrical reflections on his childhood with a thoughtful exploration of economic and cultural exchange to create a poignant meditation on labor, family, and the many ways in which global and personal endeavors intertwine, often unexpectedly. A visually rich, emotionally resonant work of true ambition and sophistication from one of the most sensitive storytellers currently working in any medium or genre.
PREMIUM
The Eyes Are the Best Part
Kim’s appalling portrait of rage, grief, and desire will have listeners squirming in their seats. A haunting psychological horror for fans of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer.
The glimpse inside the opulent world of a Russian oligarch is fascinating, with international intrigue ripped from the headlines. Creating compelling apprehension, this suspenseful thriller keeps readers off-balance and unsure whom to trust. Finder achieves a perfect one-sitting read.
PREMIUM
Sacrificial Animals
Readers of Southern gothic writers like Andy Davidson and William Gay will want to visit Stag’s Crossing and experience its fall.
Thompson is an exciting new voice in queer literary fiction, and this is an essential novel to highlight in all collections.
PREMIUM
A Dragon of Black Glass
The penultimate volume of the “Moonfall” series, after The Cradle of Ice, has some exposition lag, but the fast pace of its action sequences will keep epic fantasy readers engaged.
Fans of Elly Griffiths’s Ruth Galloway or Nilima Rao’s Akal Singh will be eager for the next entry in Phillips’s exciting series.
Essential. With vibrant prose and nuanced characters, Iglesias shows why he is a truly original voice in both horror and crime fiction.
PREMIUM
The Killing Plains
Fans of Paula Munier’s wounded protagonist Mercy Carr might appreciate Colly Newland and her struggles.
PREMIUM
Cat’s People
A charming story for animal lovers and readers looking for good in the world or hopeful stories about finding one’s people.
A first-rate, fiendishly clever suspense novel that fans of Lisa Jewell, Megan Miranda, and Laura Lippman will eat up with a spoon.
Fawcett delivers a perfect new entry in this series, which will enrapture readers with fantastic worldbuilding. A great pick for those who are fans of both Marie Brennan’s A Natural History of Dragons and Jane Austen novels.
PREMIUM
How To Sleep at Night
New York Times publishing-industry correspondent Harris excels at depicting middle-aged people reckoning with their earlier choices and struggling with how they want to live the rest of their lives. Recommended for most fiction collections.
PREMIUM
The Transit of Venus
A contemplative story that peels back each character’s inner secrets and moral center. For readers of Henry James.
PREMIUM
Only and Forever
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a steamy opposites-attract rom-com about big family dynamics, books, and being true to one’s self. Recommended for fans of Elena Armas and Amy Lea.
This quirky, humorous romance is well-written and plotted, and readers will quickly fall in love with its interesting characters. Fans of Olivia Dade’s “Spoiler Alert” series will especially fall for this superfan homage from Danan (Do Your Worst).
Wang writes a quiet, introspective novel of relationships, family obligations, and resentments that build over time and what makes a family. Highly recommended.
Fans of Heather Morris and Lisa Barr will be captivated by Lending’s story of resilience and romance, a must-have for historical fiction sections.
A great listen that might compel audiences to take a break and gather a deep breath before diving back in.
PREMIUM
Blood Like Mine
A terrifying yet tender tale about the lengths to which one will go to protect those they love.
PREMIUM
So Thirsty
Harrison’s many fans will devour her genre-blending latest, a smart, sexy horror with a lot of heart. Pair with Rachel Koller Croft’s We Love the Nightlife.
PREMIUM
We Speak Through the Mountain
Mohamed’s latest is a quick, thought-provoking listen that brings much-needed lightness to the series, even as grimmer horizons loom ahead.
For fans of Cutter’s descriptions of mutilations and mutations and Grady Hendrix fans looking for something more gruesome, this book breaks a listener’s heart before pulling it out of their chest.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a cozy mystery featuring an octogenarian amateur detective and offbeat, amusing characters, including fans of Robert Thorogood, Richard Osman, and Helene Tursten.
For fans of spy novels, those who love intrigue, and foodies, who will discover what happens behind the scenes of celebrity cooking shows.
PREMIUM
An Island of Suspects
This slow-paced, descriptive mystery should appeal to fans of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
Lenker (It Happened One Fight) writes a romance novel that also embraces the real struggle of women in the 1930s who wanted a career outside the home. The story balances the trials and tribulations of love, longing, and ultimately, success.
PREMIUM
You’re the Problem, It’s You
Fun, sexy, and filled with heart, this is an excellent second entry in Alban’s historical romance series.
PREMIUM
Upon a Starlit Tide
This vividly reimagined fairy tale will enchant those who enjoy historical fantasies with a romantic streak, such as Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.
Kyla Garcia gorgeously narrates Joyce’s (You, with a View) single-POV romance, bringing lush emotion to Georgia and Eli’s second-chance relationship. A must-listen for those who enjoy Tarah DeWitt and Kate Clayborn.
PREMIUM
Gifted & Talented
Blake’s (The Atlas Complex) command of morally gray characters and grim humor creates a dramatic, Succession-esque novel about a powerful, dysfunctional family.
A phenomenal production, superbly narrated and riveting. Listeners interested in fairy tales, storytelling, and courtly intrigue will want to pick this up.
PREMIUM
Space Punch, Vol. 1
ZD’s fast-paced storytelling and bold, kinetic artwork make for an action-packed and emotionally engaging sci-fi adventure.
PREMIUM
Kills Well with Others
Fans of Killers of a Certain Age will enjoy the return of the four senior assassins whose escapades from the past and present are intermixed in a fast-paced, humorous adventure. The books stand out for their wit and unlikely friendships.
PREMIUM
Medusa of the Roses
Grim yet piercingly beautiful, this complex tale of love, betrayal, and identity is recommended for fans of Khashayar J. Khabushani’s I Will Greet the Sun Again.
PREMIUM
Into the Woods
Readers who crave a love story between characters with personal and professional goals beyond romance will find Holiday’s (Canadian Boyfriend) measured, thoughtful novel deeply satisfying.
Hendrix offers an utterly engaging commentary on society and why things are viewed as right versus wrong, along with a generous dollop of magic.
PREMIUM
The Gatsby Gambit
This novel pays homage to the classic with a fresh point of view that will please Gatsby fans and mystery readers. Both Gigi and the novel are clever and breathe new life into one of the definitive novels of the 20th century.
PREMIUM
A Map to Paradise
Less somber than Meissner’s previous works, this novel will attract fans of Heather Webb and Melanie Benjamin.
This affirming, empowering romance anthology is a must-buy for all libraries. Patrons will be delighted by the stories and the narrators’ heartfelt performances.
PREMIUM
’Til Heist Do Us Part
A high-octane, entertaining experience from start to finish, with shocking twists and exciting interludes that never seem to end.
PREMIUM
Not Your Biggest Fan
Ney’s (The Pucker Next Door) sports romance, with a satisfying happily-ever-after, is a must-read for fans of Karla Sorensen.
PREMIUM
Vanishing Daughters
Pelayo transports readers, blending fairy tales, history, and urban legends with a true sense of fear. This novel will appeal to fans of horror where questions about the nature of a house haunting loom large, such as A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, and horror novels in which grief and loss feature heavily, such as White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi.
PREMIUM
Goyhood
Audiences will love this heartfelt, somewhat less-than-kosher version of the Odyssey.
PREMIUM
Dream Girl Drama
Fans of Bailey’s “Big Shots” series, hockey romances, and alpha male characters will clamor for this title.
PREMIUM
The Bang-Bang Sisters
Recommend to fans of high-octane thrillers and strong women protagonists.
PREMIUM
Love You a Latke
A must for fans of contemporary Jewish romance authors such as Jean Meltzer.
PREMIUM
The Drowning House
A haunting and eerily atmospheric story of regrets, missed opportunities, and the terrible things the tide brings in.
PREMIUM
Playing Flirty
Patel (The First King) turns to romance with this charmingly geeky love story that will appeal to readers who appreciate fandoms in their fiction.
A wonderful companion novel that once again leaves listeners feeling all warm, fuzzy, and joy-filled.
PREMIUM
Fagin the Thief
In creating an origin story for the legendary thief, Epstein deftly addresses Oliver Twist’s longstanding “Fagin problem,” not by sanitizing or disowning him, as other adaptations have done, but by lending him a humanity that Dickens’s caricature did not. It’s a lively, finely drawn reimagining and a deeply reverent corrective of a literary monument.
PREMIUM
The Lion Women of Tehran
This personal history of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution brings it tragically and heroically to life.
This refreshingly irreverent, fast-paced, and often delightfully silly series is perfect for fans of superhero epics, Love and Rockets–style underground graphic novels, retro storytelling, experimental art comics, and quirky comedy.
PREMIUM
Mothers and Sons
There is no shortage of pathos in the heartbreaking stories of Peter’s clients or the accounts of abuse experienced by Ann’s retreat guests. But Haslett’s (Imagine Me Gone) melancholy novel finds some resolution and ends on an uplifting note for its asylum seekers, troubled women, mother, and son.
PREMIUM
Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream
A great addition for libraries that serve fans of contemporary romance, especially those looking to expand their LGBTQIA+ collections. Give this to readers of Casey McQuiston.
PREMIUM
The Favorites
Those who enjoy stories with a focus on interpersonal relationships, friends-to-enemies-to-friends narratives, and drama will adore Fargo’s novel.
Highly recommended for fans of thoughtful sci-fi about the relationships between humans, artificial intelligence, automated systems, and robotics.
PREMIUM
Heart of the Glen
With perfectly paced and realistic romance, Deibel (The Irish Matchmaker) delivers another book that will leave readers feeling like they have traveled to historic Ireland right from their living rooms. Both a romantic comedy and a thought-provoking Christian read, Deibel’s latest will appeal to fans of Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund and A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer.
A triumph of classic fantasy storytelling that embraces tradition just as much as it turns tradition on its head, this is sure to resonate with high-fantasy readers everywhere.
PREMIUM
People Will Talk
Juicy and interesting, this romp of a mystery will have listeners shocked, laughing, and intrigued all at the same time. A purchase for mystery fans who want to enjoy a murder but not take it too seriously.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a cozy British murder mystery full of wit, buoyed by the strength of the characters’ friendships. Recommended for fans of Richard Osman, Laurien Berenson, and Elly Griffiths.
Suspenseful and increasingly claustrophobic, this unique Appalachian gothic is sure to hook horror-minded listeners.
Newman’s (The Undying of Obedience Wellrest, under the name Nicholas Bowling) adult debut is a stiflingly beautiful blend of the personal apocalypse of Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin at the End of the World with the mysterious introspection of Susan Fletcher’s The Night in Question.
Told with wit and verve, this is the portrait of the old raconteur and rabble-rouser as a young man and will charm readers who enjoyed Marty’s previous outings. It’s also a fascinating portrayal of the early wild and woolly days of Silicon Valley, as seen from the perspective of someone in the trenches at the start of it all. Highly recommended for readers of the series and anyone fascinated by the era.
A robust visually enriched resource that offers detailed lessons about geography, history, and the people who have shaped North America over millennia.
PREMIUM
The Broposal
In their adult debut, Reyes (The Luis Ortega Survival Club) gives readers a fresh, grounded take on the tried-and-true fake-relationship romance.
Highly recommended for listeners who enjoy romances that blend swoony feelings with high-stakes challenges like mental health, disabilities, grief, and racial identity. Share with readers of Kennedy Ryan and Tia Williams.
PREMIUM
Space Brooms!
Rodriguez (Stone Feather Fang) makes his adult debut with a space adventure that is light on plot and heavy on coincidences.
PREMIUM
A Death in Cornwall
Ballerini’s deft performance ably captures the novel’s twists and turns. Silva’s fans will be thrilled to dive into this world of international intrigue, murder, corruption, and conspiracy at the highest levels.
PREMIUM
Blackheart Man
A fresh and original Caribbean-inspired fantasy that succeeds despite a nearly overcrowded plot.
PREMIUM
Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case
Marsh follows up Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man with another intrepid adventure packed with wit, intelligence, and passionate moments.
Historical personalities bring this real story to life in a riveting account of the first U.S. murder trial for which there is a transcript. The author of the “Pink Carnation” series leans on that transcript for the trial testimony in a gripping novel that will appeal to true-crime buffs, those interested in Hamilton and Burr, and historical mystery fans.
PREMIUM
The Way Up Is Death
A compelling blend of science fiction and horror, conceptualized as reality TV with huge consequences. Readers of SF thrillers will be chilled and thrilled.
PREMIUM
Cold as Hell
The wilderness surrounding Haven’s Rock is itself a major character in the book, and Casey’s approaching due date adds urgency to the plotline. For fans of strong women protagonists and Armstrong’s Rockton series, of which “Haven’s Rock” is a spin-off.
PREMIUM
The Life of Herod the Great
A valuable edition to Hurston’s canon that will appeal both to her fans and to new readers of her work. Pair with Alice Walker’s In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens.
PREMIUM
The Starlight Heir
Howard’s (The Worst Duke in London) latest stands out from other romantasy offerings, with a magical world based on Indian and Persian myths.
PREMIUM
Match Me If You Can
Highly recommended for libraries looking to expand their contemporary South Asian romance collections and perfect for fans of authors such as Sonali Dev and Uzma Jalaluddin.
This is complex science fiction for readers who love the compelling political drama of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine more than the lasers and photon torpedoes of The Next Generation.
PREMIUM
Murder at an English Séance
Fans of cozies involving English villages with high fatality rates will enjoy this.
Though some of Gilman’s stories are more riveting than others, this hefty collection provides a thoughtful glimpse into the works of a groundbreaking feminist writer.
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