The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (Viking) is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

Four years after the death of her husband, retired math teacher Grace Winters is still trudging through life in her bungalow in Yorkshire, with an unchanging routine, no real interests, and a sense of fading away. Then a letter arrives to inform Grace that Christina, an old university friend, has bequeathed Grace her house on the Spanish island of Ibiza. Grace soon learns that Christina’s suspicious death is under investigation. Compelled to find out about the mysterious circumstances, she packs her bags and sets out to find out exactly what happened to her old friend. As Grace reaches out to Christina’s family and friends, strange and mystifying experiences challenge her to assess her own emotional well-being. After years of denying herself simple pleasures and paying penance for past missteps, Grace must overcome her lifelong feelings of guilt and inadequacy in order to save those who need her in their lives. VERDICT Bestselling Haig (The Midnight Library) skillfully and humorously wraps a fantastical tale around his exploration of the transformative nature of emotions as individuals connect with each other, much like in the work of Fredrik Backman.—Joy Gunn

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle (Atria)

Appeared on the March 2022 LibraryReads list

After her mother Carol dies, Katy escapes to Positano on the dream trip they were supposed to take. When she arrives, she meets a 30 year old version of Carol, and discovers what she really wants out of life. A captivating read that makes you want to jump on a plane to Italy and rediscover the magic. For readers of The Butterfly’s Daughter and The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry.—Alicia Ahlvers, Henrico County Public Library, Henrico, VA

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (Morrow; LJ starred review)

Appeared on the March 2021 LibraryReads list

A list of recommended classics helps a widower spark a friendship with a teen librarian dealing with overwhelming family issues. An uplifting tearjerker about libraries and the books that touch our soul. For fans of Ellie and the Harpmaker and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Public Library, Austin, TX

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Hanover Square)

Appeared on the November 2020 LibraryReads list

A small cafe has something odd and magical—if someone sits in a particular chair and a cup of coffee is poured, they can travel to the past for as long as it takes their cup to cool. In this slender story, the lives of visitors and staff intertwine, and four hopeful people sit in the chair. While this book deals with different kinds of loss, it's ultimately warm and uplifting. Give to readers who liked The Immortalists and Oona Out of Order.—Julie Graham, Yakima Valley Libraries, Yakima, WA