Beautiful World, Where Are You, by Sally Rooney (Farrar; LJ starred review), is the top holds title of the week (8/31/21). LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

“Having met in college in Dublin, Eileen and Alice have been best friends for years. Alice is a critically acclaimed novelist and world traveler, while Eileen continues to work at a Dublin office. Alice relocates to Ballina on Ireland’s west coast, where she meets Felix, a local laborer, while Eileen spends time with childhood friend Simon. As these four people explore their relationships with one another, Eileen and Alice exchange emails about ecological collapse, political cynicism, consumerism, economic inequality, civic decline, and religious and aesthetic experiences. While these fraught themes complicate Alice and Eileen’s friendship as well as their respective relationships with Felix and Simon, they do not discourage them from determining that love can prevail even in the midst of chaos. VERDICT Rooney’s third novel deals with some of the emotional dynamics and ideas explored in Conversations with Friends and Normal People but expands and enriches them by depicting human dramas against vast historical backdrops, amplifying art’s essential status in human life. Once again, she has written a masterly and significant work of fiction that is both traditional and innovative.”—John G. Matthews, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman

READ-ALIKES

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer (Riverhead)
Appeared on the April 2018 LibraryReads list

“A complex coming of age story. A college student finds herself transformed by her experience with a renowned feminist and activist in the center of the women’s movement. This is a story of women finding their way and making mistakes in the world of men. This is a novel that makes you feel and think in equal measures.”—Chris Markley, Hawkins Cty. Libs., Rogersville, TN

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (Scout: Gallery)
Appeared on the March 2019 LibraryReads list

“Queenie, a 25-year-old British-Jamaican woman, struggles to have a sense of purpose after being dumped by her white boyfriend. This humorous and timely debut sheds light on society’s fetishization of Black women and its impact on family, relationships and mental health.”—Molly Riportella, Westwood P.L., MA

Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dick (St. Martin’s)
Appeared on the November 2019 LibraryReads list

“Daniel Mayrock is struggling to find his way as a man, husband, and potential father. His story is told entirely in lists. Written as a form of therapy for himself, Daniel’s lists show his sense of humor and feelings of inadequacy. Funny, sad, uplifting but always relatable. A must read for fans of Rachel Joyce and Gabrielle Zevin.”—Sam Sepulveda, Milford Town Lib., MA

Swing Time by Zadie Smith (Penguin Pr.; LJ starred review)
Appeared on the November 2016 LibraryReads list

“Spanning over 20 years and two continents, Smith’s new novel is a charming account of one woman’s coming-of-age. Smith’s unnamed narrator, a mixed-race child, lives in one of London’s many low-end housing units. She meets Tracey and the two are bonded over the shared experience of being poor and ‘brown’ in a class that is predominantly white. As the two stumble towards womanhood, the differences become more stark and divisive, and their friendship is fractured by Tracey’s final, unforgivable act. This book will appeal to lovers of character-driven fiction.”—Jennifer Wilson, Delphi P.L., IN