The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton (Berkley) is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

Starting a new series about academics living in a fantasy Victorian England, Holton, who earned LJ Best Book nods for The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, blends adventure, romance, and ornithology—along with pockets full of humor, charm, jokes, and tea. Beth Pickering, a just-a-bit put-upon scholar hoping for tenure, is about to snag a coup—a rare deathwhistler bird—when out of the blue swings professor Devon Lockley, stealing the bird and stranding Beth on the far side of a ravine, without tea or a parasol in sight. Their paths cross again when he too is stranded at the start of a competition to capture the endangered caladrius bird and claim Birder of the Year victories—and tenure. Beth, now just a bit fed up, finds in Devon an unexpected ally. He is handy to steal a boat with, find a horse with, and slowly discover nefarious plans with. Devon finds in Beth nothing less than joy. VERDICT This isn’t as rompy as Holton’s earlier series, but it’s gilded with much the same sensibility. Watching Beth and Devon navigate each other as they tromp across Britain, as all around them birders and press agents plot and plan, is a fun spree.—Neal Wyatt

A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore (Berkley)

Appeared on the September 2020 LibraryReads list

“The second book in the ‘League of Extraordinary Women’ series revolves around Lady Lucie and her old nemesis Lord Ballentine. Their love/hate relationship is passionate and steamy. For fans of the ‘Royal Wedding’ series and ‘Dukes Behaving Badly’ series.”—Natalie Peitsinovski, Roselle Public Library, Roselle, NJ

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Del Rey: Ballantine; LJ starred review)

Appeared on the January 2023 LibraryReads list

“Grumpy professor Emily Wilde wishes that she did not have to ‘people’ while researching the first complete encyclopedia of faeries. However, a handsome rival and some quirky townsfolk conspire to crack open Emily’s well-guarded heart. Readers will be enchanted with the Fae and cantankerous narrator found in this fantasy tale, like a cozy version of the ‘Lady Trent’ series.”—Jenna Zarzycki, King County Library System, Covington, WA 

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (Bramble)

Appeared on the May 2024 LibraryReads list

“This book is so cozy, readers will want to snuggle under a heap of blankets with a delicious cup of tea. Kianthe and Reyna were the perfect opposites-attract couple—determined to make things work no matter the obstacles. Lots of humor with a serious amount of heart. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes.”—Laura Eckert, Clermont County Public Library, OH