LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 September titles public library staff across the country love:
Top Pick
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir, trans. by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor Nightfire, $19.99, 9781250322043). "If you're in the mood for a wonderfully disturbing book, this should be on your radar. A woman who can't explain her constant exhaustion and inexplicably weary body discovers that she has been walking for miles overnight--but it's what’s been happening during these excursions that will shock her and the reader alike. Delightfully chilling!" --Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, N.Y.
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers (Graydon House, $27.99, 9781525836701). "English majors, librarians, and romance readers will love this book. Watching the relationship unfold between Erin and her Mystery Man over the pages of beloved books is delightful, plus they are each on their own individual journeys of self-discovery. This novel is a must read for book lovers everywhere!" --Jennifer Sullivan, Sno-Isle Libraries, Wash.
A Kid from Marlboro Road: A Novel by Edward Burns (Seven Stories Press, $27.95, 9781644214077). "This coming-of-age adventure/family story by director and actor Edward Burns features relatable Irish American characters and summer experiences. It's a well-written, sweet read about a family full of life while dealing with death." --Katharine Phenix, Boulder Public Library, Colo.
Sky Full of Elephants: A Novel by Cebo Campbell (Simon & Schuster, $27.99, 9781668034927). "After all the white people have died in the U.S., Charlie reunites with his biracial daughter, Sydney. This debut is both a dystopian tale and a beautiful story of a daughter coming of age, learning more about herself and her relationship with her father." --Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, Tex.
An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson (Ace, $29, 9780593638309). "This dark academia fantasy is an immersive, glittering jewel shot through with tendrils of true horror. In Savannah, Georgia, a young woman gets recruited to a mysterious academy of magic teeming with secrets. Fans of Lev Grossman and Olivie Blake will enjoy this book, yet Henderson is a wholly unique voice in the genre." --Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Library, Kan.
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel by Anna Johnston (Morrow, $30, 9780063397293). "Frederick Fife lost his home, but he finds much-needed shelter and loving care in a nursing home when he is mistaken for one of the residents, Bernard, while out on a walk. Assuming another person's identity is not something Frederick set out to do, and how this story unfolds is anybody's guess in this sweet, funny, and heartwarming novel." --Andrienne Cruz, Azusa City Library, Calif.
Playground: A Novel by Richard Powers (W.W. Norton, $29.99, 9781324086031). "Residents of the island of Makatea must decide on a seasteading proposal that would forever change their way of life in this epic tale of activism, ambition, relationships, and the wonders of the oceans. For readers who love National Geographic documentaries, happily look for life on every watery horizon, and enjoy a variety of well-developed characters." --Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Tex.
A Dark and Drowning Tide: A Novel by Allison Saft (Del Rey, $18.99, 9780593722343). "On an expedition to find an enchanted spring, Lorelei and Sylvia must work together to solve the murder of their leader. Exploring themes of magic, romance, adventure, political intrigue, academic rivalry, racism and classism, grief, and healing make for a really good read. The strange unpredictability of the magic makes the plot engaging." --Shannon Carney, Baltimore County Public Library, Md.
Colored Television: A Novel by Danzy Senna (Riverhead, $29, 9780593544372). "Jane has been working on her second novel for a decade, but the finished product is met with a not very enthusiastic response by her agent. Stymied by her circumstances, Jane pins her hopes on a collaboration with a TV producer and makes some questionable choices. Readers will root for Jane to get out of the hole she's dug for herself in this sharp dark comedy." --Angela Strathman, Mid-Continent Public Library, Mo.
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner (Ace, $18.99, 9781984805881). "Small-town librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle doesn't find it strange that she is always on hand to solve local murders. But when a loved one is targeted, she realizes that a demon may be possessing the town. This cozy paranormal mystery is full of likable, quirky characters." --Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, Mich.
