LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 April titles public library staff across the country love:
Top Pick
Yesteryear: A Novel by Caro Claire Burke (Knopf, $30, 9780593804216). "Natalie is an influencer with a seemingly perfect life: perfect children, perfect husband, and a perfectly beautiful Idaho farm. Never mind the workers who actually run the farm, the nannies who care for the children. And never mind the women online who are jealous that Natalie can afford to be a trad wife who serves her family and, most importantly, her God. Natalie wakes one morning in her house... except it's not. Electricity has been replaced by a fire, her children are dirty, and her husband is old and gruff. Where are the hidden cameras? Where is her real family? Creative, mind-bending, and incredibly well-written, this one is sure to be a blockbuster." --Jenny Davies, Oak Creek Public Library, Wis.
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker (Hanover Square Press, $30, 9781335001559). "A troubled young man in 2026 begins communicating with the ghost of a female samurai from 1877 when he visits his father's new home in Japan. Both hold bloody secrets. A gory and suspenseful horror read that combines lyrical, dream-like writing with a compelling story of past meeting present." --Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Ill.
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (Harper, $30, 9780063444614). "An oft-used trope--people lured to a remote island, then cut off from the outside world--gets a new life. Six writers, following the death of their famous host, must compete to finish his final manuscript for a massive payday. While hesitant at first, the competition soon becomes intense, no one is quite who they seem to be, and death stalks the halls. A wonderfully twisty mystery and a wickedly satirical look at the world of publishing." --Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, N.Y.
Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (Berkley, $30, 9780593819883). "World War I nurse Mouse receives notice that she is next in line to inherit the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall in the English countryside. But she must do the impossible: fix the crumbling manor in just one month with the surprise aid of a handsome Faerie who can help defeat the magic protecting the manor. Fantastic atmospheric style, world-building elements, and sympathetic characters." --Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, Mich.
The Duke: A Novel by Anna Cowan (St. Martin's Griffin, $19, 9781250382849). "The romance between Celine and Kate is fraught with obstacles (mostly themselves) and the secret they are keeping from the town: that Celine is a courtesan who is blackmailing Kate, a member of the House of Lords. A traditional historical full of yearning and intrigue, this is what every Sapphic Regency reader has been waiting for." --Dontaná M., Oak Park Public Library, Ill.
Start at the End: A Novel by Emma Grey (Zibby, $18.99, 9781968506001). "A thoughtful, emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about love, loss, and new beginnings. This 'sliding-doors' story balances tenderness and hope, offering a meaningful reading experience that lingers after the final page. An excellent choice for patrons who enjoy contemporary literary fiction and book club--worthy reads." --Janie Hermann, Princeton Public Library, N.J.
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday, $35, 9780385548533). "In 2019, the lifeless body of teenager Zac Brettler was discovered in the Thames River. Police conclude that Zac was suicidal, but his parents believe that something more nefarious led to his death, and discover he was caught up with gangsters and criminals. Compelling narrative non-fiction that's deeply intimate and unnerving." --KC Davis, LibraryReads Ambassador, Conn.
Molka by Monika Kim (Erewhon Books, $28, 9781645661269). "Dahye finds herself in a relationship with a rich, handsome man. But when a video scandal involving the two erupts, he flees Korea, leaving Dahye alone. When she realizes the extent of the betrayal, she seeks a terrible bloody revenge. An unapologetic dive into female rage, exploitation, misogyny, and powerlessness." --Lila Denning, St. Petersburg Library System, Fl.
The Caretaker: A Novel by Marcus Kliewer (Atria/12:01 Books, $29, 9781982198817). "Macy thinks she's finally caught a break when she answers an ad for a weekend house-sitting gig that pays a ridiculous amount of money, even if it comes with some...unsettling instructions. Unsettling turns eerie, which turns to horrifying as Macy realizes--too late--this is one job that she should have never accepted. The chills ramp up fast and never stop in this page-turner horror novel." --Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, N.Y.
Go Gentle by Maria Semple (Putnam, $30, 9798217176632). "Adora is an Upper West Side philosopher who seems to have her life together. She practices stoicism, and it keeps her grounded and happy--until it doesn't. Who is the mysterious man who wants her to deliver a letter? What are her employers up to? How did she become a stoic? Readers follow along with Adora as she tries to find answers." --Joan Hipp, LibraryReads Ambassador, N.J.
