LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 September titles public library staff across the country love:
Leave Me: A Novel by Gayle Forman (Algonquin, $26.95, 9781616206178). "Aren't there days when you just want to leave it all behind? After a life threatening event, that's exactly what Maribeth Klein does. Maribeth, wife, mom of 4-year old twins, and editor of a glossy magazine is told to rest. Sure! The choice she makes is not the one for most, but following Maribeth on this journey is compelling nonetheless. Fast paced narrative and terrific writing make this one hard to put down. Recommended!" --Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, Merrick, N.Y.
The Bookshop on the Corner: A Novel by Jenny Colgan (Morrow, $14.99, 9780062467256). "Despite losing her job as a librarian who liked to put the right book into a patron's hands, Nina continues her mission by moving to rural Scotland, purchasing a van, converting it into a bookmobile, and taking to the road. The plot revolves around the romance of the road, the romance of books and reading, and just plain old romance. Another marvelous book by Colgan! A gem of a book!" --Virginia Holsten, Vinton Public Library, Vinton, Iowa
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (Harper, $27.99, 9780062491794). "The Cousins and the Keatings are two California families forever intertwined and permanently shattered by infidelity. Bert Cousins leaves his wife for Beverly Keating, leaving her to raise four children on her own. Beverly, with two children of her own, leaves her husband for Bert. The six children involved are forced to forge a childhood bond based on the combined disappointment in their parents. As adults, they find their families' stories revealed in a way they couldn't possibly expect. Patchett has written a family drama that perfectly captures both the absurdity and the heartbreak of domestic life." --Michael Colford, Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass.
The Tea Planter's Wife: A Novel by Dinah Jefferies (Crown, $26, 9780451495976). "When Gwendolyn Hooper comes to Ceylon as a young bride, she has no idea that she's entering a region on the cusp of political upheaval or that she's living with a widower and his secret-filled past. The Tea Planter's Wife has all of the elements that I'm looking for in historical fiction: compelling characters, an evocative setting, a leisurely pace, and a plot that unfolds like the petals of a flower, or, in this case, the tea plant." --Amy Lapointe, Amherst Town Library, Amherst, N.H.
Daisy in Chains: A Novel by Sharon Bolton (Minotaur, $25.99, 9781250103420). "Another great book from Bolton! Convicted serial killer Hamish Wolfe has proclaimed his innocence from the beginning and has solicited the help of lawyer Maggie Rose who is known for her ability to get convictions overturned. The story unfolds in alternating chapters from the past to the present and keeps readers on the edge of their seats with a twist you won't see coming! Highly recommended!" --Karen Zeibak, Wilton Library Association, Wilton, Conn.
Darktown: A Novel by Thomas Mullen (Atria/37 INK, $26, 9781501133862). "In Atlanta in the late 1940s, the integration of black police officers into the force is proving to be challenging. White civilians don't respect their authority, and black civilians don't trust that they can protect them. Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith are men with heavy burdens on their shoulders. Every move they make is examined. When the body of a young black woman is found, they will put everything on the line to gain justice for a woman who turns into a symbol of all that is wrong with their town. Despite its historical setting, so many elements of this tale seem timely, and readers will have much to think about after turning the last page." --Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, South Huntington, N.Y.
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman (Roc, $16, 9781101988664). "A mysterious new Fae couple is causing Irene and crew major grief in this second installment of the Invisible Library series. After getting a book, Irene and Kai get attacked by a group of werewolves. Irene plans to go to the Library, turn in the book, and find information on the newcomers while Kai will go to Vale's house. Kai is attacked and taken away. To get to the chaos filled world where Kai is held, Irene has to get help from Silver and fight to not be overrun by chaos and the Fae. I like this series because Irene is a smart, tough, stubborn, and loyal librarian who has survived many crazy, dangerous, and interesting worlds and people." --Julie Horton, Greenwood County Library, Greenwood, S.C.
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Delacorte, $26, 9780345539960). "Flavia de Luce has returned from Canada to find her father in the hospital and her sisters distant. When she is sent to deliver a message for the vicar's wife, she steps into another mystery--one she is determined to solve, preferably before Inspector Hewitt can do the same. Flavia is once again a fun, science-loving protagonist. Flavia arrives at a turning point in her life and how she handles what happens next will tell much about the path that she will take into adulthood. This series entry ends on a note that begs for the next story." --Chris Andersen, Stow Munroe Falls Public Library, Stow, Ohio
Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips (Norton, $26.95, 9780393293012). "Phillips digs into the history of a series of events in his hometown in Georgia. After a series of crimes were blamed on some of the area's young black men, the citizens of the town saw fit to run off the entire African American population. Phillips researches the crimes and the mob mentality that followed, and shows how certain citizens of Forsyth County continued to intimidate and assault African Americans who wandered across their border for almost eighty years. This is the type of history that is far too important ever to forget." --Amy Hall, Jefferson County Public Library, Wheat Ridge, Colo.
The Secrets of Wishtide: A Novel by Kate Saunders (Bloomsbury, $26, 9781632864499). "A charming mystery introduces Laetitia Rodd, a widow who moonlights as a sleuth in 1850s London. She's tapped to help uncover the mysterious past of a prospective bride, but the more Laetitia digs, the more certain individuals want to keep their secrets buried. And when those secrets turn deadly, Laetitia may be in danger herself. Saunders nails the raucous world of Victorian London, capturing the Dickens-like characters from the lowest of society to the lofty ranks of the wealthy. A fine read for those who love vivid settings and memorable characters." --Katie Hanson, Madison Public Library, Madison, Wis.
Leave Me: A Novel by Gayle Forman (Algonquin, $26.95, 9781616206178). "Aren't there days when you just want to leave it all behind? After a life threatening event, that's exactly what Maribeth Klein does. Maribeth, wife, mom of 4-year old twins, and editor of a glossy magazine is told to rest. Sure! The choice she makes is not the one for most, but following Maribeth on this journey is compelling nonetheless. Fast paced narrative and terrific writing make this one hard to put down. Recommended!" --Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, Merrick, N.Y.
The Bookshop on the Corner: A Novel by Jenny Colgan (Morrow, $14.99, 9780062467256). "Despite losing her job as a librarian who liked to put the right book into a patron's hands, Nina continues her mission by moving to rural Scotland, purchasing a van, converting it into a bookmobile, and taking to the road. The plot revolves around the romance of the road, the romance of books and reading, and just plain old romance. Another marvelous book by Colgan! A gem of a book!" --Virginia Holsten, Vinton Public Library, Vinton, Iowa
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (Harper, $27.99, 9780062491794). "The Cousins and the Keatings are two California families forever intertwined and permanently shattered by infidelity. Bert Cousins leaves his wife for Beverly Keating, leaving her to raise four children on her own. Beverly, with two children of her own, leaves her husband for Bert. The six children involved are forced to forge a childhood bond based on the combined disappointment in their parents. As adults, they find their families' stories revealed in a way they couldn't possibly expect. Patchett has written a family drama that perfectly captures both the absurdity and the heartbreak of domestic life." --Michael Colford, Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass.
The Tea Planter's Wife: A Novel by Dinah Jefferies (Crown, $26, 9780451495976). "When Gwendolyn Hooper comes to Ceylon as a young bride, she has no idea that she's entering a region on the cusp of political upheaval or that she's living with a widower and his secret-filled past. The Tea Planter's Wife has all of the elements that I'm looking for in historical fiction: compelling characters, an evocative setting, a leisurely pace, and a plot that unfolds like the petals of a flower, or, in this case, the tea plant." --Amy Lapointe, Amherst Town Library, Amherst, N.H.
Daisy in Chains: A Novel by Sharon Bolton (Minotaur, $25.99, 9781250103420). "Another great book from Bolton! Convicted serial killer Hamish Wolfe has proclaimed his innocence from the beginning and has solicited the help of lawyer Maggie Rose who is known for her ability to get convictions overturned. The story unfolds in alternating chapters from the past to the present and keeps readers on the edge of their seats with a twist you won't see coming! Highly recommended!" --Karen Zeibak, Wilton Library Association, Wilton, Conn.
Darktown: A Novel by Thomas Mullen (Atria/37 INK, $26, 9781501133862). "In Atlanta in the late 1940s, the integration of black police officers into the force is proving to be challenging. White civilians don't respect their authority, and black civilians don't trust that they can protect them. Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith are men with heavy burdens on their shoulders. Every move they make is examined. When the body of a young black woman is found, they will put everything on the line to gain justice for a woman who turns into a symbol of all that is wrong with their town. Despite its historical setting, so many elements of this tale seem timely, and readers will have much to think about after turning the last page." --Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, South Huntington, N.Y.
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman (Roc, $16, 9781101988664). "A mysterious new Fae couple is causing Irene and crew major grief in this second installment of the Invisible Library series. After getting a book, Irene and Kai get attacked by a group of werewolves. Irene plans to go to the Library, turn in the book, and find information on the newcomers while Kai will go to Vale's house. Kai is attacked and taken away. To get to the chaos filled world where Kai is held, Irene has to get help from Silver and fight to not be overrun by chaos and the Fae. I like this series because Irene is a smart, tough, stubborn, and loyal librarian who has survived many crazy, dangerous, and interesting worlds and people." --Julie Horton, Greenwood County Library, Greenwood, S.C.
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Delacorte, $26, 9780345539960). "Flavia de Luce has returned from Canada to find her father in the hospital and her sisters distant. When she is sent to deliver a message for the vicar's wife, she steps into another mystery--one she is determined to solve, preferably before Inspector Hewitt can do the same. Flavia is once again a fun, science-loving protagonist. Flavia arrives at a turning point in her life and how she handles what happens next will tell much about the path that she will take into adulthood. This series entry ends on a note that begs for the next story." --Chris Andersen, Stow Munroe Falls Public Library, Stow, Ohio
Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips (Norton, $26.95, 9780393293012). "Phillips digs into the history of a series of events in his hometown in Georgia. After a series of crimes were blamed on some of the area's young black men, the citizens of the town saw fit to run off the entire African American population. Phillips researches the crimes and the mob mentality that followed, and shows how certain citizens of Forsyth County continued to intimidate and assault African Americans who wandered across their border for almost eighty years. This is the type of history that is far too important ever to forget." --Amy Hall, Jefferson County Public Library, Wheat Ridge, Colo.
The Secrets of Wishtide: A Novel by Kate Saunders (Bloomsbury, $26, 9781632864499). "A charming mystery introduces Laetitia Rodd, a widow who moonlights as a sleuth in 1850s London. She's tapped to help uncover the mysterious past of a prospective bride, but the more Laetitia digs, the more certain individuals want to keep their secrets buried. And when those secrets turn deadly, Laetitia may be in danger herself. Saunders nails the raucous world of Victorian London, capturing the Dickens-like characters from the lowest of society to the lofty ranks of the wealthy. A fine read for those who love vivid settings and memorable characters." --Katie Hanson, Madison Public Library, Madison, Wis.