LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 March titles public library staff across the country love:
Top Pick
No Matter What: A Novel by Cara Bastone (Dial Press Trade Paperback, $18.99, 9780593977675). "Roz and Vin have been married 8 years, but a terrible accident ripped their lives apart and left them reeling. This story is their slow journey back to one another. No tropes here--this romance is quiet and ordinary, and in that it's so powerful. It's a beautiful exploration of how even the strongest relationship can fracture, and how we repair and recover from damage. It's also a love letter to drawing and art, to storytelling and friendships, to how we care for and harm each other." --Nyssa Fleig, Salt Lake County Library, Utah
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott (Berkley, $30, 9780593952993). "Three wives of convicted killers, fighting the guilt that they didn't know what was happening with their husbands, band together to search for a killer. Continuing the trend of stories of brave women who aren't taken seriously, this tightly woven crime novel has a bang of an ending." --Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin Tex.
Two Kinds of Stranger: A Novel by Steve Cavanagh (Atria, $29, 9781668093399). "Conman-turned-attorney Eddie's reputation precedes him. When Elly, a TikTok star, is convicted of a double murder she didn't commit, she requests his help to prove her innocence. He soon realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for. When the case hits a little too close to home, Eddie relies on his (maybe not so legal) skills to save her life." --Jessica Heatherly, Kingston Public Library, Tenn.
This Story Might Save Your Life: A Novel by Tiffany Crum (Flatiron Books/Pine & Cedar, $29.99, 9781250395238). "Joy and Benny are the perfect podcasting team, best friends who explain to listeners how to survive life-threatening situations. But when Joy and her husband go missing, it's time for long-held secrets to be revealed. This compelling mystery with a likable pair at its heart will keep readers turning the pages to find out if a happy ending awaits." --Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Ill.
Lady Tremaine: A Novel by Rachel Hochhauser (St. Martin's Press, $29, 9781250396341). "This Cinderella retelling is particularly powerful at portraying the challenges of motherhood and surviving in the world as a woman. The dissection of what traumas and choices create a villain are a fascinating character study, and readers will love that Lady Tremaine is given depth beyond the stereotypical evil stepmother trope--after all, everyone could be a villain in someone else's story." --Kara Seal, Arapahoe Libraries, Colo.
It Girl: A Novel by Allison Pataki (Ballantine, $30, 9780593873410). "A compelling fictionalized story based on the life of Gibson Girl and Gilded Age 'It Girl,' Evelyn Nesbit. The author writes masterful historical fiction that illuminates exceptional women: their lives, their hopes, their triumphs and downfalls. Highly recommended!" --Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador, Ind.
Innamorata by Ava Reid (Del Rey, $32.99, 9780593722596). "Haunting and atmospheric, this gothic tale of necromancy, revenge, and forbidden love will draw readers in. Lush writing, eerie vibes, and a heroine torn between duty and desire. Darkly beautiful." --Emily Snodgrass, Rogers Public Library, Ark.
Lake Effect: A Novel by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (Ecco, $30, 9780063377684). "In 1977, Nina and Finn begin an affair and make difficult choices that will ripple through their families and small community for years to come. Twenty-five years later, Nina's eldest daughter makes a selfish choice that sends shock waves from Manhattan back to Rochester. Keenly and sensitively written, readers will have great compassion for these women despite their choices." --Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, N.J.
You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado (Morrow, $30, 9780063383234). "This slow, luxuriously paced gothic hinges on toxic family relationships. When Papi Ramon dies, the reading of the will mentions a demon among the family. Fans of Knives Out or The House of Usher will want to give this one a try!" --Adam Lopez, Lawrence Public Library, Kan.
Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite (Tordotcom, $24.99, 9781250342263). "Our favorite 'old lady' sci-fi detective is back at it, this time solving the mystery of a new baby on board (when that should be impossible on many levels!). A quick read, but Waite does a great job balancing a heck of a lot of world-building with a satisfying mystery and forward emotional movement by the heroine." --Casey Chwiecko, Lincoln Public Library, Mass.
