Stuck in a reading rut? Want to expand your reading horizons in 2026? You’re in luck! Every month this year, we will be delving deep into popular genres at the library. If you’re already a fan, find readalike suggestions for popular authors and ideas for similar genres to explore. If you’re brand new to the genre in question, you will find a helpful explanation of the hallmarks of the genre, a breakdown of its most common subgenres, and explanations of what readers find so appealing about the most popular authors writing those types of books. Let’s explore women’s fiction for June!
Continue reading “Exploring Genres: Women’s Fiction”Category: women’s fiction (books)
Book Buzz: Summer Reading Edition
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For June, we’re looking at a compelling read set in 1990s Hawaii, closed-door Edwardian romance, contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen, gripping suspense about a disappearing husband, two entertaining mysteries, literary folklore not-vampire historical horror, domestic suspense about inconvenient exes, and a plethora of nonfiction.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Summer Reading Edition”Book Buzz: Southern Ghosts, Child Stars, National Parks, Birding Societies, Bookbinders, Fun Jane Austen Fanfiction, Mysteries Near and Far, Fantastical Ferries, Rock Bands, and Real-Life Mysteries
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For April, we’re looking at a heartwarming new women’s fiction book with a side order of ghosts; a heartfelt story about a fictional child star; a pair of dual-timeline Christian romances; historical fiction set in early 20th century Oxford; an anthology of short stories about Jane Austen’s supporting characters; mysteries set in places as far-flung as Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Iceland; an unusual new fantasy; an audiobook about a fictional band; and nonfiction about Amy Semple McPherson and the Kuehn family.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Southern Ghosts, Child Stars, National Parks, Birding Societies, Bookbinders, Fun Jane Austen Fanfiction, Mysteries Near and Far, Fantastical Ferries, Rock Bands, and Real-Life Mysteries”Book Buzz: Contentious Divorces, Tribal Elections, Obituary Writers, Science Fiction Espionage Thrillers, Tiger Castles, Gangsters, the Cherokee, and Rogers
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For November, we’re looking at rich people behaving badly, a heated tribal election on a Anishinaabe reservation, the humorous tale of an obituary writer falsely declared deceased, new science fiction and fantasy releases, a novel on audiobook about the infamous Virginia Hill, a history of the Cherokee Nation, and nonfiction about Rogers, Arkansas, just the next county over.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Contentious Divorces, Tribal Elections, Obituary Writers, Science Fiction Espionage Thrillers, Tiger Castles, Gangsters, the Cherokee, and Rogers”Book Buzz: Espionage, Curses, Romance, Surreal Historical Mystery Sequels, Contemporary Mystery Debuts, Audiobooks, and Healthy Nonfiction Reads
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For September, we’re looking at a new-ish contemporary espionage thriller series, this year’s If All Arkansas Read the Same Book pick, romances and mysteries–both historical and contemporary, audiobooks in a range of genres, and nonfiction on healthy living.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Espionage, Curses, Romance, Surreal Historical Mystery Sequels, Contemporary Mystery Debuts, Audiobooks, and Healthy Nonfiction Reads”Book Buzz: Summer 2025 Book Tasting Edition
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For July, we’re looking at the book menus used for yesterday’s book tasting, and filling in the gaps of what hasn’t already been covered on the blog.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Summer 2025 Book Tasting Edition”Book Buzz: Beach and Summer Reads
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For June, we’re looking at the perfect read for summer, whether you’ll be at the beach or on a staycation.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Beach and Summer Reads”Book Buzz: Familiar Stories in New Settings, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Dark Academia Fantasy, Family Sagas, DIY Podcasts and Sourdough, and Fishing
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For May, we’re looking at new twists on classic literature, a novel about the realities of living with bipolar disorder, a standalone fantasy book, a plethora of family sagas, how-to books on starting your own podcast and baking sourdough, and a meditation on the joys of fishing.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Familiar Stories in New Settings, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Dark Academia Fantasy, Family Sagas, DIY Podcasts and Sourdough, and Fishing”Book Buzz: Tennis Spies, Dracula Retellings, Flowers, Ninevah Tales, Wind Farms, and New England True Crime
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For April, we’re looking at historical fiction that depicts a fascinating little known WWII story, horror that sets Dracula in the present from Mina’s point of view, a heartwarming tale of grief and flowers and Titanic on audiobook, as well as historical fiction that weaves an epic tale of the city of Ninevah on audio, and nonfiction about environmental battles in Montana and true crime in 19th century New England.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Tennis Spies, Dracula Retellings, Flowers, Ninevah Tales, Wind Farms, and New England True Crime”Book Buzz: Reissued Classics, Roman Mythological Fiction, Island Fiction, Science Fiction Metafiction, Vermont Mysteries, Historic Flights, The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, and Monarch Butterfly Migrations
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For March, we’re looking at a re-release of Shogun, a retelling of the founding of Rome, two different novels set on remote islands, a unique science fiction novel about a science fiction novel, a new historical mystery series set in 1960s Vermont, an audiobook about a race to fly across the Pacific in the 1920s, Western true crime about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and a chronicle of following the over 10,000-mile annual monarch butterfly migration on a bicycle.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Reissued Classics, Roman Mythological Fiction, Island Fiction, Science Fiction Metafiction, Vermont Mysteries, Historic Flights, The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, and Monarch Butterfly Migrations”