Sponsored by Harper Paperbacks, Publisher of JUST LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS.
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Do Not Disturb, an electrifying tale of psychological suspense in which an unsuspecting young woman finds herself trapped in an increasingly sinister web of mystery and lies. At loose ends after the devastating death of her mother, Una Richardson responds to an advertisement for a ladies’ companion, a position that leads her into the wealthy, secluded world of Mrs. Elspeth McKenzie. But Elspeth’s home isn’t the comforting haven it seems. As the walls begin to close in around her, Una fears she’ll end up just like the other girls . . .
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. It’s been a sad pet week in my family — my parents had to say goodbye to their cat, Peepers, on Thursday. He was such an adorable little kitty who loved belly rubs and sat upright in armchairs like a Bond villain. He also had a genetic anomaly with his tail, which was bent like the letter “Z.” So much personality in such a little kitty.
So, before I make myself all verklempt, let’s library.
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Half Price Books workers unionize at four Minnesota stores.
Harlequin launches a new subscription service, Harlequin Plus.
New & Upcoming Titles
Mariah Carey is publishing her first children’s book, called The Christmas Princess.
Courtney Summers’s new book, I’m the Girl, will be released this fall!
Casey McQuiston announces a surprise hardcover special edition of Red, White, and Royal Blue.
The January 2022 GalleyChat roundup has been posted.
Writers to watch for in Spring 2022.
Highly anticipated novels from authors who waited decades to return.
Weekly book picks from Crime Reads and USA Today.
December 2021 picks from The Millions.
January picks from Good Morning America, Kirkus, LA Times, and New York Times.
New YA SFF titles for January & February.
2022 picks from Crime Reads (historical mysteries), Kirkus (nonfiction), PopSugar, and Time (cookbooks).
12 books by British women of color to watch for in 2022.
62 books by women of color to read in 2022.
Hot LGBTQ+ books from the first half of 2022.
New queer college-set YA novels.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
To Paradise – Hanya Yanagihara (Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, New Yorker, NPR, USA Today, Washington Post)
Lost and Found – Kathryn Schulz (LA Times, New York Times, NPR, Washington Post)
Rise – Lindsey Vonn (NPR, People, Time)
I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home – Jami Attenberg (New York Times, USA Today)
Olga Dies Dreaming – Xochitl Gonzalez (The Guardian, New York Times)
Wahala – Nikki May (Entertainment Weekly, NPR)
Ain’t Burned All the Bright – Jason Reynolds (Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post)
Mouth to Mouth – Antoine Wilson (LA Times, Washington Post)
RA/Genre Resources
Here’s a list of all of the big name/celebrity book club picks for January 2022.
On the Riot
It’s Book Riot’s Most Anticipated titles for 2022!
Weekly new releases to TBR.
8 contemporary middle grade novels to watch for in 2022.
13 deadly cozy mysteries for the first half of 2022.
An introduction to the “messay.”
Why are horror novels so obsessed with mushrooms?
All Things Comics
Image Comics staff votes to unionize.
The best comics of December 2021.
10 horror anime with surprisingly sad endings.
On the Riot
5 recent and upcoming comic movie and TV adaptations you need to watch.
Go big, or go home!: 14 of the best sports manga for champions.
Healthy pairings in Boys Love manga.
A brief history of vampires in comics.
Audiophilia
39 audiobooks to help you be better in 2022.
Listen more with series romance audiobooks.
On the Riot
12 queer YA audiobooks to listen to in the first half of 2022.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
5 children’s books to spark a conversation about mental health.
YA books to read based on your favorite types of horror movies.
16 YA book characters with secret lives.
22 YA books that will help start a conversation about social change.
Adults
10 books to help you understand inequality.
7 brilliant books about chaotic queer people.
10 of the best books about amnesia.
10 classic crime stories that entered the public domain this year.
On the Riot
15 new-ish Black history books for kids.
15 YA novels like Firekeeper’s Daughter.
20 must-read books about queer-found families.
15 funny romance novels to keep you laughing with each chapter.
10 bedtime stories for adults to help you get some shut eye.
Brother, where art thou? Mysteries about missing siblings.
9 nail-biting books about forbidden magic.
Books to help you DIY anything.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
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Here’s Peepers in all of his shameless glory. We’re going to miss him very much. Have yourselves a good week, friends, and I’ll see you on Friday.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently listening to House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden.