Welcome to Check Your Shelf. We have our annual staff in-service coming up on Friday, and we’re doing Two Truths and a Lie for our obligatory icebreaker activity. As I was trying to come up with mine, I realized that I talk a lot and have already given away most of my interesting factoids! (Did you know that I have a Beatles-themed tattoo that I got in Liverpool on my honeymoon? Or that I’m related to Rutherford B. Hayes on my mom’s side of the family? Or that I saw Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg on my lunch break a few months ago? My coworkers do!)
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
The Wall Street Journal has dropped its bestseller lists.
The Authors Guild has called on the US Copyright Office to require consent and compensation for AI training.
What happens to illustrators when robots can draw robots?
How TikTok has transformed romance publishing.
New & Upcoming Titles
Stephen King has a new story collection coming in May, and it includes a prequel to Cujo! Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive excerpt from that story.
HarperCollins has signed a global deal for the next book from Pope Francis.
There’s a new sci-fi trilogy coming from writing duo James S.A. Corey.
Kensington Books has acquired world rights to TikTok star Harley Laroux’s debut novel, Her Soul to Take.
Here are the highlights from Barbra Streisand’s 970-page memoir if you don’t have the time to read the whole thing.
Publishers Weekly has a roundup of all the November 2023 book club picks.
The New York Times and the NYPL have selected the best-illustrated children’s books of 2023.
The best novels of 2023, according to Oprah Daily.
The best new celebrity memoirs of 2023 (so far).
Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, LitHub.
November picks from Tor.com (fantasy).
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
My Name is Barbra – Barbra Streisand (Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, New York Times, NPR, People, Time, USA Today)
The Future – Naomi Alderman (LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post)
Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education – Stephanie Land (New York Times, Seattle Times, Shondaland)
Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change – Ben Austen (New York Times, Washington Post)
Again and Again – Jonathan Evison (New York Times, Washington Post)
Pretty Boys are Poisonous – Megan Fox (Entertainment Weekly, People)
RA/Genre Resources
How Rebecca Yarros’ novels became a romantasy BookTok phenomenon.
Oprah Daily looks at Jesmyn Ward’s body of work.
We Need Diverse Books launches a new website dedicated to Indigenous children’s literature/
The Ripped Bodice and Free Period Press have teamed up to create a checklist of 50 romance novels to help you explore the genre. You can purchase a print copy of the list, or you can explore all of the titles here for free.
This reader has had enough of “Sad Bad Girl” novels and sensationalized trauma, but they want complex stories about women.
On the Riot
The 10 best indie publishing companies to follow to find your next read.
Is ghostwriting ruining literature?
42 new winter holiday romances to read before 2023 ends.
The best new weekly releases to TBR.
14 new November book club picks.
The impact of The Hunger Games, 15 years since its publication.
All Things Comics
Here’s a first look at Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
On the Riot
13 new manga releases for November.
9 manga and graphic novels for fans of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Middle grade cozy fantasy comics and graphic novels.
Audiophilia
Spotify makes audiobooks available to their Premium subscribers.
Here are the November 2023 Earphones Award winners.
On the Riot
10 audiobooks for Nonfiction November.
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Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
Barnes & Noble lists 11 of their favorite picture books.
16 YA fantasy mysteries to cozy up with.
Adults
6 great mystery novels set in hotels.
15 books to read after you finish Class by Stephanie Land.
5 SFF novels about autocrats and absolute power.
Wilderness thrillers featuring fearless women.
5 big nonfiction books from small presses.
8 books that explain how the world works.
Must-read romances for fans of Emily Henry.
Scottish detective series to read right now.
10 spy novels that will sneak up on you.
On the Riot
8 delightful Diwali books for kids to explore.
12 Indigenous memoirs for Nonfiction November and Indigenous Peoples’ Month.
The best books about finding yourself.
Just kiss already! 8 oblivious-to-lovers romances.
10 heartwrenching relationship-in-crisis romance novels.
The best high fantasy books for magical escapes.
Cozy fantasy books about books.
The best LGBTQ-inclusive relationship books.
10 books like Killers of the Flower Moon.
The 20 most influential mystery novels of the last 10 years.
8 fantastic Doctor Who books to get ready for the 60th anniversary specials.
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 has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate as well that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Dini was extra snuggly last week, and he really piled on the cute by pulling his paws up to his chin! When he gets like this, I resign myself to the fact that he’ll probably stay there for at least an hour.
Okie dokie, I’ll be back on Friday! Have a good week!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.