Welcome to Check Your Shelf. It’s the first week of December, but I already feel like my schedule has been overbooked. In addition to work stuff, I think I have something planned for just about every weekend in December, and January’s starting to look the same way. Sometimes, the introvert inside me wonders why the heck I keep saying “Yes” to plans…
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Publishers launch a weeklong #ReadPalestine campaign.
How a book publishing “mistake” reignited the UK’s royal racism furor, plus the author’s response after the Dutch version of Endgame was temporarily pulled from shelves.
These women represent the future of the book publishing industry.
On the rise and fall of Borders Books.
How Norway became a literary powerhouse.
New & Upcoming Titles
Rebecca Yarros says it’s going to be a minute before the third book in the Empyrean series comes out. She has also signed a two-book deal for two standalone contemporary romance novels.
The Umbrella Academy is getting a prequel companion novel in June 2024.
Patricia Cornwell talks about listening to actual 911 calls about Bigfoot for her latest book, Unnatural Death.
Here’s a first look at Liz Cheney’s upcoming book, Oath and Honor.
Here’s the cover reveal for Karen McManus’ Such Charming Liars.
And here’s the cover reveal for Tessa Bailey’s The Au Pair Affair.
5 books that deserved more buzz this year.
The New York Times recommends new thrillers, romances, and mysteries.
Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, LitHub.
November picks from The Guardian (thrillers).
December picks from AARP, Amazon, LA Times, New York Times.
Best books of 2023 from Brightly (middle grade/chapter books, YA), Electric Lit (poetry, short story collections), Esquire, Kirkus (picture books), New Yorker, School Library Journal (nonfiction, YA), Shelf Awareness (adult), Vanity Fair (short books), Wall Street Journal.
Most anticipated books of 2024 from Good Housekeeping, Off the Shelf.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
Prophet Song – Paul Lynch (Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post)
The Mystery Guest – Nita Prose (NPR, Shondaland, Washington Post)
Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival – Omid Scobie (New York Times, Washington Post)
RA/Genre Resources
Should we abolish literary genres?
When Britney and Pamela and Paris tell all: “Memoir writing offers women defined by their images a space to speak. But we’re seldom satisfied with what they give us.”
Agatha Christie’s most romantic murder mysteries.
Where to start with the work of the late A.S. Byatt.
The case for never reading the book jacket.
On the Riot
What not to say to bookstore employees.
8 recent dark academia and deadly game books to TBR.
12 must-read new books by Native authors.
The best new weekly releases to TBR.
December picks for mysteries/thrillers, romance, SFF, horror, nonfiction, children’s, YA.
The best SFF of 2022 and 2023, crunched.
All Things Comics
School Library Journal lists their best juvenile graphic novels of the year.
On the Riot
December picks for graphic novels/comics.
Manga and manhwa like Nano Machine.
It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.
Audiophilia
AudioFile’s best audiobooks of 2023.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
Kids’ books that don’t ignore the dark side of life.
Beautiful children’s books for the aspiring artist.
Adults
10 books about protecting our oceans from the climate crisis.
10 comfort reads to snuggle up with on a cold day.
8 books that explore the power dynamics of love triangles.
5 Norse fiction books from indie publishers.
7 great cozy mysteries set in the fall.
10 memoirs and essay collections by Black women.
7 books about authorship hoaxes.
48 cold weather mysteries for thrills and chills.
11 holiday romances to make your spirits bright.
12 bodyguard romances to heat up your TBR.
6 character-driven novels to keep you company.
On the Riot
Children’s books to read for the December holidays (that aren’t Christmas).
9 of the best YA books to read if you loved The Hunger Games.
9 fantastic books set in the 1980s.
8 wickedly funny books like Assistant to the Villain.
8 of the best baby books for new parents.
The 25 best Christmas books of all time.
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.
Are Dini and Gilbert holding paws?? Yes! Did we push their paws together to get this photo opportunity? Also yes.
All right, friends. Back on Friday!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.