January 2021 LibraryReads List
The Wife Upstairs: A Novel
by Rachel Hawkins
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9781250245496
“Mild-mannered Jane cobbles together a living as a dog walker for the wealthy
residents of Thornfield Estates, when an encounter with Eddie Rochester turns
into a whirlwind romance. But plain Jane has a mysterious past…and so does
everyone else in this upscale neighborhood. Loosely inspired by Jane Eyre, this
domestic suspense novel features the twists and turns that fans of the genre
expect. Perfect for fans of Liv Constantine and Louise Candlish.”
Nanette Donohue, Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Winters by Lisa Gabriele
The Children’s Blizzard: A Novel
by Melanie Benjamin
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 9780399182280
“A deadly snowstorm roared through the Great Plains on January 12, 1888, at a time when many children were in school with teachers little older than themselves. Based on actual oral histories of survivors, and told from
perspectives of teachers, students, and the media, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction by Ariel Lawhon and Marie Benedict.”
Wendy Paige, Shelby County Public Library, Shelbyville, KY
NoveList read-alike: Answer Creek by Ashley E. Sweeney
The Ex Talk
by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Berkley Books
ISBN: 9780593200124
“Shay’s lifelong dream has been to be in radio, and she’s been working at a Seattle NPR station since she was 19. Ten years later, she and new wunderkind
Dominic create a show around the idea that they’re exes talking about relationships. The burn between Shay and Dominic is slow, intense, and HOT. Give to fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Hating Game.”
Jessica Werner, Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA
NoveList read-alike: Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park
The House on Vesper Sands
by Paraic O’Donnell
Tin House Books
ISBN: 9781951142247
Three stories—a mysterious suicide, a wayward young man searching for his uncle, and a young journalist investigating the story behind several missing girls—unfold before finally converging. The dark mood is palpable as
Inspector Cutter, Gideon Bliss, and Octavia Hillingdon travel through Victorian London to fit the puzzle pieces together. Perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Jane Steele.”
Maribeth Fisher, Scotch Plain Public Library, Scotch Plains, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Outlawed
by Anna North
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781635575422
“Bank robberies and women’s health may not seem like natural companions, but North weaves them together seamlessly in this alternate history Western. Cast out of her hometown for failure to get pregnant after a year of marriage, Ada joins the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang and becomes an outlaw,
all the while seeking real information about pregnancy and fertility. For fans of Inland and The Power.”
Emily Calkins, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA
NoveList read-alike: Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
The Perfect Guests
by Emma Rous
Berkley
ISBN: 9780440000488
“When down-on-her-luck Sadie is offered a lucrative weekend acting job at a sumptuous Raven Hall, as a guest in a period mystery event, she jumps at the chance. Before the weekend is over, Sadie and the other “perfect guests” will learn about Raven Hall’s tragic past.”
Cynthia Hunt, Amarillo Public Library, Amarillo, TX
NoveList read-alike: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
The Push: A Novel
by Ashley Audrain
Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
ISBN: 9781984881663
“Blythe comes from a longline of women not cut out to be mothers. When she falls in love with a man who wants nothing more than a happy family she tells herself she can be a good mother.When her daughter is born however she finds that motherhood is just not that simple. For readers who enjoyed The Woman in theWindow (Finn) or Baby Teeth (Stage.)”
Linda Quinn, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT
NoveList read-alike: The Unprotected by Kelly Sokol
Remote Control
by Nnedi Okorafor
Tor.com
ISBN: 9781250772800
“As a girl living in a future version of Ghana, Yatima was given an object from space that gave her the ability to emit a green light that brings death to all she touches. Now, as a young teen, she occasionally leaves death behind her as she searches for the alien object that was stolen from her. Africanfuturism, sci-fi, and magic. For readers who enjoyed The Fifth Season and Monstress.”
Katie Kalil, Sterling Library, Sterling, VA
NoveList read-alike: The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Shipped
by Angie Hockman
Gallery Books
ISBN: 9781982151591
“Graeme and Henley are competing for the same job at their adventure cruise company. When their boss sends them on afamiliarization trip of the company’s cruise in the Galapagos the enemies to lovers’ plot gets steamy. For readers who enjoyed A Sweet Mess (Lee) and The Unhoneymooners (Lauren).
Laura Bonds, Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX
NoveList read-alike: Simmer Down by Sarah Smith
Siri, Who Am I?: A Novel
by Sam Tschida
Quirk Books
ISBN: 9781683691686
“Mia awakes in a hospital in a gold cocktail dress, a cape covered in her blood, a head wound and her cellphone, and no memory of who she is or how she got there. She uses her Instagram account to begin to piece together her life. For readers who enjoyed Surprise Me (Kinsella) and What Alice Forgot (Moriarty).”
Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore, MD
NoveList read-alike: The One that Got Away by Leigh Himes
Courtesy of LibraryReads.org