It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.
Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. 

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the December 2025 list.... 

 , edusaTop Pick

The Gallagher Place: A Novel   

Julie Doar 

Zibby Publishing    

Marlowe is used to the drama that comes with spending holidays with her family, but nothing's come as close to blowing her world apart like this visit. When she and her brothers stumble upon a dead body, it leads to an investigation that may be tied to the decades old disappearance of her childhood best friend. Soon, no one's secrets will be safe.

—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: Kala by Colin WalshAyana Gray

Now the rest of the list....

Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books

Hwang Bo-reum

(Bloomsbury)

This is a thought-provoking book all about the various aspects of books and reading. It's impossible to read this short book of essays without reflecting on the joys and comfort that reading brings. So many books are recommended in the essays that readers will want their TBR tracker handy!

—Kelly Davis, Waukesha Public Library, WI

NoveList read-alike: On Bookworms , Libraries , and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed

Everyone in the Group Chat Dies

L.M. Chilton

(Gallery/Scout Press)

Kirby gets a message from a friend she's sure is dead. As she tries to connect with her other friends to figure out what's going on, disasters befall her and the group until she's in a race for her life. Witty, clever and creepy, this true-crime thriller is a fun, easy read for readers looking for something murderous that doesn't take itself too seriously.

—Carri Genovese, Indianapolis Public Library, IN

NoveList read-alike: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

An Arcane Inheritance

Kamilah Cole

(Poisoned Pen Press)

Ellory gets a full ride to an Ivy League university and isn't sure why. Within weeks she's dog-tired and feels like she's losing her mind. Strange things are afoot, and she has a nagging sense of déjà vu. Exploring themes of racism and elitism, this dark academia delight stands out for great character development, a fast-moving plot, and unexpected twists.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX

NoveList read-alike: Babel by RF Kuang

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death

Maxie Dara

(Berkley)

Nora is terrified of death but works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., a company that employs grim reapers. To complicate things further, her twin brother's file has shown up on her desk. To save him, the siblings go on the run with a parrot named Jessica. They find the perfect place to hide until she realizes it isn't just Capital-D Death after her brother, but someone else trying to kill him. An enjoyable romp.

—Vanneshia Crane, Love County Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: Ruby and Cordelia mysteries by Olivia Blacke

Dark Sisters

Kristi DeMeester

(St. Martin's Press)

This fast-paced, terrifying work of historical horror is unapologetically feminist and told in alternating chapters across three timelines: Camilla in 2207, Mary in 1953, and Anna in 1750 Readers will be compelled to learn the women's secrets and the origin of the powerful church called The Path. Recommended for fans of books about witches and women's power.

—Lila Denning, St. Petersburg Library System, FL

NoveList read-alike: The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Canticle: A Novel

Janet Rich Edwards

(Spiegel & Grau)

An intriguing historical fiction about a woman who, from a young age, is called to God. Set in 13th century Bruges, this is a particularly

timely look at gender politics, especially as they relate to religion—how far will men go to hold on to their power and standing, and to what lengths will a woman go to serve her god? A great pick for book clubs.

—Jayna McDaniel-Browning, Delaware County District Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: Matrix by Lauren Groff

The List of Suspicious Things 

Jennie Godfrey

(Sourcebooks Landmark)

In the late 1970s, the Yorkshire Ripper casts a shadow of fear over the locals. A young girl, Miv, makes a list of suspicious things in hopes of capturing the Ripper. As Miv and her best friends focus on the secrets, hopes, and tragedies of her neighbors' lives, she discovers the links that connect them all. Will be good for book clubs.

—Joan Hipp, LibraryReads Ambassador, NJ

NoveList read-alike: The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

The Bodyguard Affair 

Amy Lea

(Berkley)

In this slow-burn dual POV romance, Andi is the assistant to the Canadian Prime Minister's wife by day and writes steamy romances under a pen name by night. When her novel, The Prime Minister and

Me, comes out, people assume it is based in truth. In order to manage the PR disaster, Andi starts fake-dating the PM's bodyguard with whom she happens to have an awkward past. Very cute and cinematic.

—Cate Daily, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: The Bodyguard by Katharine Center

We Who Will Die

Stacia Stark

(Avon)

One of Arvelle's brothers needs life-saving medicine, and the only way to get it is to make an unbreakable pact with a vampire. Now she must survive gladiator-style games and get close enough to the King to fulfill her vow, or her brothers die. But why has the Primus taken a dislike to her, and why is he always masked? A great plot twist will hook readers.

—Laura Sanders, Lafourche Parish Public Library, LA

NoveList read-alike: Crowns of Nyaxia duology by Carissa Broadbent

Board Bonus picks:

The Library of Fates

Margot Harrison

(Graydon House) 

Notable Nonfiction: 

A Danger to the Minds of  Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and 

the Fight to Modernize Literature

Adam Morgan

(Atria/One Signal)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.

 In Your Dreams: A Novel

Sarah Adams

(Dell)

The Mating Game

Lana Ferguson

(Berkley)

Tender Cruelty

Katee Robert

(Sourcebooks Casablanca)