LibraryAware June 2025

Adult Fiction

My Name Is Emilia del Valle
by Isabel Allende

In 1800s San Francisco, Emilia del Valle is raised by her former Irish nun mother and a loving stepdad, never knowing her Chilean aristocrat father. As a young journalist covering the Chilean Civil War, Emilia begins a romance and finally meets the man who abandoned her. Isabel Allende fans will relish reading about the del Valles, whose various members have often appeared in her work. Try this next: Kaitlyn Greenidge's Libertie.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
by Kylie Lee Baker

Haunted by her sister Delilah's murder in the early days of COVID-19, 20-something Cora Zeng takes a job as a crime scene cleaner in New York City's Chinatown, where she soon discovers a serial killer may be targeting East Asian women. Is there a connection between her sister's murder and these crimes? For fans of: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin
by Alison Goodman

In Regency England, 42-year-old twin sisters and amateur sleuths Augusta and Julia Colebrook have never married, each for their own reasons. Their compelling 2nd adventure combines mystery and romantic elements as the two try to clear an innocent man's name, hide a woman from her controlling brother, and push against the restrictions society places on women. Try this next: Katharine Schellman's Lily Adler mysteries; Vanessa Riley's Lady Worthing mysteries.

When the Tides Held the Moon
by Venessa Vida Kelley

In 1910 Coney Island, New York, orphaned blacksmith Benny Caldera is welcomed to the Luna Park carnival with open arms. When he's tasked with maintaining the tank of captive merman Rio, the pair develop a connection, forcing Benny to decide if he's ready to risk losing the only family he's ever known for love. This atmospheric illustrated fantasy will appeal to fans of the film The Shape of Water and The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club
by Martha Hall Kelly

Based on real events, this dual-timeline novel follows Mari Starwood in 2016 as she visits a reclusive Martha's Vineyard painter with a connection to her recently deceased mother. Back in 1942, with their brother at war, the teenage Smith sisters form a book club as they balance running their island farm with romance and fears of German U-boats and spies. For fans of: Madeline Martin's The Last Bookshop in London; Amy Lynn Green's The Blackout Book Club.

The Names
by Florence Knapp

Cora Atkin is off to register her baby's name when nine-year-old Maia suggests they call the baby Bear instead of Gordon, which her father has insisted upon. Cora's pick? Julian. Tracing the results of each choice over 35 years, this thought-provoking novel and Read with Jenna selection presents a complex story about abuse, fate, and family. Read-alike: The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas.

The Railway Conspiracy
by John Shen Yen Nee

In 1924 London, Judge Dee and his friend, professor Lao She, use deductive reasoning and martial arts as they investigate theft, murder, and a sinister international conspiracy involving Russia, Japan, and China. This 2nd series entry after The Murder of Mr. Ma is "fiendishly clever" (Publishers Weekly) and "a rollicking good tale" (Booklist).

The Museum Detective
by Maha Khan Phillips

Pakistani museum curator and archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani gets a nighttime call from the Karachi police. She's hoping for news about her three-years-missing niece, but it's about a mummy and a sarcophagus in a remote drug hideout. With help from a wide variety of people, Gul investigates in this twisty, evocative series starter. Read-alikes: Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway mysteries; Sujata Massey's Perveen Mistry novels.

Julie Chan Is Dead
by Liann Zhang

In this witty debut thriller, Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier, steps into her twin sister Chloe’s glamorous influencer life after Chloe’s mysterious death. As Julie uncovers dark secrets behind Chloe’s perfect facade, she finds herself caught in a dangerous world where she may become the next target.

Adult Nonfiction

Mark Twain
by Ron Chernow

In his well-researched latest, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow (Alexander Hamilton) offers a nuanced and richly detailed portrait of writer Mark Twain that's been deemed a "monumental achievement" (Booklist) and "essential reading" (Kirkus Reviews).

America, América: A New History of the New World
by Greg Grandin

Pulitzer and Bancroft Prize-winning historian Greg Gandin's sweeping history of North and South America examines five centuries of the continents' relationship to each other. "It's a monumental new view of the New World," raves Publishers Weekly. Try this next: El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America by Carrie Gibson.

Youth Fiction

The Corruption of Hollis Brown
by K. Ancrum

Hollis Brown believes he’s destined for a grim small-town life, until he meets Walt, a mysterious boy promising him a better future. Then Walt possesses Hollis, and even more unexpectedly, they start falling for each other. Read-alikes: Jimmy Cajoleas’ The Good Demon; Ryan Douglass’ The Taking of Jake Livingston.

The Cartoonists Club
by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud

Makayla, Howard, Lynda, and Art all have different ideas and talents, but they have a common goal: making comics. Together, they form the Cartoonists Club, and you can follow along as they figure out friendships and discover tips and tools for creating graphic novels. With relatable characters and inviting art, this graphic novel is exactly what you’d expect from fan-favorite Raina Telgemeier and comics expert Scott McCloud.

Youth Nonfiction

Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown
by Candace Fleming

In 1978, cult leader Jim Jones led over 900 people to their deaths in a tragic massacre in Guyana. This richly detailed and thoughtful nonfiction account tracing the rise and fall of the Peoples Temple draws from survivors’ stories, including interviews author Candace Fleming conducted herself.

Contact your librarian for more great books!