LibraryAware March 2025

March 2025

A normal family might have stopped visiting Capri after one of them “accidentally” fell off a cliff, but the Lingates are far from normal. Wealthy enough to shrug off the scandal, they've only become more insular in the decades since. Sarah and Lorna scheme to finally learn the truth, but then Lorna vanishes. This narrative unveils the family's toxicity as it alternates between three POVs.

Sarah Walker, Indianapolis Public Library, IN
NoveList read-alike: The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

Promise Me Sunshine
by Cara Bastone

Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance. This is a beautifully written love story that features the exploration of grief.

Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador
NoveList read-alike: PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

The River Has Roots
by Amal El-Mohtar

Sisters Esther and Ysabel are among the lucky few to have found their way home after getting lost in the land of Faerie. When Esther falls in love with a stranger, a darkness threatens to separate the sisters forever. An enchanting story of the bonds of sisterhood and the magic of Faerie for readers who love a good riddle song or murder ballad.

Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Broken Country
by Clare Leslie Hall

Beth is in mourning due to the death of her son when her first love moves back to town. A chain of events takes place that alters their lives. Unfolding with the urgency of a thriller, this novel deftly explores topics such as first love, sacrifice, and deep loyalty.

Theresa Bond, Middlesex Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

All the Other Mothers Hate Me
by Sarah Harman

Florence is a washed-up girl group singer and a hot mess. She skates through life, having no qualms about manipulating people to get what she wants. When her son is accused of a horrible crime, she investigates, but with morals so gray, can she actually bring a killer to justice? All the other mothers hate her -- with good reason -- yet readers will root for her.

Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Regrets Only by Kieran Scott

The Story She Left Behind
by Patti Callahan Henry

Clara receives a phone call regarding a letter from the mother who abandoned her when she was young and who is now presumed dead. From the moment Clara and her precocious daughter Wynnie arrive in London to get the letter, a series of coincidences change their lives. A novel of love, motherhood, forgiveness, and being open to possibilities while knowing yourself.

Judy Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: The Cartographer's Secret by Tea Cooper

Wild Dark Shore
by Charlotte McConaghy

A gripping novel of a father and his children residing on a remote island, frantic to protect the last remaining seeds for future generations. Their lives are disrupted when an injured woman washes ashore. Mutual interest in the natural world enhances their passionate connection, despite a tense urgency for the truth. An immersive novel of family, nature, and the ties that bind.

KC Davis, LibraryReads Ambassador, CT
NoveList read-alike: The High House by Jessie Greengrass

Go Luck Yourself
by Sara Raasch

This delightful follow-up to The Nightmare Before Kissmas follows Kris, the other Christmas Prince, and Loch, the Prince of St. Patrick's Day. There's a bit of mystery and political intrigue, as well as passionate banter. Great for readers looking for fun holiday rom-coms with a bit of spice that can be read outside of the winter holidays.

Katelyn Tjarks, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky

The Shots You Take
by Rachel Reid

Riley is drowning in grief. Adam -- his ex-best friend and first love -- slips back into his life, determined to offer support and make amends for some seriously devastating decade-old mistakes. The emotional maturity of these two forty-something men will land perfectly with readers looking for heartfelt romance.

Jessica Freytag, Granville Public Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane

Murder by Memory
by Olivia Waite

Dorothy Gentleman, ship’s detective on the Fairweather, is trying to solve a mystery in which the victim has been erased completely. There is a very real possibility that she herself is inhabiting the body of the killer, due to an emergency action by the ship's mind. Waite has come up with something insanely clever and truly original.

Jill Minor, Washington County Public Library, VA
NoveList read-alike: The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

Find more great reading recommendations in NoveList!