Staff Picks: Great New Audiobooks of 2024

Fri, 09/06/2024 - 11:01am by eapearce

Audiobooks continue to increase in popularity! The ability to multitask while also listening to a book—cleaning, working out, commuting, etc.—makes this format tempting to many. Talented audiobook readers have also given the format more appeal; it’s not uncommon now for listeners to have favorite readers or to see a famous actor’s name in the reader credits. You can browse tons of e-audiobook selections through the Midwest Collective for Library Services to listen to via Libby and AADL still has a large book on CD collection. Check out one of these popular audiobooks from this year to get you started.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult, read by a full cast | Request Now
This book comes out on audio on October 8, but it’s already highly anticipated. Picoult is an enduringly popular author and the reading of this title by a full cast is sure to keep listeners riveted. The premise of the story is pretty interesting, too: it centers on two women living centuries apart who are both forced to hide their true identities and live under false names. One, living in 1581, is the true author of Shakespeare’s plays and the other, living in the present day, is struggling to make her own voice heard in the modern theatre world after years of setbacks and being taken advantage of. Picoult bridges the gap between the two timelines, showing the striking similarities between women trying to make their voices heard five hundred years apart. This engaging story is a great one to listen to on audio.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, read by Catherine Ho | Request Now

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #843, Second Chances

Sun, 09/01/2024 - 9:29am by muffy

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook),  a “delightfully quirky office comedy” (Publishers Weekly) 

33 year-old Jolene Smith, an administrative assistant at the regional office of Supershop, a Canadian supermarket chain, endures 8-hours of mind-numbing work alongside her insufferable boss and incompetent colleagues, sustained only by copious amounts of gin, vodka and wine, whatever is handy. 

A careless mistake lands her in mandatory anti-harassment training, under the supervision of the new (and very hot) HR guy Cliff. An IT mix-up that is meant to allow Management to monitor her every keystroke, instead grants her access to the entire office’s private emails and DMs. With layoff rumors looming, Jolene realizes this might just be the key to getting revenge and getting ahead in the company. 

“As Jolene gets to know her co-workers better, she sees that they all have their secret heartbreaks and struggles, just like her… A beautiful, honest, and often funny look at loneliness and the courage it takes to simply keep going.” (Kirkus Reviews)  Perfect for fans of Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. 

The Love of My Afterlife (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook) by Kirsty Greenwood, is “a boisterous death-defying rom-com.” (Publishers Weekly)

27 year-old Delphie Bookham never expects to end up in the afterlife waiting room choked on a microwaveable burger. If that’s not embarrassing enough, she is standing in her 'shine like a star' nightie in front of the hottest man she has ever seen, and their chemistry is undeniable. Unfortunately, he is not meant to be there.  Without hesitation, Delphie makes an impulsive deal with her romance-obsessed afterlife therapist, Merritt: Delphie gets 10 days to return to life and find the mysterious man. If she fails, she will spend eternity as the guinea pig for Merritt's afterlife dating agency.

“Returning to her quiet apartment with only 10 days to change her fate, Delphie learns that finding one's soulmate in the busy streets of London is challenging. More surprising is how Delphie's temporary new lease on life causes her to see her job, her friends, and her neighbors in new ways.” (Library Journal) 

Fans of The Good Place should snap this up.” (Publishers Weekly)

BONUS PICK

Shortlisted for the 2024 Kirkus Prize for Fiction, Margo's Got Money Troubles * * by Rufi Thorpe  (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook) is “a story of friendship, love, and family set in a different part of the big world of cyber-storytelling.” (Kirkus Reviews)

19 year-old Margo Miller, raised by a beauty-obsessed, self-involved single mother has her sights set on being a writer. A very brief affair with her junior college English (married) professor leaves her pregnant. After being fired from her waitressing job, and on the verge of being evicted, she is glad to take in her largely-absent father Jinx, an ex-pro wrestler when he comes knocking, in exchange for childcare. To generate income, Margo explores online porn work by posing on an OnlyFans account. Before she knows it, she has turned it into a runaway success… until her popularity leads to scrutiny and eventually a custody fight. 

“Thorpe infuses the portrayal of Margo and Jinx's relationship with sweetness, and she makes Margo a character to root for as the young mother learns how to support herself with help from her unconventional family.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The title is the only bad thing about this book. Terrific characters, rich worldbuilding, deep thoughts about fiction and morality, a love story, and a happy ending.” (Kirkus Reviews)

* * = 2 starred reviews

Staff Picks: Kids Comics About Dogs

Sat, 08/31/2024 - 5:54pm by nicole

The dog days of summer are over, but here are some graphic novels about dogs that readers can enjoy all year round! These comics feature drawn-out doggy adventures, furry friends, totally real dog facts, and the everyday lives of happy pups!

Dndoggos Vol. 1, Get the Party Started by Scout Underhill | Request Now
Four adorable dogs are tail-waggingly excited to play their favorite role-playing game in DnDoggos: Get the Party Started, the middle grade graphic novel debut from online comic creator Scout Underhill. They've picked their characters and favorite dice, and are ready to set off on the adventure their game master Magnus has created for them. Pickles, a rough and tumble fighter; Tonka, a playful and fun-loving bard; and Zoey, a wise and caring cleric, are given a quest to fetch a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp. But when they triumphantly return, they soon find that the collar isn't the only thing that has gone missing from Tail's Bend. All the squeaky toys in town have disappeared and Squish, the mayor's young son, has set off on his own to find them. It's up to the Doggos to rescue Squish, track down the missing toys, and save the day!

Staff Picks: Science Fiction Highlights

Fri, 08/30/2024 - 2:44pm by lucroe

Enjoy some new and slightly older titles in the science fiction genre at AADL. Here are some award winners and stand out novels worth checking out. Like your sci-fi space operas? We’ve got you covered, as well as some action, suspense, and thoughtfully inspired writing about what the future may present.

These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs | Request Now
Jacob’s debut novel and Philip K. Dick Award winner is a tightly woven space opera, the first in a series (2nd volume coming out this Fall). This is set thousands of years after generational ships have left Earth to find habitable planets to settle. They find the start system called Treble and set up a kingdom ruled through three levels of service, the Clerics (religion), the Secretaries (law), and the Cloaksaan (enforcement). The story follows three women, Esek Nightfoot who is a cleric but more Cloaksaan than priest; Jun Ironway a hacker whose family Esek had killed to coverup the Nighfoot involvement in past atrocities; and Six, a former Novitiate of Esek’s who is out to expose her dirty deeds. Esek and fellow cleric, Chono are sent on a mission to recover a memory coin that holds the Nightfoot family secrets. This leads to chase sequences across galaxies, questionable loyalties, and stunning worldbuilding. For fans of Becky Chambers, Ann Leckie, and Elizabeth Bear.

Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey | Request Now

Staff Picks: Culinary Mysteries

Tue, 08/27/2024 - 1:39pm by walkerk

Culinary mysteries are centered around food and drink and sometimes the books even come with recipes! I didn't know this was a sub-genre of mystery, and I was thrilled to find more books that fit the bill. If you're interested in trying a good culinary mystery, here's a small list to get you started:

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala | Request Now
When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, she's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie Case. With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. 

This is a book that makes you hungry by proxy with mouth-watering descriptions of Filipino food (some of which have recipes available at the end of the book). As the first book in the series, Manansala fills the pages with charismatic locals in a small town, sharp humor that kept readers laughing, well-meaning but interfering relatives, and a warm-hearted friendship between Lila and Adeena. If you like this clever book and want more, the next in the series is Homicide and Halo-Halo.

Staff Picks: New Thrillers

Fri, 08/23/2024 - 2:13pm by eapearce

It has been a great year for mystery and thriller readers! Writers of the ever-popular genres have churned out dozens of page turners all year long, but particularly this summer. If you love books that keep you on the edge of your seat, you’ll want to put a hold on some of these new-to-the-shelves titles that you won’t be able to put down until you turn the last page. 

You Will Never Be Me, by Jesse Sutanto | Request Now
Meredith Lee is an influencer who shares her perfectly curated life fans via viral videos and posts on social media. She’s so good at what she does that she even teaches other women how to become influencers themselves. That’s what Meredith helped Aspen Palmer with, and to great success. The only problem is, Meredith taught Aspen so well that Aspen no longer needs her, which makes Meredith less than pleased. Hoping to sabotage Aspen’s flourishing influencer career, Meredith starts following her, looking for any cracks in her facade. When Meredith unexpectedly gains access to Aspen’s family calendar and social media accounts, she starts tweaking things here and there… to disastrous results for a confused Aspen. Aspen is determined to figure out who’s ruining her life, but figuring out Meredith’s role in her demise is only the start of this twisty thriller. You’ll have to read it to find out more!

Staff Picks: Otherworldly Romance

Mon, 08/19/2024 - 3:32pm by lucroe

As the summer winds down, you may be in the mood for some easy pleasing romance with a bit of the supernatural or fantasy thrown in the mix. Below are a few favorites with plenty of other paranormal romances on our site that can be found here.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston | Request Now
A romance ghostwriter who can see ghosts!? Sounds silly but in this paranormal romance, it is just this quirkiness along with the cast of delightful characters that keeps you wanting to read more. Florence is the ghost writer/observer which is well-known in her community. When her dad dies, then her editor/love interest, Ben dies mysteriously, she is both shocked and grief-stricken. With Ben’s ghost following her around, she is determined to help him with some unfinished business while navigating her eccentric family and of course dealing with the loss of her father. This book is all about love, not just the romantic kind, but of family that are there to support each other through difficult times. The second chance at romance is just part of the charm.

Staff Picks: New Teen Vampire Fiction

Sat, 08/17/2024 - 5:43pm by nicole

If you're looking for a paranormal read with some bite to it, here are some of AADL's newest vampire stories for teens!

Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris | Request Now
When some of Raven's fellow marching-band members are killed by vampires, she reluctantly discovers she is a slayer. Now she's at a slayer academy, learning things like the origin of vampires and how to make serious weapons out of thin air. Raven is determined to get revenge, but then she meets Khamari. He's intelligent and reasonable...and turns out to be the actual vampire prince. He knows things about Raven that could change everything-- and he's also hiding something big, even from his own kind. Now, with the whole world at stake, Raven and Khamari have to team up and take down an ancient evil. This story is perfect for readers who like dark academia!

Staff Picks: Unique Perspectives on Travel

Tue, 08/13/2024 - 2:37pm by eapearce

Travelogues don't just have to be a recounting of the traveler's experiences and itinerary on a given trip; there are so many ways to travel and so many unique perspectives on the experience of doing so. Check out some of these books that offer both guidance and musings on the art of exploring the world.

Around the World in 80 Books, by David Damrosch | Request Now
Damrosch, professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard and the Director of the Institute for World Literature, transports readers around the globe with selections of both classic and modern literature from a variety of countries. Inspired to write this book during the pandemic, when travel was highly restricted, Damrosch decided to get his travel fix by virtual global exploration through reading and literary analysis. He explores how works from around the globe shape both our view of other places and our views of our own homes. The wide range of books he explores — from classics by Virginia Woolfe and Dante, to more recent Nobel Prize-winning works by Olga Tokarczuk, Orhan Pamuk and Mo Yan, to crime fiction and fantasy epics — offer a thoughtful perspective on global problems as well as issues rooted firmly in their own time and location. Around the World in 80 Books is a “global invitation to look beyond ourselves and our surroundings, and to see our world and its literature in new ways.”

100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas, by Joseph Yogerst | Request Now

Staff Picks: Queer Young Adult Fantasy Graphic Novels

Tue, 08/13/2024 - 12:24pm by walkerk

If you're looking for another queer, fantasy-themed graphic novel to read—similar to Nimona by ND Stevenson, The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl by Emily Riesbeck, Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, or Wynd. by James Tynion IV—you might find your next read in this little list! 

Brooms by Jasmine Walls | Request Now
It's 1930s Mississippi: Magic simmers beneath the surface, kept in check by unjust laws and societal expectations, which only allow magic to be used in certain situations, and by certain people. But for six extraordinary women, the roar of enchanted engines and the thrill of the forbidden broom race offers a chance to rewrite their destinies. 

Frequently described as the kind of story that sticks with you long after you read it, Brooms is a fun, uplifting, heart-pounding graphic novel soaring with magic, found family, and rebellion—like Fast and the Furious with broomsticks instead of cars. This cast of characters is incredibly diverse, with queer, trans, disability, and POC representation. And beautifully, it features queer people of color experiencing a happy ending in a historical fiction.