Library Reads November 2025
There’s at least one thing I will never become tired of as a lover of books and libraries, and that’s learning what everyone has been reading lately. I also love to learn what everyone is excited to read in the future, which is why I find Library Reads so incredibly useful. This condensed ten-book list highlights some of the most unique and anticipated reading material for each month. The mission here is to promote inclusivity and diversity in a world that doesn’t always value these things. Amplifying emerging author voices via grassroots word-of-mouth is that pure library activism I signed up for in library school, so I am happy to be able to post the list here.
Below, I listed the top ten fiction books and non-fiction book of interest recommended by library workers and patrons all over the country. It’s early enough in the month that several titles have not reached their publication day at the time I am writing this blog, so keep checking back for their availability status.
I, Medusa
Ayana Gray
(Random House)
Medusa—legend, myth, monster—was once an innocent girl named Meddy who longed to see the world beyond her island. Meddy is a mortal born of two immortal sea gods in Poseidon's kingdom. When she catches the attention of the goddess Athena and is taken on as an acolyte in her temple, she thinks she has found her purpose, but a misstep angers the Gods and she becomes Medusa. A feminist tale that will capture readers’ attention from the first page.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: Medusa by Nataly Gruender
Black-Owned:The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore
Char Adams
(Tiny Reparations Books)
An extremely informative and well-researched book on a worthy topic. This comprehensive work looks at Black history in the United States through the lens of Black-owned bookstores, covering their functions as pillars of community engagement and social justice organizations as well. Readers will appreciate the book recommendations and the bookstores listed in the endnotes.
—Autumn Raw, Hennepin County Library, MN
NoveList read-alike: Prose to the People by Katie Mitchell
Cursed Daughters: A Novel
Oyinkan Braithwaite
(Doubleday Books)
Eniiyi has been haunted her entire life by her strong resemblance to her mother's cousin Monife, who drowned shortly before Eniiyi's birth. She has also been told that the women of her family are cursed to never find lasting romantic happiness. Is there any way for her to break free of her family's painful past? A beautifully told and emotional page-turner about confronting family trauma and finding peace and forgiveness along the way.
—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes
Daddy Issues: A Novel
Kate Goldbeck
(Dial Press Trade Paperbacks)
The pandemic blew up every plan Sam ever had postcollege, and now she's stuck living with her mom, working a deadbeat job. Her sad status quo is disrupted when Nick moves in next door with his young daughter. As Sam confronts her relationship with her father, she starts a relationship with Nick. This romance hits on the ways the pandemic affected everyone's lives.
—Olivia Wojnar, Seymour Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman
The Ferryman and His Wife
Frode Grytten
(Algonquin Books)
This tale of a widowed Norwegian ferryman’s last day of life is simple, quiet, and effortlessly moving. Nils navigates through his cherished memories, converses with the dead, and reevaluates his connection to all who crossed his path, whether in a single trip across the forge or a decades-long marriage.
—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Best Offer Wins
Marisa Kashino
(Celadon Books)
The housing market can be murder. Find out how far one woman will go when she sets her sights on her dream home. And just when it seems our main character, Margot, can’t surprise any more, she stuns readers once again. Once you settle in with this deliciously dark and twisty thriller, you won’t be able to look away.
—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore
Emily Krempholtz
(Ace)
Violet's a witch who used her powers for terror and destruction as a sidekick to the ultimate bad guy. Now she's moved into a small village and is trying to start over, running a flower shop. But her landlord doesn't seem to like her, and it's hard to cover up the past. Can she be "good" and make her new life a success? This is a sweet, cozy romantasy.
—Jayna McDaniel-Browning, Delaware County. Dist. Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
An Academic Affair
Jodi McAlister
(Atria)
Sadie and Jonah start off as rivals faking a relationship for job security, and accidentally fall into something real, messy, and deeply felt. With a sharp critique of institutional academia and a great sister-drama subplot, this is set to be one of the smartest, sexiest romances of the year.
—India Cureau, Cary Memorial Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Taste the Love by Karelia Stetz-Waters
The Bridesmaid
Cate Quinn
(Sourcebooks Landmark)
The Kensingtons invite you to the society wedding of the decade. There's just one hitch. You might not make it out alive. This book is full of intrigue and suspense that will draw readers into the pitfalls of high-society life, where nothing matters more than your social media clicks and lavish parties. Great characters and a shocking ending.
—Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador, IN
NoveList read-alike: A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary
The Forget-Me-Not Library
Heather Webber
(St. Martin's Press)
Tallulah and Juliet are in need of healing and love from friends and family, and the town of Forget-Me-Not offers that in spades! The lovely townsfolk want nothing but the best for their community and those in need of its special magic. Perfect for readers who want a cozy, magical read to soothe away the troubles of the real world.
—Carmen Hughey, Greenville County Library System, SC
NoveList read-alike: The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins
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Well, I hope this selection inspires you to seek out your next great book. See you at the library, and happy reading.
