New Year, New Recs!
Getting started with reading goals in the new year can be tough, especially with our library offering thousands of titles across dozens of genres. Where do you even start? Luckily, our expert staff is just as varied as our collection, and they have plenty of recommendations to make! Whether you enjoy thrilling adventures or heart-wrenching tales, our staff is eager to share their current favorites with you!
Meredith W. (Lenski Children’s Library/Main Branch)
The Redwall series is perfect for reading families, and I’ve enjoyed reading it alongside my son. Brian Jacques’ descriptions of food are so enticing! Scenes with meals are some of the best in the series, though the rest of the adventure is just as captivating, even for adults.
On my own, I recently enjoyed reading Touch, by Olaf Olafsson. It’s a bittersweet, but ultimately uplifting story about a man suffering from memory loss traveling from Iceland to Japan in search of a long lost love. What really stuck out to me was the focus on Icelandic culture. Significant parts of the book take place in Iceland, but unlike other popular Nordic stories, like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, there’s no darkness or horror to be found. The part of the book that takes place in Japan was just as engaging, overall making Touch a true-to-life love story that transcends cultures. I must not have been the only one to enjoy this book so much, because it was made into a movie in 2024!
Leslie C. (Main Branch)
I just finished reading one of John Grisham’s 2025 books, The Widow, and I really enjoyed it! Grisham once again delivered a well-written and thrilling story that’s not just another procedural novel. There were plenty of twists and turns that really got me; I felt the suspense of the story through every thrill!
I’d also like to mention Joe Hill’s 2025 novel King Sorrow. I haven’t quite finished this one yet, but it is exceptional so far! The premise pulls from fantasy, as you might expect of Joe Hill, but quickly dives deep into modern interpersonal drama and the unintended consequences of impulsive acts of hatred.
Razelle B. (Main Branch)
I don’t have anything new to suggest, but I am on book six of a crime series by Faye Kellerman called the Decker/Lazarus series. This series starts with The Ritual Bath, and follows detective Peter Decker. What keeps me following this series is the balance between solving mysteries and exploring Jewish culture. Early on in the series, Decker marries Rina Lazarus, a devout Jewish woman, and aims to convert to his wife’s religion by learning about the customs and religious laws. I enjoy the respectful depiction of Jewish culture juxtaposed against the thrilling backdrop of the couple solving mysterious crimes.
Jan W. (Main Branch)
One of my favorite books of all time is The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson. It’s a non-fiction novel that chronicles black migration from the South to the North, East, and West between 1915 to 1970. Wilkerson includes lots of interesting data, collected from official records and over a thousand interviews. It was a compelling and insightful read, and I really appreciated the humane depiction of the struggles black Americans fought through just trying to secure a decent, safe life. Although the book won plenty of accolades, it’s one that people might have missed, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Tracy K. (Main Branch)
I recently finished reading Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught. I typically read historical romance, and I appreciated the author's approach of the troubled marriage trope common in historical romances. The couple first meet when Alexandra, a naive country girl, saves the life of a duke from cut-throat thieves. To save her reputation, Jordan Townsende, Duke of Hawthorne, offers to marry her. Who wouldn't want to marry a duke? Early in their marriage, the couple is separated and once they are reunited, it's an up and down journey of intense emotions from love and hate and everything in between. As with any good historical romance, there is a happy ending and a new baby.
(This book is only available in eBook format on Libbyapp.com.)
Sara W. (Houston Branch)
I just finished listening to the audio book The First Day of Spring, by Nancy Tucker. Oh my, it was so incredible! Although it’s probably not everyone's cup of tea due to the dark, horror-adjacent premise, it was very well written and Tucker's description of feelings from the point of view of a child was something I will not soon forget! It hit me like the first time I read To Kill a Mockingbird. It was just amazing how the author was able to capture the feelings and thoughts of a child as an adult writer. I was blown away! Such a young author as well! I really loved this book, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who can handle this type of story!
Tangee H. (Tuttle Branch)
The Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny is so good! Louise Penny knows exactly how to create personal emotion and love for her stories. Her impeccable writing brings scenes to life, making it easy for readers to step into the small village of Three Pines as onlookers and get attached to the characters. For instance, Inspector Gamache earns and deserves respect because he is a true leader full of honesty and integrity. No matter how many times I think I know who the killer is, I am wrong every time. Penny truly knows how to keep us guessing all the way to the last page. The series starts with Still Life and currently has 20 books total, so mystery fans can really stay busy this year!
Want More Recommendations?
Our staff loves to help readers discover their next great book. Many branches even feature staff-pick displays (like Tuttle, pictured above), or you can always request a personalized reading list tailored to your tastes. Connecting readers with stories they’ll enjoy is one of the best parts of our job. We’ll continue to highlight staff picks throughout the year, so stay tuned for more great suggestions! If one of the recommendations resonates with you, we would love to hear about it below!
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