Library Reads March 2026
I’ve given up trying to figure out the weather. Hot and cold days have been randomly alternating back and forth, sometimes it's sunny, sometimes it's snowing. Most of the time, I can’t decide if I need to wear a cardigan or a t-shirt. So… I’ve decided to stay inside until weather can sort itself out.
Since I’ve declared my stay-inside-o-thon, I’m going to need some high quality, highly entertaining books to keep me company. That’s why Library Reads is so incredibly useful. Every month, library workers and patrons across the country make a list of the top ten fiction books and non-fiction book of interest. It’s a great way to discover some of the most anticipated books to add to your to-be-read list. Now, several titles mentioned here have not reached their publication day at this time, but keep checking our catalog for their availability status.
Now, without further ado…
No Matter What: A Novel
Cara Bastone
(Dial Press Trade Paperbacks)
Roz and Vin have been married 8 years, but a terrible accident ripped their lives apart and left them reeling. This story is their slow journey back to one another. No tropes here—this romance is quiet and ordinary, and in that it's so powerful. It's a beautiful exploration of how even the strongest relationship can fracture, and how we repair and recover from damage. It's also a love letter to drawing and art, to storytelling and friendships, to how we care for and harm each other.
—Nyssa Fleig, Salt Lake County Library, UT
NoveList read-alike: Left of Forever by Tara DeWitt
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives
Elizabeth Arnott
(Berkley)
Three wives of convicted killers, fighting the guilt that they didn't know what was happening with their husbands, band together to search for a killer. Continuing the trend of stories of brave women who aren't taken seriously, this tightly woven crime novel has a bang of an ending.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin TX
NoveList read-alike: Good Husbands by Cate Ray
Two Kinds of Stranger
Steve Cavanagh
(Atria)
Conman-turned-attorney Eddie’s reputation precedes him. When Elly, a TikTok star, is convicted of a double murder she didn’t commit, she requests his help to prove her innocence. He soon realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for. When the case hits a little too close to home, Eddie relies on his (maybe not so legal) skills to save her life
—Jessica Heatherly, Kingston Public Library, TN
NoveList read-alike: Jack Swyteck series by Michael Grippando
This Story Might Save Your Life
Tiffany Crum
(Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar)
Joy and Benny are the perfect podcasting team, best friends who explain to listeners how to survive life-threatening situations. But when Joy and her husband go missing, it’s time for long-held secrets to be revealed. This compelling mystery with a likable pair at its heart will keep readers turning the pages to find out if a happy ending awaits.
—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Lady Tremaine
Rachel Hochhauser
(St. Martin's Press)
This Cinderella retelling is particularly powerful at portraying the challenges of motherhood and surviving in the world as a woman. The dissection of what traumas and choices create a villain are a fascinating character study, and readers will love that Lady Tremaine is given depth beyond the stereotypical evil stepmother trope—after all, everyone could be a villain in someone else's story.
—Kara Seal, Arapahoe Libraries, CO
NoveList read-alike: Malice by Heather Walter
It Girl: A Novel
Allison Pataki
(Ballantine Books)
A compelling fictionalized story based on the life of Gibson Girl and Gilded Age "It Girl," Evelyn Nesbit. The author writes masterful historical fiction that illuminates exceptional women: their lives, their hopes, their triumphs and downfalls. Highly recommended!
—Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador, IN
NoveList read-alike: Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub
Innamorata
Ava Reid
(Del Rey)
Haunting and atmospheric, this gothic tale of necromancy, revenge, and forbidden love will draw readers in. Lush writing, eerie vibes, and a heroine torn between duty and desire. Darkly beautiful.
—Emily Snodgrass, Rogers Public Library, AR
NoveList read-alike: The Bone Orchard by Sarah A. Mueller
Lake Effect: A Novel
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
(Ecco)
In 1977, Nina and Finn begin an affair and make difficult choices that will ripple through their families and small community for years to come. Twenty-five years later, Nina’s eldest daughter makes a selfish choice that sends shock waves from Manhattan back to Rochester. Keenly and sensitively written, readers will have great compassion for these women despite their choices.
—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ NoveList read-alike: Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom
Vincent Tirado
(William Morrow)
This slow, luxuriously paced gothic hinges on toxic family relationships. When Papi Ramon dies, the reading of the will mentions a demon among the family. Fans of Knives Out or The House of Usher will want to give this one a try!
—Adam Lopez, Lawrence Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: They Drown Our Daughters by Katrina Monroe
Nobody's Baby
Olivia Waite
(Tordotcom)
Our favorite "old lady" sci-fi detective is back at it, this time solving the mystery of a new baby on board (when that should be impossible on many levels!). A quick read, but Waite does a great job balancing a heck of a lot of world-building with a satisfying mystery and forward emotional movement by the heroine.
—Casey Chwiecko, Lincoln Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series by Malka Older
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Hopefully, there are some titles within this list that have piqued your interest. If not, then make sure you stop be any of our reference desks for some reading recommendations.
See you at the library, and happy reading.
