Fiction
-
The Year’s “Best Of:” for Both the Dilettante and the Obsessive
Do you have a stack of magazines waiting to be read? Are bookmarked articles haunting you? Do you wish someone would just tell you the best ones that you should definitely read? Well you’re in luck – this is your reminder to explore the best in essays, articles, and short stories with annual compilations. Put… Continue reading
-
5 Fiction and Nonfiction Books that Dive Into AI
If representations of AI in fiction are starting to feel eerily plausible to you, you’re not alone! AI suddenly seems to be everywhere — in your phone, in your browser, offering tech support and an uncanny form of virtual friendship. How did this happen, where is it headed and what will it mean for humanity?… Continue reading
-
New Fiction Roundup, November 2025
Surreal stories, character studies, family sagas and more await you in November’s new releases. 11/4: Bitter Honey by Lolá Ákínmádé In 1978, Nancy immigrates from Gambia to Sweden; in 2006, Nancy’s daughter Tina is representing Sweden at the Eurovision contest. But long buried secrets and a complicated mother-daughter relationship threaten to upend both their lives. (general fiction) 11/4: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite Eniiyi has grown up with… Continue reading
-
Book Buzz: 2026 Global Reading Challenge Books
Across Seattle, fourth and fifth graders are getting excited about books — specifically, eight books that range from a story about a 10-year-old sock detective to a graphic novel about an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team. This year’s Global Reading Challenge books have been selected! The Global Reading Challenge is a 31-year-old reading incentive program that’s… Continue reading
-
Dark and Disturbing: 8 Horror Novels by Women
In the tradition of local award-winning author Sadie Hartmann’s newest release, “Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horror’s Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women,” Hartmann and SPL Reader Services librarian Genesee Rickel share two lists featuring chilling tales written by women. As in the book, these lists are curated to work in conversation… Continue reading
-
Washington Horror Novelists
Spooky stories abound this season, including four recent books by Washington authors. Whether set locally or farther afield, enjoy this scary, atmospheric reads. The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel CañasPlague has broken out in 1765 Mexico, and Alba Díaz has fled with her family to a remote village near the silver mine owned by… Continue reading
-
Get Cozy with a Cat Book
It’s officially fall, when the weather gets colder and nothing sounds better than cuddling up with a book and a cat. Here are some cozy cat books to enjoy this season, ideally to be read with a purring cat companion. Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero Cat, a stray cat living on the streets of New… Continue reading
-
Horror Stories for Teens – October 2025
Lots of great horror novels for teens have come out in the last year. Here are eight of the best to enjoy this spooky season! (MS = middle school) Gigi Griffis’ creepy novel And the Trees Stare Back follows Vik and her little sister Anna, who has been missing in the cursed forest for five… Continue reading
-
The Romances of Baseball
We love our sports teams when they’re doing well, but that may turn to love/hate when they’re not, as disappointment and frustrations swell during losses. The ups and downs of a good romance novel can be just as emotionally fraught as an MLB season: the initial swell of attraction/love (winning streaks!), the pitfalls of actually… Continue reading
-
New Fiction Roundup, October 2025
October finds lots of mystery, horror, and fantasy releases as we dip deeper into Fall. 10/7: All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles Zeb Wyckham, family outcast, nonetheless travels to a relative’s Gothic mansion, where he finds himself unwillingly part of an inheritance scheme. Forming a dubious alliance with his former lover, Zeb digs into… Continue reading
-
4 Dark Academia Novels to Read This Fall
As daylight hours wane, the transition to fall is the perfect time to get absorbed in a novel that matches the energy of an eerie evening walk. The literary subgenre of dark academia explores themes of power and deceit, using the shadow of the ivory tower to set the tone for murders, hauntings and speculative… Continue reading
-
Middle Grade Fiction that Adults & Kids Will Love
Will I ever outgrow my love for middle grade novels? I think not. And I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to, either! There’s something magical about middle grade novels. They depict the thrills and pains and stumbles that come along with growing up and discovering ourselves. They can tell stories of lives… Continue reading
-
Recent Novels from Washington Authors
From Seattle to Spokane and everywhere in between, Washington is home to many great authors. Check out this (small) selection of 2025 fiction releases by Washington authors. Intemperance by Sonora Jha In this satirical novel out in October, a woman nearing her 55th birthday decides to hold a contest inspired by an Indian ritual in… Continue reading
-
New Fiction Roundup, September 2025
September is back to school season, and whether that is literal for you or more figuratively just a time to return to more bookish pastimes, there are great new releases in September to check out. 9/2: To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage Steph Harper, member of the Cherokee Nation, has one goal: to… Continue reading
-
Cool Reads for Summer Heat
Summer might be winding down, but the heat sure isn’t. Take a mental cool down with these summer reads, but reader beware: like the gorgeous, inviting waters of the Puget Sound, these pretty covers hide deep and sometimes dangerous undercurrents. In Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield, not all is fun in the sun for 18-year-old,… Continue reading
-
Travel Through Time With These 4 Historical Fiction Novels
Sometimes we all need to take a break from our current world. A wonderful way to do this is to read historical fiction that transports us to a distant time and place, filled with rich details and fully developed characters. Perhaps this is escapism, but the best historical fiction not only teaches us about a… Continue reading
-
Women in Translation
August is Women in Translation Month, an annual tradition that started in 2014 and seeks to celebrate and promote the work of women writing in languages other than English around the world. Consider reading one of these works of translated fiction by a female author. To Go on Living by Narine Abgaryan was originally written… Continue reading
-
Hugo Award 2025 Finalists
Every year, the Hugo Awards celebrate some of the most exciting voices in science fiction and fantasy. This year, the ceremony will be right here in Seattle during Worldcon on August 16. From time travel and resurrected mammoths to graphic novels and YA adventures, the 2025 finalists offer something for every reader. This month, we’ve… Continue reading