Fiction
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New Fiction Roundup, May 2025
Summer is nearly here, so queue up your vacation (and everyday) reading with some excellent new May releases. 5/6: All the Mothers by Domenica Ruta Single mom Sandy discovers that her daughter has a half-sibling – and the other mother is actually pretty great? What can family look like? (general fiction) 5/6: Home of the… Continue reading
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A Peek at Peak Picks – May 2025
We’re adding ten new Peak Picks in May! In fiction, Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive in The Emperor of Gladness; Christina Li’s adult debut reveals the secrets that lie in wait in the crumbling mansion of a former Hollywood starlet,… Continue reading
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May 2025 Author Events: Ada Limón, “Empire of AI,” and More
We have some amazing events at the Library in May, from a talk with New Yorker editor Michael Lo about his fascinating history of Chinese immigration to a just-added event with author Karen Hao about “Empire of AI,” her behind-the-scenes story of what went wrong at OpenAI. All Library events are free and open to… Continue reading
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Arab American Heritage Month
There have been some amazing Arab and Arab American books out lately, so just in time for Arab American Heritage month, here are some books and authors to explore: Omar El Akkad’s One Day, We Will All Have Been Against This is already one of the buzziest books of the year. Portland area Arab Canadian… Continue reading
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New Fiction Roundup, April 2025
Springtime is here, the flowers are popping, and the books are blooming! Read on for fiction arriving this month. 4/1: The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh Vietnamese sandwich restaurant founder Duc Tran has rewritten his will: if his five children want their inheritance, they’ll have to meet his wishes. His four daughters must take on… Continue reading
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What Seattle Read in the First Three Months of 2025
Are you curious what books Seattle readers have turned to in a year that’s already been very eventful? See for yourself in our list of top Library checkouts for the first three months of 2025. As usual, the most popular print book checkouts are from the Library’s very popular no-holds, no-wait Peak Picks collection (which… Continue reading
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Historical Fiction for Women’s History Month
Though nonfiction is a great way to learn about the past, historical fiction can also open readers’ eyes to the settings, lessons, and experiences of those who came before us. To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are some recent historical fiction titles celebrating women’s stories across time. In Harlem Rhapsody, Victoria Christopher Murray highlights Jessie Redmon… Continue reading
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Kick Off with Women’s Soccer Part 2 – Fiction
The National Women’s Soccer League season is off to a thrilling start! You may have seen my last post about the NWSL with library resources to get you prepped and excited for the season. Ready for women’s soccer to take over more of your brain space? Here are some novels and movies so you can… Continue reading
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For Women’s History Month, 4 Bewitching Pageturners
For centuries, women who claimed their power through medicine and magic, curiosity and intelligence, and a refusal to submit and abide, were persecuted as witches. In honor of Women’s History Month, we offer four fictional titles in several genres — crime, thriller, fantasy, historical Western — that honor witches and their stories of strength and… Continue reading
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March 2025 Author and Community Events at the Library
The Library has many programs that will get you reading, talking and connecting this month, including a silent reading event, an evening with Torrey Peters and a celebration of community stories and Black memory at ARTE NOIR during the First Friday Art Walk. Find more events on our arts and author events calendars. All Library events… Continue reading
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New Fiction Roundup, March 2025
Welcome to the busy spring publishing season! March has something for most everyone, so read on to discover books from favorite or new-to-you authors. 3/4: Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie During the Covid pandemic, four African women in the United States find themselves at emotional, professional, and personal crossroads. (general fiction) 3/4: The Dream… Continue reading
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Black History Month 2025
Each February we observe Black History Month, but why limit your enjoyment of Black writers, illustrators, thinkers, and creators to just one month? Librarians at the Seattle Public Library have put together several booklists to help keep you reading throughout the year, and highlighted a few titles from each list below: Black American Nonfiction Black… Continue reading
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Black Love and Friendship
This Black History Month, celebrate titles that illuminate the power of Black love and friendship with titles from our recent booklist: Black Love and Friendship! Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen – Aaliyah James, a 29-year-old plus size Black woman, is ready to find real love and prove her body shaming family wrong by debuting… Continue reading
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5 Books That Celebrate Nonromantic Love
February is traditionally a month to celebrate romantic love. But while romance novels are easy to find on the shelves of any library near you, we think it’s time to highlight the passion, tenderness and devotion expressed in other types of relationships. These five books focus on love in a variety of settings, from friendship… Continue reading
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The Best of Genre Fiction From 2024
This January, librarians from across the country met to hash out the best books published in 2024 for adults. The Notable Books List highlights literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; the Listen List is all about outstanding audiobooks; and The Reading List, which I want to focus on today, highlights outstanding genre fiction in eight genres: Adrenaline (aka thrillers, adventure… Continue reading
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New Fiction Roundup, February 2025
Ok, we’re a month into 2025. How is your reading going? For those on a roll, or those still on the hunt for their first good read of the year, February brings a range of offerings. And of course, don’t miss the new Peak Picks titles coming to branches in February. 2/4: The Dissenters by… Continue reading
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February 2025 Author and Community Events at the Library
The Library has many programs that will get you reading, talking and connecting this month, including a sweet silent reading program at the Green Lake Branch; an event featuring Jennifer Finney Boylan talking about “Cleavage,” and Omar El Akkad in conversation with Ijeoma Oluo about his new book “One Day Everyone Will Have Been Against… Continue reading