Fiction
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How to Read More in 2025
“Books are uniquely suited to helping us change our relationship to the rhythms and habits of daily life in this world of endless connectivity. We can’t interrupt them; we can only interrupt ourselves while reading them.” — Will Schwalbe, “Books for Living“ Here’s a secret: Librarians give you permission to read anything you like because… Continue reading
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Friendship Stories for the New Year
Though we often associate love stories with romantic partnership, Lilly Dancyger’s First Love: Essays on Friendship highlights the role that friendship plays in forming our associations with love, as well as opportunities to care for one another and show forms of love we may not receive in our families of origin or romantic relationships. After reading… Continue reading
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Winter 2025 Arts Events: Pico Iyer, Schuyler Bailar, Jesse Hagopian and More
If your ideal winter night is an evening listening to authors discuss intriguing books and ideas, we’ve got you covered, from Pico Iyer to Schulyer Bailar to T.J. Klune. All library events are free and open to the public. Check the event descriptions at spl.org/Calendar for registration links. Find more upcoming programs at spl.org/Authors. Silent Reading Night at… Continue reading
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The Library’s Most Popular Books of 2024
What was the story of 2024 in books? It’s always intriguing to look back and see which titles captured the interest of Seattle’s insatiable readers over the course of the year, and one way to do that is through library checkout data. James McBride’s 2023 bestseller “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” was the most… Continue reading
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Digital Book Bonanza
Are you an ebook reader? An audiobook convert? The Library’s collection of digital books (OverDrive if you’re on the web, or Libby if you’re using the app) just grew by the thousands in December. Here are a few highlights: Nearly 300 new audiobooks have been added to our Always Available Audio collection – no holds,… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Children’s Books
Each year, we enjoy asking staff from across the library system to share their favorite kids’ books of the year. From picture books to chapter books, and from graphic novels to nonfiction – here are just a few of the children’s books published in 2024 that our SPL staff loved! (Annotations are by enthusiastic staff… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Adult Fiction
At the end of each year, Library staff weigh in on their favorite reads published that year and boy, did they deliver for adult fiction! With nearly 120 titles, we had to create two lists to fit all of the books that most moved SPL workers this year. Check out the lists in full or… Continue reading
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4 Cozy Books to Accompany Long, Cold Nights
As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, one activity perfectly matches the mood of winter: reading a cozy book. Though any book can be made cozy by the addition of a hot beverage or a warm blanket, some instantly evoke a sense of comfort. For this roundup, we looked beyond the well-known… Continue reading
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Our New Horror Section . . . It’s Alive!
On Friday the 13th, the Central Library is hosting an exciting after-hours launch party from 6:30pm – 8:30pm for our new adult horror fiction collection, and we hope you join us! Register here. Local authors Tara Campbell and Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann will treat us to an adult horror Story Time and lead us in… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Teen Fiction and Graphic Novels
Every fall, we ask staff members around the library system to share their favorite reads published in this year. 2024 is no different, and we have a stellar lineup of fiction and graphic novels. Aisle Nine, a graphic novel by Ian X. Cho, follows Jasper, whose amnesia may have something to do with his dead-end… Continue reading
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Paging All Kids: Global Reading Challenge Books Announced
Fourth and fifth graders around Seattle are buzzing with book news: The Library has just unveiled the Global Reading Challenge books for 2024-25 on our website at www.spl.org/GlobalReadingChallenge. For those new to the program, the Global Reading Challenge, now in its 30th year, is a reading incentive program for fourth and fifth graders enrolled in… Continue reading
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Have a Laugh With These 4 Funny Books
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” by Rufi Thorpe proves that other people’s problems can be pretty funny — as long as they’re narrated by a chaotic heroine who is wisecracking and whip-smart. Nineteen-year-old Margo Millet was not exactly set up for success with a flighty mother and an absentee, former wrestling star father. But when Margo… Continue reading