Nonfiction
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A Peek at Peak Picks – late September/October 2026
We’re back, with NINETEEN new Peak Picks coming your way over the next few weeks! In fiction, YA novelist Ríoghnach Robinson’s magnetic, undeniably clever debut for adults— perfect for fans of Sally Rooney and Emily Henry—captures the tender ache of two people caught between criticism and connection in Bad Words; Emily St. John Mandel (Station… Continue reading
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Washington State Book Award Winners
The Washington Center for the Book just announced the winners of the 2026 Washington State Book Awards for works published in 2025 by writers from our wonderful state. Across genre, form, and audience, these winners represent outstanding titles by authors who currently live in Washington, as judged by other local authors, librarians, and booksellers. Creative… Continue reading
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Hot Awards News About SPL-Connected Authors
Over the last three days, the National Book Foundation announced its longlist for the five categories of the National Book Awards — a slow drip of literary celebration. It was super cool, and not surprising, to see some Library-adjacent authors among those selected. First up is Sara Nović, the author of this year’s Seattle Reads… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Soothing
Book Bingo is a great time to be intentional about reading books you may have been putting off or exploring new titles that may become new favorites. If you are at the point in your Book Bingo journey where you have been reading many exciting and interesting books yet need a moment to catch your… Continue reading
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In the Weeds
By August, my early season enthusiasm for a tidy garden has waned. Leafy greens have bolted and lean rangily against each other. Vetch curls up potato stems and launches its seeds in tiny explosions. Lemon balm is everywhere. Grasses at the edge of the lawn are tawny and arching, and I pick a couple of blackberries whenever I… Continue reading
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13 Not-to-Miss Author Programs at the Library in Fall 2026
Get out your calendar! The Seattle Public Library has an incredible lineup of book-related events and author talks this fall, from the kickoff of the Jaipur Literature Festival Seattle to Seattle Reads events featuring “True Biz” author Sara Nović to an evening with Douglas Stuart, Booker Prize award-winning author of “John of John.” All Library events… Continue reading
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7 Page-Turning Nonfiction History Books
It is a truism that we ignore history at our own peril. However, few of us want to page through dusty textbooks, and often what we want is entertainment. Fortunately, enjoyment and learning go hand in hand in these nonfiction history books that are written with the flair of a novel. These titles, a mix… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Outer Space
We hear from readers all the time that they read to escape, and what can be a bigger escape than an out-of-this world read? From nonfiction exploring the universe to science fiction on an interstellar ship, the Book Bingo Outer Space category lets you expand your reading to another dimension. Adina, the protagonist of Marie-Helene… Continue reading
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Fire Season: Writings on a Burning World
With the Spokane fires raging, Spain and France experiencing unprecedented wildfires, and Seattle smoke season upon us, it’s hard not to think about the new reality of summer wildfires and smoke. Reading can help us make sense of the world around us, and for better or worse, there’s no shortage of titles for all ages… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Unplug
This year’s Book Bingo Unplug category can certainly be used for a physical book read distraction-free, as the board says, but since we like to make categories as broad as possible, here are some other ideas for books that play with the “unplugged” theme: hands-on hobbies, off-the-grid living, and fostering in-person connection and attention. One… Continue reading
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Carceral Injustices: Beyond Living with Conviction
If you wind your way up the famous book spiral at the Central Library in downtown Seattle, you’ll often find interesting exhibits in The Gallery on level 8. The current exhibit, Living with Conviction: Sentenced to Debt for Life in Washington State, with its moving visual stories of dealing with overwhelming debt incurred from incarceration,… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Women’s Sports
I’ve become an avid women’s sports fan over the past few years. I dedicate most of my time and interest to women’s soccer, but I’m proud to call myself a casual WNBA and PWHL fan, too. I’m super excited that women’s sports is a Book Bingo category this year! Part of what hooks me is the storylines and personalities… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – July 2026
Welcome to July! This month is typically quiet for nonfiction publishing, but there are some excellent releases to consider for your TBR pile in addition to this month’s Peak Picks. In current events, Ben Wikler details how to end America’s meltdown and save democracy in This Is the Plan while Brian Tyler Cohen shows how… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: PNW Black, Indigenous, or POC Author
Every year readers request Local Authors of Pacific Northwest as a general category, because reading about this place we call home can be so inspiring. But let’s be honest—not all local authors get the same attention and broad readership as others, and this is especially the case for authors of color. Here are some PNW Black, Indigenous, or POC titles to try: Red Paint:… Continue reading
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Listen Up: Looking at Seattle’s Love of E-Audiobooks
Have you become an e-audiobook convert in recent years? Perhaps you’ve discovered the appeal of full-cast recordings, the satisfaction of making your way through a book while walking or weeding, or the joy of being read to by Meryl Streep. If so, you’re in good company. The Seattle Public Library’s e-audiobook checkouts have more than… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Queer/Trans Voices
We love reading books by queer and trans voices all year round, but here are some to finish out Pride Month and count towards your Book Bingo reading goals! Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar is a meditative, slyly comic novel about a poet and recovering addict, Cyrus Shams, who ruminates on grief, sacrifice, and art in the… Continue reading
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Lambda Literary Award Winners
The Lambda Literary Awards, highlighting LGBTQ+ writers across genres, identities, experiences, age ranges, and categories, are the perfect blend of Pride Month and the library, showcasing the best in queer books. The 2026 winners were just announced, and any of these would be great options for your Queer/Trans voices Book Bingo square! With 26 categories… Continue reading
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LGBTQ+ Books Worth Seeking Out This Pride Month
This June, we’re going beyond the bestseller lists with books we keep pressing into people’s hands because we can’t stop thinking about them. “Hurricane Envy” by Sara Jaffe Portland writer Jaffe’s collection of short stories finds her characters caught in liminal moments. Jaffe deftly captures the palpable tension when all options feel like a compromise. Her… Continue reading