Welcome to Check Your Shelf. This newsletter is the first of 2024, but I’m writing it in 2023, so is anyone else ready to ring in a new year? Not going to lie, I’m moderately terrified to be entering another presidential election year, but 2023 threw me some challenges, and I won’t be sad to see it in the rearview mirror.
2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!
Collection Development Corner
New & Upcoming Titles
Did you know that Al Roker has a series of mystery novels? (I didn’t.) But the fourth book in the Morning Show Murders series comes out in April.
Cover reveal for Ava Reid’s feminist retelling of Macbeth.
Most anticipated books of 2024 from Brightly (picture books), Entertainment Weekly, Epic Reads (BIPOC authors, LGBTQ+), Kirkus, Oprah Daily, USA Today.
January picks from Barnes & Noble (adults, teens, children).
All Things Comics
On the Riot
The most underrated comics, according to Goodreads.
Audiophilia
Kirkus’ best audiobooks of 2023.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
Children’s books that celebrate diverse holidays and traditions.
Adults
15 of the best BookTok recommendations from 2023, and no, Colleen Hoover is not on this list.
On the Riot
8 books that the authors regretted writing.
Adult versions of your favorite childhood fantasy novels.
20 must-read cozy fantasy novels.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate as well that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Dini’s making sure I get everything formatted properly for this newsletter. As always, he’s a big helper.
All right, friends. I’ll see you on Friday!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.