Announcing the February 2026 LibraryReads List

“The colonists of New Sonora have spent decades settling the land when the gate to Earth finally opens. Looking forward to a greater connection to the rest of the universe, they instead get an eviction action where bored Earthers use AI soldiers from the comfort of their homes. Oliver and his friends fight to protect the land they colonized with farm equipment and ingenuity.”—Jessi Leister, Enoch Pratt Free Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshiminarayan

“This absolutely stunning novel weaves historic facts into a love story. Readers will see Cleopatra’s life through her eyes as she ascends the throne of Egypt. They will watch the young Pharoah battle with siblings and see her fall for a love parallel to her love of country. This moving story set across time and a landscape of destruction will cut readers deep.”—Andrea Galvin, Mt. Pulaski Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

“In a series of linked stories, we follow three branches of one family as they maneuver their way around the pitfalls of living. This is a portrait of a group of people that come together, drift apart, and try to find a way back, as many families attempt to do.”—Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, NY
NoveList read-alike: Strangers and Cousins by Leah Hager Cohen

“It’s amazing the different roads two lives can take, even when growing up in very similar circumstances. While the story is set long ago, the situations seem as if they could happen today. The feelings, reactions, and things the characters long for—belonging, acceptance, and love—are all timeless. Readers will be thinking about these characters for a long time.”—Robin B., Pierce County Library, WA
NoveList read-alike: Sula by Toni Morrison

“After Tilly’s husband dies, she discovers he had purchased a dozen books for her to pick up each month from a beloved bookshop owned by Alfie. Each book brings gradual healing, new friends, and a feeling of wholeness. The books (and Alfie!) make for a truly wonderful reader experience. Your to-read pile will surely grow from the recommendations!”—Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins

“Influencer Camille has it all: a loving husband and a dream house, as long as she obeys his word. If only she had a baby, her husband wouldn’t be pulling away. But nothing happens, until she makes a wish at a demonic well. Funny yet sad, this horror novel is a commentary on social media, conservative families, and the power men try to wield over women.”—Judy G. Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton