Pile of books, spine side out, that are listed in this post.

Rather than check out one or two books at a time, I tend to pile them up on the corner of my desk all week long, and then check them all out at the end of my Saturday shift.

(Or, okay, if I’m being entirely honest, sometimes I give in to my Occasional Chaotic Impulses and TAKE THEM HOME WITHOUT CHECKING THEM OUT FIRST. It’s a bad habit that I’m trying to break, but as I’ve been doing it since… uh… high school, I’m not sure if I see my less-chaotic side emerging victorious from this particular battle.)

Anyway, here’s what I checked out/temporarily stole this week:

Ring Shout, by P. Djèlí Clark

I’ve read and loved two novellas by Clark—The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015—so this was an easy pick for me. Also, HOW AMAZING is the cover?? (Terrifying, yes, but so effective.)

PS. I cannot recommend The Haunting of Tram Car 015 highly enough, I loved it so much. Bureaucratic red tape surrounding paranormal investigations IS MY FAVORITE; recommendations welcome!!)

Summerwater, by Sarah Moss

Last year, I read and loved Ghost Wall by Moss—well, read and was INTENSELY STRESSED OUT BY, but in a good way, is probably more accurate?—so this was an easy pick.

Second First Impressions, by Sally Thorne

I’m starting to sound like a broken record, buuuut I read and loved The Hating Game; thus, I grabbed this. Also it looks like it’s another workplace romcom, which I’ve been very into lately.

When No One is Watching, by Alyssa Cole

Broken record: I’ve loved Cole’s romances—historicals AND contemporaries—so I’m VERY excited to finally be about to read her first thriller!! (And I assigned it for this month’s book club pick at my library, heh. Give me a tiny amount of power and yes, I will use it to further my own ends!! <insert evil laugh here>)

For Love of Immabelle (republished as A Rage in Harlem), by Chester Himes

First book in the Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson series; I’ve talked about about discovering these recently in multiple places.

A Candle in Her Room, by Ruth Arthur

As I’ve been reading older kids’ books lately for my newsletter, I wanted to revisit this one, because IIRC, It. Is. BANANAS.

Like, truly unhinged. Or, at least, on the edge of unhinged. AND THAT’S HOW I LIKE MY CHILDREN’S LIT: AT LEAST ON THE EDGE OF UNHINGED. (Recommendations, as always, welcome.)

I Killed Zoe Spanos, by Kit Frick

Looking for YA retellings/parallels to du Maurier’s Rebecca, and a friend recommended this one.

Frost, by Marianne Baer

Another revisit—I remember this one feeling like it was a very loose retelling of du Maurier’s Rebecca, but wanted to refresh before making any Grand Pronouncements.

And that’s it!! These should keep me somewhat busy this weekend, yes??

Dragged home from the library: July 11.