What To Read

Looking for book recommendations? Trying to find a comp title for your own manuscript? Want to diversify your TBR?

• Head to your local library—librarians are happy to help! Most public libraries also offer e-book and audiobook services.

• Hit your local indie bookstore! Don’t have one nearby? Check out Bookshop.org, which supports some of my favorite locals (Pearl’s Books, Two Friends, Dad Suggests, Underbrush), or check out WNDB’s list of diverse-owned stores.

• Award lists

  • The American Library Association recognizes hundreds of great books every year, and you can filter by genre, age group, format, and more.

  • For literary fiction, try the Pulitzer, Nobel, National Book Awards, Kirkus, Booker, Pushcart, or O.Henry (for short stories)

  • For genre fiction: Nebula (sci fi), Hugos (sci fi), Edgars (mystery), Stokers (horror), RWA (romance), Spurs (Westerns), or Goodreads Choice

  • For regional focuses: examples include Reading the West, High Plains, Southern Book Prize, New England Book Award. You can also search by state

• Bestseller lists: New York Times, USA Today, IndieBound, Publishers Weekly, Barnes & Noble

• Book recomendation and tracking sites: Storygraph, Library Thing, Goodreads

• Book websites (& their newsletters): The Millions, Book Riot, Electric Lit, Stacked

• Bloggers and influencers: Look up #booktok or #bookstagram

• Book clubs: Some of my locals are run by the library and local indies; you can also find a silent book club near you or follow some online (like NDN Girls Book Club!)