Hey there. Jess here. 👋 Can you even believe that we have made it to August? I don’t know about y’all but 2020 has been a real page turner. 📚

Spending more time at home has allowed for most of us to dedicate time to tackling our summer reading list. Looking for your next great read? We still have a few long summer days left to book-up so the library is here to help.

Richland Library has created a personalized book service to help those who can’t decide what to read next + those who are a little intimidated by all the choices the library has to offer. Think Ipsy or Stich Fix, but for book recommendations.

The new program is really simple. Tell Richland Library what type of books you like and don't like in a quick questionnaire and the library staff will contact you with some suggestions. They'll even put the items on hold for you for easy pick up at one of the four socially-distanced window locations. ProTip - Have your library card number ready.

Are you ready to get reading? Get started here.

Still not sure about trying this out? Here are 10 recommended titles to add to your end-of-summer reading lists. These titles were selected by Richland library staff + span all different genres.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley | Photo via Richland Library

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

“The Guest List” is a riveting murder mystery, which occurs at a posh island wedding on a stormy and tenebrous night. The story is told from the point of view of five characters, each of whom has a motive for murder, and each chapter reveals small bombshells leading up to an ending that is sheer dynamite.

~ Recommended by Mona V.

The Coyotes of Carthage by Steven Wright | Photo via Richland Library

The Coyotes of Carthage by Steven Wright

Steven Wright's “The Coyotes of Carthage” is a satiric political thriller set in small-town South Carolina. It's the story of Dre Ross, a political operative, who launches a fierce campaign in an attempt to pass a local ballot initiative, a campaign which will leave him and this small town reeling.

~ Recommended by Lisa G.

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin | Photo via Richland Library

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

"Every city has a soul.” New York City is awakening to the multiverse, each borough employing a human avatar as distinct and unique as the borough itself, who must all come together to resist against the gentrifying Woman in White - the malevolent alien enemy attempting to overtake the city. Timely themes of social justice, as well as political commentary, are expertly interwoven in an accessible way. Spanning multiple genres, three-time Hugo award-winner N.K. Jemison's incisive writing, anti-Lovecraftian narrative and memorable characters make for a bright start to the Great Cities trilogy.

~ Recommended by Morgan R.

Must I Go by Yiyun Li | Photo via Richland Library

Must I Go by Yiyun Li

This is a novel about a life lived in all its messy glory by the extraordinary Lilia, who has shrewdly outlived three husbands, raised five children and seen the arrival of 17 grandchildren. With great insight, Yiyun Li navigates the twin poles of grief and resilience, loss and rebirth, that compass a human heart.

~ Recommended by Allison T.

Wow, No Thank You.: Essays by Samantha Irby | Photo via Richland Library

Wow, No Thank You.: Essays by Samantha Irby

Samantha Irby’s third essay collection shows her at her manic best, cataloging the indignities of life at 40, confessing to her adoration of lifestyle bloggers and rehearsing the struggles it now costs her to rise to the occasion of a night on the town with old friends. For fans of her two previous collections (“Meaty” and “We Are Never Meeting in Real Life”), this is a must-read.

~ Recommended by Bland L.

Afropessimism by Frank B. Wilderson III | Photo via Richland Library

Afropessimism by Frank B. Wilderson III

Dramatist and cultural critic Frank B. Wilderson III won a National Book Award for his 2008 memoir, “Incognegro,” about his participation in the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. Now he’s back with a hybrid memoir/philosophical essay alternating between an explication of Afropessimism - a worldview based on his sense of the enduring nature of racism - and chapters of haunting autobiography detailing his early life.

~ Recommended by Bland L.

Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell | Photo via Richland Library

Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell

In this groovy novel, an eclectic group of musicians tries to hit it big on the 1968 music scene. There are cameos by a dizzying array of rock stars (Bowie on the stairs; Lennon at a party), as well as a fantastical twist and throwback to Mitchell's earlier works.

~ Recommended by Megan M.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones | Photo via Richland Library

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

“The Only Good Indians” is a revenge tale with a wholly original antagonist. Ten years after an unintentional transgression, four friends are targeted by a vengeful spirit. This book is full of a foreboding sense of dread that drips from each page.

~ Recommended by Mahogany S.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones | Photo via Richland Library

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

Sunshine Vicram, formerly of the Santa Fe Police Department, has just been elected sheriff in her hometown of Del Sol, New Mexico (although she never actually entered the race), and her day is off to a bad start, especially after the muffins of doom make an appearance. A fun police procedural, featuring a sheriff with a teenage daughter she adores, a lot of mysteries to solve, a potential steamy romance in her future and just enough snark to round things out nicely!

~ Recommended by Chantal W.

Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines by Martha Stewart

If you have been looking for various ways to stay entertained at home or if you have been looking to get re-organized… well, this may be something to add to your collection.

~ Recommended by Ariel H.