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Up Next

"Up Next" Blog & Booklists for Interested Readers

We are excited to create a dedicated space on our website to connect our patrons (and staff) to the latest book releases that will soon be a part of our collection at Stark Library! Our new book review blog, “Up Next,” contains original reviews about new and soon-to-be-released book titles from an on-staff Collection Department expert and reading enthusiast, Audrey.  Follow “Up Next” to gain an insider’s look at the world of print while exploring new themes and book trends!

What does the blog review?

Each month we will release a blog-style review of fresh new books with complementary booklists (right-hand column) so you can take your reading to the next level.

These monthly blogs will focus on adult fiction from several genres. Every custom booklist will have a theme to complement the blog - books from the same author, books from the same genre, etc.

You can utilize the links inside of each blog (book titles in BLUE) to access the reviewed books in our online collection. You will also be able to reserve a copy of each book on its corresponding collection page.

UP NEXT BLOG...

8/14/2026

CHAPTER ONE:

Fan-Favorite Authors Lead Fall’s Fiction Lineup

THE PIRATE QUEEN by Ariel Lawhon

Book Release Date - 9/8/2026

Ariel Lawhon, the critically acclaimed author of such historical fiction titles as The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia, recounts the story of legendary Irish folk hero Grace O’Malley in The Pirate Queen. She was told her duty was to marry, obey, and stay on shore; instead, she built a fleet, commanded warriors, and challenged the might of Elizabethan England. Based on the remarkable true story of a 16th century noblewoman-turned-pirate, this action-packed novel delivers everything readers could want: adventure on the high seas, dangerous enemies, political power plays, and a heroine who’s impossible to forget. As is the case with most of Lawhon’s books, the narrative structure isn’t linear and chronological, which might be jarring for those readers looking for a sequential story; however, the three-part looping structure based on the Celtic Trinity Knot serves as the story’s foundational shape.

HOLLOW BONES by Jodi Picoult

Book Release Date - 9/15/2026

Jodi Picoult is back with another moving novel, not-so-coincidentally timed to the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks. In Hollow Bones, Picoult introduces readers to Molly, a woman whose mother is presumed dead following a visit to the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11/2001. Molly knows how to weather any crisis and has spent her career planning for the unthinkable as the head of Rhode Island’s Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response. When a shocking revelation threatens her marriage to Jesse, who long-time Picoult fans may recognize from the beloved My Sister’s Keeper, and forces her to confront long-buried truths, she discovers that the most devastating emergencies don't come with a warning siren. Emotional, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down, this realistic fiction novel explores love, loss, family secrets, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive, garnering starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist.

THE FRENCH ILLUSION by John Grisham

Book Release Date - 9/29/2026

Prolific author John Grisham returns with his latest must-read, The French Illusion. What should have been the trip of a lifetime becomes a nightmare when newlyweds Paul and Chelsea Tanner are kidnapped during their honeymoon in France. As investigators uncover a chilling pattern of similar crimes across borders, the search for answers pulls the FBI, CIA, and French intelligence into a high-stakes race against time. Packed with twists, global intrigue, and covert operations, this pulse-pounding thriller proves that sometimes "happily ever after" is only the beginning. Long-time readers of Grisham who enjoy his legal thrillers like The Firm and A Time to Kill may be surprised by his shift to spy fiction, but they shouldn’t worry: the new book features a lawyer playing a significant role.

THRESHING DAY by Rebecca Yarros

Book Release Date - 9/29/2026

For fans of Rebecca Yarros’s bestselling “Empyrean” series, Threshing Day will finally arrive! While not the highly anticipated fourth book in the hugely popular romantasy series, this collection of thirteen stories featuring favorite characters and their bonded dragons should certainly satisfy readers until then. While details about the novella have been kept tightly under wraps, one detail has been confirmed: the standalone companion contains a story about powerful dragon rider and main love interest Xaden. Although reading Threshing Day isn't necessary to follow the series' main story, it greatly expands the world and its lore and may give readers a better understanding of characters’ motivations moving forward.

Until next month,

Audrey
Collection Development

Explore Staff Book Lists:

Staff List

Up Next--September 2026

From edge-of-your-seat thrillers to sweet romances - here are just a few of the new books we'll be adding to our collection.
StarkStaff_YABookGrrrl
Staff List

Silly Read-Alouds: Not just for the Littles

These picture books will bring a chuckle to everyone, not just the youngest folks in your family.
StarkStaff_Dee64
Staff List

Classics Never Go Out of Style

Journey through literary history with enduring novels, cherished children's books, and movies inspired by classic stories.
StarkStaff_BB28
Staff List

Stitch Up a New Hobby

Have you always wanted to learn to crochet, knit, or cross-stitch? Check out these books to learn a new skill.
StarkStaff_ShellyG

Meet Audrey (Reading Enthusiast):

Audrey Sumser has been buying Adult Fiction and Young Adult materials for Stark Library since 2023 and will tell you that she has the best job in the world.

A librarian with twenty years of experience, when she’s not ordering books, she can be found reading them, reading about them, checking out books from other libraries, and going to bookstores.

Needless to say, she’s passionate about books and hopes her monthly blog posts encourage readers to seek out real people, not algorithms, for book recommendations.

Blog Booklist:

September is shaping up to be a big month for entertaining reads across many genres. Stark Library readers are sure to find something they’ll enjoy among the many new books we’ll be adding to our collection! If the titles mentioned in our CHAPTER ONE Blog aren't for you, then check out this list of additional suggestions to find "Your Next Read!

Blog Booklist - CHAPTER ONE

Staff List

Up Next--September 2026

From edge-of-your-seat thrillers to sweet romances - here are just a few of the new books we'll be adding to our collection.
StarkStaff_YABookGrrrl

Looking for "Your Next Read?"

Your Next Read

Ready for "Your Next Read?" Our trusted librarians are ready to help you with customized booklists to keep your reading pile stocked!

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