Oak Park’s Best of 2024 is back!
See our adult fiction and nonfiction staff favorites on this page or browse more using the links below.
Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships |
Adult fiction: Thriller, graphic novel, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction |
Teen fiction & nonfiction | Kids books | Picture books | Movies & TV shows | Music
Adult fiction: General
All Fours by Miranda July
Why you should try it: "Such a unique book, and one that not everyone will love. But it felt so vulnerable, real, and refreshing." —Margita, Adult Services Supervising Librarian
Description: A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from LA to NY. Twenty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, beds down in a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in a temporary reinvention that turns out to be the start of an entirely different journey.
Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
Why you should try it: "Rich with history and magical realism, Alvarez transports the reader to the lives and stories of her cast of characters, in the indelible way only she can." —Megan, Patron Services Library Assistant
Description: When celebrated writer Alma Cruz inherits a small plot of land in the Dominican Republic, she turns it into a place to bury her untold stories—literally. She creates a graveyard for manuscript drafts and revisions and the characters whose lives she tried but failed to bring to life and who still haunt her. Alma wants her characters to rest in peace, but they have other ideas, and the cemetery becomes a mysterious sanctuary for their true narratives.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Why you should try it: "I don't read a ton of thrillers but definitely couldn't put this one down." —Christine, Adult Services Environmental Programming Specialist
Description: The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she's given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. Evie isn't privy to Mr. Smith's real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she's starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can't make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
Why you should try it: "This newest piece of historical fiction by Tracy Chevalier does not disappoint! The unusual structure, which involves one family only aging a handful of years per century, took me a little getting used to but the resulting 500-year-tour through glass and Venice that resulted was definitely worthwhile." —Christine, Adult Services Environmental Programming Specialist
Description: In 1486, Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of glassblowers in Murano, Italy. As a woman, she is not meant to blow glass—but when her father dies, she teaches herself to make beads in secret, and her work becomes the cornerstone of the Rosso family fortunes. We follow Orsola and her family as they live through creative triumph and heartbreaking loss, from a plague rearing its head over Venice to Continental soldiers stripping its palazzos bare, from the domination of Murano and its maestros to the transformation of the city of trade into a city of tourists.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Why you should try it: Staff says, "This book really takes you back in time to feel like you are with the characters at their summer camp, a place where everything seems to go wrong" and "loved the writing, and got so invested in the characters and solving what had happened at this campsite in the present time as well as the past." —Fiona, Middle School Liaison; Margita, Adult Services Supervisor
Description: When Barbara Van Laar is discovered missing from her summer camp bunk one morning in August 1975, it triggers a panicked, terrified search. Losing a camper is a horrific tragedy under any circumstances, but Barbara isn't just any camper; she's the daughter of the wealthy family who owns the camp—as well as the opulent nearby estate and most of the land in sight. And this isn't the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared in this region: Barbara's older brother also went missing 16 years earlier, never to be found.
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
Why you should try it: "Even with no dialogue, this book still packs a punch. I loved the focus on the interior lives of these young women athletes. Critics agree, because this book has shown up on a number of 2024 awards and best of lists." —Dontaná, Collection Management Librarian
Description: An unexpected tragedy at a community pool. A family's unrelenting expectation of victory. The desire to gain or lose control, to make time speed up or stop, to be frighteningly, undeniably good at something. Each of the eight teenage girl boxers in this debut novel has her own reasons for the sacrifices she has made to come to Reno, Nevada, to compete to be named the best in the country.
James by Percival Everett
Why you should try it: "Brilliantly written, phenomenal storytelling and an unforgettable protagonist" in "an absolutely breathtaking and beautifully done book. I was hesitant about reading a retelling of Huckleberry Finn, but ended up devouring it, and it feels so important." —Claire, Adult Services Health & Wellness Specialist; Margita, Adult Services Supervising Librarian
Description: When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. Thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
Malas by Marcelas Fuentes
Why you should try it: "Our book club absolutely loved this novel! A telenovela in a book!" —Nora, Latine Language & Culture Librarian
Description: In 1951, a mysterious old woman confronts Pilar Aguirre in the small border town of La Cienega, Texas. The old woman is sure Pilar stole her husband and, in a heated outburst, lays a curse on Pilar and her family. More than 40 years later, Lulu Muñoz is dodging chaos at every turn: her troubled father's moods, his rules, her secret life as singer in a punk band, but most of all her upcoming quinceañera. When her beloved grandmother passes away, Lulu finds herself drawn to the glamorous stranger who crashed the funeral and who lives alone and shunned on the edge of town.
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Why you should try it: "Creative writing at its best. The author weaves history, science, and imagination together in a flawless tapestry of interdependent elements that make up the world we live in." —Megan, Patron Services Library Assistant
Description: When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave—only to discover that the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister conman, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As each inhabitant confronts the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.
Oye by Melissa Mogollon
Why you should try it: "I loved the interesting narrative structure—told through one-sided dialog of phone conversations—and the characters in this book are unforgettable." —Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: As the baby of her large Colombian American family, Luciana is usually relegated to the sidelines. But now she finds herself as the only voice of reason in the face of an unexpected crisis: A hurricane is heading straight for Miami, and her eccentric grandmother, Abue, is refusing to evacuate. Abue is so one-of-a-kind she's basically in her own universe, and while she often drives Luciana nuts, they're the only ones who truly understand each other. So when Abue, normally glamorous and full of life, receives a shocking medical diagnosis during the storm, Luciana's world is upended. When Abue moves into Luciana's bedroom, their complicated bond intensifies.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Why you should try it: "Loved this book, and loved learning about the characters and discovering the family. Reminded me of Land of Milk & Honey." —Margita, Adult Services Supervising Librarian
Description: Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster, and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao's Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love. In 2021, 15-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than it provides answers.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Why you should try it: "Powerful, moving story about the women who fought in the Vietnam War. Kristin Hannah's writing immerses you in Frankie's perspective, allowing you to feel her every emotion and learn about the experiences of these important women." —Maddie, Materials Handling Library Clerk
Description: Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, Frankie has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
Why you should try it: "Fun, fashion, family drama, a Cinderella moment in the middle of a dance floor. A romance that checks all the boxes." —Dontaná, Collection Management Librarian
Description: After a one-night stand with her clingy ex, Aaliyah James has an epiphany: This ain't it. She knows what she wants, and she's ready to move past casual hookups, flings, and situationships. But for her family, the clock is ticking—after all, she's almost 30. And when they imply that her personality (and her body) might be too big to land a man, she lets them know they've gone too far. Now, she has seven weeks to find the perfect boyfriend to rub in their faces at the big, fancy birthday celebration she's been planning.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Why you should try it: "Emily Henry hits the mark again with her newest romantic comedy." She "brilliantly weaves humor and heartfelt moments, creating a charming tale of love and friendship" in an "idyllic Michigan setting" with "palpable chemistry between Daphne and Miles making for a delightful read full of funny and tender moments." —Fiona, Middle School Liaison; Maddie, Materials Handling Library Clerk
Description: Daphne always loved the way Peter told their story. How they met, fell in love, and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. Too bad it turned out to be more of a prequel, a complication to Peter's actual love story, the one that ends with him dumping Daphne before their wedding to begin a relationship with his lifelong best friend, Petra. And so that's how Daphne's story really begins: stranded in Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children's librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only other non-Peter-related person she knows: Petra's heartbroken ex, Miles Nowak.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Why you should try it: "I adored this cozy fantasy book, and it also has books being the most magical things which I certainly agree with. It made me want to eat so much bread and jam." —Margita, Adult Services Supervising Librarian
Description: Kiela and her assistant Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the Alyssium empire's most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city's elite. Then a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames. She and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she'd see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can't take a hint and keeps showing up to make sure she's fed and help fix up her new home. In need of income and reluctantly inspired by the beauty and people of the island who have welcomed her into their hearts, Kiela discovers something that even the bakery in town doesn't have: jam.
What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
Why you should try it: "This is an autobiographical short novel that mirrors what is going on in the author's life right now. It made me laugh, cry, and be very grateful that Sophie Kinsella is still around to write stories like this." —Michelle, Patron Services Supervisor
Description: Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what's most important to her: long walks with her husband's hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.
When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
Why you should try it: "If you loved Ted Lasso and Roy Kent, you will love this sweet, hilarious romance with more than a few nods to the show. It brought me an immense amount of joy through the whole thing. Heart eyes and heart hands forever." —Shelley, Children's Services Librarian
Description: When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he's never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can't imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper. And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute-as-heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie.
Adult fiction: Thriller, graphic novel, sci-fi & fantasy
Captain America: Stand by J. Michael Straczynski
Why you should try it: "It's hard to write a good Captain America without dipping into shallow nostalgia, perfection, and 'good'ness, but this succeeded in spades by rooting it in the history of sassy, scrappy Steve before he got the serum. Steve was allowed to be flawed and a role model to fight for what is right no matter the consequences. I hope Straczynski writes this line for years!" —Shelley, Children's Services Librarian
Description: Decades ago, Steve Rogers changed the world forever. Now, powerful and insidious forces are assembling to ensure he never does it again. Past, present, and future collide as the Sentinel of Liberty reckons with an existential threat determined to set the world on a darker path. So the last thing Steve needs is for Spider-Man to crash date night seeking help foiling the Sinister Six's latest plot!
Crusader by Matt Emmons
Why you should try it: "A story about honor, faith, and bravery that balances heavy topics with light humor." —Maya, Materials Handling Supervising Librarian
Description: In the midst of the Third Crusade, an exceptionally brutal Templar Knight finds himself accidentally transported to a dangerous realm of magic and monsters. In order to survive, the ferocious Crusader must reevaluate his penchant for violent righteousness and make peace with both himself and this ruthless world. But will peace be enough to stop the deathless, power-hungry ghoul known only as The Pilgrim?
Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver
Why you should try it: "This book is great for those who love a mystery thriller—like me. A page-turner where each chapter took me on a riveting ride to solve the crime!" —Camayia, Communications Specialist
Description: Carmen Sanchez is a tough Homeland Security agent who plays by the rules. But when her sister is attacked, revealing a connection to a series of murders across Southern California, she realizes a conventional investigation will not be enough to stop the ruthless perpetrator. With nowhere else to turn, Sanchez enlists the aid of Professor Jake Heron, a brilliant and quirky private security expert who, unlike Sanchez, believes rules are merely suggestions. The two have a troubled past, but he owes her a favor, and she's cashing in.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Why you should try it: "I'm totally here for the recent surge in cozy fantasy, and this one was so very charming." —Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: Tao, an immigrant fortune teller, lives in a wagon and roams the dusty outskirts of the kingdom of Eshtera. Fleeing a troubled past, she travels between villages telling only small fortunes: whether it will hail next Thursday, what boy will kiss which barmaid, when the cow will calve. Big fortunes come with big consequences… which she wants to avoid at all costs. Life on the road can be lonely but, to Tao's surprise, companionship comes unexpectedly.
Adult nonfiction
Bits & Pieces: My Mother, My Brother & Me by Whoopi Goldberg
Why you should try it: "I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook, read by Whoopi. Hearing her talk about her relationship with her mother and brother, and the early days of her career, was fascinating." —Dontaná, Collection Management Librarian
Description: If it weren't for her mother Emma, Caryn Johnson would have never become Whoopi Goldberg. When Whoopi lost her mother in 2010—and then her older brother, Clyde, five years later—she felt deeply alone. In this memoir, Whoopi shares many deeply personal stories of their lives together for the first time.
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl
Why you should try it: "A book about change—of seasons, the climate, family life through the generations—and the joy and grief in all of it. Beautiful essays by the New York Times columnist, with gorgeous artwork by her brother." —Kristen, Communications Writer & Editor
Description: Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: 52 chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons—from a crow spied on New Year's Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer.
Coming Home by Brittney Griner
Why you should try it: "A heartbreaking memoir of an inspiring story of resilience, strength, survival, and hope." —Jabez, Adult Services Programming Librarian
Description: On February 17, 2022, Brittney Griner arrived in Moscow ready to spend the WNBA offseason playing for the Russian women's basketball team where she had been the centerpiece of previous championship seasons. Instead, a security checkpoint became her gateway to hell when she was arrested for mistakenly carrying under one gram of medically prescribed hash oil. Brittney's world was violently upended in a crisis she has never spoken in detail about publicly—until now.
Cone of Shame by Winnie Au
Why you should try it: "A great coffee table book for whenever you need a pick me up." —Andrea, Collection Management Librarian
Description: The hard plastic post-surgery cone is every dog's worst nightmare. But in this stunning collection by celebrated photographer Winnie Au and designer Marie-Yan Morvan, it becomes an iconic statement of personality and visual wit.
Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum
Why you should try it: "An intriguing read, amazingly researched, both sweeping and detailed in its scope. Spoiler alert: The Real World was not the first reality TV show!" —Christine, Adult Services Environmental Programming Specialist
Description: Cue the Sun is a rollicking, deeply reported story about how the early reality TV business metastasized into an industry that now dominates entertainment in the United States. Starting in 1948, Nussbaum pulls back the curtain on the cultural meat grinder that created a generation-defining form of entertainment, examining shows from The Real World to Survivor to The Apprentice.
Do the Work: A Guide to Understanding Power & Creating Change by Megan Pillow and Roxane Gay
Why you should try it: "Accessible read that will guide your inner work. Walk away with a TBR (to be read) list of works referenced!" —Nora, Latine Language & Culture Librarian
Description: From ancient theories of power to contemporary examples, from cultural patterns to personal insights, this guide provides a foundation for examining hierarchies and inequalities and establishes a framework for understanding power and how it shapes our lives and communities.
Finger Exercises for Poets by Dorianne Laux
Why you should try it: "One of the best and most inspiring poetry guidebooks I’ve ever come across." —Christine, Adult Services Environmental Programming Specialist
Description: With wide-ranging examples from classic and contemporary poets, Dorianne Laux demystifies the magic of language that makes great poetry and offers generative exercises to harness that magic. She explores the syllable and the line, the use of form, poetic responses to contemporary events and personal experiences, the imaginative leap, and the power of a distinct voice.
Fog & Smoke: Poems by Katie Peterson
Why you should try it: "These simultaneously metaphysical and down-to-earth poems about our changing climate and so much more blew me away." —Christine, Adult Services Environmental Programming Specialist
Description: The Rilke Prize-winning poet unfurls the quotidian fabric of our lives, stained with the difficulties of language and our present moment.
Here After by Amy Lin
Why you should try it: "Warning: this book is sad, so, so sad but also beautiful and poetic and served as a balm in my own time of grief." —Kathy, Collection Management Librarian
Description: A few months shy of Amy and Kurtis's move to Vancouver, 32-year-old Kurtis heads out to run a half-marathon with Amy's family. It is the last time she sees her husband alive. Ten days after this seismic loss, Amy is in the hospital, navigating her own shocking medical crisis and making life-or-death decisions about her treatment. What follows is a rich and unflinchingly honest accounting of her life with Kurtis, the vortex created by his death, and the ongoing struggle Amy faces as she attempts to understand her own experience in the context of commonly held "truths" about what the grieving process looks like.
Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words by Anne Curzan
Why you should try it: "This book is wonderful for those who appreciate how language is always evolving. As the author explores hot grammar topics, she encourages paying attention to context and nuance rather than being too strict about following what you think are the rules." —Kristen, Communications Writer & Editor
Description: Curzan helps us use our new knowledge about the developing nature of language and grammar rules to become caretakers of language rather than gatekeepers of it. Applying entertaining examples from literature, newspapers, television, and more, Curzan welcomes usage novices and encourages the language police to lower their pens, showing us how we can care about language precision, clarity, and inclusion all at the same time.
We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything by Arionne Nettles
Why you should try it: "This book is great if you want to take a deep dive into the influence of Chicago's history—I even learned some remarkable history along the way!" —Camayia, Communications Specialist
Description: Journalist Arionne Nettles believes it is time Black Chicagoans receive the acclaim, the honor, and the acknowledgment for their contributions to American culture and their recognition of where they truly came from. For the past century, Black Chicago's influence has permeated not just the city but, really, what we see as modern-day pop culture throughout the country and, in some ways, the world.
