Booklist Reader

Published by Booklist, an imprint of the American Library Association. Booklist Reader features diverse book and audiobook recommendations, for readers and listeners of all ages. Filled with high-interest, themed lists that showcase books for your family or book discussion group.

From the Publisher

Booklist Reader

Debut Romances • The enemies-to-lovers trope takes many forms in the most exceptional romance debuts reviewed during the past year.

Western Romances • Western romances have long been a staple in the happily-ever-after genre, but recently there has been a resurgence of interest in and passion for this particular brand of love story among writers and readers. Some elements remain the same in today’s Western romances, including self-reliant protagonists imbued with a can-do spirit, the sense of connection that can come from belonging to a community, and settings that evoke the rugged beauty of the West. But other things have changed. The geographic scope has broadened to include love stories set in Canada’s western provinces, and the women in today’s Western romances are no longer limited to the roles of school marm, saloon gal, or dutiful spouse. Most importantly, today’s Western romances offer a more nuanced approach to history that not only acknowledges the sometimes-painful past of this region but also offer a more accurate portrayal of diverse groups of people that each played an important part in the complex story of the American West.

Adult • Get your hands on these hotly anticipated books, all out this month.

Black Writers Tell Their Stories • There’s nothing like a personal story well-told to illuminate facets of history and current social issues in ways that are relevant, relatable, and dramatic. The vivid and thoughtful memoirs below bring us into the lives of Black families and share deeply resonant experiences of hardships and healing, dreams and accomplishments.

Recent Business Books • From the practical to the historic, the infuriating, and the inspirational, these outstanding business titles address everyday concerns and illuminate the countless complexities and paradoxes of the larger business world.

Paul Levine • Edgar Allan Poe Award–nominated author Paul Levine crafts thrillers in which law, history, and moral courage collide. Winner of the John D. MacDonald Fiction Award and nominee for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, Shamus, and James Thurber prizes, his novels appear in 23 languages. A member of Penn State’s Society of Distinguished Alumni and a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Levine lives in Santa Barbara, California.

February 2026 • The Top Ten Adult Fiction and Nonfiction Chosen Monthly by America’s Library Staff

HALL OF FAME TITLES • The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly list since 2013.

Romance Novels • From the financial world to the racetrack, a floundering Scottish estate to a small New Hampshire town, diverse characters in various professions and predicaments pursue love in the very best romances from the past year.

Romance Novels on Audio • Dual-narrated romances continue their moment in the spotlight, but beloved single-narrators also shine in this list of must-listen romances.

PBS BOOKS Program Highlights

Business Books on Audio • Readers looking to improve their efficiency and effectiveness or manage transitions in the workplace have looked to audio as a way to learn while multitasking since records crackled along with advice from Norman Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie. Now we have a wealth of perspectives to help boost our efforts toward success and effective leadership.

Vibrantly Voiced Adventures for Youth • Sometimes it takes more than a single voice—multidimensional as talented...