March 2025 LibraryReads List

You voted, they counted, and THE RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar, WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy, GO LUCK YOURSELF by Sara Raasch, and MURDER BY MEMORY by Olivia Waite are LibraryReads picks for March 2025!

PLUS, Elle Cosimano (FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE) and John Scalzi (WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE) are in the Hall of Fame, and SUCKER PUNCH by Scaachi Koul is the Notable Nonfiction pick!

THE RIVER HAS ROOTS BY AMAL EL-MOHTAR | 9781250341082 | 3/4/25

“This extraordinary novella is El-Mohtar’s solo debut, after the splendid THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR (2019), coauthored with Max Gladstone, went viral. It’s a marvelous story that pulls on old Grimm fairy tales of violence and truth telling, of what it means to be sisters in a story of fae and folklore, and of the kind of true love that exists between sisters. Fans of TIME WAR will find the same lyrical language encapsulated in this small yet epic package, and it comes with a short story from El-Mohtar’s upcoming collection as a surprise bonus.”–Booklist, starred review

“El-Mohtar’s solo debut (after cowriting THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR with Max Gladstone) is a heart-wrenching fairy tale about the bonds of love and family. It’s a murder ballad in book form that will linger long after the final page is turned.”–Library Journal, starred review

WILD DARK SHORE BY CHARLOTTE MCCONAGHY | 9781250827951 | 3/4/25

“McConaghy’s descriptions of nature’s glory and terror are galvanic, the psychological struggles wrenching, the suspenseful action spectacularly choreographed. McConaghy has attained new heights of intensity and lacerating ecological conviction in this complexly plotted, tragic, and all-consuming tale of the battle to survive in a catastrophically changing world.”–Booklist, starred review

“The reality of climate change serves as the pervasive context for this terrific thriller set on a remote island between Australia and Antarctica… McConaghy writes about both nature and human frailty with eloquent generosity. Readers won’t want to leave behind the imagined world of pain and beauty that McConaghy has conjured.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Sub-Antarctic noir meets a love letter to the rapidly disappearing wild world in McConaghy’s latest (following ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES)… As lush as it is taut with tension, this novel is filled with both the joys and ravages of nature.”–Library Journal, starred review

GO LUCK YOURSELF BY SARA RAASCH | 9781250333216 | 3/11/25

“In this madcap follow-up to 2024’s THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMAS, Raasch once again plays fast and loose with holiday spirits as she interweaves political intrigue and spicy romantic comedy… Raasch leaves plenty to explore in future installments. It’s a treat.”–Publishers Weekly

MURDER BY MEMORY BY OLIVIA WAITE | 9781250342249 | 3/18/25

“Dorothy is terrific as an investigator, and traveling the space lanes from inside her wry, witty head is a great way to solve a mystery… Fans of Mary Robinette Kowal’s THE SPARE MAN and Grace Curtis’s FLOATING HOTEL will love this opening entry in a new space-cruise SF mystery series from Waite (THE HELLION’S WALTZ).”–Library Journal, starred review

“Centuries-old detective Dorothy Gentleman serves as the charming narrator for the ebullient first foray into speculative fiction from romance author Waite… Waite perfectly blends futuristic technology and cozy mystery with lush descriptions and a twisty plot that delivers at every turn. Readers will be eager to hear more from Dorothy.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE BY ELLE COSIMANO | 9781250337344 | 3/4/25

“Fans of the series will appreciate that this installment shows growth in Finlay and Nick’s romance, creates space for newer characters to shine, and gives small moments of appreciation to the wider family connections… A great suggestion for fans of Janet Evanovich, Mary Kay Andrews, or Stephanie Bond.”–Library Journal

WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE BY JOHN SCALZI | 9780765389091 | 3/25/25

“WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE does what science fiction does best: offers a mirror up to society and explores how humanity might respond to sudden and seemingly impossible things.”–Booklist, starred review

“A ridiculous concept imbued with gravity, charm, humor, plausible cynicism, and pathos—and perhaps the merest touch of spite.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

SUCKER PUNCH: ESSAYS BY SCAACHI KOUL | 9781250270504 | 3/4/25

SUCKER PUNCH is about what happens when the life you thought you’d be living radically changes course, everything you thought you knew about the world and yourself has tilted on its axis, and you have to start forging a new path forward. Scaachi employs her biting wit to interrogate her previous belief that fighting is the most effective tool for progress. She examines the fights she’s had—with her parents, her ex-husband, her friends, online strangers, and herself—all in an attempt to understand when a fight is worth having, and when it’s better to walk away.