Our Most Popular Stories of the Week
Welcome to The Best of Book Riot. Here’s your weekend highlight reel of the week’s most popular stories.
Iowa Rushes, Advances Librarian Criminalization Bill
In a year in which there are dozens of anti-library, pro-book banning bills being floated in state legislatures across the country, including several intended to criminalize librarianship, Iowa has advanced their own bill targeting public librarians in a matter of days. Iowa House File 274 (HF 274) was introduced on Monday, February 10, and has already made its way out of the House Education Committee. This means that it is now eligible to be discussed and advanced by the full House.
It is not common for bills to move at such a fast speed. But bills like HF 274 are wildly unpopular with most citizens. The speed at which it has moved through the Iowa House is indicative of its partisan nature.
The Best New Book Releases Out February 18, 2025
In new books this week, YA readers have the very intriguing Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson, which is a Scottish dark academia replete with demons. The other new books that should be on your radar include a spicy/fun alien romp, a Carmilla retelling set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, an unsettling and exploratory collection of South Korean short stories, and more.
Oprah has Announced her 111th Book Club Pick
Set in the days before a summer wedding at a lake house in Montana, the relationship between Cece and Charlie—the bride and groom-to-be—is tested after his best friend, Garrett, who’s officiating the upcoming nuptials, meets Cece. What happens next not only changes the trajectory of their lives, but also the lives of the next generation.
The Best New Cozy Mysteries, According to Goodreads
The editors over at Goodreads have looked at this year’s cozy mysteries and compiled a list they think their 150+ million members would like. They mention how, as we’ve explored before, the escapism and softness of cozy reads has become more sought after these days. Though this particular list focuses on cozy mysteries, the cozy bug has stretched into fantasies as well, with books like Legends & Lattes and That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon leading the way.
Genre-Defying Historical Fiction
Many readers have strict definitions of historical fiction. For example, they might think it must be plausible or at least possible. Historical fiction authors like Lisa See do lots of research, citing nonfiction sources and translators in their afterwords. Of course, even when novels are based on real people and events, they’re still made up. These novels are realistic, but they encourage readers to research history and make it clear that the stories and characters’ emotions are imagined. So, that’s why I find emphasis on accuracy in historical fiction misleading. Historical novels often provide vivid, believable stories, but they’re not a replacement for reading history.
