By Brittany Schaaf, St. Charles City-County Library
Did you know that new books are released every single Tuesday? How is a bookworm expected to keep up with the plethora of upcoming titles, let alone read all of them? If your TBR (to-be-read) list is as long as mine, you know the delight (and perhaps terror) of a never-ending stack of new releases. Here are four new 2025 releases you should put on hold ASAP (and my favorite from 2024 with no current waitlist):
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Pub Date: January 14, 2025
Author of We Are the Brennans Tracey Lange is back with a new release this January, perfect for book clubs and buddy reads. What Happened to the McCray’s? is a poignant story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockey. When Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome. But when he’s presented with an opportunity to coach the floundering middle school hockey team, he begins to find compassion and redemption in the most unexpected places. Readers who enjoyed Jodi Picoult and Liane Moriarty will delight in this fictional novel full of hope and forgiveness.
Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell
Publication Date: February 11, 2025
Fans of Allison Saft and Margaret Rogerson will be swept away by this lush and beguiling sapphic romantic from Catherine Bakewell, the local St. Louis author of the bestselling novel Flowerheart. Ofelia has dreamed of entering Le Château Enchanté—the mysterious court of the gods-blessed King Léo, where the shadow monsters that roam Ofelia’s home never trespass. Lope has lived as a knight, defending Ofelia and her home from Shadows even as she dreams of escaping with Ofelia by her side. When the Shadows venture too close, Lope and Ofelia are thrust into a journey leading them to the heart of the darkness haunting their home: the dazzling and deceptive Château Enchanté itself.
A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy
Publication Date: March 4, 2025
On an ordinary day in an upscale Atlanta suburb, Maya makes breakfast for her two sons when her husband drops a red-and-blue striped envelope on the counter and asks a devastating question: Who is Sunny? Maya is sent reeling back to her childhood in Guyana—a time when Sunny was her only name. The letter from her long-lost sister Roshi threatens to expose her true identity and shatter the seemingly perfect existence Maya worked so hard to build. This striking debut transports the reader through a wrenching journey of assimilation, survival, and reinvention that explores the very construct of identity and the resilience of the human spirit.
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
An enchanting contemporary fantasy romance novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track from national bestselling author Sangu Mandanna. Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then, she resurrected her great-aunt, Jasmine, from the (very recently) dead and lost most of her magic. Now, she helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries not to fall in love, and longs for the magical future she lost. The first book in this series, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, was utterly charming; this grump-sunshine romance is at the top of my anticipated reads list for 2025.
My Favorite Read from 2024
In case the long waitlists scare you, and you’re looking for something to pick up right now, check out my only 5-star read from 2024, The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland. This mystery thriller follows three girls with dark magic who rile against the patriarchy to find a killer who is targeting women and stealing their powers. We meet Jude, the cursed and exiled daughter of a billionaire, Emer, the feisty witch, and Zara, who is trying to bring her sister back from the dead. I do not tend to reread books, but this is one I have devoured three times now.
Please join us for one of the following amazing programs and events offered at the Boone's Trail and Augusta Branches.
Crafting Connections: Sip & Stitch* - Mon., Feb.3: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults and teens. Bring your current work-in-progress and join other yarn artists as we sip, stitch, and talk about our projects.
Crafting Connections - I Love Quilts!* - Tue., Feb. 4: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. What will you create? Meet other quilt lovers at this monthly event.
Canasta - Hand & Foot* - Tues., Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults. Need to get out of the house? Learn to play Hand & Foot Canasta!
Game On: Let the Games Begin!* - Tues., Feb. 4, 11, 18, 15: 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults, teens, tweens, and children. Bring your favorite board or card game to play, or try one of ours!
Coffee and Conversation - Thurs., Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Enjoy a cup of coffee, a sweet treat, and conversation with others in the community.
Crafting Connections - Yarn Arts - Thurs., Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults and teens. Other yarn enthusiasts will keep you company while you work on your knit, crochet, or embroidery project.
Make-It Monday* - Mon., Feb. 10: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Grab a friend, come to the Augusta Branch, and work on your unfinished projects! Spend all day or just a little while.
Book Discussion - Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar*
Mon., Feb. 10: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Boone's Trail Branch - adults. Discover the unedited truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC’s hit show 19 Kids and Counting. Jill Duggar and her husband Derick share their story, revealing the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans. Jill was the responsible second daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle’s nineteen kids. As Jill got older, married Derick, and they embarked on their own lives, the red flags became too obvious to ignore. Theirs is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and is a moving example of how to find healing through honesty.
Read to a Dog* - Thur., Feb. 13: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Boone's Trail Branch - children. Bring a book or choose one of ours and read to an attentive, adorable dog.
English Paper Piecing* - Tue., Feb. 18: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. Learn how to English Paper Piece, a fun method of sewing fabric pieces together.
Leprechaun Shelf Sitter* - Tue., Feb. 18: 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Thur., Feb. 20: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Mon., Feb. 24: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults. Perfect for your St. Patrick’s Day decor, the finished craft stands on its own at just over 6 inches tall. This is a repeated event; please register for only one session.
Book Discussion - The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff* - Mon., Feb. 24: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Augusta Branch - adults. This is a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II. Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood, and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.
Discover Crafting: Spring Decoupage Canvases* - Tue., Feb. 25: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Thur., Feb. 27: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Boone’s Trail Branch - adults. Join us to create two decoupage canvases (4x4” and 3x5”) using spring-themed napkins. On a small easel (not provided), these canvases make a great shelf decoration to welcome spring. This is a repeated event; please register for only one session.
*Register at stchlibrary.org/join-class-or-event or call Boone’s Trail at 636-398-6200 or Augusta at 636-228-4855 for more information about classes. The Boone’s Trail and Augusta branches are open Mon., Tue., and Thur. from 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. and Sat., 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. All St. Charles City-County Library branches will be closed on Mon., Feb. 17 for Presidents’ Day.
Brittany Schaaf, the amazing
writer of St Charles,
City-County Library submission
each month, has been very busy
over the last few months with
her new little baby bookworm.