Saturday, August 9 was National Book Lovers Day. And we thought, what better way to celebrate the occasion than to provide you with some book recommendations directly from some of the staff members at Hoopla? If you’re on the search for a new addition to your reading list, check out some recommendations below! 

Name – Myanna Evans-Allmon
Role – Customer Support Specialist 
Books – The Jaipur Trilogy by Alka Joshi 

“I LOVED the Jaipur Trilogy, which includes The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris. Not only is the narrator, Sneha Mathan, an absolute expert reader with a richly beautiful accent, but the storytelling truly pulls you in. I felt like I was in India living among these characters the whole time. Truly an enjoyable read!” 

Name – Emily Young 
Role – Customer Email Marketing Specialist 
Book – Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell 

“Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell was a five-star read for me. It’s the story of two childhood best friends who fell in love before they knew what that even meant, reuniting in their 30s. Rainbow Rowell is a master at writing dialogue, and this was an achingly beautiful love story. The characters had an amazing chemistry that was a joy to read in multiple timelines. I genuinely never wanted it to end.” 

Name – Bekah O’Linger 
Role – Processing Support Specialist 
Books – Identity by Nora Roberts; The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley 

“I really liked Identity by Nora Roberts. It’s only available via Flex at the moment, but it kept my attention the whole time. A young woman is the target of a serial killer who has failed to kill her. The characters felt incredibly realistic, and all had very big personalities. The author also does a great job at making the reader feel like they are in the action. It was a great page turner while still having some cute filler scenes. I’d definitely recommend this one if you like thrillers, romances, or the true crime vibe.” 

“I also recommend The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. A girl comes to Paris and finds her brother missing. The secrets of the apartment building were so fun to find out. I felt like I was searching around and discovering all the secrets myself!”  

Name – Elizabeth Pucci 
Role – Product Marketing Lead
Books Book – Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller 

“I loved Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books. It tells the story of a small town and the Little Free Library full of ‘wholesome’ books due to some of the town banning books from schools and libraries, and Lula wants to promote moral titles. The books in the Little Free Library end up getting swapped, leaving the original dust jackets but replacing the books to classics, literature that promotes positive LGBTQ+ stories, Black history, books about witches, etc. Those that visit the Little Free Library take the books they think to be appropriate, and they learn a lot about diversity, inclusion, and equity. It blows my mind that some communities live like this, and I keep thinking this book was set in the past, but it isn’t.” 

Name – Gabby Sheets
Role – Collection Support Specialist 
Books – The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, Gallant by V.E. Schwab 

“I loved The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, a summertime thriller about a party that goes wrong at an affluent resort. Lots of secrets and multiple POVs.” 

“Gallant by V.E. Schwab is also one of my favorites! It is a YA fantasy book about a teenage girl who cannot speak living in an orphanage. She gets a letter one day inviting her to live with long-lost family members, but when she gets there, no one knows who she is or who sent her that letter. Duh-duh-DUHHHH.” 

Name – Rana Elhag 
Role – Hoopla Support Specialist 
Book – Evil Eye by Etaf Rum 

“This one really hit me when I read it. It shows how putting everyone else’s expectations ahead of your own selfhood can slowly eat away at you, especially as a woman. It also captures the feeling of being stuck between worlds, essentially living in exile in the only home you’ve ever known, and how isolating that in-between space can be.” 

Find the Next Book You Love on Hoopla Today! 

Whether it’s eBooks or audiobooks you’re into, Hoopla has you covered with a wide variety of titles to choose from. From historical fiction to murder mysteries, Hoopla has it all! And the best part is that accessing Hoopla’s vast selection of books doesn’t cost a dime. All you need is a library card! So if you’re ever at a loss on what to read, download Hoopla and begin browsing—before you know it, you’ll find the next book you can’t put down!

*Title availability may vary