New Year, New You? Definitely New TBR
By Audrey Swartz, Adult Services and Readers’ Advisory Librarian
It’s almost 2025; when you read this, it will be. The new year is an encouragement to make change, pick up new habits, new hobbies, be a better version of yourself, and for some to grow through and over trauma. For others, the new year is a reason to celebrate with friends, partake in excess, and perhaps enjoy a kiss at midnight. This librarian sees it as a chance to learn from what has happened and move on. To start planning the January birthday parties and the summer vacation travels, to make realistic goals and snuggle my kiddos a little closer. To be a better version of myself, not a new version, and to fill my to-be -read list (TBR) with new books!
Unsurprisingly, I have two large stacks of books on my desk that encompass every kind of print book we have at the library. I do not tend to discriminate on genre or age range but I have noticed my adult nonfiction stack growing and growing. After this last year, I find the need to connect more with reality, pull myself out of my strictly reading romance for fun, and incorporate more diversity into my favorite pastime. Below you will find my TBR for 2025. All the books are available at Manhattan Public Library and are currently located in the ‘New’ sections of our collection.
Books from our Children’s Collection:
“Spooky lakes: 25 strange and mysterious lakes that dot our planet” written and illustrated by Geo Rutherford.
“The great influenza: the true story of the deadliest pandemic in history” written by Catherine Frank
“The Doomsday Archives: The heart-stealer mask” written by Zack Loran Clark.
“Ghostly, ghastly tales: frights to tell at night” written by Anastasia Garcia and illustrated by Teo Skaffa.
“Gods don’t cry: unsung stories of Ireland’s forgotten immortals” by Ellen Ryan and illustrated by Connor Merriman.
“John the skeleton” written by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, and translated by Adam Cullen.
“An animal a day” written by Miranda Smith, illustrated by Kaja Kajfež, Santiago Calle, Mateo Markov, and Max Rambaldi.
Books from our Young Adult Collection:
“Kill the beast: a tale of everyone’s favorite guy” written by Serena Valentino.
“Riot act: act I” written by Sarah Lariviere.
“A witch’s guide to burning” written and illustrated by Aminder Dhaliwal.
“Queer mythology: epic legends from around the world” written by Guido A. Sanchez, illustrated by James Fenner.
Books from our Graphic Novel Collection:
“H.P. Lovecraft’s the call of Cthulhu” adaptated and illustrated by Gou Tanabe.
“Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s Indigenous peoples’ history of the United States: a graphic interpretation” adapted and illustrated by Paul Peart-Smith, edited by Paulk Buhle and Dylan Davis.
“Beneath the trees where nobody sees” written and illustrated by Patrick Horvath, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
“Indiginerds: tales from modern indigenous life” edited by Alina Pete; cover artist, Brit Newton; proofreader, Abby Lehrke; publisher, editor-in-chief, C. Spike Trotman; print technician, additional lettering and design, Hye Mardikian.
“Brittle Joints” written and illustrated by Maria Sweeney.
“Something, not nothing: a story of grief and love” written and illustrated by Sarah Leavitt.
Books from our Adult Collection:
Nonfiction:
“How to dungeon master parenting: a guidebook for gamifying the child-rearing quest, leveling up your skills, and raising future adventurers” written by Shelly Mazzanoble.
“Free to be: understanding kids and gender identity” written by Jack L. Turban.
“How would you like your mammoth? 12,000 years of culinary history in 50 bite-size essays” written by Uta Seeburg.
“Raised by a serial killer: discovering the truth about my father” written by April Balascio.
“By the fire we carry: the generations-long fight for justice on native land” written by Rebecca Nagle.
“Men Have Called Her Crazy” written by Anna Marie Tendler.
“How to Date Men When You Hate Men” written by Blythe Roberson.
“It was you all along: what if you’re the one you’ve been waiting for?” written by Russ.
“The great good place: cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community” written by Ray Oldenburg.
“The widow’s guide to dead bastards: a memoir” written by Jessica Waite.
“The 1619 Project: a visual experience” edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman, and Jake Silverstein.
Fiction:
I’ll be honest here, there aren’t any on my list. I default read fiction so in an effort to be more intentional about my reading I’m leaving it off on purpose. My goal is to finish up, well catch up, on one of the many series by author J.R. Ward. I gave the Fallen Angels series a try when the first book came out and wasn’t in the mind-space for it, so I am going to try again.
That’s it! Everything on my list for next year. If you are having a hard time figuring out what you are going to read, please feel free to stop by and chat or fill out a personalized reading list request that can be found on our website at https://mhklibrary.org/personalized-reading-list-2/
Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Manhattan Public Library serves more than 75,000 people in the Riley County area through curated book and other media collections, knowledgeable staff, relevant programming for all ages, and meeting space. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.
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Audrey Swartz, Adult Services and Readers’ Advisory Librarian