Booktalks

What is a Booktalk?

A book talk is a short presentation or conversation regarding a book that you are trying to convince someone else to read. You can do this by asking questions about their interests:

• Favorite authors
• Favorite genres/subgenres
• Their TBR list
• Different formats
• Themes/motifs
• Likes and dislikes

Booktalk Examples

Death Overdue by Allison Brook

Carrie Singleton has longed to step out from the small-town atmosphere of Clover Ridge, CN, and leave it all behind for someplace warm and far away from her hometown, the ghosts of the past, and the small minds of the local citizens. However, fate and a real ghostly librarian, Evelyn Havers, have other plans for her. Offered the position as head of Programming and Entertainment at the Clover Ridge Public Library, Carrie is cajoled into taking the position by Evelyn, who feels it is her mission to help and look out for Carrie. With some help from other staff and her ghostly mentor, Carrie begins to think she can do the job; however, at her first solo program, the speaker–retired police detective Al Buckley, intent on reeopening the cold case of murdered former librarian, Laura Foster–suddenly dies. Feeling guilty and partly responsible for Mr. Buckley’s death, Carrie believes that the two cases are somehow linked and sets out with her ghostly companion to discover the truth.

As Carrie digs into the past and asks questions, she soon discovers that there was more to Laura Foster than met the eye and that her life was far from perfect–even going so far as to find out from former family friend, Helena Koeppel, that Laura was unhappy and had an affair. The troubled family she left behind–devastated workaholic husband Bryce, hothead alcoholic Ryan, and cute but oblivious Jared–are not so innocent either. Who is telling the truth, and who within the close-knit group had a motive and means to kill her?

With the help of Jared and Evelynn, Carrie attempts to discover what really happened to Laura and Al–all the while trying to keep her head above water and juggling her P&E duties, dodging and dealing with a ruthless reference librarian, and attempting to find a place to live on her own so she won’t be a “burden” to her great Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bosco, who treat her as though she were their own child. She also finds time for potential romance with Jared, whom she discovers is immature and not whom she believed he was, and later with former childhood friend and new landlord, Dylan Avery–who is dark, mature, and mysterious as he is handsome and caring.

As Carrie is swept further into the ever winding web of lies, red herrings, and past memories, she herself begins to feel paranoid–as though she is being watched–and wonders if the two cases will be closed for good. Will she and Evelynn be able to discover the truth of what happened to Laura, or will she end up like Al Buckley–on the right path but ultimately too nosy for his own good? A whodunit cozy amateur murder mystery novel with a spunky and slightly punky librarian, a wise librarian ghost, and a touch of humor and romance for good measure, this is a book to read on a fall day, cozied up under a blanket and with a steaming cup of hot chocolate–in other words, the perfect muder mystery novel.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Believing that she does not have time for any lasting romantic relationships, Olive Smith is put to the test when her best friend Anh Pham believes she cannot explore her own burgeoning romantic feelings towards Jeremiah Langley (Olive’s ex boyfriend) if Olive is still in love or searching for love of her own. In an effort to prove her friend wrong and that she has moved onto someone else and is on her way to achieving her own “happily ever after,” Olive attempts to provide undeniable proof that she has moved on and, in a scatter-brained panic, kisses the first man she sees. And she enjoys it–more than she should with a complete stranger. Sparks fly, but not in the way she expected as she has kissed Dr. Adam Carlsen, biology professor and known ass on campus.

Believing it is only a one time thing, Olive soon finds herself in a web of lies as rumors of her kiss and possible relationship with Dr. Carlsen spread–putting her in hot water with both her best friend Anh and her roommate, Malcolm, who has been on the receiving end of Carlsen’s academic bite more than once. Knowing how perilous her stance is as a student as well as a woman within the STEM community, in an effort to save face with her best friends Olive convinces Adam to continue the charade of their dating in the hopes that Anh will move on with Jeremy and leave her alone. Adam agrees to the fake dating concept, as he believes it will give him clout with the head of his department who believed that Adam was planning to leave the school.

Romance and misunderstandings ensue, as well as the explosion of chemistry between Adam and Olive–a classic combo of Grumpy meets Sunshine. While the fake dating not only gives Olive and Adam prestige, it also puts them in the spotlight in unexpected ways–including Adam’s friend, Dr. Tom Benton, who has ulterior motives for both helping Olive with her burgeoning research and Adam’s own academic and professional career. Will the lie become reality, or will different variables–including Adam’s callus behavior and Olive’s blundering quirks–strive to keep them apart?

An adorable quirky romance reminiscent of popular K-dramas and romance tropes (i.e. fake dating, Grumpy x Sunshine), this book is a wonderful surprise and addition to the Contemporary Romance canon with its smart and quirky characters, character-driven plot, and plenty of inclusion of LGBTQ plus characters as well as featuring mixed couples and the very real look at the world of academia–all through the lens of a romantic comedy and a surprising meet cute.