The Librarians

Cover Art: The Librarians by Sherry Thomas showing a minimalist drawing of a gun barrel with a sisp of smoke rising from it in the shape a woman's silhouetteFrom the Publisher's Website

A LIBRARY READS PICK! l An NPR Books We Love l Libby Book Award Winner for Best Mystery

Murder disrupts the routine of four quirky librarians who hide among books to protect their secrets in this mystery from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.

Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge….

In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too.

Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won’t be enough anymore.

When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together….

All in a day’s work.


    Author photo: Sherry Thomas sitting in a wicker chair

    From sherrythomas.com

    Sherry Thomas burst onto the romance scene with Private Arrangements, one of the most anticipated debut historical romances in recent history and a Publishers Weekly Best of the Year book. Lisa Kleypas calls her “the most powerfully original historical romance author working today.” Her books have received stellar reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Chicago Tribune, and Romantic Times, along with enthusiastic praises from many of the most highly trafficked romance review websites and blogs.

    Her story is all the more interesting given that English is Sherry’s second language—she has come a long way from the days when she made her laborious way through Rosemary Roger’s Sweet Savage Love with an English-Chinese dictionary. She enjoys creating stories. And when she is not writing, she thinks about the zen and zaniness of her profession, plays computer games with her sons, and reads as many fabulous books as she can find


      Blogs

      If You Loved Faculty Lounge...

      This blog was contributed by Kristen S, Reference Librarian for the Brazoria County Library System

      If you loved reading “The Faculty Lounge” please try these books. Read the first section for a similar setting! If you really liked the novel is vignettes or stories, try something from the second section. If you are vibing with the book in general, take a book from the third round!

      Check your library for these titles' availability!

      Gulf Coast Reads 2025 Kicks Off (and Here's Everything You Need to Know)

      Cover Art: The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer MathieuGulf Coast Reads 2025: The Faculty Lounge

      If you’ve ever wondered what teachers really talk about when the classroom door closes, or wished you could pull up a chair in the teachers’ lounge, Jennifer Mathieu’s The Faculty Lounge is your backstage pass. It’s sharp, funny, tender, and, honestly, one of those books that makes you want to corner your friends and say, “Have you read this yet? We need to talk.”

      That’s exactly why we’re so excited that The Faculty Lounge is this year’s Gulf Coast Reads selection. It’s the book everyone across nine counties will be picking up this October, and you’re invited to join the conversation.

      Grading the Graders: Good and Not-So-Good Teachers in Classic TV and Film

      A Still from Dead Poets Society. Robin Williams as Mr. Keating straddles students' desks while delivering another big ol' dollop of inspirationThis blog was contributed by Anjela M. Youth Services Assistant Manager in Harris County Public Library's Programs, Partnerships & Outreach Division.

      There is a wide range of portrayals of teachers in films or television series. Some fictional teachers act as inspiration for their students while others are the foil in their story. Inspired by the 2025 Gulf Coast Reads selection, The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu, here’s our list of teachers on screen that inspire and others that need improvement:  

      6 Powerful Reasons Shared Reading Events Like Gulf Coast Reads Matter More Than Ever

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      When I was a kid, Houston had only three network-affiliated TV stations (four if you count PBS) and a scrappy UHF channel that mostly showed reruns and wrestling. Which sounds limiting now, but there was something powerful about having so few options: everyone experienced the same things. We all watched Roots. We all saw the Fonz jump the shark. We all tuned in to find out who shot J.R.

      Today, our screens offer us an infinite buffet of content, personalized by algorithms and delivered on demand. We don’t just choose what we like—we’re insulated from everything we didn’t choose. It’s rare now for large groups of people to experience the same story at the same time.

      And that’s exactly why Gulf Coast Reads exists.

      Thanks to Houston Great Books!

      On Friday Wendy W. from Houston Great Books hosted a fantastic Book Club Facilitator Training for the Gulf Coast Reads Committee and Staff! She went over best practices, questions, and tips in case we get stuck. Thank you, Wendy!

      Gulf Coast Reads Committee Announces 2025 Selection

      Cover Art: The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer MathieuAbout the Selection

      Get ready to fall in love with a book and the people in it. The Gulf Coast Reads Committee is delighted to announce that the 2025 Gulf Coast Reads selection is The Faculty Lounge by acclaimed Houston author Jennifer Mathieu!