By: Charissa Diethrich, Information Services Assistant
Summer is upon us, and with it, summer reading! Whether you’ve signed up for a challenge at The Library or you’re just looking for a good book to bring on vacation, it can be daunting to figure out what to read next. Look no further than NoveList Plus! Read on for a brief introduction to this fantastic reader’s advisory tool. (You can find NoveList Plus on the Research page of The Library’s website, or under “Find a Good Book” on The Collection page.)
Maybe you’ve finished rereading your favorite book for the umpteenth time, and you want to find more like it. Type the title into NoveList’s main search bar, bring up the book’s profile, and scroll down to see a selection of “Read Alikes.” Click on a cover, and you can find an explanation from a real person about why the two books have been paired together. Drawing on character types, plot points, and other elements, NoveList’s team makes thoughtful connections between titles – and also pairs some unexpected books! (You can find “Author Read-Alikes” using this same method.)
On NoveList’s homepage, explore a carousel of “Books with Buzz.” These are titles that have been featured in the media, from mentions on Good Morning America to screen adaptations. Find out what’s all the rage in pop culture by exploring this list! You can also browse the “Curated Lists” found in the column on the left-hand side. Click on “For fans of” to see lists especially created for those who enjoy certain shows, movies, games, or authors. Enjoy the board game Ticket to Ride? There’s a list for that! Or maybe you loved KPop Demon Hunters? Check out a selection of books with similar elements! You can also explore other lists like “Seasonal Reads” or “Exploring Identities.”
But perhaps the most personally tailored way to search for books is using “Story Elements.” NoveList tags books based on what readers commonly connect with when reading them. You can explore titles by genre (legal thrillers, magical realism, historical mystery), theme (coming-of-age, forbidden love, time loop), and appeal factors (lyrical prose, brooding characters, intricate plots). Check out the Story Elements tool on NoveList’s home page. Mix and match story elements as much as you like to generate reading recommendations. The more elements you select, the narrower your results will be.
As a bonus, NoveList Plus is linked directly to the DCLS catalog. You can see at a glance if a recommended title is owned by The Library or not. Click on the “Check catalog” button to go to the item’s catalog record, where you can view availability or place a hold!
Make summer reading a breeze with NoveList Plus! Using the stories and elements you already love, let NoveList’s skilled team suggest some new titles. And who knows? You might end up falling in love with a book you’d never have picked up otherwise!