Updated March 13, 2026, 11:01 a.m. ET
March is Reading Month!
To celebrate literacy and potentially give you something entertaining, enlightening or educational to read beyond the news, Hometown Life asked the bibliophiles at four local libraries – Livonia, Lyon Township, Novi and Salem-South Lyon – to give us their best recommendations for fiction and non-fiction.
They came through with books for a variety of ages and interests.
We hope you find your next great escape here:
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand (fiction)
“Many of us collect friends throughout the different stages of our lives but rarely get the chance to bring them all together in one place. The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand imagines what might happen if we did. I loved this book because it explores friendship, loss, and new beginnings in a thoughtful but engaging way. The characters felt real, and it make me think about the people who have shaped my own life over the years. It is the kind of story that draws you in and leaves you reflecting long after the last page.” – Lindsay Fricke, Livonia Public Library director
A Sign of Affection by Suu Morishita (fiction, Manga)
“A deaf college student, Yuki, meets a globe-trotting polyglot in this sweet romance manga, appropriate for ages 13+. A Sign of Affection proves that the core of every successful relationship is communication, no matter what form it takes! I recommend reading the manga then watching the (also) gorgeous anime.” – Noelle Lomas, Livonia Public Library teen librarian
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (fiction)
“A girl who would much rather stay home and collect cups strikes out to save her kidnapped love from the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea. Tress is a charming fairytale-esque adventure in Sanderson’s Hoid’s Travails series. I recommend it as an approachable entry point into Sanderson’s Cosmere. For those intimidated by the sheer volume of the Stormlight Archive novels or the complex magic system of Mistborn, start here instead!” – Noelle Lomas, Livonia Public Library teen librarian
Growing Your Own Tea Garden by Jodi Helmer (non-fiction)
“This book shows how to plant, maintain, harvest and enjoy a productive backyard tea garden, with a comprehensive survey of all the crops that make delicious tea drinks, plus advice on cultivation, harvesting, drying, storing and brewing. As an avid tea gardener, this is my go-to guide!” – Noelle Lomas, Livonia Public Library teen librarian
The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (fiction, mystery)
“This unique and complicated mystery combines time-looping with literacy fiction and includes additional components of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. It has so many stories within stories and is intricately woven together. It takes the traditional who-dun-it mystery and turns it into so much more. Highly recommend it for mystery readers looking for something new and different.” – Mike Bruno, Livonia Public Library teen librarian
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch (fiction)
“A mystery set in a magical world existing on the edges of contemporary London. This follows a police officer’s introduction to this mysterious world as he becomes an apprentice wizard. Ranging from a mystery involving a ghost to preventing a war between ancient river deities, this book follows several rivers to their conclusion. Think Men In Black, but fantasy swapped in for Sci-Fi.” – Nathan Shaw, Livonia Public Library head of technology
Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World by Stephen S. Hall (non-fiction, natural sciences)
“Not just a scientific telling of the history of snakes, this book delves into the cultural impacts snakes have made in mythology, poetry and more. Science journalist, Hall, makes this a fascinating and fun read, with an interesting cast of human characters as well as, of course, snakes. The book blends pithy remarks and facts, examining why we fear snakes, and perhaps, why we shouldn’t. Research on biology, sociology, and new scientific techniques and discoveries are written in a way that almost all readers will find accessible.” – Holly Teasdle, library director, Lyon Township Public Library
This Book Made Me Think Of You by Libby Page (fiction)
“A few months after her husband’s death, a young widow is surprised by a call from a local bookshop telling her she had a gift to pick up. The shop owner explains that before his death, her husband had chosen a year of books for her to receive on a monthly basis. His careful selections were often puzzling at first, but always inspired her to try to break out of her grief and reconnect with family, forge new friendships, and try new experiences. All the while, she feels her husband gently guiding her to find joy and love again.” – Pam Quackenbush, library technician, Lyon Township Public Library
Little White Lies and Deadly Little Scandals, both by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (teen fiction)
“Teens (and adults who love YA fiction) probably know Jennifer Lynn Barnes from her hit Inheritance Games series, but before she wrote about Avery and the Hawthorne brothers, she wrote a duology about Sawyer Taft, an 18-year-old mechanic who gets an offer she can’t refuse – move in with the grandmother she’s never met and participate in debutante season and she’ll get a six-figure check in return. While she’s there, she just might solve the mystery of who her father is along with uncovering a few other deep dark family secrets. This many-layered mystery will keep you reading ‘just one more chapter’ all night long.” – Jocelyn Levin, youth services librarian, Lyon Township Public Library
Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives by Mitali Perkins (non-fiction)
“I chose this book because even though I never saw myself as a traditional creative, it offered a fresh and compassionate way to think about creativity that I found inspiring. In Just Making, Mitali Perkins encourages readers to approach creativity with curiosity, care, and intention, reminding us that making meaningful things is accessible to everyone.” – Jennifer McArdle, information services librarian, Novi Public Library
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley (fiction)
“I absolutely loved the perspective in How to Age Disgracefully. In a world that constantly tells us to ‘disappear into the background’ as we age, this book is a determined and joyful reminder to do the contrary. The author captures the humor and the liberation of finally stopping to care about what others think. It’s not just a book about getting older; it’s a book about finally becoming yourself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a little prod to stay daring.” – Emma DeCenso, information services community outreach librarian, Novi Public Library
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (fiction)
“Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram is a beautifully crafted novel about feeling like you don’t fit in, know more about fictional worlds than the real one, and having to learn how to build relationships with people even when it’s difficult. Darius must face not knowing Farsi, explaining why he takes medication for his depression, and feeling like an outsider, all while visiting his grandparents in Iran.” – Austin Webberly, youth & teen services librarian, Novi Public Library
Rock and Roll by Ruby Amy Thompson
“The title says it all, this is an adorable picture book starring a rock and a roll (as in a dinner roll). The short, playful text and bold illustrations make it a great pick for even the youngest listeners, while the silly premise, simple word choices, and large font are also suitable for new readers ready to read on their own. But this book is best enjoyed together. The clever comparisons between Rock and Roll will leave everyone giggling and asking to read this sweet story about two friends again and again.” – Tina McIntosh, youth and teen services librarian, Salem-South Lyon District Library
Waterline: A Novel by Aram Mrjoian
“A debut novel by a local author who teaches at the University of Michigan. This book opens on the island of Grosse Ile outside of Detroit, where the Kurkjian family just found out that their oldest daughter, Mari, has just lost her life in the waters of Lake Michigan. This is an apparent suicide. The Kurkjian family tries to deal with terrible tragedy while new family secrets and generational trauma drive the story. This is not only a great read, but we are having the author come to speak at our library on Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. as a part of our Something Different Book Club. Please join us!” – Andrew Calvetti, librarian, Salem-South Lyon District Library
This angry pen of mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley by Layne Staley (non-fiction, published 2025)
“If you grew up in the 90’s – or have any connection to the music of that decade, you should be familiar with the Seattle grunge sound and many of the bands that came out of that area and change the music scene forever. Alice In Chains was one of the bands that headed that assault on the music industry. Layne Staley was their lead singer and main song writer. This book shares many of Layne’s notes, doodles, journals, schedules, thoughts, writings, musings, drawings, artwork, and photos of the band. It is really cool how you can see his mind work as he develops a song from idea to completed work. This is one of the most interesting books that is hard to put down that I have seen in a long time.” – Andrew Calvetti, Salem-South Lyon District Library
Reporter Susan Bromley has more than a few books she would like to recommend, but her most recent favorite is the one that made her laugh out loud multiple times- the darkly comic, quirky road trip novel “The Road to Tender Hearts” by Annie Hartnett.
