Looking for your next read? Top Shelf is an annual collection of book recommendations from OPL staff that spans genres, topics, and intended audiences. The common denominator? These books were all published in 2024. Explore more than 200 recently published titles that staff loved.
Want even more recommendations? Request a custom reading list from our librarians.
Check out our favorite books from previous years including 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
"A cozy little read about the power of love and relationship that can come in unexpected forms. It also speaks to our need for purpose in order to achieve…
Read more of this comment about Sipsworth
"Multiple generations of a Native American family journey through the highs and lows of addiction while fighting for those they love. Heart wrenching,…
Read more of this comment about Wandering Stars
"Piazza transports the reader to Sicily in this atmospheric, suspenseful story where American Sara Marsala is on a quest to learn about her heritage and…
Read more of this comment about The Sicilian Inheritance
"Fans of 'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine' will like this one. A cheeky novel written by a British woman about depression and how to live despite it.…
Read more of this comment about The Wedding People"A cozy little read about the power of love and relationship that can come in unexpected forms. It also speaks to our need for purpose in order to achieve…
Read more of this comment about Sipsworth"Multiple generations of a Native American family journey through the highs and lows of addiction while fighting for those they love. Heart wrenching,…
Read more of this comment about Wandering Stars"Piazza transports the reader to Sicily in this atmospheric, suspenseful story where American Sara Marsala is on a quest to learn about her heritage and…
Read more of this comment about The Sicilian Inheritance
"Nelson’s first new novel in a decade packs just as strong an emotional punch as her previous work. This lush family saga is full of heart and struggle with…
Read more of this comment about When the World Tips Over
"A dramatic historical fiction novel for teens where one young woman has to overcome her deepest fear in order to help America win WWII." - Kris C.
"Blake Brenner is supposed to be pledging for super secret Serena Society with her girlfriend Ella, but as she starts relying more and more on alcohol…
Read more of this comment about Thirsty
"Cole's debut novel sets up a beautiful fantasy duology wrought with gods-touched child saviors, dragon riding colonizers, and unbreakable sisterly bonds.…
Read more of this comment about So Let Them Burn"Nelson’s first new novel in a decade packs just as strong an emotional punch as her previous work. This lush family saga is full of heart and struggle with…
Read more of this comment about When the World Tips Over"A dramatic historical fiction novel for teens where one young woman has to overcome her deepest fear in order to help America win WWII." - Kris C.
"Blake Brenner is supposed to be pledging for super secret Serena Society with her girlfriend Ella, but as she starts relying more and more on alcohol…
Read more of this comment about Thirsty"Cole's debut novel sets up a beautiful fantasy duology wrought with gods-touched child saviors, dragon riding colonizers, and unbreakable sisterly bonds.…
Read more of this comment about So Let Them Burn
"Fern has lived on The Ranch for most of her life, until her mother whisks her across the country in the middle of the night. In a new town surrounded…
Read more of this comment about The Wrong Way Home
"Percy Jackson is back with another adventure as he continues his quest for recommendation letters, this time from Hecate, the Triple Goddess. Fans of…
Read more of this comment about Wrath of the Triple Goddess
"Thirteen-year-old Elio Solis finds himself overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions that come with growing up, including falling in and out of love for…
Read more of this comment about Ultraviolet
"When the Swift family visits Paris they are suddenly plunged into a daring mystery filled with burglary and murder. A cast of oddball characters and Lincoln's…
Read more of this comment about The Swifts"Fern has lived on The Ranch for most of her life, until her mother whisks her across the country in the middle of the night. In a new town surrounded…
Read more of this comment about The Wrong Way Home"Percy Jackson is back with another adventure as he continues his quest for recommendation letters, this time from Hecate, the Triple Goddess. Fans of…
Read more of this comment about Wrath of the Triple Goddess"Thirteen-year-old Elio Solis finds himself overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions that come with growing up, including falling in and out of love for…
Read more of this comment about Ultraviolet"When the Swift family visits Paris they are suddenly plunged into a daring mystery filled with burglary and murder. A cast of oddball characters and Lincoln's…
Read more of this comment about The Swifts
"Raymond Antrobus's wonderfully imagistic poetry focuses on fatherhood in this tender collection." - Colby J.
"'The Serviceberry' argues that adopting the reciprocity of the natural world as a model for human societies can foster stronger communities, a healthier…
Read more of this comment about The Serviceberry
"A deep dive into the folk music scene that took root in and made Greenwich Village famous. Browne's extensive use of quotations from interviews with musicians…
Read more of this comment about Talkin' Greenwich Village
"Accessible, easy and approachable recipes for any cook with standard ingredients found in anyone's pantry." - Amy M.
"Raymond Antrobus's wonderfully imagistic poetry focuses on fatherhood in this tender collection." - Colby J.
"'The Serviceberry' argues that adopting the reciprocity of the natural world as a model for human societies can foster stronger communities, a healthier…
Read more of this comment about The Serviceberry"A deep dive into the folk music scene that took root in and made Greenwich Village famous. Browne's extensive use of quotations from interviews with musicians…
Read more of this comment about Talkin' Greenwich Village"Accessible, easy and approachable recipes for any cook with standard ingredients found in anyone's pantry." - Amy M.
"This young adult nonfiction tells the story of the perpetrators and victims of the Kids for Cash scandal. In the late '90s and early 2000s, more than…
Read more of this comment about Shackled
"Beautiful illustrations and exciting language make this picture book style nonfiction accessible to young readers who need more facts about volcanoes."…
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"This picture book tale of the first performance of John Cage’s avant-garde composition 4’ 33” encourages us to find the extraordinary in the ordinary and the…
Read more of this comment about Nothing
"This beautifully illustrated book introduces readers to animals who all have exceptional ears that play major roles in their survival. From bats to honey…
Read more of this comment about Genius Ears"This young adult nonfiction tells the story of the perpetrators and victims of the Kids for Cash scandal. In the late '90s and early 2000s, more than…
Read more of this comment about Shackled"Beautiful illustrations and exciting language make this picture book style nonfiction accessible to young readers who need more facts about volcanoes."…
Read more of this comment about Volcanoes"This picture book tale of the first performance of John Cage’s avant-garde composition 4’ 33” encourages us to find the extraordinary in the ordinary and the…
Read more of this comment about Nothing"This beautifully illustrated book introduces readers to animals who all have exceptional ears that play major roles in their survival. From bats to honey…
Read more of this comment about Genius Ears
"A mashup of magical realism, murder mystery and an Appalachian-tinged touch of Southern Gothic that will make readers wonder if there's such a thing as…
Read more of this comment about In the Hour of Crows
"A comprehensive collection of the comic book adaptation of Fritz Leiber's iconic sword and sorcery heroes. Mike Mignola's art shows the fun mad cap action…
Read more of this comment about Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Omnibus…
"A hilarious high-stakes international road trip in which a young woman and her brother enlist the help of a conniving demon to break an ancient, colonial…
Read more of this comment about The Witchstone
"A fantastical Sherlockian mystery surrounding an auspicious murder with living bamboo in a world of body augmentation and impending doom via giant monster…
Read more of this comment about The Tainted Cup"A mashup of magical realism, murder mystery and an Appalachian-tinged touch of Southern Gothic that will make readers wonder if there's such a thing as…
Read more of this comment about In the Hour of Crows"A comprehensive collection of the comic book adaptation of Fritz Leiber's iconic sword and sorcery heroes. Mike Mignola's art shows the fun mad cap action…
Read more of this comment about Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Omnibus…"A hilarious high-stakes international road trip in which a young woman and her brother enlist the help of a conniving demon to break an ancient, colonial…
Read more of this comment about The Witchstone"A fantastical Sherlockian mystery surrounding an auspicious murder with living bamboo in a world of body augmentation and impending doom via giant monster…
Read more of this comment about The Tainted Cup
"An atmospheric and fast paced splatter horror that follows a large group of LGBTQ+ teenagers who are kidnapped and taken to a conversation therapy camp.…
Read more of this comment about Cuckoo
"Bradley's 11th addition to his Flavia de Luce series is as delightfully witty and heartrending as the first. I suggest starting with book 1, 'The Sweetness…
Read more of this comment about What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth…
"Agatha Christie meets queer fantasy with this murder mystery on a magical cruise ship. Ganymedes is the perfect main character as a chubby bisexual man…
Read more of this comment about Voyage of the Damned
"In this darkly amusing sequel to 'The Plot,' the treacherous widow of celebrated author Jacob Finch Bonner is living well off of her husband's estate…
Read more of this comment about The Sequel"An atmospheric and fast paced splatter horror that follows a large group of LGBTQ+ teenagers who are kidnapped and taken to a conversation therapy camp.…
Read more of this comment about Cuckoo"Bradley's 11th addition to his Flavia de Luce series is as delightfully witty and heartrending as the first. I suggest starting with book 1, 'The Sweetness…
Read more of this comment about What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth…"Agatha Christie meets queer fantasy with this murder mystery on a magical cruise ship. Ganymedes is the perfect main character as a chubby bisexual man…
Read more of this comment about Voyage of the Damned"In this darkly amusing sequel to 'The Plot,' the treacherous widow of celebrated author Jacob Finch Bonner is living well off of her husband's estate…
Read more of this comment about The Sequel
"Ember tells a few small lies to get her foot in the door at a dream job. Things quickly start to spiral out of control and Ember gets in over her head…
Read more of this comment about The Truth According to Ember
"This story of two childhood best friends rediscovering each other as adults manages to be both about ordinary people in a ordinary setting, and also be…
Read more of this comment about Slow Dance
"A tale as old as time— the grumpy character and the sunshine character, a celebrity and their die-hard fan, a person on a downward trajectory and the person…
Read more of this comment about Fangirl Down
"Emma dreams of becoming a screenwriter. She gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with her idol on a romantic comedy script. Only he doesn’t believe…
Read more of this comment about The Rom-commers"Ember tells a few small lies to get her foot in the door at a dream job. Things quickly start to spiral out of control and Ember gets in over her head…
Read more of this comment about The Truth According to Ember"This story of two childhood best friends rediscovering each other as adults manages to be both about ordinary people in a ordinary setting, and also be…
Read more of this comment about Slow Dance"A tale as old as time— the grumpy character and the sunshine character, a celebrity and their die-hard fan, a person on a downward trajectory and the person…
Read more of this comment about Fangirl Down"Emma dreams of becoming a screenwriter. She gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with her idol on a romantic comedy script. Only he doesn’t believe…
Read more of this comment about The Rom-commers
"With Hendrix's charming illustrations, this story telling about storytellers is not to be missed. A lion and a wizard tell the stories of J.R.R. Tolkien…
Read more of this comment about The Mythmakers
"Hulls has created a haunting memoir, the story of her grandmother, mother and herself and their generational trauma." - Deirdre R.
"A comprehensive graphic representation of women's long and difficult battle for the right to vote." - Amy M.
"'Somna' follows the story of Ingrid and her unhappy life with her witch-hunter husband, Roland. As women are accused left and right of witchcraft, Ingrid…
Read more of this comment about Somna"With Hendrix's charming illustrations, this story telling about storytellers is not to be missed. A lion and a wizard tell the stories of J.R.R. Tolkien…
Read more of this comment about The Mythmakers"Hulls has created a haunting memoir, the story of her grandmother, mother and herself and their generational trauma." - Deirdre R.
"A comprehensive graphic representation of women's long and difficult battle for the right to vote." - Amy M.
"'Somna' follows the story of Ingrid and her unhappy life with her witch-hunter husband, Roland. As women are accused left and right of witchcraft, Ingrid…
Read more of this comment about Somna"Hulls has created a haunting memoir, the story of her grandmother, mother and herself and their generational trauma." - Deirdre R.
"Devastating essays on culture, politics and identity. This book is a masterpiece of soul searching in a world full of destruction." - Angela F. | "Coates…
Read more of this comment about The Message
"Calling all readers of dysfunctional family stories! Fink shares her journey of a lifetime spent coping with a narcissistic mother, as she eventually…
Read more of this comment about The Witch's Daughter
"A collection of biographical sketches on self-identified 'tree collectors,' people who love and collect trees in all their forms around the world. Perfect…
Read more of this comment about The Tree Collectors"Hulls has created a haunting memoir, the story of her grandmother, mother and herself and their generational trauma." - Deirdre R.
"Devastating essays on culture, politics and identity. This book is a masterpiece of soul searching in a world full of destruction." - Angela F. | "Coates…
Read more of this comment about The Message"Calling all readers of dysfunctional family stories! Fink shares her journey of a lifetime spent coping with a narcissistic mother, as she eventually…
Read more of this comment about The Witch's Daughter"A collection of biographical sketches on self-identified 'tree collectors,' people who love and collect trees in all their forms around the world. Perfect…
Read more of this comment about The Tree Collectors
"The best emotions book I've encountered, probably ever — such a great story that captures the very real experience of having a cranky day." - Bethany B.…
Read more of this comment about Cranky
"An adventurous penguin sets out to find food more exciting than cold fish and discovers lots of different flavors along the way. A good pick for a funny…
Read more of this comment about Umami
"Different families go to grandmother's house, showing different traditions and how people love each other at the holidays." - Betsy F.
"The best emotions book I've encountered, probably ever — such a great story that captures the very real experience of having a cranky day." - Bethany B.…
Read more of this comment about Cranky"An adventurous penguin sets out to find food more exciting than cold fish and discovers lots of different flavors along the way. A good pick for a funny…
Read more of this comment about Umami"Different families go to grandmother's house, showing different traditions and how people love each other at the holidays." - Betsy F.
"Una historia conmovedora que abarca generaciones de una familia, cada una de las cuales tuvo que huir de su país y comenzar una nueva vida en otro lugar.…
Read more of this comment about A través de los mares
"El regalo de abuelita es una alegre y colorida celebración de la vida y el amor. Este libro ofrece oportunidades para conversaciones significativas sobre…
Read more of this comment about El regalo de abuelita
"Una exploración de los sentidos. El libro incorpora amistad, una historia romántica, y el placer de leer sobre la comida y como se prepara." - Holly P.
Read more of this comment about Menú para dos
"Un libro infantil bellamente ilustrado sobre la pertenencia y cómo encontrar tu lugar. Este libro es perfecto para leer en voz alta ya que tiene descripciones…
Read more of this comment about Los mariachis de Adela"Una historia conmovedora que abarca generaciones de una familia, cada una de las cuales tuvo que huir de su país y comenzar una nueva vida en otro lugar.…
Read more of this comment about A través de los mares"El regalo de abuelita es una alegre y colorida celebración de la vida y el amor. Este libro ofrece oportunidades para conversaciones significativas sobre…
Read more of this comment about El regalo de abuelita"Una exploración de los sentidos. El libro incorpora amistad, una historia romántica, y el placer de leer sobre la comida y como se prepara." - Holly P.
Read more of this comment about Menú para dos"Un libro infantil bellamente ilustrado sobre la pertenencia y cómo encontrar tu lugar. Este libro es perfecto para leer en voz alta ya que tiene descripciones…
Read more of this comment about Los mariachis de Adela
The Wedding People
"Fans of 'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine' will like this one. A cheeky novel written by a British woman about depression and how to live despite it.…
Read more of this comment about The Wedding People