Perks of Being a Book Selector

One of the perks of being a collection development librarian is getting to see new books before anyone else. The downside? There are far too many to read. I created this space to keep track of the ones I want to read and to share recommendations with others.

My approach is simple: three books per post, brief summaries, and no critical judgments. I think of myself as a matchmaker connecting readers with the right book at the right time.

The Last Dangerous Visions

Edited by Harlan Ellison and brought to life by J. Michael Straczynski, this long-awaited sci-fi anthology arrives fifty years after the original series. It features unconventional, boundary-pushing stories that were commissioned decades ago and are only now seeing the light of day.

The Nightmare Box and Other Stories

By Cynthia Gomez. Described as a magic-soaked love letter to Oakland, brimming with feminist rage, this collection weaves horror elements rooted in contemporary Latine culture. It is the kind of book that reminds you fiction can be both deeply personal and radically political.

The Staircase in the Woods

By Chuck Wendig. An early NetGalley find that blends 1990s nostalgia with horror. A group of friends reunite to investigate a mysterious disappearance tied to their shared past. If you grew up in the era of Are You Afraid of the Dark, this one will feel like coming home to something that never quite let you go.