DNF @ 40%

I really wanted to like this as the premise sounded very interesting to me. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The writing and the pacing were all over the place. Most of the characters were strange in a way that I think was meant to be mysterious but was just odd. The saving grace for a while was Johnathan. It also took way to long to start getting interesting and by the time it did I just couldn't really be bothered to care. Just when I thought things might be picking up we decided to go on another long backstory flashback.

'The Librarians' is quite a roller coaster ride. It fits the "cozy" profile as it revolves around a small group of individuals working in a public library. Every one of them has a dark secret-well, some are darker than others-and their individual stories are insightful. There is a bit of international intrigue, a bit of not-quite-legal status, and a lot of misunderstanding. Eventually the main characters come clean to each other and unite to solve the murders of 2 individuals who had incidentally been at the library shortly before their deaths.

This was a pleasurable read that had quite a few twists and turns. The characters were multi-cultural and from a variety of backgrounds; it was interesting to experience their interactions and to watch them grow throughout the book. There was a slight bit of romance, but the book is firmly in "mystery" territory.

While The Librarians is a murder mystery set at a small branch library in Austin, Texas, it has an international feel due to its well-traveled characters and the disparate parts from around the globe that set the mystery in motion.

The story is told through four librarians’ points of view—Sophie, Jonathan, Astrid, and Hazel…four people with complicated and unrelated back stories that coalesce into a big tangled knot, forming tight relationships that transform them from ordinary co-workers into an impenetrable alliance that none of them could have foreseen. These deepening relationships will become increasingly important as they work together to solve the mystery and stay alive.

This is a multi-layered story with a lot of threads to follow. I admit, I did not always follow them and by the end I started skimming some parts. I think at its heart, this story is smart and sophisticated, but there were enough elements that felt convoluted to me where I lost some of those intentions.

As for the storytelling itself, I loved so many of the turns of phrase in this book. I found many of the passages to be smart and clever, showcasing the deft hand so consistent in Sherry Thomas’s writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for and advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review of this novel.

Omg! I love this novel! I love each and every character and all of their very messy lives.

This book is summer reading at its best! I gulped this classic murder mystery down. The best way I can pitch this to you is that this book is what if Crazy Rich Asians was set at a public library in Austin Texas, and all the main characters were librarians, and also they had to solve a murder. I realize that this pitch doesn’t make a ton of sense, but hand to heart, the best comp I can think of to the overall vibe of this reading experience is Crazy Rich Asians. It’s got juicy gossip, a touch of romance, everyone is very physically attractive. The book deals with some serious issues, but the tone is light and playful.

It’s fall in Austin, and Hazel has just started her new job at the library. She’s moved back home for a fresh start, but when her first event at the library involves two patrons who later turn up dead, has her past come back to haunt her once more? Her coworkers are delightful fully developed characters each with some secrets of their own. This is great for taking on vacation, or any time you need escapist fiction. It’s lots of fun, with a propulsive plot, but not too heavy.

Recommended for fans of Golden Age Mysteries, Crazy Rich Asians, and their local library.

I received an advance copy in exchange for this honest review.


Will post closer to pub date

This was a fun read. As a librarian, I appreciated all the quirks. The story is set in a small library in Texas. Two bodies are found after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night. The four librarians are great characters and I highly enjoyed this book.

I really wanted to like this book, but I often found my eyes glazing over while reading and not really absorbing what was going on. I may come back to this one when I'm in a different headspace, but for now this is a DNF.

I loved this book!!! Loved it! I would never in a million years have assumed that I would like a book written by a romance author venturing into a different genre. But, damn. What a compelling and satisfying read!

I love how all of the stories and characters lives intertwine and get tangled and revealed. From Astrid’s weird life changing “lie” to Hazel’s losses and the ache of Jonathon’s yearning. Gggaaahhhhhh. That was one of the best stories. I love Jonathon and his bigness of body and spirit. I love how the author clearly treasures all of her characters, wrapping up their sorrows and joys in this gorgeous, mysterious story that I just really loved. Gonna go read some more Sherry Thomas. 💜💜📚

As a librarian, I was excited to read this library murder mystery. Sadly I had a hard time warming up to the characters and didn't find the story very interesting or fresh. Not a horrible book by any means, but it didn't wow me, I found it a bit boring actually. Thank you #netgalley.com for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It starts out a bit slow, so give it a few chapters to warm up. Once it does, the plot unfolds in satisfying layers. We follow four librarians, each with their own backstory, and the chapters rotate among them. Because of the multiple points of view, I recommend reading this one in print or ebook rather than audiobook to keep everyone straight.

The tone is “cozy mystery with a darker tint.” It is moodier and more intricate than the usual teacup whodunit, and while the ending gets slightly tangled, most of the threads come together nicely. If you enjoy cozies with extra depth and don’t mind juggling several perspectives, this is a solid pick for your shelf.

This was a solid mystery read for me. There were a lot of secrets and characters to learn but once you got a bit into their backstories and the group became cohesive, it was a lot of fun!

Thankful for the chance to read this as an ARC!

A tongue in cheek fun novel of mystery and suspicion about four quite different librarians working in the same Texas library who are each basically shy about everything not related to their work as librarian. Each one has a rather complicated backstory that is threatened by the murders and the investigation. Delve into each personality as the story unfolds and get blindsided by the real laugh out loud stuff!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof from Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley via Netgalley. Pub Date Sep 30, 2025 **** review #goodreads @librarythingofficial @bookbub@the.storygraph #texas
#TheLibrarians by @writersherrythomas @berkleypub #NetGalley #communitylibrary #romance #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk

The librarians are hiding secrets and trying to not be the next one to come up dead. They must work together to save theirselves

I love Sherry Thomas’s historical romances and YA fantasy books so even though contemporary mysteries aren’t my usual genre, I was excited for this book just because she wrote it. But then it’s about librarians in Texas? Yes please! I can say that all the specific Texas references, including the Texas Book Festival which happens in November, are very accurate. I liked all the connections and revelations among characters; that really kept my interest. But I also really enjoyed the dashes of romance and the unique style of writing. The present tense gave it a distinct narration. And I appreciated and enjoyed the loose ends that were tied up for all the characters even after the mystery was solved. Will definitely recommend this book to a lot of people!

Sherry Thomas delivers a delightfully twisty mystery with The Librarians, a cozy-yet-sharp whodunit that’s as much about the power of found family as it is about solving murder. Set in a charming Austin library, this novel introduces a cast of wonderfully complex librarians—each hiding from their pasts—whose quiet lives are upended when a themed game night turns deadly. With warm prose and whip-smart pacing, Thomas explores the tensions between solitude and connection, safety and risk. The mystery is gripping, but it’s the emotional depth and quirky, lovable characters that make this story sing. A perfect blend of heart, humor, and suspense—this one’s for anyone who’s ever found refuge in a library.

This was a fast paced book however and the nuggets of information kept me from abandoning the book when I came across yet another library or librarian cliché that annoyed me as did the characters. I thought the characters each represented a typical librarian archetype that I've definitely run into as a librarian and they were well written and developed. The librarian clichés throughout the book will probably appeal to non librarians. However, as a librarian, there were a few that were extremely over the top for me. The descriptions of daily life in the library (toilet tongs...LOL) were very accurate.

Even though I could see the rom com coming from the beginning, the author did a good job of feeding us nuggets into the couples' past and letting their new relationship develop.

Overall, this will do well with the general public and I could see it being a good book club pick with plenty of areas for discussion. I'm rounding up from 3.5 stars for that reason.

The lives of four librarians are thrown in to chaos when not one, but two patrons are murdered. What is the connection and what do they each have to hide? A thrilling ride!

BEAUTIFUL!! I am so in love with Hazel, Jonathan, Astrid, Sophie, Ryan, Nainai and on!! Okay, we are not just clerks. I know we can't have the title librarian, but those of us who serve small rural communities still do most of what librarians do. The characters that come in...thankfully we haven't had any murders!! But the tons of donated books, sorting, odd characters, yes all. But the real heart of this, is how the staff become family to each other. And yes, the mystery is good.

This was a delightful romance/mystery crossover, and I'm not just saying that because of the highly accurate librarian representation! I think people really underestimate the skill it takes to craft something like this. The tension was maintained, the romance was heartfelt, and I finished the book feeling better than when I started it. Pure fun!

If you enjoy a cozy mystery, like ensemble casts of characters, just the tiniest smidge of romance, and think librarians are badass, this is just the book for you.