Next year’s Crete Reads is already taking shape. The library is pleased to share our list of 10 books under consideration for Crete Reads 2026. The titles span a range of genres—take a look and see which stories catch your interest! You can vote for your favorite book at https://bit.ly/CreteReads2026
- Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe
- The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
- Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
- The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
- The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
- The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
- Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
- How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Voting Stages
- Round 1: January 2 to February 15
- Round 2: February 16 to March 15
- Semifinals: March 16 to April 5
- Finals: April 6 to May 4
Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe (Contemporary)
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe comes her highly anticipated Where the Rivers Merge, the first of two epic and triumphant novels celebrating one intrepid woman's life across multiple generations in the American South.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (Fantasy & Historical)
From New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn comes a gorgeously written fantastical adventure that poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner (Historical & Magical Realism)
In 1791 London, Nella, a once-respected apothecary, secretly sells poisons to women seeking freedom from oppressive men, carefully recording each transaction in her hidden register. Her world is upended when a curious twelve-year-old, Eliza Fanning, becomes entangled in her dangerous trade. Centuries later, modern-day historian Caroline Parcewell discovers an old apothecary vial and begins unraveling the mystery of the long-forgotten “apothecary murders,” uncovering a powerful connection between her own life and the women of the past.
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (Romance)
In Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey, free-spirited gardener Hallie Welch is hired to revamp the gardens at the Vos family winery—home to her teenage crush, Julian Vos. Years after their almost-kiss, Hallie’s chaotic charm collides with Julian’s rigid, professor-like order, creating instant tension and undeniable chemistry. When Hallie drunkenly leaves Julian a secret admirer letter, their worlds intertwine even more. As Julian tries to focus on writing his novel, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Hallie, the woman who’s bringing color—and chaos—back into his carefully controlled life.
The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Romance & Historical)
This “masterfully woven…literary home run” ( New York Journal of Books ) follows four women across generations, bound by a beautiful wedding veil and a connection to the famous Vanderbilt family from the New York Times bestselling author of the Peachtree Bluff series.
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger (Suspense)
In this high-stakes thriller, extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan’s invitation to a daring game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island turns deadly when a storm traps the players and a hidden threat begins hunting them. Among the contestants is Adele, a single mother fighting to survive and return to her children. As the game devolves into a brutal struggle for life, Adele must navigate deception, danger, and the thin line between reality and performance—discovering that survival may depend on trusting no one but herself.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (Romance)
Felicity “Fizzy” Chen, a successful romance novelist, realizes she’s never actually experienced true love despite writing about it for years. Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker and single father Connor Prince is tasked with creating a reality dating show to save his job. When he meets Fizzy, she reluctantly agrees to star—on her own terms. As The True Love Experiment unfolds, both discover that real love might not be scripted after all, and Fizzy’s long-awaited happily ever after could be closer than she imagined.
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin (Contemporary)
The Music of Bees follows three lonely people in rural Oregon—Alice, a grieving widow and beekeeper; Jake, a rebellious paraplegic teen; and Harry, a socially anxious young man—whose lives unexpectedly intertwine on Alice’s honeybee farm. As they form a healing friendship and confront a pesticide company threatening the local bees, they discover resilience, purpose, and the power of starting over. This heartwarming debut explores grief, connection, and second chances.
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (Magical Realism)
Unlikely Animals follows Emma Starling, a once-promising healer who returns to her New Hampshire hometown to care for her dying, hallucinatory father amid the town’s opioid crisis. As Emma grapples with family tensions and her own lost dreams, she becomes drawn into the mystery of her missing childhood friend—whom no one else seems willing to search for. Blending humor, heartbreak, and a touch of the supernatural, the novel explores family, forgiveness, and the unexpected ways healing can take shape.
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (Contemporary)
How to Read a Book follows three people whose lives unexpectedly intertwine in a Portland bookstore: Violet, a young woman recently released from prison after a fatal accident; Harriet, a retired teacher struggling with loneliness; and Frank, the grieving husband of Violet’s victim. Through their unlikely connection and the shared love of books, they each find forgiveness, redemption, and the courage to begin again.
Crete Reads is a community-wide, year-long series of events, activities, and learning opportunities related to the content and themes of one book chosen by the public. Community members are encouraged to read the book and participate in programming centered around themes of the book throughout the year.
There are two main goals for Crete Reads: 1) encourage reading among people of all ages; and 2) bring the community together through a shared, common experience. Multiple copies of each year's selected book will be available at the library in a variety of formats: regular print, large print, Spanish, AudioBook, eBook, and eAudioBook. If a book club would like multiple copies, contact the library and staff can reserve them.
Previous Crete Reads! Selections:
2025: God of the Woods by Liz Moore
2024: No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
2023: The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman
2022: This Tender Land by WIlliam Kent Krueger
2021: News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Crete Public Library
1515 Forest Ave.
Crete, NE 68333
Phone: 402.826.3809
librarystaff@crete.ne.gov
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