2023 Upper School Book Recommendations: Upper School Readers’ Advisory: Reading Lists & Book Review Websites

US Book Review Blogs

• The Millions: essays, reviews, and book previews. https://themillions.com
• Book Rio: Fun, diverse, and wide-ranging book coverage—great for everything from fantasy to nonfiction. 🔗 https://bookriot.com
• Literary Hub (LitHub): Blends book reviews with deep literary commentary and author interviews. 🔗 https://lithub.com
• BookPage: Print and digital reviews of new books across genres.🔗 https://bookpage.com

Indie + Blogger Vibes

• Books and Bao – Global lit with a Western lens.  https://booksandbao.com
• Girlxoxo – Two bloggers covering book lists, monthly reads, and challenges. https://www.girlxoxo.com
• Novel Visits – US-based blogger https://novelvisits.com

Want me to narrow it down to blogs that cover a certain genre or type of book?

Professional & Editorial Reviews

• Kirkus Reviews: Known for sharp, professional reviews—often used by publishers and libraries.
• Publisher's Weekly: Industry standard for in-depth reviews of upcoming and newly released books.
• Booklist Online: Produced by the American Library Association; strong in both fiction and nonfiction.
• Library Journal: Professional reviews often geared toward librarians and educators.

Reader-Driven & Community Reviews

• Goodreads: Massive user base, lots of personal reviews, ratings, lists, and reading challenges.
• LibraryThing: Smaller community than Goodreads but more focused on serious readers.

Media & Magazine Book Reviews

• The New York Times Book Review: Literary reviews.
• The Guardian Books: UK-based, covers both mainstream and niche books with depth.
• The Atlantic – Books: Essays and critiques on new releases and literary trends.
• NPR Books: Thoughtful reviews and author interviews, often with a cultural lens.