Five librarians who were fired for refusing to comply with orders to remove books from library shelves or end diverse programming have won settlements in wrongful termination suits in four states.

• Suzette Baker, Brooky Parks, Patty Hector, Rhea Young, and Terri Lesley didn’t win a lot of money, but the money was never the point.
• Each win represents decisive insight into whether public libraries exist to serve the will of the taxpayers or the political whims of whatever party is in charge.

These five everyday heroes stood up for the First Amendment at great personal expense; no quarter-of-a-million-dollar settlement is enough to undo the damage of being fired, of being publicly dragged, of losing one’s income and health insurance, or of seeing one’s reputation be tarnished for upholding their ethical obligation to the field of librarianship.

• That the cases were settled out of court suggests that defendants in each case worried that they would not win the case, and it was easier–and less pricey–to settle outside the courtroom.
• It also underscores that the point is to get away with as much as possible, as quietly as possible.
• More interesting and more perplexing is how these wins stand in opposition to the decisions rendered in non-employee cases.

Even amid contradictory rulings from the judicial system, the point isn’t who is or isn’t granted First Amendment rights. The point is quiet compliance. The hope is that by passing cruel and overly broad laws, library workers and educators will simply do what they’re told, even and especially if it’s outside the legal and ethical mandates of their profession.

• At the end of the day, this is about dismantling a profession and the systems meant to uphold truth and fact, not partisan sycophancy and authoritarianism.

Fortunately for those of us who believe in the power of public goods and democratic institutions, as well as those who make these spaces true spaces of civic engagement, each and every one of these individual wins adds up.

Learn more about these cases and ongoing litigation. — KJ

An apocalyptic news cycle arrives right on time for two of the season’s hottest releases.

The United States has fallen in Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party, set in the spring of 2031. Civil war has fractured the nation, but the vibes are high at a party in LA’s Silverlake neighborhood…until the host disappears. Mandel, always interested in blending genres, builds a mystery into the heart of this speculative tale.

And how it might it fall? In End Times Fascism, authors and activisms Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor investigate the “apocalyptic alliance” of far-right religious groups, tech bros, and hardcore nationalists who are working to make life impossible for everyone but themselves.

Also hitting shelves:

• The epic conclusion to a beloved dark academia trilogy

• A spicy, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy with a heroine who can save herself*
• This Oscar-winning actor’s memoir of immigrating to the U.S., becoming an unlikely star, and making an even unlikelier comeback should be terrific on audio
• A leading music producer’s guide to success through failure

More of this week’s new releases.

Find and track all the most exciting titles with our New Release Index, available exclusively to All Access members.

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Calling all fans of the Queen of Mystery!

Have you ever read an Agatha Christie story and thought how nice it’d be to vacation in the grand estates her characters are in? (Minus the murder, obviously)

Well, now you can! 

High Peak Manor is the 11-bedroom manor house in the Derbyshire Peak District that Christie drew from for the setting of many of her most popular novels.  

Here’s the tea on High Peak Manor:

• It dates back to at least the 14th century
• It used to be an isolated farmstead at the intersection of ancient packhorse routes
• There’s a Medieval Great Hall
• Christie’s brother-in-law, Sir James Watts, initially invited her to the estate
• Christie visited frequently, often for writing retreats
• There’s a room named “Agatha’s room,” and another named “Poirot’s Perch”
• It’s gorgeous

The manor house is open to the public for $9,927 for 3 nights.

Now, if you have that kind of scratch, there’s really only one acceptable thing to do with the rental: have a murder mystery party, replete with era-appropriate costumes. —EE

The midterms are just 7 weeks away (be sure to check your voter registration), and America is as complicated as it’s ever been.

A little perspective can go a long way, so we invited history and civics educator Sharon McMahon—you may know her as America’s Government Teacher—to help us recommend books to help you understand this big, beautiful, messy country and why there’s still hope for the future.

Ordinary people change the world every day, and Sharon captures 12 important stories in her book, The Small and the Mighty, out in paperback today with a new afterword and study guide.

Hear the recommendations, which include nonfiction, fiction, and even some poetry, on Zero to Well-Read.

A new library called Good Circumstance opened this summer in the Old Town area of downtown Portland, Oregon. It’s dedicated to a providing safe, warm, and welcoming space, especially to women “who are marginalized, vulnerable, or at risk and women across all lived experiences.”

It’s not a public library in that it is not funded by state, local, or federal government dollars. It’s a 501c3. But the library is public in the most basic sense in that it is open to the public. And while it offers some of the same services you would find at a public library (books, internet access), Good Circumstance wants to offer something more:

“Research and practice show that while access to basic needs and services is essential, it is not sufficient on its own:

Women navigating homelessness or instability also need spaces where their nervous systems can settle, where they can experience ease, and where they can reconnect with themselves beyond crisis.”

Peer mentoring, recreation, and educational programming extend the idea of a library as a welcoming public space to a restorative one:

“When women have access to spaces that support regulation, belonging and continuity of care, crises can be de-escalacted and pathways to stability become durable.“

To find out more about Good Circumstance, visit their website.

B. K. Borison is the author of First-Time Caller, Good Spirits, and more bestselling romance novels. Her newest is Grim Tidings, a grim reaper x guardian angel romance, out today from Avon. Below, she recommends three of her favorite fall romances.

‘Tis the season for strong coffee, cozy sweaters, and delicious romances. These are three of my favorite love stories that are perfect for the -ber months.

Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi: This is a story I wanted to sink my teeth into, quite literally. Sean’s not in the market for love, but when she meets Julian, she’s quickly pulled in by his passion and beauty. What starts as a whirlwind affair quickly turns addictive. A dash of suspense with a healthy dose of romance, this book will keep you warm. No fire needed.

The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri: There is something about Tasha Suri’s writing that completely sweeps me away. Simran is a witch of the woods. Vina is a knight of the Queen’s court. When the two women begin to fall for each other, how can they surrender to their desires, when to give in is to destroy each other? Captivating, decadent, and otherworldly, this story will stick with me well beyond the season.

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia: Set in the autumn of 1997 in small-town Vermont, this is a novel for the girlies looking for a little nostalgia. Cliff is a hot single-dad baker. Michelle is a recent divorcee looking to reclaim her spark. When Michelle takes over her late mother’s bed and breakfast, he’s the charming golden retriever next door who breaks through her tough exterior. A fun, sweet, cozy slow-burn.

Did you know? On January 1, 2027, all of Agatha Christie’s novels will enter the public domain in the US.

Need a good cry? These romances will do the trick.

Pick up these books by intersex authors.

Here’s a 2-hour mix of the jazz in Murakami novels.

It’s time for publishing to reckon with AI.

R.F. Kuang recommends her 5 favorite places in Taipei.

Written by Rebecca Schinsky, Kelly Jensen, Erica Ezeifedi, Jeff O’Neal, and Danika Ellis. Thanks to Kelly Jensen for copy editing.

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