Ever wonder how librarians are able to offer a perfect book recommendation in any genre you desire? In addition to being book lovers, many also rely on tools like NoveList Plus, a collection of read-alike recommendations that is also available to Washington County residents when you log in using your library card. 

Once you sign into NoveList Plus using your library card number and PIN, there are many ways to find a great book recommendation. Here are just a few ideas:

Search by title or keyword – Looking for a book similar to The Time Traveler’s Wife? Want to read more about the Civil War? In NoveList, you can search for recommendations based on title, author, series, narrator, or keyword. And the best part? NoveList includes information about why the book is being recommended and reviews collected from multiple publications so you can figure out if it’s actually a good fit for you.

Browse by genre and lists – Love mysteries, but feel like you’ve read everything there is to read? Pick your age range, and NoveList will offer a selection of curated recommendations in the genre of your choice. These lists can be general, like “Classic Mysteries,” or more specific, like “Gumshoes and Flatfoots.”

Find award winners – Winning an award doesn’t guarantee that a book is going to be the right fit, but it certainly can help. NoveList keeps an updated collection book award winners that are organized by genre or age, depending on your preference.

Create an Appeal Mix – If none of those search tools work, NoveList has a very specific tool to find a book. The Appeal Mix allows you to choose a specific emotion or experience of reading, then offers a selection of titles that might fit the style you like.

Looking for a funny, fast-paced, and issue-oriented book? NoveList suggests Thank You for Smoking by Chris Buckley and Gun Guys: A Road Trip by Dan Baum. How about a dramatic, leisurely paced book with a spirited main character? The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon or The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue might do the trick.

This tool is great if you know what you’re in the mood for, but open to trying something a little new. You can also combine a genre search with an appeal search to really nail down your next read. And if you don’t feel like making your own mix, you can browse collections of “Bleak and Brooding” tales for cold winter nights, or “Relatable and Engaging” comfort reads, just to name a few.

While you can always check in with a local librarian to get your next book recommendation, accessing NoveList Plus using your Washington County Library card gives you just one more option to pick out your next read.

Need a little assistance navigating NoveList Plus? These videos, including a tutorial video on using basic search, can also help.