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Get handpicked recommendations from your local library

Ask for a Book is currently only available in the library services listed above.
The Guilded Ones by Namina Forna

How it works

Icon: Choose in a different way

Choose in a different way

Instead of genres, we'll show you book covers. Instead of subjects, we'll show you intriguing themes.

Icon: Get your book suggestions

Get your book suggestions

Real library people will use their expertise to email you recommendations that match your preferences.

Icon: Pick up your books

Pick up your books

Your local library will let you know when your books are ready to collect. Pick them up and start reading!

What ASK readers say

Getting the best from ASK

Choose between Cover, Theme and Family

If you prefer to read fiction, try Cover design. If you’re interested in non-fiction, choose a Theme. You may find a mix of both in the suggestions we make but you’ll get more fiction one way and more non-fiction the other. If you’re looking for books to share with your kids, go to Family.

Sometimes the books we choose will deliver what you expect, and sometimes they may be a bit different. We will use the full range of our libraries’ rich and deep collections to help you discover new books and new authors.

They are all good stories.

You can use this service as many times as you like.

You can go deep in one area that interests you – make a similar choice twice and get different books each time. Or mix it up to get one suggestion that looks like your usual reading; one suggestion that might open up a new direction; and one that looks intriguing but you have no idea if you’ll like it. It’s all free so you have nothing to lose. Who knows where you’ll end up.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.