Read-Alikes

Have you ever received a question like this?  “I have read all of (insert patron’s favorite author here) books and really want something else I can take home with me today.”  So, you dutifully go online or use one of our reader’s advisory resources to find similar authors.  Trouble is, the patron has also read all of those titles.  At what point do you simply offer another type of book rather than trying to find something, anything, that fits within your patron’s parameters?  I had a patron in the other day wanting titles “like those written by Jan Karon” because she liked the character development and “gentle language” of these books.  She also liked reading books in series.  I recommended the Fannie Flagg books, but then went way off course and suggested Anne Tyler (character development).  I always ask patrons to come back and let me know what they thought of my suggestions, but they rarely do.  Anyone else?  (Monica S.)