Book Pals,
Mondays just keep coming, don’t they? And with Monday, another Book Radar. I’ve just poured myself a fresh cup of coffee, I got myself a snack, and I’m ready to get cozy and chat books. Are you with me? Let’s just hop right into it. Unless you also need to grab a coffee and a snack. If so, go do that, come back, and I’ll wait.
Okay, ready? Let’s go.
Book Deals and Reveals
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Super exciting cover reveal coming through. Charlie Jane Anders’s Promises Stronger Than Darkness, the third book in the Unstoppable Trilogy, is coming out on April 11. And here’s the cover reveal. You can preorder the book now!
Next up, here’s the cover reveal of Leah Johnson’s middle grade novel Ellie Engle Saves Herself. Johnson’s debut MG novel is out from Disney Hyperion in spring 2023.
Camille Kellogg has revealed the cover of her romcom novel Just As You Are. Kellogg tweeted, “When I first came out, I felt so desperate for guidance. I had no idea how queer people lived or if people like me got happy endings. Years later, I set out to write the book that younger me so desperately needed to read. Today, that book has a COVER!!!” This one’s out in April.
Here’s another romcom you won’t want to miss. And yes, another cover reveal. Check out the cover to Abby Jimenez’s Yours Truly, which will also be out in April.
HarperOne has purchased the rights to Michelle Young’s The Art Spy: The Untold Story of World War II Resistance Spy Rose Valland, a book about a French art historian who tracked down looted artworks during WWII.
As part of a two-book deal, Del Rey has acquired the rights to Lady Makbeth by Ava Reid, author of The Wolf and the Woodsman. The novel is pitched as “Circe meets Wolf Hall” — a “reimagining of Shakespeare’s play in which Lady Makbeth is given a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.”
Anchor Books acquired, at auction, world rights to marine biologist Jasmin Graham’s Sharks Don’t Sink. Graham is the co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support and opportunities for other young women of color in marine studies.
A new PEN America report has found that the increase in educational gag orders has come with a host of other issues.
Book Riot Recommends
I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!
Prepare Your Shelves!
We Spread by Iain Reid (Galley/Scout Press, September 27)
So I just finished reading this book, the latest from Iain Reid, the author of bangers like I’m Thinking of Ending Things and Foe. And I guess this is when I reveal to you all my greatest fear. When I was reading this, I told my husband, “I’m reading about my greatest fear. This woman loses her partner and is sent to live in a nursing home where she starts losing track of time.” And my husband said, “Wow, that’s your greatest fear.” So confirmed. I am terribly, terribly afraid of getting older and losing control of my brain. But it gets way scarier from there, friends, so if you’re in the mood to be deeply unsettled, you’ve got the right book here.
For some reason, I really love books that make me feel a sense of deep, ominous dread. And I know I’m not alone out there, so if that sounds like you too, then read on!
Here’s a liiittle bit more detail about the plot (without giving too much away): Penny is an artist who has lived in the same apartment for decades. Now her longterm partner is dead, and caring for herself alone in her home is becoming more of a struggle. Thankfully (or perhaps not so thankfully), unbeknownst to her, arrangements have been made.
So Penny is moved to an assisted living facility, where at first things seem to be going well. She quickly finds a place for herself in the small community, and she even starts to paint again. But something…just seems off. As the days start to blur, Penny loses track of time and feels uncertain of everything (and everyone) around her. Is she experiencing the destructive effects of aging, or is something more unsettling happening?
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
What I’m Reading This Week
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You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
The Verifiers by Jane Pek
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
Monday Memes
So, last week a school district in Texas instructed librarians and teachers to remove/review 41 books, almost all of the books are about race, racism, sexuality, and/or gender identity. So you know I had to share a rage meme, especially when once again it’s Our Flag Means Death-related. Sometimes you have to laugh to stop from screaming.
And Here’s A Cat Picture!
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I really love how much the cats love this window. And the weather has been nice, so they love basking in the sunshine and watching all the animals and people in the park across the street. I’ve heard Seattle won’t stay sunny forever, so we’re all just trying to enjoy it while it lasts.
And with that, we’ve kick off another week! I hope it’s a good one for you. See you back here on Thursday!