It’s that time again — new release time! Today, I have a wonderful historical novel from an amazing author, a linked collection of end-of-the-world romance stories, and the new novel from the author of The Guncle! I hope you are all having a wonderful end to your May. I am still obsessing over all the live camera feeds on Explore.org. The puffins have an egg in their nest and omggggggg! THEY ARE SO CUTE. (If I swim 114 miles off the coast of where I live, I could visit them.)
I am also excited to pick up so many of today’s releases! At the top of my list are Witch King by Martha Wells, Horse Barbie: A Memoir by Geena Rocero, and Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir In Archives by Amelia Possanza. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Kelly and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea, Raw Dog, and Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421.
But first, be sure to check out First Edition! BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.
And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
You knew I was going to include this one, I am sure. I love Luis Alberto Urrea so much! He’s one of our greatest storytellers. This beautiful World War II novel was inspired by his own mother’s work with the Red Cross. It’s about a young woman named Irene who joins the Red Cross and is sent to Europe during the war. There she makes the best friend she’s ever had in Dorothy. But do relationships formed in times of danger and chaos last? And will they make it out of the war alive to find out? This is a gorgeous love letter to women who served and to friendship and love, and a lovely tribute to his mother. (CW for war violence and death, domestic abuse and sexism.)
Backlist bump: The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
Even If the Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy
This is a fun romance collection that gives six authors an idea and lets them run with it! When an alarm indicating the possible end of the world is accidentally set off, six couples must take shelter, and secrets and desires are revealed as these pairs contemplate what they think are their last hours on the planet. What would you do and say at the end? And what will happen when they find out it was a false alarm? DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNN. Lane Clarke, Farah Heron, Taj McCoy, Charish Reid, Sarah Smith and Denise Williams have each delivered a fun, thoughtful take that answers those questions.
Backlist bump: The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
Five college friends who haven’t reunited for five years decide to gather again in Big Sur. Over the decades since they graduated, they’ve returned to this spot to party and talk about the good old days. But this time doesn’t feel like the other ones. They’re firmly in middle age, their lives are not what they thought they would be, and some of them are in serious trouble. Can they honor their pact to remind each other about why life is glorious (which they do by holding “living” funerals) when one of them is sitting on a secret that might destroy what remains of their friendship forever? Like The Guncle, this is charming and funny, but also broaches serious subjects. Related: I think it’s adorable that Rowley’s husband Byron Lane’s book Big Gay Wedding is also out today. It’s a double new book day in their house! (I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds fun.) (CW for illness and loss of a loved one, substance use, and suicide.)
Backlist bump: The Guncle by Steven Rowley
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This week, I am reading How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair, Kala by Colin Walsh, and slowly making my way through The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh, thanks to this post by Min Jin Lee. In non-book things, I started rewatching New Girl, because I apparently retained none of it the first time around. (Except that Prince was on an episode.) The song stuck in my head is “Biggest” by Idris Elba, once again courtesy of a commercial. (I’m so easily influenced, lol.) And here is your weekly cat picture: Here’s a rare visit from Her Royal Highness, Queen Millay. She’s over 12 now, but still races around like a spry little kitten. Probably because she gets like 22 hours of sleep a day. She might be part koala.
Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty