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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Meets NEEDFUL THINGS in New Lamar Giles Novel and More Book Radar!

Hello Book Friends!

Welcome to another Monday edition of Book Radar. Today, we’re going to do all the things you’d expect from a Monday Book Radar. We’re going to talk about books. We’re going to laugh together over bookish memes. We’re going to feast our eyes upon beautiful book covers. Of course, we’re going to look at cat pics. It’s going to be a good time.

Book Deals and Reveals

ruin road book cover

I’m so excited to share the cover of Lamar Giles’ Ruin Road, which is personally one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Over at Paste, there’s a cover reveal and an excerpt, so be sure to check that out! This YA horror/thriller, which is described as Friday Night Lights meets Needful Things, will be out in September. The cover designer is Maeve Norton, and the cover artist is Lola Idowu

Romance fans, here’s the cover reveal of Yours Truly by Katie Shepard. This novel about “renovating the family B&B with your ex-husband, his movie star ex-boyfriend, and their dozen screaming fangirls” is out on September 3.

And here’s the cover of Justine Pucella Winans’ middle grade horror novel Wishbone! The cover was designed by John Candell with an illustration by George Bletsis. It’s out on September 17.

This next one is a supernatural romance coming out on October 8, and the cover is super cute! So check out the cover of Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts.

Is sci-fi more your speed? Check out the cover of the dystopian sci-fi romance The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew. The author describes the novel as follows: “In 2460 Boston, a girl who sells her emotions to wealthy clients deals a bit of illegal happiness on the side. But a handsome rookie is determined to arrest her…if he doesn’t fall in love with her first.” It’s out from Joy Revolution on October 8.

Netflix has renewed Survival of the Thickest for a second season. The series, based on Michelle Buteau’s essay collection of the same name, stars Buteau, Tone Bell, Tasha Smith, Garcelle Beauvais, and Michelle Visage.

We’re getting a new book from Sabaa Tahir this year! Heir is hitting shelves on October 1!

The cast for Marvel’s Fantastic Four has been announced! The movie stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (aka the Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (aka the Thing). The Fantastic Four is set for a July 25, 2025 release.

Speaking of Marvel, here’s the official trailer for the new X-Men animated series for Disney+. It’s out on March 20!

Reese Witherspoon is producing a film adaptation of Curtis Sittenfeld’s novel Romantic Comedy. The film will be written by Jordan Weiss and Dan Brier. Curtis Sittenfeld and Ashley Strumwasser will also executive produce, with Lauren Neustadter producing.

Book Riot Recommends

Hi, welcome to everyone’s favorite segment of Book Radar called Book Riot Recommends. This is where I’ll talk to you about all the books I’m reading, the books I’m loving, and the books I can’t wait to read and love in the near future. I think you’re going to love them too!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Prepare Your Shelves!

tender beasts book cover

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury (Margaret K. Elderberry Books, February 27)

Everyone, I am fully steeped in the world of Liselle Sambury at the moment. I’m currently reading this novel and eagerly anticipating its release a week from today so that we can all discuss how much we love it together. And I do think you’re going to love it, especially if you love dark academia and YA that’s just a little bit (or, ok, a lot a bit) creepy. So prepare your shelves, because this is a good one.

When a classmate is murdered at Sunny Behre’s private school, everyone looks to Sunny’s youngest brother, Dom, who was previously found guilty of second-degree murder. Dom swears he is innocent, and while Sunny isn’t sure she believes him, she promised her mother she would take care of her little brother. Together, Sunny and Dom race to prove his innocence, a mission that becomes all the more urgent as more and more dead bodies are discovered.

What I’m Reading This Week

siri who am i book cover

Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida

The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Monday Memes

Y’all. I can’t tell you how much Belle from Beauty and the Beast was goals for me as a child. And the more I grow into my bookish adult self, the more I realize, much like Ariel’s incredible (but physically impossible) hair flip out of the water, everything Disney sold us about being a bookish beauty WAS A LIE.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

orange cat on a striped pillow

So, on Valentine’s Day this year, Ben and I went to Neko Cat Café for a special Meowentine’s Day Celebration! The kitties made us Valentines and special sugar cookies with sweet kitty messages on them. It was a good time. But obviously, after all of that hard work, the kitties were very tired. DJ Silly Goose here just remained passed out on this pillow for the entirety of his visit! Meowentine’s Day is not for the faint of heart!

And…that’s all! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Emily