Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’m coming at you with new releases and some short fiction collections — it’s a short fiction kind of week. Over the weekend, my home state had a massive wind storm, which led to our power company cutting off our power for almost 24 hours out of fire concerns. The good news? We all got a lot of reading done, at least. I hope your weekend was less spicy than that! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help with handpicked recommendations. Tell the Bibliologists at Tailored Book Recommendations about what you love and what you don’t. You can get your recommendations via email or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18! Subscribe today.
Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.
Bookish Goods
Danger: Black Hole Gate Sign by FlyingPigPrintery
I’m still looking for a sign to hang over the basement steps in my house, and this one has catapulted to the front of the line. $10
New Releases
The Monstrous Misses Mai by Van Hoang
In 1950s Los Angeles, aspiring fashion designer and first-generation child of Vietnamese immigrants Cordelia Mai Lin seems to be one of the few people the city isn’t offering opportunity after opportunity to. She meets kindred spirits Tessa, Audrey, and Silly after renting a cheap apartment, and they struggle in vain to achieve their goals — until their landlord’s mysterious friend offers them a chance to fulfill all their dreams. It just takes a little magic…and a small sacrifice.
A Better World by Sarah Langan
Plymouth Valley seems like a rarified haven of a town, and all it requires is employment by the company that owns it. The Farmer-Bowens family jumps at the chance to move in, even though it requires Linda to leave her own medical career in favor of her husband’s probationary employment. But there’s trouble just under the surface of suburban paradise, where the residents adhere to something called the Hollow, a strange set of customs and beliefs. And they’re scared of something, even if no one will say what…
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
I have declared it short story week — because why do I need a reason to shout about short stories? — so here’s your first installment.
Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap
Isabel Yap’s debut collection combines her wonderful prose with urban legends, magic, and the stories immigrants tell.
The Proper Thing and Other Stories by Seanan McGuire
Seanan McGuire’s short fiction (like her long fiction) is always eclectic, and her latest collection is no exception. Also, how can you not love this cover?
See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.