Dear Book Friends,
Welcome to another Thursday Book Radar! It’s been a really busy week over here, and the weekend’s not going to slow down. I’m hoping maybe I can get some sleep…next week. But I hope you’re feeling well-rested and on top of your game this week! If not, the weekend is almost here! Woo! Let’s chat books.
Book Deals and Reveals
Rainbow Rowell is back with a new novel, and People has an early sneak peek. Slow Dance is out on July 23 from William Morrow.
Michelle Yeoh has been cast to star in Blade Runner 2099, a new Blade Runner sequel series in the works at Amazon Prime Video. Amazon declined to comment on specific character details.
And here’s the cover of the upcoming novel from Ann Hood, The Stolen Child. It’s out on May 7 from W.W. Norton & Company.
Check out the cover of this upcoming anthology, Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror. This collection of eclectic horror short stories, edited by Ellen Datlow, is coming out on September 10 from Tachyon Publications.
George A. Romero, the director of Night of the Living Dead, will posthumously publish a new novel, co-written by Daniel Kraus. It’s out on September 3.
Priscilla Presley is set to publish a new memoir with Hachette Books. In the book, Presley opens up about “life after Elvis; the passing of her daughter, Lisa Marie; Lisa Marie’s marriage to Michael Jackson; and forging her own identity as an actress and businesswoman, as well as offering never-before-shared intimate stories about her romantic life with Elvis.” It’s out in fall 2025.
The once highly-anticipated book festival Readers Take Denver is now being called the “Fyre Festival of Books.” The four-day event took place April 18-21 and turned into an utter disaster.
Oprah has announced her 105th book club pick, and it’s Long Island by Colm Tóibín.
The Winners of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize have been announced! Check out the winners and finalists here.
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!
Looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift? Go beyond the tried and true flowers and chocolate and give the gift of reading with Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists are standing by to help your mom find her next favorite read, delivered right to her inbox or doorstep. And with gifts starting at just $18, there’s something for any budget! Head to mytbr.co/gift to send the gift of reading to the book nerd in your life!
Can’t Wait for This One!
I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram (Forever, August 27)
In late August, we’re getting a new book from Adib Khorram, the William C. Morris Award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay. And I really can’t wait for this one. With this novel, Khorram is making his adult debut, and it’s a queer romantic comedy that promises to genuinely have readers laughing out loud.
It all starts with a case of mistaken identity. Farzan Alavi is just minding his business, drowning his sorrows in wine at Kansas City’s newest wine bar, hoping to put his recent break-up in his past. Then, without understanding why, Farzan finds himself escorted to the bar’s VIP table, where he is wined and dined and treated to the best meal of his life. Why though? Sommelier David Curtis thinks Farzan is an influential food critic. Oops.
David only finds out the truth about Farzan after the two have a hot one-night stand. But it’s definitely only going to be a one-night thing if David has anything to say about it. David has all eyes on work at the moment, and he has no interest in pursuing a relationship. So that is the end of that, right? Wrong.
When Farzan inherits his family’s bistro, he suddenly finds himself in need of David’s restaurant expertise. Now the two agree to meet up again, but it’s all going to be strictly professional, right? Yeah, we’ll see.
Words of Literary Wisdom
“Trust people’s actions, not their words. Don’t love anyone who isn’t ready to love you back. Let go of the people who don’t hold on to you. Don’t wait on anyone who’s in no rush to get to you.”
— Funny Story by Emily Henry
What’s Up in the Book Community?
My iPhone is constantly telling me I spend too much time staring at my screen, which is honestly so rude. But this means I spend a lot of time scrolling around the online book community: BookTube, Bookstagram, BookTok, BookLinkedIn (JK. That’s not a thing…I don’t think). You get the idea. Don’t have the time, energy, or the will to do all of that yourself? No problem. I got you. In this weekly section of Book Radar, we’ll take a look at something cool, interesting, and/or newsy that’s going on in the book community.
Friends, I don’t know if you’ve been keeping up with what’s going on with author Freydis Moon and their alleged multiple identities in the literary world, but it’s a wild web of deceit. You can read more about the scandal here, or if you’re more of a YouTube video essay person (like me), some of my fave YouTubers have covered this: WithCindy and Jess Owens.
And Here’s A Cat Picture!
I don’t know if you can see, but maybe if you zoom into the nose, you’ll be able to see Murray’s beautiful, perfect little nose freckles. I love this angel cat so much. I haven’t been home much this week, and I miss snuggling!
Hopefully, you have lots of cat snuggles in your future this weekend. I will see you on Monday!