Sponsored by Soho Teen.
The latest novel from NYT bestselling author Samira Ahmed traces the lives of two young women fighting to write their own stories. It’s August in Paris and 17-year-old Khayyam just got rejected by her boyfriend and dream college. Two centuries earlier, Leila is struggling to survive the Pasha who has “gifted” her with favored status in his harem. In the present day, Khayyam connects allusions to a 19th-century Muslim woman whose path intersected with Alexandre Dumas, Eugène Delacroix, and Lord Byron. Across centuries, Leila and Khayyam’s lives intertwine, and as one woman’s long-forgotten life is uncovered, another’s is transformed.
Hello, friends! It is Week 4 here in my secret volcano lair, and much is the same. I have been reading and doing a lot of jigsaw puzzles. The cats have been napping, and watching all the new spring critters, and trying to eat jigsaw puzzle pieces. The spring critters have been eating from our compost pile outside, and taunting the cats inside the house. Circle of life, or something.
You know how this goes by now: There’s not much more going on in the book world right now than delays and cancelations, but I do have a few exciting things to tell you. And here’s where you can learn more about COVID-19 Updates from the Bookish World. We continue to update it regularly.
Whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I am sending you virtual hugs. Please try and enjoy the rest of your week as best you can, and remember to stay inside and wash your hands. We’re going to be okay, eventually. I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty
Here’s Monday’s trivia question: Which writer had over 30 honorary degrees and her own line of Hallmark cards? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reels, and Squeals!
Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer will be in the Call Me By Your Name sequel adaptation.
Here’s the cover reveal of Prime Deceptions, the sequel to Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes.
Congratulations to Rioter Tirzah Price on her YA debut, the first book in her Jane Austen Murder Mystery series!
Here’s the first look at Just Like You, Nick Hornby’s new novel.
Nicole Kidman will produce and star in an adaptation of Janelle Brown’s Pretty Things.
This upcoming book from Ryka Aoki sounds so good!
The premiere date for the Snowpiercer television adaptation starring Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly has been moved up.
Book Riot Recommends
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR!
Excited to read:
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole (William Morrow Paperbacks, September 15)
I have read many of Cole’s romance novels, but this is her first thriller and I am HERE. FOR. IT. It’s being pitched as ‘Get Out meets Rear Window.’ It’s about a woman who does a deep dive into the history of her Brooklyn neighborhood, and discovers a disturbing past. And the past just might be coming back to live on her block. YES, PLEASE. I just snagged a copy of this and look forward to reading it as soon as I can!
What I’m reading this week:
Red Pill: A Novel by Hari Kunzru
Afterland by Lauren Beukes
Missionaries: A Novel by Phil Klay
Braised Pork: A Novel by An Yu
The Eighth Life: for Brilka by Nino Haratischvili
Pun of the week:
How do you throw a space party? You planet.
Here’s a cat picture:
And this is funny.
What a great kid question. (Warning: You will see pictures of snakes when you click on this.)
Trivia answer: Maya Angelou.
You made it to the bottom! Thanks for reading! – xo, L