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Book Radar

A New Novel from Hanya Yanagihara and More Book Radar!

Happy Monday, star bits! I hope you all have had a pleasant weekend. I cannot say what kind of weekend I have had, because I am actually writing this a bit early. I’m headed to get a vaccine shot on Saturday, and I wanted to get all my work out of the way so I could just relax for the weekend. I bet you can’t guess what my plans are. SPOILER: It’s reading books! I have some great books lined up, as you’ll see below.

Moving on: I have some exciting book news for you today. Can you believe we’re finally getting a new Hanya Yanagihara?!? I also have a look at a deliciously dark thriller, plus cover reveals, a terrible pun, a naughty orange gremlin, and trivia! Let’s get started, shall we?

Here’s Monday’s trivia question: “I am a coward. I wanted to be heroic and I pretended I was. I have always been good at pretending.” These are the opening lines of what book? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Steph Curry has chosen The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna for his book club.

Here’s the newest trailer for the adaptation of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

Hanya Yanagihara’s third novel will publish in early 2022.

Here’s the first look at the ninth novel in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander saga.

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson is going to be a series.

Elizabeth Acevedo is publishing her first novel for adults.

Mckenna Grace and Lexi Underwood have joined the cast of the series adaptation of R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond.

Here’s the cover reveal of Fools In Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales edited by Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos.

Foz Meadows announced a new novel.

Here’s the first look at Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson.

Here’s the cover reveal of Dava Shastri’s Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti.

Fabien Frankel has joined the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon.

Anika Noni Rose has joined the Let the Right One In Showtime pilot.

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! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Loved, loved, loved: 

The Collective by Alison Gaylin (William Morrow, November 2)

This is a really dark thriller, but I also thought it was really well done. (But remember before you get to the content warnings at the bottom that I told you it was dark, because there are a LOT of warnings.)

Five years ago, the college student responsible for Camille’s teenage daughter’s death was acquitted. The loss of her daughter coupled with getting no justice for her death has left Camille angry and reeling. Her marriage has crumbled, many of her friends have stopped calling, and she looks to alcohol for comfort while she obsesses over her daughter’s killer. Until the day she’s invited to a website for grieving mothers. There, she finds other women like herself to talk to, women who do not want to “move on” or “get over it.” They are able to openly discuss their revenge fantasies about the people responsible for the death of their children without fear of judgement.

And then Camille gets a special invitation: what if those revenge fantasies could become a reality? Suddenly she finds herself involved in anonymous vigilante justice, carrying out small tasks that help add up to large outcomes. But when Camille starts to worry that vengeance may not actually be the answer, will she be able to leave the group with her life?

This is a very dark, compelling thriller. It has a kind of Strangers on a Train feel, but with a lot of people involved, instead of two. I really liked how the internet and technology played a role in the collective’s work. I also thought it made great points about grief. Who decided there was a limit to how long people can grieve? Gaylin also highlights very real occurrences, such as the lack of justice for many victims. I also thought it was a great ending, but I think it’s going to be a divisive one. I am excited to hear what other people think about it! Now, here come those warnings I told you about.

(CW for mentions of child murder, suicide, sexual assault, and bullying; loss of a child, car accidents and death caused by car, murder, drowning, chemical use and abuse and death by overdose, death by medical negligence, grief, trauma, and death by falling.)

What I’m reading this week.

cover of seven demons by aidan truhen

Seven Demons by Aidan Truhen

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno

The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Alison Heller

The Pessimists by Bethany Ball

The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Groan-worthy joke of the week: 

How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans.

And this is funny:

This could be his author photo.

Happy things:

Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:

  • This is a Robbery and Made You Look: I am completely immersed in these stories. Please give me all your recommendations for art heist and forgery documentaries.
  • Columbo: The other day I saw a picture of Peter Falk on Instagram, and I wondered, “Is Columbo streaming anywhere?” The answer was yes! (Peacock!) So I decided to have a marathon viewing this week. I’m over 1/3 of the way through the whole series, which involved 68 episodes spread out over almost 35 years when it originally aired. I know I saw a couple of the episodes in the 1980s, but for the most part, these are all new to me, and I must say, it’s a delight. They’re so low pressure, low violence, just a lot of fun. Plus the jolt of nostalgia that always comes with watching old shows.
  • Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.

And here’s a cat picture!

cat sitting on a bookcase in front of a wall full of stickers

Millay in the middle of the mayhem.

Trivia answer: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.

Remember that whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I am sending you love and hugs. Please be safe, and be mindful of others. It takes no effort to be kind. I’ll see you again on Thursday. xoxo, Liberty