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Eighteen-year-old Amy Tucker is struggling to return to normalcy following her mother’s death, unsure if her world will ever be whole again. Meanwhile, in Seabrook, a small town famous for its haunted lighthouse, Ryan Porter lives a simple life, maintaining the ranch he shares with his father. Separated by hundreds of miles, yet drawn to each other by forces they can’t understand, the two spend a magical day together, quickly forging a deep connection. But all is not what it seems in Seabrook. When strange events begin to occur, they question if their meeting really was an accident at all.
Happy Holidays, Book Friends!
Guess what? This is the last Book Radar of the year. So with that in mind, I do have a lot I want to say. I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to write this newsletter this year. Since I started writing the newsletter in August, I’ve gotten to chat with a lot of you, which has been great. And I just want to thank all of you for welcoming me and continuing to read. I hope I get to meet more of you in 2022.
I also want to say that New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day is my absolute favorite time of the year. I know time is a collective figment of our imaginations and that a new year doesn’t necessarily mean anything is going to change. But I love the hope and optimism that comes with starting a new year. I love looking back at what has happened over the last year and taking a moment to reflect. And I also love looking ahead and finding things to look forward to.
I know 2021 was not a kind year to a lot of us. I lost my sweet Maw Maw (my grandmother) to Covid this year. And I know many of you have lost people and have gone through difficult times this year too. I hope though when you think back on the year that you do have a few things that make you happy and/or make you proud of yourself. Heck, you should just be proud of yourself for surviving this year. We did it. We made it through. And while 2022 looks to be another year of uncertainty, I feel like we’re going to make it. And I do have some things I’m excited about.
For me personally, in 2022, I plan on getting back into yoga and meditation and taking more time to take care of myself. I tend to overwork myself and underestimate my own value, so I hope stick up for myself and give myself a bit more forgiveness and grace in this coming year. As far as reading goals, I want to read more while also giving myself permission to DNF any books that aren’t bringing me joy. What are your life/book goals in 2022? Feel free to let me know!
I know this introduction has been a little long-winded, friends. But I’m not going to see you again until next year! (Sorry, it’s a New Year’s requirement to make that joke at least once) Because this is the last Book Radar of the year, this one’s going to be a bit different, but I hope you enjoy it.
💚 Emily
Book Deals and Reveals
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Here’s the cover reveal of Tanvi Berwah’s upcoming novel Monsters Born and Made. This South-Asian inspired fantasy featuring sea monsters (yes!) will be out on September 6th, 2022.
Madeline Miller has announced on Instagram that her current novel-in-progress is a retelling of the myth of Persephone.
The Princess Bride meets You’ve Got Mail in Megan Bannen’s upcoming novel The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. Check out the cover reveal here!
And here’s the stunning cover reveal of Tanya Guerrero’s upcoming middle grade novel Adrift. This one’s also out on September 6th, 2022. What a good day for books that will be!
Solaris has announced their acquisition of The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu, a queer, locked-room sci-fi mystery inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This one’s also coming out in September of 2022, so maybe it’s just going to be a great month.
AMC Studios has snagged the rights to Rebecca Roanhorse’s pre-Columbian fantasy saga Black Sun. The show is being adapted for TV with Roanhorse and The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang executive producing.
Here’s a first look at Ingrid Rojas Contreras’ upcoming memoir The Man Who Could Move Clouds, which will be hitting shelves in July.
The African Speculative Fiction Society has announced their 2021 Nommo Award Winners.
The 2021 Hugo Award Winners have been announced! Check out the full list of winners and finalists!
Here are the New York Public Library’s top checkouts of 2021.
Book Riot Recommends
I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Favorite Books of 2021
Since this is the last newsletter of the year, instead of highlighting one book for you, I’ve got 10. I’m recommending 5 of my favorite books of 2021, and then I’m going to tell you the 5 books I’m most looking forward to in 2022. Fire up those TBRs.
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In the Event of Contact by Ethel Rohan — An incredibly moving collection of short stories all about the struggles of creating human connections. A perfect read for these strange pandemic times.
This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey — This one is an incredibly fun genre-bending YA novel that’s perfect for us millennials who are feeling nostalgic for My So-Called Life and all things 90s.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward — Such a unique, dark horror/thriller novel with surprising twists that felted earned. It was also funny! And it part of it was narrated by a black cat who reminds me a lot of my little Phantom.
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia — How do you write a moving family saga that brings readers to tears in under 300 pages? This. Exactly like this. I can’t stop thinking about this one.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson — This is YA horror done 100% right. I loved everything about this chilling haunted house novel/social thriller. Now I need everyone else to read it so we can talk about it.
Most Looking Forward to These Books in 2022
I’ve chatted about a lot of these books already. And if I haven’t said enough about them yet, then you’ll probably hear a lot more about them soon, so for now, I’m just listing 5 of the books I’m most excited to read in 2022 (in no particular order) along with their release dates.
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Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey — July 19th, 2022 from Tor Books
How to Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix — July 12, 2022 from Berkley
You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi — May 24, 2022 from Atria Books
Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow — February 8, 2022 from Dutton
Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James — February 15, 2022 from Riverhead Books
2022 Book Challenges
As 2022 approaches and you’re setting your reading goals, you’re probably also considering what reading challenges you might take on. I’ve already talked to you about the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, but if you want even more challenges for yourself (I know I do), here are some other ones you might want to check out!
- The Pop Sugar Reading Challenge
- The Monthly Motif Reading Challenge
- Beyond the Bookends’ Reading Challenge
- The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge
Reading journals are another great way to find fun reading challenges or come up with ways to challenge yourself. The American Library Association has teamed up with Sourcebooks to create reading journals to challenge you in 2022: 52 Award-Winning Titles Every Book Lover Should Read, 52 Diverse Titles Every Book Lover Should Read, and 52 YA Titles Every Book Lover Should Read. These are great journals to include to supplement your other reading goals for the year.
For me, there are books on each of the American Library Association lists that I’ve already read, but there are other books on the list that I know I definitely need to get to. And there are others I hadn’t even heard of before. So I’m going to be using these to see how many I can get to throughout the year. I know the point is to finish the list by the end of the year, but I see myself using them throughout the years, slowly checking things off as I work my way through other challenges as well. And that’s the great thing about journals. You can use them however you want.
What challenges are you taking on in 2022? Or are you more of a mood reader? Let me know!
Your Weekend Reading Soundtrack
Got New Year’s Eve plans? We’re having a couple of friends over for champagne cocktails and board games. Keeping it chill, trying to keep it to a small gathering. But we still need our New Year’s Eve getting ready soundtrack, because I’m still wearing a cute dress and doing my hair and make-up. This is my favorite holiday, after all. Feel free to pop this one on while you’re getting ready for New Year’s Eve night, while you’re hanging out on New Year’s Eve, while you’re finishing up your last few books to meet your goals for 2021, or, you know, whenever. I hope you enjoy.
And Here’s a Cat Picture!
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Is… this where cats go?
Murray seems to think so. Every morning (and only in the mornings), Murray likes to hop in the sink and make it his bed while I’m making my coffee and breakfast. I know I should tell him no, but it’s so cute? I’m the worst.
And with that, we say goodbye to Book Radar for 2021. I can’t wait to see you again in 2022. Sending you all so much love and good wishes for your holiday season and the new year!
💚 Emily