It’s Boba Time and More Book Radar!

Hello Book Pals!

I know we’re nearing the mid-point of the year, so consider today’s Book Radar newsletter are mid-2022 check-in. How are you doing? Have you done anything fun? Read anything good? Most importantly, have you survived? I would love to hear about it. Let me know! And until then, here’s a little look at what’s up in books.

Book Deals & Reveals

Let’s start with an adorable cover reveal. It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li! is Nicole Chen’s debut middle grade novel, and it’s coming out on February 28th, 2023.

And here’s the cover reveal for Kyla Zhao’s The Fraud Squad, a novel about a woman who schemes her way into Singapore high-society in order to get her dream job.

Here’s the cover reveal for Moses Ose Utomi’s YA fantasy novel Daughters of Oduma, featuring a song from the book’s album. This novel is out on February 7, 2023.

Léa Seydoux has been cast as Lady Margot in Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Dune: Part Two.

A new Marvel comic that reimagines Miles Morales as Thor is receiving a huge backlash for its stereotypical portrayal of a Black characters and a Black neighborhood.

Gill Hornby’s historical fiction novel Miss Austen is being adapted into a four-part miniseries on PBS Masterpiece.

Netflix has adapted How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan’s book about his experiences with psychedelic drug therapy, into a four-part documentary series.

The American Library Association has named George M. Johnson as the honorary chair of the upcoming Banned Books Week, which runs from September 18th to 24th.

This year’s winner of English PEN’s PEN Pinter Award is Malorie Blackman, best known for her YA series Noughts and Crosses.

A new report on the reading habits of Americans reveals that over 50% of adults have not finished a book in the last year.

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!

Favorite Books of 2022 (So Far)

So I’ve read a fair amount of books so far this year. Not as many as I was hoping I’d get to at this point in the year. But if you’ve been around for a while, then you know some personal life stuff has come up that got in the way. So it goes for everyone. Anyway, for the 2022 books I’ve read so far this year, here are my faves:

Sundial by Catriona Ward

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey

Wahala by Nikki May

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

Cold by Mariko Tamaki

I’ve written about all five of these books at some point in the newsletter. But if you haven’t picked up these five books yet, these are the ones I’d recommend you read. What’s your favorite book of 2022 so far? Let me know!

Books I’m Most Looking Forward to in the 2nd Half of 2022

I’ve been really, really vocal about how excited I am for The Weight of Blood, the latest from Tiffany D. Jackson. But in case you missed it, this is hands down the book I’m most excited about reading in 2022, and it’s coming out in September from Harper Collins.

Also coming out in September is another YA horror novel I can’t wait to get my hands on. And that’s The Getaway by Lamar Giles.

Other books that are topping my most anticipated list for the remainder of 2022:

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (July 12)

The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones (August 9)

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (August 9)

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings (August 9)

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales (December 6)

Again, feel free to reach out and let me know what you’re most looking forward to in the second half of 2022!

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.

Speaking of middle-of-the-year wrap-ups, BookTube is full of them right now. A lot of BookTubers are doing the “Mid Year Book Freakout Tag.” Here are some of my faves:

• withcindy (always a favorite)
• Nakia’s Hideaway
• Myonna Reads
• Jordaline Reads

I’m sure that there will be even more released as the month goes on, and I’ll be sure to pop them in here next week. But these should keep you entertained for now.

And Here’s A Cat Picture

Since we’re looking back at 2022 so far while also looking forward to what 2022 will bring us in the second half of the year, I thought this picture was appropriate.

Here is Remy looking outside the window into the sun but also looking back at me to make sure I’m paying attention. It’s a metaphor. For 2022. Right?

Anyway, that is all I’ve got for you today! I hope you’re having a wonderful 2022 so far, and let’s finish this year out stronger than we started! Or, you know, just do you.

💙 Emily