Dear Book Friends,
How is your week going? Tomorrow is my birthday, and I’m so excited, because I’m going to Whidbey Island for the weekend. For my witchy people, that’s the filming location of the fall film classic Practical Magic. Pretty cool, I think. I will report back. In the meantime, let’s talk books.
Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Book Deals and Reveals
Kennedy Ryan has a sequel to Before I Let Go coming soon, and Cosmopolitan has an excerpt and the cover reveal! This Could Be Us will be out on March 5, 2024.
Here’s another exciting cover reveal—Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston. This “story of music, resistance, and acceptance” is out on May 7, 2024, from Tordotcom Publishing.
Here’s the cover reveal of Ijeoma Oluo’s Be A Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can, Too. It’s coming out in January with HarperOne.
Gregory Maguire is back with one final book in the Wicked series, and Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive excerpt from the novel. The Witch of Maracoor came out this week, so after you sample the story, visit your local bookstore to pick it up now!
Journalist Claire Atkinson has sold the North American rights to Murdoch: The Life and Business of This Century’s Media Master to Grand Central executive editor Karyn Marcus at auction. The book is set to be published in 2025.
Claire Anderson Wheeler’s debut novel, The Gatsby Gambit, was acquired by Viking at auction. Gráinne Fox, who brokered the deal, described the novel as “a clever, atmospheric mystery in the vein of The Christie Affair and Gosford Park,” featuring Jay Gatsby’s sleuthing younger sister, “the plucky and irresistible Greta,” who gets caught up in a murder mystery. The book is set for a fall 2024 release.
Roku has acquired the rights to The Spiderwick Chronicles after Disney+ declined to pick up the completed series. The eight-episode series will premiere on the Roku Channel in early 2024.
The Color Purple‘s musical film adaptation has a new trailer! The film hits theaters on December 25.
Mike Flanagan’s latest Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck, is set to begin filming in Alabama next week.
Goodreads has released a list of the top 66 horror novels published in the past three years, according to its users.
Check out these 2023 mysteries and thriller novels that may not have crossed your path, and find out why they’re great!
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!
Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.
Can’t Wait for This One
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (Berkley, April 7)
Since I was sharing my excitement for my witchy Practical Magic trip earlier in this newsletter, it seemed only right to share my excitement for another cozy witchy story coming out in 2024. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is another magical story from Sangu Mandanna, the bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
After Sera Swan was exiled from her magical guild, the witch begrudgingly went from being one of the most powerful magic wielders in the world to helping her recently resurrected Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire. Accompanying her on her new adventure as an innkeeper is her talking fox friend with a villainous streak and a cold (but HOT) historian who might just hold the key to Sera reigniting her powers. All he has to do is help her decipher an old spell book. There’s just one problem. The historian also happens to be her one-night stand from years earlier. Oops.
Frankly, you had me at talking fox. I can’t wait for this one. It hits shelves on April 2, 2024. So, like…still nearly half a year away, but who’s counting?
Words of Literary Wisdom
“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking.”
— The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
What I’m Watching This Weekend
Speaking of Mike Flanagan, we’ve got another entry into the Flanaverse out on Netflix this weekend. The Fall of the House of Usher is getting great reviews, and I can’t wait to watch! Will you be watching?
And Here’s A Cat Picture!
I got to visit one of my favorite cat cafes this week! Neko Cat Cafe is super cute, and their Instragram is super funny/cute. Watch out: it’s Pawctober, which means it’s Elvira Season! Proceed with caution!
These two cuties are Kewpert Mayonnaise (top bunk) and Zest (bottom bunk). I’m obsessed.
Aaaaand…I hope you have a great weekend, friends! I’ll see you soon!