Dear Reading Community,
Hello! Happy Monday! Guess what? We’re less than a week out from my trip to Belgium, so that means it’s time to start thinking about what books to bring along with me and what I can manage to finish before I go. I place a lot of significance on the books I read while traveling because I always remember that book when I think back on the trip, and vice versa. Like, I don’t know, for instance, when I think about the first time I went to Portland, I will always remember I was reading Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey.
Anyway! We’ll see what happens. In the meantime, let’s talk books.
Book Deals and Reveals
Tor.com has revealed the cover of Mouth, an upcoming debut collection from Puloma Ghosh. Tor.com calls the 11 short stories in this collection “eerie, uncanny, and surreal.” This book is out from Astra House on June 11, 2024.
HBO is bringing back House of the Dragon! Season 2 will premiere in “early summer” 2024.
Want to read romance but not sure where to start? Romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice has teamed up with Free Period Press to create a fun checklist of 50 must-read romance novels. You can pick up yours online or in-store!
Heartstopper fans, Alice Oseman has created adorable new Nellie enamel pins. 10% of the proceeds will go to Gendered Intelligence.
Here’s the cover reveal of Marjan Kamali’s The Lion Women of Tehran. According to the author, “This story follows two girls from different stations in life who forge an indestructible friendship through decades. All along, one of them, Homa, fights tirelessly for Iranian women to be free.” It’s out on July 2, 2024.
Britney Spears’ bestselling memoir The Woman in Me might have just hit shelves, but studios are already in a bidding war to adapt the book into a TV series, feature film, or documentary.
Britney Spears’s memoir sold 1.1 million copies in its first week. Here are some other recent celebrity memoir sales numbers.
TikTok star Harley Laroux will be publishing their novel Her Soul to Take with Kensington Books. The book follows “a college student who, while investigating paranormal phenomena, accidentally summons an ancient and seductive demon who helps her solve a string of grisly murders around her college campus, but also leads her to question everything she knows about morality and desire.” The book is scheduled for a February 2024 release.
Goodreads has announced its commitment to ensuring trustworthy and respectful reviews, and has described a plan to prevent review bombing.
This year’s annual Summer Scares spokesperson and timeline are here, and you’re in for a scary good time.
November 2023 horoscopes are also here, along with new book recommendations for each sign.
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!
Power up your reading life with thoughtful writing on books and publishing, courtesy of The Deep Dive. Over at our Substack publication, you’ll find timely stories, informed takes, and useful advice from our in-house experts. We’re here to share our expertise and perspective, drawing from our backgrounds as booksellers, librarians, educators, authors, editors, and publishing professionals. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and then get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox. You can also upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.
Prepare Your Shelves!
The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor (Park Row Books, November 28)
Readers (including myself) just can’t get enough of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. There are so many recent books that have given romantic gothic Rebecca vibes. The Hacienda. Verity. Mexican Gothic. You get the idea. Jillian Cantor’s upcoming book is also going to be one that’s great for fans of Rebecca, but not in the way you’re expecting.
After writer Olivia Fitzgerald’s retelling of Rebecca is a major flop, she finds herself battling a horrible case of writer’s block. So when she’s offered a high-paying ghostwriter job, Olivia is more than happy for the opportunity. All she has to do is interview mega-billionaire Henry “Ash” Asherwood, who is eager to spill all of the secrets about his late grandmother. Ash claims the story of Rebecca is actually his grandmother’s life story, and Daphne du Maurier stole it from her. But the more Olivia digs into Ash’s family’s past, the more horrifying the truth turns out to be.
Intrigued? This one comes out in November, so prepare your shelves!
What I’m Reading This Week
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Out There Screaming, ed. Jordan Peele
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Black Paradox by Junji Ito
Monday Memes
I have a confession to make. I’m absolute trash for a Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce meme. Especially when they’re about books.
And Here’s A Cat Picture!
Look who’s back in her home! I know I’ve mentioned that it’s getting colder here, and as it gets colder, the cats change their habits. As do we all! Well, Cersei used to go into this little cat house all the time, but during the summer months, she stopped doing that. It warmed my heart to see her back. She looks so cute! And she doesn’t even know she’s a cat cuddling inside a house that looks like a cat!
Friends, I hope you have the best week. We’ll talk on Thursday!