Dear Book Friends,
Hello from Belgium! I got to check out a bookstore in Leuven yesterday, and I was excited to see all the fun book covers in different languages. And yeah, they had some English-language books as well. I was able to refrain from buying anything, but I always love a bookstore, no matter where I am. I’m sure you, of all people, would understand this.
Book Deals and Reveals
Here’s a cover reveal and excerpt from one of my most anticipated books of 2024, The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim. It’s out on June 25, 2024, from Erewhon Books.
Voting is now open for Goodreads’ Best Books of 2023! You can vote in the opening round from now until November 26. The final round will start on November 28 and last until December 3. Winners will be announced on December 7.
Hugo Award-winning author duo James S.A. Corey—the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck—has announced a new sci-fi trilogy. The series will start with The Mercy of the Gods, which will be out next summer.
John le Carré’s son Nicholas Cornwell is bringing his father’s beloved spy protagonist, George Smiley, back to the page. Publisher Penguin Random House (PRH) has announced a currently untitled novel by Nicholas Cornwell that’s set in the decade between the end of le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and the beginning of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It’s set to release next fall.
Here’s an extended excerpt of Erika Johansen’s The Kingdom of Sweets. This reimagining of The Nutcracker is out from Dutton on November 28.
Netflix has unveiled a first look at the Dead Boy Detectives series, based on Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner’s Vertigo comics. The premiere date has yet to be announced.
Time has just posted their 100 Must-Read Books of 2023, including literary fiction, poetry, celebrity memoirs, and more.
Stay in the know. These are the most popular books trending on TikTok right now, including plenty of romantasy reads!
Barnes & Noble has announced their Book of the Year for 2023 — plus the inaugural winner of their Author of the Year award.
We Need Diverse Books has launched a new website dedicated to Indigenous children’s and YA books called Indigenous Reads Rising.
The New York Times and New York Public Library have announced their best illustrated children’s books of 2023.
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!
Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.
Can’t Wait for This One!
Like Love by Maggie Nelson (Graywolf Press, April 2, 2024)
Maggie Nelson is an award-winning author whose writing defies classification. She writes poetry, essays, art criticism, memoir, queer theory, and much more all in one. Like many others, I have been wowed by her books, especially The Argonauts, and now her latest book, Like Love, collects 20 years of the author’s work into a collection of essays and conversations.
Through these essays, Nelson covers a wide range of topics, but she comes back to a lot of the core topics that interest the author: feminism, queer issues, the nature of art and creativity, and love and friendship. These essays give us insight into Nelson’s life, her way of thinking, and the creative process of writing some of her most beloved works, like The Argonauts and Bluets. This book won’t be out until April 2024, but it’s definitely one worth looking forward to! It’s going to be a must-read in the upcoming year.
Words of Literary Wisdom
“I seized the opportunity and asked him what I needed to learn about film acting. He thought for a moment and then said, ‘You must understand, Patrick, the camera photographs thoughts.’ Simple but profound. No matter what kind of acting you’re doing, you of course have to think. But the camera gets closer to you than any audience member ever will. What might be missed onstage, the camera will absolutely see.”
— Making it So by Patrick Stewart
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.
You know I love sharing a readathon, and Gabby Reads’ horror/thriller-themed readathons are some of my favorites. The whole idea is to make Halloween/spooky season a whole year-round affair, and this time, we’re talking Winterween, friends! This one’s starting in January. And we have a theme: Wicked Winterween. Check out all the details here!
And Here’s A Cat Picture!
I’m not at home right now, as I’ve mentioned, but my husband sent me this pic of Remy earlier today. I’m sure he’s crying about wanting treats, but I’d like to pretend he’s missing me. I miss him too!
And that’s all I’ve got for you all today, friends. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Get plenty of rest. Read lots of books. Don’t forget to drink water. Eat your fruits and veggies. Do you.