Author: Emily Martin

Spooky Season Isn’t a Time of Year. It’s A State of Mind.

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 3, 2023

Sponsored by

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. It’s November, but that doesn’t mean we horror aficionados have to shrink back in the shadows. I’m grabbing a gingerbread latte and picking up some new horror novels to read on my upcoming trip. The scary times live on! Let’s go!

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.

Bookish Goods

Edgar Allan Poe Shirt by Jennymeadow

Still riding the high of Netflix’s adaptation of Fall of the House of Usher? This is the shirt for you. It features a lovely picture of a raven and, of course, his famous words, “Nevermore.” $26+

New Releases

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng

I’m living for this cover, friends. Now that 18-year-old Sunny Lee’s pop star career has crash-landed, all she can do is reflect on the past. Once upon a time, she and her best friends Candie and Mina were inseparable. But then Mina unexpectedly jumped to her death, and everything changed. Now, Sunny has a chance to attend a K-Pop workshop with Candie and get some answers. But instead of getting the closure she wants, Sunny finds herself haunted by strange visions, and the other competitors in the workshop start getting hurt.

We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull

We Are the Crisis is the second book in Cadwell Turnbull’s Convergence Saga. A few years after the events of No Gods, No Monsters, the world is still reeling from the revelation that supernatural creatures actually exist. A werewolf pack is investigating the disappearance of some of their members, and the pro-monster activist group New Era is trying to work to bridge the conflict between monsters and humans and fight against the human-supremacist group, the Black Hand. As conflicts escalate, they reveal dark secrets about the gods that could change everything.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer

Still not convinced horror can happen in any season? Check out these holiday horror books that will have you sleeping with all the lights on. First up, Secret Santa. This book mixes horror with satire to tell the story of a publishing firm that holds a very spooky Secret Santa gift exchange. How can a gift exchange be scary? Read and find out.

Mistletoe by Alison Littlewood

Now for something entirely different (but still set during the holidays). Mistletoe is about Leah, who has recently lost her husband and her son. Determined to refocus her energy and avoid the pitying looks over the holidays, Leah escapes to a run-down Yorkshire farmhouse. But right away, something doesn’t seem right. And she keeps hearing the sounds of a child playing in the show. Is it the ghost of her son? Or is it something else?

See? It’s going to be okay in November. Plenty of things to still be scared about. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Book Radar

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 to Premiere in Summer 2024 and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 3, 2023

Sponsored by

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!

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!

calico cat in a cat house that looks like a cat

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!

Emily

Book Radar

Paul Tremblay Announces New Horror Novel and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 1, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to the first Book Radar newsletter of November!

I am still mourning October, and I’m generally not a huge fan of November if I’m totally honest. But I am going to Belgium later this month, so I’m going to try to stay optimistic. Hard to complain when you have something fun to look forward to! We have exciting books on the horizon as well, so let’s chat about them.

Book Deals and Reveals

On Halloween, Paul Tremblay gave fans a teaser video of his upcoming horror novel Horror Movie. It’s out in June 2024 from William Morrow.

Christina Lauren revealed the cover of their latest novel, The Paradise Problem. On Instagram, the authors wrote, “Y’all, if you are fans of The Unhoneymooners and Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, this will be the book FOR YOU!”

The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros, beginning with Fourth Wing, is being adapted into a TV show for Prime Video.

Here’s the cover reveal of the thriller Home is Where the Bodies Are, the latest from Jeneva Rose. The cover design comes from Sarah Riedlinger. The book will be out on April 30, 2024.

Author Nicole Chung has started a new newsletter! You can sign up here to get notes about Chung’s writing, updates about projects, pictures of dogs, and much more.

AMC has nabbed the rights to Nautilus, a new series that reimagines the story of Captain Nemo from Jules Verne’s classic novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The series is set to air in 2024.

Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi is being adapted into a Netflix documentary, and you can watch the trailer now.

Two new reading surveys of Americans show how many books they own, how often they’re reading each year and other reading trends.

Publishers Weekly has selected 150 books across a wide range of categories for their best books of 2023.

Book Riot Recommends

We’re here to enrich your reading life! Get to know the world of books and publishing better with a subscription to The Deep Dive, Book Riot’s staff-written publication delivered directly to your inbox. Find a guide to reading logs and trackers, hear about why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and more from our familiar in-house experts. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Can’t Wait for This One

to gaze upon wicked gods by molly x chang book cover

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang (Del Ray, April 16, 2024)

Looking for a new fantasy series to dive into in 2024? Be on the lookout for To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang. This is the first book in a new epic fantasy series following Ruying, a young woman who has the power to pull life out of human bodies. Is her gift a blessing or a curse? When an enemy prince discovers her powers, he certainly sees it as a blessing, and he asks her to help him. She will become his private assassin, taking out all of his rivals. And if she does this, he promises her family will never want for anything ever again.

Accepting the prince’s bargain would mean Ruying would never have to worry about her family’s well-being ever again. But it would also mean betraying her country to use the death powers she has always feared, especially because these powers take years off of her life every time she uses them. The prince promises he’s asking her to do something that would be for the greater good of the world, but can he be trusted?

This fantasy novel has a promising enemies-to-lovers romance, and it’s based on Chinese history and mythology. It features complex main characters that you won’t be sure if you hate or you love. What more could you want from your epic fantasies?

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Love can’t cure a mental illness. There are lots of ways to help him, you can just be there. To listen. To talk. To cheer him up if he’s having a bad day. And on the bad days you can ask what to could do to make things easier. Stand by his side, even when things are hard. But also knowing that sometimes people need more support than just one person can give. That’s love, darling.”

— Heartstopper: Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

What I’m Watching This Weekend

I know I’m late to the game, but I’m finally watching Fall of the House of Usher. I’ve heard so many great things about this show, but will it live up to the hype? I will report back. Have you watched it? Did you love it? Let me know!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

That feeling when you wake up and see a cat on your legs, just staring at you. Early in the morning, and he’s already giving me the “give me treats” face. But how can you say no to this face?

Okay, friends! This is all I have for you today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to chatting on Monday! Thanks for hanging out with me.

Emily

The Fright Stuff

Halloween is Upon Us, Horror Fans!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 27, 2023

Sponsored by

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Y’all. Halloween is TOMORROW! This is not a drill. I know we probably got up to Halloween things over the weekend (and I also went to see the Taylor Swift movie), but tomorrow is the real deal! How are you celebrating? Horror movie marathon? Trick-or-treating? ANOTHER costume party? Please make sure you do something, because we only get to celebrate this once a year. After this, the Christmas fiends take control. Take a deep breath and enjoy our final moments.

And now let’s talk horror things. Also, TBR things because you can sign up for our TBR service, where our bibliologists match you with your next perfect read. Sign up here

Bookish Goods

Scary Claws Bookmark by PiznPumpsClassic

I am OBSESSED with these bookmarks. They come in a bunch of different colors, and they immediately make every book you’re reading a little bit scarier (including I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, which I also highly recommend…even though it’s not horror). You pick your color and how long you want the bookmark to be. 2.5 inches is $6.75; 4.75 inches goes for $7.75. What a deal.

New Releases

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

We’ve got a bunch of exciting new horror releases coming out tomorrow, which is not surprising because, like I said, HALLOWEEN. But these are the ones I’m most excited about. First up, Nestlings by Nat Cassidy. This one’s giving serious Rosemary’s Baby vibes. After a horrifically difficult birth, Ana is scarred in more ways than one. Now, she and her husband, Reid, are desperate for some good news. When they win an affordable apartment in one of New York’s most preeminent apartment buildings, they think this is it. But if something seems too good to be true, then you know it probably is.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

At long last, this novel is finally coming out this Halloween! I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve gotten a new Tananarive Due novel, and it’s finally here! After kicking a white boy’s leg, Robert Stephen Jones Jr. is sent to Gracetown School for Boys in Gracetown, Florida. The reform school is a house of horrors full of racism, injustice, and the ghosts of the boys who died there.

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

Last but not least, this incredible horror novella is out this Halloween as well. Following the death of her estranged father, Rita wins a week-long artist’s residency in a secluded cabin. This is an opportunity for Rita to spend a week focusing on her painting, but it’s also a chance for her to reconnect with the father she never knew. After all, this cabin is located close to where her father grew up. But you’re a horror fan, so you know a cabin in the woods is always a site for creepy things.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

Can’t wait for tomorrow’s new releases? Want to read horror RIGHT NOW? Here are a couple of horror novels released earlier this year that I highly recommend. Natural Beauty is a mind-bending story about an unnamed narrator who quits her job as a pianist to care for her parents in New York City. There, she takes up a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store called Holistik and grows close to the owner’s niece, Helen. The two form a friendship that slowly becomes more, and the narrator becomes deeply wrapped up in the products and ideology of Holistik. But underneath its glossy surface, Holistik hides something sinister.

a graphic of the cover of Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez, Translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez, Megan McDowell (Translator)

Don’t let the page count of this one get you down. This is one of the best horror novels, not just of 2023 but of the 2020s. After his wife Rosario’s mysterious death, Juan and his son Gaspar set off on a journey to return to Rosario’s ancestral home, where her family gathers as a maniacal cult called the Order, committing horrifying acts in search of immortality.

I cannot stress this enough, everyone. I hope you have an incredible Halloween, and I wish you the best of luck as we bid October goodbye and head into November (SAD). I’ll see you on the other side. In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Book Radar

Michelle Obama to Narrate Audio Edition of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 27, 2023

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I’m just here chilling with my cat, soaking in the last few days of October. It’s been a great month, but there’s really nothing that could make October feel long enough. It’s the best time of the year, and I’m a little sad it’s almost over. Thankfully, we do have some book stuff to look forward to!

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

Here’s the cover reveal of Tom Selleck’s upcoming memoir You Never Know. The book hits shelves on May 7, 2024.

Michelle Obama will be narrating the audiobook edition of the classic children’s story Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. The audiobook will be available starting tomorrow, October 31.

A new series adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios. Veena Sud has just been announced as the showrunner.

Here’s the cover for the sapphic horror comedy thriller The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington. It’s out on July 30, 2024.

Vajra Chandrasekera has just announced his second novel, Rakesfall, which will be out in June 2024. The author tweeted, “Since the book is after all about the connectedness of all struggle against oppression, let me use this small platform for clarity: Palestine must be and will be free.” Read the full thread for more.

Here are Bookshop.org’s best books of the year — they include everything from nonfiction collections to out-there science fiction.

Scholastic Book Fairs will no longer offer a separate diverse voices book case. But they still fail to address many questions.

TikTok can be a haven for lovers of different genres, nonfiction included. Here are 20 of the best nonfiction books on TikTok.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman (Graphix, December 19)

October may be on its way out, but there is still plenty to look forward to in 2023. Namely, the fifth volume of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper is finally hitting shelves. And while this series needs no introduction for most, it’s still worth noting that this is a very exciting new release! And yes, I selfishly want to talk about it because I am deep in my Heartstopper era, love this series with all my heart, and can’t wait for this graphic novel to come out already.

If you’ve somehow missed Heartstopper up to this point, here’s what you need to know. The series follows the relationship between British teens Nick and Charlie. The story is sweet, like so sweet it feels like you’re being wrapped up in the warmest hug you’ve ever received. But Oseman’s work also doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects like homophobia, mental health, and eating disorders (just to name a few). Every topic is delicately handled, and the predicaments the characters find themselves in feel very authentic to the teen experience. Not sensationalized. As I was reading, these characters quickly began to feel like real people I deeply cared about. And if you’ve read these books, then I would guess you feel the same.

In the latest installment, Nick and Charlie are very much in love and have told each other so. Unfortunately, love doesn’t fix everything. And with Nick getting ready to head off to university next year, what does this mean for Nick and Charlie’s future?

What I’m Reading This Week

Out There Screaming, edited by Jordan Peele

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Black Paradox by Junji Ito

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

People Collide by Isle McElroy

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Monday Memes

Tweets about libraries? Don’t mind if we do!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

We recently got a new bed, and the cats are really loving it, especially as it starts to get cold outside. They’re ditching the window for the bed. Please ignore my disorganized shelf behind Remy. It’s a work in progress!

And that’s all for this Monday’s Book Radar, friends. I hope you have a great rest of your week!

Emily

Book Radar

Oprah Announces Her 103rd Book Pick and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 25, 2023

Sponsored by

Hello Book Friends!

Happy The Woman in Me release week to all who are celebrating. I’m listening to the audiobook, and I’m really excited about it. What are you listening to and/or reading right now? Let me know! In the meantime, let’s talk about all the news and buzz around books.

Book Deals and Reveals

Oprah has chosen her 103rd book club pick, and it’s Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward! A book we’ve talked about in this very newsletter. Wow, we really do have our finger on the pulse of the bookish world, don’t we? (Look, Libra season is over, October is almost gone, and I’m in my feels, so let me have this.)

A television adaptation of Lucy Foley’s bestselling mystery novel The Guest List is in development at Hulu. The series comes from Liz Tigelaar, the creator of Little Fires Everywhere and Tiny Beautiful Things.

Here are the winners of the 2023 Hugo Awards! The announcement was made live via the Chengdu Worldcon website on October 21st.

Black queer author Leah Johnson, author of You Should See Me in a Crown, is sharing the “inspiration and rage” behind her opening of Loudmouth Books, an Indianapolis-based indie bookstore dedicated to banned books and marginalized authors. Find out more about the store and upcoming events at loudmouthindy.com.

Cover reveal time! Check out the cover of Sarah T. Dubb’s Birding with Benefits. It’s out from Gallery Books on June 4, 2024.

Cosmopolitan is sharing a preview of Adalyn Grace’s Wisteria, the third and final book in the Belladonna trilogy. It’s out on August 20, 2024.

Tor Publishing Group has acquired three more books from Seanan McGuire to continue and complete the Alchemical Journeys series.

Penguin Random House is launching the Freedom of Expression Prize, a $10,000 prize to be awarded to high school students to combat book bans.

Although Divergent never got a final movie, author Veronica Roth tells Entertainment Weekly that she’s made peace with it.

Book Riot Recommends

Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.

Can’t Wait for This One

One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy (St. Martin’s Press, January 23)

Fellow millennials, we are reaching an age where our nostalgia for our better days is being sold back to us. And you know what? I’m buying it. I see this burned mixed CD on this book cover, and all the feels come rolling back. Tell me more about me, book. Tell me more.

Are you feeling that too? If so, then get ready for Kate Kennedy’s One in a Millennial, out in January 2024. From AOL instant messenger to American Girl Dolls to Spice Girls and every pop culture millennial moment in between, this book tackles what it meant to grow up during these important cultural moments. Moreover, Kennedy looks at how millennial culture has shaped who we are as adults (and as parents).

While you wait for this one to come out, check out Kate Kennedy’s podcast Be There in Five, a solo-hosted podcast where the pop culture commentator chats about all kinds of popular culture. This informative and funny podcast will give you a good sense of Kate Kennedy and what you can expect from her exciting new book.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“There have been so many times when I was scared to speak up because I was afraid somebody would think I was crazy. But I’ve learned that lesson now, the hard way. You have to speak the thing that you’re feeling, even if it scares you. You have to tell your story. You have to raise your voice.”

— The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

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.

Is reading the thirstiest thing a man can do? Yes, according to Bustle! According to a recent study, both men and women see reading as the biggest “green flag” in dating. And apparently men are using this statistic and posting lots of pics and selfies with books these days. Read the full article here, or check out what these books tell us about the men who read them.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

How is this a full-grown cat? He’s such a lil bit. We’re almost to November, which means it’s almost this little guy’s birthday. That’s right, everyone. Remy turns 2 next month! What the heck!

OK, and…that’s all for Thursday’s Book Radar! Have an amazing weekend. I’ll see you soon!

Emily

The Fright Stuff

All The Horror That’s Good for Cats

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 20, 2023

Sponsored by

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Are you getting all geared up for Halloween? What’s your costume vibe this year? Scary? Cute? Sexy? All of the above? Are you dressing up your pets? If so, please send me any and all pet pics. And while we’re waiting for those pet pics to come in, let me tell you about all the horror things.

Real quick: here’s a reminder to check out our personalized TBR service, where you can get book recommendations tailored to you.

Bookish Goods

Dracula Pet Costume by AieMing

Speaking of pet costumes! My husband is firmly against putting cats in costumes, but hey! If your cat is into it, why not? And this Dracula cape works for little dogs as well. Yeah, it might be too late to order this one for this Halloween, but there’s always next year. And just like…any random day you feel like having Dracula as a pet. $31.

New Releases

Christmas and Other Horrors, edited by Ellen Datlow

So today, I went into Starbucks, and they were already playing Christmas music. I was so upset! Let us have Halloween first, right? Well…I hate to say it, but October means it’s time for Christmas book releases as well. That’s just the way it is, friends. Thankfully, we have Christmas horror to look forward to! This anthology is a collection of horror set during the winter solstice. It includes new works from some of the horror greats, including Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu, and Josh Malerman. It hits shelves tomorrow!

All These Sunken Souls, edited by Circe Moskowitz

Horror anthologies! They’re so good! They’re so exciting! And here’s another new one you won’t want to miss. All These Sunken Souls highlights Black voices in horror fiction, including some best-selling faves and some brand-new writers. Contributors include Kalynn Bayron, Ashia Monet, Liselle Sambury, Ryan Douglass, and more!

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

the haunting of ashburn house book cover

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates

So now that I have cats on the brain, I feel like I should tell you one of my horror pet peeves. I love animals. And I love horror novels. But I hate that feeling I get when a pet gets introduced in a horror story and I have to spend the whole book wondering if the cat (or dog) is going to be okay. You all know the feeling. So as a favor to you (and myself), here are a couple of horror books that prominently feature kitties who do not die. Honestly, the best character in Darcy Coates’ The Haunting of Ashburn House is Wolfgang the cat. Read this book, and you’ll know for sure Coates is a cat person. And if you weren’t sure, just check out this Twitter thread.

The Walking Cat by Tomo Kitaoka

Have you ever wondered if cats would be able to survive during a zombie apocalypse? Of course you haven’t, because of course they would. In Tomo Kitaoka’s The Walking Cat, we get to see the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of a cat. Yes, the cat is the main character.

And there you have it! Cat-friendly horror and cat costumes. What more could you want? Dog lovers, maybe next time I can find some more books for you. But! In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Book Radar

Serena Williams to Publish a Memoir and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 20, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Monday, Book Friends!

We’ve made it to another Monday Book Radar, and I’m excited because we’re only a week (and a day) away from HALLOWEEN! Do you have any fun Halloween plans? I’m going to a Twilight-themed barre class. Yes, you heard me right. Okay, but while we wait for Halloween to get here, let’s talk books.

Book Deals and Reveals

Chuck Tingle’s got a new book coming out! Here’s the cover of Bury Your Gays, a “heart-pounding story about what it takes to succeed in a world that wants you dead.” It’s out in July 2024.

Serena Williams will be publishing a memoir. This is part of a two-book deal the tennis pro signed with Penguin Random House. The second book, according to PRH, will be an “inspirational” work, offering “rules for living that draw on her experiences as a philanthropist and advocate, and someone who has long sought to lift a diverse and emergent generation of young women whose aspirations are not confined to the court.”

Pod Save America hosts and Crooked Media co-founders Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor are publishing their first book, Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps. The book will be released from their Zando imprint Crooked Media Reads on June 4, 2024.

Salman Rushdie’s book reflecting on the attempt on his life in Chautauqua, N.Y., in August 2022, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, has been sold to Random House. The book will be out on April 16, 2024.

Britney Spears’s upcoming memoir The Woman in Me is already a bestseller ahead of its release. The book will be out tomorrow!

Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books has opened up submissions for the 2024 Creative Writing Awards. The awards partnership between Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books will award $60,000 in scholarships.

Simon & Schuster may not have been merged with Penguin Random House, but that doesn’t mean KKR’s acquisition of it is without cons.

Here’s the new trailer for the upcoming Netflix series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Expect to hear from all of your favorites from the Scott Pilgrim film adaptation, including Michael Cera and Chris Evans. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off premieres November 17 on Netflix.

Bachelor/Bachelorette star Hannah Brown is coming out with a romance novel. Mistakes We Never Made will be out in May 2024.

Book Riot Recommends

Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.

Prepare Your Shelves!

Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda Dewitt (Peachtree Teen, November 7)

A Valentine’s Day book? In the middle of the fall? You betcha! And you’re going to love it. This YA contemporary novel is super fun and has excellent ace representation. I feel like this is really going to speak to fans of Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. And it’s got excellent ace representation!

As the new student council president, Wren Martin’s first plan of action is to put an end to the annual Valentine’s Day dance. The dance is far too expensive, and it’s totally unfair to all of the non-couplely people out there —especially those who are asexual. But his vice president, Leo Reyes, is looking to make this year’s dance the biggest Valentine’s Day dance in the history of Rapture High.

Meanwhile, Wren has other stuff going on in his personal life. He’s joined an anonymous “non-dating” app called Buddy in the hopes of getting a sponsorship deal for the school. It was all supposed to be for research. After all, Wren — who is asexual but not aromantic — decided long ago that dating was way too complicated. But then Wren finds himself catching feelings for someone he’s met on the app. And right before the big dance.

What I’m Reading This Week

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Black Paradox by Junji Ito

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

People Collide by Isle McElroy

Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns

Monday Memes

If your friends aren’t impressed by your home library/reading nook, get new friends.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

If you’ve ever had a cat, then you know boxes are their favorite treat. I just got this belated birthday present in the mail, and before I could throw the box or any of its insides out, Murray fashioned himself a new cat bed. Oh well, this box lives here now.

And that’s all for today, friends! See you soon!

Emily

Book Radar

Scholastic Book Fair Puts Diverse Titles in Separate Category and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 18, 2023

Sponsored by

Dear Book People,

Hello and happy Thursday! I can’t believe we’re over halfway through October, but I’ve been trying to savor each day, taking lots of pictures and breathing in the fall air. How has your fall reading been going? Are you ready to talk books?

Book Deals and Reveals

More Tiffany D. Jackson news! The author’s first YA fantasy, Storm: Dawn of A Goddess, is coming out on June 4, 2024!

The Scholastic Book Fair has decided to put “diverse” books in a separate category and make them an optional offering at elementary school book fairs. The company claims that the only other option would be to not offer the books at all. Okay.

LeVar Burton will be hosting the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner. The event will take place on November 15, 2023, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Check out the gorgeous cover of Leslie Stephens’ You’re Safe Here, designed by Kelli McAdams. This sci-fi novel is out on June 25, 2024. You’re safe here

Award-winning actress Michelle Williams will narrate the audiobook version of Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me.

Paste has shared an exclusive cover reveal of Tricia Levenseller’s The Darkness Within Us, the sequel to the 2020 novel The Shadows Between Us. It’s out on July 9, 2024.

And Cosmopolitan is sharing a first look at Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ new series, The Grandest Game, set in the same world as The Inheritance Games. The first book in the series will be out on July 30, 2024.

Here’s the cover of Claire Messud’s new novel, This Strange Eventful History, designed by Jaya Miceli. The book will be published by W. W. Norton & Company in May 2024.

Here are 14 new October book club picks featuring a cursed town gothic novel, a Rasta woman’s memoir, a novel about small-town secrets, and more.

Book Riot Recommends

Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.

Can’t Wait for This One

The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones (S&S/Saga Press, March 26, 2024)

I can remember how thrilled I was when I discovered that Stephen Graham Jones’ My Heart is a Chainsaw was going to be the first in a trilogy. I absolutely loved My Heart is a Chainsaw, and I couldn’t wait to hear more of Jade’s story. And now here we are, getting ready for the third book already. Time flies when you’re reading really friggin’ good horror novels.

If you haven’t read the first two books in the Indian Lake Trilogy, I will do my best not to include spoilers here, but you might just want to skip the rest of this and go read it if you want to go in without knowing anything. In the third book, we pick up with Jade Daniels four years after the last novel. Returning to her hometown for the first time in four years, she discovers that much has changed about the way people see her and the town itself (like… serial killer cultists?!?).

But there’s one thing about Proofrock that never changes. The curse of the Lake Witch is still alive and well. And no one is safe.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Nena waited. After nine years apart, she still knew the rhythm of his speaking. She knew he had more to say, that he was searching for words or untangling a difficult thought. He was one of the few men she knew who spent time with his thoughts before speaking, even in the midst of an argument or excitement. It was one of the reasons she loved him.”

— Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

What’s Up in the Book Community?

Here’s something really cool! The Pudding has taken a look at over 1,400 romance novel covers featured in Publishers Weekly from 2011 to 2023 and evaluated the covers based on their raunchiness, art style, and racial diversity. Be sure to explore their visual essay, especially if you love romance (and/or looking at book cover trends).

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

The fall weather is beautiful, and the cats are really loving all the little fall creatures bustling around out there. From the safety of the other side of a screen door, of course. They mesmerized!

And that’s all for today, friends. I hope your weekend is wonderful. I’ll see you soon!

Emily

Book Radar

Tiffany D. Jackson Announces New Book and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 13, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Monday, Book Friends!

Well, I’m older than I was the last time you heard from me. Yeah, I had my birthday on Friday the 13th. Now, as an official old person, I’m here to offer any life advice or words of wisdom you need. Just know I charge $25 per word from now on. Because the older you get, the more valuable your insights are.

No? Not interested? Just want to hear about the books? Okay, I get it. Here we go!

Book Deals and Reveals

If you loved TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea as much as the rest of the world, get excited. The sequel Somewhere Beyond the Sea is hitting shelves in 2024, and here’s the cover reveal!

Here’s another must-read author with a new book coming out. Tiffany D. Jackson just announced her new novel The Scammer, but you’re going to have to wait til winter 2025. Already adding it to my TBR for two years from now.

Another one?!?! Yes, Casey McQuiston just announced their fourth novel (and third adult romance). McQuiston says The Pairing is about “two gloriously slutty bisexual exes having a transformational three-week reunion tour through France, Spain, and Italy.” It’s out in August, 2024.

Acclaimed novelist Salman Rushdie is releasing a memoir about his experience of being attacked on stage last year.

Sonic Youth singer Thurston Moore has canceled his book tour under the advisement of his doctors, who strongly advised against him flying.

This month, the Center for Jewish History opened JewCE! The Museum and Laboratory of the Jewish Comics Experience.

Here’s the cover reveal of Allen Bratton’s Henry Henry. This “reworking of Shakespeare’s daddy issues plays” is out in April.

The Nerd Daily has the exclusive cover reveal of Sudden Superstar by Claire Betita de Guzman. It’s out in November!

Corus Entertainment’s Waterside Studios has snagged the TV adaptation rights to two YA novels by Argentinian author Marcela Citterio: The Girl Who Didn’t Want to Be a Princess and Uma Ghost.

Book Riot Recommends

Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.

Prepare Your Shelves!

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy (Tor Nightfire, October 31)

I love domestic horror. I wrote a whole article about it for Book Riot (shameless plug). So you’d better believe I was ready to snatch this book up as soon as I heard about it, especially because it’s got serious Rosemary’s Baby vibes. Prepare your shelves if you’re a horror fan because you’re going to love this, too.

After a horrifically difficult birth, Ana is scarred in more ways than one. Now, she and her husband, Reid, are desperate for some good news. When they win an affordable apartment in one of New York’s most preeminent apartment buildings, they think this is it. But if something seems too good to be true (especially in a horror novel), then you know it probably is.

Nestlings is eerily unsettling and might just make you feel unsafe in your own home. Yes, I mean that as a compliment.

What I’m Reading This Week

Black Paradox by Junji Ito

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay

People Collide by Isle McElroy

Monday Memes

Here are some fresh memes for my girlies (and guys and everything in between) in the publishing industry.

And Here’s A Cat Picture

Is this a shrimp or a cat? I am not quite sure! Note the cute little Calcifer toy Murray is holding. I wish I could say he put it there, but I saw him sleeping and gave it to him. Maybe I shouldn’t have ruined the magic. Either way, it’s cute.

And that’s all I’ve got for you today, friends! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and see you later in the week.

Emily