Author: Emily Martin

Categories
Book Radar

Leigh Bardugo’s THE FAMILIAR Hits Shelves Soon and More Book Radar!

Dearest Book Radarites,

How is your week going? As much as I love the chillier weather, these cloudier days are, I admit, making me a little bit sleepy. But hey, it’s been a perfect week for reading and for trying out my new tea collection. So everything is okay! Now let’s talk books.

Book Riot’s editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler plus five mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required!

Book Deals and Reveals

Bestselling author Leigh Bardugo is back with a brand new novel next year, and Goodreads has revealed the dark, creepy cover of The Familiar. This dark historical fantasy is out from Flatiron Books on April 9.

Here’s another favorite who’s back with another book: R.O. Kwon returns with the novel Exhibit, and here’s the stunning cover! It’s out from Riverhead Books in May 2024.

And Timothy Schaffert has a new book out next year! Here’s the cover of The Titanic Survivors Book Club, out from Doubleday Books in April 2024.

Disney+ has released a trailer for its Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The first two episodes of the highly-anticipated series will be out on December 20.

American Fiction, the new film based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett, has won the Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Awards.

Oprah has announced Nathan Hill’s Wellness as her 102nd Book Club pick!

What are the other book clubs reading this month? Dive into 13 picks for September book clubs and learn how to join the conversation.

You might know that Millie Bobby Brown wrote a book, but did you know she’s already looking to adapt Nineteen Steps into a film?

These are the highest-rated books from local authors in 130+ countries, including graphics for each continent!

The longlists for the 2023 National Book Awards have been announced. Check out which titles made it in each of the five categories.

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

The Hunter by Tana French Book Cover

The Hunter by Tana French (Viking, March 5 2024)

I don’t think I’ve ever gotten the chance to hype a Tana French book in this newsletter before, so this is a really exciting time for me, friends. Here’s where I get to tell you all about Tana French and how she’s the best mystery/thriller author writing today. And with so many excellent mysteries and thrillers coming out right now, that really means something!

The Hunter is French’s latest, the sequel to The Searcher. Former Chicago police officer Cal Hooper has moved to rural Ireland to retire and build a life with a local woman named Lena. He also forms a bond with teenager Trey Reddy. But then Trey’s father comes back into the picture. And along with him, he brings an English millionaire and big plans to help the whole town get richer. Cal and Lena will do anything to protect Trey from her father’s schemes. But Trey has other ideas.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“If they tell you there’s not even one weapon hidden in their car, they’re lying. As a driver, you have to protect yourself. Out there in the city, we’re on our own.”

— Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns

What I’m Watching This Weekend

We’ve got two more great TV adaptations to watch this fall! First, there’s The Changeling on Apple TV+, based on the novel of the same name by Victor LaValle. And on Hulu, we’ve got The Other Black Girl, based on Zakiya Dalila Harris’ book. I’ll be checking out both this weekend.

And then then there’s all that reality TV… Love is Blind? The Golden Bachelor? F Boy Island? Bachelor in Paradise? At this rate, maybe I’ll never read again.

Will you be watching any of these? Let me know what you think!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

cute calico cat on a couch

Of course, who can think about watching anything when you have a cute little calico cat rolling around in front of your TV? Cersei is the true star of the show, not whatever new adaptation or reality TV series is out this month.

And that’s all, friends! Have a wonderful weekend. Talk Monday?

Emily

Categories
Book Radar

Oooh We Have a FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER Trailer and More Book Radar!

Dearest Book Friends,

It’s Monday, which means it’s once again time for Book Radar! One of the best parts of Monday. For me, anyway. I hope you’re enjoying it, too. This week, I’ve got some juicy book news for you and an upcoming release I can’t wait to tell you about. Plus another unforgettable cat picture. So really, just all of the stuff you’ve come to expect, know, and love (?) from this newsletter. Let’s get crackin’.

Book Deals and Reveals

Fall of the House of Usher movie poster

Netflix has released the trailer for the highly-anticipated gothic horror miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher, created by Mike Flanagan. The series, based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name, releases on October 12.

Amanda Gorman has been chosen as the American Bookseller Association’s Indie Bookstore Ambassador this year. In an Instagram post, Gorman writes, “Independent Bookstores are vital parts of our communities and bastions of literature. We must work together to support local booksellers everywhere so that they can continue to thrive and champion books on a local level with the personal touch and human connection that we all need, now more than ever.”

Prize-winning fiction writer Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, has signed a 7-figure deal for her next two books with Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Here’s another exciting new trailer drop: Apple TV+’s trailer for Lessons in Chemistry, the new series based on Bonnie Garmus’ bestselling novel of the same name. This one’s out on October 13.

Pack your bags, because everyone’s favorite Guncle is heading abroad! Here’s the cover reveal of Steven Rowley’s The Guncle Abroad. It’s out from Putnam Books in May 2024.

Entertainment Weekly has revealed the cover of Wake Me Most Wickedly, a gender-bent (and Jewish!) romance inspired by “Snow White.” The book hits shelves in April 2024.

And check out the cover of this upcoming YA thriller, Kill Call by Jeff Wooten. This one is out on February 20th, 2024!

Alan Moore, writer of comic books like Watchmen, V for Vendetta, From Hell, and Batman: The Killing Joke, has announced that he would like DC to send all of his future adaptation royalties to Black Lives Matter.

The National Book Awards rescinded Drew Barrymore’s invitation to host their awards ceremony after she announced continuing her show.

Rating and reviewing are staple features of Goodreads and The StoryGraph. But how do these platforms differ?

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.

Prepare Your Shelves!

let us descend book cover

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner, October 24)

I don’t know how this crept up on me, but Jesmyn Ward, two-time National Book Award-winner and author of Sing, Unburied, Sing, has a new book coming out! Like, next month! And it’s a good one, so prepare your shelves, because this is one you’re not going to want to skip.

Let Us Descend is a heart-wrenching examination of the American South and slavery. Annis was fathered by a slaver and then sold into slavery by that same man. Sent further south, from the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans, Annis finds herself traveling tied up with ropes alongside other enslaved women. She has no outside comforts to support her on her harrowing journey. And so she turns inward to her memories of her mother and the stories of her grandmother, who was an African warrior.

Jesmyn Ward’s works are always incredibly thoughtful and beautifully written, filled with emotion and urgency. And Let Us Descend, the author’s fourth novel, might just be her most painful and most astonishing work to date.

What I’m Reading This Week

Yellowface cover

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay

People Collide by Isle McElroy

Monday Memes

Shout out to all the people who refuse to trade in physical books for a Kindle. You are my people.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

ginger cat in a chair with a ginger scarf

I recently purchased this scarf in anticipation of cooler weather (it’s on its way!) but yeah… I didn’t put it away right away, and look who’s loving on it now. I guess this is Murray’s scarf now. Too bad so sad.

And…that’s it! That’s a wrap for today, friends. Have a lovely week.

Emily

Categories
The Fright Stuff

You Got the Fright Stuff, Baby

Oh oh oh… oh oh OH oh… Oh oh oh… The Fright Stuff.

I had to do it once, and now I’ll never do it again, friends. I promise. Now where were we? It’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Or fiend, if you prefer.

We’re in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, as you might know. So when we get into our Riot Recommendations, I thought this week would be a great opportunity to shout out some fabulous horror books written by Hispanic and Latine Americans.

But before we do all of that…Book Riot’s editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, plus 5 mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required!

Bookish Goods

Halloween Book Sleeve

Halloween Book Sleeve by SciencePlusCoffee

There are a lot of Halloween-themed book sleeves out there on Etsy, but this one is my personal favorite because it’s just sooooo cute. Plus it’s got cats on it. It’s like make it spooky ghosts…but make it cute. And it comes in three different sizes! Starting at $19.

New Releases

a tall dark trouble

A Tall Dark Trouble by Vanessa Montalban

Cults and family drama and dark fantasy and murder? Let’s do this. This YA novel follows the story of twins Delfi and Lela who are haunted by a family curse. In 1980s Cuba, Anita is desperate to rid herself of the magic powers that allow her to speak to the dead. These characters’ stories intertwine to weave together a dark and moving tale of generational trauma and family secrets.

what kind of mother book cover

What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman

The fresh, new, hot-off-the-presses Southern Gothic horror novel is the story of Madi Price, who has reluctantly returned to her hometown of Brandywine, Virginia, with her 17-year-old daughter. Madi scrapes by working as a palm reader, and this is how she encounters Henry McCabe, whose son went missing five years ago. Everyone assumes Henry’s son is dead, but when Madi reads his palm, she sees something different. Something that will haunt her.

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

Riot Recommendations

our shadows have claws book cover

Our Shadows Have Claws, edited by Yamile Saled Méndez and Amparo Ortiz

It’s time to highlight just a few of the many notable horror books by Hispanic and Latine Americans. This first book is a bit of a cheat because it features a lot of works from a lot of different authors. But it was so hard to narrow down the list! And this anthology’s got 15 great monster stories from some really excellent writers.

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson cover image

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

This book is a little more light-hearted than the other two books on this list, but it’s soooo much fun. Like, when the book is compared to Veronica Mars and The Craft, how can it not be fun? After Mila’s best friend dies under mysterious circumstances, she casts a spell to bring her friend back to life and find out what happened. But in doing so, she brings back the two other girls who died as well. And so Mila unwittingly creates… (wait for it) an Undead Girl Gang (TM).

her body and other parties

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

If you love horror, you’re probably already WELL AWARE of Carmen Maria Machado’s stunning short story collection Her Body and Other Parties, but if you somehow missed the boat on this one, this month is the perfect time to pick this one up! These stories use horror and dark sci-fi/fantasy to explore women and the violence they face in their everyday lives.

And with that, it’s time to wrap up another installment of The Fright Stuff. See you next week, and in the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
Book Radar

Grady Hendrix Announces New Short Story and More Book Radar!

Hello Hello Book Friends!

How has your week been going? I can’t believe it’s already Thursday and we’re nearly halfway through September. And I know the autumn equinox isn’t until September 23, but I don’t care. It’s officially fall! You all know how I feel about summer, and it’s finally overrrrr! To mark the occasion, I broke out my Halloween clothes today. I’m committed to this. And while we’re riding this wave of seasonal joy, let’s talk books.

Book Deals and Reveals

ankle snatcher short story cover

Grady Hendrix has announced the upcoming release of his short story “Ankle Snatcher.” This short story is a part of Amazon’s Creature Feature series, which are creepy stories that “can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.” Preorder now, and it’ll be out on September 26th! So soon!

GLAAD Media Award-winner Samantha Allen will be publishing her second novel Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet with Zando Publishing. The novel follows “a (recently departed) closeted A-list celebrity and his (living) mid-list ghostwriter” as they discover “the meaning of life and love after death.”

Literary Hub revealed the cover of the short story collection You Are the Snake by Juliet Escoria. The cover was designed by Farjana Yasmin. The book is out from Soft Skull Press in June.

Jeffrey Eugenides recently shared the story behind his novel The Virgin Suicides with The Guardian.

And here’s the cover for Jumata Emil’s sophomore novel Wander in the Dark. It’s out from Delacorte Press on January 30!

The seven winners of the sixth annual Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes have been announced. Each winner took home a $20,000 grant this year.

Looking for your own bookish community online? Let’s take a look at some of the best online book clubs!

Speaking of book clubs, here are all of the book club picks for September 2023.

It isn’t just a feeling. Books are getting more expensive. How much have book prices increased since 2019?

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!

Can’t Wait for This One

a fragile enchantment book cover

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft (Wednesday Books, January 23)

With it being fall and cuffing season on the horizon, we’re all thinking about romance. So let’s take a look at one of the romance books we have to look forward to in this upcoming season of love. Enter A Fragile Enchantment, a romantic fantasy of manners from Allison Saft, The New York Times bestselling author of books like A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair is a magical dressmaker whose powers allow her to sew emotions and memories into the fabric of her clothes. It’s a power that is fated to kill her, but in the meantime Niamh is trying to make the best of the time she has. When she’s given the opportunity to design the outfits for a royal wedding, Niamh sees it as a chance to guarantee a better life for her family before she’s gone.

So Niamh journeys to the neighboring kingdom of Avaland, and there she meets Kit Carmine, the groom who is…decidedly less excited about his upcoming nuptials. While the wedding might be a wonderful opportunity for Niamh, Kit knows that he is just being used as a political pawn, and he has no love for his future bride.

It will surprise NO ONE to know that Niamh and Kit develop a close friendship that turns into something more. But that’s not where this story ends. Oh no, things get messier from there. A gossip columnist catches wind of the secret affair, and she threatens to expose their story to the entire kingdom. The only way she’ll stop is if Niamh goes undercover and reveals the secrets of the royal family. Romance, intrigue, scandal, and magic, all set in a Regency England-inspired fantasy world? Yes, please.

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

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Maybe there’s no such thing as soulmates. Maybe there are only people who trust each other enough to begin something without being assured of the end.”

— You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

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.

File this under BookTok made me do it. I just finished reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Now I can’t stop watching YouTube and BookTok videos about the book. And friends, the book community is divided! I loved this video where Reads with Rachel “explains” Fourth Wing to her husband. In the process, she really highlights some of the more absurd moments in the story. But on the other hand, I have also really appreciated the BookTok videos like this one from lydia.arina where she explains the disability representation in this book and just how important it is to see Ehlers Danlos Syndrome represented in fiction.

Have you read Fourth Wing yet? If so, what were your opinions? Feel free to shoot me a note and let me know. Would love to chat about it!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

calico cat showing her tummy

I really wish you could see the animation on this image, because Cersei was rolling around and being super sweet and cute! Cats are truly the best animals in the whole world!

Aaaand…that’s a wrap on Thursday’s Book Radar! I hope you have a beautiful weekend. May it feel like fall!

Emily

Categories
Book Radar

New GOOSEBUMPS Series Premieres Friday, October 13, and More Book Radar

Oooh, it’s a Monday Book Radar hot off the presses.

How are we doing, Book Friends? I spent this weekend figuring out my finances and student loans and things because that’s coming back soon. Not to be a bummer. But…yeah, it’s a bummer! Sorry everyone! It’s the struggle of our generation. On a more positive note, I will now be taking over the Fright Stuff newsletter, so if you like horror, join me over there. But for now, we’re here, so let’s do this.

Book Deals and Reveals

a graphic of the cover of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

You might have known Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste was being adapted into a film. Now here’s the teaser trailer. The film, written and directed by Ava DuVernay and starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, is coming soon to theaters.

R.L. Stine’s iconic Goosebumps series is being adapted for the small screen on Disney+. Goosebumps will premiere on Friday, the 13th of October, and here’s the teaser trailer.

Olivia Dade has a new book! Check out the cover for At First Spite, out from HarperCollins in February 2024.

And here’s the cover reveal of Emma Lord’s first adult rom-com, The Break-Up Pact, hitting shelves on August 13, 2024.

Omar Epps has shared an excerpt of his upcoming dystopian novel with Entertainment Weekly. The second book in his two-part dystopian YA series, Nubia: the Reckoning, will be out on September 26.

Here’s another must-read dystopian novel hitting shelves soon! Check out the cover for Baby X, a dystopian sci-fi thriller perfect for fans of Black Mirror. It’s written by Kira Peikoff, and it’s out in March, 2024.

Do authors actually like the books they blurb? Or do they even read them? Esquire investigates the “favor economy” of book blurbs.

Sarah Holland-Batt’sThe Jaguar, a poetry collection about the death of her father, has won the $25,000 top prize at the Queensland literary awards.

Through a unique project involving national parks, Poet Laureate Ada Limón is working on a poetry project to better connect us with our natural environment.

The idea of a millennial genre has been floating around for a while and seems to be here to stay. But what is it, and who does it cater to?

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

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!

Can’t Wait for This One!

grief is for people book cover

Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley (MCD, February 27, 2024)

I have something unfortunate to tell you. Grief is something all of us will have to go through. Not once, but many times. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will. If it’s happened before, it will again. That sounds horrible maybe, but to me, I find it oddly comforting knowing that we’re all in this together. That not a one of us suffers through this intense feeling alone. And maybe that’s why memoirs like Sloane Crosley’s Grief is for People feel so important. This is a book that is for everyone. Because everyone will lose someone(s).

Grief is for People is a movingly honest and surprisingly funny examination of loss, unlike any grief memoir you’ve ever read before. It’s the story of author Sloane Crosley’s feelings of pain, disorientation, and searching for a way forward after the death of her close friend Russell. Russell’s death by suicide propels Sloane into a search for what it means to be a family, what it means to love, what it means to mourn, and so much more. For better or for worse, there is not a reader out there who will not be able to relate to some part of Sloane’s journey.

What I’m Reading This Week

you again book cover

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns

Monday Memes

This is everyone who tried to get me to read Fourth Wing. Leave me alone. I’m reading it now.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

The orange cat Murray being held by Ben. Murray looks unamused.

I told Ben that I needed to take a picture of the cat for the newsletter. So Ben picked up Murray and held him up so that I could get a picture for all of you. Clearly Murray is very pleased. But he’s a trooper, through and through. You gotta love how easy-going orange cats can be.

Anyway, I hope your Monday is the least Monday Monday you’ve ever Mondayed. And I’ll see you again on Thursday!

Emily

Categories
The Fright Stuff

Feel that Chill in the Air? That’s Horror Season, Y’all

Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. I’m so excited to be taking up the mantle of The Fright Stuff newsletter right as spooky season is upon us! I mean, yes, for those of us who live, breath, eat, drink, and dream horror, it’s horror time all year round. But we’ve reached that time of the year where the rest of the world gets on our level. Now we can really let the fun begin.

So are you looking for the books that are going to get you in the Halloween spirit this fall? Stay tuned, because I have book recommendations for you, and so much more.

Big first! Book Riot’s editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, plus 5 mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required!

Bookish Goods

the shining scarf

The Shining Knitted Scarf by Cultzilla

If you’ve been dreaming about cooler weather but also still having nightmares about Stephen King’s The Shining, this is the scarf for you this fall season. Designed to resemble the carpet pattern of the Overlook Hotel, this scarf is super cozy and warm, perfect for the upcoming fall months. $34

New Releases

together we rot

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

This YA novel has it all. Romance. Mystery. Intrigue. Cults. Friendships. And…horror. Lots and lots of horror. When the police refuse to do anything to track down Wil Greene’s missing mother, Wil decides to take matters into her own hands. She knows her mother didn’t just disappear on her, and she’s certain her former best friend Elwood Clarke knows what happened to her. Elwood is tangled up with a cult that plots to use him in their rituals. Unsure of where else to turn, he seeks out Wil, the only one who might believe the strange things that are happening to him. Everywhere Elwood goes, plants come alive, and the forest is calling to him.

looking glass sound book cover

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

Catriona Ward is a forever fave of mine, so I’m so excited to share her latest release with you in this, my first Fright Stuff newsletter. Ward’s latest is a story about a writer trying to come to terms with the horrors of his past. Years ago when Wilder Harlow was young, there was a summer that changed everything. A killer stalked his small town in Maine, and a tragedy bonded Wilder to his friends Nat and Harper in ways that would forever change them. Now, decades later, Wilder has returned to the town in the hopes of making sense of that summer’s events as he writes his memoir. But the longer he spends in the town and the more he writes, the more Wilder feels like he’s losing his grip on reality. And it feels as if the book is somehow writing itself.

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

Riot Recommendations

book cover for the weight of blood

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

These book recommendations are bringing the autumnal vibes. Why does The Weight of Blood feel like a fall horror book? Maybe it’s because it’s set in a school so it’s perfect for back-to-school season. Or maybe it’s because it’s a smart, thought-provoking retelling of Carrie by Stephen King, the literal KING of Spooky Season. Either way, it wouldn’t be Halloween season without a Tiffany D. Jackson horror novel. I’m obsessed. And if you haven’t read this yet, just know you will get totally sucked in by this one too!

kill creek cover

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

What’s more fall than a haunted house story? A haunted house story that takes place on HALLOWEEN NIGHT. In this book, four authors have been invited to spend the night in a haunted house. It’s just supposed to be a publicity stunt for fun and exposure. But as you might have guessed, not everything goes according to plan, and the night of fun turns into something completely horrifying.

dark harvest book cover

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

I mean, this one literally has “harvest” in the title, so I don’t think I have to make the argument for this one being fall-appropriate. Dark Harvest is set in a small midwestern town where a strange visitor comes to visit from the cornfields every Halloween season. He’s known by many names. October Boy. Ol’ Hacksaw Face. Sawtooth Jack. Whatever name he goes by, it doesn’t matter. This year, the townspeople plan to kill him.

And that’s all for my first ever Fright Stuff newsletter! Thank you so much for welcoming me. Thanks so much for Jessica Avery for giving us so much horror content over the past few years. I’m excited to see what this horror season (and beyond) will bring! See you next week, and in the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram at emandhercat (yes, I post cat pics). Sweet dreams, horror fans!

Categories
Book Radar

WRINKLE IN TIME Illustrator Finally Gets Recognition and More Book Radar!

Happy Thursday, Book Friends!

Did you miss me on Monday? I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day holiday, if you live in a place that observes that holiday. I was hiking Mount Rainier, but somehow I still managed to talk about books. Fun fact: I convinced my friend to read I’m Glad My Mom Died, and she’s already finished it! So I’d say that’s a successful hiking trip (even though she got stung by a hornet). Anyway, good news! There are no hornets on the internet. Just book talk. So let’s get to it.

Book Deals and Reveals

mothership book cover

Alert! Heartstopper has been renewed for a third season! Netflix announced the new season on Instagram earlier this week. “We’ll be back,” they wrote on social media, “as will Nick and Charlie.”

Here’s the cover reveal of former Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford University, Greg Wrenn’s memoir, Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis. It’s out from Regalo Press in March 2024.

And here’s an inclusive interview and cover reveal of Kekla Magoon’s The Secret Library. The cover is designed by Maria Middleton with cover artist Bea Jackson. The Secret Library hits shelves on March 7, 2024.

Speaking of cover reveals, it’s time for an artist reveal! The previously uncredited Wrinkle in Time illustrator is finally getting some credit!

Jenna Bush Hager has announced her next book club pick—Fran Littlewood’s Amazing Grace Adams.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Stephen King says he knows anti-vaxxers are going to hate his new book Holly.

Here’s the cover reveal of Samira Ahmed’s next YA novel, This Book Won’t Burn. It’s out on May 7, 2024!

Another cover reveal featuring burning? Are we sensing a trend for 2024? Here’s the cover of While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi. This one’s out in April 2024.

The time has come! Check out our September 2023 horoscopes to find out which new book you should read.

The 2023 Ned Kelly Award winners have been announced! Check out the full list of winners and nominees here.

Prepare Your Shelves!

salt the water book cover

Salt the Water by Candice Iloh (Dutton Books for Young Readers, October 3)

I’m actually giddy because October (the best month of the year) is right around the corner. And so is Salt the Water, this stunning new YA coming-of-age novel in verse, which will be out on October 3! Believe it or not, it’s time to prepare your shelves.

Salt the Water is the story of Cerulean Gene, a teenager whose parents have always encouraged them to dream of a better world, be outspoken about the things they believe in, and always remain true to themselves. The world outside of their home is less supportive, to say the least. And idealistic as it might have been, Cerulean’s sheltered childhood hasn’t prepared them for the real world and adulthood.

For instance, Cerulean is a rebel and a problem child at their high school just because they are outspoken. When a fight with a teacher gets out of hand, Cerulean feels like they’re out of options and decides to drop out of school. Cerulean can envision the life they want so clearly, and it doesn’t involve graduating high school. Instead, they dream of bucking authority and escaping oppressive capitalist systems. But real-life emergencies force Cerulean to set their dreams aside and be the adult their family needs them to be.

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

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Our minds do this all the time. They talk us out of things we don’t want to know.”

— Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

Thursday Memes

Getting excited about new fall releases? Maybe you should temper your expectations.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Wait… it’s still technically summer? Booooo! Remy says wake him up when the leaves start to fall. He’s just going to cover his face with his paw and pretend the next few weeks aren’t real.

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

Emily

Categories
Book Radar

Reylo Fanfic Goes Mainstream and More Book Radar!

Dearest Book Friends,

We’ve made it to another Thursday, and I’m done dogsitting and back in a cat house. So if you missed the cat picture on Monday, we’re back, baby! If you enjoyed the dog pic, then yay, and I’m sorry. I’ll send you another next time I’m around a dog. In the meantime, you know what we all love almost as much as dogs and cats? Books! Let’s talk about ’em.

Book Deals and Reveals

Hair Love ABCs book cover

Matthew A. Cherry and and Vashti Harrison have teamed up once again for a new book called Hair Love ABCs. The children’s book aims to “share the joy of styling and taking care of Black hair.”

Yes, we all know Fifty Shades of Grey was once Twilight fanfic. But did you know Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel The Love Hypothesis is based on Reylo (Star War‘s Rey and Kylo Ren) fanfic? And there are lots of other examples! Fanfic is going mainstream, my friends.

In the midst of Hollywood strikes, the release date for Dune: Part 2 has been delayed until March 2024.

In more Dune news, Denis Villeneuve teased a possible Dune: Part 3 in a recent interview with Empire Magazine.

Here’s the trailer for Foe, a sci-fi drama starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, based on the novel by bestselling author Iain Reid. Foe will debut in theaters on October 6.

Melissa de la Cruz has shared the cover of her new book Beyond the Isle of the Lost, a brand-new prequel adventure in the best-selling Descendants book series. It’s out on May 7, 2024.

Disney+ has announced that it will not be moving ahead with the completed six-episode series adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles. The series is currently being shopped to other potential buyers.

The authors who will be attending the 2023 YALLFest have been announced! YALLFest is an in-person event this year, taking place in Charleston, South Carolina.

Which books bought their way onto The New York Times Best Seller list and how did they get away with it?

Join Rebecca & Jeff in the First Edition podcast to consider the 10 finalists for the “It Book” of August and pick a winner.

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!

cover of Rouge by Mona Awad, showing a red rose against a black background. a smoky red flame is floating up from the middle of the rose

Rouge by Mona Awad (S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, September 12)

This is one I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. And a loooong time ago, I reported that Rouge has already been optioned to be adapted for film by Freemantle. So the hype around this book is real, and it’s finally, finally, finally almost time for it to hit shelves everywhere! If you’ve read any of Mona Awad’s other books, you know they’re a bit strange and unsettling (in the best way possible). And if you’ve never read one of Awad’s books before, you’re in for a treat with this one. You know what that means… prepare your gosh darn shelves.

Rouge is a gothic fairy tale about Belle, a dress shop clerk who is obsessed with skincare and beauty videos. Following the mysterious death of her mother Noelle, Belle returns home to Southern California to attend her mother’s funeral and take care of her family’s affairs.

But something strange happens at Noelle’s funeral. A strange woman in red appears. She hints at knowing the secrets of her mother’s death and about a spa experience unlike any other that her mother was devoted to with a cult-like level of obsession. As Belle is lured into the world of La Maison de Méduse, she uncovers more than just the mysteries surrounding her mother’s death. She’ll also discover the reason behind her own obsession with beauty and appearances.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Our minds do this all the time. They talk us out of things we don’t want to know.”

— Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

What I’m Watching This Weekend

If it’s not queer, I don’t want it. This weekend, I’m excited to finally watch Red, White, and Royal Blue, which I’ve heard is super fun. And I’m also going to go see Bottoms, which looks to be a fun, raunchy lesbian sex comedy. I’m excited!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

orange cat in the window

I can tell Murray missed me while I was gone! Look at that sad look on his face. He’s dying for pets! My heart aches. Do you all have as much trouble leaving your pets at home as I do? It’s the worst.

And that’s all for Thursday’s Book Radar! I hope you have the best weekend. Stay safe. Do something fun. Sleep in and/or go to bed early. Have a great time.

Emily

Categories
Book Radar

Adam Scott Voices Stormtrooper for New STAR WARS Book and More Book Radar!

Happy Monday, Book Friends!

How was your weekend? I’ve been dogsitting, so my environment has been a little bit different, but we’ve still got animals, so everything is great. Stay tuned for a pic of the dog I’ve been chilling with. I know you’re all secretly here for the animal pics anyway! But in the meantime, let’s talk about books.

Delighting velocireaders since 2017, Book Riot’s New Release Index will keep you in the know about all the latest books. New books for days. Subscribe today — you won’t be able to read them all, but it’s fun to try!

Book Deals and Reveals

the warm hands of ghosts book cover

From Katherine Arden, The New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale, comes the supernatural historical fantasy novel The Warm Hands of Ghosts. Publisher Del Ray shared the cover, and it’s out on February 13, 2024.

Literary Hub has the exclusive cover reveal for Emily Raboteau’s next book Lessons for Survival. The novel will be out on March 12, 2024.

Here’s the teaser trailer for Amazon Prime Video’s Wilderness, based on the novel by B.E. Jones. Wilderness premieres on the streaming service on September 15.

Parks and Recreation and Severance star Adam Scott is voicing a stormtrooper in the audiobook recording of the short story “Trooper Trouble” by Laura Pohl. The short story is part of the new collection Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi, which will be released from Random House Worlds in both book and audiobook form on August 29.

Jordan Peele is co-developing a new Prime Video series based on the graphic novel Coyotes by Sean Lewis.

First Light Books has opened its doors in Austin’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood. 

BookTok has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, but has its influence come to an end? A new book sales analysis sheds some light.

Your book club can help fight book bans! See how many squares on this anti-censorship BINGO board you can fill out together.

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!

Join Rebecca & Jeff in the First Edition podcast to consider the 10 finalists for the “It Book” of August and pick a winner.

Can’t Wait for This One!

cover of Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes (Tor Publishing Group, April 9, 2024)

Remember the exciting, twisty sci-fi space thriller Dead Silence? Well, author S.A. Barnes is back with another thrilling sci-fi book that you won’t want to miss in 2024. Unfortunately, we have to wait ’til April. Fortunately, time is passing at a breakneck pace nowadays, so April will be here before we know it!

Ghost Station moves at a fast pace as it follows a space exploration crew fighting to survive on an abandoned planet. Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has joined the crew to study a space-based medical condition called ERS. With her small crew, Ophelia hopes to make a big difference, but she can’t shake the feeling that the crew is hiding something from her.

When the team’s pilot is found brutally murdered, Ophelia wonders if this is another case of ERS leading to violent outbursts and murderous behavior. Or is the crew up to something more sinister?

What I’m Reading This Week

Cover of Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns

Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell

Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

Monday Memes

This series of memes is completely unhinged, and I’m here for it.

And Here’s A Dog Picture!

Monty, a gray and white dog with a bit of a concerned look in his eye

Everyone, meet Monty! He and I are going to finish reading Imogen, Obviously today. He’s such a sweetie. I will make sure to give him pets from all of you.

Aaaaand…that’s it for today. Thanks so much for spending this time with me on this fine Monday. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week, and I’ll catch you on Thurs!

Emily

Categories
Book Radar

Disney+ Releases PERCY JACKSON Trailer and More Book Radar!

Happy Thurs, Book Friends!

It’s been a smoky week here in Seattle. I know the weather has been wild out there for a lot of people, and I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Climate change is real, friends. I don’t really know how to follow that up, so I’ll just say…let’s change the subject and talk about books?

Delighting velocireaders since 2017, Book Riot’s New Release Index will keep you in the know about all the latest books. New books for days. Subscribe today — you won’t be able to read them all, but it’s fun to try!

Book Deals and Reveals

the mars house book cover

Here’s the cover reveal of Natasha Pulley’s The Mars House, “a gripping queer sci-fi novel about the relationship between an Earth refugee and a xenophobic Mars politician.” This novel is out from Bloomsbury on March 19, 2024.

Disney+ has released a teaser trailer for its upcoming Percy Jackson series. The first two episodes will be released on December 20, followed by weekly drops.

And here’s the trailer for Zombie Town, an upcoming film adaptation of the R.L. Stine novel. The movie’s in theaters on September 1.

People has shared an exclusive excerpt from the upcoming book Amy Winehouse: In Her Words. The book about the Grammy winner will be released on August 29, days before what would have been Winehouse’s 40th birthday. 

The winners at the inaugural TikTok Book Awards were voted on by thousands of TikTok users through the app. Here’s who won big.

Here’s the cover reveal of Sue Lynn Tan’s Tales of Celestial Kingdom. All author proceeds from this title will be donated to charity. It’s out in February 2024. 

“Mexican Gothic meets The Lie Tree by way of Oscar Wilde and Mary Shelley” in Noah Medlock’s horror debut A Botanical Daughter. Here’s the cover reveal! It’s out March 2024!

Adam Rapp, the Pulitzer finalist and the showrunner of the Showtime series American Rust, has sold his novel Wolf at the Table in a world rights agreement. The novel, which was pitched as The Corrections meets We Need to Talk About Kevin, is slated for a spring 2024 release.

Dua Lipa has announced Patti Smith’s Just Kids as her next book club pick. Lipa described Smith as “a personal hero” of hers in a joint Instagram post with Service95. 

Get up to date on what’s going on at the intersection of AI and the world of books with this brief primer.

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!

Join Rebecca & Jeff in the First Edition podcast to consider the 10 finalists for the “It Book” of August and pick a winner.

Prepare Your Shelves!

the wake up call book cover

The Wake–Up Call by Beth O’Leary (Berkley, September 26)

A new Beth O’Leary book is coming out next month, so you’re going to want to prepare your shelves! O’Leary’s romcoms are fun, quirky, heartfelt, and hilarious. And The Wake-Up call might be her best one yet. If you haven’t checked her out yet, this would be a great one to start with, so add it to your TBR.

Izzy and Lucas are two hotel receptionists and arch-rivals, but as the Forest Manor Hotel approaches its busiest time of the year, the two will have to set their differences aside to man the desk together after the hotel makes staff cuts. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and various other financial woes (including the need for a new roof), the hotel will have to make some serious cash this holiday season if they expect to survive past Christmas.

When Izzy and Lucas find four wedding rings in the hotel’s lost-and-found, Izzy decides that returning them to their owners might just be the key to saving the hotel. Izzy and Lucas turn the whole ring return thing into a competition, of course. But friendly competition turns into something…more.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“It’s like there’s this idea that you have to earn your label through suffering. And then you have to prove it with who you date, how you dress, how other people perceive you.”

— Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

What I’m Watching This Weekend

I know I’ve mentioned this plenty of times, but I’m a huge Love Island UK fan. Friends, USA’s Love Island has finally found its stride. This season is great! If you need a little book break, Love Island is streaming right now on Peacock. I know I’ll be catching up this weekend.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

calico cat on a pillow

I haven’t gotten to share my shy girl in a while. She’s been sleeping on my pillow at night a lot lately, which is fine. But she isn’t really leaving a lot of space for my head…which is what my pillow is for. Anyway, when you’ve got a cat this cute, who needs sleep?

And with that, I’m signing off for now. Stay cool out there, friends. Be good. Have a great weekend.

Emily