Author: Emily Martin

Oprah Winfrey Chooses Her Next Book Club Book and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 3, 2023

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Happy Thursday, friends!

What a week this has been. I’m totally thrilled for this weekend, because I have zero plans and I can’t wait to just wing it. Maybe catch up with my reading. Maybe the sun will come out again. We just have to get through Thursday and Friday first, friends, and then we’re home free! Let’s talk books to get us through to the weekend.

Book Riot has a new podcast for you to check out if you’re looking for more bookish content in your life. First Edition will include interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. You can subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.

Book Deals and Reveals

The Nerd Daily has revealed the cover of Kate Anderson’s upcoming novel Here Lies Olive. It’s out on October 24 from Flux Books.

Jurassic Park meets Hummingbird Salamander in Ray Nayler’s upcoming eco-thriller The Tusks of Extinction. It’s coming January 16, 2024, from Tordotcom Publishing, and here’s the cover reveal.

Twenty years later Jeanne DuPrau is back with a new book, Project F. Publishers Weekly has revealed the cover of this new book, which will be out from Random House Children’s Books this October.

Penguin Random House announced that an unpublished Gabriel García Márquez novel will be published across Latin America in 2024. An English edition of the novel has not yet been announced.

Oprah Winfrey has chosen her next book club pick — and it’s Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. This is Verghese’s first novel since 2009’s Cutting for Stone.

Author Emily Dunlay’s forthcoming novel Teddy will be out from Harper in 2024. The story is set in 1960s Rome and follows the wife of an American diplomat who is trying to hide a scandal from her past.

Grand Central has acquired the rights to Daniel Aleman’s first adult novel, Sorry to Disappoint. Publication is planned for fall 2024.

A new trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s next Hercule Poirot Mystery has been released. The film, A Haunting in Venice, is based on Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party and will be out on September 15.

From local challenges with prizes to online programs, these are the best summer reading programs 2023 has to offer kids!

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!

What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman (Quirk Books, September 12)

Every Clay McLeod Chapman novel has felt like a new and exciting exploration into horror unlike anything done before. There’s something that feels almost dangerous about reading his novels because it’s hard to predict where the story will go. Which is why I am so, so, so excited about his upcoming Southern Gothic horror novel What Kind of Mother.

Madi Price left home as a teen mom. But now that she’s strapped for cash, she has reluctantly returned to her hometown of Brandywine, Virginia, with her 17-year-old daughter in tow. Madi scrapes by working as a palm reader at the local farmer’s market. Here’s where she reconnects with old high school flame Henry McCabe, whose infant son went missing five years ago. Everyone assumes Henry’s son is dead, but when Madi reads his palm, she sees haunting visions that suggest otherwise.

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading? Subscribe to Book Riot’s The Deep Dive to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Instinct doesn’t exist. Morals don’t exist. They were just fake
sensibilities that came from a world that was constantly transforming.”

— Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

What I’m Watching This Weekend

Friends, has anyone seen Renfield? I know that it got sort of middling reviews, but now it’s available streaming, so it seems like a good, fun one to watch this weekend. It’s got a great cast, and I’m a sucker (pun intended) for anything Dracula–related. Speaking of movies, I also need to get to the theaters to see Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret ASAP. It looks so good!

BTW, horror fans…saw Evil Dead Rise last weekend and yeah, it was pretty great.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

My little tuxedo boy Remy has been getting so cuddly as he gets older. And he loooves snuggling up on the bed. Just look at his little white paws. I love him.

Sorry, I had to gush about this cat for a little while. The whiskers! The tail!

And that is all, friends. I hope your week ends on a high note, and I’ll see you on Monday!

Emily

Today In Books

Taika Waititi to Direct KLARA AND THE SUN Adaptation: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 3, 2023

Sponsored by

Sweet Tooth Renewed for a Third and Final Season at Netflix

Netflix has handed out a third and final season renewal to Sweet Tooth, the series based on the DC comics. Production on the third season has already been completed in New Zealand. According to showrunner and creator Jim Mickle, “Season three is an Arctic story with exciting new adventures and what we hope will be a satisfying conclusion to this epic tale. Gus is going to see a side of the world and humanity that he didn’t see in season one or two.”

Taika Waititi to Direct Klara and the Sun Adaptation

Oscar winner Taika Waititi is in negotiations to direct an adaptation of Klara and the Sun, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. The project is currently in development for Sony’s 3000 Pictures, with Dahvi Waller writing the original draft of the screenplay. David Heyman is attached to produce the film for Heyday Films, and Garrett Basch and Waititi are also in negotiations to produce. Waiti is also currently working on a new Star Wars film, and his next film, Next Goal Wins starring Michael Fassbender, will be out in the fall.

Independent Bookstore Day 2023 Thrived on Passport Promotions

Last weekend, independent bookstores across the country celebrated Independent Bookstore Day. Many included special “passport” promotions to really drive customers to visit multiple bookstores. In Seattle, the passport includes 27 bookstores and allows visitors 10 days (up until May 8) to visit them all. Those who collect a stamp from every store will receive a 25% discount at every shop. For people who collect at least 5 stamps, they will receive a 25% discount at one store of their choosing. To see what other cities and bookstore communities did for their IBD passports, check out the full article on Publishers Weekly.

What Are the Actual Reading Trends for Gen Z?

Fact: No one reads more diversely than Gen Z. Here are the latest stats on Gen Z’s reading habits and preferences.

Today In Books

Book Banning and Racism are the Themes of New Spider-Man Sequel from Jason Reynolds: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 2, 2023

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Oprah Winfrey Chooses Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water for Her Book Club

Oprah Winfrey has chosen her next book club pick — and it’s Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. This is Verghese’s first novel since 2009’s Cutting for Stone. “This is one of the top five books I’ve read in my lifetime. And I’ve been reading since I was 3,” Winfrey said in a statement. “It’s epic. It’s transportive. Many moments during the read I had to stop and remember to breathe. I couldn’t put the book down until the very last page — it was unputdownable!”

Book Banning and Racism are the Themes of New Spider-Man Sequel from Jason Reynolds

Speaking with NPR’s Morning Edition, author Jason Reynolds explained that his new Spider-Man sequel would focus on issues of book banning and racism. The sequel to Reynold’s Miles Morales: Spider-Man is called Miles Morales Suspended. This novel sees Morales get suspended from school after a disagreement with his history teacher. “When it came time to write this book, the only thing that I could think about was what’s happening when it comes to censorship and banning and challenging of the books that so many of us write for young people,” Reynolds told Morning Edition. “Specifically, for a lot of us, it doesn’t always feel like you’re banning the book itself. Sometimes it feels like you’re banning the people that those books are about, that you’re saying that those lives are lives that should only exist in the shadows.” You can listen to the full interview on NPR’s website. Miles Morales Suspended is out today from Simon & Schuster.

This San Francisco Bookstore is Throwing A Keg Party — And You’re Invited!

San Francisco’s beloved bookstore Booksmith is throwing its first-ever keg party — and you’re invited! The party will include plenty of books, beer, and live music. There will also be a zine table and tarot readings. $12 gets you into the party and gets you a cup to fill with beer (for as long as it lasts) from the Fort Point Beer Company. The event is sponsored by Fort Point and Quiet Lightning. Join in on the fun on Saturday, May 27, from 3-8 p.m.

12 of the Best Summer Reading Programs of 2023

From local challenges with prizes to online programs, these are the best summer reading programs 2023 has to offer kids!

Today In Books

Stephen King is Not Going to Leave Twitter: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 1, 2023

Sponsored by

Unseen Gabriel García Márquez Novel to be Published Next Year

On Friday, Penguin Random House announced that an unpublished Gabriel García Márquez novel will be published across Latin America in 2024. The never-before-seen book is entitled En Agosto Nos Vemos, or We’ll See Each Other in August. “We’ll See Each Other in August was the result of a last effort to continue creating against the wind and tide. Reading it once again almost 10 years after his death we discovered that the text had many and very enjoyable merits and nothing to prevent enjoying the most outstanding of Gabo’s work: his capacity for invention, the poetry of language, the captivating narrative, his understanding of the human being and his affection for his experiences and misadventures, especially in love, possibly the main theme of all his work,” Marquez’s children Rodrigo and Gonzalo García Barcha said in a press release. An English edition of the novel has not yet been announced.

Stephen King is Not Going to Leave Twitter

Best-selling author Stephen King says he has no plans to leave Twitter, despite the way the social media platform has changed under the ownership of Elon Musk. “The thing is, if everybody who doesn’t approve of the way things are going, if we all leave, then it’s just like walking off the field,” King said. “No, I can’t see myself leaving Twitter…They don’t get to scare me away and to cheer and say, ‘Well, we got rid of Stephen King from Twitter.’ So, yeah, I’m going to stay.” King still does not plan to pay for the Twitter Blue subscription.

Dancers Celebrated Dance Day x Independent Bookstore Day in Bookshops Across Canada

This year, International Dance Day and Independent Bookstore day fell on the same day, April 29, and six dancers across Canada celebrated both in bookstores. CBC interviewed each dancer and recorded them performing in bookshops across Canada, from Vancouver to Montreal. The dancers also performed different styles of dance, such as hoop dancing and hip hop.

May 2023 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

Your May 2023 horoscopes are here just in time to help you choose what newly released book to take to the beach.

Today In Books

New Trailer Sees Michelle Yeoh Star in Kenneth Branagh’s Next Hercule Poirot Mystery: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 30, 2023

Sponsored by

Here’s the Cover Reveal of Kate Anderson’s Book Here Lies Olive

The Nerd Daily has revealed the cover of Kate Anderson’s upcoming novel Here Lies Olive. The book follows the story of 16-year-old Olive who summons a ghost to find out more about what happens after death. But once the ghost is summoned, Olive will have to help him find his way back to his unmarked grave before he loses who he is and becomes a danger to Olive and everyone she loves. Here Lies Olive is out on October 24 from Flux Books.

New Trailer Sees Michelle Yeoh Star in Kenneth Branagh’s Next Hercule Poirot Mystery

Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh is leading the star-studded cast in the new trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s next Hercule Poirot Mystery. The film, A Haunting in Venice, is based on Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party. The film also stars Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Kelly Reilly, and Jamie Dornan. Branagh will also reprise his role as Hercule Poirot. The murder mystery will release on September 15.

Boyfriend Creates Bookstore at Home for Sick Girlfriend

When TikToker Lizzy (@bumblebeezus) got sick and couldn’t go to the bookstore with her boyfriend, her boyfriend made a bookstore for her at home. In a TikTok video, Lizzy shares the book display her boyfriend made for her. “I didn’t know he had my wishlist,” Lizzy said. “But he bought some of the books and created a shop display for me.” Viewers were moved by the gesture. The video ended with Lizzy and her boyfriend reading books together.

Have Powers, Will (Time) Travel: Superheroes and the Urge to Change the Past

Why is time travel so popular in superhero stories? From past to present, we dive in.

Today In Books

Indiana Bill Could Make Book Banning in Schools Easier: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 29, 2023

Sponsored by

Patrick Stewart Shares the Cover of His Upcoming Memoir Making it So

Actor Sir Patrick Stewart has shared the cover of his upcoming memoir Making it So. Stewart wrote in a post on Instagram, “Revisiting my life from my earliest memories and into the present has been an illuminating journey for me. It’s a life lived far beyond my expectations, and I hope you enjoy reading the book this fall.” Making it So is out from Gallery Books on October 3.

Indiana Bill Could Make Book Banning in Schools Easier

On Thursday, Indiana lawmakers gave their final approval to a bill that could make it easier to ban books from public school libraries. The bill would require school libraries to publicly post the books they offer on their shelves. It would also allow community members to contest the books on the public lists more easily. Libraries would not be able to argue a book’s “educational” value. But they would still be allowed to argue the text has literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

Sarah Holland-Batt Wins Stella Prize for Her Poetry Collection The Jaguar

Queensland poet Sarah Holland-Batt has won the $60,000 Stella prize for her poetry collection The Jaguar. The poetry collection explores a difficult time in the poet’s life, as she was coming to terms with her father’s death. Stella Prize chair Alice Pung wrote in her judge’s statement that Holland-Batt’s imagery “is unexpected and unforgettable, and often blended with humour.” Pung also wrote, “This is a book that cuts through to the core of what it means to descend into frailty, old age, and death. It unflinchingly observes the complex emotions of caring for loved ones, contending with our own mortality and above all – continuing to live.”

Keyword Stuffing the Classics

Let’s see what keyword stuffing the classics of the literary canon would look like.

Book Radar

Sir Patrick Stewart Reveals Cover of Memoir MAKING IT SO and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 28, 2023

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

It’s Monday again, and I’m excited for the sunny weather and chill week we have ahead of us here in Seattle. Also, I feel like I should let you know there’s a cat in my lap. So in general, things are going great for me. I hope you had a great weekend and are looking forward to the week as well! Let’s chat books.

Book Deals and Reveals

Sir Patrick Stewart has shared the cover of his upcoming memoir Making It So. “Revisiting my life from my earliest memories and into the present has been an illuminating journey for me,” the actor shared on Instagram. “It’s a life lived far beyond my expectations, and I hope you enjoy reading the book this fall.” Making It So is out on October 3.

Tor Nightfire has announced T. Kingfisher’s sequel to the bestselling novella What Moves the Dead. The novella-length sequel What Feasts at Night is coming March 2024!

Speaking of book announcements…Kamilah Cole announced a new YA fantasy debut “inspired by Jamaica and Zendaya’s 2018 Met Gala ‘Fit.” So Let Them Burn is coming January 1, 2024.

Check out the cover of Jami Nakamura Lin’s debut book, The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir. The art is by the author’s sister, who also illustrates the full-color interior. It’s out from Mariner Books on October 24.

And here’s the cover for Fit for the Gods, an anthology of mythological retellings edited by Book Riot’s very own Jenn Northington and S. Zainab Williams.

A collection of Amy Winehouse’s previously unseen journal entries will be published in a new book. The book, entitled Amy Winehouse: In Her Words, will be out on August 31 from HarperCollins.

Netflix has released the trailer for XO Kitty, a To All the Boys spinoff series. XO, Kitty premieres on Netflix on May 18.

Netflix has confirmed that Heartstopper will return for a second season on August 3.

Kennedy Ryan’s bestselling novel Before I Let Go is in development at Peacock from Universal TV & UCP.

The 2023 Women’s Prize shortlist has been announced. The list has new authors as well as previously nominated authors. Here are the details.

Book challenge attempts almost doubled in 2022, most targeting books about LGBTQIA+ people or by authors of color. Here are the top 13 most-challenged books of 2022.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin (Berkley, May 2)

Who didn’t love 2000s teen shows? I mean! The OC! Gossip Girl! I, for one, was all in. And now, believe it or not, we’re far enough removed from the 2000s that we can look back and have nostalgia for our television days of yore. And yes, we can even read fiction about it. Enter the latest from Laura Hankin, The Daydreams, which is giving us that 2000s nostalgia we didn’t even know we needed with a huge helping of drama. Best of all, it’s coming out this week, so prepare your shelves!

The Daydreams was the show everyone was talking about back in 2004. The series boasted a wholesome teen cast, great ratings, and romance that fueled all sorts of ships and fan fiction. But after the live season finale of season two went awry, all four of the main cast members went their separate ways.

Years have passed, and although the stars of the show have moved on with their lives, fans of the series are demanding a reunion special. Each cast member has their own reason for agreeing to do a reunion, and as the team bands back together, some of that original 2000s magic from The Daydreams actually starts to come back. But some of the show’s secrets begin to resurface as well. Will this reunion be the stars’ opportunity to end the series on a good note? Or will this be a bigger disaster than the live finale?

What I’m Reading This Week

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

Uzumaki by Junji Ito

Sailor Moon: Vol. 8 by Naoko Takeuchi

And be sure to check out First Edition, where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.

Monday Memes

Here’s a fun fact that you probably don’t know about me. I love the Brontës. I studied them in grad school. Oh, is that not fun? Well, it was for me. Anyway, here are some Charlotte Brontë memes in honor of her birthday (very belatedly…it was in April).

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

orange cat resting across two beds in window

The sun is out, which means we’ve got more cats in windows, friends! And I know we put two beds in the window for two cats, but Murray has found a way to rest in both beds at once. What do you think? Does this look comfy?

And that’s all for Monday’s Book Radar, friends! I hope you have the best day, and I’ll see you on Thursday.

Emily

Today In Books

THE HUNGER GAMES Returns in New Prequel Trailer: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 28, 2023

Sponsored by

Celeste Ng Shares Details About How Libro.fm Will Participate in Independent Bookstore Day

Independent Bookstore Day is this Saturday, April 29. Indie Bookstore ambassador Celeste Ng has shared some details on Twitter about how Libro.fm is getting involved. In addition to the huge sale Libro.fm is having on many of their titles — many audiobooks are $5 or less all week — 250 of Libro.fm’s bookstore partners will be hiding “golden tickets” in their stores on IBD. If you find a golden ticket, you’ll get 12 free Libro.fm audiobooks! So make sure to go shopping this Saturday.

Tor Nightfire Announces New Novella from T. Kingfisher

Tor Nightfire has announced a sequel to T. Kingfisher’s bestselling novel What Moves the Dead. The new novella, entitled What Feasts at Night, is coming out in March 2024. Kingfisher says it was so fun writing the main character Alex Easton. “So of course, I started writing a sequel,” Kingfisher says. “I got about a third of the way through that sequel, and realized that I was writing a third book, not a second book. (Hey, it happens.) That book had to be over there, but there was a different book that had to go here, which I needed to write first. So I set that one down and started on What Feasts at Night, which unfolded in front of me, full of local folklore and trauma, priests and widows, and Easton crashing into the middle of it, trailing chaos in their wake.”

The Hunger Games Returns in New Prequel Trailer

The first trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has been released. This film is the prequel of the original Hunger Games series and stars Tom Blyth as a young Coriolanus Snow. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes also stars Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage. You can watch the movie only in theaters starting on November 17.

Why the Brits Love Up Lit

Why do the British love up lit? A look at the category of books, why they do well in the UK, and reflecting on why Americans connect with them less.

Today In Books

Amy Winehouse’s Journal Entries to be Published in a New Book: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 27, 2023

Sponsored by

Red, White, & Royal Blue Gets a Premiere Date

Amazon Studios’ adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s bestselling novel Red, White & Royal Blue has a release date. The film, starring Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex and Nicholas Galitzine as Henry, will premiere on August 11. Red, White, & Royal Blue is directed by Matthew Lopez. It also stars Stephen Fry, Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Uma Thurman, Ellie Bamber, Aneesh Sheth, Polo Morin, Ahmed Elhaj, and Akshay Khanna.

Wicked Reveals First Footage of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo in Character at CinemaCon

During their presentation at CinemaCon, Universal Studios unveiled a first look at their highly anticipated two-part musical adaptation of Wicked. The film is directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Rough cut footage from Wicked received applause from theater owners, who got to see behind-the-scenes footage at Erivo flying on a broom and the craftsmanship that went into creating the world of Oz. In a sizzle reel, Chu said the film gave him the opportunity to do things with the world that couldn’t be done on stage. He said, “I knew what this movie could be. What does it feel like to be in Oz? Be in the dirt? Feel it in your fingertips.” The first installment of Wicked will be out in theaters on November 27, 2024. The second part of Wicked will be out in time for the holiday season in 2025.

Amy Winehouse’s Journal Entries to be Published in a New Book

A collection of Amy Winehouse’s previously unseen journal entries will be published in a new book. The book, entitled Amy Winehouse: In Her Words, will include journal entries, handwritten lyrics, and personal photos that have never before been shared with the public. Her parents Mitch and Janis Winehouse said in a statement, “This beautiful new collection of Amy’s notes and musings shows another side of Amy – her fun and witty side. We wanted to share this with Amy’s fans so that they too can enjoy Amy, in her words.” The book will be out on August 31 from HarperCollins.

What Murder Mysteries Get Wrong (and Right) about Wills

Mysteries often center around wills. But how do these depictions hold up in reality? Let’s explore three areas about wills in the law.

Book Radar

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai Publishing New Memoir and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 26, 2023

Sponsored by

Hi Book Friends!

I hope you’re having a wonderful week. Today, I took the day off from work and spent the day wine tasting, so I’m feeling very relaxed and ready to talk books. So let’s get right into it, shall we? Here are all the book things you should know!

Interested in fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading? Check out our newest newsletter, The Deep Dive, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox! Choose your membership level today at bookriot.substack.com

Book Deals and Reveals

Netflix has confirmed that Heartstopper will return for a second season on August 3. The series, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels of the same name, has also already been renewed for a second season.

Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and author of the bestseller I Am Malala, is publishing a new memoir with Atria Books. Atria described the book as a “revealing journey of self-discovery — a breathtaking story of recovery and search for identity, a candid exploration of her coming-of-age in the public spotlight, and an intimate look at her life today.”

Screenwriter and author Staci Robinson is publishing a biography entitled Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography. Robinson knew Shakur in high school and was selected by Shakur’s mother to write the book. Publication is set for October.

YA author Mary E. Pearson is publishing her adult debut, The Courting of Bristol Keats with Flatiron. Flatiron said the novel “follows a grieving young woman who learns that her father’s death may have been faked, and is plunged into an unexpected world of gods, fae, and monsters.”

Over the past three years, entry-level wages at many publishing houses have risen 23%, on average, in response to unions, inflation, and a demand for a living wage.

Ada Limón has been appointed to serve a two-year second term as the nation’s 24^th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. This is the first time a laureate will serve a two-year term.

Kennedy Ryan’s bestselling novel Before I Let Go is in development at Peacock from Universal TV & UCP.

At this year’s London Book Fair, literary agency Jenny Brown Associates launched an award for debut novelists in the UK aged 50 and above. The new award invites unpublished writers without an agent to submit the first 5,000 words of their novel by May 31.

Brandon Sklenar has been cast to star alongside Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in the upcoming film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel It Ends With Us.

Apple TV+ has released the first trailer for the new series Lessons in Chemistry, starring Brie Larson.

Ted Lasso star Juno Temple is in talks to join Tom Hardy in a lead role in the upcoming film Venom 3. Details about Temple’s character are being kept under wraps.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, Athenium is reissuing special editions of the books.

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One!

The Liberators by E.J. Koh (Tin House Books, November 7)

Poet and translator E.J. Koh released her memoir The Magical Language of Others back in 2020, but I, like many readers, still can’t stop thinking about it in 2023. Now Koh is releasing her debut novel, The Liberators, a literary novel spanning continents and four generations of two Korean families.

After their arranged marriage, Insuk and Sungho move from South Korea to San Jose, California. In a new country, Insuk feels grief over the loss of her home and everything she left behinds, and she enters into an affair that will change the course of two families’ lives over many generations. Koh’s novel weaves in real historical events, from the Gwangju Massacre to the 1988 Olympics, to tell the story of family legacies, loss, memory, love, and war.

The Liberators will be out from Tin House Books on November 7, and it’s sure to include some of the most beautiful prose you’ve read all year. Make sure to put this one on your TBR!

Do you need help finding your next great read? Subscribe to Tailored Book Recommendations for really great reads year-round.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Fire is immense and immeasurable; it will keep expanding, reproducing, until water or air stop it. If the Lord cherishes us, why are we so fragile and fire so grand? Pointless debate. We are the fire, and the fire is us. We were born with electricity in our hearts, the divine flame. When we die, we return to the elements. Ashes to fucking ashes.”

— Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

What I’m Watching This Weekend

I’m finally catching up with some of those TV shows I know I should have been watching but just hadn’t gotten around to watching yet. At the top of my list are Yellowjackets and Swarm. Are you watching these too? Or have you watched them? I would love to hear your thoughts!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Sweet Cersei Anne continues to be a hermit. hiding in her little cat house. Her new trick, as you’ll see in this pic, is pushing the pillow halfway outside of her house so that it’s even harder for the other cats to get to her. Relatable, TBH.

Aaaand…that is all for today, friends! Have a great weekend.

Emily