Author: Tirzah Price

Happy Monday, book nerds! I hope you had a splendid weekend full of bookish goodness. My partner and I wrapped up watching the HBO documentary I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, which is based off of the book by the same name by Michelle McNamara. It was fantastic, and I loved that it brought out new dimensions to the book and put a face to some of the victims of the Golden State Killer, allowing them to tell their stories in their own words. If true crime doesn’t scare you too much, I highly recommend it!

Here’s your latest batch of new book news and excitement! Remember to hydrate and wear a mask this week, friends!

Trivia time: Which famous American writer kept pet peacocks?

Deals and Squeals:

Hey Ken Liu fans, get excited! Liu’s short stories are being adapted into an animated series at AMC, and two whole seasons have already been ordered!

We’ve got a new Oprah pick! Caste by Isabel Wilkerson explores the origins of racial injustice. Wilkerson is also the author of The Warmth of Other Suns, about the Great Migration.

Universal and LeBron James are adapting the graphic novel New Kid by Jerry Craft, which won the Newbery Award earlier this year!

In sad news, Hulu has canceled High Fidelity, which is adapted from High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.

But in majorly exciting news, Megan Abbott has a new book, and TV rights have already sold! The Turnout will be out in summer 2021, and it dives into the ballet world.

The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards shortlist was announced on Twitter last week.

Former president George W. Bush has a new book of portraits, this time focusing on immigrants.

Thanks to COVID-19, it’s been difficult for debut authors to launch careers, but Library Journal has rounded up 35 debut books coming out between summer and January 2021 for your reading pleasure.

Riot Recommendations

At Book Riot, I’m a cohost with Liberty on All the Books!, plus I write a handful of newsletters including the weekly Read This Book newsletter, cohost the Insiders Read Harder podcast, and write content for the site. I’m always drowning in books, so here’s what’s on my radar this week!

Recommended Reading: Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisely

I love diving into a good graphic novel, and believe it or not, this was my first Lucy Knisely pick (but certainly won’t be my last!). It is a not-so-veiled fictional account of Lucy’s own childhood, and it follows Jen, who’s grumpy about being forced to move from the city to a farm with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Not only are the chores completely unfamiliar and messy, she also has to contend with two new step-sisters who only visit the farm part-time, and seem to be perfect in ways Jen is not. I love the rural setting, and the farming misadventures and farmer’s market scenes. This is a book for kids, but I read it in a single sitting and loved it!

What I’m reading this week:

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong (my copy finally arrived and OH MY WORD THE COLORS ARE GORGEOUS!)

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (my copy finally came, YAY!)

Trivia answer: Flanney O’Connor!

Here’s a photo of my orange monster, looking deceptively peaceful and demure next to my copy of The Space Between Worlds. Now that it’s getting cooler, he’ll come looking for snuggles while I’m reading, and it’s kinda cute.

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Hey there, book nerds! Happy Thursday! I hope you’re having a great week, full of wonderful reading. I’ve been hopping around between a few different books, watching more Perry Mason on HBO, and plotting out the month’s new book acquisitions. You know, just living my best bookish life.

Here’s more great new deals and excitement! I hope you’re staying safe out there, and wearing your bookish mask when you need to leave your house!

Trivia time: What was Stephen King’s debut novel?

Deals and Squeals:

Jasmine Guillory revealed on Today with Hoda and Jenna that Reese Witherspoon has optioned her first three romance novels—The Wedding Date, The Proposal, and The Wedding Party. About time these amazing books got some film traction!

Are you excited for Elena Ferrante’s new novel, The Lying Life of Adults? Are you an audiobook reader? You’ll want to pick up the audio edition, which will be narrated by Marisa Tomei! It’ll be Tomei’s audiobook debut but she’s a big Ferrante fan and we’re certain she’ll do a fantastic job.

Publication of John Bolton’s The Room Where It Happened couldn’t be stopped in the courts, but now the Department of Justice is looking to sue for Bolton’s earnings–which are in the millions.

Stephenie Meyer is celebrating the long-awaited release of Midnight Sun by going on tour–but she’ll only be physically present at one stop, and it’ll be held at a drive-in theater, with social distancing measures in effect.

John Boyne has come under fire for his research (or lack thereof) in his books, but this latest incident is a cross between hilarious and cringe-worthy: his new historical novel, A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom, lists fictional ingredients for red dye, apparently taken from a simple Google search that presented results from a Legend of Zelda game.

Do you love Stephen King’s ventures into the hardboiled crime genre? Then you’ll be happy to hear he has a new crime novel out in March 2021 called Later.

Accidentally Wes Anderson began as an Instagram account that shared photos that looked like they were plucked from a set of one of his movies, but now it’s a book, authorized by Anderson himself. You can catch a sneak preview ahead of the October release date.

Riot Recommendations

At Book Riot, I’m a cohost with Liberty on All the Books!, plus I write a handful of newsletters including the weekly Read This Book newsletter, cohost the Insiders Read Harder podcast, and write content for the site. I’m always drowning in books, so here’s what’s on my radar this week!

Want to read: The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

It’s been a while since I read a great science fiction novel, and this new release (out just this week!) leapt to my attention thanks to someone I follow on Twitter saying that it stars an LGBTQ+ character! This is the story of Cara, who lives in a highly stratified society where multiverse travel is possible–but only if your counterpart there is dead. Cara’s other selves are great at dying, which makes her the perfect candidate to become a traveler, but when one of her counterparts dies unexpectedly, she’s drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. I just got a copy and I can’t wait to dive in!

My (other) book acquisitions this week:

Diamond Doris: The True Story of the World’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief by Doris Payne

Mayhem by Estelle Laure

Never Look Back by Lillian Rivera

Trivia answer: Carrie

That’s it for me, book nerds! I leave you with this photo of my fledgling romance shelf, which I turned into a rainbow while I was shuffling a few things around. I am now accepting recommendations for romance novels with orange, purple, and blue spines, please and thank you!

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Hey there, book nerds! Happy Monday! I hope your weekends were restorative and full of great books. I got in tons of great audiobook and print reading, and I even started watching Perry Mason on HBO, which is a new adaptation of the 1930s-set mystery series by Erle Stanley Gardner, starring Matthew Rhys. I’m super intrigued, so it’s nice to know there’s a second season to look forward to!

Whatever you’ve got going on this week, I hope you remember to take time for yourself and enjoy a good book!

Trivia time: What was the initial print run of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen?

Deals and Squeals:

One nice thing to come out of pandemic life is Together, Apart, which is a YA anthology of romantic short stories that take place during COVID lockdown. Contributors include Rachael Lippincott, Brittney Morris, Erin A. Craig, and Bill Konigsberg. The anthology will be out in October.

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman, a YA book that comes out this week, has been optioned by Sydney Sweeney’s new production company! Sweeney plans on starring in the TV adaptation.

It’s looking like Michael Cohen can write his tell-all after all.

If you’re a fan of Tess Sharpe’s thrillers, then good news–her 2021 release The Girls I’ve Been has been optioned by Jason Bateman and Millie Bobby Brown!

Tor reports that Jason Peele is teaming up with Issa Rae to adapt the short story “Sinkhole” by Leyna Krow for film! Rae plans on starring in the film. You can read the short story here.

Disney+ is releasing a contemporary, American adaptation live action of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, and Black Beauty will be voiced by Kate Winslet.

Matthew McConaughey is releasing a book in October called Greenlights, but he promises you it’s not the typical celebrity memoir.

#BlackLivesMatter and so does Black art! Check out this incredible coloring book highlighting and celebrating Black artists, called #BlackArtMatters.

Riot Recommendations

At Book Riot, I’m a cohost with Liberty on All the Books!, plus I write a handful of newsletters including the weekly Read This Book newsletter, cohost the Insiders Read Harder podcast, and write content for the site. I’m always drowning in books, so here’s what’s on my radar this week!

Recommendation: No Judgments by Meg Cabot

I went to the beach this past week, and naturally I needed a beach read. I grabbed this romance from Meg Cabot because she has been a reliable author for me for over 15 years, and I was not disappointed. This is the first in her new adult romance series set on the fictional Little Bridge Island, the tiniest in the Florida Keys. It follows Bree, who is living low-key as a waitress and painter with her rescue cat after running from her problems in New York City. When the hurricane of the century swerves for her island, she decides not to evacuate–and it’s a good thing, because the storm wipes out the bridge to the island, separating evacuees from their pets. She goes on a mission to rescue and look after as many animals as possible, aided by her boss’s sexy nephew–and maybe finds her calling along the way. This was such a fun read (that made me glad that my beach is far, far away from tropical storms) and an immersive and welcoming setting. I can’t wait for the second in the series, No Offense, out next week!

What I plan on reading this week:

Once You Go This Far by Kristen Lepionka

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenberg

Trivia answer: 1,500 copies!

Looking for a fun sewing project with all your fabric scraps that isn’t making face masks? Check out these easy fabric square bookmarks! I’m going to whip up a few the first chance I get!

This Kickstarter for a Reader’s Advisory card deck has already been fully funded, but look at how cool it is! You can still contribute and score a deck for yourself.

I’ll leave you with this photo I took of one of my fave summer reads of this year, and maybe all time, Beach Read by Emily Henry, at its setting–Lake Michigan! As you can see, Lake Michigan beaches are legit, plus there are no tropical storms, no sharks, and no saltwater! (Although they do come with some wicked lake effect snow in winter, so I guess no beach is perfect!)

Happy reading!
Tirzah