Category: Book Radar

Augustine Frizzell to Direct THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LA RUE and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 19, 2021

Book Deals & Reveals

Here’s the cover reveal of Lauren Ho’s new novel Lucie Yi is Not A Romantic. Out from G.P. Putnam’s Sons on June 21, 2022.

Augustine Frizzell will be directing the film adaptation of V.E. Schwab’s bestselling novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Remember how I said last week that I was so excited about Beck Albertalli and Adam Silvera’s new novel Here’s to Us? Well you can read an excerpt from the first chapter of the novel right now.

Entertainment Weekly has also got a first look at the new Riley Sager novel, The House Across the Lake.

The final trailer of Spider-Man: No Way Home is now out, and it features villains from past Spider-Man films: Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), and the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe).

Oprah Daily has got an exclusive cover reveal of Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo, which Grove Press is publishing in April 2022.

Jesse Eisenberg and Lizzy Caplan have signed on to star in the FX on Hulu limited series based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s best-selling novel Fleishman is in Trouble.

Maureen Goo’s next YA novel Throwback will be published by independent publisher Zando Projects in 2023.

Emerging filmmaker Nick Brooks has sold his first young adult thriller in a seven-figure book deal. Henry Holt Books for Young Readers expects to publish the book in 2023.

Libro.fm announces their top-selling audiobooks of 2021.

Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year is The Lyrics by Paul McCartney.

Here are the 2021 winners of the National Book Awards.

Book Riot Recommends

I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Prepare Your Shelves!

The Maid by Nita Prose (Ballantine Books, January 4, 2022)

We love a quirky mystery/thriller, don’t we? The Maid is a new thriller that comes out early in 2022 and really kicks off what I hope will be a promising year in mystery fiction. This is the story of Molly Gray, who is not like everyone else (although who is like everyone else, really?). She has trouble with social skills and difficulty reading social cues. When she was feeling unsure of the world around her, she used to have her gran to lean on. But now Gran is dead, and Molly has been left to navigate the world all on her own.

Unsure of what else to do with herself, Molly throws herself fully into her work as a maid at a hotel. After all, it’s the perfect job for her. She loves cleaning, and returning each and every room in the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection fills Molly with joy. That is… until she discovers a dead body in one of the rooms. And suddenly the hotel becomes the scene of a serious murder investigation. And Molly becomes a primary suspect.

I think readers are going to love reading Molly’s story. She’s an enjoyable character not because she’s 100% likable all the times but because she’s unique and fun to read about, even when she makes some frustrating decisions. Yes, the mystery and the story here are compelling, but it’s the main character that really pushes this into must-read territory.

What I’m Reading This Week

Will by Will Smith

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett

The Collective by Alison Gaylon

There, There by Tommy Orange

Monday Memes

This one is about to be me on my Thanksgiving trip this week. It’s too bad I can’t get into eReaders, because the amount of space books take up in my luggage? Not good.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

Insecure Season 5 is in full swing, and it is soooooo good! Please watch this show if you haven’t already. There’s a scene in episode 1 of season 5 that I’m still laughing about every time I think about it.

And since we always want more cats, here’s a century-old children’s book that features cats in costumes.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

It’s been a while since little Cersei let me share a picture of her, and now she’s finally gracing us with her presence with this stunning close up. Just look at her sweet little pink nose. One of these days, I’m going to show you a full close up of her face so you can see the cute little spot under her mouth that I call her “drool spot.” I know you can’t wait.

And there you have it. The final book Radar before Thanksgiving Day here in the US. I hope you have a safe, happy holiday if you celebrate! Talk soon!

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Phenomenal Book Club Launches and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 17, 2021

Book Deals and Reveals

the impossible destiny of cutie grackle cover

Hi fellow horror fans. Tor Nightfire has released its extensive list of horror novels they’re looking forward to in 2022. If your TBR for 2022 isn’t long enough yet, you’ll want to check this out.

I love the cover of this middle grade novel! Author Shawn K. Stout tweeted the cover reveal of her new novel The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle, out on May 10, 2022.

Voting for the Goodreads Choice Awards for 2021 is officially open! Get your votes in now! You have until the 28th to vote in the opening round.

Well Read Black Girl has a special cover reveal for you: It’s Ebony LaDelle’s upcoming novel Love Radio, available in May 2022.

Entertainment Weekly has got a special sneak peek at Sloane Crosley’s Cult Classic, which is, according to the author, “a romantic comedy set in a new age mind control cult on the Lower East Side.” This book will hit shelves on June 7, 2022.

Actress Kaitlyn Dever has posted a first-look image on Instagram of her character Rosaline in the upcoming Hulu film Rosaline, a comedic retelling of Romeo and Juliet, coming in 2022.

Author Chloe Gong has announced that in 2023, she will be making her adult fiction debut with Immortal Longings, the first in a new epic fantasy trilogy.

Disney+ Day last week included a lot of announcements for upcoming bookish material. Here’s a rundown of what’s coming!

Amazon has announced their picks for the best books of 2021!

Book Riot Recommends

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Can’t Wait for This One

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (Sourcebooks, June 7, 2022)

The Woman in the Library doesn’t come out for another seven months, and already I can’t stop thinking about it. A locked room set inside of a library? Four strangers forced together, all with their own secrets? I want it now.

Let’s set the scene. It’s the reading room at the Boston Public Library. Everything is quiet and serene. Everyone is minding their own business. Then, out of nowhere, a scream shatters the calm. Security guards rush to investigate straight away, and they ask everyone else to remain where they are until they can figure out what happened. While stuck inside the reading room, four strangers who just happened to be sitting at the same table strike up a conversation. Each of them has their own reason for being in the reading room that day. And each of them has a secret. One of those secrets? One of them is the murderer.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, high-tension mystery, this one is going to check those boxes. And if June 7 seems like a long time from now, go back and check out her previous books while you wait. 2017’s After She Wrote Him is another mystery with lots of bookish content.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Apologies didn’t exonerate the sinner, only compelled graciousness from its recipient.”

— Nothing But Blackened Teeth, Cassandra Khaw

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.

If you love a good book club, I’ve got a new one for you that’s worth checking out. I’ve already purchased several shirts and sweatshirts from Phenomenal. You can check out their current campaigns here. But now, Phenomenal is branching out into book club territory!

Phenomenal is partnering with Penguin Random House and Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah-Jones for the first official book club selections of The 1619 Project and the kids’ companion book Born On The Water. If you’re interested in participating in the book club, you can RSVP here for a special online event with author Nikole Hannah-Jones and illustrator Nikkolas Smith in conversation with Meena Harris.

Additionally, Phenomenal has exclusive book club merch! Some of the sweatshirts are in partnership with local bookshops. Additionally, you can buy the book clubs books on their website.

Your Weekend Reading Soundtack

Hey, did y’all hear Taylor Swift has a new album out? Well I’m sorry, but that’s all I’m listening to right now. And I’ll also be watching the video for “All too Well” starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. I have to.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

It’s Murray and Phantom on the cat tree yet again! And I love how Phantom is posing to show of his cute little white fluff.

If you’ve been around for a while, you probably know I have a third cat named Cersei. And you might be wondering where she’s been lately. Cersei is doing great. She’s just very camera shy. And especially as the weather gets colder, she’s been cuddling into her hiding places. I’ll try to get a new pic of the sweet girl soon!

And that’s all, book friends! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll speak again soon!

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Tor Nightfire Announces New Cassandra Khaw Novella and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 12, 2021

Book Deals and Reveals

Here’s the cover reveal for Lisa Jewell’s upcoming novel The Family Remains, the sequel to The Family Upstairs. It will be out in August 2022.

Tor Nightfire’s got some good news for anyone who loved this year’s Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw. Khaw’s next novel The Salt Grows Heavy, “a sharp and hungry mermaid tale full of creeping dread and delicious gore,” is coming out in May 2023!

Ashley Liao & Ross Butler have signed on to star in the upcoming adaptation of Loveboat, Taipei, based on the novel by Abigail Hing Wen.

LGBTQ Reads has got an exclusive cover reveal of Maya Dean’s Wrath Goddess Sing, releasing June 7, 2022 from William Morrow.

Here’s a sneak peek at Alexis Schaitkin’s upcoming novel Elsewhere, which is being described as a mix of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and Margaret Atwood. This one will publish June 28, 2022.

Barnes & Noble has just announced the upcoming publication of Family of Liars, E. Lockhart’s prequel to her New York Times bestselling novel We Were Liars. Family of Liars will be out on May 3, 2022.

Here’s the cover reveal of Ellen Hagan’s upcoming YA novel Don’t Call Me A Hurricane, out from Bloomsbury on May 17, 2022.

One more cover reveal this Monday: here’s the really adorable cover of Marcelle Karp’s YA novel Getting Over Max Cooper. This one’s out on April 19, 2022.

The Guadalajara International Book Fair, the biggest Spanish-language book fair, is returning this year with a hybrid in-person and online event, running from November 27 through December 5.

Jon M. Chu has signed on to directed a film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ beloved book Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Jesse Sutanto has won the Comedy Women in Print Award for her novel Dial A for Aunties.

The American Library Association has announced the six books shortlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera (Quill Tree Books, December 28, 2021)

Back in 2018, I listened to the audiobook of What if It’s Us when I was on a road trip, and I fell in love with these characters. I loved that Arthur was a fellow theater nerd and I related to his awkwardness. And Ben seemed like the kind of fantasy boyfriend that could get Arthur to break out of his shell. But at the same time, Ben also had a personality and a story of his own. And while these two seemed like the perfect match for each other, not everything worked out perfectly. And that’s okay. In life, things don’t always fall exactly into place, and I appreciate the realism. So I honestly wasn’t looking for a sequel. I was happy with where we left things.

And yet… when the sequel came out, I had to get my hands on it. So where are Ben and Arthur now? Well, they’re both in New York, but after two years apart, they’re focusing on their own goals and their own, separate visions of the future. And yet, while these two are on seemingly totally different trajectories, they keep running into each other. Is New York really that small, or are they just destined to get back together? Here’s to Us is a book you could probably enjoy on its own. Enough context is provided where you can fall into the story and understand the characters’ history without having read the previous book. But What If It’s Us was such a fun read, why wouldn’t you want to just read both?

If you are a fan of audiobooks, I recommend these on audio. I love audiobooks where different narrators read for the different characters’ perspectives. I feel like it gives my ears a little break and reset when I’m sitting down for a long listening session. Noah Galvin and Froy Gutierrez narrated the audiobook for What if It’s Us, and they’re back for Here’s to Us. After a few years away from these characters and their story, it was nice to return to these familiar voices.

What I’m Reading This Week

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

Will by Will Smith

Monday Memes

This meme is so relatable to me. Just as an example, Cersei is my favorite character in Game of Thrones (the books and the show), and I feel like I have to defend that constantly.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

Remember how I said I love planning things? Well, friends, it’s that time of the year. Time to pick out my 2022 planners. Yes, I am a big fan of paper planners. I like writing plans down by hand. It helps me remember everything and I love seeing it all on paper. I’ve been getting Passion Planners for the last several years for my everyday planning, and I’m going with Passion Planner again this year. This year, I ordered the Weekly 2022 Annual in Elegant Marble (the large one, of course).

I’ve also been enjoying using reading planners lately as well. Yes, I’m still using Goodreads, and I love, love, love Tirzah Price’s reading logs—I can’t wait to see what her 2022 log will look like. But now I’m also tracking my reading with planners. This year, I’m trying a new one. I’ve preordered Little Inkling’s 2022 Always Fully Booked Planner. The black and white one I ordered is sold out, but the rainbow one is still available!

And Here’s a Cat Picture!

Since it’s Monday and all, let’s make it “Take Your Cat to Work Day.” Here’s a picture of sweet Murray helping me to start my work week off right. He’s definitely not thinking about pushing all of my stuff off the desk. No way.

Thanks for your help, sweet Murray! Are you taking your pet with you to work today?

Well, bye! That’s all I’ve got for you today. I hope you have a nice day. Make sure to bring a coat when you go out. And if it gets hot while you’re out and you take your coat off, make sure you remember to grab it when you come back home. I’ve lost lots of coats. That’s all I’m saying.

❤️ Emily

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Book Radar

Why the Book Community Should Care About the Penguin/S&S Merger and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 10, 2021

Book Deals and Reveals

poster for the g film Spider-Man: No Way Home

Sony has released the first official poster for the upcoming film Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Here is the stunning cover reveal of Leesa Cross-Smith’s upcoming novel Half-Blown Rose. This one is out in July 2022.

Bestselling author Anna Todd is launching a new imprint in partnership with Wattpad Books.

Alma Katsu has revealed the paperback cover for her 2021 novel Red Widow.

A TV series adaptation of The Royal Diaries is in the works from Legendary Television and Scholastic Entertainment.

Graywolf Press publisher Fiona McCrae has announced that she will retire in June 2022.

The Nerd Daily has an exclusive cover reveal of The Beach Trap by Ali Brady. This reimagining of the classic film The Parent Trap will be out on June 14, 2022.

Saeed Jones is opening up about the creative process in his new newsletter Werk-in-Progress.

Middle grade novel Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan has gotten a cover reveal! Check out the cover now, and preorder the book, out in July 2022.

Israeli bookstores have pulled Sally Rooney’s books from shelves in response to the author refusing to allow her new book to be translated into Hebrew.

This new report from PEN America highlights the wide ranging damage from educational gag orders across the country.

Here are the best cities for book lovers in 2022 (and the worst ones too).

And here are all of the 850 books Texas lawmaker Matt Krause wants to ban from school libraries.

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One

Wahala by Nikki May (Custom House, January 11, 2022)

Wahala by Nikki May is coming out right at the beginning of 2022, so we won’t have to wait too long for this one. You might even consider this one to be “Prepare Your Shelves” territory. I know everyone keeps saying it, but isn’t it odd that 2022 is that close? Like, how? The older I get, the less I understand time.

But anyway, let’s just get past the fact that 2022 is soon and get excited for this debut novel. Let me tell you about why. Wahala is the story of three Anglo-Nigerian best friends. There’s Ronke who wants nothing more than a happily ever after with a nice husband and kids. Meanwhile Boo has everything Ronke wants, but she’s frustrated with domestic life and desperate to reconnect with who she used to be before the husband and kids. Then there’s Simi, the one with the seemingly perfect life who is nonetheless struggling with impostor syndrome.

The three women’s lives are turned upside down when a fourth woman infiltrates their friend group. At first, Isobel seems like the missing puzzle piece. She brings out the best in each woman and pushes them to go outside of their comfort zone. But the more Isobel meddles with the other women’s lives, the more chaotic everything becomes. And soon enough, Ronke, Simi, and Boo’s close friendship threatens to fall apart.

I love a story about the power and complexity of female friendship, and so of course Wahala is a must-read for me. And while this book does sound like it’s going to be an unputdownable page-turner, the premise promises something a little more thought-provoking than your typical beach read. The blurb promises a “sharp, modern take on friendship, ambition, culture, and betrayal,” and I am here for it.

If you think this sounds like it would make an amazing television show, you’re not alone. This book is already being developed into a TV series for BBC. I’m going to pick this one up right away so I can be prepared for the show. Yes, I’m already pre-excited for the TV adaptation of the book.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“If every story had a happy ending, then we’d have no reason to start again. Life is all about choices, and learning how to put ourselves back together when we fall apart. Which we all do. Even the people who pretend they don’t.”

— Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney

What’s Up in the Book Community?

I know I’ve mentioned before how much I love Jess Owens’ “Book CommuniTEA” series on YouTube, but I wanted to point out an episode that recently came out that I think is particularly worth a watch. If you’ve been curious about what’s going on with Penguin Random House attempting to purchase Simon & Schuster, here’s a nice rundown of what’s going on and why this merger would be really, really bad news for books. Check it out!

Your Weekend Reading Soundtrack

This is what we’re going to listen to this weekend. More info on this coming in just a few sentences. But yes this should be a fun one!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Check out these two bad cats hanging out on top of the fridge. What are they doing up there? Forming a special Bad Cat Club?

Underneath them, you’ll see some fancy Flight of the Conchords magnets, which was the inspiration for this week’s Reading Soundtrack. I hope you enjoy the funny if you’ve never listened, and I hope you enjoy the memories if you haven’t listened for a while. But most importantly, I hope you enjoyed this cat picture.

Well, that’s all! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. This weekend, I say you should get yourself a nice hot beverage, and let’s all toast to cooler weather.

❤️ Emily

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Book Radar

RL Stine’s Got 10 New Stinetingling Short Stories and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 5, 2021

Sponsored by Penguin Random House & Underlined.

The start of an epic new fantasy series, Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid in this West African inspired historical fantasy debut by Natasha Bowen that is perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Roseanne A. Brown. Simi is a Mami Wata—a mermaid—bound by the laws of gods and charged with blessing the souls of slaves lost at sea. But when Simi does the unthinkable and saves the life of a boy instead, she finds herself in the deepest trouble at the bottom of the sea.

Book Friends,

I don’t know how this keeps happening to us, but it’s Monday again, which means it’s time for a new week filled with books and more Book Radar.

At the beginning of every week, I end up setting little mini-reading goals for myself, and this week I mean very mini. I have a little stack of novellas I want to get through this week. They’re the kind of books that I’ve meant to read all year, but every time I look at them, I think, “Oh that won’t take me long! I’ll read it later!” Well, later is now. So I’m reading 2021 novellas. Some I’m revisiting, some I’m reading for the first time. Do you have any favorite novellas from 2021? I’d love to hear about them. Always feel free to reach out.

Anyway, let’s talk about some book stuff.

❤️ Emily

Book Deals and Reveals

Flatiron Books has revealed to cover for Julia Armfield’s upcoming literary novel Our Wives Under the Sea. This one’s out July 12, 2022.

Reese Witherspoon has announced her book club pick for November. It’s The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.

RL Stine is releasing 10 new short stories for young readers in a new collection called Stinetinglers, out August 30, 2022.

Comic book author Mariko Tamaki has launched, Surely Books, a new LGBTQ+ graphic novel imprint. The first publication from the imprint will be Lifetime Passes by writer Terry Blas and artist Claudia Aguirre, out later this month.

Tin House has announced that they will be publishing the debut memoir When They Tell You to Be Good in October 2022. This is Editor-at-Large Hanif Abdurraqib’s first acquisition for Tin House.

Paul Newman’s memoir will be published in 2022, 14 years after the actor’s death.

Here’s the cover reveal for Vanessa Hua’s upcoming historical fiction novel Forbidden City. This book will be available April 19th, 2022.

Sony Pictures Television is developing Myriam Gurba’s Mean as a series. The story is about the author’s experiences coming of age as a queer Chicana in Santa Maria, California in the 1980s/90s.

Here’s the brand new trailer for the upcoming adaptation of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. The movie stars Lucy Hale and Robbie Amell.

Taika Waititi will be directing and co-writing the script for the upcoming film adaptaiton of acclaimed comic The Incal from Alejandro Jodorowsky and the late artist Moebius.

Playground Entertainment is adapting the Korean graphic novel Moms by Yeong-shin Ma as a TV series.

The Promise by Damon Galgut has won the 2021 Booker Prize.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (December 7, Ecco)

Audiobook fans, listen up because here’s one coming out next week that is particularly good on audio. The audiobook is narrated by Sue Jean Kim (Bachelorette) and Raymond Lee (Mozart in the Jungle). I love a multi-narrator audiobook, but especially when the characters are this well rendered, it’s nice to hear their voices brought to life with a good narration. But if you prefer print or ebook? I’m sure all of that still comes through. Just had to give a shout out to my audiobook people!

Beasts of a Little Land is a historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement. The novel follows the stories of two characters. Jade is a young girl who sold to Miss Silver’s courtesan school by her family. She meets a boy named JungHo, an orphan who makes a living by begging on the streets of Seoul, and the two form a close friendship. As the two grow older, their lives take them in different directions. Jade becomes a sought-after performer and catches the eye of a nobleman. JungHo joins the fight for Korean independence. But the two characters’ fates remain intertwined.

This sweeping historical novel covers many decades of Korean history. The details are well-researched and if you’re unaware of many of the details of the Korean independence movement (as I was), this story will teach you something about history. But like all exceptional historical fiction, the history and the details of the setting serve to make the characters and the story all the more compelling.

Added bonus: look at the beautiful cover.

What I’m Reading This Week

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric Larocca

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

Monday Memes

Today, I had to share this perfect meme from our very own Book Riot Instagram. It’s just too good.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

I know I’ve been watching a lot of book-to-series adaptations lately. This week, I’ve got another one that’s worth a watch. I finally broke down and got Peacock TV so that I could watch One of Us is Lying. The book by Karen M. McManus was so fun, and I was excited to see what they would do with the show. So far so good, though I do envy viewers that will watch and not know the answer to the mystery yet! What do you prefer? Watching the tv show/movie first and then reading the book? Or reading the book and then watching the adaptation? Again, hit me up and let me know.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Here’s another one from the archives.

This is kitten Murray. Back when Murray was tiny, this stuffed owl was his favorite toy. He’d even bathe it sometimes. Now that he’s a grown kitty, he’s moved on to other toys, and the owl has gone the way of all the toys in Toy Story 3. They always grow up so fast!

Friends, thank you so much for tuning in to Book Radar. I hope your week is wonderful. I hope it’s productive if that’s what you’re going for, and I hope it’s restful if you need rest.

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Clementine from Telltale’s THE WALKING DEAD Games Gets Her Own Graphic Novel and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 3, 2021

Sponsored by Sleigh Bells Ring by RaeAnne Thayne.

All Annie McCade and Tate Sheridan needed was a little Christmas magic—and they have a week on the ranch he’s determined to unload, and she will always treasure, along with her little niece and nephew, to create a holiday to remember….

Happy Thursday, Book People.

It’s me, Emily, and it’s time for Book Radar. We’ve got lots of exciting book news and new book details all jam packed into this newsletter this Thursday. I think you’re going to be excited. I’m excited. Which bit of book content in this newsletter are you going to be most excited about? Who knows? Hard to say with so much going on in the world of books. Read on and find out.

❤️ Emily

Book Deals and Reveals

Tor Nightfire has got a cover reveal and an excerpt of Gwendolyn Kiste’s Reluctant Immortals, coming August 23rd, 2022!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Signal to Noise is getting a rerelease with corrections and a new cover by Jim Tierney.

Here’s the cover reveal of Chilean Poet, a novel from Alejandro Zambra, translated by Megan McDowell, out in February 2022. We love a black cat book cover.

We’ve also got a cover reveal of the upcoming novel Finding Jupiter from Kelis Rowe. This one’s out May 31, 2022.

Here’s a first look at Emma Straub’s novel This Time Tomorrow, a new novel about time travel. The book hits shelves May 2022.

Alex Gino’s acclaimed 2015 trans middle grade novel is receiving an update in the form of a new title—Melissa—and a brand-new cover.

MTV Books is relaunching and has announced their first new title will be My Life: Growing Up Asian in America, which includes an introduction by former MTV News correspondent SuChin Pak.

The second season of the Neil Gaiman fantasy series Good Omens has begun filming in Scotland.

Lisa Taddeo is releasing her first short story collection Ghost Lover on June 14, 2022. Here’s the cover reveal.

The Department of Justice has sued to block the acquisition of Simon and Schuster from Penguin Random House.

Here’s the trailer for the upcoming HBO Max series adaptation of Emily St. John Mandel’s apocalyptic novel Station Eleven.

If you love Telltale’s The Walking Dead video games, you’ll be excited to know Clementine is getting her own graphic novels. Here’s an exclusive preview of The Walking Dead: Clementine Book One. This series will feature a more in-depth look at Clementine’s fate after the events of the Telltale games.

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom, May 10, 2022)

I know Nghi Vo has written some incredibly excellent novellas, which I still need to go back and read, but I was first introduced to the author through her debut novel, The Chosen and the Beautiful, because when I heard “queer retelling of Great Gatsby but with magic,” I was like, yes, I will read that. Now, after having read that book, I have to say that I would have probably been up for reading Vo’s next novel no matter what it ended up being about. So the fact that the premise of this novel sounds really fascinating? Well, that’s just an added bonus at this point.

With Siren Queen, Vo is telling another story that mixes historical fiction and magic. This one is set during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Luli Wei is a beautiful and talented young actress who is hungry for stardom. She knows how limited roles are for Chinese American women in Hollywood. And Luli lives in a world where the monsters of Hollywood are not figurative. They are very, very real. The movie business runs on a system that sacrifices young starlets like Luli. It’s a system that deals in blood bargains and ancient magic. But Luli doesn’t care. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to see her face on movie screens—even if it means becoming a monster herself.

Stories about Hollywood. Monsters. Magic. Something about blood rituals? All this from Hugo, Locus, and Ignyte Award finalist Nghi Vo? Are you adding this to your TBR list for 2022 yet? Because I am.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Life is strange. It’s full of mistakes and regrets, and our minds are very good at bringing those out at the worst times, the times when we’re most vulnerable. Like dreams. The best we can do, I think, is to figure out how to move forward. How we correct the errors that we made to give some peace to ourselves.”

— The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

What’s Up in the Book Community?

Okay, this one goes out to all my fellow olds. If you’re kinda interested in TikTok content but you kinda think TikTok is a young people’s game, here’s a YouTube account you should follow. BookTok posts compilations called Bookish Tik Toks Only Readers Would Get. There are a bunch of them to check out, but I linked this particular one because I love the extremely accurate parody of your typical YA heroine. But definitely watch the others! They’re numbered for your convenience.

Your Weekend Reading Soundtrack

Is it too early to feel nostalgic about 2008? Whatever. On Halloween, I found myself listening to the True Blood soundtrack, and then later that night I thought to myself, welp, it’s time to watch True Blood again. So now I’m telling you that maybe this weekend is the weekend you listen to True Blood music. Or maybe you rewatch the show with me. Or maybe you read the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris. They’re really fun. And just because it’s November doesn’t mean we can’t still be excited about vampires. It’s Halloween all year long in my heart.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

I love when cats are like “I’m people.” In this image, we see Phantom sleeping on the couch almost like a person would. Cats, they’re just like us! But much cuter.

Anyway, nap goals. Maybe we should all take a page from Phantom’s book and take a nap for the rest of our Thursday afternoon. After all, the weather is getting chilly and outside is just so outside. And this has been your motivational talk of the day.

And that’s all I have for you today, book friends! Have a wonderful weekend.

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Matthew Perry is Writing a Memoir and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 29, 2021

Book Deals and Reveals

Oh, this one looks good. Here’s the cover reveal for Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson’s upcoming YA novel The Agathas. Think Riverdale meets One of Us is Lying.

We’ve also got a cover reveal for the next Blood and Ash novel, The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Friends star Matthew Perry is writing a memoir! The as-of-now untitled book is coming out with Flatiron Books in fall 2022.

Stacey Abram’s novel Never Tell is in development with CBS Studios and writer Barbara Hall.

Reese’s Book Club has revealed the cover to the new Megan Miranda book, The Last to Vanish.

Speaking of Reese’s Book Club, Reese’s Fall YA pick is Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.

Here’s the cover reveal of Becky Dean’s debut YA contemporary romance novel Love & Other Great Expectations, coming out June 14, 2022!

An adaptation of Wendy Wunder’s novel The Probability of Miracles is in the works at HBO Max.

Riverhead Books has acquired the U.S. rights to three books by novelist and winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature Abdulrazak Gurnah.

Barnes & Noble has named the finalists for its third annual “Book of the Year” awards.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Win Me Something by Kyle Lucia Wu (Tin House, November 2, 2021)

Hey Book Radar readers! This one comes out tomorrow, so clear some space on your shelves right… now. Win Me Something is Kyle Lucia Wu’s debut novel. It’s an examination of the biracial experience in America. It’s story of identity, family, coming-of-age, and of self-acceptance.

Willa Chen is a bi-racial Chinese American girl who grew up in New Jersey, struggling to figure out where she fits among her peers and in her family. At school, she felt too white for the Asian kids and too Asian to fit in with the white kids. Willa’s parents divorced when she was very young, and now they have both moved on to new families, so Willa is also unsure of where she fits in with their lives.

Then she starts working as a nanny for the Adriens, a wealthy white family in Tribeca. The Adriens are everything Willa imagines a family should be. as she grows closer to this family—eventually she moves in with them—she finds herself confronted by all of the things that she’s been missing in her own life. All of the things that have left her feeling very, very alone.

Willa’s life experiences are specific and carefully rendered, but there’s not a single person who won’t be able to identify with at least some part of Willa’s journey of self-discovery and her search for belonging. Win Me Something is a promising debut novel that you should definitely read before finalizing any year-end best-of lists.

What I’m Reading This Week

Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

The Last Checkmate by Gabriella Saab

Monday Memes

I just spent the past 45 minutes lying in bed scrolling through Instagram and sharing memes with my friends rather than getting up and getting on with my day. And you know what that means. It’s time for more Monday memes.

Are you tired of your favorite meme creators not being able to keep up for your insatiable need for memes? Have you tried an AI meme generator? These bookish memes created from an AI generator made me die with laughter. You are now talking to a ghost.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

I know everyone’s still talking about Dune right now, and I’m going to watch it very, very soon. But in the meantime, have you seen the adaptation of Samanta Schweblin’s Fever Dream? It’s on Netflix, and I thought it was very good! If you thought Fever Dream couldn’t be made into a movie, think again. I think they did it.

Oh, and hey, that reminds me… are you on Letterboxd? I’ve only written reviews for one movie ever, but if you want, you can follow me there! And if you’re not on Letterboxd but you love movies, you should check it out!

This section of this newsletter is brought to you by Purrli. It’s a cat in your computer!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

I hope you enjoy this action shot of Murray giving Phantom a bath. After all, how can you prepare for the week ahead without cleaning up a bit first? They both say hello and they hope you have a wonderful week.

Thanks, Murray and Phantom.

We did it! We made it through another Book Radar! I hope you had fun. I hope you learned something new. And I hope you enjoyed the cats. See you soon!

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Grady Hendrix Wants to Help You Sell Your Haunted House and More Book Radar-Ween!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 27, 2021

Sponsored by Penguin Random House & Underlined.

Hello my book witches!

Halloween is right around the corner, and we’re still in full Book Radar-ween mode. What does that mean? Lots of thrills and chills in today’s Book Radar, plus all of the other book goodies you’re wanting to get you through your Thursday.

So grab your candy corn, your apple cider, your pumpkin spice lattes, and let’s settle in for some creepy Book Radar-ween goodness one more time before the weekend.

❤️ Emily

Book Deals and Reveals

Aisha Saeed tweeted a cover reveal for her first foray into nonfiction! Saeed wrote, “Educators have often paired Amal Unbound w/ Malala so it felt like a natural fit to work on this project as part of Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted series. Out July 2022, available to preorder wherever books are sold!”

Grady Hendrix has announced the title of his upcoming 2022 horror novel! It’s called How to Sell A Haunted House, and it’s out from Berkely Books on July 12, 2022.

Billy Porter will direct and produce a feature adaptation of Camp, the young adult novel by Lev Rosen.

Here’s a first look at the sequel to Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. Bloodmarked is the next book in the Legendborn Cycle, and it will be out in July 2022!

Tessa Thompson’s Viva Maude is developing Raven Leilani’s debut novel Luster for HBO.

Actress Selma Blair is releasing a memoir, entitled Mean Baby, in April 2022.

The rights to Circe Moskowitz’s debut YA graphic novel Good Mourning have been preemptively purchased by Michelle Lee at Dial. The graphic novel has been described as “Schitt’s Creek meets HGTV.” Publication is slated for 2024.

Dune: Part 2 has officially been greenlit, and the sequel is scheduled to come out in 2023.

A rare fragment from Shakespeare’s first folio is up for auction.

The Nerd Daily has got an exclusive cover reveal for Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life, a contemporary YA novel by Dallas Woodburn.

Book Riot Recommends!

Can’t Wait for This One

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire, July 12, 2022)

Alright, horror fans. Just in time for Halloween, I’ve got at horror novel that you’re going to absolutely die for. And… you’re going to have to wait ’til July 2022 to get your hands on it. But do you want to hear something truly scary? July 2022 will be here sooner than you think. Because time is constantly moving, and it stops for no one. Try not to think about that too much, though. Just keep adding to your TBR shelves as if you have all the time in the world. After all, who knows? Maybe we can keep reading when we’re ghosts.

And now that I’ve set the tone for this dark horror read, let me tell you what it’s about. T. Kingfisher’s next novel What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic “The Fall of the House of Usher.” What did I tell you? Perfect for Halloween, right? Well. You still have to wait.

When retired soldier Alex Easton finds out that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they rush to Madeline’s ancestral home in the countryside of Ruritania. What they’ll find there at the Usher home, however, will chill them to the bone. The house is overgrown with fungi and possessed wildlife, and the dark lake that surrounds it seems almost alive. Furthermore, Madeline and her brother Roderick both seem highly disturbed, and Madeline keeps talking to strange voices in the night. What is happening to the Ushers and their home? With the assistance of a British mycologist and an American doctor, Alex is determined to find out.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.”

– The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

What’s Up in the Book Community?

Well, podcast fans, this week I want to share with you that Book Riot is launching a brand new podcast! Adaptation Nation is a podcast all about literary adaptations. That’s right, Book Riot is taking on your favorite literary adaptations, including new releases, old favorites, underrated gems, and interesting messes. We’ll dive into how the books and adaptations themselves came to be: publication and production backstories, casting what-ifs, critical reception, and more, to answer that ever-burning question: was the book actually better (and does that question even matter)?

Up first, Jeff, co-host of the Book Riot podcast, and Amanda and Jenn, hosts of Get Booked, will be breaking down the sci-fi classic DUNE and the new adaptation. Subscribe on your podcatcher of choice starting November 1!

Your Weekend Reading Soundtrack

It’s time for part 2 of your Halloween reading soundtrack. Put this bad boy on while you’re reading over the weekend, or while you’re giving out candy, or while you’re getting ready to hit the streets in your best costume. Whatever you’re up to, have the best and happiest and safest Halloween! Don’t forget to hug a black cat.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Speaking of black cats! This seemed like a good time to kick it back to the picture that started it all. About a year ago around this time, I saw my local pet shelter post this picture of a tiny little kitten who was looking for a home. And the rest is history. Now this cute little bat cat is ours.

We love you, Phantom! We’ve had you for almost a year, so happy almost gotcha day!

And that’s it for Book Radar-ween! Once again, I hope you have a happy, safe, and fun Halloween. And I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Xiran Jay Zhao’s Middle Grade Novel Gets A Cover Reveal and More Book Radar-Ween!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 22, 2021

Book Deals and Reveals

Y’all! I’ve got some exciting news for you. Rainbow Rowell announced on Instagram that she has written a new Christmas short story sequel to Fangirl, entitled “If the Fates Allow.” Amazon Prime members will be able to access the short story for free, starting on Nov. 18!

Another announcement I’m super excited about: Stephen Graham Jones has announced a sequel to My Heart is A Chainsaw. The sequel Don’t Fear the Reaper will be out July 26, 2022.

We’ve also got a cover reveal for Xiran Jay Zhao’s upcoming my middle grade adventure novel Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. This one’s out on May 3, 2022.

In the face of the pandemic, independent bookstores are continuing to thrive.

Last week, Ijeoma Oluo announced on Instagram that she is starting a newsletter with Substack. The newsletter will be free for anyone to read, but there will be bonus content for paid subscribers.

And here’s the cover reveal for Hannah Orenstein’s latest novel, Mean to Be Mine, out from Atria Books on June 7, 2022.

Co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik is teasing that House of the Dragon, the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel series, is going to have a very “different tone” from GoT.

Cynthia Platt is releasing her very first YA novel in May 2022. Here’s the cover reveal for Postcards from Summer.

R. Eric Thomas also has a new book coming out on May 31, 2022. Here’s the cover reveal for Kings of B’More, all about “two Black, queer Baltimore teens about to go on a Ferris Bueller-style day of adventure to save their friendship!”

Ursula K. Le Guin’s prize for fiction is launching in October 2022.

Book publication dates are changing due to supply issues. Here’s a list of publication date changes between October 1st and December 31st.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth Bass (Kensington, January 25, 2022)

This one goes out to all my friends who are here for Book Radar-ween but want to read something a little less scary. I hear you. I see you. Also how wild is it that the time has come for us to start preparing our shelves for books coming out in 2022? I’m not ready. How could I be? It’s still 2019, right?

Anyway, here’s the deal with A Letter to Three Witches. This is a romantic comedy about witches that’s being compared to Bewitched with a Practical Magic twist. Almost a century ago, Gwen Engel’s great-great-grandfather cast a spell that lead to disastrous side-effects. So as punishment, the Grand Council of Witches forbade all of his descendants from practicing witchcraft. But now Gwen and her two cousins, Trudy and Milo, have gotten a letter from Gwen’s adopted sister Tannith. She has bewitched one of her partners and plans to run away with him. In order to help Tannith figure out her romance issues, Gwen, Trudy, and Milo might have to work their magic, even if it means getting in trouble with the Grand Council.

This book is one of those silly, fun books that’s just feels like a nice break, and if you’re looking for something witchy that isn’t creepy and won’t keep you awake at night, this is your book!

Book Radar-Ween Reads

Normally, this is where I’d tell you what I’m reading this week, but instead, this week I’m looking back at my favorite horror novels I’ve read in 2021 so far. So if you’ve missed out on picking any of these up, do it for the week of Book Radar-ween.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

The Upstairs House by Julia Fine

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Enjoy, scary story fans!

Bookish Meme Monday

I could not wait to share this one with you all because here are the facts: I LOVE A GOOD ZAC EFRON MEME. I want to get this one as a poster and put it up in my office.

That is all.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

Are you preparing for Halloween? I clearly am. One of my favorite Halloween activities is watching scary movies. So here are a few of my all-time faves: Hereditary, It Follows, The Witch, Evil Dead 2, Annihilation, Us…

And here’s one you might not have watched before that’s actually really fun! Tag. No, not the American comedy with Jon Hamm in it. This Tag is hard to describe so I’m going to let the Amazon blurb do it for me: “A girl’s life cascades into chaos as her schoolmates suffer gruesome and increasingly bizarre acts of fate, including a deadly wind, machine gun teachers and a pig in a tuxedo holding a knife.” Yeah! If you haven’t watched this yet, it’s the perfect fun Halloween movie.

This section of this newsletter is brought to you by Purrli. It’s a cat in your computer!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Book Radar-Ween means it’s black cat appreciation week. So here’s a picture of Phantom, my sweet little cat nugget (I call him nugget because he’s the smallest one).

Yes, I used Lightroom to put a filter on this so you can see how shiny his coat is and how cute his little nose is. #yesfilter

I hope you’re enjoying your last week of October, friends! Savor every moment! Take a deep breath and absorb the crisp October air. Thank you for reading Book Radar!

❤️ Emily

Book Radar

Eva Longoria to Star in THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date October 20, 2021

Book Deals and Reveals

cover of How You Grew Wings by Rimma Onoseta

Here’s the cover reveal for Rimma Onoseta’s debut novel, How You Grow Wings, out from Algonquin Young Readers on August 9, 2022.

Eva Longoria will star in a new TV adaptation of Isabel Allende’s bestselling novel The House of the Spirits.

Here’s another stunning cover reveal: Megan Van Dyke’s Second Star to the Left will be out on February 15, 2022!

DC is developing a Milestone animated film based on classic black superhero characters!

We’ve got a cover reveal for Faith Gardner’s upcoming novel How We Ricochet, coming out from Harper Teen in May 2022.

The To All the Boys I Loved Before spinoff tv series, XO, Kitty, is moving forward on Netflix.

May Chen with William Morrow has preempted world English rights—jointly with Ann Bissell at HarperCollins UK imprint Borough Press—for Rebecca F. Kuang’s Yellowface.

Melinda Gates has started a new nonfiction imprint with Flatiron Books, a division of Macmillan.

Here’s the trailer for Robert Weide’s upcoming documentary about Kurt Vonnegut, entitled Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time.

Nonprofit organization is declining donations from Jamie Lynn Spears’ upcoming book.

Beloved author Gary Paulsen, winner of three Newberry Medals, has died at the age of 82.

Here are the 2021 Harvey Award Winners, the best comic books of the year.

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (Ballantine Books, February 1, 2022)

Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel Black Cake hasn’t even hit shelves yet, and already it’s being made into a Hulu TV series from Women of the Movement creator Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. With so much buzz around his book already, I can’t help but send it straight to the top of my to-read pile as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of it.

Okay, so Oprah likes this book, but what is it about? Black Cake is described as a family drama wrapped up in a murder mystery. Or is it a murder mystery wrapped up in family drama? Only time will tell. When Byron and Benny’s mother unexpectedly dies, she leaves behind something even more unexpected: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history. There’s also a voice recording in which Eleanor shares a story with her children: the story of a young swimmer who escapes her home after she’s suspected of murder. As the story unfolds, secrets about Eleanor—and her family—are revealed.

Are you intrigued? I certainly am, and I feel like this is going to be a book a lot of people are going to be talking about in 2022, so it’s time get excited about it now.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“The best cure for anything [is] candles and a bath.”

— The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

What’s Up in the Book Community?

Looking for an online bookclub with great nonbinary rep? Try Enby Book Club on Instagram. For October, they’re reading Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon. November’s book is We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson. And in December, they’re reading Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao.

Your Weekend Reading Soundtrack

I said it’s Radar-ween, so I’ve got to make good on that promise here. This week, I’ve got part 1 of your Halloween reading soundtrack. Next week, I’ll be back for part 2. This one is great for reading or decorating pumpkins or bobbing for apples or whatever other scary Halloween stuff you’ve got planned for this weekend.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Today, we’re back in the cat tree.

Cersei is chilling inside her house, bathing, living her best life. I know this is probably a private moment for her, but I had to share this excellent bathing action shot with all of you! I hope you enjoy.

And that’s all for Book Radar-ween today! See you next week, my ghosts and ghouls! Ooooooooooo! (that was a ghost sound)

❤️ Emily