Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Happy Tuesday, star bits! It’s hot and humid and rainy in Maine right now, which is perfect weather for reading intense novels! I have been in the mood for them lately, and have been cramming horror novels and thrillers into my brain like whoa. That’s why all of today’s picks have thrills of some kind! There’s a thriller involving horror films set in Mexico City, a spooky middle grade tale of haunted woods on Halloween, and a YA romantic thriller about a Black prince.

At the top of my list of today’s books I want to pick up are The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem, A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui, and How Can I Help You by Laura Sims. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Tirzah and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including The Deep Sky, All That’s Left to Say, and Crooked Manifesto.

What do S.A. Cosby, Khaled Hosseini, Sarah Bakewell, and Yahdon Israel have in common? They’ve been guests on Book Riot’s newest podcast, First Edition where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. (I was a guest last week!) Subscribe to hear them and stay to hear Book Riot’s editors pick the “it” book of the month

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia; pair of startled eyes done in reds and blacks

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 

It’s 1993 in Mexico City, where a young sound editor and her former soap opera star best friend meet a director of cult horror films. Montserrat wondered what happened to director Abel Urueta, whose last film was never finished. When her bff Tristán moves into his building, they become friends with Urueta and he tells them what happened: he’s cursed. Supposedly, a Nazi occultist was going to imbue the film with magic that would help them. But he died before he could finish the spell, and now the director is cursed. He convinces Montserrat and Tristán to help him break the curse by finishing the last scene of the film, which should then bring them all good things. But pick a cliché: be careful what you wish for; if it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is; the truth is stranger than fiction, etc. Because weird things start happening to them, scary and powerful things, and they’ll have to get to the truth of dark magic if they want their lives to get back to normal. It’s a really fun examination of Mexican film history and the movie industry, as well as a story of friendship and loss, and of course, a dark mystery with some scares, too. (CW include sexism, bullying, antisemitism, racism, homophobia, cancer, drug abuse, infidelity, animal death, car accident, injury, gore, violent death, murder.)

Backlist bump: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

cover of The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien; illustration of a group of friends running through a leafy forest

The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien

And the whole “don’t go in the scary woods” trope never gets old because there are so many fun books about scary things in the woods! This one involves a tradition in the town of Fall Hollow on Halloween. Many years ago, a young girl named Abigail supposedly went into the woods and never came out. Now, on Halloween each year, three sixth graders play a game. They must run into the woods and ring a bell before Abigail’s ghost catches them. The first to do it will keep their town safe from being haunted for another year. Bailee is determined to win the game this year so that her classmates will think she is brave and want to be her friend. But it’s one thing to say you’ll do it and another to actually do it, and Bailee and her classmates are going to find out that what they thought they knew about the woods is nothing like the truth. (CW for bullying, illness and loss of a loved one, and grief.)

Backlist bump: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

cover of The King Is Dead by Benjamin Dean; illustration of a young Black man in royal dress and a crown sitting on a throne

The King Is Dead by Benjamin Dean

If you love books about royalty, mystery, and drama, this is a fun one you’ll want to pick up! James is the young heir to the British throne, just 17 years old. He’s already been subjected to tabloid scrutiny and rumors as the first Black heir. When his father dies, his life is put under a magnifying glass, which makes it hard to keep his secrets, like that he has a boyfriend. And when his boyfriend goes missing and he starts receiving threatening letters, James will have to find out what happened to him and who in the palace he can trust with his secrets before every last one is shared with the world. Long live the king…he hopes. This is fun and intense. (CW for homophobia and racism, outing, bullying, loss of a loved one, grief, stalking, injury, and violence.)

Backlist bump: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Delighting velocireaders since 2017, Book Riot’s New Release Index will keep you in the know about all the latest books. Start your 14-day free trail today.

orange tabby cat yawning; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading The Country of Toó by Rodrigo Rey Rosa, Stephen Henighan (translator) and The September House by Carissa Orlando. In non-book things, I am considering learning how to do scrape painting. I saw it on this Instagram account and it looks SO fun. It’s my birthday today and my husband is setting up all the supplies for me, so we’ll see how it goes! The song stuck in my head this week is “Bittersweet” by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. And here is your weekly cat picture: It looks like Zevon has burst into song, or is maybe laughing. But he’s just yawning, because he’s lazy.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Hello, my friends! I missed you and I am excited to be back. I hope you had a wonderful week last week while we were apart. I spent last week — wait for it — reading books. I know, I know, it’s hard to believe. Now get ready: today I have a great historical novel about a real-life queen, a collection of suspenseful short stories, and a fun look at video games through the ages.

At the top of my list of today’s books I want to pick up are All-Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky, The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera, and Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Vanessa and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including The Mistress of Bhatia House, The Centre, and The Librarianist.

What do S.A. Cosby, Khaled Hosseini, Sarah Bakewell, and Yahdon Israel have in common? They’ve been guests on Book Riot’s newest podcast, First Edition where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Subscribe to hear them and stay to hear Book Riot’s editors pick the “it” book of the month

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley; illustration of a Black woman in fancy dress

Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley

Riley returns to Haiti once again with this look at the life of Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid. Her husband, King Henry I, was the ruler of Haiti before his death. Left behind with his debts and having lost the approval of the people, she fled to Italy and became an exiled queen. Louise and her daughters face new circumstances as they try and establish themselves as royalty in a quickly changing world. It’s a look at a brave woman fiercely holding on to her life in a male-dominated society. Riley is great at historical fiction and also has mystery and romance series. (CW for sexism, racism, child death, violence, and suicide.)

Backlist bump: Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

cover of The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay; illustration in reds and blacks of a wolf attacking a warthog

The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay

By now, most readers know Tremblay’s name is synonymous with horror books. He’s the author of such bestsellers as A Head Full of Ghosts, The Pallbearers Club, and The Cabin at the End of the World (which became the movie Knock at the Cabin). This is his second published collection, 15 tales of suspense and unease that are sure to keep you awake on these hot nights, pondering your own mortality and wondering what that noise is outside your window. Sleep well. (CW for substance abuse, animal death, violence, gore, death of children and adults, loss of a loved one.)

Backlist bump: Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay

cover of Video Game of the Year by Jordan Minor; rainbow colors over an image of a video game controller

Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977 by Jordan Minor

And because it’s summer and we all need some fun, I chose to share this art/history book! It’s a really delightful examination of video games over the last few decades, doing a deep dive into a different one each year. You’ll see favorites such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, and more! Each year has a popular game with an accompanying illustration and a bit of history about its creation, its impact on the world of gaming, and more. This book is an epic nerdpurr! (Though not mentioned, my favorite game as a kid was Pengo — does anyone remember that one?)

Backlist bump: Arcade Game Typography: The Art of Pixel Type by Toshi Omigari

Delighting velocireaders since 2017, Book Riot’s New Release Index will keep you in the know about all the latest books. Start your 14-day free trail today.

orange cat with rainbow decal reflection across its midsection; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey, which is out today, and When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb, because a million people (give or take) have told me it’s wonderful. In non-book things, I have been watching the NBA summer league and revisiting movie classics from my childhood. The song stuck in my head this week is “Angels and Darlas” by Say Hi. (Yes, like in Buffy.) And here is your weekly cat picture: Zevon doesn’t even realize he has a rainbow on him. It looks like it passed right through him and out the other side, lol.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Happy Tuesday, my friends, and happy new release day! I want to start off by wishing my ATB co-host Tirzah Price and her new book Manslaughter Park a happy pub day! I hope you have all been having a great start to your summer and reading books that you love. I know I have! I’ve also started doing a serious deep dive into 2024 titles and, holy cats, there going to be some great books next year (including a new Tommy Orange and a new Tana French!) For this week I have a wacky alien abduction story from a beloved author, a powerful debut novel set in Ethiopia, and a great true crime book set in the art world.

At the top of my list of today’s books I want to pick up are The Tale of the Gravemother by Rin Chupeco, Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior and Johnny Lorenz (translator), and Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Erica and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including The Theory of Everything Else, Invisible Son, and The Bawk-ness Monster.

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more drawn from our collective experience as power readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and bookish professionals? Subscribe to The Deep Dive, a biweekly newsletter featuring stories to inform and inspire readers, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox!

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis; cartoon illustration of a welcome sign with the title with a cow being abducted by a spaceship tractor beam in the sky

The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

This is a fun and funny alien abduction novel from the amazing award-winning Willis. Francie has agreed to attend her college roommate’s wedding in Roswell, New Mexico. It is UFO-themed, because the groom is obsessed with extraterrestrials. Francie thinks this is dumb, partly because it’s the busiest time of year for the town, and partly because she most definitely does not believe in UFOs. So of course, she is abducted shortly after arriving by an alien that appears to look (in my mind) like a fried onion tumbleweed. (Mmmm, delicious bloomin’ alien.) Upon her capture, Francie will meet her fellow abductees, and also begin to realize the alien is in trouble and needs help, not captives. This is classic Willis wackiness! (CW include mentions of violence, abduction, substance use, and death.)

Backlist bump: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

cover of The History of a Difficult Child by Mihret Sibhat; illustration of a young Black child standing with their arms spread

The History of a Difficult Child by Mihret Sibhat

This is one that I will admit up front to not having finished yet, but I am enjoying what I have read. It’s a powerful debut of war and family, set in Ethiopia. It’s about a young girl who grows up in southwestern Ethiopia in the 1980s while a civil war rages. Selam Asmelash’s family once prospered in their town but are now struggling under the new regime. As Selam grows, she gathers a list of enemies she swears to pay back some day. It’s a fascinating story so far, of a time in history I have read little about, and I look forward to finishing it.

Backlist bump: The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

cover of The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel; featuring two paintings, one of a bat, one of a young boy sleeping in the grass

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel 

And last but not least: I am a sucker for a true crime book involving art and for a book with a bat on the cover. Plus, I loved Finkel’s last book, The Stranger in the Woods, so I had to read this one. It’s the tale of Stéphane Breitwieser, considered the world’s most successful art thief. He perpetrated over two hundred heists before he was finally caught. Finkel dissects the life and psyche of a man who risked his freedom not for money or glory, but to amass his own secret personal collection. And how he craved the adrenaline rush of the job, which kept him going back, even when it became too dangerous. It’s absolutely fascinating!

Backlist bump: Con/Artist: The Life and Crimes of the World’s Greatest Art Forger by Tony Tetro and Giampiero Ambrosi

Subscribe to First Edition for interviews, lists, rankings, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books.

orange cat sitting in front of a TV screen with puffins on it; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das and Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel, which is out today. In non-book things, I started rewatching A.P. Bio for the millionth time because I love it an inordinate amount. Because of that show, the song stuck in my head this week is “Government Center” by The Modern Lovers. And here is your weekly cat picture: Farrokh is watching me watching the puffins.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Okay, first, a very important question: Have you read Loot by Tania James yet?!? It came out last week and I am still obsessing over it. I loved it so much and I can’t wait for everyone else to read it. There are also a lot of new books out today for you to be excited about, including one of my other favorite novels of the year. This week I have a queer Western, a moving graphic memoir, and a powerful account by an immigrant justice advocate.

At the top of my list of today’s books I want to pick up are I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore, Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie, and Through the Groves: A Memoir by Anne Hull. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Tirzah and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including Night’s Edge, This Town Is on Fire, and Zero Days.

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more drawn from our collective experience as power readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and bookish professionals? Subscribe to The Deep Dive, a biweekly newsletter featuring stories to inform and inspire readers, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox!

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens; woman in frontier wear standing under a sky of reds, oranges, and purples

Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens

This is one of my favorite novels of the year! It’s set in the post-Civil War West, and follows an orphan who winds up in Dodge City. Bridget didn’t know what the future would hold but she certainly didn’t expect to lose her home and her father in quick succession. In need of money to survive, she takes a job at The Buffalo Queen, a high-end brothel in town. And she finds the life suits her; she has clothes, friends, money, and — as the sheriff’s favorite — protection. But when Bridget falls for one of the other women, it sets off a chain reaction that brings chaos and destruction to the Buffalo Queen’s doorstep. This is an excellent Western about women trying to find agency in a city run by men, and about young love and discovering who you want to be. It’s so fantastic! It made my Deadwood-loving heart very happy. (CW include animal harm and death, pregnancy death, substance abuse and addiction, misogyny, homophobia, violence, murder, gore, and death.)

Backlist bump: Heresy by Melissa Lenhardt

cover of Family Style by Thien Pham; illustration of a bowl of pho

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham 

This is a beautifully illustrated, moving YA memoir about Pham’s family’s journey from Vietnam to America. In recounting how his family fled their home country to a refuge camp to Thailand, and then eventually made their way to America, he documents the food he remembers from major events in his life. It is an excellent book about belonging. And like Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang, which came out earlier this year, it is an important, heart-squeezing examination of the sacrifices parents make to ensure their children have a better life. (CW include racism and xenophobia.)

Backlist bump: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

cover of Rivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration by Alejandra Oliva; photo of a section of the US-Mexico border

Rivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration by Alejandra Oliva

And last but not least, this is another look at U.S. immigration, this one from a Mexican American translator who has worked with asylum seekers from many years. Oliva talks about the infuriating and inhumane treatment of people trying to navigate U.S. immigration policies in the face of racism and misinformation. She examines who qualifies for citizenship and why, and shares the story of her own family’s life at the border. It’s a powerful, compassionate, and sometimes enraging look at people who want a better life, sometimes a safer life, for themselves and their children. This is a 2023 nonfiction must-read. (CW include violence, loss of a loved one, racism, and xenophobia.)

Backlist bump: Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish-Speaking United States by Hector Tobar

Subscribe to First Edition for interviews, lists, rankings, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books.

orange cat staring up at puffins on TV screen; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer, Linghun by Ai Jiang, and The Infinite Miles by Hannah Fergesen. In non-book things, I have been watching lots of quiz shows. I have a bunch cluttering my DVR, so we’ve been going through them. The song stuck in my head this week is “Down By the Water” by PJ Harvey. And here is your weekly cat picture: I like to leave the live puffin cam on when I’m working. The cats are often transfixed by it, even when the puffins aren’t doing anything. Like in this photo, they’re asleep, and Farrokh can’t stop staring. Related: The puffling hatched just over a week ago and it is SO cute and, no surprise, a big fan of fish.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

It’s that time again — new release time! Today, I have a heartpunching story from a father to his son, a gothic historical novel set at a music school, and a cringe-inducing memoir of a marriage. (Just trust me.) This week also marks the release of one of my favorite novels of the year: Loot by Tania James! It is a fantastic, imaginative work of historical fiction. I talked about it on this week’s podcast and I was so excited about it, it’s possible only dogs will be able to understand what I said. Seriously, run, don’t walk.

I am also excited to pick up so many of today’s other releases! At the top of my list are The Gulf by Rachel Cochran, Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage by Helen Ellis, and 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Vanessa and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including Loot, Psyche and Eros, and Better Living Through Birding.

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more drawn from our collective experience as power readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and bookish professionals? Subscribe to The Deep Dive, a biweekly newsletter featuring stories to inform and inspire readers, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox!

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of Forgiving Imelda Marcos by Nathan Go; jacket is yellow with pink and blue font

Forgiving Imelda Marcos by Nathan Go

The removal of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos and his shoe-loving wife Imelda from power was a huge news story when I was in fourth grade. So I was really curious about this novel, about a Filipino father telling a newsworthy story to his estranged journalist son in America. Lito is the former driver for Corazon Aquino, who succeeded Ferdinand Marcos. Years after the end of his job, he writes down a never-before told story involving Corazon and Imelda in the hopes that this one gift might bring his son some fame. And the gift of the story might also bring Lito a little forgiveness. I did find the ending to be a bit rushed, but overall, I thought this was a touching, poignant novel about a man at the end of his life looking for closure. (CW for violence, murder, war, child abuse, substance use and abuse, sexism, racism, illness, loss of a loved one, and suicide.)

Backlist bump: Insurrecto by Gina Apostol

cover of Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine; painting of a young woman playing violin in front of floral wallpaper

Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine

On today’s episode of “I’ll Read Anything Kelly Link Blurbs”: This is a gothic 18th century novel about two best friends at a music school in Venice. Life for young women in the 1700s doesn’t offer much other than marriage and motherhood. When Luisa and Maddalena are drawn to one another at the Ospedale della Pietà, they have more on their minds than music. Maddalena has a plan to get them out of their scripted futures. But it involves a strange plot that draws the girls down deeper into a dark they may never return from. This is a simmering, heady, fairy tale about friendship, futures, and changing your fate. (CW for sexism, misogyny, violence, illness, body horror.)

Backlist bump: The Upstairs House by Julia Fine

cover of How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key; black with gray and white text

How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key

First I must admit that I am only halfway through this one, and it’s like a train wreck I can’t look away from, except it’s funny. Key is a Thurber-award winning humorist, known for his books and TED talks. This is his memoir about finding out his wife of many years was having an affair, for many years, with a friend. But instead of divorce, they went to counseling, got really horrifyingly honest with one another, and started over. This isn’t a book about blame or revenge. It’s about the institution of marriage, something millions of people sign up for every year. Key is brutally honest about his relationship, and his feelings over the whole situation, and he also can’t help but be funny. As he says, “Men never talk about being betrayed. I want to. I feel I must. I have many deep convictions, and one of them is that suffering can and should be monetized.” Perhaps this wouldn’t be entertaining if readers didn’t know up front that they work things out, but it is earnest and funny, and I’m rooting for them.

Backlist bump: Congratulations, Who Are You Again? by Harrison Scott Key 

Subscribe to First Edition for interviews, lists, rankings, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books.

two orange cats lying on their sides; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook and Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir by Curtis Chin. In non-book things, I started watching Mrs. Davis but I think I figured out the big reveal, so I may have spoiled it for myself, lol. The song stuck in my head is “The Recluse” by Cursive. And here is your weekly cat picture: I managed to capture a rare moment of twinning by Farrokh and Zevon.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

New Books for the First Tuesday of June!

Okay, you’re not going to believe this, but in today’s newsletter, I am going to talk about books. Jk, jk, you know I’m interested in all the books, all the time! I hope your June is off to a good start, friends. The first Tuesday of the month certainly is — SO MANY BOOKS. At the top of my list to acquire today are And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode (because it’s the first title from Roxane Gay Books!), Open Throat by Henry Hoke, and Owlish by Dorothy Tse. You can hear about some more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Danika and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about, including My Murder, The Dos and Donuts of Love, and All the Sinners Bleed.

Today I am doing a round-up of several exciting titles from the first Tuesday of June 2023. Below, you’ll find titles (loosely) broken up into several categories, to make it easier for your browsing convenience. I hope you have fun with it! And as with each first Tuesday newsletter, I am putting asterisks *** next to the books that I have had the chance to read and loved. Not that many yet from today, for some weird reason, but I plan to correct that soon. YAY, BOOKS!

Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more drawn from our collective experience as power readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and bookish professionals? Subscribe to The Deep Dive, a biweekly newsletter featuring stories to inform and inspire readers, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox!

Biography and Memoir

cover of The Talk by Darrin Bell; orange with a cartoon illustration of a young Black man wearing a gray hoodie

The Talk by Darrin Bell

Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest To Track Down The Last Remaining Lesbian Bars In America by Krista Burton

Almost Brown: A Memoir by Charlotte Gill

My Hijacking: A Personal History of Forgetting and Remembering by Martha Hodes

George: A Magpie Memoir by Frieda Hughes 

Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark by Sarafina El-Badry Nance

Fiction

cover of The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller; image of a deer standing in a coral reef

The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller ***

At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich 

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman

Owlish by Dorothy Tse, Natascha Bruce (translator)

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende, Frances Riddle (translator)

A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang

Bad Kids by Zijin Chen, Michelle Deeter (Translator)

Watch Us Shine by Marisa de los Santos

Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III

The Say So by Julia Franks

Countries of Origin by Javier Fuentes

cover of Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad; illustration of a fire escape going up the side of a brick building

Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

The Dissident by Paul Goldberg

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom 

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan

And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode

People Who Talk to Stuffed Animals Are Nice: Stories by Ao Omae and Emily Balistrieri

Happy Stories, Mostly by Norman Erikson Pasaribu, Tiffany Tsao (translator)

August Blue by Deborah Levy 

Boys Weekend (Pantheon Graphic Library) by Mattie Lubchansky

Innards: Stories by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene

Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess

Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman

cover of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See; image of Chinese woman in a silk robe

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

The Good Ones by Polly Stewart

The Moon Represents My Heart by Pim Wangtechawat

Middle Grade

Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne 

Camp Sylvania by Julie Murphy

The Kingdom over the Sea by Zohra Nabi

Mystery and Thriller

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier

Relentless Melt by Jeremy P. Bushnell 

Killingly by Katharine Beutner

My Murder by Katie Williams ***

cover of All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby; blood red moon seen through tree branches

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby *** 

Nonfiction

Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks–a Cool History of a Hot Commodity by Amy Brady

And Don’t F&%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul’s Drag Race (The First Ten Years) by Maria Elena Fernandez

The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life by Sally Jenkins

The Con Queen of Hollywood: The Hunt for an Evil Genius by Scott C. Johnson

Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery by Joseph McGill Jr., Herb Frazier

Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo’s Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008 by Chris Payne

cover of The Questions That Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom by Jane Smiley; photo of the author sitting in a bathtub of books

The Questions That Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom by Jane Smiley

All the Gold Stars: Reimagining Ambition and the Ways We Strive by Rainesford Stauffer

Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World of Fire by John Vaillant ***

Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West by Calder Walton 

Gentle Writing Advice: How to Be a Writer Without Destroying Yourself by Chuck Wendig

Romance

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror

Cover of Translation State by Ann Leckie

Translation State by Ann Leckie

Maeve Fly by CJ Leede  

Subscribe to First Edition for interviews, lists, rankings, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books.

Young Adult

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar 

The Grimoire of Grave Fates created by Hanna Alkaf and Margaret Owen

Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione

Northranger by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo

When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw

Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall

cover of The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson; image of hands holding a sparking crystal globe

Good as Gold by Candace Buford

Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia, Julie Kwon

Gay Club! by Simon James Green

The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Ride or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu


faded calico cat lying on a desk covered in stickers; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week: I’m currently reading Forgiving Imelda Marcos by Nathan Go, The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo, and AHH! That’s What I Call Horror: An Anthology of ’90s Horror edited by Chelsea Pumpkins. Outside of books, I started watching Three Pines, which is based on the Chief Inspector Gamache books by Louise Penny. I was sad to learn that it will only be these eight episodes, since it was canceled after the first season. Not that I think it is particularly wonderful, but I do love Alfred Molina so much. The song stuck in my head right now is “Painted Yellow Lines” by Dispatch. And here’s a cat photo: Do you think Millay is looking for attention, stretched out on my desk like this? She is just showing off her wide variety of toe beans.


That’s it for me today, friends. I am sending you love and good wishes for whatever is happening in your life right now. Thank you, as always, for joining me each week as I rave about books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

It’s that time again — new release time! Today, I have a wonderful historical novel from an amazing author, a linked collection of end-of-the-world romance stories, and the new novel from the author of The Guncle! I hope you are all having a wonderful end to your May. I am still obsessing over all the live camera feeds on Explore.org. The puffins have an egg in their nest and omggggggg! THEY ARE SO CUTE. (If I swim 114 miles off the coast of where I live, I could visit them.)

I am also excited to pick up so many of today’s releases! At the top of my list are Witch King by Martha Wells, Horse Barbie: A Memoir by Geena Rocero, and Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir In Archives by Amelia Possanza. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Kelly and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea, Raw Dog, and Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421.

But first, be sure to check out First Edition! 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.

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea; photo of the back of a woman's head in profile

Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea

You knew I was going to include this one, I am sure. I love Luis Alberto Urrea so much! He’s one of our greatest storytellers. This beautiful World War II novel was inspired by his own mother’s work with the Red Cross. It’s about a young woman named Irene who joins the Red Cross and is sent to Europe during the war. There she makes the best friend she’s ever had in Dorothy. But do relationships formed in times of danger and chaos last? And will they make it out of the war alive to find out? This is a gorgeous love letter to women who served and to friendship and love, and a lovely tribute to his mother. (CW for war violence and death, domestic abuse and sexism.)

Backlist bump: The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea 

cover of Even If the Sky is Falling by Taj McCoy; illustration of a Black woman and man kissing under a starry sky

Even If the Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy

This is a fun romance collection that gives six authors an idea and lets them run with it! When an alarm indicating the possible end of the world is accidentally set off, six couples must take shelter, and secrets and desires are revealed as these pairs contemplate what they think are their last hours on the planet. What would you do and say at the end? And what will happen when they find out it was a false alarm? DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNN. Lane Clarke, Farah Heron, Taj McCoy, Charish Reid, Sarah Smith and Denise Williams have each delivered a fun, thoughtful take that answers those questions.

Backlist bump: The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams

cover of The Celebrants by Steven Rowley; illustration of five people standing on a house deck overlooking a body of water

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

Five college friends who haven’t reunited for five years decide to gather again in Big Sur. Over the decades since they graduated, they’ve returned to this spot to party and talk about the good old days. But this time doesn’t feel like the other ones. They’re firmly in middle age, their lives are not what they thought they would be, and some of them are in serious trouble. Can they honor their pact to remind each other about why life is glorious (which they do by holding “living” funerals) when one of them is sitting on a secret that might destroy what remains of their friendship forever? Like The Guncle, this is charming and funny, but also broaches serious subjects. Related: I think it’s adorable that Rowley’s husband Byron Lane’s book Big Gay Wedding is also out today. It’s a double new book day in their house! (I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds fun.) (CW for illness and loss of a loved one, substance use, and suicide.)

Backlist bump: The Guncle by Steven Rowley

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.

faded calico cat sitting on a table in profile; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair, Kala by Colin Walsh, and slowly making my way through The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh, thanks to this post by Min Jin Lee. In non-book things, I started rewatching New Girl, because I apparently retained none of it the first time around. (Except that Prince was on an episode.) The song stuck in my head is “Biggest” by Idris Elba, once again courtesy of a commercial. (I’m so easily influenced, lol.) And here is your weekly cat picture: Here’s a rare visit from Her Royal Highness, Queen Millay. She’s over 12 now, but still races around like a spry little kitten. Probably because she gets like 22 hours of sleep a day. She might be part koala.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Happy Tuesday, readers! Today, I have an important history book, a fun middle grade graphic novel, and a wicked cool book to help you make wicked cool art! As you read this, I am hopefully enjoying my stay-at-home break this week. My only plans are to read books, watch the critters, and view Monty Python and the Holy Grail every day. I think five goals are enough. (Three, sir.) (IYKYK.)

I am also excited to pick up so many of today’s releases! At the top of my list are The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor, Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda, Girls Make Movies: A Follow-Your-Own-Path Guide for Aspiring Young Filmmakers by Mallory O’Meara and Jen Vaughn, and The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling.

You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Jenn and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including Bold Move, The Will of the Many, and Shakti.

But first, be sure to check out First Edition! 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.

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of How to Be a Rule-Breaking Letterer: A Guide to Making Perfectly Imperfect Art by Huyen Dinh; title is done in rainbow-colored bubble lettering

How to Be a Rule-Breaking Letterer: A Guide to Making Perfectly Imperfect Art by Huyen Dinh

I have been doing this newsletter for eight years, and this might be the first time I’ve recommended a craft book. But I had to do it, because it’s cool AF! In this brightly colored book, Dinh teaches you not only how to draw fun and fabulous letters and doodles. but how to find your authentic artist inside. And how to stop caring about what you make as long as you’re having a good time! I haven’t tried drawing anything yet, but just looking at these charming pages made me feel more relaxed. And if you love it, The Rule-Breaking Letterer’s Workbook is coming in July.

Backlist bump: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon

cover of Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street by Victor Luckerson; black and white photos of the area

Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, America’s Black Wall Street by Victor Luckerson

This is an important piece of underreported history, related to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a prosperous area for Black citizens in the early 20th century. Much of it was destroyed in the racist violence of 1921, but it was rebuilt, and grew to be a thriving community known as Black Wall Street for many decades. The community shrank and changed over the years, but its citizens never gave up on it, and fought back against urban renewal policies and gentrification. Today many of the prominent families still live there, including the granddaughter of a Greenwood businessman who is now in the Oklahoma state legislature.

Backlist bump: Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert

cover of Peculiar Woods: The Ancient Underwater City: Volume 1 by Andrés J. Colmenares; illustrations of characters from the story

Peculiar Woods: The Ancient Underwater City: Volume 1 by Andrés J. Colmenares

And on this week’s show, I mentioned that I probably could have filled all four of my spots with middle grade graphic novels. MG graphic novels and mystery books have been my 2023 catnip. This is a delightfully weird comic about a young boy named Iggie who goes to live in Peculiar Woods. It’s the site of a historical flooding, a great tragedy, and Iggie is told not to go in the woods. But from his very first night in Peculiar Woods, weird things begin happening, like rocks and chairs talk to him and his blanket has a life of its own. As Iggie sets out to discover the secrets of the town, he has grand adventures and makes new friends along the way. I loved how funny and absurd this book was! My only complaint is that not everything resolves at the end and I want the next part RIGHT NOW, lol.

Backlist bump: Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment (Another flooded town middle grade graphic novel!) (Related: I read the flooded town vampire horror novel Dawn of the Vampire by William Hill when I was a kid, even though the cover terrified me.)

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.

orange cat resting on top of a white bookcase; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui. In non-book things, as I mentioned, I am going to channel my high school self and watch Monty Python’s Holy Grail repeatedly on my break, because nostalgia is a powerful force. The song stuck in my head is “Lift Off” by Labrinth, courtesy of a car commercial. And here is your weekly cat picture: Look at King Handsome, aka Zevon.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Happy new release day to all who celebrate! Today, I have an award-winning historical novel, a wonderful memoir, and a new mind-bending thriller from one of my very favorite authors. I am also excited to pick up so many of today’s releases! At the top of my list are Dykette by Jenny Fran Davis, Painted Devils by Margaret Owen, and Human Sacrifices by María Fernanda Ampuero, Frances Riddle (translator).

You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Tirzah and I talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including Yellowface, We’ll Never Tell, and Saint Juniper’s Folly.

But first, be sure to check out First Edition! 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.

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of The Postcard by Anne Berest; old-fashioned black-and-white photo of a woman with a green postage stamp in the upper right corner

The Postcard by Anne Berest, Tina Kover (translator)

This is a remarkable, powerful work of autobiographical fiction. It’s based on true events in Berest’s family’s life, and indeed, the main character is named Anne Berest. Two decades ago, sixty years after the end of WWII, the Berest family received a mysterious postcard. On the back were the names of several members of their family who were killed at Auschwitz. Anne and her mother enlist the help of others, amateur detectives and professionals, to discover where the postcard came from and to learn more about the family they never knew. This puzzle will take them all over the globe, and it’s a beautiful, sad story that will get its hooks in your heart. The Postcard won the Choix Goncourt Prize, which is widely considered to be France’s most important literary award. (CW for the horrors of war and mass genocide, including antisemitism, torture, violence, murder, and loss of loved ones.)

Backlist bump: Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky, Sandra Smith (translator)

cover of Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong; illustration of a colorful hermit crab

Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong

Here is a wonderful memoir from Tin House, one of my favorite small presses! This is Wong’s story of growing up in the 1980s in Atlantic City. She and her brother were raised in their family’s Chinese restaurant on the Jersey shore. But as her family worked to achieve the “American dream”, her father was fighting a battle with his gambling addiction, one that would eventually cost his family everything. This is an honest and forgiving recollection of a childhood, one of those memoirs that is an examination of events as an adult that maybe you didn’t understand fully as a child, and is perfect for fans of Seeing Ghosts and Stay True. (CW for racism and racist language, substance abuse, and domestic violence.)

Backlist bump: Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir by Kat Chow

cover of Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway; fluorescent green with illustration of faceless man in black hat with head dripping away at the bottom

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway

And last, but not least, the new novel from one of my auto-buy authors! I am a HUGE fan of Nick Harkaway (and his alter ego Aidan Truhan), so forgive me if I just squee for several minutes. His work is always MIND-BLOWING. Even just trying to succinctly describe this novel, a book I have already read, is tying my brain in knots. It’s a classic noir-meets-sci-fi mystery, about a detective who is called in to investigate a murder. The victim? A genetically-modified Titan, one of a few thousand elites with their genes rearranged to live a longer life. (Oops.) Cal Sounder is an expert on Titans, but as he digs deeper into the murder, his investigation is going to take him down a dark path that he may never return from. (CW for violence and murder, classism.)

Backlist bump: The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

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.

orange cat sitting in cubby of empty white bookcase; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey and When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb. I also just got Madonna: A Rebel Life by Mary Gabriel, which I am very curious about but I don’t know if I am ready for 900 pages of Madonna just yet. In other news, the Celtics just won the Eastern conference semifinals (yay!), so I am taking the next few days until the first new conference game on Wednesday to avoid screens and cram as many books as I can into my brain pan. (Nom nom nom.) The song stuck in my head is “Missed the Boat” by Modest Mouse. And here is your weekly cat picture: Zevon is helping me rearrange the shelves in my library. Doesn’t this look helpful?

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

It’s Tuesday, my friends! That means I am going to Muppet arms at you about books again. You know, the usual. Today, I have a supernatural YA story, a twist on Frankenstein, and a fantastic middle grade graphic novel about a squire. I am also excited to pick up so many of today’s releases! At the top of my list are Hope You Are Satisfied by Tania Malik, Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi, and Barbara Isn’t Dying by Alina Bronsky, Tim Mohr (translator).

You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Jeff O’Neal guested on ATB for the first time, and we talked about some of the books we’re excited about this week, including To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, Our Migrant Souls, and Hope You Are Satisfied.

But first, be sure to check out First Edition! 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.

And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants.

cover of I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson; illustration of a young Black woman surrounded by purple flowers looking over her shoulder

I’m Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson

Aria Cayetano used to be able to see ghosts, until a special tea helped cut her connection to the spirit world. Aria also used to have a best friend who lived across the street, Derek Johnson, until their friendship was severed too. But then he starts acting strangely and the rosebush in front of his house wilts from mysterious circumstances. Aria thinks something supernatural is going on, and she’s going to have to face ghosts and her ex-best friend in order to save him and restore peace to their neighborhood. This is a solid, entertaining second novel, with ghosts, grievances, and romance. (CW for substance use, illness, injury, violence, death, and loss of a loved one.)

Backlist bump: Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson (Out in paperback today!)

the cover of Our Hideous Progeny; illustration of flowers around an eye and eggs and bones

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

When Victor Frankenstein’s great-niece stumbles upon his controversial works, she decides to take up where he left off. Mary has grand ambitions of being a scientist, but hasn’t had much luck. She realizes her discovery could change things for her and her husband. But before she can do anything with the information, they will have to flee to Scotland and try and protect the information from a rival who will stop at nothing to get it. This is a fantastic Gothic debut from a new young talent, for fans of Frankenstein, queer historical fiction, horror, and fun! (CW for mentions of violence, gore, animal death, child loss, miscarriage, and misogyny.)

Backlist bump: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss

cover of Squire & Knight by Scott Chantler; illustration of a young boy holding a lantern, a dragon, and a dog made of bones

Squire & Knight by Scott Chantler

And I have had a really amazing year reading middle grade graphic novels. I haven’t read many in the last few years, and I am so glad I decided to dive into them in 2023. This is an excellent medieval story about a clever young squire called, er, Squire, who travels with the big, brave (boneheaded) knight Sir Kelton. When they stop in a small village on their travels, the villagers implore them to vanquish the dragon who plagues their town. But it will turn out that it is actually Squire who has all the brains and bravery, and is the one who can fix the dragon problem. The story is charming and the art is wonderful! Plus: bone dog!

Backlist bump: Apprentice Lord of Darkness by Ced

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.

orange cat asleep on a desk stool with its head hanging over the side; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week, I am reading System Collapse, the seventh Murderbot Diaries book by Martha Wells and Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo. Outside of books, I am rewatching one of my favorites, Regular Show. It’s so weird and ridiculous and easy on my brain. I’m a fan of the eleven-minute episode format employed by the cartoon network. The song stuck in my head is “Games Without Frontiers” by Peter Gabriel. And here is your weekly cat picture: Zevon sleeps like he’s Marty McFly.