Riot New Media – Page 34

“KNIVES OUT In space with a PARASITE Twist” and More New SFF!

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date May 23, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and as promised I’ve got a second double dose of new releases for you today. I’ve got a yard sale lined up to eat my weekend, and we’ve got a shocking number of books to sell after thinning out the shelves. But I personally like having books for cheap at a yard sale because it lets readers, like I used to be, trying to make the most of my allowance money, get a lot of bang for their buck. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday!

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

The Trash Reader T-shirt by TheLibraryCloset

I identify with this shirt a lot. It’s me, I’m the trash reader, just a raccoon digging through book piles and living my best life. $29

New Releases

Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

In a world half-drowned by rising seas, survivors live in five partially submerged buildings off the coast of West Africa. Unsurprisingly, the wealthy live in the highest levels, where they can see the sky and get fresh air. The poor are banished below the surface of the water. And there are those who were abandoned and left for the Atlantic Ocean to swallow. Now, an ancient power has awakened them from their water graves and offered them a chance at revenge.

Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf

The bastard daughter of a noble house has survived the order that her duke father gave, which killed her mother and just missed her. And now she’s out for revenge, powered by pure, white-hot rage — and a Heavenbreaker, one of the few war machines left after the last, devastating conflict. But she isn’t alone in her mission, not anymore. Because something is in the Heavenbreaker with her.

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

Riot Recommendations

As promised, the double dose of new releases is incoming, right here.

Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo

A luxury resort in low Earth orbit is host to reunions for the Rochford Institute, a school of only the most wealthy and well-bred students. But the 25th reunion of this class has a special twist to it: finance magnate Ava is taking this opportunity to seek the truth behind the murder of her brother, which occurred during their senior year at the school. And while the wealthy pursue their intrigues, the ones who they have left to rot on Earth have their own plans.

A House Like an Accordion by Audrey Burges

Keryth Miller has felt like she’s fading away before. Burnout, two teenage daughters, and an increasingly distant husband will do that to a person. But now she’s literally fading away, becoming translucent — and there can only be one cause. It means her father is drawing her, which means her father is alive. As she continues to fade away, Keryth searches for her father, hoping she can find him before she disappears entirely.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 23, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, your go-to newsletter if you’re looking to expand your TBR pile. Each week, I’ll recommend a book I think is an absolute must-read. Some will be new releases, some will be old favorites, and the books will vary in genre and subject matter every time. I hope you’re ready to get reading!

Love Dungeons & Dragons? Ever dreamed of being a rockstar? Do you adore sweet, squishy romances? Stories of self-acceptance? If you said yes to any of the above (and why wouldn’t you?), then you should 100% read this book.

Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling book cover

Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant

One thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older: older adults aren’t necessarily any smarter or more mature than young adults. Time has, however, given me the opportunity to wear many hats. I have been the aspiring rockstar. I have been the nerdy kid playing Dungeons & Dragons for hours on end. Through it all, I’ve been nothing if not completely self-critical and unsure of my every decision. Hooray for growing and not learning! This is one of the reasons Young Adult books can really work for everyone. None of us (at any age) actually knows what we’re doing. And this is why I wanted — no, needed — this adorable and affirming YA rom-com in my life.

Delilah is a cool girl in a punk rock band. Reggie is a D&D nerd so deeply steeped in the culture that he writes essays about D&D for fun. They don’t have a lot in common, but they see something in each other that they admire, and yes, they spend a year falling for one another (just as the title suggests). The premise was too cute to deny; on the outside, Reggie and Delilah appear to be from two different worlds, and yet the two connect over and over again over multiple holidays — New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day…you get the idea.

What I love about Delilah and Reggie’s relationship is how much it was based on mutual feelings of admiration and respect. They appreciate each other for what they can learn from each other and how they can help each other grow. And they love who they become when they are around each other. Delilah loves how Reggie is so unapologetically himself. Reggie appreciates Delilah for her boldness. They both wish they could be as brave as the other one, and they both bring out those qualities in each other.

Another big bonus about this book? The friendships. This is a love story, but Reggie and Delilah have other significant people in their lives. For instance, we see Delilah develop a friendship with a super cool rockstar chick named Ryan, who was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. It was nice to see that Delilah’s journey to self-acceptance and confidence wasn’t just centered around her relationship with Reggie. She also had Ryan in her corner.

If you’re looking for a sweet YA romance with unique and nuanced characters, this is the one. I absolutely loved this book. It’s the perfect love story for the summer. Or for Christmas. Or New Year’s Eve. Or Valentine’s Day. You get the idea.

Happy weekend reading, bibliophiles! Feel free to follow me on Instagram @EmAndHerCat, and check out my other newsletters, The Fright Stuff and Book Radar!

Unusual Suspects

Crime and thrillers of the month

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 23, 2024

Sponsored by

Hello, mystery fans! I’m currently loving the new season of Hacks (HBO Max) —I’ll watch anything with Jean Smart — and speaking of when Max was good, Gordita Chronicles, is now streaming on Hulu.

Bookish Goods

sticker of sidewalk board that says "plot twist I bought more books"

I Bought More Books Sticker by BadNBoujeeByDestinee

I did just buy a huge stack of books. Again. ($4)

New Releases

The Alone Time by Elle Marr

For fans of multiple POVs of family members, sisters, past and present storylines, and a documentary shaking out the truth!

Twenty-five years ago, Fiona and Violet Seng were in a private plane crash as kids with their parents. As the only survivors, the sisters spent months in the wilderness alone, which became a huge news story once they were rescued. Now the sisters are estranged but forced to deal with the past when a documentary leads to questions about what really happened — from the cause of the crash to the aftermath…

Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall

For fans of YA thrillers and a fictional serial killer’s child as the lead!

Sid Atkinson’s father is in prison for murdering five girls ten years ago. Sid changed their last name and lives with their grandmother trying to escape the horror of being the kid of a serial killer. Except now, with their dad in prison, there’s a new wave of bodies that has to be a copycat — something Sid is determined to solve, even at great risk to themself…

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Here are two covers with a character peeking through window blinds!

Witnesses for the Dead: Stories edited by Gary Phillips and Gar Anthony Haywood

Anthologies are an excellent way to find new authors. Plus, reading short stories can be a great palate cleanser between books, and they’re perfect for anyone who wants to read but doesn’t have a lot of time.

All the short stories in this collection have a theme: if you witness a crime, how does it affect you and your life, and what changes might be in store?

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers cover

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

If you’re looking for an older protagonist who is very opinionated and inserts herself into a murder case — going so far as outlining the body with a marker to the horror of the police — grab this one. After discovering a dead body in her tea shop Vera Wong decides to get to know the people she suspects may have played a role…

News and Roundups

‘The only healing will be through justice’: Pulitzer winner Cristina Rivera Garza on femicide in Mexico

The Guardian: Crime and thrillers of the month

Netflix’s Jo Nesbo Detective Adaptation Finds Its Harry Hole in The Last Kingdom Star Tobias Santelmann

Elle Cosimano announced the fifth book in Finlay Donovan series, Digs Her Own Grave, will release March 4, 2025!

Mark Ruffalo in Talks to Join Chris Hemsworth in Movie Based on Don Winslow’s Crime 101

The Marlow Murder Club Renewed for Season 2 by Masterpiece, UKTV

Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2024 releases and mysteries from 2023. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations!

Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own, you can sign up here.

Check Your Shelf

Oprah’s Book Club or Death?

Post author By Katie McLain
Post date May 23, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. This has been a week of unexplained catalog problems at work, and let me just say I’m very grateful for the upcoming three-day weekend…it’ll keep me from yeeting a computer out of a window. (And because I know my boss reads this newsletter, let me just emphasize that I’m kidding and I promise that nothing unexplained will happen to the catalog computer while she’s out of the building!) 🙂

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

NYC library leaders rally against the recent multi-million dollar budget cuts.

Cool Library Updates

How libraries support cycling during National Bike Month.

Worth Reading

A look at the old-fashioned library at the heart of the AI boom.

Book Adaptations in the News

“Irresponsible Netflix execs summon ‘Willy Wonka reality show’ into existence.” The headline says it all.

Kiera Knightley is starring in the Netflix film adaptation of Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10.

Red, White, and Royal Blue is getting a (film) sequel, with stars Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez set to return.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 has been delayed until 2025.

A new adaptation of Hamlet starring Riz Ahmed is in the works.

Amazon reveals the first look at Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross.

Trailer for It Ends With Us.

10 sci-fi, horror, and fantasy books to read ahead of their upcoming adaptations.

Censorship News

What do book challenge forms look like?

Public school textbooks are the latest target for book banners.

Why book bans are bad for mental health.

Here’s an article from Amarillo College’s online news center about the ended partnership between Storybridge and the Amarillo Independent School District (TX).

The long wait to restore the First Amendment in Llano County (TX) libraries.

I knew there was a catch…while the majority of the challenged books at Fort Worth ISD (TX) have been returned to shelves, questions still remain about how much access students will have to said books.

Granbury ISD (TX) school board member Courtney Gore ran for her seat on an extreme GOP platform, and now she’s saying that she was lied to, and there is no evidence of student indoctrination. Well, no shit, Sherlock, and maybe if more of these people would do some actual research on these conspiracy theories beforehand (like they’re always yelling at other people to do), we wouldn’t be in this position. Anyway, she’s formed a support group for people who have been alienated by the GOP’s far-right tactics, but I really wish she would put more energy into supporting intellectual freedom and fighting back against the book banning she had previously campaigned for, but I guess that’s too much to hope for.

The lawsuit against the Escambia County school district (FL) for banning And Tango Makes Three has a trial date scheduled for early 2025.

At the beginning of next school year, Clay County (FL) parents will sign an “online, hybrid opt-in/opt-out form and select one of five options to control what books will be accessible for their children: unlimited access, general access, limited access, no access or daily email alerts.” This sounds unnecessarily complicated. And what happens if a parent DOESN’T complete the form? Is their child automatically barred from accessing the library?

Pinellas County School Board (FL) member Stephanie Meyer (no, not that one) has challenged Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk.

A New Hampshire bill is moving forward that would allow parents to opt their children out of “ any ‘instruction or program of’ sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression.”

Remember the Great Barrington (MA) teacher who threatened to file a lawsuit if the district and the town did not agree to mediation over her classroom being searched by police? Well, she filed a lawsuit.

(Paywalled): The South Western board president (PA) submitted a complaint against Flamer that ultimately led to it being banned at a Hanover-area middle school.

A federal appeals court ruled that Maryland parents can’t opt their children out of reading books with LGBTQ+ characters on the basis of religious rights.

Hanover County School Board (VA) has adopted a new policy for parents to indicate what level of access they’d like their children to have to classroom and library instructional materials. The one good thing about this is that it’s an opt-out system and if parents don’t submit the form, their children will automatically have full library access.

(Paywalled): Moore County School Board (NC) is facing a federal civil rights complaint after it ordered books featuring gay parents to be removed from elementary schools.

North Carolina parents push for a statewide ban on “explicit” books in schools.

The Alabama Public Library Service Board officially adopted the newly proposed rules that say libraries that do not restrict access to materials deemed sexually inappropriate by the APLSB could lose state funding. And now libraries must quickly restrict these “inappropriate” children’s books or risk $7 million in state funding. This is all kinds of bullshit.

Former Autauga-Prattville Public Library (AL) director Andrew Foster reached a settlement with the board over what he claimed was an unlawful termination.

Alabama’s bill that would have criminalized librarians for obscene comments has failed in the Senate.

“Three St. Tammany [LA] library board members removed after a years-long fight over book content are suing the parish council and one of its district representatives in an attempt to block their removal.“ Here’s a statement from the St. Tammany Library Alliance in support of the board members, and EveryLibrary has issued a statement as well.

Plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction of Arkansas’s blocked library obscenity law.

A group of time wasters in Daviess County (KY) have demanded a massive audit of the library’s materials, and now, months after the audit was completed, the group continues to take up a disproportionate amount of time at the monthly board meetings.

A surge in book challenges has Wisconsin school districts scrambling to keep pace.

A new Minnesota bill banning book bans has reached the governor’s desk.

Montana librarians made a silent but LOUD statement against the actions of the state library commission by refusing to show up for their annual meeting. This comes in response to the commission’s decision to sever ties with ALA, as well as the ridiculous hand-wringing over the implications of having a colorful organizational logo.

In related news, “Montana State Library Commissioner Carmen Cuthbertson on Friday compared the Montana Library Association to the Ku Klux Klan, claiming the organization sent an anonymous letter as part of boycotting a meeting.” Well alrighty then.

The Donnelly Public Library in Idaho is unable to comply with the new state legislation that requires libraries to relocate challenged or “inappropriate” materials to areas that are only accessible to adults, due to its tiny size. The library therefore announced that it will only be accessible to adult patrons 18 or older as of July 1, 2024, and all patrons will need to sign an agreement to use the library. I have no words.

Meanwhile, the Boise Public Library (ID) will be using the Miller Test to determine whether or not any books in the collection violate the new state legislation, which makes this whole farce completely pointless. If the book banners would just use the definition set by the Miller Test, WE WOULDN’T BE HAVING ARGUMENTS ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY IN LIBRARIES.

Breaking news: Uninformed Oregon resident April Bailey doesn’t understand how weeding or general collection development works.

“The local chapter of Moms for Liberty reached a settlement Tuesday with Yolo County [CA] in its federal lawsuit alleging the shutdown of a contentious meeting at a Davis library last year violated the group’s civil rights.”

After announcing a ban on same-sex parenting books last week, the Western Sydney Council in Australia decided to overturn the ban.

Books & Authors in the News

How do authors get famous? By being picked for Oprah’s Book Club, or…dying.

Numbers & Trends

The best-selling books of the week.

Award News

Caleb Azumah Nelson wins the Dylan Thomas Prize for Small Worlds.

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck has won the 2024 International Booker Prize.

More than 200 authors have renewed their call for investment management firm Baillie Gifford, sponsor of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction, to divest from fossil fuels, as well as “from companies that profit from Israeli apartheid, occupation and genocide.”

Pop Cultured

Only Murders in the Building gets a premiere date and a trailer.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

Why do we still read books?

How “right” and “wrong” ways to be queer are changing fiction.

Inside Reese Witherspoon’s literary empire.

a brown tabby cat laying on its back and showing off its tummy

Well, that’s a tummy trap if I’ve ever seen one, but look at that face! He’s irresistible!!

Long weekend coming up! Hope the weather is good for everyone!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

The Stack

Summer Is Here, Let’s Read Comics

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date May 22, 2024

Sponsored by

Hello again! Hopefully, this week wasn’t too hard on you, and you are now prepared to enjoy a nice weekend — and, if you’re in the U.S., you have an extra weekend to look forward to.

Bookish Goods

A brown blanket modeled after one from Yuru Camp, with the words "secret society blanket" written across the middle

Yuru Camp Hooded Blanket by DeskNeko

If you’re spending time outdoors this summer, take this blanket from the manga Laid-Back Camp with you to keep cozy! $104

New Releases

Hirayasumi Volume One by Keigo Shinzo

Unlike most people he knows, Hiroto is perfectly happy living a slow-paced, solitary life. The only companion he needed was an elderly neighbor, who ended up leaving him her house. But when Hiroto’s ambitious and stressed-out young cousin comes to stay, his peaceful life gets turned on its ear.

The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Faith Schaffer

Chihiro’s father is a revered samurai, but she has little interest in following in his footsteps…until she gets the chance to work with a legendary samurai-turned-ronin, Tatsuo. Can this mismatched pair learn to get along so they can complete their demon-killing mission?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: summertime! The unofficial start of summer is coming up fast, so it’s the perfect time to break out comics like…

Flamer by Mike Curato

On the cusp of starting high school, Aiden spends the summer at camp. While there, he starts to realize things about himself that he’d rather not — specifically, that he might be gay, and that his feelings for one particular boy might be romantic. Flamer is a modern classic about discovering and accepting yourself.

Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer cover

Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz

Jamila, feeling lonely after moving to a new house, quickly latches onto the first friend she can find: Shirley, the local kid detective. When another neighborhood kid asks them to find his missing — perhaps stolen — pet gecko, Shirley and Jamila are on the case! And, as they track down the missing lizard, they might discover true friendship as well.

Whatever your plans are for this weekend — going to the beach, having a barbecue, fighting supervillains, or just hanging out — I hope you enjoy them!

~Eileen

Kissing Books

Pre-Summertime Vibes

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date May 22, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, your guide to all things romance-related. Thanks for taking time from your day to give this a read! I hope this newsletter helps to brighten up your day just a little bit more.

I had a great time at the SKULLastic Book Fair last week, as expected. Even though there were tons of books I was interested in, I was good and only walked away with two books; What Moves the Dead and What Feasts at Night. I also fully admit that this was inspired by my recent watch of The Fall of the House of Usher which was, in my ever-so-humble opinion, beyond brilliant.

Bookish Goods

Romance Trope Ice Cream Coozie by MeaggieMoos

I happened across this when I was looking for a fun, bookish goody to share, and y’all…when I realized what it was, the scream of glee I gave out. An ice cream coozie? With romance tropes on it? Sign me up. This is perfect for curling up with a good book and ice cream, especially since you won’t have to worry about cold hands. $9

New Releases

Her Private Security Detail by Patricia Sargeant

Jeremiah’s latest assignment at his family’s security detail is protecting Symone from an unknown threat to her life and nonprofit. Although he’s attracted to the beautiful philanthropist, as his client, she is off limits. However, the imminent danger requires them to spend more time together, which makes it all the more difficult to keep their relationship professional.

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt

It’s summertime in Spunes and time for The Festival of Spunes. Sage and Fisher both have personal reasons for wanting to come out the champion this year and agree to partner up to take home the coveted top prize. As they spend more time together, what started out as a professional relationship quickly develops into more, and they realize that they don’t want summer or their partnership to end.

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

Riot Recommendations

Tinkering With Love by Aliyah Burke

After Dawson moves across the country for her dream job only to discover the position was given to someone else, she is understandably upset. When she’s told that there will be a wilderness retreat with the rest of the company, including Tully, the person who got her job, the situation gets worse. While she tries to remain standoffish, she finds herself succumbing to his charm and wondering what would happen if she lowered her walls with him. But secrets still exist between them and when they come to light, it could destroy the possibility of a happily ever after.

Fire & Ice by Rachel Spangler

After a professional mistake, reporter Max finds herself demoted to curling coverage to make amends. Callie is a curling skipper with dreams of making it to Team USA. She knows that coverage from Max will help pave the way and sets out to show Max the joy of the sport. She slowly begins to melt the ice around Max’s heart towards Callie and curling.

If you’re still yearning for some historical romances, this list has you covered.

Speaking of historical romances, take this etiquette quiz to see how you would fare in high society.

I had way too much fun with this ball gown generator.

Linda Lael Miller was one of my go-to romance authors as a wee book dragon. If you’ve never read her, these books are a good place to start.

And that’s all I have for y’all today. Since Monday is a holiday here in the US, you won’t hear from me again until next Thursday. Until then, you can always give me a follow over on Instagram under @pns_bookish_world to see my adventures in books. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated.

Giveaways

052224-TheGodOfNishi-YuigahamaStation-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date May 22, 2024

We’re giving away three copies of The God of Nishi-Yuigahama Station by Takeshi Murase to three lucky Riot readers!

Enter here for a chance to win, or click the image below!

Magical realism, heartbreak, and time travel blend into one in this Japanese literary debut, The God of Nishi-Yuigahama Station. Following the events of a freak accident at the Nishi-Yuigahama train station, rumors spread of a ghost with the power to send people back in time to that tragic day. A woman who lost her fiancé, a man who lost his father, and a boy who lost his unrequited love. What would you do if you had a second chance?

Book Radar

Get a Sneak Peek at BRIDGERTON Season 3 Part 2 and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 22, 2024

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

Welcome to another wonderful Thursday of book talk. Today, I’m coming at you from the super scorching hot city of Austin, TX. Super excited to be here and to see my friend get married. But also, as I always do when I’m visiting a new city, I’m excited to check out some bookstores. If you have favorites, be sure to reach out and let me know! Now let’s talk books.

Book Deals and Reveals

finlay donovan digs her own grave book cover

The fifth novel in the Finlay Donovan series is coming soon! Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave is hitting shelves on March 4, 2025. You can preorder it now.

Have you finished Bridgerton Season 3, Part 1, and now you’re pining for Part 2? Here’s a brief teaser for what’s to come in the second half of the season. It releases on Netflix on June 13.

Netflix’s adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole series has found its lead. Tobias Santelmann (The Last Kingdom, Exit, and The Arctic Convoy) will star as the Nordic detective. Also heading the series is Joel Kinnaman (The Suicide Squad), who will play Tom Waaler, and Pia Tjelta (Made in Oslo) as Rakel Fauke.

Emma Törzs’ debut fantasy novel Ink Blood Sister Scribe is being adapted as a fantasy series by Amazon MGM Studios company.

Here’s the cover of Swordcrossed, a new enemies-to-lovers queer fantasy romance from Freya Marske. It’s out on October 10!

Celia Imrie has joined the cast of the movie adaptation of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club. Chris Columbus is attached to write the screenplay and direction. Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley were also previously announced as stars.

Netflix’s The Sandman series has cast the remaining family members of The Endless for season 2. Destiny will be played by Adrian Lester, Delirium will be played by Esmé Creed-Miles, and Destruction, now referred to as “The Prodigal” by his siblings, will be played by Barry Sloane.

Mystery and thriller lovers, here are the most anticipated mysteries and thrillers coming out in 2024, according to Goodreads.

The 2024 Eisner Award nominees have been announced! Winners will be announced at San Diego Comic-Con during a gala awards ceremony on July 26.

Book Riot Recommends

Hi, welcome to everyone’s favorite segment of Book Radar called Book Riot Recommends. This is where I’ll talk to you about all the books I’m reading, the books I’m loving, and the books I can’t wait to read and love in the near future. I think you’re going to love them too!

Can’t Wait for this One!

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould (Wednesday Books, December 10)

Get excited, because in December, we’re getting a new YA novel from Courtney Gould, author of The Dead and the Dark. This one is being compared to Yellowjackets with a dash of Girl, Interrupted, which sounds…okay, fun is probably not the right word. But intriguing, certainly. Right up my alley, definitely. I can’t wait to pick this one up.

When Devin Green is abducted in the middle of the night and dragged into the woods with a group of equally confused teens, she’s surprised to discover her family has signed her up for an experimental therapy program. Two camp counselors explain to the group that they will all be tasked with surviving a 50-day hike through the wilderness. Ideally, the teens will learn how to fight their inner demons and come out on the other side as stronger, more well-adjusted versions of themselves. That is the idea, anyway.

But deep in the Idaho woods, Devin finds many unsettling surprises. She keeps getting these strange visions of people she knows aren’t really there. And the trees seem to have faces. Then the camp counselors go missing, and suddenly Devin is stuck with a group of people she barely knows, unsure of who she can trust, but totally reliant on each and every one of them for survival.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Being alone isn’t a skill. It’s a disposition.”

— The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

The worst thing about leaving town is having to leave my cats at home. Seriously, I wish I could take them everywhere with me. Just look at this cute little freckled face resting so peacefully in my arms. Cats are actual angels!

And that’s all I have for you today, friends. I hope you have a gorgeous weekend, and I’ll see you Monday, after my friend gets married! Until then!

Emily

What's Up in YA

An Overnight Hit, A New Jason Reynolds Release, and More YA Book Talk and News: May 23, 2024

Post author By Kelly Jensen
Post date May 22, 2024

Sponsored by

Hey, YA Readers!

We just put together new patio furniture—I finally got my dream vintage-style steel set—and you better believe I’ll be parked there with a cold hops water reading as much as possible this long weekend. That’s a convenient intro to also note that there will be no newsletter on Monday. I hope you’ll be able to spend some extra time, long weekend or not, with a good read this weekend.

Let’s dig into this week’s new paperback releases and YA book news.

Bookish Goods

I Hope You Brought Books Doormat by TouchUpShop

If you’re doing a little home decorating and are looking for a bookish doormat—whether for outside your apartment or house or inside—may I suggest this one? It feels more accurate a welcome mat than one that just says welcome. Starting at $30, with different sizes from which to choose.

New Releases

There aren’t as many new paperback releases this week as there have been recently, but that’s not always a bad thing. You sometimes need a moment to catch your breath and catch up with that ever-growing TBR.

Here are two paperbacks out this week. You can catch the entire YA paperback roundup over here. As always, you might need to toggle your view.

Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min

When Santi accidentally leaked Memo’s song and it became an overnight hit, Memo — Santi’s best friend and romantic interest whom he only knows from the internet — disappears. Santi’s heart is broken.

Three years and a new high school later, it’s possible Santi has found Memo, but in a way he never anticipated nor dreamed.

This one’s for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories and features a significant trans character.

The Luis Ortega Survival Club book cover

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

Ariana Ruiz is an autistic girl with bold fashion choices. But because she’s so quiet, her classmates mostly don’t notice or pay attention to her. So when Luis begins to, Ari is excited because he’s cute and he’s popular.

The attention grows and one night, Luis and Ari have sex at a party. Ari didn’t say yes to this, but she also didn’t say no, and now she’s not sure how to feel about it. Except Ari doesn’t get time to process the experience because now she’s at the center of the rumor mill and being seen as easy.

So when a mysterious note appears in Ari’s locker, telling her she’s not alone in her experience with Luis, she’s intrigued. It leads her to find a group of students who want to take Luis down for his behavior. While this has helped Ari make some real and genuine friends, it also means she’s got to reckon with what happened that night in order to see justice.

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

YA Book News

Forbes has taken a crack at the top 30 greatest young adult novels of all time. It…doesn’t include a single Walter Dean Myers book and its pre-2010s books are quite limited. While it’s got incredible titles on it, what a bold proclamation to make when the list includes several middle grade and adult novels, too.
Here’s the cover and an excerpt from Jason Reynolds’s forthcoming fall YA book, Twenty-Four Seconds.
The trailer for the adaptation of My Lady Jane dropped this week.
Barnes & Noble named their Young Adult Book Award winner for 2024.
A plea for the adaptation of Monument 14 to still happen, as it’s been sitting undeveloped for several years now.
The most anticipated YA science fiction, fantasy, and horror reads for May and June.

As always, thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you on Saturday for your YA book deals, then we’ll be back next Thursday.

Until then, happy reading!

–Kelly Jensen

The Fright Stuff

It Takes Boo to Make Haunting Go Right: 8 Terrifying Horror Short Story Collections

Post author By Samm Saxby
Post date May 22, 2024

Sponsored by

This post is written by Liberty Hardy.

If you are reading this, it is probably safe to assume you enjoy being scared. WOO HOO! One of us! One of us! Horror stories are so much fun, especially when you can get a whole Gremlin-sized chunk of them at a time. It’s more bang for your “OH, F—!” Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are almost upon us, which means camping (watch out for monsters!), beach visits (watch out for sharks!), and road trips (watch out for serial killers!). And a collection of stories is perfect for this time of year when you can read just one or two in between summer activities. So, we are offering you this list of eight terrifying horror short story collections to give you chills in the warm weather.

Obviously, what scares people is different for every person, and there are a LOT of amazing horror story writers out there — Stephen King and Shirley Jackson go without saying. They’re masters and two of the most famous scary storywriters. These books on this list are some more of our favorites, each book with varying terrors and turmoil to keep your brain twisting while you try to sleep. There’s a little something horrifying between these for all you ghouls and goblins, so hold on to your butts and get ready to get scared!

When Things Get Dark: Stories Inspired by Shirley Jackson edited by Ellen Datlow

Eighteen of today’s greatest writers of the murderous and macabre tackle Shirley Jackson with their tributes to the Queen of Horror. This book, edited by the legendary Ellen Datlow, includes tales by Josh Malerman, Carmen Maria Machado, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Kelly Link, Cassandra Khaw, and Seanan McGuire. They’re filled with torment, hauntings, torture, dismemberment, unease, and a bowl of beef stew you should really avoid.

Ghost Summer: Stories by Tananarive Due

Welcome to Terror Town — population: you! These are 15 stories and a novella set around strange happenings in rural settings, and they’re all so unnerving that it’s hard to tell if it’s worse to go in the house, in the lake, or in the woods! This one is a freezer book, for sure. And Due’s most recent novel, The Reformatory, is one of the greatest recent horror novels and is based on a story mentioned in this collection.

Smashed by Junji Ito

Junji Ito is the king of horror comics. He manages to portray so much creepiness and disturbing imagery in each panel. This collection contains stories about bats (and not cute ones), ghosts, a haunted house, and more disgusting, frightening events than you can shake a stick at. If you’ve never read Ito before, you should know that nothing is off limits — and it’s all drawn out for you. When people want really messed up stuff to read, this is where we point them.

Entropy in Bloom by Jeremy Robert Johnson

If you like your horror on the more surreal side, JRJ is the author for you. These are like X-Files cases soaked in Red Bull inside Clive Barker’s skull. There’s a parasite making itself at home in a man’s body, extreme body modification, apocalypses, crime, and more. You will love and pet this collection and call George, and also wonder, “Jeremy Robert Johnson, wtf is wrong with you?!?” (Be sure to also pick up Skullcrack City!)

The Ones That Got Away by Stephen Graham Jones

Surely if you are a horror fan, you know of Stephen Graham Jones by now. He’s one of the most awesome writers of the 21st century. And so freaking prolific! Most recently, he published the Indian Lake horror trilogy about a horror-loving young woman and horror tropes. (I’m going to say horror again: horror.) This is one of his many collections, with literal heartbreak, a haunted baby monitor, a disaster after a shipwreck, things in the woods, and so, so many scares you’ll want to read this in public.

The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies by John Langan

Another widely lauded horror writer of the last decade is John Langan. Some of these horror tales feature the familiar, like zombies, vampires, and werewolves, but all in frightening, unique takes. And there’s also plenty of flat-out weird and shiver-inducing stuff you have never imagined before. (And, if you want to read an excellent horror novel, be sure to grab Langan’s The Fisherman.)

This Strange Way of Dying: Stories of Magic, Desire & the Fantastic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Book Riot favorite! Her last few novels have delivered vampires, curses, frightening fungi, and mad scientists. This is an older book, a weird and wild collection of tales inspired by Mexican folklore. There are legends involving scorpions, a skull tree, vampires, skin shedders, and possibly most frightening of all, giant penguins. (Come on, you know you’d freak if you encountered one.)

Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa, Stephen Snyder (translator)

And last but not least, what should already be being considered a modern classic. No Book Riot list of horror stories is complete without it! Ogawa did a complete 180 turn from her beautiful, sad novel The Housekeeper and the Professor with this collection of really messed up stories of…you know. R-E-V-E-N-G-E (Find out what it means to me…). There’s a new tenant who learns her landlord is a murderess; a surgeon interested in a singer’s unusual heart; a jealous lover plotting her beloved’s demise; a neglected house that is home to a collection of horrifying implements. All these connected tales and more comprise this creepy collection!

For more great horror book recommendations, check out 8 of the Most Polarizing Horror Novels Ever Written and Horror Comics That’ll Give You the Chills, and be sure to sign up for our horror newsletter The Fright Stuff!