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Sponsored by Ecco, publishers of Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
A vibrant story collection—immersive and comic, yet unsparing—that offers profound insight into the intimacy of queer and immigrant communities. Seamlessly transitioning between the absurd and the tenderhearted, balancing acerbic humor with sharp emotional depth, Afterparties offers an expansive portrait of the lives of Cambodian-Americans. As the children of refugees carve out radical new paths for themselves in California, they shoulder the inherited weight of the Khmer Rouge genocide and grapple with the complexities of race, sexuality, friendship, and family.
Sponsored by ThriftBooks, the largest online independent seller of New and Used Books.
Back to School sounds great until you realize the cost. This back to school, shop ThriftBooks.com and save big! ThriftBooks.com has over 13 million new and used books so whether you’re looking for reference books, children’s books, college-level textbooks, or books for the entire family ThriftBooks has it all. Join ReadingRewards loyalty program (it’s free to join!) and each purchase earns points for free book rewards. Who doesn’t love free books? This back to school, be book smart and shop smart at ThriftBooks.com.
Happy weekend, YA fans!
Find a rich array of ebooks for sale to help you load up your ereader with outstanding titles. Prices are current as of writing.
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A magical murder mystery by a Native author with Native main characters? Sign me up for Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger for $3.
Another magical read you should snag is A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow. $3.
Let’s continue the magical reads theme with Lobizona, first in a series by Romina Garber, for $3.
An anthology of Shakespeare reimaginings that came out this year is on sale for $3. Snap up That Way Madness Lies edited by Dahlia Adler.
Baby and Solo by Lisabeth Posthuma, one of my favorites of the year, follows the life of a suburban queer teen in the 90s. Pick this one up, especially for $3.
Victoria Ortiz’s biography of Ruth Bader Ginsberg for teens, Dissenter on the Bench, is $3.
Snag The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall for $3.
You can still buy Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, first in a fantasy series, for $3.
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The Ravens by Dhonielle Clayton and Kass Morgan (what a powerhouse team!) is $3. It’s the first in a series.
Anna Carey delivers a 90s-set, pop-culture infused thriller with This Is Not The Jess Show. $3.
Looking for a romantic read? Anna K by Jenny Lee — first in a series — is on sale for $3.
Julian Winters’s most recent book, The Summer of Everything, is $3.
Grab this road trip love story about a ballerina, I Want To Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest, for $3.
I hope you found your new favorite read this weekend.
Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you Monday!
— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram
Sponsored by ThriftBooks, the largest online independent seller of New and Used Books.
Back to School sounds great until you realize the cost. This back to school, shop ThriftBooks.com and save big! ThriftBooks.com has over 13 million new and used books so whether you’re looking for reference books, children’s books, college-level textbooks, or books for the entire family ThriftBooks has it all. Join ReadingRewards loyalty program (it’s free to join!) and each purchase earns points for free book rewards. Who doesn’t love free books? This back to school, be book smart and shop smart at ThriftBooks.com.
Welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter y’all. I’m P.N. Hinton, your guide to the world of romance novels. I hope your spirit is doing well today. Whether it’s a backlist, new release, or an under the radar delight, I aim to help you find a book or two that you can get lost in. If you’re new to the Kissing Books newsletter, welcome and enjoy your stay. If you’re a long-time reader, welcome back; it’s good to see you again.
School starts this week and I’m not ready to have an eighth grader. That is all.
Well, as mentioned briefly last time, the RWA has essentially tripled down on their shenanigans from last week by rescinding the award that caused such a kerfluffle. Which is probably a legal issue; so, I feel for their lawyers. And it has caused even more division in Romancelandia with people both for and against it and honestly it’s a big old headache.
Yes, I know there’s such a thing as ‘dark romance’ with the mafia, kidnappings, and consensual non-consent. The romance genre is not without it’s problematic roots and tropes. The issue is that we know now how terrible it was and that there are many aspects of history that shouldn’t be romanticized at all. No one can make that make sense for me.
Plus, it won the Christian reward. Miss me with the whole ‘spiritual’ aspect. We all know that’s not the case because there was not nary a romance with another religion in that category. And there’s genocide on the page. I expect certain things in my ‘inspirational’ romances. No bad language, sex off the page, and scriptures. What I don’t expect is murder on the page. And do you know why? Because you’re not suppose to murder! It is literally the Fifth Commandment. You can have it in all other tropes of romance but not that one! It just doesn’t track.
Oh and according to the scuttlebutt from the RWA Town Hall side chats, somehow this is all (still) Courtney Milan’s fault.
Needless to say I think the RWA’s days are numbered and, honestly, I think that’s best. At some point, cutting off the harmful limb is the only way to stop the spread of an infection. All that said, it is going to be an interesting implosion to observe.
The harmful depiction of Indigenous people is nothing new to romance and it is something that we all have to work against. I know that I have read books where this was the case an am working to actively avoid books like that again. A good quick history of this type of behavior can be found here.
If you want to hear more about Vivian Stephens, check out her interview on the Black romance Podcast. It is divided up into a part one and a part two and should make for some good listening as well as finding out more about this wonderful woman. You may also want to check out this still relevant interview with her that Texas Monthly did last year.
Speaking of Black Romance, a panel on this topic is scheduled to take place on August 14th. This line-up looks hekka exciting y’all.
The title and synopsis for Emily Henry’s latest dropped. I’m already excited for Book Lovers, especially given the premise. Books about bookish people falling in love is just *chef’s kiss* to me.
Nisha Sharma revealed the cover for her first adult romance, Dating Dr. Dil.
You want some recommendations for upcoming M/M romances? You got ‘em!
The Ripped Bodice is hosting a virtual event with Helen Hoang and Christina Lauren on Wednesday, September 1st. More information can be found here as well as other events the bookstore is hosting.
The Toronto Romance Writers Northern Hearts is also hosting a virtual conference September 17th – 19th with Mrs. Beverly Jenkins as the keynote speak.
The Seattle Library is hosting a panel discussing bisexual romance on September 18th. Yes I know it is a month away and I will probably mention it multiple times before then because this is going to be an amazing conversation.
Here are some of the new releases hitting the shelves this week.
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Shaken or Stirred by Georgia Beers
What We May Be by Layla Reyne
Role Model by Rachel Reid
The Wildest Ride by Marcella Bell
Beside Golden Irish Fields by Ava Miles
And here are some of the deals I was able to find when perusing the interwebs. Please note that these deals were available at the time of the writing of this newsletter.
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The Spinster and the Rake by Eva Devon is currently $0.99
When You Are Mine by Kennedy Ryan can be snagged for the same price.
You Lucky Dog by Julia London is showing at $1.99.
Prisoner of Love by Beverly Jenkins can be picked up for $2.99.
So Sweet, So Right, and So For Real by Rebekah Weatherspoon can all be snagged for $0.99.
That’s all for today. I’ll be back Thursday (first day of school!) with more romance updates for how and I’ll try to get a few recommendations in there. If you want to follow me on Twitter, my handle is @PScribe801. Until then!
Pan Macmillan has picked up a Regency-era romantic comedy by Lisa Berne that’s being described as a cross between Bridgerton and Groundhog Day. Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton series, has called Lisa Berne “one of the most exciting historical fiction writers in a long time.” Berne’s regency romance, entitled The Redemption of Philip Thane, follows the story of a “gentlemen and a scoundrel” who is cursed to live out the same day over and over until he gets it right. That includes finding a way to win the affections of Miss Margaret Allen, who despises him (and with good reason). In a statement, Berne said, “I’m thrilled to be joining the Pan Macmillan family…The Redemption of Philip Thane is a book very close to my heart, it’s brimming with laughter as it explores the ever-fascinating question of how a rake can really and truly be redeemed.”
On Friday, August 6, National Book Award winner Kacen Callender took to Twitter to announce their upcoming middle grade novel. Callender tweeted, “My deeply personal MG called Moondflower, about 12-year-old Moon who struggles with depression and suicidal ideation, will be out next year. I know I needed this book when I was Moon’s age, and I’m happy this story will be out in the world soon.” The book will be published by Scholastic Books in 2022.
In Plymouth, PA, an overdue book, checked out 50 years ago, was anonymously returned to a public library with an apology and a $20 bill. The book in question? A 1967 copy of Coins You Can Collect by Burton Hobson. The letter was written as if by the book itself and reads, “Fifty years ago (yes 50!), a little girl checked me out of this library in 1971. At this time, she didn’t know they were going to move from Plymouth. Back then, kids weren’t told things like that.” The letter acknowledges that $20 is not enough to cover the late fees accrued over the past 50 years, but suggested: “Perhaps you can pay off some fines of some kids with it.” Both the letter and the book will soon be on display at the library, according to library director Laura Keller.
Looking for romance novels by Indigenous authors? Here are 8 fantastic titles to get you started.
Sponsored by Evil Eye: A Slasher Story by April A. Taylor.
Bestselling author April A. Taylor returns with this terrifying story! Six diverse strangers get stuck on an island during a roaring hurricane. They have nothing in common, but five of them will have to join forces to survive the night. Meanwhile, the sixth wants nothing more than to kill every single one of them. Join Annette, Chad, Heather, Spencer, and Kate on the worst night of their lives. Can they survive or will the killer maniacally laugh while eviscerating them? Filled with gore, terror, and the little moments between humans that can make or break their budding friendships.
Hey there horror fans, I’m Jessica Avery and I’ll be delivering your weekly brief of all that’s ghastly and grim in the world of Horror. Whether you’re looking for a backlist book that will give you the willies, a terrifying new release, or the latest in horror community news, you’ll find it here in The Fright Stuff.
I have always loved vampires, and even when I shifted away from reading horror for several years, vampires were the one thing I held onto. But I would not want to be one.
I mean sure, on the surface being a vampire seems like The Best. You get to see the world, living for hundreds of years means getting to do all the things that your short mortal lifespan suggested you’d never get to do, and you’ll finally have time to read all those books in your TBR that you’ve been staring at for years. (Oh. Self-burn.) But the older I get the more I realize: yeah, a vampire never needs to sleep. They get to travel the world. They’re too strong for anyone to fuck with, and they no longer have to fear death or the ticking clock.
But wow they must get tired.
Look, I can barely make it to Friday most weeks. Live forever? Maybe I’ll just take a nap. I love vampires, and I love to read about vampires, but like a lot of things in horror (I see you, evil clowns), vampires are definitely a lot more fun when they’re fictional. So let’s toast to the fangy friends we love the most in this week’s Fright Stuff, as we explore some truly tasty vampire reads.
Oh, hey, it’s me, once again begging you to read A Dowry of Blood, because I am obsessed with this book. It’s the perfect vampire book; it’s gorgeous, romantic, dark, violent, and polyamorous! A Dowry of Blood is the story of Dracula’s brides, told from the perspective of Constanta, the first of three brides whom Dracula creates to be his companions over the course of the novel. It is written as a farewell letter to the man she loved and hated in equal measure, detailing a hundred lifetimes of tenderness, abuse, and the unexpected love that develops between she and her fellow brides.
If you’re looking for a fun, creative, somewhat creepy vampire book for your TBR, you want Mina and the Undead. It’s a love letter to the 90’s vampire craze, and you know I love my nostalgic retro-horror reads. 17-year-old Mina travels from England to New Orleans to visit with her estranged sister Libby, excited to explore a city as steeped in vampire literary references as her home town of Whitby. But Mina gets more than she bargained for when she becomes embroiled in a series of violent murders that all seem to point to Libby. Technically, Mina and the Undead has only been released in the UK, but you can still order a copy through Book Depository, and you definitely should!
I always love a good anthology, but this anthology in particular was one of my favorite books of 2020. Vampires Never Get Old, and vampires also never go out of style, but there’s no denying that for a while there they did fall somewhat out of favor. So I was super excited for Vampires Never Got Old, and the resurgence of my favorite undead. Authors with stories in the anthology include Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley, which is quite a line up! And one of the things that I love best about this collection is that it runs the gamut of vampire fiction, from the genuinely creepy to the romantic. But whether scary or dreamy, each of these stories pays homage to the vampire stories and myths we love so much.
One month to go, people! One month and I will finally get to read Certain Dark Things, with it’s drop dead (ba dum tish) gorgeous new cover in its shiny new edition from Tor Night Fire. Of the vampire books on my to-read list, this one has been sitting right at the top for ages, and I’m so glad that it’s finally going to be back in print. In Mexico City, street kid Domingo is just trying to survive when he meets vampire-on-the-run Atl. Atl is the descendent of Aztec blood drinkers, on the run from a rival vampire clan. Their meeting happens by chance, but as time goes on the two find themselves working together to escape the dark streets with their lives (life and un-life?) intact.
See, the joy/danger of writing these newsletters is all the new books I discovered that would have otherwise slipped under my radar! Which would have been terrible, considered that The Lost Girls is 100% everything I could possibly want in a book. Elton Irving is a serial vampire maker. He prays on teenage girls, promising them eternal love then abandoning them when the shine wears off his newest toy. Holly Liddell was one of Elton’s victims, turned in 1987 and now she’s stuck at sixteen forever, in a dead end job with no future and no end in sight. But things get interesting the night she meets Rose and Ida, two of Elton’s previous victims, who want her help to finally destroy him before he can harm another girl. Holly may be angry with Elton, but she’s not sure she’s angry enough to kill until she finds herself unexpectedly falling for Parker, Elton’s next victim.
Speaking of vampires, did you see Rin Chupeco’s recent announcement!?
Over at Book Riot we have some stellar Horror coverage going on, from bookish references in the Fear Street trilogy, to horror books that will have you definitely reconsidering your next camping trip.
And Gwendolyn Kiste is serving up some scary fairy tales for you on the Nightfire blog!
As always, you can catch me on twitter at @JtheBookworm, where I try to keep up on all that’s new and frightening
We’re giving away five copies of Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown to five lucky Riot readers!
Enter here for a chance, or click the cover image below!
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Here’s what it’s all about:
The year 1920 comes in with a roar in this rousing and suspenseful novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown. Prohibition is the new law of the land, but murder, mayhem, lust, and greed are already institutions in the Moonshine Capitol of Texas. It’s there that young widow Laurel Plummer and Deputy Thatcher Hutton will find themselves on the opposite sides of a moonshine war, where the blood flows as freely as the whiskey.
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Hi Kid Lit Friends,
The pandemic has touched every aspect of our lives, and I constantly think about how the past year and a half have affected children in particular. As schools begin to plan for a new academic year, I thought I would round up some recent books that touch on the pandemic. I hope these books will lead to deep conversation among our young people.
Malian is visiting her beloved grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation when suddenly all travel shuts down. Her parents aren’t able to pick her up, so Malian stays where she is. Everyone is worried about the pandemic, but Malian knows how to keep her family and community safe: She protects her grandparents, and they protect her. And when Malsum, one of the dogs living on the rez, shows up at their door, Malian’s family knows that he’ll protect them too. This is a gorgeous novel-in-verse that belongs in the hands of every middle grade reader.
When New York City abruptly shut down in March 2020, the normally bustling streets transformed overnight. Author Brian Floca observed these changes in the city landscape and started painting what he saw. The paintings eventually became this gorgeous picture book honoring all the essential workers who kept the essentials operating so the rest of the city could shelter in place during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic hits New York City, nobody expects a little virus to change the whole world in such a big way. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben struggle to adjust to life in quarantine. As time goes by, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times.
Meticulously researched, author Kate Messner conducted interviews with Dr. Fauci himself and recounts his Brooklyn beginnings through medical school and his challenging role working with seven US presidents to tackle some of the biggest public health challenges of the past fifty years, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive back matter rounds out Dr. Fauci’s story with a timeline, recommended reading, a full spread of facts about vaccines and how they work, and Dr. Fauci’s own tips for future scientists.
This sweet and hopeful picture book was inspired by the multitude of rainbows found in the windows of homes around the world following the COVID-19 lockdown. The rainbows are reminders that despite the fact that we are separated by distance and might feel alone, we are all just on one end of a rainbow—connected by all that color and light, there is always something, or someone, waiting for us on the other side.
What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
Until next time!
Karina
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Sponsored by Harper Perennial, publisher of When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen
Mira fled her small, segregated hometown in the south more than a decade ago. But now she’s back in Kipsen to attend the wedding of her childhood best friend, Celine at the Woodsman plantation which has recently been transformed into a lush vacation resort. But for all its fancy renovations, the Woodsman remains a monument to its oppressive racist history and there are rumors that can’t be ignored: whisperings that the ghosts of enslaved people roam the property, seeking vengeance on the descendants of those who tormented them. And many of those descendants are guests at Celine’s wedding…
Korean manhwa (the Korean term for comics) is starting to gain popularity in North America. Drawn and Quarterly’s manhwa list has grown steadily since publishing Yeon-sik Hong’s Uncomfortably Happily in 2017. “We were fortuitous in the moment when we started publishing these comics,” said Drawn and Quarterly senior editor Tracy Hurren. “I think we have seen a surge in the popularity of K-pop, films like Parasite, and from a literary perspective, we have seen literary fiction from Korea and about Korea having a moment too, like Han Kang’s Vegetarian and Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko. I think there was a bit of a cultural moment and excitement for the content coming out of Korea.”
HBO has announced that they are releasing their new podcast Batman: The Audio Adventure as an in-app exclusive, meaning it will only be available in the HBO Max app and not from other podcast apps. The scripted audio series will be the first of HBO Max’s new exclusive podcasts, including a scripted sequel to Issa Rae’s Looking For Latoya, called We Stay Looking, and a new OC companion podcast called Welcome to The OC, Bitches.
After going virtual in 2020, the Portland Book Festival is returning to downtown Portland for this year’s event. In order to include as many participants as possible while still remaining safe, the festival’s organizer, Portland nonprofit Literary Arts, has announced that this year’s festival will include several days of virtual events and one day of in-person events. The festival will take place in November online, at the Portland Art Museum, and at several other downtown venues. This year’s authors will be announced on September 22nd, and tickets will also go on sale at this time. “Whether you join us online or in-person, we are excited to build community and celebrate books, storytelling, and the power of literature with you,” Literary Arts said in a press release.
Want to be owner of a beloved bookstore, but not wanting to start from scratch? Here’s your chance! Owl Pen Books in upstate New York has just hit the market and is looking for someone to carry on the store and her legacy.
