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Book Riot is teaming up with Macmillan’s Nightfire newsletter for a chance to win a Horror Lover’s prize pack containing the following:
– $200 Visa gift card
– The Living Dead by George Romero and Daniel Kraus
– Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– Slewfoot by Brom
– Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
– The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Simply sign up for the Nightfire newsletter and fill out the form here to be entered to win.
‘Love, Victor’ Renewed for Season 3 at Hulu
It’s been just under two months since Love, Victor season 2 released on Hulu, but already the show has been renewed for a third season. It’s an offshoot of the wildly popular film, Love, Simon (adapted from Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and stars secondary characters from the movie. The second season has been widely acclaimed, but no details yet about when a third season will drop or how many episodes there will be.
Black-Owned Bookstores In Mississippi: A New Chapter And A Storied Past
Tonisha Kimble has operated an online bookstore for years before taking the leap to opening a brick and mortar location in Gulfport, MS. Her shop, Wonders of the World, stocks books, games, and bookish merchandise, and is a part of a long tradition of Black-owned bookstores in Mississippi.
Hemingway ‘Wannabes’ Celebrate Author With Lookalike Contest
Ernest Hemingway’s reputation as a writer is just one facet of his big personality as a sportsman, adventurer, and drunk. He lived in Key West, FL for many years, and now the area hosts Hemingway Days in July in his honor, which includes many festivities that are topped off with a Hemingway lookalike contest. Many of the participants come looking for camaraderie, new friends, and cats, and not so much to talk about Hemingway’s literature.
Sponsored by Joy by Samantina Zenon
Joy: The Five Lights That Clarify Your Best Self Through The Pain is a self-help/memoir book about healing from cultural and generational traumas. These wounds are not healed until we take care of them. Whether you were physically, emotionally or mentally abused – you are not a victim, you’ve never been one, you were victimized! You can rise above, the key is to show up for yourself and submit to do the work. Learn to live the life you want by healing from your pains. In this book, I share 5 Lights: Boundaries, Prioritizing Self, Seeking Help, Self-Care Ritual, Creating Me the Person.
Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the Wayward Children fantasy book series by Seanan McGuire. Six books have already been published in the series, and a seventh is coming in early 2022. Sources have said Emma Watts, the president of Paramount’s Motion Picture Group, has had her eye on the series for a while and was hands-on in aggressively pursuing the rights for the series. Paramount is planning a series adaptation, which will be produced by Pouya Shahbazian, who is currently working on Season 2 of Netflix’s Shadow & Bone.
Actress Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the company’s decision to release Black Widow on Disney Plus at the same time as it hit theaters. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Attorneys allege that the Johansson’s contract was breached when the studio chose not to debut the film exclusively in theaters. Johansson and other artists connected to the project rely on compensation tied specifically to the box office performance of Black Widow. In other words, when the film hit certain benchmarks at the box office, bonuses would be handed out. The suit reads, “Disney chose to placate Wall Street investors and pad its bottom line, rather than allow its subsidiary Marvel to comply with the agreement.”
John Berlinski, an attorney for Johansson, said in a statement, “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney Plus to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price…But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court.”
Jade Watkins, the 11-year-old author of the book I AM ME, is helping to launch two pop-up library locations in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Thumbs Up Reading library initiative was established in memory of life-long Charlotte resident Clyde Albert Phifer, who was an avid reader. The initiative hopes to recognize the power of diversity in children’s literature and aims to give children and young adults access to over 1,000 books, specifically those living in historically Black and brown communities. The installation of the first Thumbs Up Reading’s pop-up library is scheduled for Saturday, July 31, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Steele Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, 1500 Shopton Road, Charlotte.
Don’t hesitate when it comes to these new and upcoming releases! Everyone’s going to want to get their hands on these fall 2021 books, so put them on hold at your local library ASAP!
Sponsored by Chicago Review Press
Bugs for Breakfast helps middle-grade readers understand the role insects fill in feeding people around the world. Readers will be introduced to the insect specialties and traditions of various countries. They’ll discover how nutritious bugs can be and why dining on insects is more environmentally friendly than eating traditional protein sources.
Hi Kid Lit Friends!
Happy first day of August! I hope this summer is going wonderfully for all of you. I wonder what kinds of books you’re reading this summer? Feel free to drop me a line to tell me what you’re enjoying – my email is at the bottom of this newsletter.
I’m a big fan of comedians and often listen to comedy podcasts while I’m doing errands around the house. I love Trevor Noah, Paula Poundstone, Hasan Minhaj, and all the panelists on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. It’s been interesting to read some of the recent books highlighting kids who want to go into comedy; it’s made me realize how much work it is to be a great comedian! Unfortunately, despite the steady increase in authors of color writing children’s literature, there aren’t as many middle grade books on this topic written by diverse authors. I hope with time, that will change! In the meantime, here are a few middle grade books that I’ve enjoyed that are about stand-up comedy:
Yumi Chung has a secret dream: to have a Netflix stand-up special. She wants nothing more than to spend her summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, but then her mom enrolls her in a tutoring class so she can be eligible for an academic scholarship. Instead of going to class, she stumbles into a comedy class taught by one of her favorite comedians. A case of mistaken identity later, Yumi finds herself ditching tutoring for comedy. But how long can she keep this a secret? And how much damage will it create between her and her family if Yumi follows her dreams?
Olive “clicks” with everyone in the fifth grade even though she doesn’t have a “best friend”. She convinces herself that it’s fine, but then people start pairing up for the school’s variety show and Olive is left out. When funky, green-haired Aunt Molly invites her over for an aunt-niece sleepover, they spend the night watching old TV variety shows. Olive is so inspired by the witty hosts and hostesses who introduce and banter with the acts on their shows and dreams about taking on that role herself on a variety show. Can she convince her friends and family that this is the right fit for her?
Eleven-year-old Billy Plimpton has a dream to be a stand-up comedian. He wants to deliver perfect punch-lines and have his audiences hang on his every hilarious word. He knows he can do it, but one thing holds him back. He has a stammer. How will he find his voice, if his voice won’t let him speak?
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
*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*
Sponsored by Avon Romance
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Alyssa Cole’s second Runaway Royals novel is a queer Anastasia retelling, featuring a long-lost princess who finds love with the female investigator tasked with tracking her down.
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.
Wow…we’re in August already y’all. That’s just mind-boggling to me. Next week, school starts. This first time in a while where I have felt like I blinked and summer just flew by. I know summer is different when you’re an adult because, you know, you still have to work. But jeez…feels like the kiddos are getting shortchanged. Regardless of when school starts for your children, I hope that they had a great summer. Especially after all the mess last year.
Sierra Simone fans rejoice, for this cover preview appeared on her website last week for the upcoming Saint.
Stephanie J. Scott revealed the cover for her holiday romance, OMG Christmas Tree.
And the anthology Anonymous Sex also debuted their cover.
This tweet is a whole mood and it brought up uncomfortable memories of a romance panel that was held back in February. I did mention this in the newsletter back then but apparently it’s still a thing so it bears repeating that Black Romance DOES NOT EQUAL ‘GHETTO’. And, even if there is a book like that written by a Black author why does that automatically make it less than? Is this standard being held to white romance authors when they write about country romances? Is it called country romance or even redneck romance? And if it is, does that make it bad? The answer in case you’re wondering is no. Stop holding marginalized groups to standards that don’t apply to everyone else. It’s tiresome as all get out.
There was also a call in Romancelandia for the revoke of the third act break-up. I’ll admit I’m more conflicted about this take, especially given what I previously said about how I feel about the ‘grovel’. On the one hand, it does serve the conflict purpose that naysayers of the romance genre sneer about. On the other hand, sometimes they do seem a bit ridiculous or far-fetched. I think I would prefer more of this at the beginning or the middle of the book. That way, it gives more than enough time to resolve it without it being rushed. Maybe this is one reason that second-chance romances are so intriguing. Because you’ve already had the third-act break up and conflict; so we get to spend a whole book resolving that and watching them fall in love again.
For rom-com fans, Resort to Love is live onNetflix. So, if you need something to do after a hard day of work, that may do the trick.
Long-standing romance author Debbie Macomber had this to say about writing in 2020.
Also, not romance news but it involves bookish fun. Try this test to see how much of a childhood bookworm you were! I got 24/28 and was very pleased with my younger self. It was brought to my attention that the link for the romance novel quiz may not have worked, so apologies if you tried to take it couldn’t, here’s my take two on that one.
I also heard about the discourse regarding the Kirkus review on The Heart Principle, which resulted in Helen Hoang apologizing for it not being a rom-com. I do want to discuss this more but I need more time to delve into it more and give it the consideration it deserves. So, stay tuned for for that in Thursday’s edition.
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If you’re a gamer, then Sidequest for Love by L.H. Cosway may peak your interest.
If you prefer small town romances, check out Playing With Words by Kelly Elliott.
Christina Dodd’s latest, In Bed with the Duke will also be available if historical is your catnip.
For my sports fan, there’s Winning With Him by Lauren Blakely.
You like fake dating? Check out Fake It by Lily Seabrooke.
In contemporary romance, we have Her Inconvenient Groom by Niomie Roland.
Here are some deals you can snag. Deals are active as of the writing of this newsletter.
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Come What May by A.M Arthur is $1.99
Off the Ice by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn for $1.99
Nora Robert’s The Heart of Devin MacKade for $1.99
Waking Up Married by Reese Ryan is a steal for $2.99
To Love Again by Ellie Etienne is also $2.99.
That’s all for now! I’ll be back Thursday with more romance updates for you. If you can’t wait to hear from me until then, just give me a follow over on Twitter @PScribe801. TTFN (ta-ta for now!)
On Friday, Tordotcom Publishing announced the latest addition to Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb Series. The third novel in the series, Nona the Ninth, will publish in fall 2022, and Alecto the Ninth will follow in fall 2023. Originally, Muir’s beloved series was set to be a trilogy, but with the addition of Nona the Ninth, the world of the Locked Tomb is expanding into a series. Does that mean we have even more books to look forward to in the future? Only time will tell!
Fans of American sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler have a lot to look forward to! There are two adaptations of Octavia E. Butler works coming our way. HBO is working on a series adaptation of Fledgling, Octavia Butler’s take on the vampire novel. Issa Rae and J.J. Abrams are on board for the project as the executive producers. Sonya Winton-Odamtten and Jonathan I. Kidd, the writers of HBO’s Lovecraft Country, will write the pilot script. Additionally, Butler’s Parable of the Sower has inspired an upcoming A24 film directed by Garrett Bradley (Time) and produced by Paul Mezey (Beasts of the Southern Wild). Octavia E. Butler fans can add these two projects to the list of upcoming Butler adaptations to get excited about. FX is also developing a television series based on Kindred. And Amazon Studios has two Octavia E. Butler projects in the works. The first is a series based on Butler’s Wild Seed, with novelist Nnedi Okorafor co-writing. They’re also developing a series based on Dawn, with Ava DuVernay executive producing.
Earlier this month, Kalamata’s Kitchen published a fourth book in their series encouraging children to be open to new cuisines and cultures. This is the first book of the series to be published with Random House. Previous books in the series invited kids to try cuisine from Venezuela, the South of France, and more alongside the main character Kalamata and her “Taste Buds,” a club which kids could join. In this new book, author Sarah Thomas, a former sommelier at Chef Ripert’s La Bernadin in New York City, welcomes young children to try cuisine from her own Indian background. The book is illustrated by Jo Kosmides Edwards.
Did you find yourself reading a whole lot more in 2020? Well, you’re not alone! According to new research, Americans read nearly 25% more last year.
Sponsored by Evil Eye: A Slasher Story by April A. Taylor, August 3
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.
Happy Monday, my little book dragons. And happy August, somehow. I would like July back, please, because THAT WAS SO FAST. As you read this newsletter today, I am on vacation and hopefully reading, or at least relaxing, and most likely talking to my cats. (They never talk back, they’re so rude.) While I am out, the amazing Jamie Canavés will be here to fill in for Book Radar on Thursday—a big thank you to her in advance. If you aren’t already familiar with Jamie, she writes the Book Riot mystery newsletter Unusual Suspects!
Moving on: I have exciting news for you today! I also have a look at a fabulous upcoming fantasy novel, plus LOTS of cover reveals, a terrible pun, a silly upside-down cat, and trivia! Let’s get started, shall we?
Here’s Monday’s trivia question: What sport is the subject of Megan Abbott’s thriller Dare Me? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
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Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series.
A Jaws-themed musical may be opening in 2022.
Here’s the cover reveal of The Blood Trials by N. E. Davenport.
Delroy Lindo will star in the Anansi Boys adaptation.
Here’s the first look at John Le Carré’s final novel.
Here’s the cover reveal of The Two Wrong Halves of Ruby Taylor by Amanda Panitch.
Tracey Ullman will narrate the next David Sedaris book.
Here’s the cover reveal for It Dies with You by Scott Blackburn.
Leslie Odom Jr. and Ellen Burstyn will star in the new Exorcist film trilogy.
The PBS children’s show Arthur is ending with its 25th season.
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Octavia Butler’s Fledgling to be adapted for HBO by Issa Rae, Lovecraft Country writers.
Here’s the cover reveal of Chloe Cates Is Missing by Mandy McHugh.
Snowpiercer has been renewed for a fourth season.
And Sweet Tooth has been renewed for a second season.
Here’s the cover reveal for Scorpica by G.R. Macallister.
DeWanda Wise will star in Showtime’s Three Women adaptation with Shailene Woodley.
Here’s the cover reveal of 1,000 Coils of Fear by Olivia Wenzel.
Here’s the cover reveal of The League of Gentlewomen Witches, the sequel to The Wisteria Society for Lady Scoundrels by India Holton.
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)
There’s one thing I want to tell you about this book right up front. One, I read it without reading the description so I was pleasantly surprised a bunch of times, so if you want to experience that as well, stop reading now.
Still here? Okay! So this is a dark urban fantasy novel about an FBI agent who is sent to investigate a serial killer whose victims all have six fingers and six toes, believed to be Nephalims, or fallen angels. Michael Child’s search for a murderer leads him to a Marine sniper, Anaba Raines, who is not who she first appears to be. And he also uncovers something shocking about himself.
But Michael isn’t going to have much time to process all this new information, because he’s almost constantly fighting with holy and unholy beings. If you ever wondered what it would be like if Good Omens was mashed up with The Black Stallion, with a dash of Loki, then this is the book for you! It’s funny and dark (heads up that the opening scene is super gruesome) and pretty much filled with non-stop action. I loved the characters, especially Anaba, and also all the appearances made by characters from religion and mythology. I hope we get another book in this world!
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Chorus by Rebecca Kauffman
Yonder by Jabari Asim
The Stand by Stephen King
Nuclear Family by Joseph Han
Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh
How does the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it.
It’s an accurate description.
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
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Zevon is the most relaxed, possibly boneless, cat I’ve ever met.
Trivia answer: Cheerleading.
Remember that whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I am sending you love and hugs. Please be safe, and be mindful of others. It takes no effort to be kind. I’ll see you again on Monday. xoxo, Liberty
Sponsored by Nightfire
Book Riot is teaming up with Macmillan’s Nightfire newsletter for a chance to win a Horror Lover’s prize pack containing the following:
– $200 Visa gift card
– The Living Dead by George Romero and Daniel Kraus
– Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– Slewfoot by Brom
– Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
– The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Simply sign up for the Nightfire newsletter and fill out the form here to be entered to win.
Hey YA Readers!
I deeply wish fantasy was a genre within YA I could read. It’s not that I dislike it; it’s that my brain simply cannot immerse in a world outside the realms of reality. Magical realism and science fiction work for me because of how they’re still tied to our world, but something about fantasy is just challenging. It’s a weak spot in my reading and writing life, but we all have those, right?
The other thing that trips me a bit with fantasy, especially in YA, is how many in the genre are a series. I like reading one-and-done titles, as well as picking up series years after it’s concluded so I can blow through each book immediately after finishing the previous.
Perhaps my answer to this — and the way I can best push myself to read more fantasy in YA — is by digging into duologies. Two books make a series, but it’s two books total. It feels super accessible and engaging without requiring significant buy in.
I know many fantasy lovers dig these books, too, and it seemed like the right time as we begin winding down from an energetic summer to round up a handful of great, completed YA fantasy duologies.
I’ve pulled just the first book in the duology to highlight, with the title of the second book included with the description so you can snap it up as well (without being spoiled by the description).
Looking for pirates, mermaids, and an island kingdom? This one’ll do it for you. The story follows Amora, who has spent her life preparing to become a master of souls — it’s how she’ll secure her place on the throne. But when her demonstration of mastery doesn’t go well, she flees and strikes up a deal with a mysterious pirate.
All The Tides of Fate is book #2.
If phoenix horses isn’t enough of a sell, perhaps the book being pitched as The Scorpio Races meets Red Rising does. This duology follows three phoenix horse riders who have to compete in the annual Races, which is an event replacing warfare in their empire. The riders can summon an impressive range of powers and alchemy throughout to work toward glory.
Bloodsworn is book #2.
Dark + queer = win win.
Emanuela is a girl after my own heart in that she doesn’t play by the rules and doesn’t care what people think of her. That’s part of why she’s okay marrying her childhood best friend and heir to the wealthiest home in herr kingdom. . . even though both of them are gay. She simply wants the power.
But then, she accidentally kills the watercrea, the only source of her kingdom’s water. Now, people are dying of thirst and she must find a way to save them.
Into The Midnight Void is book 2.
This book marries what I love about science fiction — it’s a story set underwater, thanks to global warming and follows the contours of a compelling dystopia — but it’s infused with sea creatures, a corrupt government, and a girl who must partake in a marathon she’s not interested in. But if she wins, she’s been told she can have whatever it is her heart desires. In this case, her father who might otherwise be lost forever.
Richly imaginative, it’s a near-future, submerged London setting. Book two is Journey To The Heart of the Abyss.
Gender-bent Count of Monte Cristo! This duology follows a girl who is captive on a debtor ship. When she rescues a stranger from drowning, it turns out he’s able to offer her untold wealth and a wholly new identity, freeing her to a coastal city-state.
Now, Amaya is out for revenge against the person who ruined her and her family’s life.
Book two is Ravage The Dark.
This duology is inspired by West African folklore and follows a boy named Malik, who sees a chance to escape his war-torn home town to start a new life with his sisters in a safer town. Too bad a vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister and, to get her back, Malik must kill the princess of the town where he wants to go.
That princess, though, has her own goals and wants to resurrect her mother using ancient magic . . . and it might be Malik who helps her do just that. That is, if the two of them don’t catch feelings for each other first.
Book two is A Psalm of Storms and Silence (the alliteration here is awesome, isn’t it?).
These duologies all sound excellent, even to someone who is fantasy-hesitant. I hope you snap one — or all — of these up and find your new favorite read.
Thanks for hanging out, and I’ll see you on Thursday!
— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram.
Thanks to Nightfire for making this newsletter possible!
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