Sponsored by Welcome to the United States of Anxiety by Jen Lancaster.
New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster is here with a witty and candid reflection to help us focus on actualizing our basic human needs: shelter, money, sleep, food, and Wi-Fi. From the moment Americans wake up, we’re bombarded with bad news. We’re expected to base our self-worth on social media likes. How do we begin to escape from everyday stress? Take a deep breath, and Jen’s advice, and you just might be able to chill out. Read Welcome to the United States of Anxiety.
Happy Thursday, star bits! I know that Monday I left you on a cliffhanger, and I’m sure none of you have been able to sleep because you’ve been so worried since I told you I hadn’t been able to find my Grease fotonovel. Well, great news: it has been located! It’s yellowed and falling apart and looks like Chewbacca passed it, but beggars can’t be choosers. (Chewsers?)
To celebrate, I rewatched Grease for the first time in at least two decades and immediately wished I hadn’t because, wow, what hot garbage. (“🎵 Sexism is fine, if it’s set to a catchy tune. 🎵” Yikes. Moving it to the “problematic faves” column.)
Moving on: I have a bunch of great stuff for you today, including a book I can’t wait to read, trivia, and more fun stuff! And remember that whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I am sending you love and hugs. Please be safe, and remember to wear a mask and wash your hands. And please be mindful of others. It takes no effort to be kind. I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty, Your Friendly Neighborhood Velocireader™
Trivia question time! Who wrote Absent in the Spring in 1944 under the name Mary Westmacott? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
 |
Bryan Washington’s upcoming novel, Memorial, will be a television series.
Here’s the first trailer for Come Away, which features Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan.
The Disney Channel has optioned Carlos Hernandez’s Sal & Gabi series.
And speaking of Rick Riordan Presents books, RR just announced Lori M. Lee’s new upcoming Hmong mythology series, Pahua and the Soul Stealer.
Here’s the first look at the cover of Leesa Cross-Smith’s upcoming novel, This Close to Okay.
Ernest Cline talked about the upcoming Ready Player One sequel.
HBO is developing a drama based on Pride by Ibi Zoboi.
And in more former Book Rioter news: Justina Ireland announced her first middle grade novel.
Here’s the first look at the cover of Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology by Jess Zimmerman.
And here’s another beautiful cover reveal: A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown.
Taye Diggs released his new children’s book for free.
Take a peek at Tahereh Mafi’s new YA novel, An Emotion of Great Delight.
The new Magic School Bus: Rides Again special, The Frizz Connection, is dropping on Netflix next week.
Angelina Jolie is in talks to star alongside Christoph Waltz in an adaptation of Every Note Played by Lisa Genova.
Book Riot Recommends
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!)
Excited to read:
 |
Razorblade Tears: A Novel by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books, July 6, 2021)
If you haven’t read Blacktop Wasteland yet, you should drop everything and pick it up right now. It’s one of the best books of 2020, an exciting thrill ride that will leave you gasping. You’ll thank me, I promise.
That’s why I am so excited to learn that Cosby already has a new book coming next year! It’s about two fathers who team together to get revenge after their sons are murdered. If it’s even half as good as Blacktop Wasteland, it will be amazing. Now excuse me while I sit here and wait for it to come out.
What I’m reading this week.
 |
The Turnout by Megan Abbott
A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
Whereabouts: A Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette
Song stuck in my head:
Right Down the Line by Gerry Rafferty. (I’m still really into listening to songs I loved when I was young. You can listen to a lot of them in this playlist I made!)
And this is funny:
This is a genius quick fix.
Happy things:
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
- Star vs. the Forces of Evil
- Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.
- Here are livestreams of animals. I particularly enjoy the bat one.
- And more cute animal pictures.
- The Great Pottery Throw Down
- Disney Emoji Blitz!
And here’s a cat picture!
 |
Hostess cat cake. (It looks cute when Farrokh does this, but it almost always ends up with him rolling backwards and shutting my laptop on my work.)
Trivia answer: Agatha Christie.
You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L