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Book Radar

The Upcoming MIRACLE CREEK Follow-up and More Book Radar!

Holy cats, do I have a TON of fun book news for you today, readers! Which is fitting, because as I mentioned last week, tomorrow is a HUGE day for new releases. I don’t know if it’s the below-freezing temperatures here in Maine clearing out my brain fog or what, but I am feeling extra-excited about books lately. Like “make a big pile on the floor and roll around on them like a dog on the grass” excited. And I am leaning into this feeling—I freaking love books so much!

Moving on, I have a little book news for you today, including a look at the start of an awesome new YA Fantasy series and tons of book news, plus a terrible joke, a cat picture, and trivia! Let’s get started, shall we?

Here’s Monday’s trivia question: Which semi-historical novel was dramatized in an immensely popular TV miniseries that first aired in 1977 and went on to win nine Emmys? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Netflix is developing Min Jin Lee’s Free Food for Millionaires as an hour-long show.

Here’s the cover reveal for Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon. (Surely the title comes from this amazing song.)

A new Enola Holmes book is on the way.

Angie Kim announced her follow-up to Miracle Creek.

Amanda Gorman will be the first poet to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show. And Penguin has already ordered a million copies of her upcoming books.

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag will now be an animated movie musical for Netflix, featuring original music by Haim.

Merriam-Webster added 520 new words to the dictionary.

Here’s the cover reveal of Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo.

Seth Rogen has a book of essays coming in May.

The legendary Cicely Tyson died just two days after the release of her memoir Just as I Am. Here’s a wonderful interview she gave about the book.

Tim Robbins has joined the adaptation of The Power by Naomi Alderman.

Talia Hibbert announced her next rom-com.

Ethan Hawke has joined the cast of the adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story The Black Phone.

Tian Richards will star in the Nancy Drew spinoff Tom Swift.

Here’s the cover reveal of A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow.

We may be getting an adaptation of Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis.

HBO Max acquired the rights to Lyla Lee’s upcoming YA novel I’ll Be The One.

Netflix’s Sandman cast has been revealed. The show will star Tom Sturridge and Gwendoline Christie.

There’s a dramatic reading with an all-star cast of All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson coming in February.

And HBO Max is reportedly developing an animated Game of Thrones series.

Noah Baumbach is adapting Don DeLillo’s White Noise for Netflix, starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig.

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!)

Loved, loved, loved: 

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard (HarperTeen, May 4,)

Oooh, what royal stabby fun! This is an action-filled YA fantasy novel about a ragtag group of humans—mortal and immortal—who are trying to stop an evil Immortal from destroying their world, just because he can. You know, like for funsies.

There’s an assassin, a squire, an Immortal, and the secret daughter of a pirate and an Immortal. Together they must fight undead armies, monsters, to keep the pirate daughter’s evil uncle from opening a Spindle and turning their realm into a world of ashes. A Spindle is a kind of portal thingy to other worlds, some of them scary. So think Buffy when she kicks Angelus to Hell, except the Spindle is super skinny like a needle and seven feet tall, like the center of the Eye of Hauron. (So much epic nerdiness in one sentence!)

This is the first in a new series, but don’t worry, it wraps up nicely at the end while leaving readers clamoring for more. I loved the characters in this story, especially the assassin, and I also loved how there was so. much. action. And I also REALLY loved—this could be considered a minor plot spoiler so heads up—the epic reveal in the middle of the book. I literally jumped up and cheered because I hadn’t expected it!

(CW for scads and scads and scads of fighting and violence, bloodshed, and death, as well as animal death.)

What I’m reading this week.

Brat: An ’80s Story by Andrew McCarthy

Impostor Syndrome by Kathy Wang

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig 

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

Groan-worthy joke of the week: 

What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk.

And this is funny:

It’s funny because it’s true.

Happy things:

Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:

  • Superstore. Mostly I’m watching this now for Myrtle. I loved the Halloween episode where she chased the Grim Reaper through the store.
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Okay, so this is in no way a happy thing, but it’s just what I need playing in the background while I do jigsaw puzzles. It’s interesting and easy to follow, but I don’t have to be looking at it every second. I am at the beginning of season three and so far, my pick for creepiest guest appearance goes to Chad Lowe. *shudders*
  • Jigsaw puzzles! I have moved on to two-in-one puzzles, where you have to separate the pieces to make two entirely different puzzles.
  • Numberzilla. Still not tired of this game.
  • Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.

And here’s a cat picture!

Faux hawk or dinosaur ridges?

Trivia answer: Roots by Alex Haley.

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 Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty