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It’s new book day!!! It is a semi-rare fifth Tuesday in a month, which means we have more new releases to be excited about in June. The year is half over now—it went by so fast! It’s been such a great reading year, though. I can’t wait for the next six months. Being a reader is the BEST.
Moving on to today’s books: Today’s newsletter is a little different. I haven’t been able to get my hands on much out today, and what I have read, I didn’t love enough to share, so this is a newsletter of a few books out today that I haven’t read and why I am excited to read them—books that I hope will be as great as they sound! And speaking of today’s great books, for this week’s episode of All the Books! Patricia and I discussed some of the wonderful books that we’ve read, such as This Poison Heart, The Personal Librarian, Eat Your Heart Out, and more.
And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite gameshow: AHHHHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants:
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
This novel examines racism and police violence through the story of a Black author out on a book tour, who may also have an imaginary traveling companion, and Soot, a young Black boy who lived in a rural Southern town in the past. I watched an interview with Jason Mott a few weeks ago, where he talked about this book, and I was transfixed! It sounds excellent. He got the idea during a not-very-pleasant book tour he went on for one of his earlier books. Book tours can be difficult! Getting moved to a new city day after day and missing your home and family is hard.
Backlist bump: The Returned by Jason Mott
Leaving Breezy Street: A Memoir by Brenda Myers-Powell
Several of my favorite books this year have been hard-hitting memoirs, and this one sounds like I’ll be adding it to the list. Powell recounts her young life, working as a sex worker at fifteen to support herself and her two babies, and the ensuing two decades she spent moving all over the country. This is her story of how she decided she wanted to change her life, and how she found self-love and acceptance. Powell now advocates for victims of sex trafficking, and is on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.
Add to your TBR: Taking Down Backpage: Fighting the World’s Largest Sex Trafficker by Maggy Krell
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
And finally, I am always up for an over-the-top thriller, and Riley Sager certainly writes them! This one is about a college student whose best friend has been murdered by the Campus Killer. Looking for a break, she shares a ride with a stranger, Josh, to help with the long drive back home to Ohio. But the longer she spends time in the car, the more holes she finds in Josh’s stories and she begins to suspect she’s just hitched a ride with a killer. This is like an isolated mystery on wheels! It also reminds me a little of No Exit, my favorite thriller of the last several years, so fingers crossed!
Backlist bump: No Exit by Taylor Adams
Next week it will be time for another amazing megalist! YAY BOOKS. Thank you, as always, for joining me each week as I rave about books! I am wishing the best for all of you in whatever situation you find yourself in now. – XO, Liberty