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Book Radar

Phenomenal Book Club Launches and More Book Radar!

Dear Book People,

Happy Thursday before Thanksgiving! I’m about to head out of town to see my cousin for the next week, so the next time you hear from me, I’ll be writing from somewhere else that’s not normally where I write from! How exciting! I have a lot of driving coming up, so I’m hoping to get a lot of audiobooks in over the next week or so. I will report back and let you know how it goes. How are you prepping for Thanksgiving? Dreaming of mashed potatoes? Baking apple pies? Pretending the whole holiday doesn’t exist? Or maybe you’re not in America and it actually doesn’t exist? Whatever the case, I hope you’re doing well, and I hope you’re ready for… *drumroll please* Book Radar.

❤️ Emily

Book Deals and Reveals

the impossible destiny of cutie grackle cover

Hi fellow horror fans. Tor Nightfire has released its extensive list of horror novels they’re looking forward to in 2022. If your TBR for 2022 isn’t long enough yet, you’ll want to check this out.

I love the cover of this middle grade novel! Author Shawn K. Stout tweeted the cover reveal of her new novel The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle, out on May 10, 2022.

Voting for the Goodreads Choice Awards for 2021 is officially open! Get your votes in now! You have until the 28th to vote in the opening round.

Well Read Black Girl has a special cover reveal for you: It’s Ebony LaDelle’s upcoming novel Love Radio, available in May 2022.

Entertainment Weekly has got a special sneak peek at Sloane Crosley’s Cult Classic, which is, according to the author, “a romantic comedy set in a new age mind control cult on the Lower East Side.” This book will hit shelves on June 7, 2022.

Actress Kaitlyn Dever has posted a first-look image on Instagram of her character Rosaline in the upcoming Hulu film Rosaline, a comedic retelling of Romeo and Juliet, coming in 2022.

Author Chloe Gong has announced that in 2023, she will be making her adult fiction debut with Immortal Longings, the first in a new epic fantasy trilogy.

Disney+ Day last week included a lot of announcements for upcoming bookish material. Here’s a rundown of what’s coming!

Amazon has announced their picks for the best books of 2021!

Book Riot Recommends

I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Can’t Wait for This One

book cover for the woman in the library

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (Sourcebooks, June 7, 2022)

The Woman in the Library doesn’t come out for another seven months, and already I can’t stop thinking about it. A locked room set inside of a library? Four strangers forced together, all with their own secrets? I want it now.

Let’s set the scene. It’s the reading room at the Boston Public Library. Everything is quiet and serene. Everyone is minding their own business. Then, out of nowhere, a scream shatters the calm. Security guards rush to investigate straight away, and they ask everyone else to remain where they are until they can figure out what happened. While stuck inside the reading room, four strangers who just happened to be sitting at the same table strike up a conversation. Each of them has their own reason for being in the reading room that day. And each of them has a secret. One of those secrets? One of them is the murderer.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, high-tension mystery, this one is going to check those boxes. And if June 7 seems like a long time from now, go back and check out her previous books while you wait. 2017’s After She Wrote Him is another mystery with lots of bookish content.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Apologies didn’t exonerate the sinner, only compelled graciousness from its recipient.”

Nothing But Blackened Teeth, Cassandra Khaw

What’s Up in the Book Community?

My iPhone is constantly telling me I spend too much time staring at my screen, which is honestly so rude. But this means I spend a lot of time scrolling around the online book community: BookTube, Bookstagram, BookTok, BookLinkedIn (JK. That’s not a thing… I don’t think). You get the idea. Don’t have the time, energy, or the will to do all of that yourself? No problem. I got you. In this weekly section of Book Radar, we’ll take a look at something cool, interesting, and/or newsy that’s going on in the book community.

If you love a good book club, I’ve got a new one for you that’s worth checking out. I’ve already purchased several shirts and sweatshirts from Phenomenal. You can check out their current campaigns here. But now, Phenomenal is branching out into book club territory!

Phenomenal is partnering with Penguin Random House and Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah-Jones for the first official book club selections of The 1619 Project and the kids’ companion book Born On The Water. If you’re interested in participating in the book club, you can RSVP here for a special online event with author Nikole Hannah-Jones and illustrator Nikkolas Smith in conversation with Meena Harris.

Additionally, Phenomenal has exclusive book club merch! Some of the sweatshirts are in partnership with local bookshops. Additionally, you can buy the book clubs books on their website.

Your Weekend Reading Soundtack

Hey, did y’all hear Taylor Swift has a new album out? Well I’m sorry, but that’s all I’m listening to right now. And I’ll also be watching the video for “All too Well” starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. I have to.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

black and orange cat on cat tree

It’s Murray and Phantom on the cat tree yet again! And I love how Phantom is posing to show of his cute little white fluff.

If you’ve been around for a while, you probably know I have a third cat named Cersei. And you might be wondering where she’s been lately. Cersei is doing great. She’s just very camera shy. And especially as the weather gets colder, she’s been cuddling into her hiding places. I’ll try to get a new pic of the sweet girl soon!


And that’s all, book friends! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll speak again soon!

❤️ Emily