Sponsored by A Face for Picasso by Ariel Henley.
At only eight months old, identical twin sisters Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome––a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. Growing up, they underwent numerous procedures that changed their appearances and saved their lives. While the physical aspect of their condition was painful, it was nothing compared to the emotional toll of navigating life with a facial difference. In this poignant young adult memoir, Ariel speaks her truth on her own terms, exploring sisterhood and the strength it takes to put your life, and yourself, back together time and time again.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. We’re all time-crunched this week with work and Thanksgiving, so let’s jump right into the newsletter.
(And don’t forget Book Riot is hiring for an Advertising Sales Manager! Applications accepted until December 5th.)
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Penguin Random House’s initial diversity audit of its contributors “does not reflect U.S. reader demographics when it comes to race and ethnicity.”
A look at the “monopsony,” monopoly’s bad cousin.
New & Upcoming Titles
Here’s a first look at Riley Sager’s upcoming book, The House Across the Lake.
Patrick Radden Keefe announces his next book: Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels, and Crooks, coming out June 2022.
Kellye Garrett is re-releasing self-published versions of the first two books in her Detective by Day series.
Maureen Goo announces her next book, coming out in Spring 2023.
Here’s a first look at Sloane Crosley’s upcoming novel, Cult Classic.
Emerging filmmaker Nick Brooks sells his first YA novel, Promise Boys, in a whopping 7-figure deal!
Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights, announces the first book in an all-new adult fantasy trilogy.
Hannah Gadsby is releasing a Nanette memoir in 2022.
Fall romance picks from Entertainment Weekly.
Celebrity memoirs coming out this fall.
New books to read this Native American Heritage Month.
All the horror novels and mystery novels to get excited for in 2022.
Best books of 2021 from Amazon, Book Page (fiction) Kirkus (fiction), and Washington Post (general picks, fiction, nonfiction).
Hyper-specific recommendations for the book lovers on your list.
The best 2021 books to gift this holiday season.
Weekly book picks from Bustle, Crime Reads, The Millions, New York Times, and USA Today.
November book picks from Crime Reads (debut novels, true crime).
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story – Nikole Hannah-Jones (LA Times, New York Times, Vanity Fair)
Even Greater Mistakes – Charlie Jane Anders (Shondaland, Tor.com)
Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show – Jonathan Karl (New York Times, NPR)
These Precious Days – Ann Patchett (New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle)
Viral: The Search For the Origin of COVID-19 – Matt Ridley & Alina Chan (LA Times, Washington Post)
Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America – Mayukh Sen (Shondaland, Vogue)
Termination Shock – Neal Stephenson (New York Times, Slate)
RA/Genre Resources
Romance author Olivia Dade calls for better fat representation in romances.
Why the YA dystopia craze finally burned out.
What makes a long book feel TOO long?
Returning to the books you’ve stopped reading.
How to read the Wheel of Time books in order.
Why we’re all so obsessed with mysteries and thrillers.
On the Riot
20 new Christmas books for kids.
The best genre-bending nonfiction of 2021.
How is immigrant literature dismantling white feminism?
Reading short stories is helping this reader fall in love with reading again.
Don’t forget to check out our new podcast Adaptation Nation, all about TV and film adaptations of your favorite books!
All Things Comics
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige teases a secret Marvel project with Scarlett Johansson (that reportedly has nothing to do with Black Widow).
Dark Horse will publish Star Wars comics again.
Wattpad Webtoon launches a print graphic novel imprint.
Here’s the final trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
On the Riot
Comics have a real colorism issue.
It’s time to stop being surprised that comics are Jewish.
Copaganda in superhero comics.
The best comics to introduce to your baby first.
Audiophilia
Sweden’s Storytel buys Audiobooks.com.
Spotify gets set to acquire the audiobook platform Findaway.
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels are getting new, star-studded audiobooks.
32 great audiobooks to listen to right now.
5 romance audiobooks featuring money troubles.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
Middle grade books for fans of Jason Reynolds.
20 children’s and YA books that celebrate Native American Heritage Month.
Award-winning YA books to check out.
The best standalone teen novels.
Adults
The 101 best mystery books of all time.
10 medieval era books to deepen your love of historical fiction.
16 of the best historical mysteries.
9 romance novels that should be getting more attention.
11 books with millennial narrators who are children of immigrants.
8 SFF twists on literary classics.
8 great novels that take place over the course of a day.
On the Riot
20 must-read middle grade fairytale retellings.
Out of this world SFF short story collections.
9 binary-breaking books by intersex authors.
13 cozy romances to keep you warm.
8 fictional books about writers and the writing life.
15 management books to make you a better leader.
9 great book club picks to start a conversation.
9 death positive books for newbies to the movement.
If you love Ted Lasso, read these 12 romance novels.
9 modern novels set in Appalachia.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Get those ovens warmed up, and I’ll catch you on Friday!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia.