Welcome to Check Your Shelf. In just over a week, I’ll be back in Colorado Springs for the first time in a decade, and this trip is very much needed. With the exception of one trip to Disney World, Colorado Springs was the only vacation spot my family ever visited when I was a kid, so it has a very, very special place in my heart. It’s the kind of place where I want to get up early, stay up late, and do all the hiking while I’m awake because I don’t want to miss a single moment!
Psst! We have a new podcast called First Edition for you to check out! BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Starting salaries at the big publishers are up 23%.
The biggest twist in the new mystery story written by AI is that it’s actually pretty good.
New & Upcoming Titles
Melissa DeRosa, former Secretary to the Governer for Andrew Cuomo, is publishing a tell-all memoir this fall.
Amy Winehouse’s journal entries will be published in a new book.
T. Kingfisher is publishing a novella sequel to What Moves the Dead.
Matthew Perry says that he’ll remove his insult towards Keanu Reeves in future editions of his book.
Meghan Trainor talks about her new pregnancy book, Dear Future Mama.
Sir Patrick Stewart shares the cover of his upcoming memoir.
The best and most anticipated books of 2023, so far.
The best horror novels of 2023.
15 of the hottest romance novels coming this spring.
Weekly picks from Crime Reads, LitHub, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal
May picks from Barnes & Noble (adults, teens, kids), Epic Reads, Kirkus
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma – Claire Dederer (Electric Literature, Esquire, LA Times, New York Times, Time)
Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding) – Laura Dern & Diane Ladd (Parade, People, Washington Post)
Small Mercies – Dennis Lehane (LA Times, New York Times, Shondaland)
Chain-Gang All-Stars – Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (New York Times, Vulture)
The Skin and Its Girl – Sarah Cypher (NPR, Shondaland)
Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture – Sara Petersen (Shondaland, Wired)
Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution – Rainn Wilson (Shondaland, USA Today)
RA/Genre Resources
Why Judy Blume’s taboo-breaking books get teenagers like no others.
The state of the crime novel, part 2: a roundtable discussion with the Edgar nominees.
On the Riot
10 of the best new books in translation for Spring 2023.
25 of the best romance books for Summer 2023.
9 recent middle grade mysteries.
The best new weekly releases to TBR.
Reading pathways for Frances Hardinge.
What is fast burn romance?
What is a reverse harem romance?
Fighting for Appalachian Literature’s bright future.
What murder mysteries get right (and wrong) about wills.
Anatomy of a parlor room mystery scene.
Why the British love “up lit.”
All Things Comics
That being said, manga’s overall success hasn’t trickled down to freelance authors and illustrators.
On the Riot
15 new YA comics and graphic novels coming out this spring.
The most influential manga of all time.
Who is Junji Ito? An introduction to the master of horror manga.
Audiophilia
7 of the best audiobooks for April.
On the Riot
How audiobooks saved this Rioter’s reading.
Don’t miss out on these 28 free audiobooks from SYNC.
Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading? Subscribe to Book Riot’s The Deep Dive to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
Picture books for kids about Palestine.
Modern middle grade reads for fans of Judy Blume.
16 childhood friends-to-lovers YA books to live vicariously through.
Adults
Cozy SFF books for spring.
8 books that demand to be read outside.
10 eco-fiction novels worth celebrating.
16 books you’ll want to devour after Firefly Lane.
5 great suspense novels set in the entertainment world.
5 books to gift for Mother’s Day.
8 novels spotlighting Middle Eastern American women.
A Vietnam War reading list, 50 years on.
A sapphic reading list for every mood.
5 great novels inspired by real-life crimes.
On the Riot
Picture books to encourage diverse thinking.
8 captivating books like The Magic Tree House series.
8 of the best Frankenstein retellings.
20 must-read historical horror novels.
10 engrossing found family fantasy and alternative history books.
Expand your bookshelf with readalikes for The Expanse.
Wedding mysteries and thrillers.
Like that bestselling novel? Read this nonfiction book.
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 has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate as well that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Another near-perfect picture of an absolutely perfect kitty. Gilbert was keeping my husband company this afternoon, and by that, I mean he was following him from room to room and yelling at him for snuggles.
All right friends, I’ll catch you on Friday. Stay awesome!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.