Author: Emily Martin

Fans React to First Photos of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on the Set of IT ENDS WITH US: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 18, 2023

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Ms. Marvel Will Die in an Upcoming Marvel Comic

The beloved Marvel character Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) will be dying in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #26, which is releasing later this month. Kamala has played an important role in the current Amazing Spider-Man comic series. She interns at Oscorp to keep an eye on Norman Osborn (the Green Goblin) and she helps Spider-Man protect the city. Following the death of the beloved character, Marvel intends to release Fallen Friend: The Death of Ms. Marvel, which will focus on the impact of the hero’s death. Look for that issue to hit shelves on July 12.

Fans React to First Photos of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on the Set of It Ends With Us

The first photos from the set of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us have been released, and fans are less than impressed. Now TikTok (where the book has a huge following) is filled with videos of fans responding to the images. “I love Blake Lively. I love her so much,” said TikToker Nique Coleman. “But this is just not Lily Bloom… We will see, but so for this is not looking that promising.” In another TikTok, Chloe Breana says, “Whoever is in charge of making this movie has not read the book.” Representatives for Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Colleen Hoover have yet to respond to the backlash online.

Johnny Cash Lyrics to be Collected in a Book for the First Time

The lyrics of Johnny Cash will be collected for the first time in a new book. The book, entitled Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics, will include rare and never-before-seen visuals and stories/commentary from Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, Stielper, the Cash and Carter family historian, and many others. This book marks the first time the Cash estate has opened up its archive to share stories about the creation of his music with fans. The book will be published on November 14.

8 Classics that Should Be Adapted into Gritty K-Dramas

Now that we’ve fallen in love with Little Women as a K-Drama, here are eight more classics that would be perfect for a gritty K-Drama adaptation.

Book Radar

The Black Girl Survives in These Horror Short Stories and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 17, 2023

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Y’all. It is HOT outside.

Am I the only one who feels like we just skipped right over spring and went straight into summer? My body and my electricity bill are not ready for the heat! Welp, time to retreat to the indoors to write this newsletter and tell you about all of the book things. I hope you enjoy.

Book Riot has a new podcast for you to check out if you’re looking for more bookish content in your life. First Edition will include interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. You can subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.

Book Deals and Reveals

Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell are editors on a new YA horror short story anthology called The Black Girl Survives in This One, and Tor.com has the cover reveal! The anthology is out April 2, 2024 from Flatiron Books.

Book Riot’s got the exclusive cover reveal for Alice Oseman’s novella This Winter, which is about to be published in the U.S. for the first time. The new edition comes out September 5, 2023 and features a new cover designed by Alice Oseman. The book will also feature bonus content: “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” featuring Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper, with illustrations and with captions by Alice Oseman.

For readers who loved Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House and Clay McLeod Chapman’s Ghost Eaters, check out Ghost Tamer by Meredith R. Lyons. It’s out this September from CamCat Books, and here’s the cover reveal!

Here’s the cover reveal for the next book in the Emily Wilde series! Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is out January 2024.

Tor Books has acquired four books from Hugo Award-winning author Amal El-Mohtar. The books include two novels, one novella, and one short story collection. El-Mohtar’s new novella is slated for a fall 2024 release. The remaining projects will follow.

Rachel Hawkins, the author of bestselling thrillers The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls, is back with a new novel, The Heiress, and PASTE has the cover reveal! The book will be out on January 9, 2024.

McKenna Grace and Asher Angel are set to star in Alloy Entertainment’s 99 Days, based on the New York Times bestselling teen romance novel by Katie Cotugno.

DC Comics is giving Wonder Woman a daughter named Trinity in the upcoming anniversary issue Wonder Woman #800. The comic hits stores in June.

The second season of Apple TV+’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation is coming soon, and here’s the new trailer! The season premieres on July 14.

A recent poll asked 10,000 TikTok U.S. and Canadian users if they are reading more because of BookTok, and here are the results.

Here are the winners of the 58th Annual Nebula Awards, including for novel, novella, novelette, and YA/Middle Grade fiction.

Book Riot Recommends

Hi, welcome to everyone’s favorite segment of Book Radar called Book Riot Recommends. This is where I’ll talk to you about all the books I’m reading, the books I’m loving, and the books I can’t wait to read and love in the near future. I think you’re going to love them too!

Can’t Wait for This One

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire, March 26, 2024)

I feel like I’ve been hyping up this sequel for quite some time, but now that we have a cover and a release date and all the details, it’s time to get into it. Let’s talk about this book, because it’s going to be a must-read in 2024. 2024? I know, we’re talking about 2024 already. It’s unsettling. But here we are.

What Feasts at Night sees the return of retired soldier Alex Easton (from T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead). Miss Potter asks Easton to travel to Gallacia, but when they get there, they find the home completely empty. No one is there, the caretaker is dead, and the grounds are strangely silent. Gallacian folklore has the townspeople whispering of a breath-stealing being taking up residence in Easton’s home. But what is the truth behind what’s going on?

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.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“The streets you walk, the food you eat, the job you work, the method of transportation you choose, the beauty products you purchase, the shows you watch, the links you click, the way you sit on a train, the way your speak to waiters, the way you take your coffee — everything affects everyone. Find a way to believe this, even when sober.”

— The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty

What I’m Watching This Weekend

So the Seattle Independent Film Festival is well underway, and I’ve been finding time to go see a few of the fest’s offerings. Last weekend, I went to see My Animal, a horror film from director Jacqueline Castel. This weekend, I think I’m going to go see Theater Camp. If you don’t live in Seattle, but you still want to check out some of the movies, be sure to check their website for the streaming options. There are quite a few movies that will be available to stream next week! I’m planning to watch a few more that way.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Today, we’re featuring my youngest child Remy! Remy is a beautiful tuxedo boy all the way from New York. He has white paws, but he has one tiny black spot on his front right paw and I’m obsessed with it. Anyway, thanks for letting me share.

And that is all for today’s Book Radar! Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you next week!

Emily

Today In Books

Penguin Random House and Florida Parents Sue School District Over Book Bans: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 17, 2023

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Bestselling Fantasy Novel Uses AI Art On Its Cover

The cover of Sarah J. Maas’ House of Earth and Blood has sparked controversy after readers noted that the back of the UK edition of the book credits Adobe Stock for the illustration of a wolf on its cover. The image is marked as AI-generated on Adobe’s site. Bloomsbury’s cover has put both Maas and the publishing house under fire and has sparked concerns that publishers could replace artists with text-to-image generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion. “Bloomsbury is one of the major publishing houses,” freelance artist Kala Elizabeth tweeted. “They CAN afford to hire real illustrators instead of purchasing Adobe stock, which is where this AI content is from.” Maas has yet to speak out about the AI-generated image, but she did praise the cover design on her Instagram page.

New Leaf Literary & Media Faces Backlash After Dropping Authors

On May 12, New Leaf Literary & Media split with agent Jordan Hamessley, and several clients were told they would no longer be represented. The authors and illustrators immediately took to Twitter to express their frustration. “I definitely was surprised at the sheer number of clients who were dropped,” said one author on Hamessley’s roster who wished to remain anonymous. “There were some authors who really seemed to be finding success, and I never would have imagined wouldn’t be taken on by another agent.” Hamessley managed a roster of 45 clients, 19 of which were offered continued representation under other New Leaf literary agents. In a statement posted Twitter account on May 16, Hamessley said that she “would not characterize my departure from New Leaf as amicable.”

Penguin Random House and Florida Parents Sue School District Over Book Bans

Earlier today, Penguin Random House, authors, parents and an advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the Escambia County School District and the Escambia County School Board in Pensacola, Florida, for removing 10 books related to race and the LGBTQ community. The plaintiffs say the district and the board violated the First Amendment by “depriving students of access to a wide range of viewpoints, and depriving the authors of the removed and restricted books of the opportunity to engage with readers and disseminate their ideas to their intended audiences.” The lawsuit also argues that the removals violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Neither the district nor the school has returned requests for comment.

Overused Words in Book Blurbs

There are only so many ways to say “Read this, it’s good,” but these words are so overused in book blurbs, they no longer mean anything.

Today In Books

Amazon Announces New LORD OF THE RINGS MMO: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 16, 2023

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Salman Rushdie Sends Message to Book Banners in a Speech at the British Book Awards

Speaking in a video message delivered to the British Book Awards in London on Monday, Salman Rushdie had a message for those calling for book bans in America. “We live in a moment, I think, at which freedom of expression, freedom to publish has not in my lifetime been under such threat in the countries of the West,” the novelist said. Rushdie went on to argue that books should be allowed to “come to us from their time and be of their time…And if that’s difficult to take, don’t read it, read another book.” Salman Rushdie was awarded the Freedom to Publish award as part of the British Book Awards ceremony on Monday evening.

Tor Books Acquires Four Books From Hugo Award-Winning Author Amal El-Mohtar

Tor Books has acquired four books from Hugo Award-winning author Amal El-Mohtar. In a statement, Tor Books Executive Editor Ali Fisher said, “Amal El-Mohtar has a voice from another, better world. Her writing is an irresistible glowing doorway—you know whatever’s on the other side will change you, but there’s no hesitation in turning the handle and passing through. I’m overjoyed to be working with Amal on these projects!” The books include two novels, one novella, and one short story collection. El-Mohtar’s new novella is slated for a fall 2024 release. The remaining projects will follow.

Amazon Announces New Lord of the Rings MMO

Amazon has announced plans to create a new Lord of the Rings massively multiplayer online game (MMO). The as-yet-untitled game will be developed by Amazon Games Studio, the same team behind Amazon’s MMO New World. With this new game, Amazon says it intends to “deliver something that feels distinct from New World and fitting for the world of Middle-earth. The team has some big plans for the next generation of New World’s Azoth Engine that will unlock exciting new possibilities for its take on Middle-earth.” This is not the first time Amazon has announced a LOTR MMO. Amazon had previously announced that it would team with the Chinese developer Leyou Technologies to develop the game, but the deal ultimately fell through.

Weird Queer: An Introduction to the Genre

Take a dive into the Weird Queer genre, where traditional genres and binaries of all kinds disappear, merge, and mutate delightfully.

Today In Books

DC Comics is Giving Wonder Woman a Daughter: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 15, 2023

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LeVar Burton Takes on the State of Banned Books

On May 24, the LA Times is hosting a special LA Times Book Club evening discussing books and censorship, with author and literacy champion LeVar Burton in conversation with Times editor Steve Padilla about the State of Banned Books. The in-person event at the historic Herald Examiner Building is currently sold out; however, you can join online for the livestreaming discussion, which starts at 7 p.m. PT. Tickets are available here.

McKenna Grace and Asher Angel to Star in Adaptation of Katie Cotugno’s 99 Days

McKenna Grace and Asher Angel are set to star in Alloy Entertainment’s 99 Days, based on the New York Times bestselling teen romance novel by Katie Cotugno. Martha Stephens will direct the film from a script she co-wrote with Shannon Bradley-Colleary. Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton will produce through Alloy Entertainment. Dutton said in a statement, “We are so excited to see Mckenna, Asher and Martha bring this incredible screenplay to life.”

DC Comics is Giving Wonder Woman a Daughter

DC Comics is giving Wonder Woman a daughter named Trinity in the upcoming anniversary issue Wonder Woman #800. The character was created by writer Tom King and artist Daniel Sampere, who will also be taking over the monthly Wonder Woman comic when it relaunches this September. Wonder Woman #800 hits stores in June.

New & Upcoming Nonfiction & Poetry by AAPI Authors

Nonfiction lovers, you’re in luck, because there’s so much great new nonfiction and poetry by AAPI authors to pick up right now.

Today In Books

Rachel Hawkins Introduces Her New Thriller THE HEIRESS: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 14, 2023

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Stacey Abrams Reveals the Books That Changed Her Life

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, politician, activist, and author Stacey Abrams talked about her new novel Rogue Justice and discussed the books that changed her life. “It’s not in a genre that I write in, but the first time I read Richard Wright, just the ability to wring emotion out of a reader in that way was revelatory,” Abrams told EW. “Native Son was transformative for me.” Check out the interview to see what other books Abrams mentioned. Rogue Justice is out May 23.

Here’s the New Trailer for Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Season 2

The second season of Apple TV+’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation is coming soon, and here’s the new trailer! Season 2 will be set more than a century after the finale of the first season. The series stars Jared Harris as Dr. Hari Seldon; Lee Pace as Brother Day; Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick; Leah Harvey as Salvor Hardin; Laura Birn as Demerzel; Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk; Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn; and Alfred Enoch as Raych. Foundation is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on July 14.

Rachel Hawkins Introduces Her New Thriller The Heiress

Rachel Hawkins, the author of bestselling thrillers The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls, is back with a new novel, The Heiress, and PASTE has the cover reveal! This Gothic thriller is set in the aftermath of a notorious socialite’s death. It’s a book full of dark family secrets and the kind of twists and turns we’ve come to expect from Hawkins’s work. The Heiress will be out on January 9, 2024.

Your Guide to Kazuo Ishiguro’s Books

Want to start reading this best-selling author? This is where to start with Kazuo Ishiguro books, in order.

Today In Books

XO, KITTY Showrunners Skip Premiere of Netflix Series Amid WGA Strike: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 13, 2023

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New Book by Late Country Legend Loretta Lynn Announced

A new book from late country legend Loretta Lynn will be published later this month. Before her death last year, Lynn wrote A Song and a Prayer: 30 Devotions Inspired by My Favorite Songs alongside artist and ordained minister Dr. Kim McLean. The book is a collection of prayers and song lyrics. “My writing sessions with Loretta were inspired by our friendship and faith,” McLean said in a press release. “It is a capstone project, and a culmination of her wholehearted, unapologetic love of God, of people, and of life…Loretta said this project was special to her, and I’m honored to be her collaborator and friend. She was such an inspiration.” The book will be published by Worthy Books on May 23.

XO, Kitty Showrunners Skip Premiere of Netflix Series Amid WGA Strike

The premiere of XO, Kitty took place at the Netflix Tudum theater in Hollywood on May 11. But showrunners Jenny Han, Sascha Rothchild, and the rest of the writers were not in attendance. In solidarity with the WGA strike efforts, they chose to support their guild by not participating in any activities related to their series during the work stoppage. In a video to her fans, Han explained, “This moment is bigger than me, It’s bigger than the shows. And what’s at stake is the future of writers and our ability to keep telling stories and we are asking for fair compensation.”

Crazy Wisdom Bookstore Reopening in Ann Arbor

After closing its door a year ago, Crazy Wisdom Bookstore in Ann Arbor is planning on reopening its doors. Currently, the bookstore is looking for a full-time manager “to spearhead the re-opening of the brick-and-mortar Crazy Wisdom Bookstore.” According to the job posting, the iconic Ann Arbor bookstore that has spent 40 years serving the city is hoping to reopen in the fall of 2023 or the first part of 2024.

25 Must-Read Morbid Nonfiction Books

Morbid nonfiction isn’t just for true crime fans. These creepy true stories are for everyone with a bit of morbid curiosity in their hearts.

Today In Books

Elena Ferrante and Alice Oseman Among Authors Competing in Eurovision Book Contest: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 12, 2023

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Taylor Swift Isn’t Writing a Memoir, but BTS Is

Sorry, Swifties. Taylor Swift isn’t publishing a memoir this summer, but BTS is! The book previously listed as “4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023” has now been given a title: Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS, written by K-pop superstars BTS. The band — RM, Jin, V, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin and Jungkook — wrote the book with journalist Myeongseok Kang. The book will publish on July 9 from Flatiron Books.

Morgan Jerkins to be a Guest Lecturer at Princeton

Morgan Jerkins — author of This Will Be My Undoing and Caul Baby — will be a lecturer in Princeton’s creative writing department for the 2023-2024 academic year. Jerkins tweeted the news on May 11, writing, “I’m so excited and thankful and honored that I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Elena Ferrante and Marian Keyes Among Authors Competing in Eurovision Book Contest

Elena Ferrante, Alice Oseman, Marian Keyes, and Javier Marias have all been chosen to represent their countries in the first-ever Eurovision book contest. The book contest is a special project from the Eurovision song contest in partnership with the Hay Festival, marking the UK’s hosting of the annual music event on behalf of Ukraine. Hay will host a special event on June 2 to allow audience members to discuss each nominated work and an overall winner will be chosen.

11 Terrifying Works of Horror by AAPI Authors

These works of horror from AAPI Authors, ranging from novels to short story collections, will scare you good.

Book Radar

BTS is Releasing a Memoir, Not Taylor Swift, and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 12, 2023

Sponsored by

Book Friends!

Happy Monday, and welcome to another round of Book Radar. I’m so glad you’re here and so excited to talk to you about everything going on with books right now. There’s a lot to get through today, so let’s skip the small talk. Grab a coffee. Grab a snack. Let’s dive right in.

Book Deals and Reveals

In case you missed it! Reese Witherspoon revealed the cover of Kiley Reid’s highly anticipated sophomore novel Come and Get It. In the words of the author herself, “Woo Pig.” Come and Get It is out from G.P. Putnam’s Sons on January 9, 2024.

And here’s the cover of Edward Underhill’s This Day Changes Everything. The story features a grumpy trans boy and a sunshine queer girl. And it’s out February 13, 2024!

Okay, remember how we were just talking about that mystery memoir and how everyone thought it was Taylor Swift? Sorry, Swifties. Turns out it’s K-Pop stars BTS releasing a memoir!

Did you love Knives Out but wish it was magical? You’re going to love These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang. Check out the cover reveal here, and it will be out on February 6, 2024.

Outlander has released the first full trailer for season 7. The first half of Outlander season seven premieres June 16.

The next Stephen King story to get adapted for the big screen is going to be the short story “The Monkey,” first published in 1980 and then included in King’s 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.

Feminist Press has created a T-shirt to raise funds to support continued publishing of queer and trans authors. You can purchase the shirt for $27-29 on Bonfire now.

Netflix has began filming a film adaptation of the Mexican classic Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo, starring Black Panther’s Tenoch Huerta.

Watch what you read. Find the most exciting books being made into movies through the rest of 2023 and early 2024!

Grammy-winning gospel singer-songwriter Tasha Cobbs Leonard has sold her book Do It Anyway to WaterBrook Multnomah. The publisher says the book offers “a revelatory and uplifting message about discovering the transformation unlocked when we show up to hard things with resilient faith and perseverance.” It’s set for a summer 2024 release.

Amistad has acquired world rights to an essay collection edited by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown. The collection, entitled How We Do It, is “a book on the craft of writing that explores the Black creative spirit through the words of more than 30 acclaimed authors,” according to the Publisher. This one’s out in July.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier (Berkley June 6)

Is this book and the title giving your Thoroughbreds vibes? Because it does for me. And hopefully other people remember the movie Thoroughbreds because it was great. Either way, here we have a thriller featuring rich folks and horses and such, and it’s so fun.

Set in Southern California, Girls and Their Horses follows the story of the Parker family, a nouveau rich family who moves to an exclusive community to give their family a fresh start. And yes, that fresh start includes horses. Heather Parker enrolls her daughters in riding lessons at Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian, and she becomes a “Barn Mom.” The Barn Moms are wealthy women who gather together, gossip, drink wine, and help prepare their daughters for competition.

Soon, the Parker family becomes wrapped up in the world of mean girl cliques and dark secrets. At the end of the summer, there will be a horse show in which all the daughters will compete.The pressure is on, and every mother thinks her daughter deserves to win. But before the summer is over, someone will end up dead.

Girls and Their Horses is out from Berkley on June 6, so prepare your shelves!

What I’m Reading This Week

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Be sure to check out First Edition, where 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.

Monday Memes

I really identify with this, as someone who contemplates the books I have left to read much more often than I actually, you know, read. Plus…it’s Destiny’s Child, y’all.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

This Monday, let’s give it up for my beautiful calico girl Cersei. Let’s boop her pink nose and pet her soft paw and say, “Thank you, universe, for calico cats.”

Now that we’ve all taken a moment to be thankful for calico girls, I will let you get on with your day! Have a wonderful week, friends. We’ll see each other again on Thursday.

Emily

Today In Books

Read an Excerpt from R.F. Kuang’s YELLOWFACE: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 11, 2023

Sponsored by

Outlander Drops New Trailer for Season 7

Outlander has released the first full trailer for season 7. This season of the hit Starz series will be based on the seventh book of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone. This season will also include some material from her sixth book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, because season 6 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Season 7 is Outlander‘s penultimate season. Earlier this year, Starz announced the series would end with season 8. The first half of Outlander season seven premieres June 16.

Feminist Press Supports Publication of Queer and Trans Authors with New T-Shirt

Feminist Press has created a T-shirt to raise funds to support continued publishing of queer and trans authors. The shirt features an image of a rainbow stack of books and the words “I read queer and trans books.” On their Bonfire fundraising page, Feminist Press writes, “Queer and trans artists need platforms for their work. In a moment when trans rights and trans lives are threatened by hateful, violent legislation, we must support queer and trans writers and designers whose livelihoods depend on their art.” You can purchase the shirt for $27-29 on Bonfire now.

Read an Excerpt from R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface

R.F. Kuang, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Poppy War trilogy and Babel, is publishing her novel Yellowface later this month. But you can read an excerpt of the novel today! Entertainment Weekly calls Yellowface a “biting satirical thriller that grapples with racism, appropriation, and exploitation.” Check out the excerpt from chapter 3. The novel is out from William Morrow on May 16.

25 Books Being Made into Movies and Series in 2023 and 2024

Watch what you read. Find the most exciting books being made into movies through the rest of 2023 and early 2024!