Author: Emily Martin

Janelle Monáe on Tour to Promote THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 2, 2022

Sponsored by Clock Star Rose Spine by Fran Wilde

Take A First Look at Jasmine Guillory’s Drunk on Love

Jasmine Guillory’s contemporary romance novel Drunk on Love is out on September 20, 2022, and TODAY has a first look at the book. Set on a vineyard in California’s Napa Valley, Drunk on Love is the story of Margot Noble, who runs a winery with her brother. Luke Williams, looking to leave Silicon Valley for a simpler life has taken a job at the winery. But before they meet at work, the two meet at a bar and sparks fly. It was meant to be a no-strings-attached one-night-stand, but now that they’re working together, everything has gotten much more complicated. Check out the cover reveal and an excerpt from the novel here!

Black Literature vs. the Climate Emergency Virtual Conference Happening on April 5

Black Literature vs. the Climate Emergency is a one-day, virtual conference streaming on YouTube Live at 12pm PST/3pm EST on April 5th. The conference aims to “celebrate the power of Afro-Diasporic fiction, non-fiction and poetry/spoken word at the forefront of addressing the climate emergency and inviting a ramping up of literary efforts to document, imagine, and encourage the engagement Black communities in the movement for climate justice.” The conference is free and open to everyone. You can check out the schedule and further details here. And sign up here to get the after party Zoom link.

Janelle Monáe on Tour to Promote The Memory Librarian

Janelle Monáe will be on tour in April to celebrate the release of her queer sci-fi short story collection The Memory Librarian. Monáe’s book will be out on Tuesday, April 19th, and on the day of the book’s release, Monáe will be in Washington, D.C. for an in-person/virtual hybrid event at Loyalty Bookstore. Also present will be collaborating writer Alaya Dawn Johnson, in conversation with Kimberly Drew. You can purchase tickets for the event here, which also includes a copy of the book. In-person attendees with have an opportunity to receive a signed copy of the book. And here is a full list of venues Monáe will be visiting on the tour.

15 LGBTQ Books Out This Month You Need to Read

Here are some of the most exciting LGBTQ books out in April 2022 that need to be on your TBR lists!

Today In Books

Greta Thunberg to Publish a Book on Climate Crisis: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 1, 2022

Kathryn Bigelow Adapting David Koepp Novel Aurora

Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow is working on a new project with Netflix, developing David Koepp’s upcoming novel Aurora into a feature film. This is Bigelow’s first project since 2017’s Detroit. Koepp is a veteran screenwriter, with Jurassic Park, the first Mission: Impossible movie, and Spider-Man among his credits. Koepp will write the screenplay, and Greg Shapiro and Gavin Polone are set to produce.

Greta Thunberg to Publish a Book on Climate Crisis

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is releasing a new book with Penguin this fall. The Climate Book aims to offer a “global overview of how the planet’s many crises connect.” For the book, Thunberg has assembled more than 100 contributors, from scientists Johan Rockström and Katharine Hayhoe to economist Thomas Piketty and novelist Margaret Atwood. You can see the full list of contributors here. “I have decided to use my platform to create a book based on the current best available science – a book that covers the climate, ecological and sustainability crises holistically,” Thunberg said in a statement. “Because the climate crisis is, of course, only a symptom of a much larger sustainability crisis. My hope is that this book might be some kind of go-to source for understanding these different, closely interconnected crises.” The book will be published in the UK in October 2022, and it will be published in the US in early 2023.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Announces Debut Novel

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, author of the critically-acclaimed short story collection Friday Black, has announced details about his upcoming debut novel on Instagram. The author wrote, “Writing a novel is swimming with no shore in sight, for years. It’s having a secret imaginary friend that finds a body. It’s betting the house on Black. It’s deciding to climb a mountain you are too weak to climb hoping and believing that the strength you need will be earned on the way to the summit. I say all that to say, I wrote a novel, the hardest writing project I’ve ever done and… for the first time, truly, I’m proud regardless of whatever happens next.” The novel, entitled Chain-Gang All-Stars, will be published in spring 2023.

Follett Developing Technology to Monitor Student Library Use

Follett is developing new tools for parent monitoring of students’ library usage. That and more in this week’s book censorship news.

Book Radar

Get Haunted by Clay McLeod Chapman’s GHOST EATERS and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date April 1, 2022

Book Deals and Reveals

Night Worms has reviewed and revealed the cover for Clay McLeod Chapman’s upcoming horror novel Ghost Eaters! The novel is described as “a terrifying supernatural page-turner that explores ghosts, grief, and god complexes.” This one will be out in September.

And here’s the cover reveal of A Merry Little Meet Cute, the first book in the Christmas Notch series from Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah has announced his debut novel Chain-Gang All-Stars, which will be out in spring 2023.

Here’s a first look at Hell Bent, the sequel to Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House. This highly anticipated book is coming in January, 2023.

Today also as a first look at Jasmine Guillory’s new novel Drunk on Love, which will be out on September 20, 2022.

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen has sold a currently untitled cookbook to Clarkson Potter. The title is set for a spring 2024 release.

HBO’s long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel finally has a release date. The network has announced that House of the Dragon will premiere on August 21st.

The spinoff Bridgerton prequel about a young Queen Charlotte was originally announced in May 2021, and now Netflix has released the cast list.

The Authors for Ukraine Auction is raising money for CARE’s Ukraine Crisis Fund, which will provide emergency supplies of food, water, and other supplies and assistance to Ukrainians. The auction runs March 29 to April 12 and includes signed books from more than 170 authors.

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!

Prepare Your Shelves!

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann (May 31st, Little, Brown, and Company)

Okay, look. I know How to be Eaten isn’t the first fairy tale-adjacent book I’ve recommended here. Clearly I’m a big fan of fairy tale reimaginings and retellings. But I’m certainly not the only one. There’s something fascinating about reexamining stories we have known for our whole lives. And even so, I promise you How to Be Eaten is a fairy tell reimagining unlike any other you’ve ever experienced.

Set in present-day New York City, How to Be Eaten follows a support group of five women who meet in a basement to discuss their past traumas. You’ll probably note the fairy tale similarities right away, but here they are: there’s Bernice, who is recovering from her time dating a crazed blue-bearded billionaire. Then there’s Ruby, who is traumatized by that one time she was eaten by a wolf, even though now she wears his coat. Next is Gretel who was held captive in a house made of candy. Meanwhile, Ashlee is the winner of a dating show who’s not quite sure she really got her fairy tale ending. Then there’s Raina, and as for her story, you’ll just have to wait and see!

How to Be Eaten is an intriguing take on what it means to exist in the world as a woman in the 21st century and trauma in the digital age. It’s also just a really entertaining read. This one comes out at the end of May, but you know we’ve talked a lot about how fast these months are going by. May will be here before you know it, so prepare your shelves!

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

What I’m Reading This Week

Reprieve by James Han Mattson

Cold by Mariko Tamaki

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

Monday Memes

Okay so this isn’t really a book meme this week, but this felt appropriate for a Monday. Especially for my cat people.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

I know I talk a lot about KittenLady’s Instagram account, but I actually follow a lot of foster kitten accounts on Instagram. And I try to donate to them as much as possible! What can I say? I love cats. If you love cats too, here are two more of my favorites: fostersxyz and fosterkittenlove. I get so invested in these kitten’s story, and they warm my heart and bring me joy!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

It’s officially tornado season down here. And last week, we were hit with a tornado warning. Because Cersei and Murray aren’t the best of friends, my husband Ben hid in one bathroom with Cersei. And I was in the other bathroom with Murray.

Thankfully, Ben had the smart idea of putting Murray’s favorite blanket in the tub to keep him relaxed. It worked like a charm. So here’s Murray snuggling up with his blanket in the tub while the storm rages outside.

And of course, we made it out alive, and I am thankfully here to tell the story.

Let’s hope for no more tornados any time soon though, right?

Until next time!

💙 Emily

Today In Books

Leigh Bardugo’s HELL BENT to be Published in January 2023: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 31, 2022

Sponsored by A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin, with Fierce Reads

Here’s the Trailer for Andrew Garfield’s New True Crime Series

Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones will be starring in Hulu’s true crime series Under the Banner of Heaven, based on the 2003 non-fiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. And Hulu has now released the first teaser trailer for the upcoming series. The series cast will also include Sam Worthington, Wyatt Russell, Rory Culkin, Chloe Pirrie, Denise Gough, Billy Howle, and Gil Birmingham. Under the Banner of Heaven will be available to stream in the US on Hulu starting on April 28th. The series will also air on Disney+ internationally, but an exact release date for the platform is yet to be announced.

Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent to be Published in January 2023

Today, Flat Iron books announced the release date of Leigh Bardugo’s sequel to Ninth House. The publisher posted on Instagram, “Get ready @lbardugo fans!! 🐰 Alex Stern is returning in Hell Bent, coming January 10, 2023!” You can check out more information about the upcoming novel—including the cover reveal—on Today’s website. According to Bardugo, “Hell Bent is loaded with occult happenings, deadly grudges, forgotten poetry, peculiar romance, and bad behavior from villain and hero alike.”

Richard Lipez, Who Reimagined the Gay Detective Novel, Dies at 83

Richard Lipez, the author of a series of crime novels centered on an openly gay detective, died on March 16 at his home in Becket, Massachusetts. He was 83. According to his husband Joe Wheaton, the cause was pancreatic cancer. Lipez wrote 17 mysteries in his series under the pseudonym Richard Stevenson. In addition to his husband Mr. Wheaton, Lipez is survived by his daughter Sydney Lipez; son, Zachary; a brother, John; and sister, Kathy Conklin.

Netflix’s Bridgerton Prequel Sets Full Cast With India Amarteifio in Lead Role

The spinoff Bridgerton prequel about a young Queen Charlotte was announced in May, and now Netflix has released the cast list.

Today In Books

Here’s A First Look at Jenny Han’s THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 30, 2022

House of the Dragon Release Date Announced

HBO’s long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel finally has a release date. The network has announced that House of the Dragon will premiere on August 21st. Set roughly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the story of House Targaryen and stars Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen.

8 Authors Receive the 2022 Windham-Campbell Prize

The winners of the 2022 Windham-Campbell Prize have been announced. The award, which is one of the world’s richest at $165,000 per recipient, is now in its 10th year. The $165k grants are intended “to support [the authors’] writing and allow them to focus on their work independent of financial concerns.” This year’s eight winners are Tsitsi Dangarembga, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, Margo Jefferson, Emmanuel Iduma, Winsome Pinnock, Sharon Bridgforth, Wong May, and Zaffar Kunial. When Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga found out she had been chosen the Windham-Campbell prize, she admitted she had been waiting for this news all of her life. She said: “I desperately needed this award, as a writer working on the African continent. Few countries support creativity or the arts in a meaningful manner. Zimbabwe is amongst those that do so least.”

Here’s A First Look at Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before author Jenny Han’s first YA romance book trilogy The Summer I Turned Pretty is being adapted for TV, and Entertainment Weekly has a first look at the upcoming Amazon Prime series. “Oh my gosh, I have such butterflies about it because my readers have been waiting for so long,” said Han, who is also serving as showrunner and executive producer on the project. “I just really want them to feel satisfied by the long wait and feel like the story has come to life in the way that they were hoping for. I hope fans swoon a lot. The first time I walked on set, I cried.”

Lualhati Bautista Might Become the First Filipina to be Published by Penguin Classics

In a white- and male-dominated classics genre, authors of color are starting to get off the sidelines, including Filipina writer Lualhati Bautista.

Book Radar

Stephen King’s IT Prequel Series in the Works and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 30, 2022

Book Deals and Reveals

There’s no such thing as too many Pride and Prejudice retellings! Here is the cover reveal for Nikki Payne’s multicultural retelling Pride and Protest. This one’s out from Berkeley in November.

HBO Max is developing a prequel series to the It film franchise. The working title is Welcome To Derry.

Doubleday has obtained the U.S. rights to Kate Atkinson’s Shrines of Gaiety. The novel is slated for a September 27th release date.

Roxane Gay has announced the first three titles for her imprint Roxane Gay Books.

Lit Hub has the exclusive cover reveal for Talia Lakshmi Kolluri’s What We Fed to the Manticore, which will be published by Tin House this September.

And here’s the cover reveal for Bridget Farr’s new YA novel, The Truth About Everything. This book follows the story of “homeschooled” teenager Lark who is secretly attending high school, against the wishes of her conspiracy-theorist-Doomsday-prepping parents. This one is out on October 11th.

Nicole Kidman has shared the first look trailer of her Apple TV+ anthology series Roar, based on the short story collection by bestselling author Cecelia Ahern.

Tor Nightfire is publishing Johnny Compton’s Black Southern Gothic novel The Spite House. The book, which is being called The Others meets A Head Full of Ghosts, is scheduled to release in February 2023.

Tupac Shakur wrote a booklet of haikus when he was 11, and it’s now being auctioned, starting at $140,000.

Lualhati Bautista, a Manila-based Filipina writer, may become the first Filipina to be published by Penguin Classics.

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One

The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore (Ace Books, September 6)

This debut novel has been on my personal TBR for what feels like ages, but since Paste revealed the cover last week and provided us with an excerpt of the upcoming novel, I figured it was probably time I shared The Witch and the Tsar with all of you. If you love the idea of a good retelling mixed with real-life history, I think you’ll be just as excited about this one as I am.

The Witch and the Tsar is a historical fantasy novel that retells the story of one of Slavic folklore’s most famous figures, the Baba Yaga. But of course, the woman of this story is more complicated than any witch you might have heard about in those old tales. Yaga is a half-goddess who is feared and shunned by mankind because of her powers. But when her old friend Tsarista Anastasia comes to her hut asking for help, Yaga must finally step out of the shadows of legend to protect the land she loves.

We follow Yaga’s journey to Moscow as she witnesses a country being torn apart as Tsar Ivan (Ivan the Terrible) grows more and more unstable. Meanwhile, the tsaritsa has been struck with a mysterious illness that no one can cure. Yaga longs to protect her country, but what she doesn’t know is that an angry goddess wishes to ruin Russia, and she is the one that is behind all of this destruction.

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

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Fear releases power. Man might be more tolerable, less fractious and smug, if he had more to fear. I do not mean fear of the intangible, the suffocation of the introvert, but physical fear, cold sweating fear for one’s life, fear of the unseen menacing beast, imminent, bristly, tusked and terrible, ravening for one’s own hot saline blood.”

— The Peregrine by J.A. Baker

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.

As you’re probably aware, a whole movie was produced that was fully based on a Twitter thread. So if we can base movies off of tweets, why shouldn’t we also base our reading choices off of the tweets we enjoy? Since you’re reading this section of Book Radar because you love books and you’re curious about social media (probably), then I think you’ll love this post from Tracy Shapley Towley: Did You Like That Tweet? Then Read This Book.

What I’m Watching This Weekend

I feel like this needs no explanation. I guess we’re all watching Bridgerton this weekend, right? Unless you finished it already. If you’re watching, how do you feel about this season compared to season 1? Are you missing Regé-Jean Page as much as I am? Feel free to reach out and let me know!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

It’s been a while since my shy calico girl Cersei was featured, so here she is! This is her favorite place to sit when she isn’t hiding. She loves the top of the couch.

Anyway, that is all for today, friends! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week, same time, same email inbox.

💙 Emily

Today In Books

Roxane Gay Announces First Three Titles From New Imprint: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 29, 2022

Kevin and Danielle Jonas Open Up About New Children’s Book

Kevin Jonas and his wife Danielle have opened up about their new children’s book, There’s a Rock Concert in My Bedroom. The picture book is all about turning to your family for support, something Kevin knows a lot about, as a member of the Jonas Brothers. Kevin says he and his wife always wanted to write a children’s book, “but it felt like now is the right time. Our girls are definitely at the age where they’re reading and wanting to read even more by themselves and us reading to them.” The Jonas’ first children’s book is available in bookstores everywhere, starting today.

The CW’s Gotham Knights Adds Anna Lore to Cast

The CW has announced another cast member for the pilot of Gotham Knights. Anna Lore (All American) will play Stephanie Brown in the new series based on DC Comics characters created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. Lore joins a cast that also features Oscar Morgan, Olivia Rose Keegan, Navia Robinson, Fallon Smythe, Tyler DiChiara, and Misha Collins. Gotham Knights will be the second DC show for Lore, who also appeared in two episodes of Doom Patrol in 2019.

Roxane Gay Announces First Three Titles From New Imprint

This week, Roxane Gay announced the first three titles for her imprint Roxane Gay Books. Each day this week, the authors themselves will be sharing more details about their books. Today, Ani Kayode Somtochukwu will discuss his book And Then He Sang a Lullaby. On Wednesday, we will find out more about Lush Lives by JV Lyon, and on Thursday, Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter. You can learn more about these titles by signing up for The Audacity newsletter at audacity.substack.com.

Did You Like That Tweet? Then Read This Book

Love viral tweets? Instead of going down the rabbit hole of replies, here are some matching book recommendations to read instead!

Today In Books

Julia Fox Teases Upcoming Book at Vanity Fair Oscars Party: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 28, 2022

Sponsored by debut novel The Town of Babylon – On Sale Now!

LGBTQ Books Removed from Target.com

On March 25th, word started to spread on Twitter that many LGBTQ books were missing from Target’s website. Many of the missing titles had previously been available for preorder. Brian D. Kennedy, whose book A Little Bit Country was affected, expressed his concern in a tweet: “Not to be alarmist, but my book, a gay rom-com, was up for pre-order at @Target earlier this year And now it’s gone? Along with some other queer debut books?? While the straight titles from my publisher remain?! I really hope there’s a logical explanation (besides homophobia).” In an email statement to Publishers Weekly, Target claimed the issue was related to a website change. As of this morning, 94 of the 118 books that Moreland noted had been removed have now reappeared on the website.

Julia Fox Teases Upcoming Book at Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Uncut Gems star Julia Fox teased her upcoming book at last night’s Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Fox said the book is coming soon, but if readers are hoping to learn the juicy details of her life—including her infamous fling with Kanye West—they should adjust their expectations. Fox claims the upcoming book is “not a memoir,” but a “masterpiece.” The model/actress added, “I don’t wanna give too much of it away because I am very superstitious. I don’t like to speak of things before they’re finished.”

Here’s the Trailer for Roar, Nicole Kidman’s Upcoming Anthology Series

Nicole Kidman has shared the first look trailer of her Apple TV+ anthology series Roar, based on the short story collection by bestselling author Cecelia Ahern. The eight-part drama, from Glow creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, will consist of half-hour episodes, each from a different woman’s point of view. Roar‘s star-studded cast includes Nicole Kidman, Merritt Wever, Issa Rae, Meera Syal, Cynthia Erivo, Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Kara Hayward, and Fivel Stewart. A release date has yet to be announced.

Tupac Shakur’s Unpublished Childhood Poetry is Up for Auction

Tupac Shakur wrote a booklet of haikus when he was 11, and it’s now being auctioned, starting at $140,000.

Today In Books

Tiffany Haddish’s New Book I CURSE YOU WITH JOY Out This November: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 26, 2022

Sponsored by The Cartographers - Start Reading Now!

The Office Stars Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey Celebrate New Book

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, co-stars of The Office and co-authors of the new book The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There, are taking the stage of New York City’s Town Hall on May 18th to celebrate the release of their new book. This will be the day after the book releases on the 17th, and it will be Fischer and Kinsey’s only in-person book event. “We are proud to welcome Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey to The Town Hall to discuss their book and the pop culture phenomenon that was The Office,” said Town Hall Artistic Director Melay Araya. The Town Hall event, presented in partnership with the Strand Bookstore, starts 7 p.m. ET on May 18th. You can find out more about getting tickets here.

Tiffany Haddish’s New Book I Curse You With Joy Out This November

Tiffany Haddish’s next book—an essay collection titled I Curse You With Joy— is scheduled for a November 29th release this year. The book will be published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. In Amistad’s announcement about the upcoming book, the publisher said, “I Curse You With Joy includes stories of how Haddish uses comedy to metabolize pain and turn it into art, auditioning for Saturday Night Live before being the first Black female comic to host it, how the trauma in her own life has made her more compassionate, and her complicated relationship with her father, whom she reunited with after 20.”

Philip Pullman Steps Down as Society of Authors President

Philip Pullman has stepped down as president of the Society of Authors (SoA). The announcement comes after comments Pullman made about Kate Clanchy’s controversial memoir, Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me. After the memoir was criticized for racial and ablest stereotyping, Pullman spoke out in support of the book in a tweet that has since been deleted. Following Pullman’s remarks, the SoA released a statement distancing itself from Pullman’s comments. Pullman later tweeted an apology for the harm he caused, saying criticism of Clanchy was “reasonable and balanced.” However, as the controversy surrounding the book continued, Pullman decided it would be best to resign from his SoA position. In a letter to the SoA’s management committee, the author said he “would not be free to express [his] personal opinion” as long as he remained in the role.

How to Choose Your Next Book to Read — in the Most Chaotic Way Possible

Having trouble deciding what to read next? Here are ten chaotic ways to choose your next book.

Book Radar

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING Trailer Has Dropped and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date March 25, 2022

Book Deals and Reveals

Oprah Daily has revealed the cover for Zambian American author Namwali Serpell’s new novel The Furrows, out from Hogarth in September.

V. Castro will reveal the backstory of Aliens character Private Vasquez in a new book titled Aliens: Vasquez, set to be published by Titan Books on October 25th.

The Nerd Daily has revealed the cover for The Girl In The Castle by James Patterson and Emily Raymond. This book releases on September 19th!

CJ Connor has announced a new queer mystery series, “full of board games, silly puns, family in all its forms, and queer joy (y’know, as joyful as a murder mystery can be).” The first novel in the series is titled Board to Death.

Liz Tigelaar, the creator of Little Fires Everywhere, is set to adapt Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for Netflix.

A new Ivo van Hove stage adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining is in the works for a 2023 West End debut, and Ben Stiller in talks to play the role of Jack Torrance.

Kacen Callender has an adult romance novel Stars in Your Eyes, out from Forever in fall 2023.

The official trailer for Where the Crawdads Sing, adapted from Delia Owen’s bestselling 2018 novel, has just dropped.

During confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Senator Ted Cruz accidentally boosted sales of two anti-racist books.

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda (Harpervia, April 12th)

Just when you think every angle of vampire fiction has been explored already. Just when you think vampires are soooo over. Just when you think you couldn’t possibly find a book that would deliver a new and exciting vampire story, a book like Woman, Eating comes along to totally revive the genre. I’m trying to think of good vampire puns about coming back to life, but I’m missing the obvious here. So I’ll just say [insert your favorite vampire puns here], and let’s move on.

Woman, Eating is the story of Lydia, a bi-racial half-vampire, half-human who is on her own for the first time after growing up under the watchful eye of her overbearing mother. Now Lydia is hungry, and she yearns to try the foods her Japanese father liked to eat. But delicious foods like sashimi and ramen are off limits for Lydia. After all, what she really thirsts for is blood.

This is Lydia’s coming of age story. It’s a story of a young woman coming to terms with what it means to be an adult, what it means to be an artist, and what it means to be human. And of course, the fact that Lydia is a vampire complicates these moments of self-exploration.

What I’m Reading This Week

Cold by Mariko Tamaki

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition 7 by Naoko Takeuchi

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Monday Memes

This one’s for all my people who grew up identifying with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Hello to my people.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Last night, I curled up on my couch, wrapped myself in my Sailor Moon blanket, and watched Love Island Australia. Then this little cutie curled up with me, and I couldn’t get over the sweet look on his face. So of course I had to share!

We love you, Murray! You are the sweetest kitty!

Anyway, thanks for joining me today. I hope you have a great week!

💙 Emily