Author: Liberty Hardy

Good Monday to you, bookies! I am recovering from the plague, but I still had a great week last week. I got prism window decals and giant shark stickers, and books about the Celtics and the Civil War, and I played with the kittens and dyed some of my hair blue. (I did not dye the kittens blue.) It was extremely peak Liberty. Favorite week of the year so far! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and you managed to read something wonderful. Have a great week, and remember to be excellent to each other! I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty

P.S Shameless self-promotion: Did you see the artwork for our All the Books! 200th episode commemorative merch???

Sponsored by the spring and early summer picks of the Class of 2k19 books, 20 authors, 20 MG and YA novels debuting in 2019.

WE RULE THE NIGHT: “The richly textured world, filled with disparate people who want to win the war, is background to a powerful story.” – Kirkus starred review THE REMARKABLE INVENTIONS OF WALTER MORTINSON: “I can’t think of a better book to be read in a classroom or between parent and child.” – Jeanne Ferruolo ALL OUR BROKEN PIECES: “Crichton is a master at manipulating her reader’s emotions […] sharply written and deeply moving.” -Tamara Ireland Stone SUPER JAKE AND THE KING OF CHAOS: “This powerful book is full of charm and heart, but its real magic is humor.”—Beth Vrabel

Here’s this week’s trivia question: Who is author Margaret Drabble’s sister? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Paramount is making Justin A. Reynold’s The Opposite of Always into a film.

As I mentioned in December, André Aciman said he would love to write a sequel to Call Me By Your Name. Fast-forward to March – it’s done!

Chantel Acevedo announced her middle grade debut.

Anderson Cooper signed a deal for two nonfiction books. He’ll coauthor them with Katherine Howe (The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane), and the first is expected in 2022.

Tor has acquired the new trilogy by Sleeping Giant‘s author Sylvain Neuvel.

Death Is My Best Friend, based on Katarina Tonks’ Wattpad series, is being adapted for television.

Amazon is moving forward with a series adaptation of The Dark Tower.

Cover Reveals

Here’s the first look at Ann and Jeff VanderMeer’s Big Book of Classic Fantasy. (Vintage, July 2)

Dance, er I mean Lance, Rubin made an amazing video for the cover reveal of Crying Laughing. (Knopf Books for Young Readers, November 19)

And Paste has the first look at Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration by Bryan Caplan and illustrator Zach Weinersmith. (First Second, October 29)

And here’s the amazing cover of Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron. (HarperTeen, September 10)

Book Riot Recommends 

At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Loved, loved, loved:

Aru Shah and the Song of Death (Pandava Series) by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents, April 30)

Roshani Chokshi is AMAZING. Everything she touches is gold! Not only were we lucky enough to get her YA novel The Gilded Wolves this year, but also the sequel to her fantastic middle grade series! I’m not going to tell you what this is about, in case you didn’t read the first one, Aru Shah and the End of Time. I’ll just say that it’s about a young girl whose mother works in a museum, and who touches an artifact she shouldn’t touch, starting the end of the world. Plus there’s an anxious talking pigeon. I cannot recommend these books enough!

What I’m reading this week.

The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell

The Affairs of the Falcóns by Melissa Rivero

The Last Pass: Cousy, Russell, the Celtics, and What Matters in the End by Gary M. Pomerantz

Pun of the week: What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy and the other is a little lighter.

Here’s a kitten picture: Farrokh is not alphabetized correctly.

And this is funny.

This comic is now my favorite thing about the internet.

Trivia answer: A.S. Byatt. (They don’t get along.)

You made it to the bottom! Thanks for reading! – xo, L

Happy Thursday! I hope wherever you are, you feel better than me. I seem to have contracted the plague. I sound like Elizabeth Holmes talking underwater. At least you don’t need to be able to breathe through your nose to read! I have some fun stuff to share with you today. And I’ll be back on Monday with more great stuff to tell you. I hope whatever you’re doing, you have a great rest of your week, and remember to be kind to yourself and others.  – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton. Published by Graydon House Books.

Juliette loves Nate. She will follow him anywhere. She’s even become a flight attendant for his airline, so she can keep a closer eye on him. They are meant to be. The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing. Because Juliette has a plan to win him back. She is the perfect girlfriend. And she’ll make sure no one stops her from getting exactly what she wants. True love hurts, but Juliette knows it’s worth all the pain… Entertainment Weekly says of The Perfect Girlfriend, “this twisted page-turner should appeal to fans of the Netflix series YOU.”

Trivia question time! What do the narrators of the Edgar Allan Poe stories “The Black Cat,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Cask of Amontillado” have in common? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Syfy is adapting Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series for television.

Brené Brown has a special coming to Netflix.

Josh Malerman revealed that a Bird Box sequel is on the way.

Die Hard is being made into a board game. (One of my great joys in life is the fact that Die Hard was a book first, so I can always share Die Hard news.)

A film adaptation of the Jekyll & Hyde musical is in the works.

Today in Stephen King news: Here’s casting updates for S3 of Mr. Mercedes and S2 of Castle Rock.

Cover Reveals

Leigh Bardugo revealed the cover for her adult debut Ninth House. (Flatiron Books, October 1)

And here’s the cover reveal for Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. (Avon, November 5)

Book Riot has the cover reveal for How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters. (Interlude Press, September 10)

Penguin Teen had a cover reveal extravaganza.

And here’s the first look at The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. (Atria Books, October 22)

Sneak Peeks

Here’s the first look at HBO’s upcoming series Gentleman Jack, based on a true story.

Here’s the trailer for S2 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Book Riot Recommends 

At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Excited to read:

The Grammarians: A Novel by Cathleen Schine

Schine is a fantastic writer, and this sounds positively F-U-N. It’s about redheaded identical twins who share an obsession with words. It eventually causes problems between them, leading to an ugly custody battle when they are grown, over a copy of Merriam Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition. I am SO looking forward to this.

What I’m reading this week.

Aru Shah and the Song of Death (Pandava Series) by Roshani Chokshi

Big Sky by Kate Atkinson

The Old Drift: A Novel by Namwali Serpell

And this is funny.

Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

Trivia answer: They are all murderers.

You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L

Happy Monday, readers! The sun stays out later, the air is warmer, and spring is only a few days away. THANK GOODNESS. This felt like the longest winter ever! I am so ready to read with the windows open. I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and you managed to read something wonderful. Have a great week, and remember to be excellent to each other! I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by Dynamite Entertainment.

Nancy Drew is seventeen and good at everything, but life hits a snag when a mysterious message drags her back to the hometown she left behind. There she’ll have to find out which of her friends are still her friends, which are enemies, and who exactly is trying to kill her…and (hopefully) stop them before they succeed.

Here’s this week’s trivia question: What is the only Shakespeare play with ‘love’ in its title? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Kenyan Filmmaker Wanuri Kaihu will direct Millie Bobby Brown in the adaptation of The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.

Dietland author Sari Walker has a new novel coming with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Ecco snagged David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s upcoming thriller.

HBO announced the run times for the final six episodes of Game of Thrones.

The first book deal about the college admissions scandal has been announced.

Funko is getting into the children’s book business.

Patrick Brice will direct the film adaptation of There’s Someone Inside Your House for Netflix.

Freddie Prinze Jr. will play Nancy Drew’s estranged dad in the CW pilot.

Apple has formally given a series order for Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko. The company will unveil the details about its streaming service on March 25.

Cover Reveals

Here’s the first look at War Girls, Tochi Onyebuchi’s Black Panther-Inspired sci-fi adventure. (Razorbill, October 15)

Rainbow Rowell shared the cover of Wayward Son with EW. (Wednesday Books, September 24)

Sneak peeks

Here’s a new trailer for Avengers: Endgame.

Book Riot Recommends 

At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Loved, loved, loved:

The Need by Helen Phillips (Simon & Schuster, July 9)

OHMYGOODNESS. This was an intense read, from the very first page! Molly works uncovering fossils by day, and caring for her two young children at night, while her musician husband on tour. One night, she hears a noise and realizes an intruder is in her home. What should she do? How does she get the kids to safety? She decides to confront the intruder, and it only gets weirder and creepier from there, in a brilliant way that only Helen Phillips could imagine. This was everything I wanted it to be.

What I’m reading this week.

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

Guestbook: Ghost Stories by Leanne Shapton

Aru Shah and the Song of Death (Pandava Series) by Roshani Chokshi

Pun of the week: R.I.P boiled water. You will be mist.

Here’s a kitten picture: Farrokh and Zevon are getting so big!

And this is funny.

“So why do you write for kids?”

Trivia answer: Love’s Labour’s Lost.

You made it to the bottom! Thanks for reading! – xo, L

Happy Thursday, my little word devourers! It has been such a nice, almost-warm week here in Maine so far. Lots of mud, but also lots of light! Not that it matters, I don’t go out, lol, but it’s nice to see out the window. I’m getting ready to take a few days off social media – THE HORROR. Hopefully I’ll get a lot of reading done. I’ll be back on Monday with more great stuff to tell you. I hope whatever you’re doing, you have a great rest of your week, and remember to be kind to yourself and others.  – xoxo, Liberty

Let’s go!

Sponsored by What’s Up in YA Giveaway of a $100 gift card to Amazon! Enter here.

We’re giving away a $100 gift card to Amazon in support of our YA newsletter, What’s Up in YA, about all things young adult literature! Sign up to enter here.

Trivia question time! Which author wrote “One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it?” (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Tor announced the name of the full-length Murderbot novel coming in 2020!

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, hitting shelves in July, is also being developed as a television series.

Andy Serkis and Thomas Brodie-Sangster to star in Fox’s adaptation of the Mouse Guard comic.

Alicia Keys will release a memoir in November.

All the Light We Cannot See is being made into a limited series for Netflix.

Joni Mitchell to release book of lyrics, poetry, and paintings.

From the “Liberty is so excited!” files: Vanessa Veselka announced her new novel.

Elton John will score the Broadway adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.

One of the co-owners of the Ripped Bodice is writing a book.

Damien Power will direct the film adaptation of No Exit by Taylor Adams.

Amy Adams has plans to bring The Poisonwood Bible to HBO.

Julia Fine announced her next novel, which features the ghost of Margaret Wise Brown.

Michael Imperioli has joined the cast of Lincoln.

Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, and Catherine O’Hara are among the stars lending their voices to the Netflix animated adaptation of The Last Kids on Earth.

Cecelia Ahern announced a sequel to P.S. I Love You.

Cover Reveals

Here’s the first look at former Rioter Minh Lê and artist Andy Tong’s Green Lantern: Legacy. (DC Zoom, January 2020)

Katherine Arden shared the cover of Dead Voices, the sequel to Small Spaces. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, August 27)

Harper Voyager revealed Christopher Brown’s Rules of Capture cover. (Harper Voyager, August 13)

And the reveal of Diana, Princess Of The Amazons by Shannon and Dean Hale. (DC Zoom, January 7, 2020)

And here’s the first look at The Tyrant’s Tomb, from Rick Riordan’s series The Trials of Apollo. (Disney-Hyperion, September 24)

And the first look at The Night Fire by Michael Connelly. (Little, Brown and Company, October 22)

Sneak Peeks

Here’s the new trailer for S2 of Killing Eve.

And here’s the first trailer for The Rook.

Book Riot Recommends 

At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Excited to read:

Big Sky by Kate Atkinson (Little, Brown and Company, June 25)

Not just a new Kate Atkinson, but a new Jackson Brodie mystery! It’s been several years since the last one, so I am over the moon that this is happening! If you’ve never read one of her Brodie mysteries, you should fix that.

What I’m reading this week.

Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera

The Need by Helen Phillips

Check, Please! Book 1: Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

And this is funny.

This old tweet is making the rounds and I laughed way harder than I should.

Trivia answer: Anton Chekov.

You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L

Welcome to another Monday, my little Garfields. I have some wonderful things to share with you, all book-related of course. Do I ever talk about anything else? (SPOILER: No.) Hopefully that missing hour this weekend didn’t throw your schedule off too much, and you managed to read something wonderful. Have a great week, and please be kind to yourself as well as others, and remember that life is hard – you are doing a great job! I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by Wednesday Books.

The monster hidden behind pale, tortured eyes and a devastating smile. The girl with Dark Gods whispering spells in her head. The prince surrounded by deadly assassins and ambitious suitors. “This gothic jewel of a story will sink its visceral iron claws into you, never letting go until you’ve turned the last page.” (Robin LaFevers)

Here’s this week’s trivia question: Who is the shortest-lived of any literature Nobel laureate to date? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Elton John announced his first official autobiography will be published in the fall. (The title is still to be decided.)

Rachel Weisz will produce and star in the adaptation of Max Porter’s new novel, Lanny.

Jamal Jordan announced an upcoming book: Queer Love in Color.

Here’s the deets on S2 of The Terror, which will be a completely different story, since S1 covered the whole of the novel by Dan Simmons.

Don Winslow’s books The Border, The Cartel and The Power of the Dog have been acquired by FX to be adapted into a series.

New details about the upcoming Lord of the Ring series coming to Amazon have emerged.

In more BR-related news, former Rioter Ilana Masad sold her novel to Random House!

James Patterson’s JIMMY Patterson books will be adapted for kids’ television.

Cover Reveals

Steph Cha revealed the cover of her upcoming book, Your House Will Pay. (Ecco, October 15)

Here’s the first look at Sarah Dessen’s upcoming novel, The Rest of the Story. (Balzer + Bray, June 4)

E.L. James shared a passage and the back cover from her upcoming novel, The Mister. (Vintage, April 16)

And Entertainment Weekly had a sneak peek at three diverse crime novels coming later in the year.

Sneak peeks

Here’s the new trailer for the J.R.R. Tolkien biopic called – wait for it – Tolkien.

Molly Shannon stars as Emily Dickinson in the trailer for Wild Nights with Emily.

And here’s the trailer for HBO’s Native Son adaptation.

Book Riot Recommends 

At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Loved, loved, loved:

Sorry, kittens, I am afraid I didn’t finish anything new in time for the newsletter this week, so here’s a peek at some new book mail, full of great stuff I will be reading for coverage consideration. I think after Rabbits for Food, I will read Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim. I promise I’ll have something great for you next time!

What I’m reading this week.

Rabbits for Food by Binnie Kirshenbaum

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

The Need by Helen Phillips

Pun of the week:

No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.

Here’s a kitten picture: Shelf cat.

And this is funny.

Strange Planet is my new favorite Instagram account.

Trivia answer: Albert Camus.

You made it to the bottom! Thanks for reading! – xo, L

Welcome to another Thursday! There are a lot of exciting things to share with you today. I have to do it fast, so I can cram in more reading, since we’re losing an hour of reading time this weekend. It’s my least favorite day of the year. I hope whatever you’re doing, you have a great rest of your week, and remember to be kind to yourself and others.  – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by HMH Teen.

Bestselling author David Elliott explores how Joan of Arc changed the course of history and remains a figure of fascination centuries after her extraordinary life and death. Joan of Arc gets the Hamilton treatment in this evocative novel.

Trivia question time! What 1994 American bestseller set in Georgia features a sculpture of a girl holding two bowls on the cover? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Netflix has plans to develop Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi is being made into a movie.

Award-winning poet Saeed Jones announced his upcoming memoir: How We Fight for Our Lives.

And congratulations to Rioter Karina Yan Glaser! The third book in her Vanderbeekers series comes out this September, and now there is going to be a fourth and fifth book!

And more exciting Rioter news: Adiba Jaigirdar’s YA novel, The Henna Wars, will publish next year!

Jonathan Van Ness announced that he is publishing a memoir this fall, making that three of the five Queer Eye cast members with memoirs out this year.

Dev Patel is in talks to star in a Green Knight adaptation.

Russell Hornsby will star as the title character in Lincoln, based on Jeffrey Deaver’s Bone Collector books.

Leigh Bardugo is writing her first book for adults.

Nidhi Chanani’s graphic novel Pashmina is being adapted into an animated musical for Netflix.

Brie Larson will star in a yet-to-be-titled series based on the real life experiences of CIA undercover operative Amaryllis Fox and her upcoming memoir, Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA.

The Sinner has been renewed for a third season.

The River at Night by Erica Ferencik will be made into a film.

A new Miss Marple series is headed to television.

And speaking of Agatha Christie, Harper Collins just locked down rights until 2030.

Aja Gabel’s short story, Little Fish, is being made into a film.

Cover Reveals

Jenny Slate announced her new book, Little Weirds, and shared the cover. (Little, Brown and Company, November 5)

And here’s a look at the cover of the new Brittney Morris YA novel, Slay. (Simon Pulse, September 24)

And here’s the cover reveal for Dahlia Adler’s Poe-inspired anthology, His Hideous Heart. (Flatiron Books, September 10)

Sneak Peeks

The first full-length trailer for Good Omens has been released!

And the trailer for the final season of Game of Thrones!

And here’s the red band trailer for the upcoming Hellboy movie. (Red band = NSFW.) I wasn’t that excited until I saw Baba Yaga’s chicken leg house.

And here’s the trailer for Mr. Malcom’s List, adapted from the Suzanne Allain book, and featuring so many amazing actors. It’s being expanded from a short to a full-length feature.

Book Riot Recommends 

At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)

Excited to read:

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky (Grand Central Publishing,October 1)

The author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is releasing his second novel, two decades after his first. (I can’t believe it has been that long!) This one is for adults, and is about a young boy with an – wait for it – imaginary friend, who ends up being a part of a battle between good and evil. It sounds creepy and fun! SIGN ME UP.

What I’m reading this week.

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

If, Then: A Novel by Kate Hope Day

The Word for Woman is Wilderness by Abi Andrews

And this is funny.

Kids are brutal.

Trivia answer: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story by John Berendt.

You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L