Author: Liberty Hardy

Categories
Book Radar

Julia Roberts May Play CHARLOTTE WALSH and More Book Radar!

Helloooooooo, readers! (If that is your real name.) I have been reading up a storm the past couple of weeks, and I feel so much better. (Reading: It does a body good.) I have a lot of fun stuff to share with you today that will hopefully improve your Monday. Because Mondays, amirite? I hope you’re reading something wonderful. 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 Dreamscape Media, The Ghost Manuscript, and hoopla digital.

The Ghost Manuscript, Kris Frieswick’s debut paranormal, historical thriller, is coming to audiobook. Experience the thrilling story of one woman who is determined to find out what secrets lay in historical, Dark Age manuscripts. Traveling the world in search of an unknown journal and clues that could completely rewrite the history of Western civilization, Cary’s Jones takes on a physical and emotional journey. Available for free with your library card on hoopla digital, this debut novel is one of the most anticipated thrillers of 2019.

Here’s this week’s trivia question: What author had “Ten Rules of Writing” that included “Never open a book with weather” and “Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip”? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Netflix is making a new live-action series adaptation of The Babysitter’s Club.

Tayari Jones will be the 2019 Independent Bookstore Day ambassador.

Julia Roberts is in talks to star in Amazon’s adaptation of Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win by Jo Piazza.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez is going to be a play at Steppenwolf.

Nzingha Stewart will direct the upcoming Misty Copeland biopic based on her memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.

Sandhya Menon announced a new short story sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi.

Cover Reveals

Paste has the cover reveal for A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker. (Berkley, September 10)

Catapult rolled out a ton of new covers, and they’re all so beautiful!

And here’s the first look at Andrew Shaffer’s new Obama and Biden mystery Hope Rides Again! (Quirk Books, July 9)

Sneak peeks

Here’s the new trailer for The Public, starring Emilio Estevez and Michael Kenneth Williams.

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:

prince the last interviewPrince: The Last Interview (The Last Interview Series) by Prince and Hanif Abdurraqib (Melville House, March 12)

Okay, yes, this is an obvious choice. But I loved him so much, it was nice to have another little glimpse of him. I highly recommend all the books in this series, even if you’re unfamiliar with the subject of the interview. You never knowwho you might get turned on to or what you might learn.

What I’m reading this week.

The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project by Lenore Appelhans

If Cats Disappeared from the World: A Novel by Genki Kawamura, Eric Selland (translator)

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten, Marlaine Delargy (translator)

Pun of the week:

Don’t spell part backwards. It’s a trap.

Here’s a kitten picture: Here’s Farrokh’s hangry face.

And this is funny.

This is my kind of humor.

Trivia answer: Elmore Leonard.

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

Categories
Book Radar

The NIGHT CIRCUS Adaptation Conjures Up a Director and More Book Radar!

Hello, Thursday readers! How is your week going? I have had a headache I can’t shake (BOO!) but I have also been having fun rearranging all my books (YAY!), so I can’t complain too much. I find alphabetizing books to be so relaxing. (Moving them from room to room, not so much, LOL.) This last week of February has been a quiet one, but I still have a few fun things to share. Have a great rest of your week, and remember to eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark.  – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by Flatiron Books, publishers of Save Me From Dangerous Men by S.A. Lelchuk.

Nikki Griffin isn’t your typical private investigator. In her office above her bookstore’s shelves and stacks, she also tracks certain men. Dangerous men. She seeks justice for those who need her help in Save Me From Dangerous Men, the debut by S.A. Lelchuk.

Trivia question time! What is the title of Monica Ali’s 2003 novel about London’s Bangladeshi community? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

the night circusThe Night Circus film has a director! It’s the first big announcement since the adaptation was announced in 2011, so hopefully this means things will move along more quickly now.

Helen Hoang has signed a four-book deal with Berkley Romance.

Mila Kunis bought the TV rights to The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz.

Cover Reveals

Attica Locke shared the cover to her Bluebird, Bluebird follow-up: Heaven My Home. (Mulholland Books, September 17)

Here’s a look at Origin of a Hero (She-Ra Chapter Book #1) by Tracey West and Amanda Schank. (Scholastic Inc., April 30)

Sneak Peeks

the golden compassHere’s the first peek at the BBC’s new adaptation of His Dark Materials. (I wasn’t planning on watching this, but then I found out Ruth Wilson is in it.)

And speaking of Philip Pullman, here’s a trailer for the The Secret Commonwealth: Volume 2 of The Book of Dust.

And here’s a teaser trailer for Joe Hill’s NOS4A2.

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 revisionersThe Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counterpoint, November 5)

As you may recall, I was a big fan of MWS’s last book, A Kind of Freedom, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. So I am extremely excited to see what she has for us next! The description says it’s about survivors and healers over 100 years in the American South. I can’t wait!

What I’m reading this week.

if cats disappearedIf Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura, Eric Selland (translator)

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

And this is funny.

I’ve watched this way too many times. (Heads up: There’s a swear word in Twitter avatar photo, so it might make this NSFW for some people.)

Trivia answer: Brick Lane.

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

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

It’s Tuesday! You know what that means – say it with me now: NEW BOOOOOOOKS! It’s already the last Tuesday in February (HOW?!?), but there’s still lots of great stuff hitting the shelves today. I have a few of today’s fabulous new releases below, and you can hear about more awesome reads on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Vanessa and I talked about The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Good Immigrant, Kid Gloves, and more great books.

Sponsored by Epic Reads

At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband’s household or raise his children. Both paths promise a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class. Daniela Vargas is the school’s top student, but her pedigree is a lie. She must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society. And school couldn’t prepare her for the difficult choices she must make after graduation, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio.

Huntress coverThe Huntress by Kate Quinn

When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, Nina Markova decides to become a member of the Night Witches, a legendary all-female bomber pilot regiment. But when Nadia is stranded behind enemy lines, she becomes the target of The Huntress, an infamous Nazi murderess. Combined with the stories of an English journalist who hunts war criminals, and a young woman in post-war Boston who senses there’s something wrong about her new German stepmother, this is a meticulously well-researched novel of war and revenge.

Backlist bump: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.

the body mythThe Body Myth by Rheea Mukherjee

Mira, a teacher living in Suryam, gets mixed up in the lives of a mysterious woman named Sara, and her husband, Rahil. As her relationship with each of them intensifies, Mira, a widow, becomes more caught up in their strange, toxic chemistry. A magnificent achievement of restraint, Mukherjee delivers a wonderful novel about loss and attraction.

Backlist bump: Florence in Ecstasy by Jessie Chaffee

mother countryMother Country: A Novel by Irina Reyn

This is a powerful novel about immigration, belonging, and a mother’s love. Nadia is a Russian immigrant living in The United States. She suffers through two loathsome jobs, and feelings of not belonging anywhere in the world, while she waits for her daughter’s immigration status to be approved by the Department of Homeland Security. But when Nadia learns her daughter is no longer getting the medicine she needs to survive, Nadia decides to do something about their separation herself. TL;DR: Don’t come between a mother and her cub.

Backlist bump: A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir by Elena Gorokhova

Thanks so much for visiting me here each week! Y’all are the best.

xoxo,

Liberty

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Wormholes in IKEA and Necromancers in Space: Swords and Spaceships for Feb 26, 2019

Hello and happy Tuesday, darklings! It’s me, Liberty! I have attached myself to Jenn’s brain stem, and I am now driving the mother ship. Or she asked me to fill in for her today. One of these things is true. Either way, I am excited to be here! Today we’ve got the teaser for His Dark Materials, wormholes in IKEA, upcoming new releases, a review of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, and more.

Sponsored by Flatiron Books

The Night Tiger pulls readers into a world of servants and masters, age-old superstition and modern idealism, sibling rivalry and forbidden love. Ji Lin is a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother’s Mahjong debts. But when one of her dance partners accidentally leaves behind a gruesome souvenir, she may finally get the adventure she’s been longing for. Eleven-year-old houseboy Ren is also on a mission, to fulfill his former master’s dying wish: that Ren find the man’s finger, lost years ago, and bury it with his body. Ji Lin and Ren’s dangerous paths crisscross in this dazzling novel.

I’d believe there are wormholes in IKEA: Says Tor editor Carl Engle-Laird: “I’m very pleased to announce that Tor.com Publishing has acquired Finna, a new science fiction novella from Nino Cipri. When an elderly customer at a big box furniture store slips through a portal to another dimension, it’s up to two minimum-wage employees to track her across the multiverse and protect their company’s bottom line. Multi-dimensional swashbuckling would be hard enough, but our two unfortunate souls broke up a week ago. Can friendship blossom from the ashes of a relationship? In infinite dimensions, all things are possible.” SIGN. ME. UP.

This week in ‘strange merchandising’: The final season of Game of Thrones premieres on April 14th, and to celebrate, they’ve teamed up with Nabisco for GOT-themed Oreo packaging. They’re the perfect treat for the guests at your Red Wedding! (Okay, now I’ve just had a mental image of Walder Frey trying to eat an Oreo, and I need brain bleach.) (GOT-related: Have you seen my shark?)

And speaking of Game of Thrones, here’s new footage from HBO, as well as another peek at Watchmen. (I’m not sure I’m going to, er, watch the new Watchmen adaptation, because I still feel very Tales of the Black Freighter or GTFO, just like I did when the movie came out.)

Here’s the latest on the Children of Blood and Bone adaptation: Rick Famuyiwa, director of the coming-of-age movie Dope, has signed on to direct Fox 2000’s adaptation of the best-selling YA novel by Tomi Adeyemi.

The first teaser trailer for the BBC’s adaptation of His Dark Materials is out: 

Me: I don’t want to watch another His Dark Materials adaptation.

BBC: We give you the gift of Ruth Wilson.

Me: *sobs into my Darth Vader onesie* This is all I ever wanted.

For thou are crunchy and taste good with ketchup: Here are five fantasy books about human and dragon friendships.

And speaking of dragons: IDW Publishing is rolling out a new 5-part comic book miniseries next month based on Dungeons & Dragons.

SYFY WIRE has an exclusive peek at G. Willow Wilson’s new sci-fi comic series from Dark Horse Comics titled Invisible Kingdom.

The Oscars might not have been able to stick the landing but at least Black Panther won three awards.

It’s not just happening inside your head, Harry: The latest attraction at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Because Dobby’s Final Moments wouldn’t be as fun. (Too soon? I know, I know, I’m a monster.)

The 2018 Nebula Award finalists have been announced: So many amazing contenders! I am Team Murderbot all the way.

It’s another great week for exciting new releases:

the priory of the orange treeThe Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

Rise of the Dragons by Angie Sage

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

The Big Crush by David J. Schow

The Very Best of the Best: 35 Years of The Year’s Best Science Fiction by Gardner Dozois

Captain Marvel: Liberation Run by Tess Sharpe

Season 2 of The Haunting of Hill House will take on The Turn of the Screw. Here’s a list of other literary haunted houses the show could tackle.

And speaking of haunted houses: I would like to apologize in advance for today’s review, because the book doesn’t come out until September. But it is my new obsession, and Jenn said I could talk about whatever I want, so here we are. Really, you need this much advance notice so you can prepare, because it’s going to BLOW YOUR MINDS.

gideon the ninthGideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

So as I just said, yes, I am OBSESSED with this book. I received an advance copy, and I’ve read it three times now. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before! It’s so unusual that I am not sure I can explain it in less than 50,000 words, but I’m going to try. Here goes:

Gideon the Ninth is a swordswoman who has lived in servitude to the Ninth House her whole life. The realm of the Ninth House is a bleak one, gray, dusty, and dark, and filled with animated skeleton slaves and reanimated corpses. Gideon’s nemesis is Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and necromancer. Harrow’s favorite hobbies are using bone magic to perform a multitude of things, and tormenting Gideon.

At the beginning of the book, Gideon gets caught trying to get off the planet, having only packed her sword and dirty magazines. Harrow makes Gideon a deal: The Emperor has issued a summons to each heir of the Nine Houses. The heir, accompanied by their cavalier, is to compete in a deadly trial of wits and skill. The winner will be made immortal. The rest will die. Harrow promises Gideon that if she accompanies her to the First House, she will give Gideon her freedom. If they win, that is. If they don’t win, they’ll be dead, so the deal won’t really matter, will it?

Gideon agrees, because she’s tired of hanging around in Deathland, and so they take a shuttle to the First House, a giant, decaying structure. Here they meet the necromancer and cavalier for each of the other houses. Teacher, their host and guide, shows them to their quarters, and explains the simple rules. You must solve the puzzles of the house to win. And don’t open any door you haven’t been given permission to open. That’s it. Sounds easy, right? Except no one knows what the puzzles might be, the building is filled with haunted souls and monsters, and someone (or something) has started murdering the heirs. Will sworn enemies Harrow and Gideon succeed in working together without being killed – or killing each other?

This is the wildest, funniest, most inventive fantasy book I think I have ever read. If I had to guess, I would say the five most frequently used words are ‘blood’, ‘bones’, ‘skeleton’, ‘sword’, and ‘death’. It’s like an undead Westing Game. It’s like Skeletor’s wet dream. I could clearly imagine every vivid second of this book! And it’s also sweet, and scary, and gross. Romance! Duels! Swimming pools! GAH. I am truly not doing it justice. You will just have to trust me, and mark it down now. You’ll thank me later, I promise.

This is the first book in a series, and as Jenn said about her book last week, the ending wraps up very nicely and ties up all the major plot threads while leaving the door open for further adventures. There are going to be two more books in the trilogy. I CANNOT WAIT. Tamsyn Muir is a mad genius. I want to get this book tattooed on my face.

TL;DR: Lesbian necromancers and swordswomen in a spooky-ass space house. You’re welcome.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. (I don’t have the keys to the Goodreads account, but I’m sure Jenn will add Gideon when she gets back.) If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch Jenn and Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. If you want to check out more of my bookish enthusiasm, you can find me on All the Books! and All the Backlist!, or sharing tons of pictures of my cats and books on Instagram at @franzencomesalive. Be excellent to each other!

Categories
Book Radar

THE WIZARD OF OZ Will Be a New TV Series and More Book Radar!

Helloooooooo, readers! (If that is your real name.) I have been reading up a storm the past couple of weeks, and I feel so much better. (Reading: It does a body good.) I have a lot of fun stuff to share with you today that will hopefully improve your Monday. Because Mondays, amirite? I hope you’re reading something wonderful. 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

Book Radar is sponsored by the spring debuts of the Class of 2k19 books: 20 authors, 20 MG and YA novels debuting in 2019.

THE FEVER KING: “Lee’s science-based, gritty world melds perfectly with the timely political intrigue of the twisting, devastating plot.” – Emily Suvada
THE QUIET YOU CARRY: “Barthelmess’ story shows us a character who is trembling, yet defiant. Her message: Quiet no more.” – Nikki Grimes
IF YOU’RE OUT THERE: “Part Holmesian mystery, part love story, and funny as hell, this is an exploration of friendship that unfolds with pitch-perfect pacing.” – David Arnold
THE TRUE HISTORY OF LYNDIE B. HAWKINS: “Full of Southern toughness and mountain charm, her fierce and funny voice […] is a beautiful picture of broken humanity.” – Kirkus starred review

Here’s this week’s trivia question: What book took Robert J. Waller two weeks to write, and topped bestseller lists for seven months? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi AdeyemiRick Famuyiwa will direct the Children of Blood and Bone adaptation.

Will Smith is writing a Fresh Princess children’s book series.

The Wizard of Oz novels are being made into a series.

And so is The Marrow Thieves!

Actress, comedian and screenwriter Casey Wilson has sold her first essay collection.

The Haunting of Hill House has been renewed for a second season.

Tor.com is publishing the novella Finna by Nino Cipri, about wormholes in IKEA.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is being made into a series for Netflix.

David Oyelowo joined the cast of the Peter Rabbit sequel.

Cover Reveals

Here’s the first look at the cover of Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher. (Berkley, November 12)

And the first peek at The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America by Karen Abbott. (Crown, October 8)

And here’s Rene Denfeld’s companion novel to The Child Finder: The Butterfly Girl. (Harper, October 1)

And here’s the first look at Toil & Trouble: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs. (St. Martin’s Press, October 1)

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:

gideon the ninthGideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (Tor Books, September 10)

This book is my new obsession. I’ve never read anything like it! It’s about Gideon the Ninth and Harrowhark Nonagesimus, the Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House. Harrowhark has been invited by the Emperor to compete against other Houses in a series of trials. The winner becomes immortal. As a necromancer, Harrowhark needs a cavalier, so she brings Gideon, her nemesis, because she is an excellent swordswoman. I am not doing this book justice, so I’ll just say it’s funny, and gross, and sweet, and scary, and hella-inventive. There are ghosts and skeletons and monsters. It’s SO RAD. I’ve already read it twice! I want to get it tattooed on my face, I love it so.

What I’m reading this week.

wanderersWanderers by Chuck Wendig

Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley

Pun of the week:

Thanks for explaining the word “many” to me, it means a lot.

Here’s a kitten picture: Zevon likes to sleep headless.

And this is funny.

Seems reasonable.

Trivia answer: The Bridges of Madison County.

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

Categories
Book Radar

Amy Poehler is Bringing MOXIE to Netflix and More Book Radar!

It’s Thursday again! How does that happen?? I hope you’re having a lovely time, or at least reading a lovely book, and have delicious snacks. It’s been kind of a quiet February week so far, but I still have a few fun things to share. Please enjoy the rest of your week, be kind to yourself as well as others, and remember that life is hard – you are doing a great job! – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by Beautiful Bad, a gripping psychological thriller by Annie Ward. Order your copy today at BeautifulBadBook.com.

Maddie and Ian’s love story began with a chance encounter at a party overseas. Now almost two decades later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America. But when a camping accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending writing therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian’s PTSD and her concerns for the safety of their young son. Sixteen years of love and fear, adventure and suspicion culminate in The Day of the Killing, when a frantic 911 call summons the police to the scene of a shocking crime

Trivia question time! What is the most expensive book ever purchased? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

moxieAmy Poehler is directing an adaptation of Moxie for Netflix.

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd has been optioned for television!

A Paddington Bear series is coming to Nickelodeon.

Abrams Kids announced a new book in their Questioneer series.

Dune, starring every actor ever apparently, now has a release date.

Neil Gaiman is reviving Jim Henson’s Storyteller.

There’s a show in the works based on the upcoming book, The Five, about the victims of Jack the Ripper.

Cover Reveals

Book Riot has the cover reveal for I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest. (Roaring Brook Press, June 4)

Former Rioter Preeti Chhibber is writing a Spider-Man tie-in! Here’s the first look at the cover. (Marvel Press, June 4)

And Epic Reads reveled the cover of Nocturna by Maya Motayne. (Balzer + Bray, May 7)

Sneak Peeks

bad blood by john carreyrouHere’s the trailer for HBO’s documentary about Theranos, the company exposed in Bad Blood.

And here’s the trailer for the Mötley Crüe biopic, based on their book The Dirt.

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 ten thousand doors of januaryThe Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook, September 10)

This was brought to my attention by an early reader who thinks I will love it. And it does indeed sound wonderful! It’s about magical doors, and sprawling mansions, and strange books that tell stories about their readers. SIGN ME UP!

What I’m reading this week.

paul takes the form of a mortal girlPaul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang

Ragged Alice by Gareth L. Powell

And this is funny.

This is certainly how I want to go.

Trivia answer: Bill Gates bought ‘Codex Leicester’, one of Leonardo Di Vinci’s scientific journals, for $30.8 million.

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

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Happy Tuesday, my darling book dragons. I had a great weekend of reading! A couple new books, a couple backlist books, and a rereading of Gideon the Ninth, because I am OBSESSED with it. Seriously, this is the most incredible, WTF space opera I have ever read, and I can’t wait for everyone else to share in the fun! MARK IT DOWN NOW.

Sponsored by Soho Teen

A drunken mistake. A life-changing accident. The bonds of sisterhood are tested by addiction and a crushing betrayal in Lizzy Mason’s debut. When 17-year-old Harley Langston sees her boyfriend kissing her sister Audrey at a house party, she’s furious. But when her boyfriend drunkenly tries to drive Audrey home, he crashes leaving Audrey in a coma. Adrift in a sea of guilt, grief, and anger, Harley is surprised to reconnect with Raf, an old friend just out of rehab. As Audrey recovers, Harley can see a path forward with Raf’s help—one guided by honesty and forgiveness.

And if you’re looking for wonderful new things to read today, look no further! I’m going to share a few of today’s great releases below, and you can hear about more awesome reads on this week’s episode of the All the Books! María Cristina and I talked talked about The White Book, The Study of Animal Languages, Bangkok Wakes to Rain, and more great books.

the good immigrantThe Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman

An important, necessary collection of essays by first and second-generation immigrants, exploring what it’s like to live in America under the current administration. The incredible lineup of writers includes Chigozie Obioma, Jenny Zhang, Alexander Chee, Teju Cole, and Porochista Khakpour.

Backlist bump: Go Home! by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan ,

the birds that stayThe Birds That Stay by Ann Lambert

A new detective series set in the wintery Montreal weather! Chief Homicide Inspector Roméo Leduc must cancel his vacation to investigate the murder of an elderly woman. The woman’s neighbor, Marie, discovers a clue to the crime after her ailing mother mentions another crime in their neighborhood many years before. Together Roméo and Marie learn that dark secrets have been festering in the shadows, and nothing is what it seems. I am excited to read another book in this series!

Backlist bump: Still Life by Louise Penny

the afterwardThe Afterward by E.K. Johnston

A group of knights who save the king are proclaimed heroes, but two of the young women find that life after fame is harder than they’d expected. Kalanthe and Olsa are having trouble settling back into their old lives with all the attention that comes their way, but they’ll learn that their heroic adventure isn’t quite through with them yet. Johnston has written a delightful fantasy with diverse characters, F/F romance, and a whole bunch of action and fun!

Backlist bump: Pawn of Prophecy: The Belgariad, Book 1 by David Eddings (I have never read Eddings, but Johnston claims to be a huge fan, and I read that The Afterward is an homage to him. So I looked him up, and the internet told me this is the place to start with his work.)

That’s it for me today! If you want to learn more about books new and old, or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (or see lots of pictures of my cats Millay, Farrokh, and Zevon), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Thanks so much for visiting me here each week! Y’all are the best.

xoxo,

Liberty

Categories
Book Radar

Benedict Cumberbatch Will Be Satan in GOOD OMENS and More Book Radar!

Happy Monday, book fans! Anyone want two kittens? I kid, I kid. But seriously, they have turned into little velociraptors! They’ve been here for almost six weeks, and there aren’t many books left in my office that don’t have teethmarks. *shakes fist* But back to books: I hope you’re reading something wonderful. 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 our giveaway of $100 to Amazon in support of Swords and Spaceships, our sci-fi/fantasy newsletter!

Swords and Spaceships is our biweekly newsletter about all things sci-fi and fantasy literature, and we’re giving away a $100 gift card to Amazon to one lucky reader! Just sign up for the newsletter below to enter (if you win, send us a pic of all the SFF books you buy with it!), and enjoy a regular dose of your favorite genre news, recs, and more, in your inbox.

Here’s this week’s trivia question: When was the first book of crossword puzzles published? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

heads of the colored peopleAntoinette Nwandu to adapt Wash Clean The Bones, based on the short story by Nafissa Thompson-Spires.

Benedict Cumberbatch will play Satan in Good Omens. And the premiere date was also announced.

The rights to the upcoming novel Sanctuary by V.V. James have sold to Entertainment 360, the company behind Game of Thrones.

Gabrielle Union will star in and produce an adaptation of the April Sinclair novel Coffee Will Make You Black.

And now Jason Momoa is joining the cast of Dune. Who isn’t joining?!?

Beacon Press will publish Robin DiAngelo’s next book.

And Masterpiece announced the cast for its adaptation of Sandition by Jane Austen.

Cover Reveals

Here’s the first look at The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams, which is being pitched as ‘Sabrina + Babysitters Club + Buffy.’ (Delacorte Press, September 17)

Mary H. K. Choi announced her next book, Permanent Record, and revealed the cover. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September 3)

Sneak Peeks

The first trailer for the second season of Killing Eve has been revealed!

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:

miranda in milanMiranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett (Tor.com, March 26)

This is a charming novel about what becomes of Miranda and Prospero after The Tempest. In Miranda does not go to Ferdinand in Naples, but instead becomes a prisoner of her father’s castle in Milan. Her only friend is a servant girl, who helps her find love and to realize the truth of her father and her mother. I have never read The Tempest, but I still wholeheartedly loved this imaginative story.

What I’m reading this week.

the body mythThe Body Myth by Rheea Mukherjee

The Cassandra by Sharma Shields

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

Book joke of the week:

Here’s a kitten picture: My little fruit tarts.

And this is funny.

Game of Thrones puns – I got ’em.

P.S. I forgot to include anything in this space in Monday’s email. D’oh!

Trivia answer: 1924.

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

Categories
Book Radar

MEATY by Samantha Irby is Coming to Comedy Central and More Book Radar!

Happy Thursday to my favorite people! How’s your week going? It’s a gray one here in Maine. Thank goodness there are books and kittens. Please enjoy the rest of your week, be kind to yourself as well as others, and remember that life is hard – you are doing a great job! – xoxo, Liberty

Sponsored by Penguin Teen Canada

Poppy used to be an optimist. But after being publicly fat-shamed, she’s having trouble seeing the good in the world. As a result, Poppy trades her beloved vintage clothes for a feathered chicken costume and accepts a job as an anonymous sign waver outside a restaurant. Cam, her twin brother, who is adjusting to life as an openly gay teen; Buck, a charming photographer with a cute British accent and a not-so-cute mean-streak; and Lewis a teen caring for an ailing parent, while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition.

P.S. I almost forgot: Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Trivia question time! The Washington Irving character Ichabod Crane had feet shaped like what? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

they both die at the endThey Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is being developed for HBO.

Meaty by Samantha Irby is being developed by Comedy Central.

Timbaland is publishing a children’s book.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are developing The Devil in the White City for Hulu.

Jasmine Guillory will be writing four more books with Berkley Romance.

Netflix won the battle for the rights to the short story, Faun, by Joe Hill.

Sandhya Menon is writing a fairytale retelling series.

There’s going to be a Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries movie!

Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capó Crucet is being made into a series.

Rainbow Rowell announced the release date of Wayward Son.

Cover Reveals

Here’s the first look at Dear Sweet Pea, Julie Murphy’s upcoming middle grade novel. (Balzer + Bray, October 1)

And Bustle has the cover reveal of Rebel Girls By Elizabeth Keenan. (Inkyard Press, September 10)

Sneak Peeks

Here’s the first full trailer for Shrill!

Here’s the teaser trailer for Disney’s live-action version of Aladdin.

Here’s the first trailer for the J.R.R. Tolkein biopic.

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 water dancerThe Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Random House, September 3)

The New York Times got the scoop on the new book by Coates! We knew it was coming, because it was teased at the Frankfurt Book Fair, but not what it was called or what it was about. SPOILER: IT SOUNDS AMAZING. You can read about it here.

What I’m reading this week.

the cassandraThe Cassandra by Sharma Shields

The White Book by Han Kang

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray

And this is funny.

Trivia answer: Shovels.

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

Categories
New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Welcome back, book fans! Didn’t we just do this??? I’m pretty sure that was the fastest seven days ever. At least I managed to get in a few great books. I hope you did, too. And if you’re looking for wonderful new things to read, look no further! I’m going to share a few of today’s great releases below, and you can hear about more great reads on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Rebecca and I talked talked about Lost Children Archives, The Book of Delights, Early Riser, and more great books.

Enter to win our giveaway of $100 to spend at Amazon!

Swords and Spaceships is our biweekly newsletter about all things sci-fi and fantasy literature, and we’re giving away a $100 gift card to Amazon to one lucky reader! Just sign up for the newsletter below to enter (if you win, send us a pic of all the SFF books you buy with it!), and enjoy a regular dose of your favorite genre news, recs, and more, in your inbox.

American Spy cover imageAmerican Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

Based on true events, this is an intense spy thriller about a young black woman in the FBI during the Cold War. Marie Mitchell joins a task force aimed at bringing down Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary president of Burkina Faso. Marie will get as close to Sankara as she can, and the information she learns helps bring about a coup. But the experience will have her questioning her work as a woman, a spy, and an American. I found this to be a thoroughly electric read. Not only is it a refreshingly different spy novel, but it’s a smart meditation on race and gender inequality in America.

Backlist bump: The Cutting Season by Attica Locke

watch us rise book coverWatch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan

Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends who are tired of the way women are treated in the world and in their school, so they decide to start a Women’s Rights Club. Despite positive support, when Jasmine and Chelsea’s work goes viral they become the target of trolls, leading the principal to shut the club down. But Jasmine and Chelsea didn’t come this far just to be silenced, and they will risk everything to keep their club going. Watch Us Rise is a passionate novel that will inspire every reader.

Backlist bump: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

the night tigerThe Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Ji Lin is an apprentice dressmaker, who works at night as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother’s Mahjong debts. Ren is an eleven-year-old houseboy who is out to fulfill his master’s dying wish: find his missing finger. These two characters will cross paths in 1930s colonial Malaysia as Ji and Ren search for their place in a world that prefers servants like them to remain silent. It’s a gorgeous coming-of-age novel set amidst the mysteries of unexplained deaths in their district and rumors of men turning into tigers.

Backlist bump: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

That’s it for me today! If you want to learn more about books new and old, or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (or see lots of pictures of my cats Millay, Farrokh, and Zevon), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Thanks so much for visiting me here each week! Y’all are the best.

xoxo,

Liberty