Newsletters Dev – Page 36 – getting it done!

A Sapphic Jewish Christmas & More YA Book Talk and News: November 30, 2023

Post author By Kelly Jensen
Post date November 29, 2023

Sponsored by

Hey YA Readers!

Can you believe we’re done with November already? This month has really felt like it’s gone by in a blink. Impressive, given that 2023 has itself been five years long.

I’ve been deep in a reading slump this month. Part of it is being burned out by grad school. Part of it is being burned out from book censorship coverage. It is so much easier in my downtime to scroll TikTok than to read. I’ve gotten a few audiobooks in, but for the most part, I’m also not pushing myself. Here’s your reminder that not reading is normal; it’s okay, and you don’t need to feel bad about it. Guess what? It’ll come back. It always does.

With that out there, let’s talk paperback releases and YA book news for the week.

Power up your reading life with thoughtful writing on books and publishing, courtesy of The Deep Dive. Over at our Substack publication, you’ll find timely stories, informed takes, and useful advice from our in-house experts. We’re here to share our expertise and perspective, drawing from our backgrounds as booksellers, librarians, educators, authors, editors, and publishing professionals. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and then get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox. You can also upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Bookish Goods

Bookish Canvas Tote by AscendantFireDesigns

‘Tis the season to remember the value of your local public library, whether or not you use them for your books, for programming and events, for research, or for a chill place to hang. This tote bag is all about love for the library, and its bright, fun design is hard not to smile about. $24.

New Releases

It’s time to highlight some great paperback YA books that hit shelves this week. We’ve got a bunch of fun titles out, so make sure you check out the entire list over here.

House of Yesterday by Deeba Zargarpur

Sara comes from a large Afghani-Uzbeck family, but she’s feeling alone after the divorce of her parents. Her dad’s started dating someone new, and making things more awkward is the fact that her dad and mom still work together in their house flipping business. Sara’s recruited as part of their work to take photos of the before and after.

The newest project, Sumner, is not giving great vibes. Sara begins to see the ghost of her grandmother and then the ghost of a strange little girl. No one else is seeing this, and she can’t capture it on camera. Her grandmother, who struggles with memory, has been having strange conversations about having another child that none of her family seems to know about. Are these comments and what Sara’s seeing related?

This is an immersive story about family, about history, and about the stories and choices immigrants sometimes have to make in order to build a new life.

How To Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow

A Sapphic Jewish romance at Christmas? Count me 500% in.

Shari runs into May with her Subaru, and that is not the plan. Shari’s got a month-long internship she’s excited about, but in addition to dealing with the accident, she’s also struggling to get over the big breakup she just experienced.

Then Shari’s taken up a dog walking gig. And guess who is there? It’s May. Now, the two of them are thrown together again, and it might upend everything. Especially as they’re snowed in together on Christmas Eve…

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

YA Book News

Did you know it’s been 15 years since the theatrical release of Twilight? Here’s a look back at the history of one of the biggest YA adaptations in history.
Three “best of” lists to enjoy from School Library Journal include the best YA books, the best nonfiction for middle and high school students, and the best graphic novels of 2023.
Speaking of the box office and long-time, money-making franchises, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes took home the top prize for Thanksgiving weekend in terms of sales.
There’s a YA prequel to The Umbrella Academy hitting shelves next summer.
British YA will see an adaption coming soon in the form of Eliza Clark’s Penance being developed for TV. What’s cool is the screenwriter behind it is also a YA author.
Netflix has dropped two YA adaptations: Harlan Coben’s Shelter and Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone. Netflix is also passing on Six of Crows.

Thanks, as always, for hanging out. We’ll see you again on Saturday for a fresh batch of YA book deals.

Until then, happy reading…or, if you’re in my position, happy not reading until it comes again.

–Kelly Jensen

The Stack

November is History, and So Are These Comics

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date November 29, 2023

Sponsored by

The end of the year is speeding towards us, nerd friends. Why not take a little breather from the holiday rush with a graphic novel?

Bookish Goods

Strawhat Skull Holiday Ornament by StarFallFox

No manga fan’s tree will be complete without this cute One Piece-inspired ornament! $18

New Releases

Wonder Woman by Gail Simone Omnibus by Gail Simone, Bernard Chang, and Aaron Lopresti

This new edition collects Simone’s beloved run in one convenient volume. Watch the Amazing Amazon take on a bevy of hard-hitting foes — including one who actually manages to steal her lasso and defeat her — alongside plenty of familiar, friendly faces!

Silence, Full Stop. by Karina Shor

Shor’s childhood was anything but easy. As both an immigrant and a survivor of sexual abuse, she found that she really couldn’t fit in anywhere and turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain. Through it all, she was able to retain a tight grip on her compassion for others — and eventually found a way to appreciate herself as well.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: historical nonfiction! Watch history unfold before your eyes with these informative graphic novels. The fact that their covers have matching color schemes is just an interesting coincidence.

Citizen 13660 by Miné Okubo

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government rounded up tens of thousands of its own citizens and placed them in camps just for the “crime” of being of Japanese descent. Okubo was one of those people, and she tells her story in this classic graphic memoir.

Red Harvest by Michael Cherkas

In the 1930s, Josef Stalin engineered a devastating famine in Ukraine, killing millions and (so he hoped) eradicating Ukrainian culture. This vast story is made personal by focusing on the experience of a single Ukrainian immigrant, Mykola, and his family, who managed to survive and tell the world about these terrible events.

Finally, please look at my dog Poppy as she “helps” with the laundry. Such a good girl!

~Eileen

Kissing Books

Still On the Petty Goodreads Train

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 29, 2023

Sponsored by

Greetings and salutations! Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, here to give you the rundown on the world of romance, including new releases, recommendations, and other entertaining ways to pass your time.

We made it through the last week of November y’all! I hope that whatever you do this coming weekend is super restful, especially if there was a lot of hustling and bustling last week. As for me, I’m going to see one of my closest and longtime friends tie the knot. I’m beyond happy for her and that she finally found her person and that come Monday, she and her fiancée will officially be Mrs. and Mrs. Big hearts all around.

Bookish Goods

Plot Twist Magnetic Bookmark by AllMyQueensShop

I am more than fairly confident I’ve made this exact face multiple times in my reading life. Because sometimes those plot twists really do catch you by surprise. Or the unexpected super spicy scenes. $6

New Releases

Soul Searching in Scotland by Shyla Colt

One year after being left at the altar, Zenaida journeys to Scotland with a to-do list, determined to find herself and return to the strong woman she was before. There, she meets Fraser, a handsome and charming Scotsman who seems to be the perfect candidate for a travel fling. However, Fraser knows he wants more than just a handful of memories with her and resolves to convince her to give him a second chance.

Coming Down Her Chimney by Imani Jay

When Amy lets her best friend convince her to accompany her to visit the latter’s parents, she isn’t expecting Kareem, her friend’s brother and lifelong crush, to be in attendance as well. Kareem also wasn’t expecting Amy to be there either, having harbored his own crush for more than a few years. Both are determined to ignore it as they have been, but when Amy is the highest bidder on Kareem for a bachelor auction, both quickly realize it will be harder to hold their feelings back.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Keeping with the semi-petty train (at least I’m honest) I have two more recommendations today for books that could have been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards. Today’s recommendations are two that actually really shocked me with being overlooked, considering how highly anticipated both were in Romancelandia. While it could be argued that this was just in my wing, I still stand by the statement and they could have at the very least gotten a nod.

Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid

Between being an adjunct professor with a small summer schedule and living with a chronic illness that results in multiple medical bills, Mickey has more than quite a bit on her plate. She figures that taking the part-time bartender gig at Diego’s bar will help with money troubles and get a break from academia. Diego, who also happens to be one of Mickey’s students, hires her even though he is worried about the way the power dynamics will shift on a regular basis. However, he also cannot deny the sunny optimism that Mickey brings to his bar and his life, and soon, they’re both wondering if a relationship will be worth the risk.

The Fiancée Farce by Alexendria Bellefleur

When Tansy invented a fake girlfriend in romance cover model Gemma, she didn’t expect their paths to cross. However, when it turns out she is the cousin of her stepsister’s fiancé, she finds herself in lurch. However, Gemma is also in need of a fake romantic partner and quickly steps into the role. When they discover that this faux relationship would be beneficial in multiple ways, they quickly step into the roles of lovers. But of course, as often happens, real feelings soon develop.

If y’all are hungering for bodyguard romances, then this list is for you.

Here is a list courtesy of EW full of holiday romances to pick up this season. A few of these are already on my TBR!

And Publisher’s Weekly recently put out this article showcasing Black romance authors and their love of the genre.

And that’s all she wrote for today. I’ll see y’all next time and in the meantime you can still find me over on the bird app under @PScribe801. Until we meet again, happy reading and stay hydrated!

Book Radar

Froot Loops Offers Free Children’s Books Online and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 29, 2023

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

Welcome to the final day of November, and as always, it’s a tough one for me. This day marks six years since I lost my brother to cancer. I know reading about grief and loss is uncomfortable, but it’s important for me to remember him on this day and every day and to honor him in some way. So we will go one with Book Radar as usual, but first, I just have to say: I love you, Adam. I’ll miss you forever. Everyone go watch The Lion King today in honor of my brother. He used to listen to that soundtrack every night before bed.

Book Deals and Reveals

Here’s the amazing cover of Mallory Marlowe’s debut romantic comedy, Love and Other Conspiracies, designed by Vikki Chu. It’s out from Berkley Romance on August 20, 2024.

Conservatives are currently boycotting Froot Loops and its parent company, Kellogg’s. And that’s because, in Canada, Froot Loops boxes are including access to an online repository of “free diversity and inclusion content” for children, according to a website dedicated to the initiative.

Rebecca Yarros signed a deal with Montlake to write two standalone contemporary romance novels. The first book is set to publish in 2025.

Ebony LaDelle, author of Love Radio, will be releasing her first adult novel, You’ve Got a Place Here Too, with Ballantine. The book is set for a 2025 release.

The Nerd Daily has shared the cover of M.J. Rose’s upcoming time-travel adventure novel Forgetting to Remember. This one is out on March 26, 2024.

Read an excerpt of Tessa Bailey’s new rom-com The Au Pair Affair, and check out the cover over at Cosmopolitan! It’s out from Avon on July 16, 2024.

Apple Books has launched its 2023 year in review, now available on iPhone and iPad within the Read Now tab under Top Picks.

Matt Smith has signed on to star as the title character in the television adaptation of Nick Cave’s 2009 novel The Death of Bunny Munro.

Meanwhile, Paul Greengrass has been hired to adapt the film adaptation of T.J. Newman’s novel Drowning.

After releasing their 100 Notable Books of 2023, The New York Times has narrowed it down to their top 10 Best Books of 2023.

Here are the sci-fi and fantasy titles getting the most recognition in best-of-the-year lists and award shortlists!

Book Riot Recommends

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

Can’t Wait for This One!

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid (January 30, 2024)

It’s time to finally shout out my most anticipated novel of 2024, and I feel so lucky because I don’t have to wait that much longer! This one, being at the end of January, is just almost right around the corner, which means it’s almost time to prepare our shelves. If you read Kiley Reid’s debut novel Such A Fun Age, then you’re probably just as excited about Come and Get It as I am. Such A Fun Age was a wild page-turner, but not in the way you’d expect. I could not put the book down because I was so nervous and weirdly excited to find out what cringey thing the characters would do next. And just like Reid’s first one, Come and Get It is a novel focused on social commentary, dynamic characters, and a story you won’t be able to pull yourself away from.

Set in 2017 at the University of Arkansas, Come and Get It is about senior resident assistant Millie Cousins. Millie is trying to graduate and save up enough money to buy a house. When visiting professor Agatha Paul offers Millie an interesting opportunity to help conduct research about weddings for her new book, Millie thinks it sounds like an easy way to make a little bit more cash. But after a student prank turns sinister, Millie finds herself on the brink of losing everything she’s worked so hard for.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“As I get older I see more and more how fluid a thing time is. There are so many ways to slip in and out of it. The wonder is that we ever stick in the now.”

— Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

What I’m Watching This Weekend

Here’s a fun thing I do every Christmas. I watch twelve new Christmas movies and rate them using my patented (not really) Christmas scale. How Christmassy are this year’s offerings? Time will tell! But here’s a list of some of the new holiday movies coming out this year that I might be watching this weekend.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Here’s sweet little Cersei Anne with a toy bird. I know you are probably thinking about booping her cute little pink nose right now. But it’s a trap. You should know with cats it’s always a trap.

And that’s all I have for you today, friends. I hope you have a wonderful day and a beautiful weekend. Sending you all love!

Emily

In The Club

Non-Book Club Gifts!

Post author By Erica Ezeifedi
Post date November 28, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed.

I was, admittedly, up way too late scouring the internet for deals this past weekend (Black Friday has high-key turned into Black Week, if we’re keeping it real). I come from a long line of couponing women, so I was in my zone a little bit. But I also overdid it (lolz).

Well, I’m sharing with you some of the things I found. Though some of the deals are over, there are still a lot of things that either have good sale prices or are perfect for book club gifting. And if you order now, you should be able to get them before Christmas, if that’s your goal.

Nibbles and Sips

Spiced, Braised Short Ribs with Creamy Potatoes by Alison Roman

Rebecca Schinsky, Book Riot’s Chief of Staff, shared a ridiculous-looking recipe for braised short ribs, and though I haven’t tried it yet, I don’t see how it could miss.

You’ll need bone-in short ribs and potatoes, obvi, as well as onion, garlic, chili de arbol, cumin seeds, fennel seed, coriander seed, ground cinnamon, tomato paste, white wine vinegar, beef or chicken broth, lemons, and cilantro.

For a full list of ingredient amounts and instructions, visit Alison Roman’s page.

Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.

Even if your giftee doesn’t want to hang this ornament on a Christmas tree, a collection of miniature versions of the books they read this year (or all-time faves) would be amazing to have. $38

I have this candle, and yes, it somehow really does smell like a bookstore. Which is to say that it is comfort in a jar. $9

These simple but adorable magnetic bookmarks have a range of potential colors. $6

We are all in our book club era. $25

For those of us in a lot of the U.S., it’s sweatshirt season, and I love how this green bookworm sweatshirt looks like it’s for a college. $41+

Customize these book earrings with your giftee’s favorite book! $9+

I’m sure any book club member who’s also a board game lover would really love this Really Loud Librarians game. $20

There are never enough totes (especially ones gifted to you by other people!). I am 100% certain this Kate Spade New York canvas tote bag (with interior pocket) will be very much appreciated. $34

This personalized book mug could hold coffee, sure, but it could also potentially hold other liquids favored by book clubs. What I’m saying is that I’m not against wine in a mug. Plus, being able to add your giftee’s favorite books is such a nice touch. $21

I really love the idea of everyone in the book club having this book club enamel pin, so y’all could look like one (cute) bookish unit. $14

For more holiday suggestions, check out our holiday page, which gets weekly updates.

Suggestion Section

Project Gutenberg Produced 5,000 AI Audiobooks, but How Do They Sound?

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2022 and 2023, Crunched

The 10 Best Books of 2023, According to The New York Times

This is the Word of the Year, According to Merriam-Webster

I hope this newsletter found you well, and as always, thanks for hanging out! If you have any comments or just want to connect, send an email to erica@riotnewmedia.com or holla at me on Twitter @erica_eze_. You can also catch me talking more mess in our In Reading Color Substack as well as chattin’ with my co-host Tirzah Price on the Hey YA podcast.

Until next time,

Erica

True Story

Enter the Mirror World with Naomi Klein

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date November 28, 2023

Sponsored by

I spent most of the holiday weekend grooming the Corgis and cleaning my house, anything to keep listening to my ridiculous number of audiobooks that I wanted to finish over the break. Let me tell you, brushing that amount of Corgi floof gave me a lot of time to enjoy my audiobooks. So, today, we’re looking at a couple of my favorites from the weekend. Plus, new books!

Bookish Goods

Personalized Christmas Book Tree Ornament by Chippico Toys

I love these adorable little ornaments made out of the images of Christmas trees made out of books. Just too cute. $24

New Releases

Stitching Through the Seasons: Evocative Patterns and Projects to Capture the Magic of Each Month by Yumiko Higuchi

You can now travel through the year with 52 different patterns featuring plants and fungi of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Higuchi gives textile lovers plenty of inspiration, perfect for embroidering everything from pillowcases to handkerchiefs.

Growing an Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space Into a Food Garden by Gary Pilarchik and Chiara D’Amore, PhD

Plant lovers rejoice! Pilarchik and Dr. D’Amore tell readers how to grow plants that are both delicious and beautiful. Learn how to landscape your yard while also growing herbs for your kitchen.

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

For years, Naomi Klein has found herself continuously confused with Naomi Wolfe. They are both Jewish women who have historically moved through feminist spaces. But in the last decade, Wolfe has steadily become more connected with extremist right-wing politics. In this one-of-a-kind book, Klein details the history of the confusion and misidentification the two women have experienced online. From there, Klein expands into what she calls the mirror world, a place where men like Steve Bannon go off about stolen elections and forced mask mandates. Wolfe joins Bannon on his popular podcast, which astounds Klein as she listens to Wolfe’s guest appearance after guest appearance. Doppelganger is a fascinating look at the evolution of American politics and how we got to the chaos that we’re experiencing now.

Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life by bell hooks and Cornel West

bell hooks’ backlist is slowly but surely being turned into audio editions, so I’ve been making my way through them. Most recently, I picked up Breaking Bread, which is a series of conversations between bell hooks and Cornel West, two of the greatest minds of their generation. I’ve sometimes wondered what it would be like to sit in on conversations like this, and Breaking Bread brings us in on that conversation. hooks and Cornel describe their experience being in community as Black intellectuals. They include essays about each other, showing such admiration for each other’s work. It’s a beautiful testament to their friendship and mutual respect.

That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.

Happy Reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

Unusual Suspects

48 Cold-Weather Novels for Thrills and Chills

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date November 28, 2023

Sponsored by

Hello, mystery fans! For some reason, body-swapping movies were really popular when I was a kid — and I watched them all— so I grew into an adult who gravitates towards that trope. Enter Netflix upping the ante with an entire family body-swapping: Family Switch. So clearly, that’s what I’m watching!

Bookish Goods

Bookish Greeting Card by ArtsByBooksnmae

Send out bookish holiday cards this year! (1 for $3 or 4 for $10) Tip: if you always forget to buy holiday cards on time, purchase next year’s this year. Just put them somewhere where you won’t forget them — Why ever would you think I say that from experience?

New Releases

Murder on Tour (Mystery Bookshop #9) by V.M. Burns

For fans of cozy mysteries starring a bookstore owner!

Samantha Washington runs a bookstore in Michigan and has just published a historical mystery, which she is on a book tour promoting. That’s where she witnesses Judith Hunter, a bestselling author, get accused of plagiarism and fighting with other authors. So when a publicist is poisoned, Sam thinks maybe the intended victim was Judith. She’ll need to prove her theory correct and get help from some friends at the Shady Acres Retirement Village.

Want to start at the beginning? Pick up The Plot is Murder!

No One Left But You by Tash McAdam

For fans of murder mysteries, past and present storylines, and a main character that can’t remember the night in question!

Max has been having a bit of a rough time recently since transitioning: one parent is supportive and loving, and the other is not; his recent ex has become his bully. So when Gloss, a new girl in town who’s instantly the cool girl, takes him under her wing, he’s delighted. But they’re complete opposites on the surface: Gloss is rich, outgoing, and rule-breaking; Max is not wealthy, a musician lost in his lyrics, and trying to get by.

Then a party ends in murder, and Max is the main suspect until someone else confesses, throwing everything Max knows into turmoil, especially since his memory of that night isn’t coming back… (You find out very early on who was murdered and who confesses, but since the summary didn’t list it, I thought I’d not “spoil” it.)

Told in the past (Max meeting Gloss through the night of the party) and present (Max being questioned by police through the point of him remembering the night of the party), both narratives careen towards each other, giving you plenty of chance to try to figure out what did actually happen that night.

(TW alcoholic parent, child abuse/ misgendering, transphobia / mentions past suicidal ideation)

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Last round, I highlighted middle grade mysteries that you should absolutely read (Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland and Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce) since Goodreads dropped the category from its awards. This time, I’m focusing on another category they dropped: graphic novels. Next round will be poets writing true crime memoirs and mysteries.

Lady Killer, Volume 1 by Joëlle Jones (Writer/Illustrator), Jamie S. Rich (Writer), Chelsea Cain (Introduction)

For fans of stories about contract killers and recent-ish historical crime!

Imagine Betty Draper secretly a hitwoman, violently kicking 1950s stereotypes in the throat! And I always love Joëlle Jones’s illustrations! You can view sample pages on her site.

Goldie Vance Vol. 1 by Hope Larson, Brittney Williams (Illustrator)

For fans of teen detectives and fun stories!

Goldie is 16, working (and getting into trouble) as a valet at a Florida resort her dad manages. But her real-life goal is to be the in-house detective — so naturally, she forces her way into cases to solve them!

News and Roundups

Authors With Their Own Publishing Imprints (And What Books to Read From Them)

We asked 6 authors of gift-worthy mysteries who could get them out of an escape room

Carmen Maria Machado on video games! Murder mysteries! 17 new books out today.

12 Best Mystery Series on Amazon Prime, Ranked — Unleash Your Inner Sleuth!

48 Cold-Weather Novels for Thrills and Chills

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See 2023 releases and upcoming 2024 releases. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations!

Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own, you can sign up here.

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date November 28, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that needs to jump onto your TBR pile! Today, we’re talking about one of the buzziest nonfiction books of 2023.

Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein

I spent most of the holiday weekend grooming the Corgis and cleaning my house, anything to keep listening to Naomi Klein’s new book. When a friend of mine recommended Doppelganger, I hit play and settled in for this “through the looking glass” sort of book.

What first starts as a casual, sometimes even funny, misidentification between Klein and “the other Naomi” turns into a constant confusion that fills Klein’s Twitter notifications. From there, Klein expands into what she calls the mirror world, a place where men like Steve Bannon go off about stolen elections and forced mask mandates. Wolfe joins Bannon on his popular podcast, which astounds Klein as she listens to Wolfe’s guest appearance after guest appearance. Doppelganger is a fascinating look at the evolution of American politics and how we got to the chaos that we’re experiencing now.

In the last major section of the book, Klein examines Wolfe’s anti-vaxxer stance and the constant ableism that Wolfe spouts across all of her channels. As the mother of an autistic child, Klein is all too aware of the passion many “autistic parents” have against vaccinations. These parents see she has an autistic child and hand her fliers about why vaccines are “to blame” for how her son’s mind works. Klein breaks down these arguments, illustrating the history of violent ableism towards disabled people. As a disabled person, I appreciated the solidarity—the push for people like Wolfe to confront how their beliefs about vaccines are based on a hatred for disabled and neurodivergent people.

Klein’s mind is so organized. I constantly marveled as she guided us through Wolfe’s mirror world, pointing out and disapproving of a host of Wolfe’s false claims. I will never be able to properly describe her skill here. So please, don’t take my word for it. Go read Doppelganger for yourself.

Happy Reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

Giveaways

112823_NovEAC_OSGiveaway

Post author By Karen Green
Post date November 28, 2023

We’re partnering with Cearnach Grimm to give away a $250 gift card to Powell’s Books! Fill out the form for your chance to win.

Enter here for a chance to win, or click the image below!

Here’s a bit more from our sponsor: Cearnach Grimm is the creator of the hilariously captivating world of The Runebreakers which garners more than one million social media views per week. He writes fantasy and sci-fi, and revels in D&D. Join and dive deep into the behind-the-scenes of Cearnach Grimm’s writing process and discover new artifacts and characters for your D&D party.

Past Tense

Books to Gift Your Friends and Family This Holiday Season

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date November 28, 2023

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans!

It’s that time of year again: gift-giving season is upon us. Personally, I love finding and crafting the perfect gifts for all of my loved ones, but I know it’s more of a chore for some than others. That’s why this week I’m sharing a trio of historical fiction books perfect to gift to your friends and family. No gift is better than the gift of reading, right? So go ahead and finish up your holiday shopping with some historical fiction.

Bookish Goods

Wooden Literary Figure Ornaments from Design BCC

Decorate your tree with these adorable wooden literary figure ornaments of Poe, Mark Twain, Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens. $28

New Releases

The Greatest Thing by Patti Flinn (November 30, 2023)

A boy kidnapped, shipped to the court of Louis XV, and renamed Louis-Benoit Zamor as a gift to Madame Du Barry learns to live among the French elite, even as he longs for the life that was stolen from him. Treated as a pet and working as a page, Zamor holds on to the memory of his mother and her belief in him.

When We Were Enemies by Emily Bleeker

Descended from actresses and Hollywood icons, Elise Branson is a bit of an outlier in her family. She prefers to avoid the camera rather than be in front of it. But a new documentary about her grandmother’s rise to fame in the 1940s brings Elise—and Vivian—back into the limelight. Not only that, it could expose secrets Vivian kept buried to protect the fame and fortune she’d always aspired to.

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Riot Recommendations

One of my favorite things to gift around the holidays is a good book, and here are three that I think will make for great presents this holiday season.

A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter

Generations of women in a Métis family search for belonging in this interwoven tale of healing and family heritage. Told from a chorus of voices, including the descendants of the bison who once freely roamed the land, A Grandmother Beings the Story is a story of family unlike any you’ve read before.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

A community of Black and Jewish residents is rocked when a body is uncovered from a well in their part of town. They know exactly who it is and what happened, but the secrets the people of Chicken Hill have been keeping uncover deeper truths about the reality of life on the margins and the lengths communities will go to in order to protect one another.

Good Taste by Caroline Scott

This book is perfect for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. A writer is commissioned to write a history of the food of England during the Great Depression. Considering the country’s reputation for bland food, Stella isn’t optimistic about the book’s prospects. But when her car breaks down and she’s rescued by an antique dealer, her story goes in surprising new directions.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on Goodreads, Instagram, and Litsy, my favorite bookish social media.

Right now, I’m reading A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur. What about you?