Newsletters Dev – Page 41 – getting it done!

Laura Hankin Announces New Book and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 17, 2023

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

Happy Monday, and happy Thanksgiving holiday week for those of you in the US. I’m still coming at you from Belgium. I went to Bruges yesterday, which was fun! But I’m heading back soon, so next time you see me, I’ll be back in boring ‘ole America. But for now, let’s chat books.

Book Deals and Reveals

Here’s the cover of Paul Tremblay’s upcoming novel Horror Movie! It’s out in June 2024.

What would you do if you had to walk down the aisle with a guy who’d given your book a 1-star review? If you’re author Laura Hankin, you write a new book. One Star Romance is coming June 18, 2024, and is available now for preorder.

More exciting cover reveals! Here’s the cover of Cate Baumer’s The Faithful Dark, a new gothic fantasy for fans of The Foxglove King and One Dark Window. It’s out on April 2, 2024.

Erika Robuck’s Prohibition-era novel The Last Twelve Miles releases on June 24, and here’s the gorgeous cover. It’s available for preorder now.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil has a new essay collection coming out! Here’s the cover of Bite by Bite: Nourishment and Jamborees, which features illustrations by Fumi Nakamura. It’s out in May 2024.

Chaotic matchmaking? Childhood friends to lovers? Found family? Check out Swati Hegde’s Match Me if You Can, out on June 4, 2024.

And here’s the official cover reveal of Karmen Lee’s The 7-10 Split, a sapphic romance out from Harlequin Books on May 21, 2024.

Sarah Street’s sapphic “Little Red Riding Hood” retelling A Sea of Wolves is also coming in May 2024, and here’s the cover reveal!

The 2023 National Book Awards were announced during a ceremony hosted by LeVar Burton. Here are the winners.

Here we go, book lovers. Announcing Book Riot’s picks for the best books of 2023!

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!

We’re here to enrich your reading life! Get to know the world of books and publishing better with a subscription to The Deep Dive, Book Riot’s staff-written publication delivered directly to your inbox. Find a guide to reading logs and trackers, hear about why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and more from our familiar in-house experts. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Prepare Your Shelves!

Seven Minutes in Candyland by Brian Wasson (Quill Tree Books, December 12)

December is the perfect month to read a YA rom-com about candy, wouldn’t you agree? Thankfully, we’re getting Brian Wasson’s debut novel Seven Minutes in Candyland in just a few short weeks on December 12.

This adorable rom-com follows sophomore Kalvin Shmelton, who has a little business going, selling candy at school. It’s the perfect way to make a little extra money. His classmates love the candy, and it keeps Kalvin far away from the drama. That is…until his crush, Sterling Glistern, waltzes into his candy supply closet.

Suddenly, Kalvin finds himself running a whole new side hustle: relationship therapist. He only meant to let Sterling know what a jerk she was dating, but when you’re good at something, news travels fast in the world of high school. Soon, Kalvin is supplying way more than sweet treats to broken hearts who are hungry for thoughtful relationship advice. But while on the outside, Kalvin might seem like he has it all together, not everything is as it seems.

What I’m Reading This Week

Making it So by Patrick Stewart

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Out There Screaming, ed. Jordan Peele

This Spells Love by Kate Robb

Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi

Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

Bookish Memes

Wuthering Heights is my absolute favorite book of all time, so I was excited to see this excellent collection of Wuthering Heights/Brontë memes. Hope you enjoy!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

I can’t believe this, but I forgot to wish Remy a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. He turned two on November 9. Look at this cute little Scorpio king! Happy belated birthday, Remy! I love you so much!

And that’s all I’ve got for you today, friends. I hope you have an amazing week. I hope you have a wonderful week. Have a wonderful holiday. Be kind to yourself. Remember that you don’t have to earn your food. And I’ll see you soon!

Emily

The Kids Are All Right

Cookbooks, Frog & Toad, And More!

Post author By Margaret Kingsbury
Post date November 17, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! As I read the Sunday newsletter about my daughter not being sick, I had to chuckle to myself. Wishful thinking! She came home sick just the day after I wrote the newsletter. These kindergarten germs are so much more vicious than the preschool ones. I was not prepared.

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.

Today I review several children’s cookbooks as well as two great new releases.

Bookish Goods

Frog & Toad Sweatshirt by JustinsShirtStore

My daughter and I went to a Frog & Toad children’s play this past weekend with friends (before she became ill), and it was so fun! I had to find a Frog & Toad item to celebrate, and this sweatshirt looks perfect for the winter. $33+

New Releases

Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape by Mirka Hokkanen

This clever shape book has an adult black cat hiding behind various household items as a white kitten searches for them. Cat contorts into a square behind a cereal box, a circle behind a dresser mirror, a diamond behind a kite, and more. It’s a funny and cute way for toddler and preschool readers to learn shapes.

What Do Brothas Do All Day? by Ajuan Mance

This homage to Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? is a joyous celebration of Black men going about their daily activities. Brothas read books on the subway, wait in line at the grocery store, jump double dutch with neighborhood kids, and so much more. The illustrations are bold and vibrant. An author’s note discusses Mance’s inspiration and how affirming it can be for Black kids to see themselves and their lives represented in picture books.

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

Riot Recommendations

I am a mediocre cook, but my daughter and I do enjoy cooking together. Here are some cookbooks to try out with the kids in your life!

Look and Cook Snacks by Valorie Fisher

This book is SO easy for kids to follow. Each step in the recipe is depicted with photographs. My five-year-old can almost completely finish a recipe on her own with this cookbook, with me doing all the oven preparations, of course. Her favorite recipes so far have been the nutter nuggets, which are like peanut butter and oat balls, and wrap & rolls, which are like pigs in a blanket.

Recipes for Change: 12 Dishes Inspired by a Year in Black History by Michael Platt, illustrated by Alleanna Harris

This picture book is a fascinating glimpse into Black history through the lens of cooking. Each page spread is divided by months exploring one historical moment with an accompanying recipe. January explores how the Black Panther Party implemented free school breakfast in 1966. The accompanying recipe is “The Black Panther Party’s creamy grits.” Back matter includes a closer look at some of the people mentioned in the book. This is such a neat book.

Kids Can Cook Vegetarian by Esther Coombs

This vegetarian cookbook is part of a series and includes both text for each step in a recipe as well as illustrations so kids can easily follow. We make the banana pancakes frequently! More than 30 recipes are included. Other books in the series include Kids Can Bake and Kids Can Cook.

Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story by Nadiya Hussain, illustrated by Clair Rossiter

This is such a cool book. Each of the 15 recipes includes an illustrated fairytale that relates to the recipe. After making the pumpkin and spice flapjacks, for example, you can read a story about Cinderella and her pumpkins. After making a goat cheese and onion tart, read about some hungry billy goats and their cheese and onion tarts. The stories are silly, and the recipes are yummy. I admit my daughter won’t eat that cheese and onion tart, but maybe one day she will. 🙂

Here’s my daughter making nutter nuggets from Look and Cook Snacks. They were good! She’s not quite ready for Top Chef Junior yet, though.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

True Story

Indigenous Nonfiction for Your TBR

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date November 16, 2023

Sponsored by

With just a month and a half left in the year, my TBR still looks a mile high. Somehow, no matter how many books I read, the books on my TBR shelves still appear as if they are multiplying. At any rate, I’m having to make some hard choices: what books do I want to read by the end of the year? And with “best of” lists dropping every day, I’m overwhelmed with choices, in the best possible way. I’ll let you know what I decide.

In the meantime, today’s recommendations are all about nonfiction books perfect for Indigenous Heritage Month. But first, new books!

Bookish Goods

Crystalized Book by The Gilding Alchemist

I have been seeing these crystalized books all over TikTok. They are gorgeous! Buying someone their favorite book immortalized in crystal forever more sounds like quite the romantic gift idea. $98

New Releases

Chasing Bright Medusas: A Life of Willa Cather by Benjamin Taylor

Benjamin Taylor details the life of Willa Cather, an American writer who was not afraid to write the stories she wanted to tell. Taylor’s biography highlights Cather’s unique place in American letters and details Cather’s rise to literary stardom.

The Death of a Jaybird: Essays on Mothers and Daughters and the Things They Leave Behind by Jodi M. Savage

In this memoir centering on three generations of women, Savage writes about growing up being mostly raised by her grandmother. Her mother struggled with addiction, and when Savage’s grandmother passed away, Jodi found herself as the caregiver for her mother.

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

Riot Recommendations

It’s Indigenous Heritage Month, so here are two picks for your TBR this month and beyond.

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer

Many of us remember the incredibly popular Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, in which Dee Henderson argued that Indigenous culture functionally ended at the massacre at Wounded Knee. But in The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, Ojibwe writer David Truer writes about how Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island are very much alive. Following Indigenous history from 1890 to the present, Truer features interviews and research about Indigenous peoples preserving and celebrating their cultures. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee presents an Indigenous history that is very much alive and ongoing.

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

Investigative journalist Tanya Talaga writes about the long-lasting impact of residential schools on Indigenous youth today. In the 1960s, a 12-year-old Indigenous boy froze to death while trying to escape a residential school. Talaga follows how this boy’s death is connected to the deaths of seven Indigenous high school students from 2000 to 2011. Talaga combs through archives and interviews Indigenous elders, students, and school administrators, illustrating how this one northern, small-town school is emblematic of Canada’s history of settler colonial violence against Indigenous peoples across the continent.

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

Giveaways

111623-Nov.EACPushes-2023-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date November 16, 2023

We’re teaming up with HTP Books to give away a pair of AirPods Pro to one lucky winner!

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

Here’s a bit more about our partner: HTP Books newsletter celebrates books and popular culture, connecting readers, booksellers, librarians, and book clubs with relevant content and resources.

Swords and Spaceships

Crack Open a Can of Sci-Fi

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date November 16, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got new releases for you, two ways. I’m going to keep this brief because I just turned in a book and my brain is soup and the words are not coming in so well, but I hope everyone had a wonderful week, and please keep that rolling into a wonderful weekend! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Entertainment Community Fund, which supports entertainment workers who are striking for living wages and a future where humans can continue to create art for each other.

Bookish Goods

Sci Fi Soda Can Bookmarks by SupernovaComicArt

I know I’ve been on a bit of a bookmark kick lately, but that’s probably because all of my bookmarks are still in a box…somewhere. So, I’m at the stage of marking my pages with old receipts. Also, these are extremely cute! $4

New Releases

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

Rita, an artist, struggles with grief after the death of her estranged father; she never had a chance to ask him about his childhood and family or the Mi’kmaq culture she doesn’t know how to be part of. Then her girlfriend Molly gets her an artist’s residency for a week using a forged application — Rita would be angry, but it will put her in a cabin right where her father grew up. Soon, she’s being hit with dark visions from the swamp around the cabin, which she paints, which are leading her somewhere deep into the swamp’s decay.

Also, check out her poetry collection, Elegies of Rotting Stars.

Hellweg’s Keep by Justin Holley

FBI Agent Kendra Omen comes to the moon Zeta One after 37 miners disappear without a trace in a titanium mine…but that’s only the beginning of the strangeness that manifests. There are whispers, moving shadows, and even ghosts to go with evidence of occult practices going on in the dim hallways of the Hellweg Enterprises offices and in the mine. The answers lie below in a labyrinth half-made and half-natural, if Kendra can survive the journey.

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

Riot Recommendations

Here are a couple of pretty new short story collections for your perusal!

At Night He Lifts Weights by Kang Young-sook translated by Janet Hong

In this newly translated collection, Korean writer Kang Young-sook explores stories of loss and dark goings-on under a calm surface on the backdrop of an ecological dystopia.

My Worst Ideas by Michael Jeffrey Lee

Michael Jeffrey Lee has built a collection of short stories with a decidedly uncanny, dreamlike, and sometimes downright weird tone to go with his lyrical use of prose, exploring notions of growing unease and dislocation.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Check Your Shelf

Queer in a Time of Book Banning

Post author By Katie McLain
Post date November 16, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to Check Your Shelf, where it has been a WEEK. To put it bluntly, we’ve been in crisis mode at work for a long time, and on Tuesday, one of my fellow managers and I had an opportunity to address the library trustees about the impact this staffing crisis has had on the employees, and we didn’t pull any punches. There is a lot of change happening, and a lot more change still to come, but I think our statements had a positive impact.

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

Leslie Burger has been appointed the Interim Executive Director of ALA, following Tracie D. Hall’s departure earlier this year.

Worth Reading

Here’s what students miss out on when their schools don’t have librarians.

Sacred space: why libraries are essential to incarcerated writers.

Why we need public libraries now more than ever.

7 surprising ways the public library can save you money.

Book Adaptations in the News

It’s not a book adaptation, but Michael Connelly’s Wonderland Murders and the Secret History of Hollywood podcast is getting a docuseries adaptation at MGM+.

What’s going on with Enola Holmes, season 3.

Season 2 of House of the Dragon will premiere early next summer.

Censorship News

Kelly Jensen talks about having her own book banned in retaliation for her reporting on censorship issues.

Queer in a time of book banning: a library worker’s story.

How much does the book banning crusade cost American taxpayers?

Kirk Cameron launches his own book fair in response to Scholastic, saying that his program will provide children’s books without pornography. The link is from Fox News, although I typically try not to link to them.

Censorship in prisons is part of slavery’s legacy.

Innocence, here and abroad: taboos about what can and can’t be shown in picture books around the world.

Librarians who have been fired due to their refusal to ban books are turning to the EEOC for assistance.

Book bans and the librarians who won’t be hushed.

Election updates: Election Night 2023 library wrap-up; Liberal and moderate candidates take control of school boards in contentious races across the US; Republicans suffer crushing defeat in “transgender battle;” Moms for Liberty-backed school board candidates overwhelmingly lose in elections.

Booksellers and publishers urge the appeals court to uphold the block on the contentious Texas book rating legislation.

P!nk and PEN America have teamed up to give away 2,000 banned books at her Florida concerts.

This Florida high school librarian explains how the ongoing fight against censorship drove her to quit a job that she loved.

Steve Martin has a snappy comeback for the Collier County Public School district (FL) for banning his novel, Shopgirl, which is cute, I guess, but Collier County schools have removed 313 books from their school libraries, and that’s not getting nearly as much attention.

Students in New Haven, Connecticut, rally for the right to read.

Five new candidates were elected to the Pine-Richland School District (PA), and four of them are in support of book bans.

Inside the knock-down, drag-out fight over the soul of a Pennsylvania school district (Central Bucks).

(Paywalled): Carroll County School District’s (MD) assistant superintendent reverses a committee’s decision to retain five challenged titles.

(Paywalled): The Lexington-Richmond Five School District (SC) will retain A Court of Mist and Fury.

Parents in Marietta, Georgia, are fighting to get Flamer back on school library shelves.

Farmington School District (AR) will keep Kingdom of Ash.

Boyle County Schools (KY) removed over 100 library books in response to their interpretation of a new state law restricting how human sexuality is taught or mentioned in the classroom. However, the law didn’t actually apply to library materials, and now the district has to put the books back on the shelves.

The Okemos School District (MI) has canceled their planned Scholastic Book Fairs this fall over Scholastic’s initial plan to segregate “diverse” books in a separate collection. “We will revisit the use of Scholastic Book Fairs when they share their new plan.”

Iowa’s proposed rules on banning books in schools are out. Here’s what to know.

A Fresno County (CA) supervisor introduces a proposal that would give parents more control over the books in the children’s section at the library. “He made it clear the legislation would not ban any of the books, it would just remove them from the children’s section.” THAT’S STILL CENSORSHIP!

(Paywalled): 18 LGBTQ+ books were challenged at Helix Character School in Oregon, but all will remain on the shelves.

“Dozens, if not hundreds, of library boards throughout America have faced growing scrutiny in recent years and become embroiled in censorship debates. Seemingly overnight, people in cities throughout the country have tried to ban certain books in the name of protecting children. Others have argued book bans are un-American and an infringement on freedom of speech.” This is about city council drama in Liberty Lake (WA) that stems from an attempt to get Gender Queer removed from the library last year, but I am so damn sick of news outlets giving the “both sides” treatment to censorship issues.

Sitka High School (AK) students introduce a resolution to their school board in strong opposition to book banning.

Books & Authors in the News

A judge has dismissed part of the AI copyright lawsuit filed by a group of authors.

All Seasons Press sues Mark Meadows over alleged lies in his memoir, The Chief’s Chief.

Numbers & Trends

Has it ever been harder to make a living as an author?

10 books trending on TikTok right now.

The best-selling books of the week.

Award News

Two sponsors withdrew from the National Book Awards ceremony after learning that some of the authors involved were planning to make a political statement about the Israel-Gaza conflict. This was the official update/response from the National Book Awards.

Barnes & Noble has named The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store as their 2023 Book of the Year.

ALA has announced the finalists for the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals.

Voting for the Goodreads Choice Awards has opened up.

Pop Cultured

25 of the best serial killer shows for you to stream immediately.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

What this parent reads to their child when the world is on fire.

A history of Ángela Ruiz Robles and her Mechanical Encyclopedia, which people consider to be a precursor to the modern ereader.

On the Riot

What’s new in the world of reading research?

How to create a Fellowship of the Traveling Book.

This Rioter is trying desperately to read anything that’s not a book.

a closeup photo of a black and white cat sticking its tongue out

No words, just vibes.

Well, that’s all I have for today, friends. I’m going to take a nap and hopefully wake up a bit more refreshed next week. See you on Tuesday!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Unusual Suspects

The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date November 16, 2023

Sponsored by

Hi, mystery fans! It’s the time of year when all the “Best of” type of lists start to drop, so if that’s how you find your end-of-year reading, you’ll find a few under news this round — plus, if you like voting for your favorite reads there’s a link for the Goodreads awards. (I immediately voted for How Far The Light Reaches in nonfic and Hijab Butch Blues in memoir, but I’m still undecided for mystery!)

Bookish Goods

Bookish stencil for journal planner by FunForYourPlanner

If you see those bookish journal pages and want to make your own, here’s a stencil to create a bookshelf with books you’ve read, or want to read, or I’m sure there’s a ton of ideas to use this stencil for. ($7)

New Releases

Deus X (August Snow #4) by Stephen Mack Jones

For fans of PI series, community, and thriller action!

August Snow thinks something very strange is going on with the Catholic church in his hometown in Detroit, Mexicantown. Not only has the priest he’s always known, Father Michael Grabowski, suddenly retired because a group sent by the Vatican basically forced him to, but another priest died by apparent suicide. Soon, Snow finds himself in a full conspiracy and fighting to save Father Grabowski…

If you want to start at the beginning of this great action-packed series, pick up August Snow.

Only She Came Back by Margot Harrison

For fans of fictional true crime “investigators,” past and present chapters, and transcripts and diary entries!

This feels like reading a fictional version of a true crime memoir where the author investigates a crime they are loosely connected to while also trying to work through things in their own personal life. I went with the audiobook format, narrated by Anna Caputo, and got sucked in like I would a podcast.

Sam has been into true crime for a long time, so when she sees that a girl she once knew is now at the center of a true crime case, she inserts herself by trying to befriend the woman. Kiri was with her survivalist boyfriend, a man with a large following on social media, when he disappeared. There are a lot of questions and little answers to what happened in the desert, with many people labeling Kiri as a murderer. Will she open up to Sam and tell her the truth?

(TWs that may be incomplete because I couldn’t always write something down while listening: mentions of past child abuse, past domestic abuse/ disordered eating/ past statutory)

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

Riot Recommendations

Here are two great books that are in other genres while having a mystery to solve!

Witchmark by C.L. Polk

You get political intrigue, a poisoning murder mystery, romance, and the mystery of why veterans are turning violent upon returning from war.

Dr. Miles Singer is a healer (with magic) at a Veterans hospital in an Edwardian-esque world, where he’s trying to figure out why his patients are suddenly murdering their families. Then a handsome gentleman, who’s really an angel, shows up with a patient for Singer, who ultimately dies. Now, they need to find out why and how it’s connected to everything else going on…

Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen

You get a teen who is happy with who he is, a great advice column, friendship and family, and the mystery of who is the stalker leaving increasingly threatening notes!

Thanks to a friend, Jack ends up writing a sex advice column for teens, which gets him into hot water with the actual school but puts him in real danger when a stalker starts leaving him threatening notes demanding he be only theirs. While at first Jack ignores the notes, continues living his life and answering questions for the column, he soon finds himself scared for others also being threatened and wondering if he’ll need to follow the stalker’s demands to remain safe…

I absolutely adored Jack and the voice of this novel.

News and Roundups

The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023

Time for the Goodreads Choice Awards: Vote in the Opening Round of 2023! Here’s the Mystery & Thrillers category, and The Bandit Queens is in the Debut Novel category.

Liberty and Jenn talk books of 2023, including Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper and My Murder by Katie Williams, on All The Books!

Triggers, Trauma, and True Crime

Why My Cousin Vinny is the Best Law Movie

Yumi’s Cells’ Ahn Bo Hyun and Park Ji Hyun to reunite as crime-solving partner for Chaebol X Detective

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 Patricia Elzie
Post date November 16, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that should absolutely be put at the top of your TBR pile. Recommended books will vary across genre and age category and include shiny new books, older books you may have missed, and some classics I suggest finally getting around to. Make space for another pile of books on your floor because here we go!

Today’s pick is a multi-award-winning speculative fiction anthology.

New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl with an introduction by Levar Burton

This anthology has won a Locus Award, a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, an Ignyte Award, and the Brave New Words Award. After reading it, I could see how it deserved each and every one. The introduction is by Levar Burton, and any book that has Levar Burton’s stamp of approval is an immediate addition to my TBR. There is an absolutely phenomenal line-up of talent in these pages. This book includes stories by Minsoo Kang, Jaymee Goh, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Darcie Little Badger, and so many more brilliant authors. I love the variety of stories in this anthology. Yes, it’s speculative fiction, but it covers a wide range, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror — often at the intersections of these subgenres and sometimes nestled comfortably in the spaces in between.

The first story in the book had me absolutely hooked. It’s “The Galactic Tourist Industrial Complex” by Tobias S. Buckell. Imagine Earth in the future with hovercars and the like, but it’s a complete dump that is actually an intergalactic tourist trap. Alien tourists come from all over the universe to Manhattan because the laws and safety regulations are incredibly lax. Maybe too lax. Another interesting story is about how the fate of an empire is in the hands of two translators, which makes readers think about how we never truly know how close we may be to utter destruction. The story “Come Home to Atropos” was incredibly dark, incredibly disturbing, and also made me giggle. I didn’t know I could both cringe and laugh at the same time, yet here we are. I’m a sucker for a story that involves a human making a deal with a non-human, whether it be a god or a demon or the fae or otherwise. “The Fine Print” by Chinelo Onwualu hit so many right notes. It’s the one story that I went back and read again after finishing the book.

This book has so many things: ghosts, witches, monsters that eat little children, terrifying yet lovely mermaid-type creatures, aliens, human colonies on distant planets, technology to take away all bad feelings and replace them only with pleasant ones, Smart Houses of the Future, and so much more. The title of this book stems from an Octavia E. Butler quote, “There’s nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns.” This anthology lives up to its name, for sure.

That’s it for now, book-lovers!

Patricia

Find me on Book Riot, the All the Books podcast, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

The Goods

The Best Books of 2023

Post author By Caitlin Brehm
Post date November 15, 2023

Sponsored by

We only want the best for you, and that’s why we’re sharing the best books of 2023! If these haven’t already made your list, be sure to add them to your TBR!

Kissing Books

Meet Disaster Recommendations

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 15, 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.

Last weekend I went to see The Marvels and loved it! It is a bit more emotionally driven than some of the other movies in the MCU, although the action/fight scenes are still awesome. And in typical MCU fashion, there is a mid-credit scene, so be sure to stay for that. Don’t listen to the haters: it’s a damned good movie, and I highly recommend it. It also prompted me to marathon the entirety of the Ms. Marvel series on Sunday, so my weekend was pretty MCU-related, with an emphasis on Female Empowerment, which I am always about.

Bookish Goods

Procrastireading Coffee Mug by BooksandaCuppa

Y’all, this mug…I love this word so much and will start using it in my day-to-day life. Because let’s be honest, it really is a whole mood, even more so during the busy holiday season. $18

New Releases

Next –Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin

Collins is going through a rough patch of her life, which results in her having to move back home with her parents and next door to her high school nemesis, Nathaniel. When a complaint from the HOA arrives, she snaps and decides to run for President of the organization, which puts her in direct opposition to her neighbor. As the campaign goes on, the two rivals are cutthroat in their desire to win. Soon, though, the hate turns into something more, leaving both to reconcile with the fact that there may be more to their relationship than they originally thought.

Whiskey and Wine by Kelly and Tana Fireside

Between running her adult novelty shop, Frisky Business, and a desire to avoid complications altogether, Lace has a three-month limit on all romantic entanglements. Tessa has her own hands full between moving to a new city, starting a new business, and adjusting to being a single mom to a moody teenager and an Australian Shepard. While the two women become fast friends, they know nothing more is in the cards for them. When Tessa opens her wine-tasting room next to Lace’s business, it becomes more difficult to ignore the undercurrent of attraction between them, especially when the people around them are determined to push them together.

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

Riot Recommendations

I spend a fair amount of time on TikTok because sometimes you just want to mindlessly scroll for hours. One interesting thing about TikTok is that, due to how the algorithm works, you will occasionally find the start, middle, and sometimes the ending of stories pieced together from various posters. That was the case this weekend when I first saw this video and then soon after this one. It was a perfect meet cute, and it warmed my heart just a bit.

It also got me thinking that while I enjoy meet cutes, I kind of prefer meet disasters. I think that is one of the reasons I’m enjoying You, Again so much in addition to the homage to When Harry Met Sally with the “enemies-to-friends-to-lovers” vibes. The setup is the same for the most part, except for the encounter itself. And while I still go “Awww” with the cute factor, I chortle with the disaster, especially since I know it will still end well. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind a little bit of second-hand embarrassment, you may enjoy that trope too, in which case these recommendations should be perfect for you.

That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming

When Brie threw that drink, she was aiming for someone else and certainly didn’t intend to hit Felix. She also didn’t intend to throw a love potion, but you know what they say about best-laid plans and hindsight. Now she has her hands more than full trying to convince a lovestruck werewolf she is not his mate. Although, she doesn’t exactly mind all the words of affirmation and help with the chores that come along with being the object of Felix’s affection.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Eve is a bit of a walking disaster and always manages to cause chaos wherever she goes. Still, she is determined to prove to her family that she can be successful and heads to a local B&B to interview for the open chef position. The interview doesn’t go as planned, though, and to make matters worse, she ends up running into the owner, Jacob, with her car. Now, the two have to work together while he recovers. Before too long, Eve’s sunshiny nature proves to be strong enough to melt Jacob’s icy exterior.

And that’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back in your mailbox on Monday with a fresh newsletter, and in the meantime, you can still sometimes see glimpses of me on the bird app under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading, and stay hydrated!

Book Deals and Reveals

Book Riot Recommends

Prepare Your Shelves!

Seven Minutes in Candyland by Brian Wasson (Quill Tree Books, December 12)

What I’m Reading This Week

Bookish Memes

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Bookish Goods

Frog & Toad Sweatshirt by JustinsShirtStore

New Releases

Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape by Mirka Hokkanen

What Do Brothas Do All Day? by Ajuan Mance

Riot Recommendations

Look and Cook Snacks by Valorie Fisher

Recipes for Change: 12 Dishes Inspired by a Year in Black History by Michael Platt, illustrated by Alleanna Harris

Kids Can Cook Vegetarian by Esther Coombs

Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story by Nadiya Hussain, illustrated by Clair Rossiter

Bookish Goods

Crystalized Book by The Gilding Alchemist

New Releases

Chasing Bright Medusas: A Life of Willa Cather by Benjamin Taylor

The Death of a Jaybird: Essays on Mothers and Daughters and the Things They Leave Behind by Jodi M. Savage

Riot Recommendations

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

Bookish Goods

Sci Fi Soda Can Bookmarks by SupernovaComicArt

New Releases

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

Hellweg’s Keep by Justin Holley

Riot Recommendations

At Night He Lifts Weights by Kang Young-sook translated by Janet Hong

My Worst Ideas by Michael Jeffrey Lee

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Worth Reading

Book Adaptations in the News

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Pop Cultured

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

On the Riot

Bookish Goods

Bookish stencil for journal planner by FunForYourPlanner

New Releases

Deus X (August Snow #4) by Stephen Mack Jones

Only She Came Back by Margot Harrison

Riot Recommendations

Witchmark by C.L. Polk

Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen

New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl with an introduction by Levar Burton

Bookish Goods

Procrastireading Coffee Mug by BooksandaCuppa

New Releases

Next–Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin

Whiskey and Wine by Kelly and Tana Fireside

Riot Recommendations

That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Next –Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin