Newsletters Dev – Page 45 – getting it done!

Throwback Thors-day

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date November 8, 2023

Sponsored by

Ah, Thursday, the second-best workday of the week (after Friday, naturally). Let’s see what this Thursday’s newsletter has in store for all you wonderful comic book fans!

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

LOKI FOR PRESIDENT badges by Uncanny Artness

The presidential election isn’t until next year, but it’s never too early to throw your support behind everyone’s favorite Norse trickster pseudo-god! $2

New Releases

Skip! by Sarah Burgess

Loner Jay finally finds the close friendship they have always longed for in Beah, an obsessive jump roper and expert in the art of Double Dutch. Their differing personalities mean that they inevitably clash over any number of subjects, but their deep affection for each other means that their friendship holds true through every obstacle.

Static: Up All Night by Lamar Giles and Paris Alleyne

No supervillain is a match for the electrical powers of Static, AKA Virgil Hawkins. But in this graphic novel, Virgil confronts a foe he cannot defeat so easily: a bad breakup. His friend’s attempt to get him out of the dumps by attending a music festival only seems to make things worse, but in the end, Virgil will find a new normal.

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: Norse mythology! Did you know that most of the days of the week (in English, anyway) are taken from Norse gods? The most obvious connection is Thursday, i.e., Thor’s Day. So, let’s look at some comics that draw inspiration from similar sources!

The Kitchen Witch by Steve Orlando and Olivia Pelaez

Kevin’s dad is so busy trying to open a new restaurant that he has very little time to spend cooking with his son. So, one night, Kevin sneaks down to the kitchen…and plunges into a dangerous fantasy world where he and the resident kitchen witch must defeat the wicked Gremlin Lord!

Thor and the Warriors Four by Alex Zalben and Gurihiru

In the cutest Asgardian adventure ever, super-siblings, the Power Pack, travel across the nine realms in search of a cure for their ailing grandmother. Along the way, they’ll ally themselves with the Pet Avengers and stop Loki’s dastardly yet adorable plot to turn all of the Norse gods into babies!

Until next Tuesday (that is, Tyr’s Day), have a good week, nerd friends!

~Eileen

Kissing Books

Princesses and Pirates

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 8, 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.

In an effort to make good on one of my bookish endeavors for this year, I’ve decided that, barring my BOTM subscription, I am going to be on a book-buying ban for the next two months. I can feel the wave of warranted disbelief headed my way right now, which is fair. But I am still a bit upset with myself for being so far behind on reading the books I’ve bought this year. So no more hauls until 2024. However, I also can’t say that this won’t be me when my partner and I go holiday shopping for other people.

Bookish Goods

Trope Bookmarks 4-Pack by awfullynerdyco

They’re so shiny! And they display some of the best loved romance tropes out there. Between those two factors, this seems like a great buy especially with multiple gift giving holidays around the corner. All four can be had for just $11.

New Releases

Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley

Cynthia’s life is that of repetitive drudgery cleaning up after her stepmother and stepsisters. That is until an invitation is sent to all unwed maidens in the kingdom, inviting them to be considered to wed a visiting prince. Unlike other maidens, Cynthia only has eyes for his sister and is determined to attend the ball to try to woo the princess, regardless of the obstacles that her stepfamily tries to throw in her way.

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

Witch Evelyn’s latest impulsive decision has led to her stealing from her vampiric ex and landing in another realm. There, she is ‘saved’ by the pirate crew of the Cŵn Annwn, who tells her she can join them or die. She agrees to the former, knowing full well that it is a promise she has no intention of keeping, no matter how much danger it could put her in or how attracted she and Captain Bowen are to one another.

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

Riot Recommendations

November is NaNoWriMo! Every year, I say I’m going to go for it again, and then before I know it, it’s December. I know there is still time to do it, even if I have to play catch up to it. I’ve also come to realize that writing is still writing even if you don’t finish a manuscript in the month’s time. And I’ve reconciled myself with the fact that the most I may write are a handful of scenes that have been playing in my head for a bit rather than a full-length novel, and am perfectly fine with it.

Now, with that said, today’s recommendations all feature a romance writer, which seemed fitting given the month. Enjoy!

The Billionaire’s Boyfriend by Robin Knight

Romance writer Matthew is dealing with the worst case of writer’s block ever. Inspiration unexpectedly comes when his side hustle as a flower delivery person ends up with him saving the life of billionaire banker, Calvin. However, while this type of pair-up works well in the pages of a book, reality is a different story, especially when secrets from Cal’s past come to light and threaten the budding romance between the two men.

A Summer for Scandal by Lydia San Andrés

Emilia has a secret; she writes a scintillating serial under a pen name. When she and her sister go to a boating party, she is surprised to discover that handsome literary critic Ruben will also be in attendance. She is even more shocked when he begins to disparage her work, not knowing that he is in the company of the author. Despite this rough start, the two are drawn together, but the fact that Ruben is determined to expose the writer of those stories to help his newspaper could threaten a great love match before it starts.

Pick a pastry and get a Hollywood heartthrob.

Truth…and it hurts.

Check out these Emily Henry read-a-likes!

And that’s all I have for y’all this week. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday with another round-up of romance related goodness and in the meantime you can still find me over on the bird app under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated!

Book Radar

Publisher’s Weekly Picks the Best Books of 2023 and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 8, 2023

Sponsored by

Dear Book Friends,

Happy Thursday! I hope your week is going well and that you’re excited for the weekend. I am because the next time I talk to you, I’ll be communicating from Belgium. It’s been a while since I’ve had a big trip, so I’m pretty excited. Anyway, for now, it’s time to talk books.

Book Deals and Reveals

American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada in E.K. Sathue’s horror satire youthjuice, and here is the cover reveal! You’ll never moisturize the same way again, starting on June 6, 2024 (which is when this book will be released).

Here’s the cover reveal of M.K. Pagano’s debut YA thriller, Girls Who Burn. It’s out from Penguin Teen on August 6, 2024.

Tor.com has shared the cover of Kerstin Hall’s Asunder, a standalone dark fantasy novel coming out in August 2024.

Here are Publishers Weekly‘s picks for the best books of 2023. Along with a top 10, PW shares their favorites across many genres, including mystery/thriller, poetry, romance, and more.

As we get closer and closer to the release date of Heartstopper: Vol 2, we’re getting more sneak peeks! Here is the full cover of Alice Oseman’s highly anticipated graphic novel. It’s out in December.

Speaking of sneak peeks! Entertainment Weekly has a sneak peek of the sequel to Stephen King’s Cujo. The sequel, “Rattlesnakes,” is one of 12 new short stories included in King’s new collection You Like It Darker. It’s out from Scribner on May 21, 2024.

HarperCollins has signed an agreement to publish a new book by Pope Francis. Life, My Story Through History is expected to publish next spring.

Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary for the Biden administration, has signed a two-book deal with Scribner. The first book, Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World, will be published in May 2024. No date has been set for the second book.

National Book Award finalist and winner of the 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award in Literature Grace M. Cho has sold North American rights to her novel We Will Go to Jinju to Viking at auction. No publication date has been announced yet.

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!

Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez (Flatiron Books, March 5, 2024)

Xochitl Gonzalez, the author of Olga Dies Dreaming, is out with a new novel next year! And it’s going to be a good one. Gonzalez’s latest work is a mesmerizing literary mystery that examines the art world, academia, and what it takes to be remembered.

In 1985, Anita de Monte was a rising star in the art world and had all the potential for an exciting career. But all of that was cut short when she was tragically found dead in New York City. Thirteen years later, most people have forgotten her name.

It’s here in 1998 that we are introduced to Raquel, an art history student who feels isolated as one of the few people of color at her school. She knows she will be forced to work twice as hard as her predominantly white cohort, and she’s resentful of that fact. But when she becomes involved with an older, well-connected art student who helps her get a leg up in the art world, she wonders if her fortunes have changed. And stumbling across the tragic story of Anita de Monte, Raquel is struck by how much Anita’s story mirrors her own.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“While musical prodigies are always celebrated, early readers aren’t. And that’s because early readers are only good at something others will eventually be good at, too. So being first isn’t special – it’s just annoying.”

— Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

What’s Up in the Book Community?

My iPhone is constantly telling me I spend too much time staring at my screen, which is honestly so rude. But this means I spend a lot of time scrolling around the online book community: BookTube, Bookstagram, BookTok, BookLinkedIn (JK. That’s not a thing…I don’t think). You get the idea. Don’t have the time, energy, or the will to do all of that yourself? No problem. I got you. In this weekly section of Book Radar, we’ll take a look at something cool, interesting, and/or newsy that’s going on in the book community.

Want to spend money on books and support a good cause? Books for Palestine is currently holding an auction that will continue until Saturday, November 11. Auction winners will donate directly to their choice of three organizations: Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, the Adalah Justice Project, and the Palestine Writes Literature Festival. Learn more here. And then participate in the auction here.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Does the time change have you feeling as sleepy as Cersei Anne has felt this week? I know I’ve been dragging a bit. And you gotta love those 4:30 p.m. sunsets! Right? November’s the worst!

And that’s all for today, friends. Have a wonderful weekend.

Emily

Giveaways

110823-Emmett-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date November 8, 2023

We’re giving away three copies of Emmett by L.C Rosen to three lucky Riot readers!

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

Emmett knows he’s blessed. And recently, he’s found a new way of giving back: matchmaking.

So when his occasional friend-with-benefits Harrison starts saying he wants a boyfriend, he decides to find Harrison the perfect man. Emmett’s childhood friend, Miles, thinks finding a boyfriend for a guy you sleep with is a bad idea.

When the lines Emmett tries to draw become more porous than he anticipated, he learns that maybe he has no idea what he’s doing when it comes to love.

What's Up in YA

Check and Mate: YA Book Talk and News, November 9, 2023

Post author By Kelly Jensen
Post date November 8, 2023

Sponsored by

Hey YA Readers!

Enter here the usual grumblings you’ll see everywhere about the loss of light and clock changes. But, honestly? I like light in the morning, and in preparation this year, I strung lights in the living room to give it a cozy ambiance. We can fight it or embrace it, and I’m going to try to do just that (and we only have to live with less light for a few weeks before it begins to grow again).

Let’s dive into what you’re really here for, though: books.

Bookish Goods

Gingerbread Bookstore by BlissfullyBookedCo

I don’t know about you, but book club with Santa at the local gingerbread bookstore sounds like a lot of fun. This sticker is one I figured worth highlighting in early November so you can enjoy it throughout the next couple of months. $4.

New Releases

It’s a big week for paperback releases…with a caveat. The only books that appear to be by authors of color are middle books in trilogies. You’ll see that reflected here, as I didn’t want to talk in detail about two second-in-series books, as that might spoil the firsts. But if you’re keeping your eyes on books by Rin Chutpeco or Sasha and Sarena Nanua, you can pick up the paperbacks this week of An Unreliable Magic and Daughters of the Dawn.

The full list of YA paperbacks is here, and as usual, you might need to toggle your view when you click the links to see the paperback edition.

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Chess ruined Mallory’s life four years ago, and even if she’s done with the sport, the reality is her life itself has become the game. But even amid family stress, she agrees to one last charity tournament. Her opponent is Nolan, the current world champion and known for being a notorious bad boy.

So when Mallory destroys Nolan, it ends up not only causing waves in the chess world, but it begins to make her want to keep going. She could win money, grab some titles, maybe help her family with the bills in a way her current part-time job just doesn’t.

She begins to compete again, and she’s doing it in secret. But her skills are thrusting her into the spotlight, and Nolan, well, he’s hard to resist, too.

Pop this paperback original from a well-known romance writer right onto this list of YA books about teen gamers!

Swarm by Jennifer D. Lyle

Nothing seems out of place that September day, but then, Shur sees a creature outside of her history class. It looks like a giant butterfly. Harmless, really.

But then emergency alerts ping on everyone’s phones, and it’s clear this butterfly–and its hoard of friends–are not what they seem. Shur, her brother, and two best friends get home just in time to avoid the creatures attacking. Now, the four are panicked, doing all they can to create a safe space.

It won’t stop with the butterfly creatures. There’s more to come, and for Shur, her companions, and the world more broadly, things are not looking good.

A survival story? Count me in!

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

YA Book News

I’m launching with a brag here, which is that I wrote the cover story for this month’s issue of School Library Journal. November marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, and I wrote about how The Bard’s work has found such a fun, unique, enduring home in the world of YA literature.
All of the books you can read for free on SimonTeen this month. You need to be a member to access the titles, but membership is free.
YA authors reflect on the impact of The Hunger Games.
Adam Cesare wrote a book for Audible, which you can listen to only over on that platform…but it sounds really great if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and cults.

As always, thanks for hanging out. We will see you on Saturday for some great YA book deals.

In the meantime, happy reading!

–Kelly Jensen, still slowly working through Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson (because reading is tough right now!)

In The Club

Women Hunt a Serial Killer and Other New Mysteries for the Club

Post author By Erica Ezeifedi
Post date November 7, 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’m finally settling into it being fall without having Halloween to look forward to, which means my reading is shifting a bit. This means I’m looking a little more at mysteries, romances, and other cozy things. It’s while experiencing this latest personal trend that I decided to list out some mysteries for your book clubs — though these tend towards the more serious as opposed to the cozy (but obviously, I love both).

Get ready for an occult mystery in 1909 Boston, a mystery surrounding a Japanese American family in the 1940s, a modern mystery that takes on social justice issues, and a story of a serial killer but told from his potential victims’ perspectives.

Nibbles and Sips

Wontons by Maxine and her Granny

Dumplings and wontons are such satisfying comfort foods, and I imagine a grandma’s recipe will be the most comforting. Maxine’s granny’s wontons look delicious and her Instagram page includes vegan modifications.

You’ll need: ground pork or tofu, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, water chestnuts, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and wonton skins.

For a full list of ingredients and instructions, visit her Insta post.

Evergreen by Naomi Hirahara

This is the second book in a series that has an award-winning first book — Clark and Division — but I don’t think you need to have read the first to appreciate this one. It’s 1946, and the Ito family has been released from the Manzanar detention center and allowed to return to their home state, California, like many other Japanese Americans who were forced into incarceration camps. Aki Ito returns to life as a nurse’s aide and comes across an abused elderly man who turns out to be the father of her husband’s best friend, Shinji Watanabe. The case has her wondering if her husband’s friend could really be guilty of elder abuse, but then a shooting sets her on the path of answering even bigger questions.

Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan

This is another second book in a series that you don’t have to read the first one to enjoy. Here, Detective Inaya Rahman is caught between two cases that deal with deeply embedded racism and prejudice. In one case, officer Harry Cooper is following up on a report of vandals in Blackwater Falls, Colorado, when he comes across a young Black man who he said was armed. But the alleged gun was actually a spray paint can. Then, in Denver, a Latine teen is killed during a drug raid that goes south. As people protest on both sides of the cases, Rahman gets a visit from Officer John Broda, a man who assaulted her when they worked together in the past. His son Kelly is the cop who shot the teen during the drug raid, and he wants her help in exonerating him.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Here’s another example of our fascination with serial killers, but from a refreshing perspective. This time, the tragedy is told up front, and the lives of the victims and those they cared about are expanded upon rather than the inverse. In 1978, while the news of a serial killer terrorized the Pacific Northwest, the young women of a sorority at Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus are preparing for an exciting night. What they don’t know is that that same killer from the other side of the country will visit them and that Pamela Schumacher’s decision to stay home will make her the sole survivor of something terrible. Meanwhile, back in the PNW, Tina believes her girlfriend Ruth was a victim of the same person responsible for the Tallahassee Tragedy. Both Pamela and Tina are set on a course to uncover the truth that sends them hurdling towards each other.

Relentless Melt by Jeremy P. Bushnell

To be cute, I thought I’d add in a book that mixes in some fantasy. This is described as “Stranger Things meets the Golden Age of Detective fiction” and follows Artie Quick, a young Bostonian woman living in 1909. During the day, she’s a regular ole salesgirl of women’s accessories, but at night, she dons men’s clothing and explores her interest in criminal investigation by taking classes at the YMCA’s Evening Institute for Younger Men. In a bid to apply her learning, she and her bestie Theodore, a well-off young man interested in the occult, investigate a number of violent abductions that lead them to those in power.

Suggestion Section

Book Club:

A list of book club-friendly questions
Roxane Gay: The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis.
Amerie’s: One Hundred Days by Alice Pung
Noname: Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis and The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi
The Stacks: Severance by Ling Ma; conversation with Mitchell S. Jackson on November 29th

Read This Book…

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date November 7, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read this Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that needs to jump onto your TBR pile! This week, I’m recommending another book for Indigenous Peoples’ Month!

Why Indigenous Literatures Matter by Daniel Heath Justice

Since I started participating in Erin and Dani’s book club, now called the Indigenous Reading Circle, I’ve been introduced to a host of incredible Indigenous authors from across Turtle Island. These incredible books and book club members have encouraged me to pick up even more Indigenous-authored books from around the world. One of those books is Why Indigenous Literatures Matter.

Daniel Heath Justice, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and Professor of Critical Indigenous Studies and English Language, writes about the Indigenous Literatures. Justice uses the term “Literatures” to push back against the idea of pan-indigeneity and instead reinforces the fact that Indigenous Nations each have their own unique culture and history.

Why Indigenous Literatures Matter discusses the importance of decolonizing your approach to engaging with Indigenous writers’ work. When we’re taught to study literature in a more formal setting, non-Indigenous professors often approach texts from a Western, colonialist perspective. Justice challenges that approach, asking readers to decenter Western ideas of what makes “good” literature.

Justice also introduces readers to the unique qualities that Indigenous Literatures often have in common, using specific examples in his text. Though each Native Nation’s literature is unique, Indigenous Literatures often centers around themes of community and resilience in the face of violent settler colonialism. Justice emphasizes that it’s important that Indigenous Peoples tell their own stories, centering Indigenous experiences. Indigenous Literatures do not exist to educate settlers. They exist as a way to show solidarity with and celebrate Indigenous cultures.

As an added bonus, in his discussion, Justice recommends dozens of texts that readers might enjoy. I ended up with an incredible list of other books to check out next. Why Indigenous Literatures Matter is such a priceless resource. And if you are an audiobook lover, Justice performs the audio edition, adding that special something that happens when an author reads their own work.

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

Settle in with These 8 Cozy Crime Novels This Autumn

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date November 7, 2023

Sponsored by

Hi mystery fans! If you’re looking for a comedy and like sister drama films, Quiz Lady is now on Hulu. As for reading, I—a never-rereader—am debating rereading The Night Circus. I’m leaning towards yes and going with the audiobook this time. “But there’s so many books I still haven’t read,” my brain whispers…

Bookish Goods

Cat in bookshelf woven throw by PureCountryWeavers

Love cats? Books? And woven throws? Here ya go! ($60)

New Releases

Blood Betrayal (Blackwater Falls #2) by Ausma Zehanat Khan

For fans of procedurals, partnered detectives, and cases that feel ripped from the headlines!

The series follows two great characters in Colorado: Detective Inaya Rahman, who is sent to places with high complaints against officers and has a tight-knit family; and her boss, Lieutenant Waqas Seif, who is raising his two younger brothers and, unlike Rahman, keeps his culture/ethnicity to himself. This time around, two separate incidents that involved officer shootings led to protests across the Blackwater Falls community, leading Rahman and Seif to have to dig deep to get to the heart of these cases.

If you want to start at the beginning (you do! It’s a great series!), pick up Blackwater Falls. And if you’re a lover of “completed” backlist series, absolutely read Ausma Zehanat Khan’s previous procedural series that starts with The Unquiet Dead.

Chaos Terminal (The Midsolar Murders #2) by Mur Lafferty

For fans of reluctant amateur sleuths, humor, and space settings!

Mallory Viridian literally went to live on a space station to get away from the fact that on Earth, people kept dying around her, and she kept having to solve the murders. Surely (don’t call me Shirley!) you can see where this is going. The murders follow her to space, too! This time around, her past has followed her from Earth, including the agent who was always after her…

If you want to start at the beginning of this very fun series, pick up Station Eternity!

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

Riot Recommendations

Let’s play 2022 releases that are now available in paperback! One dark, one light––depending on your mood!

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

For fans of past mysteries, missing persons, returning home, and a dash of horror!

Liz Rocher, who has a very strained relationship with her mom, is returning to her small hometown in Pennsylvania solely for her best friend Mel’s wedding. But it’s quickly no longer a celebration when Mel’s daughter goes missing, and Liz is forced to deal with sudden memories of her childhood: hiding in the woods the night another girl was murdered…

For audiobook readers, it has dual narrators: Sandra Okuboyejo and William DeMeritt.

Flight Risk (The Booking Agents #2) by Cherie Priest

For fans of fun, cozy series, and amateur psychic sleuths!

Leda Foley, psychic and travel agent, technically saved Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt’s life. Now, the brother of a missing woman is asking for Foley’s help: his sister disappeared with a lot of her employer’s cash, and her husband didn’t immediately report her missing. When Detective Grady’s dog finds a human leg and the leg’s DNA points to Foley’s case, it’s time to team up again!

News and Roundups

Murder Is Easy: See David Jonsson, Penelope Wilton & More in Agatha Christie Adaptation

10 Black and White Noir Films That Will Have You on the Edge of Your Seat

How an Isolated Camping Trip Inspired Lifetime Lesbian Thriller You’re Not Supposed to Be Here

25 Best Serial Killer Shows for You to Stream Immediately

Most People Don’t Know How Librarians Select Collection Materials, So What Do They Think of Book Bans?

Books & Books is thrilled to present an in-person evening with Rebecca Renner to discuss her new book: Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades (Flatiron Books, $29.99) This event is FREE and open to the public and books will be available for purchase the night of the event!

Settle in with these 8 cosy crime novels this autumn

Happy Valley legend Sarah Lancashire joins cast of Netflix spy thriller Black Doves

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.

Past Tense

Can Historical Fiction Be Cozy?

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date November 7, 2023

Sponsored by

Hi historical fiction fans!

Continuing last week’s discussion of romance historical fiction, this week I’m asking the question: can historical fiction be cozy? I don’t think there’s one clear answer, but read on to find out my thoughts and maybe even find a few lighthearted historical fiction recs.

Bookish Goods

Emotional Support Kindle Sticker from Floral Coconut

Show off your emotional support Kindle with pride with this cute heart-shaped sticker from Etsy. $10

New Releases

Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James (November 7, 2023)

In 1940s Los Angeles, a murder mystery playwright and a dead food critic take center stage in Sarah James’ historical novel about a mystery writer trying to solve a murder in real life. Getting your movie made is hard, but trying to solve a murder mystery in real life without becoming the next victim? That’s the stuff Hollywood legends are made of.

Above the Salt by Katherine Vaz (November 7, 2023)

Two Portuguese refugees reconnect in the United States as the country barrels toward civil war, one torn between duty to his new country and to the love of his life, the other torn between two loves who would alter the course of her life in drastically different ways.

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

Riot Recommendations

Last week, I shared some “cozy” historical romance books, but this week, I’m going to ask a different, more complicated question. Can historical fiction be cozy? I certainly don’t think of it that way. Historical fiction is so often set during periods of war, disaster, grief, or societal upheaval that associating it with the idea of coziness seems almost antithetical.

But some historical fiction books focus less on the hardships of history and more on day-to-day life and the people living it. While I’d hesitate to call even these books truly “cozy,” some historical fiction certainly does come closer to it than others. I can think of some books, like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, that have a certain coziness to them because of the cast of characters that they follow, even when the content itself isn’t entirely lighthearted. So, while these historical fiction books might not quite make it as “cozy” fiction, they’re still lighthearted enough for anyone looking for a light, historical read.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Exploring a part of American history that is often overlooked, The Davenports depicts the experiences of a wealthy Black family in the early 20th century United States. It’s inspired by true events and has a very Bridgerton feel that historical romance fans—and historical fiction fans in general—will love.

When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky by Margaret Verble

A mystery at a Nashville zoo brings together an odd cast of characters, from a young Cherokee horse diver on loan from a Wild West show to a haunted WWI veteran-slash-zookeeper. Can they figure out what a series of disasters has to do with the zoo’s past before their entire show falls apart?

As an aside, can we talk about how cheery these two covers look together? I feel like the choice of using yellows and golds couldn’t have been a coincidence. It’s a color that just exudes warmth and happiness.

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 The Glutton by A.K. Blakemore. What about you?

True Story

A Couple of the Best Memoirs of the Year

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date November 7, 2023

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With scary season over, we begin heading into the last few weeks of fall before the holidays bring forth everything from peppermint bark to twinkling fairy lights. But here in the South, our weather still hasn’t caught up. This past weekend, my spouse and I took the Corgis to the park in gorgeous 70-degree weather. I’ll admit, I’m glad the Corgis still have a chance to frap with their friends as I listen to my Nonfiction November TBR on audio.

Of course, here at True Story, every month is nonfiction month. So here are a few of my favorite nonfiction books from this year.

Bookish Goods

Reading Journal by The Book Sisters Bookshop

This week’s reading journal is one with STICKERS. I also love the details where you can write in the titles of the books you read. So many custom options for plenty of creativity. $42

New Releases

A Death in Malta: An Assassination and a Family’s Quest for Justice by Paul Caruana Galizia

Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered after a car bomb exploded and took her life. Now, her youngest son investigates her death, trying to find closure for him and his family.

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land

The author of Maid, which was made into an incredibly successful series on Netflix, is back with a new memoir exploring more ideas around single motherhood and class. Class is also a Good Morning America Book Club pick.

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

Riot Recommendations

Liliana’s Invincible Summer by Cristina Rivera Garza

In one of my favorite memoirs of the year, Cristina Rivera Garza chronicles how she tries to track down her sister’s last days before she was murdered. Rivera Garza interviews Liliana’s friends at university, goes through her journals, and looks through official documents. But Liliana’s Invincible Summer is not a true crime story. Instead, it’s a beautiful testament celebrating Liliana’s life and the joy she brought to the world.

A Living Memory by Nicole Chung

Nicole Chung is one of my favorite nonfiction writers. From her memoir All You Can Ever Know to her newsletter for The Atlantic, Chung writes with such vulnerability and clarity. A Living Memory follows Chung’s experience with the death of her father and her mother’s diagnosis of cancer. But when the pandemic arrives, Chung finds herself unable to be with her mother in her last days. This memoir is so intimate, so heart-rending, as Chung voices what many of us experience when a loved one passes away and we can’t be there for them. A Living Memory is truly a stunning book.

Happy Reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

Bookish Goods

LOKI FOR PRESIDENT badges by Uncanny Artness

New Releases

Skip! by Sarah Burgess

Static: Up All Night by Lamar Giles and Paris Alleyne

Riot Recommendations

The Kitchen Witch by Steve Orlando and Olivia Pelaez

Thor and the Warriors Four by Alex Zalben and Gurihiru

Bookish Goods

Trope Bookmarks 4-Pack by awfullynerdyco

New Releases

Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

Riot Recommendations

The Billionaire’s Boyfriend by Robin Knight

A Summer for Scandal by Lydia San Andrés

Book Deals and Reveals

Book Riot Recommends

Can’t Wait for This One!

Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez (Flatiron Books, March 5, 2024)

Words of Literary Wisdom

What’s Up in the Book Community?

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Bookish Goods

Gingerbread Bookstore by BlissfullyBookedCo

New Releases

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Swarm by Jennifer D. Lyle

YA Book News

Nibbles and Sips

Wontons by Maxine and her Granny

Evergreen by Naomi Hirahara

Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Relentless Melt by Jeremy P. Bushnell

Suggestion Section

More To Read

Why Indigenous Literatures Matter by Daniel Heath Justice

Bookish Goods

Cat in bookshelf woven throw by PureCountryWeavers

New Releases

Blood Betrayal (Blackwater Falls #2) by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Chaos Terminal (The Midsolar Murders #2) by Mur Lafferty

Riot Recommendations

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

Flight Risk (The Booking Agents #2) by Cherie Priest

Bookish Goods

Emotional Support Kindle Sticker from Floral Coconut

New Releases

Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James (November 7, 2023)

Above the Salt by Katherine Vaz (November 7, 2023)

Riot Recommendations

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky by Margaret Verble

Bookish Goods

Reading Journal by The Book Sisters Bookshop

New Releases

A Death in Malta: An Assassination and a Family’s Quest for Justice by Paul Caruana Galizia

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land

Riot Recommendations

Liliana’s Invincible Summer by Cristina Rivera Garza

A Living Memory by Nicole Chung