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Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Send lots of thoughts for a calm and boring work week – our director is taking the week off and she’s designated me as the point person while she’s gone. Fingers crossed for no staff illnesses, no irate patrons, and no building crises.
Don’t forget, whether you’re looking for romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Denver’s Tattered Cover Bookstore files for bankruptcy.
Barnes & Noble sets itself free.
Prep your hold lists…Erik Larson has a new book coming out in 2024.
Knopf is publishing Gabriel García Márquez’s lost novel, Until August, in March 2024.
Tiffany D. Jackson has two new books coming out! Her first YA fantasy novel for Marvel will come out in 2024, and her next YA thriller will come out in 2025.
Serena Williams has signed a two-book deal with Random House.
First look at Christina Lauren’s upcoming novel, The Paradise Problem.
51 of the year’s coziest mysteries.
25 of the best books of 2023, so far.
Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, LitHub, New York Times.
October picks from Crime Reads (psychological thrillers).
The Woman In Me – Britney Spears (Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, New York Times, Parade, People, Vulture, Washington Post)
Tremor – Teju Cole (Guardian, LA Times, New York Times, Vulture)
Romney: A Reckoning – McKay Coppins (LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post)
Vengeance Is Mine – Marie NDiaye (New York Times, Washington Post)
Let Us Descend – Jesmyn Ward (Datebook, New York Times, Washington Post)
I Love Russia: Reporting From a Lost Country – Elena Kostyuchenko (Guardian, New York Times)
Worthy – Jada Pinkett Smith (USA Today, Washington Post)
If You Would Have Told Me – John Stamos (New York Times, People)
A look at how romance novel covers have transformed over the last several years.
How Simon & Schuster’s sale to KKR could affect the company.
What would an author-centered publishing company look like?
10 of the best books coming out this winter.
14 new October book club picks.
The best new weekly releases to TBR.
The use of enchanted forests in fantasy novels.
A look at the “it was all a dream” trope.
The vibes at New York Comic Con this year were weird.
Abrams and IDW are developing a series of books and comics tied to the Monster High franchise.
How early graphic novels create lifelong readers.
10 comics to read before playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game.
27 of the best-selling manga of all time.
Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.
12 beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture books to get lost in.
11 delicious picture books about apples.
25 of the best books about witches.
Modern books that provide a contemporary spin on Jane Austen.
5 horror novels set in seemingly idyllic small towns.
8 queer historical fiction books set around the world.
24 underrated books that everyone should read.
5 historical mysteries that feature unconventional and unforgettable women.
6 books about women working together.
6 thrilling books that blend folklore and horror.
The best light gothic romance novels.
5 cozy mystery series to satisfy your wanderlust.
13 cookbooks you need this fall.
10 historical fiction reads that span the 16th century.
8 emotional books that cut deep.
8 of the best children’s books about mental health.
Cozy witch books to curl up with this fall.
8 twisty thrillers that fictionalize real events.
9 of the best Halloween mystery novels for some serious spooky season sleuthing.
8 fantasy novels that are impossible to adapt to the screen.
9 short stories to get you ready for Halloween.
8 spooky books you have to read this season.
8 books to read after listening to the podcast Empire.
Not your typical monster books.
10 of the coolest lit fic books around.
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate as well that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Do you think Dini knows how adorable he is?
One week till Halloween, friends. Get some good scary books and movies in! I’ll be back on Friday.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.
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.
Before we get to today’s pick, autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes. Visit TBR to find out more and sign up — it only takes a few minutes!
Today’s pick is a new young adult anthology focused on a mythical creature who has had a really big year this year!
This young adult anthology has 14 stories about mermaids (or rather, merfolk because they aren’t all maids), and there is such a wide range of stories: sweet, creepy, hilarious, vengeful, enraging, exhilarating, heartbreaking, and more. The variety keeps it super interesting, and the pacing and organization of the stories flow really well.
There are some stories, like “We’ll Always Have June” by Julian Winters, that are contemporary, and the merfolk in this world aren’t known by humans, in general. Other stories, like Preeti Chhibber’s “The Dark Calls,” don’t even bother with humans. This story keeps us with the merfolk under the water and dares to imagine going even deeper. Kalynn Bayron’s “Return to the Sea” will definitely squeeze your heart in a few different ways when you read it. In this story, merfolk are not only known to humans, but they live among each other, work together, and go to school together. Of course, there are humans who love to appropriate merfolk culture without actually having an ounce of respect for them or for the ocean. Two specific stories, “The Deepwater Vandal” by Darcie Little Badger and “The First and Last Kiss” by Julie Murphy, reminded me why I love the short story format so much. Both stories in themselves are as fulfilling a read as reading an entire novel, and they just hit all the right notes.
Some of the stories are historical fantasy, and I appreciate that not all the stories take place in the United States. It’s so refreshing to have merfolk from various cultural backgrounds and also just merfolk as their own culture and not just a Hans Christian Anderson mermaid “but make them brown.” The characters in these stories have real depth (pun intended). There were also stories that made me laugh out loud, like Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s “Shark Week” and others that brought tears to my eyes.
I enjoyed the wide exploration of how the humans react to mermaids: awe, fear, disrespect, adoration, etc. I had so much fun reading this anthology, and I hope you do, too.
Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.
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.
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.
There are just seven more days left in October y’all. I won’t lie; I’m super sad about that. I’m sure we can all agree that November starts the onslaught of holiday stress and oversaturation, and I’m not remotely close to the mood needed for that. That said, I have a semi-game plan ready, so maybe this year will be less stressful than the past.
Before we get to the books, make sure to check out our TBR service. No matter what your preferred genre is, TBR’s Bibliologists, also known as Bibs, work to find the perfect books for you to add to your book pile. Sign up here to pick your preferred plan and wait for the recommendations to roll in!
Okay, so I know that currently, the stock of these items are low. But I couldn’t not share something Tarot related this month. And these are just gorgeous! There are 20 options to choose from with prices starting at $5, or you can get the whole set for $38.
Years ago, Bollywood starlet Saira had a passionate affair with producer Mia. But she ended the fling to protect her public image. Years later, the fates conspire to reunite them when Saira moves to Hollywood, and Mia ends up being a producer on her new show. The attraction is still there, but so is the heartbreak, which threatens the future of the show. Will they be able to move past the past for a successful future together, both on and behind the scenes?
Stevie needs a fake girlfriend to act as a shield while performing in her ex’s queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. Iris needs help in the romance department to help write her second novel. Despite a disastrous attempt at a one-night stand, the two decide that they can help each other out with their respective issues. However, as the weeks pass, the line between fake and real soon becomes blurry, leaving them to wonder if they have a chance at a real relationship. I devoured this book and highly recommend it!
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Last time, I recommended some paranormal anthologies, and this week, I am going in the complete opposite direction by recommending the first book in long-standing paranormal romance series. Because, as enjoyable as snack-bite stories are, sometimes you want to be in it for the long haul.
By day, Kira is an antiquities specialist who specializes in defusing magical objects. At night, though, she is a Shadowchaser, a supernatural bounty hunter. Both vocations leave her unable to touch other living creatures or risk draining them.
When Khefar’s dagger comes across her desk, it brings the centuries-old warrior into her life, and soon a tense attraction develops. However, it also brings some sinister eyes, and they must work together to avoid meeting an untimely end.
When vampire hunter Elena is hired by Archangel Raphael, she’s surprised to discover that her target isn’t a vampire but a rogue archangel.
Another added, and unexpected danger to this job is the draw she feels towards her client. There are many reasons why she shouldn’t succumb to the attraction between them, but as they spend more time together, those become easier to ignore.
Here is a list of romance novels that feature protagonists with a disability.
Take this quiz to find out the romance trope you’re fated for!
And that’s all I have for you on this fine Monday morning. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Thursday with another romance round-up. In the meantime, you can still find me over on the app once known as Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then happy reading and stay hydrated!
Horror fans, it’s me, Emily, your friend in all things frightful. Are you getting all geared up for Halloween? What’s your costume vibe this year? Scary? Cute? Sexy? All of the above? Are you dressing up your pets? If so, please send me any and all pet pics. And while we’re waiting for those pet pics to come in, let me tell you about all the horror things.
Real quick: here’s a reminder to check out our personalized TBR service, where you can get book recommendations tailored to you.
Speaking of pet costumes! My husband is firmly against putting cats in costumes, but hey! If your cat is into it, why not? And this Dracula cape works for little dogs as well. Yeah, it might be too late to order this one for this Halloween, but there’s always next year. And just like…any random day you feel like having Dracula as a pet. $31.
So today, I went into Starbucks, and they were already playing Christmas music. I was so upset! Let us have Halloween first, right? Well…I hate to say it, but October means it’s time for Christmas book releases as well. That’s just the way it is, friends. Thankfully, we have Christmas horror to look forward to! This anthology is a collection of horror set during the winter solstice. It includes new works from some of the horror greats, including Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu, and Josh Malerman. It hits shelves tomorrow!
Horror anthologies! They’re so good! They’re so exciting! And here’s another new one you won’t want to miss. All These Sunken Souls highlights Black voices in horror fiction, including some best-selling faves and some brand-new writers. Contributors include Kalynn Bayron, Ashia Monet, Liselle Sambury, Ryan Douglass, and more!
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
So now that I have cats on the brain, I feel like I should tell you one of my horror pet peeves. I love animals. And I love horror novels. But I hate that feeling I get when a pet gets introduced in a horror story and I have to spend the whole book wondering if the cat (or dog) is going to be okay. You all know the feeling. So as a favor to you (and myself), here are a couple of horror books that prominently feature kitties who do not die. Honestly, the best character in Darcy Coates’ The Haunting of Ashburn House is Wolfgang the cat. Read this book, and you’ll know for sure Coates is a cat person. And if you weren’t sure, just check out this Twitter thread.
Have you ever wondered if cats would be able to survive during a zombie apocalypse? Of course you haven’t, because of course they would. In Tomo Kitaoka’s The Walking Cat, we get to see the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of a cat. Yes, the cat is the main character.
And there you have it! Cat-friendly horror and cat costumes. What more could you want? Dog lovers, maybe next time I can find some more books for you. But! In the meantime, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!
Happy Monday, Book Friends!
We’ve made it to another Monday Book Radar, and I’m excited because we’re only a week (and a day) away from HALLOWEEN! Do you have any fun Halloween plans? I’m going to a Twilight-themed barre class. Yes, you heard me right. Okay, but while we wait for Halloween to get here, let’s talk books.
Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Chuck Tingle’s got a new book coming out! Here’s the cover of Bury Your Gays, a “heart-pounding story about what it takes to succeed in a world that wants you dead.” It’s out in July 2024.
Serena Williams will be publishing a memoir. This is part of a two-book deal the tennis pro signed with Penguin Random House. The second book, according to PRH, will be an “inspirational” work, offering “rules for living that draw on her experiences as a philanthropist and advocate, and someone who has long sought to lift a diverse and emergent generation of young women whose aspirations are not confined to the court.”
Pod Save America hosts and Crooked Media co-founders Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor are publishing their first book, Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps. The book will be released from their Zando imprint Crooked Media Reads on June 4, 2024.
Salman Rushdie’s book reflecting on the attempt on his life in Chautauqua, N.Y., in August 2022, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, has been sold to Random House. The book will be out on April 16, 2024.
Britney Spears’s upcoming memoir The Woman in Me is already a bestseller ahead of its release. The book will be out tomorrow!
Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books has opened up submissions for the 2024 Creative Writing Awards. The awards partnership between Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books will award $60,000 in scholarships.
Simon & Schuster may not have been merged with Penguin Random House, but that doesn’t mean KKR’s acquisition of it is without cons.
Here’s the new trailer for the upcoming Netflix series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Expect to hear from all of your favorites from the Scott Pilgrim film adaptation, including Michael Cera and Chris Evans. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off premieres November 17 on Netflix.
Bachelor/Bachelorette star Hannah Brown is coming out with a romance novel. Mistakes We Never Made will be out in May 2024.
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!
Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.
A Valentine’s Day book? In the middle of the fall? You betcha! And you’re going to love it. This YA contemporary novel is super fun and has excellent ace representation. I feel like this is really going to speak to fans of Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. And it’s got excellent ace representation!
As the new student council president, Wren Martin’s first plan of action is to put an end to the annual Valentine’s Day dance. The dance is far too expensive, and it’s totally unfair to all of the non-couplely people out there —especially those who are asexual. But his vice president, Leo Reyes, is looking to make this year’s dance the biggest Valentine’s Day dance in the history of Rapture High.
Meanwhile, Wren has other stuff going on in his personal life. He’s joined an anonymous “non-dating” app called Buddy in the hopes of getting a sponsorship deal for the school. It was all supposed to be for research. After all, Wren — who is asexual but not aromantic — decided long ago that dating was way too complicated. But then Wren finds himself catching feelings for someone he’s met on the app. And right before the big dance.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Black Paradox by Junji Ito
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
People Collide by Isle McElroy
Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns
If your friends aren’t impressed by your home library/reading nook, get new friends.
If you’ve ever had a cat, then you know boxes are their favorite treat. I just got this belated birthday present in the mail, and before I could throw the box or any of its insides out, Murray fashioned himself a new cat bed. Oh well, this box lives here now.
And that’s all for today, friends! See you soon!
Hi, Kid Lit Friends!
With all the news and war going on in the world, it is so hard to know what to say or feel. My kids and I frequently have conversations about what we read about in the news. Now that they are teenagers, they read the paper daily and have lots of questions about so many things. I am thinking about and sending love to all of the many people in this world who are suffering because of acts of war and terrorism.
One of my big comforts in difficult times is food: reading about food from many cultures, preparing food, and sharing food. Later on in this newsletter, I share some of my favorite children’s books on this topic.
Get into the spooky spirit by wearing this adorable, bookish ghost tee. Better yet, wear this tee while reading Remy Lai’s new graphic novel, Ghost Book! $8+
This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel will be sure to delight fans of the classic as well as bring in new enthusiasts. I can’t wait for young readers to be introduced to this epic tale of rabbit adventure, perseverance, and bravery.
I always love Flavia’s picture books, but this one is particularly delightful. Vlad is a vampire who wants to fit in. Who doesn’t? So he always wears black, but what he really wants to wear is PINK! Fashion is his passion, after all. But will people still like him if he reveals who he really is?
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
This beautiful picture book follows a family who celebrates two New Years: Rosh Hashanah in the fall and Lunar New Year in the spring. The book is so beautifully written. My favorite spread has these two sentences: “They represent different peoples with different histories, cultures, and traditions. But in many ways, they are also alike.” The book continues to share the many similarities between the two New Year celebrations, including the different foods they eat.
I spent a couple of weeks in India back in early 2000, and I remember vividly the chai tea that I purchased daily from train platforms and street vendors. Reading this book brought me back to that delicious, fragrant tea. In this story, a young boy loves to do things fast, fast, fast! And his grandfather tends to do things slow, slow, slow — including making masala chai. Can Aarav learn to slow down so he can make tea as delicious as his grandfather does?
In this mouthwatering book, Grace Lin creates an epic collection of stories behind fabulous Chinese dishes! Earlier this year, I joined Grace for a meal at Peking Duck House with some fellow authors and our editor, and she entertained us with all the stories behind what we were eating. This illustrated full-color book is a real treat!
Bilal can’t wait to introduce his friends to his favorite food: daal! But as he helps prepare the food, he begins to question whether his friends will like it as much as he does…
Let me know! Find me on X at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes. For more information, click here!
Happy reading!
Karina
Trick or Treat, YA Readers!
If you’re thinking I am too early, you’d be right. Halloween is not until next week, but in the spirit of the season, I’m going to offer up a few Hallowreads this week to get you into the groove for next. This’ll be the first year I’ve bothered with a costume in a long time, and I am excited. It is likely the last year I’ll have a say over what my kid dresses as–and that’s totally fine!–but her costume inspired me to put one together, too. I’ve actually named what I’ll be in this newsletter, so I’ll be curious if anyone can guess it.
Before we get to everything, just wanted to say that since autumn is here, many of us will be gravitating towards the Cozy. And, whatever cozy means for you, be it romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or whatever, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Sip your warm beverage of choice out of this adorable autumnal camping mug featuring books and mushrooms aplenty. $15.
If you think this mug looks kind of familiar, that’s because it is from the same shop that I shared recently, which also has a bookish fall thermos. There are some awesome genre-themed camping mugs you’ll want to drool over, too.
And lo, we’ve entered the time of year when publishing begins to slow down again. In YA world, it was unusually busy in August and busy as normal through mid-October. Now, we’ll see fewer new books being published, which means you’ll hopefully get some time to catch up on your TBR.
Here are two of the new hardcovers on shelves this week. You can catch the whole list over here.
Nikki is a budding photographer and is looking forward to spending five days with her father in Dubai to celebrate Diwali. However, she soon discovers that her neighbor and rival, Yash is also on the flight to Dubai.
Nikki’s family doesn’t know about the tension between the two and, with their sights on matchmaking, encourage Nikki to get cozy with Yash. But can they? Is their history too heavy?
Perhaps the celebration of light will change everything in this enemies-to-lovers rom-com.
If you’re looking for an anthology of stories by and from adoptees, look no further. The stories represent a wide range of experiences being adopted, and the author list is a knockout: Kelley Baker, Nicole Chung, Shannon Gibney, Mark Oshiro, MeMe Collier, Susan Harness, Meredith Ireland, Mariama J. Lockington, Lisa Nopachai, Stefany Valentine, Matthew Salesses, Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom, Eric Smith, Jenny Heijun Wills, and Sun Yung Shin.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
We are finally seeing Halloween becoming a more common setting or scene in YA. It felt like there were so few for decades, but now, well, it’s nice to be able to have titles to choose from in making a list!
I’ve included below YA Halloween reads that are either centered entirely on the celebration or have a prominent scene related to the scariest day of the year. Let yourself enjoy the season with these reads that range from sweet to chilling.
This anthology is at the top of my reading list, sitting on my pile after a recent library run. It is a collection of nothing but scary stories. And these aren’t just scary stories: they’re all written by and feature queer people. The contributor list is rad, too, including Alex Brown and Shelly Page, Kalynn Bayron, Ryan Douglass, Sara Farizan, Maya Gittelman, Kosoko Jackson, Em Liu, Vanessa Montalban, Ayida Shonibar, Tara Sim, Trang Thanh Tran, and Rebecca Kim Wells.
Set over Halloween and into Dia De Los Muertos, Thomas’s debut novel follows Yadriel, who is determined to prove himself a powerful brujo despite the gendered expectations of his traditional Latine family. He employs the help of two friends to perform a ritual that will help him find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set him free.
This was a lot of fun while also being packed with so much interesting stuff about gender, about Brujeria and how gendered it is, about family, and a sweet, humorous romance.
Also, check out the short story “Ghost Town” by Malinda Lo, originally published in the anthology Defy The Dark edited by Saundra Miller. The story is published in full over at Uncanny Magazine.
If you’re thinking you’re less into the all things Halloween vibes and would instead prefer a broader book that is a love song to autumn, look no further than Crystal Maldonado’s latest, The Fall of Whit Rivera.
Thanks as always for hanging out. I will see you again on Thursday for your YA book news and paperback releases.
Until then, happy reading!
– Kelly Jensen, currently reading Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson.
Hello, mystery fans! I am on an excellent reading roll–which I am hopefully not jinxing–and it really is the best feeling: Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander (December, joyful romance); Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper (delightful memoir); Role Playing by Cathy Yardley (funny romance, 40s MCs); Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero (all the emotions, mostly funny and inspirational memoir); Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett (2024 domestic mystery about a woman on a weekend gateway with her boyfriend who wakes up to find the body of a missing woman in their vacation rental).
I have the best job that matches people with what they want to read more of through TBR, so if you want to give it a try, here’s a thing about it: Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy—whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
I love this illustration! Bonus: if you’re not into keychains, there’s a sticker version. ($7)
For fans of translated crime, psychological, and lawyer MCs!
This is my current audiobook listen, and it definitely feels like fans of literary crime and dives into questioning memory would enjoy this.
Marie NDiaye (Maître Susane), a 42-year-old lawyer in Bordeaux, doesn’t seem that happy in her life. In her personal life, she’s hired a housekeeper, Sharon, after a man at a dinner party spoke with disregard about her. Marie becomes intent on helping Sharon become a legal citizen of France, along with her husband and children. But Sharon continues to fail to provide the marriage certificate Marie asks her for, and Marie continues to clean her own home, uncomfortable by making Sharon do it.
In her professional life, she’s asked to take on the case of a woman, Marlyne, who murdered her young children. Marlyne’s husband, Gilles Principaux, has brought the case to Marie. She recognizes him from her childhood or thinks she does, thinking he may be the teen who encouraged her intelligence. But when she brings up the memory to her parents, her father is upset that the teen must have taken advantage of Marie, leading Marie to break off from her parents for assuming the worst.
Between her personal life and her professional one, Marie slowly starts to unravel, grasping at what is happening and what did happen…
For fans of short story collections!
Short story collections are a great way to find new-to-you authors and also really help with getting in some reading time when you’re schedule doesn’t allow you to sit down for long stretches of time with a long book.
You’ll get stories from loved and widely known authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia, S.A. Cosby, Walter Mosley…and also maybe new-to-you authors (whose work I’ve loved) like William Boyle and Faye Snowden.
Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!
I’m currently reading Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah––a fantastic dystopian that imagines our future with private prisons setting up death matches for inmates to try and win freedom as a sport––so I thought I’d focus on the U.S. prison system from three angles: by a lawyer, by someone once falsely incarcerated, and the history of a detention center.
In Barnett’s memoir, she talks about her childhood––a loving family with a parent who dealt with addiction––and growing up to become a lawyer. She then realized that the “war on drugs” was wildly disproportionate, including creating different fixed sentences for crack cocaine vs. cocaine powder and putting a lot of people in prison for life for nonviolent drug offenses. Barnett not only takes you into the cases she handled, but also the system and history and laws created by the war on drugs.
Yusef Salaam was one of the five children wrongly convicted of raping a woman in Central Park, NY, in 1989. Not only does Salaam discuss the case, horrific injustice, and time he spent incarcerated, but he also focuses on the support he always had, his faith, and channeling the rage of injustice into action for change.
This is the history of the House of D, a cruel women’s prison that was started in 1932 in Greenwich Village, NY, that incarcerated “tens of thousands of women and transmasculine people” and wouldn’t be closed until the early 1970s. Not only does Ryan dive into the history of the House of D and queer communities, but he also gives important focus to many of the people’s lives who were incarcerated there.
News and Roundups
Stay In and Read with 51 of This Year’s Coziest Mysteries!
In Anatomy of a Fall, a Murder Trial Reveals Queer Secrets
How Simon & Schuster’s Sale to KKR Could Affect the Company
Suspect in Natalee Holloway’s disappearance revealed what happened as part of a plea deal
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.
This fall, I’ve been diving into fall recipes, pouring over ideas for roasted squash, pumpkin bread, carrot soup, and almond-crusted chicken. I am here for it all. (Of course, the Corgis are more than happy to help.) So today, we’re looking at two of my favorite cookbooks, especially for fall seasonal cooking.
But first, I have two more university press titles you should check out and another reminder to check out our personalized TBR service, where you can get book recommendations tailored to you.
I love this quote, and it’s delightful to see all of the creativity used to turn the words into creative designs. This one’s for the tarot card lovers. $15
Jeremy Norton writes about his experience as a firefighter and emergency responder based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Norton describes his experience through the pandemic and being one of the first responders on the scene of George Floyd’s murder.
Myisha Cherry examines the ways that society views forgiveness and how those ideas function in society. Cherry argues that our current understanding of forgiveness fails to support lasting change.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Ronni Lundy won a James Beard Award for this incredible Appalachian cookbook. It examines the ways the recipes have been handed down, from family member to family member, turning into the recipes we love and know today. Some people outside the region might be surprised to learn that South Appalachia’s cuisine is made up of a diverse range of food traditions that often overlap in unique ways. Using some of the world’s simplest ingredients — like beans, corn, and greens —Lundy gives readers a walkthrough on how to create incredibly delicious and complex dishes. Johnny Autry’s photos are an incredible companion.
Edna Lewis is an Appalachian treasure. Every time I begin looking for new recipes from this book to try, I find myself immersed in detailed discussions about why Lewis has crafted a recipe in a certain way. Sometimes she describes why she doesn’t want to use baking powder for a biscuit recipe because of its aftertaste. Or maybe she’s describing why a certain ingredient must be in season for the recipe to work. These seemingly small details (to the modern home cook, anyway) are vitally important to Lewis’ approach to food. These recipes represent a master at 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