Honorable Mentions
There are so many great books out today that I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down! So also check out: When a deal for Laila to acquire a piece of caul falls through, she is heartbroken, but when the child is stillborn, she is overcome with grief and rage. What she doesn’t know is that a baby will soon be delivered in her family — by her niece, Amara, an ambitious college student — and delivered to the Melancons to raise as one of their own. Hallow is special: she’s born with a caul, and their matriarch, Maman, predicts the girl will restore the family’s prosperity. Growing up, Hallow feels that something in her life is not right. Did Josephine, the woman she calls mother, really bring her into the world? Why does her cousin Helena get to go to school and roam the streets of New York freely while she’s confined to the family’s decrepit brownstone? As the Melancons’ thirst to maintain their status grows, Amara, now a successful lawyer running for district attorney, looks for a way to avenge her longstanding grudge against the family. When mother and daughter cross paths, Hallow will be forced to decide where she truly belongs. Reasons to read it: I started listening to the audiobook of this one to talk about on the All the Books podcast and was completely enthralled, but then I saw that Liberty had already claimed it! The narration is excellent, so I highly recommend the audiobook version. This follows generations of Black women in Harlem with almost a dozen point of view characters. It’s about familial connection, tradition, secrets, and betrayal and tackles generational trauma as well as gentrification. This is one that’s getting a lot of buzz, and rightly so. But one day her tormentor, star football player Tyler Benson, takes things too far, leaving a threatening note in her locker, and gets suspended. As an act of revenge against her for speaking out, Tyler and his friends vandalize Zara’s house with racist graffiti, leading to a violent crime that puts Zara’s entire future at risk. Now she must pay the ultimate price and choose between fighting to stay in the only place she’s ever called home or losing the life she loves and everyone in it. Reasons to read it: This is a captivating story about the complexity of immigration and the impossible hurdles families have to overcome. An author’s note explains Khan’s own family’s immigration process was derailed by a clerical error, making them have to abandon the possibility entirely, so she understands how your life can be upended by something outside of your control. There is also a romance with her and a white girl, and it explores white privilege in an interracial relationship. This is a great addition to books that start conversations about immigration in the U.S., with the added layer of being an out queer immigrant from a country that is not accepting of queer people. I highly recommend it. Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho’s is an opportunity for just that — a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo’s, and to find the father who left him behind. But when both the restaurant and Xander’s immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his newfound family and himself. Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong in order to save the place they all call home. Reasons to read it: I loved the audiobook, which has two different narrators for the two point of view characters. This is a really interesting story about community, especially Chicanx community. Pen’s father takes care of everyone in their community, trying to shield them from a predatory loan shark. Pen and Xander’s love story is sweet and supportive, and this also has anxiety representation. Don’t try to read this book while hungry! The food descriptions will leave you drooling. With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor ― the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball ― is present throughout. A treat for Jenny Lawson’s already existing fans, and destined to convert new ones, Broken is a beacon of hope and a wellspring of laughter when we all need it most. Reasons to read it: I don’t feel like I have to fight for this one: Jenny Lawson has a huge fanbase. She began writing The Bloggess and her previous books Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy were very popular. Though it deals with mental health, this is supposed to be a hopeful read. And, of course, it has Jenny Lawson’s signature off the wall humor, complete with bizarre photos and illustrations. Flora and Julian struggled for years, scraping together just enough acting work to raise Ruby in Manhattan and keep Julian’s small theater company — Good Company — afloat. A move to Los Angeles brought their first real career successes, a chance to breathe easier, and a reunion with Margot, now a bona fide television star. But has their new life been built on lies? What happened that summer all those years ago? And what happens now? Reasons to read it: You probably know this author from her bestselling (that’s an understatement!) book The Nest. This is a novel about the complexities of marriage, and it’s supposed to be an uplifting read. I’m sure this will be a popular book club pick! Soon, Jane and her family are in danger, with few allies to help her make sense of the true scope of the peril. Is the only way to safety to follow in Silvina’s footsteps? Is it too late to stop? As she desperately seeks answers about why Silvina contacted her, time is running out ― for her and possibly for the world. Reasons to read it: You probably know Jeff VanderMeer from the Annihilation series! He writes a lot of weird fiction that is compelling and completely unique. This one looks at questions about climate change, but within the framework of a fast-paced thriller with a conspiracy element.
First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami, a new collection of short stories Our Work Is Everywhere: An Illustrated Oral History of Queer and Trans Resistance by Syan Rose Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi Pride and Premeditation by fellow Book Rioter Tirzah Price The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris and so many more!
Other Book Riot New Releases Resources
This is only scratching the surface of the books out this week! If you want to keep up with all the latest new releases, check out:
Book Riot’s Youtube channel, where I discuss the most exciting books out every Tuesday! All the Books, our weekly new releases podcast, where Liberty and a cast of co-hosts (including me!) talk about eight books out that week that we’ve read and loved. The New Books Newsletter, where we send you an email of the books out this week that are getting buzz Finally, if you want the real inside scoop on new releases, you have to check out Book Riot Insiders’ New Releases Index! That’s where I find 90% of new releases, and you can filter by trending books, Rioters’ picks, and even LGBTQ new releases!
title: “New Releases Tuesday Books Out This Week To Add To Your Tbr " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-29” author: “Daniel Wagner”
Honorable Mentions
Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve: a closeted trans guy plays Romeo in his high school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Love in Color by Bolu Babalola: a collection of love stories inspired by mythology from around the world. Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne: a romance about Ruthie, an ambitious woman aiming for a promotion, and Teddy, a rich boy she needs to keep out of her hair to get it. So she signs him up to play assistant to a pair of demanding and eccentric elderly sisters.
Other Book Riot New Releases Resources
This is only scratching the surface of the books out this week! If you want to keep up with all the latest new releases, check out:
The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna’s childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever. As past and present collide, Anna realizes that she has been led to this moment. The most difficult lessons of her life have given her insight into how victims come into contact with violent predators. As Anna becomes obsessed with saving the missing girl, she must accept that true courage means getting out of her own way and learning to let others in.
Reasons to read it: This is from the same author as The Paris Wife, but it seems to have a very different tone. It has elements pulled from real missing persons cases and also uses trauma theory. It promises to include a “hint of the metaphysical,” so it will be interesting to see what that turns out to be. This is supposed to be a powerful, intense read, with Paula McLain’s signature lyrical writing style.
And then it does — and maybe Tina should have been more prepared. At least she has a crew around her that she can trust — and her best friend at her side. Now, they just have to save the world.
Reasons to read it: This is Charlie Jane Anders’s first YA novel. You might recognize her previous adult title, All the Birds in the Sky! This is supposed to be a thrilling space adventure about in intergalactic war: “think Star Wars meets Doctor Who.” It’s also is set in a queernormative society and has an F/F romance with a trans girl love interest. Found family in space! It should appeal to fans of Once & Future by A.R. Capetta and Cori McCarthy.
When her mysterious aunt and her teenage cousin arrive from India for a surprise visit, they draw Hana into a long-buried family secret. A hate-motivated attack on their neighborhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana’s growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival restaurant — who might not be a complete stranger after all.
As life on the Golden Crescent unravels, Hana must learn to use her voice, draw on the strength of her community and decide what her future should be.
Reasons to read it: This is a romcom that is meant to appeal to fans of You’ve Got Mail. Although this is a fun rivals-to-lovers romance, it also tackles racism and Islamophobia. Hana has to deal with how Muslims are represented in her media job while trying to break into the industry. This is part light romance, part political commentary.
You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.
Utter nonsense.
Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.
Until I met her.
Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she…cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.
But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating — and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.
Nonsense again.
Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I—
I am the villain.
Reasons to read it: This is the first volume in a YA fantasy duology that is an angsty romance between a sorceress and a princess. It’s a dark, queer retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” giving Aurora an actual personality and depth, as well as having the added layer of a unique magic system. If you like fairytale retellings and YA fantasy romances with some angst, you’ll want to pick this one up.
Reasons to read it: This is both a love story and an exploration of race as well as masculinity. It’s a novella written in second person (addressed to “you”), which is always a divisive choice. Open Water is a short read, but it is dense with discussions about racism and the complexities of coming together in a romantic relationship, all written in a beautiful, poetic style.
Evangeline’s arrival at first feels like a blessing, but she is also clearly hiding something. When Isaac, who has retreated into his Quaker faith, isn’t equipped to handle her alone, Lorrie forges her own relationship with the girl. Soon all three characters are forced to examine what really happened in their overlapping pasts, and what it all possibly means for a shared future.
Reasons to read it: This is a story about loss and anger, but it is also centered on a mystery. It’s a kind of found family story about coming together after tragedy through forgiveness. Browse through the Goodreads reviews and you’ll see many accounts of being completely emotionally destroyed by this book, so be prepared to ugly cry reading this one.
Book Riot’s YouTube channel, where I discuss the most exciting books out every Tuesday! All the Books, our weekly new releases podcast, where Liberty and a cast of co-hosts (including me!) talk about eight books out that week that we’ve read and loved. The New Books Newsletter, where we send you an email of the books out this week that are getting buzz. Finally, if you want the real inside scoop on new releases, you have to check out Book Riot Insiders’ New Releases Index! That’s where I find 90% of new releases, and you can filter by trending books, Rioters’ picks, and even LGBTQ new releases!
