On recently released or upcoming books you should check out

It's been a couple months since I've written about this! And, to be fair, there haven't been many brand new or upcoming books that I've read that deserve to make the list. But luckily, there have been a few here and there and I'm excited to talk about them more here!

• The Sisters Mederos by Patrice Sarath (April 3rd) - This fun fantasy book about a pair of sister who must save their family will be a hit with YA readers. It's clean, hilarious, and full of brave and daring young women who will stop at nothing to help their family. It's a fun read and the cover is astounding.

• Sheets by Breanna Thummler (August 28th) - After her mother's death, it's up to Marjorie to run her family's laundry business and care for her brother and dad. Enter a ghost to change everything. This graphic novel is bittersweet and adorable. The characters are memorable, the artwork is AMAZING, and the story is touching. This is a great middle grade or YA read.

• Lost Gods by Micah Yongo (July 3rd) - A young and newly graduated group of assassins have their world completely change when one of their number is unexpectedly murdered. This new fantasy series is exciting and has a beautifully built world that I'm excited to learn more about.

• Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras (July 31st) - Two sisters' lives are about to change when their mother hires a new house servant. Taking place in Columbia during Pablo Escobar's reign, this story will teach you about Columbian history and also about sticking together as a family in the midst of turmoil. This is a beautiful and surprising book that I highly recommend.

What upcoming books have you been excited about? Have you read any of these? Do you plan on getting any of these books?

On upcoming books that you should check out

Sadly, I've really been falling behind on ARCs these last few months. This year, I'm turning over a new leaf - I'll be participating in The Herd Presents' Blogger Shame Challenge to catch up on old (aka recently released) ARCs and try keeping up with more current ones. And I'm not doing so poorly thusfar - I've already read a new ARC this year and I've gone through a few backlisted (though not ARC) books. The future is looking bright for my ARCs. Until I get around to more, here are a couple books you should be getting excited about:

• Moonshine by Jasmine Gower (February 6th) - First of all, I can't get enough of this cover. It is absolutely stunning and so creative. It also gives you a pretty good idea of what the book is about - it's like "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and urban fantasy smushed into one delightful little novel. I adored this and I'm so excited to see what else the author has to offer.

• The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr (June 26th) - Such an adorable book! This middle grade story is so wholesome and sweet -and it has some very kind and tenderhearted dragons. Weyr tells the tale of a lonely dragon and a lonely little girl so well - you feel like you understand them and their predicament so well. It's a bittersweet and tender book, perfect for young fantasy readers.

• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (July 10th) - Again, what a beautiful cover. If only I could get my hands on this ARC. I loved Novik's Beauty & the Beast retelling and was worried she wouldn't write any more fairytales - and now she announces a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. Thank goodness she has - and hopefully she'll be retelling fairytales for years to come. Now I just have to worry about waiting til July...

What upcoming books are you excited about? What new releases have you been ranting about? What gets you excited about a new book?

On upcoming or just-released books that need a second look

THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS IN THE WORLD and here are a few that are new/will be new that you should take a look at:

• Strange Alchemy by Gwenda Bond (August 1st) - This YA story about Roanoke Island legends is pretty fun, though not without problems. It follows two teens whose destinies are tied up with the island and their journey to discover the mysteries of the island. Recommended for YA lovers of contemporary fantasy.

• Surfing With Sartre: An Aquatic Inquiry Into a Life of Meaning by Aaron James (August 8th) - This book was fascinating and a bit difficult to pay attention to all the time. The times I was able to fully focus, I was greatly rewarded for my effort because this book is fascinating. Taking various philosophical ideals and discussing them from the viewpoint of a surfer is unique and wonderful and made me consider lots of things in a new light. Recommended for deep thinkers and philosophy readers.

• Boy Seeking Band by Steve Brezenoff (Sept 1st) - This adorable story about a young boy coping with the death of his mother (and other changes) by forming a band is heart-warming, fun, and an extremely rewarding read. Best of all, every important character has a deep knowledge of music (especially jazz) and has a quirk to offer the band. Highly recommended for young music lovers.

• Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller (Sept 5th) - I liked this book. I really did. The most interesting thing about it was the main character - who is genderqueer and is VERY well-written for that. I also liked that Sal’s gender issues weren’t the main plot - it was merely an interesting aspect of the character. The rest of the book, while good and really enjoyable to read and really interesting, isn’t something that will stick with me in a big way. It’s definitely worth the read (and it’s a pretty short book, too) so you have no excuse not to give it a try at least.

• Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure by Lynn Comella (Sept 8th) - Lynn Comella’s in-depth study of feminist sex-toy stores shows the reader the history, the barriers that these stores have broken throughout history, the change in how these stores have been run, and how these sex-stores have helped to change societal opinions of sexuality - especially when it comes to women. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in women’s issues or the intersection of education/societal change and business.

• The Raven God by Alane Adams (Sept 12th) - This middle grade mythological fantasy is a lot of fun and a good way to get young readers interested in mythology and history. My biggest criticism is that this seems like a middle grade Percy Jackson - which may be a plus for Rick Riordan lovers. Recommended for young fantasy readers.

What upcoming or just-released books would you add to this list?

On upcoming or recently released books that I recommend

Ah, Netgalley. It’s both a blessing and a curse. There were so many more books that I wanted to finish to include on this list, but, alas, time has run out and it’s time to post. Nevertheless, here are a few books that caught my eye and gained my approval (and hopefully I’ll have more books read when it’s time to post another one of these):

• At the Broken Places: A Mother and Trans Son Pick Up the Pieces by Mary Collins and Donald Collins - April 25th - This memoir of a trans son and his mother and their experiences with his transition is interesting and powerful. This is an excellent resource for individuals who are looking for more information on a relative's transition or for people who would like to learn more about transgender issues and difficulties.

• The Gender Agenda: A First-Hand Account of How Girls and Boys Are Treated Differently By James Millar and Ros Ball - July 21st  - This fascinating record of one family’s experiences with gender is an interesting perspective on raising children. This family kept a Twitter diary for a few years to monitor how people treated and spoke to their daughter and son differently. They also give wonderful recommendations of books and movies that have positive (or interesting) gender representation for children. Recommended for gender-conscience parents or gender studies students.

• Children of the Divide by Patrick S. Tomlinson- August 1st - An interesting sci-fi novel with analogies to current events, Children of the Divide is intriguing and fun with memorable characters and situations. Recommended for lovers of sci-fi and for lovers of straightforward literary analogies.

• Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate by Anne Ostby - August 1st - Five best friends from high school reconnect forty years later and come together to work through their issues and to support each other in their difficulties as they explore their new lives in Fiji. Recommended for lovers of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

What upcoming or newly released books are on your radar? Are any of these on your TBR?

On upcoming or just-released book that deserve your attention

In the past few weeks, I’ve actually been able to get through a decent amount of Netgalley books (more than last month, at least). I’ve been in a non-fiction mood for the past several weeks, so be warned that most of these are more educational (if that isn’t your cup of tea). Regardless of your interests, however, these books deserve a second look and a little hype as they are opened to the public!

• Vinyl Freak: Love Letters to a Dying Medium by John Corbett (June 2nd) - John Corbett is a vinyl freak - he’s collected more vinyls than most people have ever seen and he knows the history and stories behind most of them, even the strange and obscure ones. In this book, Corbett shares his column about his vinyl collection and the records that make it up. Anyone with an interest in music will enjoy this, though those with a jazz background will especially appreciate and love this book.

• Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman by Anne Helen Petersen (June 20th) - This in-depth look at society’s perspective of currently pop culture icons is a must-read for anyone with an interest in gender studies. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a fascinating look at how different celebrities can show us how society views (and what society expects) of women. This is a good gateway into learning more about women’s issues and gender studies.

• Vice Capades: Sex, Drugs, and Bowling from the Pilgrims to the Present by Mark Stein (July 1st) - Mark Stein’s history of vice in America is entertaining, educational, and even shocking at times. This book is conversational and easy to read while still giving the reader a feel for and understanding of societal approaches to sex, drugs, and other sins throughout American history. I recommend this for those with an interest in changing mentalities or general histories.

• Love and Other Alien Experiences by Kerry Winfrey (July 11th) - This cute and quirky YA contemporary romance about dealing with anxiety and getting outside your comfort zone is adorable and hilarious and ridiculously fun. Recommended for lovers of nerdy heroines.

• The Hideout by Egon Hostovský (July 25th) - A fascinating WWII story told from a unique perspective, this short novel is an excellent read for anyone. It will keep you on your toes, make you groan at the mistakes of our characters, and make you ask what you would do in the hero’s place. I highly recommend this for anyone with an interest in WWII or stories told in a unique way.

What upcoming books are you excited about? What just-released books are you enjoying? Do any of these books strike your fancy?

On upcoming and just-released books that I approve of

I read an interesting mix of new books this month - a drama, a sci-fi thriller, and a Christian romance. Overall, I read some interesting stuff and I’m excited for these books to come out so you can enjoy them too!

• Woman No. 17 by Eden Lepucki - May 9th - A dark story about two women, motherhood, and art, this book explores the complex relationships in two families and the changes that occur in women’s lives as a result of their meeting. I liked this book quite a bit. It was quite dark and kind of slow, but in a dramatic way, not in a dull way. There was always something happening, so I never got bored. If you like books about family drama and artists, you’ll like this book.

• The Rebellion’s Last Traitor by Nik Korpon - June 6th  - Two men struggle to decide if it’s worth it to rejoin the rebellion they led years ago. But things are far more complicated now. I really liked this book. It was a fun and interesting take on the aftermath of a rebellion and what might cause a new one to rise up. It also is a lot about relationships between people, which I really enjoyed. At times, it was a little confusing to read - the world was so different from ours while still being similar at its core. Interesting book. I recommend it for sci-fi readers.

• My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring by Carrie Fancett Pagels - July 1st - In this Christian romance set in the last 1800’s, two individuals must sort through all the secrets and lies to find each other and see if they can make a life together on Mackinac Island. This was a cute book. I typically don’t enjoy romances, but this one was fun to read. It’s also very very chaste. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story.

What new or upcoming releases are you excited about?

On upcoming or just-released books that I recommend

I spent a good amount of time only reading ARCs and egalleys, then I took a break for a bit to finish my library books before they were due. That’s when a bunch of books I’d ordered came in and it was difficult to finish all the egalleys I wanted to before their release dates...but I did it! And here are the ones that I think are worth your time. In fact, I’d highly recommend them (they’re great):

• Sealskin by Su Bristow (May 1st) - A slow retelling of a selkie folk tale, this story is beautiful, dark, and sweet. Donald is young fisherman who is a bit of an outcast in his community - until he bring home Maihri, a selkie. The story follow Donald over the years after he meets Maihri as his life changes completely. It’s a beautiful tale that’s easy to get lost in. I recommend this for anyone who likes slow stories and retellings. 

                                                                   

• Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski (June 1st) - After twenty years, Tom Jeffries’ death is again under investigation - this time, by a podcast host who returns to interview those who were involved. This is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year - it’s brilliantly told, well-written, intriguing, and keeps you guessing right up until the end. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, I was thrown for a loop - and those are the best sorts of horror novels. Anyone with an interest in horror or cleverly written stories should read this.

Any upcoming or just-released book you've enjoyed recently?

On soon-to-be- or just-released books with my seal of approval

Meet my seal of approval. This majestic being is a tough guy to please, but here are the upcoming releases or book that have just barely been released that he deigned to approve of:

• How to Stage a Catastrophe by Rebecca Donnelly (April 1st) - I don’t often read middle grade books, but this one caught my eye and captured my heart. The story follows Sidney Camazzalo and his friends as they work to save the children’s theatre they love. The characters are hilarious, the story is ridiculously far-fetched (which is exactly what I liked when I read a lot of middle grade books), and the storytelling is wonderful and memorable. I laughed aloud several times. A must-read for any kids interested in theatre.
• Change of Seasons: A Memoir by John Oates (April 4th) - Rock ‘n’ roll biographies and histories are some of my favorite books to read and this book was no exception. The first half of it took me a long time to get through - I kept having to convince myself that it was worth finishing. The second half was different - I breezed through it in a night because it was so funny and it was wonderful to learn more about one half of the famous Hall & Oates duo. This reignited my interest in H&O and might have caused a slight crush on John Oates (that stache, though!). I highly recommend this to any H&O fans and anyone with an interest in classic rock/pop should enjoy this as well.
• A Tyranny of Queens (Manifold Worlds #2) by Foz Meadows (May 2nd) - The second book in the Manifold Worlds series was much better than the first. A fairly straightforward portal fantasy, this series feels like it stepped out of the 1980's in some ways. Full of political intrigue, magic, dragons, and worldwalking, it's a fun and easy to read series. I look forward to reading more by this author - Meadows seems to be getting better with more practice and has a lot of potential in my mind. I recommend this for anyone who loves portal fantasy and who enjoys knowing about up-and-coming fantasy authors first.

• It’s All a Game: What Board Games Tell Us About the World and Ourselves by Tristan Donovan (May 30th) - This book is AWESOME. As a lover of board games, I felt obligated to try this out and I absolutely adored it. In addition to giving the history of various popular board games, Donovan offers some theories as to how the world was altered because of these games. Tabletop games are growing in popularity these days, so this is a well-timed and delightful book for anyone with an interest in board games (especially if you like chess a lot). If you’re feeling inspired to get into tabletop games, Board Game Quest has some suggestions.