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Big Books of the Week

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Berkley; LJ starred review) leads holds this week.

Other titles in demand include:

22 Seconds by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Little, Brown and Co.)

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews (St. Martin’s)

When She Dreams by Amanda Quick (Berkley)

This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns (S. & S.)

Book of Night by Holly Black (Tor; LJ starred review)

These books and others publishing the week of May 2, 2022 are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet.

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest

Four Library Reads and ten Indie Next picks publish this week:

Book of Night by Holly Black (Tor; LJ starred review)

“Charlie is a hot mess. The more she tries to get on the straight and narrow, the more things fall apart. Due to childhood trauma, she trusts only herself, and maybe her shadow. But in a world where shadows can be altered, stolen, and weaponized, she has to be wary. Lots of atmospheric world building and stage setting, and perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Neil Gaiman, and V.E. Schwab.”—Emily Plagens, Allen Public Library, Allen, TX

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“Holly Black’s adult fantasy debut is as chilling, dark, and action-packed as you’d expect. The world of shadow magic is fascinating, the story is an absolute page-turner, and Charlie is messy, clever, and completely relatable.”—Olivia Marchese, Author’s Note, Medina, NY

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (Berkley)

“In this slow-burn Gothic novel, Beatriz joins her new rich husband at his family’s dilapidating estate, where she dreams of a better life. But the rumors of her husband’s first wife’s death and unsettling supernatural incidents have Beatriz fearing for her own life. Her only hope of survival is a witchy priest. For fans of Mexican Gothic and the film Crimson Peak.”—Kari Bingham-Guiterrez, Olathe Public Library, Olathe, KS

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray (Vintage)

"This delightful cozy mystery features characters from Jane Austen and introduces sleuths Jonathan Darcy (son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam) and Juliet Tilney (daughter of Catherine and Henry). Jonathan and Juliet are well- matched as amateur investigators and, of course, as potential romantic partners. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Barron and Anna Dean."—Amy Norton, Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, IL

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco; LJ starred review)

“Cameron arrives in Solo Bay looking for his long-lost parents. Tova, who works at the local aquarium, lost her own son years ago. After Cameron takes over Tova’s job, Marcellus the octopus sees that the two are linked. Told in alternating voice (including that of Marcellus), this is a witty read for fans of A Man Called Ove and The Reading List."—Mary Robinson, Vernon Area Public Library, Lincolnshire, IL

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“Meet a hardworking widow, a lost soul, and a giant Pacific octopus (yes, an octopus) in this heartfelt story that reveals there’s still plenty of living to do for those with their eyes — and hearts — open to the unexpected. A bright debut!”—Annie Romano, An Unlikely Story, Plainville, MA

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Berkley; LJ starred review)

“Nora loves her big city and her literary agent job, but agrees to go on a trip to a small town to improve her relationship with her sister. Enter Charlie Lastra, a book editor from this quaint little town. This is a romance about family and finally putting yourself first. For fans of The Worst Best Man and The Love Hypothesis.”—Brenna Timm, High Plains Public Library, Greeley, CO

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“This book is perfect. I was so happy to see Emily Henry return to enemies-to-lovers. Dare I say it, Book Lovers is even better than Beach Read! The editor vs agent drama, the small-town checklist, and god, the steamy scenes — read this book!”—Michelle Stiles, Magers & Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis, MN

Seven additional Indie Next picks publish this week:

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami, trans. by Sam Bett and David Boyd (Europa Editions)

“I remain in awe of Mieko Kawakami’s ability to take life’s quietest moments and give them weight and vibrancy. The emotional depth of the characters feels tangible and familiar. Her work continues to be nothing short of excellence!”—Kelsey Jagneaux, Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg, FL

Poguemahone by Patrick McCabe (Biblioasis)

“Poguemahone celebrates the rowdy lives of siblings. It’s impossible not to get caught up in these exuberant stories, and amidst the hijinks are losses, doubts, and human frailties. A big novel as generous, funny, and sad as life itself.”—Lori Feathers, Interabang Books, Dallas, TX

Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman (Hogarth)

“Hands down, the best thing I’ve read in months. Acts of Service complicates well-trod territory — beauty, power, sex, degradation, privilege — in a way that feels honest. Tender, totally absorbing, wholly original. I love this book.”—Claire Davey, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill (Doubleday; LJ starred review)

“This story of an alternate 1950s America, in which rebellious women turn into dragons, is thrilling, subversive, and original. It’s filled with such poignant beauty that deserves to be savored with tissues nearby. Do not miss this one.”—Gwen Papp, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI

Love Marriage by Monica Ali (Scribner)

“A modern-day, page-turning family saga. Beautifully written with deeply intelligent emotional reflections on the complexity within each of us, this is for anyone invested in the ways of the heart — what it wants, and if it can be trusted.”—Page Berger, Barrett Bookstore, Darien, CT

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson (Sourcebooks Landmark)

“While never overplaying the drama, Honey’s story captures the struggles and discrimination women faced in the 1950s and their fight for dignity. Honoring the power of women’s friendships, this rich sequel speaks to our present.”—Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books, Davidson, NC

Trust by Hernan Diaz (Riverhead)

“Hernan Diaz does things I've never seen in a novel before. Trust ties up threads of money and art, family and history, lies and truth. Think historical fiction turned meta, with a beating heart and spectacular writing.”—Mark Haber, Brazos Bookstore, Houston, TX

In the Media

The People "Picks" book of the week is The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani (Dutton; LJ starred review). Also getting attention are Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close (Knopf), and I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood by Jessi Klein (Harper). There is also a Q&A with Tina Brown about The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor--the Truth and the Turmoil (Crown). This “beautiful issue” features Helen Mirren and and 127 “inspiring, funny, brilliant women we love.”  Plus, Colu Henry, Colu Cooks: Easy Fancy Food (Harry N. Abrams), shares a recipe.

Reviews

USA Today reviews Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays by Minnie Driver (HarperOne), giving it 3 out of 4 stars: “Driver’s memoir isn’t filled with much in the way of celebrity gossip or outsize personal trauma. But it reflects an actor’s close attention to strange, exasperating, heartbreaking behavior all around her, conveyed with wit and poise.”

NPR reviews Companion Piece by Ali Smith (Pantheon): “Smith, on fire, welds so many elements into this short novel — including Sandy's dreams and childhood memories and the terrible ordeals of a talented, steely 16th century waif — that the result is as intricate as that artisanal lock.” And, The No-Show by Beth O’Leary (Berkley): “Fans of the emotional ups and downs and surprises of authors like Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry and Mhairi McFarlane (Just Last Night and If I Never Met You) will adore it.”

LA Times reviews Trust by Hernan Diaz (Riverhead): “Trust spoofs so much that it winds up spoofing itself. Novels must tell a truth, even when they don’t tell the truth.”

The Washington Post reviews The Last Days of Roger Federer: And Other Endings by Geoff Dyer (Farrar): “A serious critic, Dyer is rarely solemn, even when speaking of death, depletion, dissolution, disappointment. Indeed, his wit, a distinctive and delicious blend of salty, sweet and snarky, is on frequent display in his wonderful book.”

NYT reviews Magpie by Elizabeth Day (S. & S.): “Early in Magpie, a twist comes that made me gasp out loud. And it’s the kind of twist that makes you re-evaluate everything you’ve read before. And the twist marks the novel — at least for its first two-thirds — as one of the Grand Guignol school of thrillers of which Gillian Flynn remains the current master." And, After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul by Tripp Mickle (Morrow): “Mickle builds a dense, granular mosaic of the firm’s trials and triumphs, showing us how Apple, built on Ive’s successes in the 2000s, became Cook’s company in the 2010s.” Also, Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell (Gallery): “Odell rarely achieves sufficient altitude to situate Wintour in the flow of history — to fill in the background and the floor underneath her Manolo Blahnik shoes.” And, Dead in the Water : A True Story of Hijacking, Murder, and a Global Maritime Conspiracy by Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel (Portfolio): “Sorting all of this out could not have been easy. Campbell and Chellel report and explain it masterfully, giving us an account that is both enlightening and thoroughly engaging. One longs for a sequel where justice is done.” Plus, The Immortal King Rao by Vauhini Vara (Norton): “a monumental achievement: beautiful and brilliant, heartbreaking and wise, but also pitiless, which may be controversial to list among its virtues but is in fact essential to its success.”

Briefly Noted

May’s Costco Connection is out with buyers’ picks: Lily's Promise: Holding On to Hope Through Auschwitz and Beyond—A Story for All Generations by Lily Ebert and Dov Forman (HarperOne), and The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell, out tomorrow in paperback.

Vox revisits Jonathan Lethem’s The Fortress of Solitude (Vintage), for its May book club.

Publishing Perspectives previews the 2022 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which begins May 23.

Entertainment Weekly chats with author Rachel Hawkins and gives a cover-reveal of her forthcoming thriller, The Villa (St. Martin’s), due out in early 2023. 

NYT interviews Walter Isaacson about the research for his forthcoming biography of Elon Musk, and challenges of writing about someone “constantly evolving and expanding his empire.”

People talks with neurosurgeon Myron L. Rolleabout his new book, The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery (Zondervan), and his philosophy of success.

Randy Rainbow, Playing With Myself (St. Martin’s), speaks to Salon about “countering fake news with artifice.”

The San Francisco Chronicle talks with Greil Marcus about his second collection of columns, More Real Life Rock: The Wilderness Years, 2014–2021 (Yale Univ. Pr.).

NYT examines how Maia Kobabe’s debut graphic memoir, Gender Queer (Oni Press), became “the most banned book in the country.“

The Atlantic explores the “biases built into our homes” through the book, Making Space: Women and the Manmade Environment by Matrix (Verso).

Jennifer Weiner pens an essay on the Coastal Grandmother trend for Entertainment Weekly. Weiner’s new novel The Summer Place (Atria), publishes next week.

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Month, USA Today curates a list of “50 AAPI authors.”

USA Today picks five books for the week.

CrimeReads suggests 10 books out this week. 

The Washington Post has 10 noteworthy books for May.

The Millions previews May’s most anticipated books.

LitHub shares May’s best sci-fi and fantasy books.

OprahDaily has 28 books for spring.

Neal Adams, comic book legend and defender of artists' rights, dies at 80. NPR has the obituary.

“Justin Green, Who Put Himself Into His Underground Cartoons, Dies at 76.” NYT has an obituary.

Authors On Air

NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday chats with Isabel Cañas about her debut novel, The Hacienda (Berkley).

NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday talks with filmmaker John Waters about his debut novel, Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance (Farrar).

CBS Sunday Morning talks with Douglas Wolk about his book, All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told (Penguin Pr.; LJ starred review).

PBS NewsHour talks with Jennifer Egan about her novel, The Candy House (Scribner; LJ starred review). 

Don Winslow, City on Fire (Morrow; LJ starred review), discusses his decision to retire to focus on activism with PBS Canvas.

FoxNews contributor Tyrus discusses his dealing with fatherlessness in his new memoir, Just Tyrus (Post Hill Press).

The Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gets a release date of November 17th, 2023. The Hollywood Reporter has the story.

David Sedaris, Happy-Go-Lucky (Little, Brown and Co.), is on with Drew Barrymore today. Gabrielle Bernstein, Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace (Hay House), visits with Tamron Hall.  Norman Reedus, The Ravaged written with Frank Bill (Blackstone), visits The Tonight Show. Alton Brown, Good Eats: The Final Years (Abrams), visits Stephen Colbert tonight.

Jennifer Grey, Out of the Corner (Ballantine), will be on The View tomorrow. Minnie Driver, Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays (HarperOne), and Hernan Diaz, Trust (Riverhead), will be on with Seth Meyers. Sonya Curry, Fierce Love: A Memoir of Family, Faith, and Purpose (HarperOne), will be on with Tamron Hall.

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