Want to get the latest book news delivered to your inbox each day? Sign up for our daily Book Pulse newsletter.

Forthcoming Book News

Festival of Books features Native American authors Rigoberto González, Danielle Geller, and more. Los Angeles Times reports.

The Wolfson History Prize announces 2021 winner shortlist.

Louise Erdrich is named the 2021 Aspen Words Literary Prize Winner. 

Margaret Wander Bonanno, author of several Star Trek books, dies at the age of 71. Locus reports.

"Sexual Assault Allegations Against Biographer Halt Shipping of His Roth Book." The NYT reviews. Also, the story is covered by USA Today and Los Angeles Times.

New Title Bestsellers

Links for the week: NYT Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers | NYT Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers | USA Today Best-Selling Books

Fiction

Ocean Prey by John Sandford (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) swims to No. 1 on both the NYT Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list and on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

The Devil’s Hand by Jack Carr (Atria/Emily Bestler Books: S. & S.) waves to No. 3 on the NYT Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list and No. 4 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth (St. Martin’s; LJ starred review) celebrates No. 7 on the NYT Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list and No. 11 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

Hush Little Girl by Lisa Regan (Bookouture) debuts at No. 9 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

Stargazer by Anne Hillerman (Harper) looks up to No. 10 on the NYT Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list and No. 12 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (Ballantine: Random House) lights up at No. 12 on the NYT Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list.

Nonfiction

On the House: A Washington Memoir by John Boehner (St. Martin’s: Macmillan) soaks in No. 1 on the NYT Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers list and No. 2 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday) starts at No. 4 on the NYT Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers list.

The Lighter Step-By-Step Instant Pot Cookbook by Jeffrey Eisner (Voracious: Hatchette) boils to No. 6 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

The Hero Code: Lessons Learned From Lives Well Lived by Admiral William H. McRaven (Grand Central: Hatchette) marches to No. 15 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

Reviews

NY Times reviews Louis Menand's The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War by Louis Menand (Farrar): "Menand is no cheerleader; his assessment of America’s failures can be withering. But his larger point, backed by a mountain of research and reams of thoughtful commentary, is that American culture ascended in this era for the right reasons." Also, Paul Greenberg's The Climate Diet: 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint (Penguin: Random House): "Greenberg’s writing is clear and concise. Each section starts with easy tips, like keeping your lids on your pots to conserve energy, then wades into bigger, trickier concepts, like the morality and impact of having children."

The Washington Post also reviews The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War by Louis Menand (Farrar): "One function of literary journalism should be just what Menand does in “The Free World”: Remind us of how much we’ve forgotten or neglected because of our widespread cultural amnesia."

Deadline reviews David Thomson’s A Light In the Dark: A History of Movie Directors (Knopf: Random House): “Suddenly presenting himself now as ultra-woke, Thomson devotes considerable attention to the wave of female filmmakers making significant inroads today and gratifyingly lavishes considerable attention and praise upon Barbara Loden’s exceptional sole feature, the still far-too-little-seen 1970 Wanda.”

Book Marks has "5 Reviews You Need to Read This Week."

Briefly Noted

Entertainment Weekly interviews Alena Dillon, author of The Happiest Girl in the World (Morrow; LJ starred review) about her writing processes and her debut successes.

There is a cover reveal and interview for Reckless Girls, from Rachel Hawkins, author of The Wife Upstairs (Macmillan; LJ starred review), Entertainment Weekly reports. Also, a cover reveal for Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn (Tor.com). Tor.com provides an excerpt of P. Djèlí Clark’s A Master of Djinn (Tordotcom: Macmillan). People features an interview and excerpt on Cindy McCain’s Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor In My Life With John McCain (Forum: Penguin Random House) on her life with the late Sen. John McCain. Also, Julianna Marguiles Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life (Ballantine) speaks about her lifelong journey to star in ER. Hollywood Reporter reveals new DC comics to cover new Superman and Supergirl series. NYT interviews Chris Bohjalian, author of Hour of the Witch (Doubleday) about his reading habits. Also, an interview with Erin French, author of Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch (Celadon Books: Macmillan; LJ starred review) on how her cooking style is reflected in how she writes. 

Carole Johnstone, author of Mirrorland (Scribner) writes a piece for CrimeReads about how old houses have inspired her writing and other well-known authors.

LitHub features a piece on Wesley Brown’s Tragic Magic (Of the Diaspora: Baker & Taylor) on the themes of horror and what it is like to be black in America. Also, Madeleine Watts, author of The Inland Sea (Catapult: Penguin) speaks about growing up with burgeoning climate change. 

The Washington Post features a perspective on "Outcry over book ‘censorship’ reveals how online retailers choose books — or don’t."

Locus highlights bestsellers list for April 2021.

Tor.com shares “Five Upbeat SF Classics Featuring Barely Any Doom!”

Outside Magazine shares how “3 New Books Explore Mysteries and Trauma on Everest.”

CrimeReads posts "April's Best International Crime Fiction."

NYT lists "5 Books to Read This Earth Day"

Book Marks has "50 of the Best New Nonfiction Books About the Natural World."

Authors on Air

CrimeReads features an article on how Agatha Christie’s Poirot reached success through appearances on film and in theaters.

Alan Taylor, director of Game of Thrones, is adapting Stone Junction by Jim Dodge for television. Tor.com reports.

The Drew Barrymore show features Neil deGrasse Tyson on Thursday, April 22 and Molly Baz on Friday, April 23. 

Author LeVar Burton hosts Jeopardy!. The NYT  reports.

April Ryan, author of At Mama's Knee: Mother and Race in Black and White (Rowman & Littlefield) will be on with Bill Maher tomorrow night.

Want to get the latest book news delivered to your inbox each day? Sign up for our daily Book Pulse newsletter.