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| Hello, book lovers! Each week, dozens of new releases hit the shelves, and we share our favorites with you. This week we've got a LOT, so be sure to click through to the full post if it gets cut off! ❤️📚 –The BuzzFeed Books team
Contemporary Fiction Credit: Grove Press, Ecco, Scribner, Riverhead, Mariner Books When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson "Taking inspiration from the author's time as a foreign correspondent in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein's rule in the early 2000s, this novel follows three women as their lives intersect. Huda, who works at the Australian Embassy, has been ordered by the secret police to befriend Ally, the deputy ambassador's wife, and report her learnings. But Ally has secrets of her own. And when Huda's former friend, the desperate daughter of a fallen sheikh, gets involved, the women will have to form a tenuous loyalty in order to keep their families safe." —Kirby Beaton
Get it from Bookshop for $15.63, or Amazon for $13.58
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder "Anything by Melissa Broder is an immediate must-read for me; her 2018 novel, The Pisces, was one of my favorites of that year, managing to be both merman erotica and an astute, unflinching examination of depression. Her new novel — which follows 24-year-old Rachel, whose life shifts completely when her therapist challenges her to detox from her mother and abandon the reverent dedication to extreme food restriction that her mother inspired — has the same precise blend of desire, discomfort, spirituality, and existential ache that makes Broder’s depiction of the human experience so canny." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $23.92, or Amazon for $23.40
Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen "Chen’s debut short story collection explores the vast and diverse experiences of Chinese people, both in China and its diaspora globally, blending history, sociopolitics, and touches of magical realism in stories about people just trying to survive, and maybe even thrive. These haunting, often dreamy, stories will stick with you for weeks." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $14.71, or Amazon for $14.49
Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz "Moniz's debut short story collection is electric, set in the cities and suburbs of Florida, explores trauma and recovery, good and evil. The anthology includes narratives about a teenager whose family accuses her of courting the devil, estranged siblings coming to terms with their father’s death, caterers at the mercy of their wealthy clients’ cravings, and more." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $23, or Amazon for $22.03
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler "When an unnamed narrator discovers her boyfriend is leading a secret life as an anonymous right-wing conspiracy theorist and fearmonger on the internet, she decides she’ll break up with him as soon as she’s back from the Women’s March in DC. But that plan is thwarted, and what follows is a chaotic spiral into a life of deception, manipulation, and disoriented identity. It's a powerful excavation into the disorienting effects of the internet on our sense of self." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $23.92, or Amazon for $22.99
The Removed by Brandon Hobson "National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson’s latest novel draws on Cherokee folklore, tracing the long-lasting effects of a fatal police shooting within an Echota family. Fifteen years after her young son was killed by a cop, Maria hopes to bring her scattered family together for their annual bonfire. But as the reunion nears, each family member finds themselves in mysterious circumstances that blur the boundary between the physical and spirit worlds. It's a resonant story depiction of the work of navigating deep-seated grief and trauma." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $24.83, or Amazon for $23.99
My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee "Chinese American entrepreneur Pong Lou sees something promising in Tiller, an otherwise underwhelming college student, and decides to bring him along on a life-changing journey across Asia. Over the course of that trip, Tiller’s entire sense of the world, and his place within it, shifts. Through his eye-opening experience, Chang-Rae Lee explores themes of capitalism, cultural assimilation, the mentor/protégé power dynamics, and more." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $25.76, or Amazon for $18.60
Mystery & Suspense Credit: Berkley, Minotaur Books Killer Content by Olivia Blacke "New to Brooklyn, Odessa Dean is well on her way to getting settled into her big city, New York life. She got a free apartment in a coveted neighborhood by agreeing to cat sit, and her job at Untapped Books & Café selling books and beers is a dream. But when the murder of a fellow Untapped waitress is caught on camera and goes viral, Odessa takes it upon herself to figure out what happened — especially since she’s able to piece together clues that no one else seems to notice." —Shyla Watson
Get it from Bookshop for $14.72, or Amazon for $15.99.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano "Finlay Donovan should be killing it, but as a single mother of two and struggling novelist, she’s kind of floundering. While chatting about the plot of her suspense novel at lunch, Finlay is overheard and mistaken for an IRL contract killer. She inadvertently agrees to 'take care of' someone’s husband, but soon discovers that real life is much more complicated than the fiction of her book." —Shyla Watson
Get it from Bookshop for $24.83, or Amazon for $24.29.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Credit: Flatiron, Erewhon, Soho Press On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu "Firuzeh and her family are Afghani war refugees fleeing to Australia. The family journeys from Pakistan to Indonesia to Nauru in horrifying conditions in the hopes of finding a safe home in Australia. During a harrowing boat journey, a storm sweeps away Firuzeh’s best friend, and afterward, her ghost haunts her. Firuzeh escapes the horrors around her through Afghani folklore, but even her stories cannot shield her from the brutally inhumane conditions of the Australian refugee detainment camp. By the time the Australian government finally accepts her family, they’ve been forced to live through traumas they'll never be rid of, and their uncertain status in Australia only exacerbates this trauma. This searing and emotional lyrical novel straddles the line between fantasy and literary fiction. Have some tissues handy." —Margaret Kingsbury
Get it from Bookshop for $23.87, or Amazon for $22.95
Everything That Burns by Gita Trelease "The second and final book in the Enchantée duology opens with Camille helping a flower girl escape a mob after a nobleman falsely accuses her of trying to steal his coin. While Camille and Sophie now have a safe home and financial security, many women and girls in the aftermath of the French Revolution do not, and their stories aren’t being told. Camille decides she will be the one to tell their stories and makes her dream of reopening her father’s print shop come true. Meanwhile, royalty and revolutionaries alike are calling for the death of magicians like her, so she’s still forced to keep her magic a secret. The conclusion of this historical fantasy series is just as sweeping and enchanting as the first book, All That Glitters." —Margaret Kingsbury
Get it from Bookshop for $17.47, or Amazon for $18.99.
Annie and the Wolves by Andromeda Romano-Lax "In Andromeda Romano-Lax’s latest novel, historian Ruth McClintock has been studying Annie Oakley for almost a decade. McClintock’s inability to walk away from her obsession has cost her a book deal, a doctorate, and a fiancé. Then she finds what she suspects is one of Oakley’s journals, and she’s closer to solving the mystery of how Annie became the legendary sharpshooter — but then out-of-body experiences place Ruth in Oakley’s memories. It's a sharp, inventive story of perseverance." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $24.84, or Amazon for $27
Romance Credit: St. Martin's Griffin, Berkley Books Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon "Lily Menon — also known as bestselling YA author Sandhya Menon — shows how opposites attract in her adult romance debut, Make Up Break Up. Rival app-developers Anikka and Hudson can’t seem to stay away from each other. After a brief fling in Las Vegas, Anikka thinks she’ll never see the 'Uber for breakups' app creator again. But when he not only moves into her work building, but also the office directly next to hers, the 'second chance for romance' app developer’s hopes are dashed. Things get even more complicated when they each decide to compete in a prestigious contest, one that Anikka desperately needs to win to keep her app afloat. She has no time for long gazes at the guy next door, or silly notions of falling for the guy who breaks people up for a living." —Shyla Watson
Get it from Bookshop for $15.63, or Amazon for $16.99
Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels "Liberal Senate staffer Kate Adams is this close to helping pass a landmark legislation she’s been working on all year. The only thing standing in her way is the staffer to a powerful conservative senator, Ben Mackenzie. So, naturally, she has to bring him down. Over the next several weeks, the two play at one-upping each other, hoping that the other will crack. But when their fighting turns to flirting, Kate realizes Ben might not be who she thought after all, and maybe her rival is really her match." —Shyla Watson
Get it from Bookshop for $14.72, or Amazon for $12.61
Much Ado About You by Samantha Young "Between getting passed over for a promotion, getting ghosted by a guy she thought might actually be different, and finding out her best friend is pregnant and moving on with her life, Evie Starling is having a rough time of it. Instead of dealing with her problems, she takes a live-in job running a quaint English village bookstore. Soon, what started as a quick vacation from her life starts to feel like home, especially after meeting a rugged farmer who looks at her with hearts in his eyes. Her whirlwind romance is stopped in her tracks when a secret’s discovered, and Evie has to decide if she wants the life she has or if she’ll risk losing it all for the life she thinks she wants." —Shyla Watson
Get it from Bookshop for $14.72, or Amazon for $14.40
Nonfiction & Poetry Credit: Simon & Schuster, Knopf, Henry Holt & Company God I Feel Modern Tonight: Poems From a Gal About Town by Catherine Cohen "NYC comedian, cabaret star, and quarantine queen Catherine Cohen has been sharing her biting, unfiltered poems about sex, ego, art, millennial ennui, and longing on her Instagram for years. Now they’re gathered in one beautiful book, and it's even better than I'd expected. Read our interview." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $16.56, or Amazon for $15.99.
Surviving the White Gaze by Rebecca Carroll "Cultural critic Rebecca Carroll describes growing up in rural New Hampshire as the sole Black person — not only in her family (she was adopted by white parents at birth) but also in her small town. When she meets her birth mother, also a white woman, the vague tensions of her youth are pushed into light as she’s forced to reckon with her alienation as a child, her complicated relationship with her parents, and her understanding of her racial identity. It's a poignant, intimate, and revelatory memoir." —Arianna Rebolini
Get it from Bookshop for $23.92, or Amazon for $26
What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness by Tessa Miller "In this riveting memoir, journalist Tessa Miller describes the sudden onset of severe Crohn’s disease in her twenties: One moment she’s enjoying a successful career in New York City, and in the next, she’s doubled over in pain, unable to control her bowels. With evocative and often gruesome details, she paints the story of life with a chronic illness, describing traumatic experiences in hospitals, the way medical professionals often belittle their female patients, and how illnesses affect relationships. In addition to her memoir, she analyzes studies and statistics about healthcare and chronic illness in the US, including racial and gender discrimination. It’s a fascinating and disturbing read." —Margaret Kingsbury
Get it from Bookshop for $24.83, or Amazon for $26.99.
I Am the Rage by Martina McGowan "Penned throughout 2020, I Am the Rage is a collection of insightful, emotional, and raw poems by physician and activist Martina McGowan. In her book, McGowan confronts the deeply rooted racism in America. Her poems reflect on carrying heavy grief throughout yet another period of racial reckoning (there's a poem for Breonna) and ending friendships with those who reveal their true colors; they also celebrate Black beauty and resilience. With gorgeous, heartbreaking free verse comes a powerful poetry collection that's not to be missed this year." —Farrah Penn
Get it from Bookshop for $13.79, or Amazon for $7.99
Young Adult Credit: Erewhon, Sourcebooks Fire, Holiday House, Wednesday Books, Razorbill Rise of the Red Hand by Olivia Chadha "This cyberpunk YA follows Ashiva and Riz-Ali who live in the South Asian Province, a world split into the Uplanders in a climate-controlled biodome and the poor with black-market robotics in the slums. Ashiva is a smuggler with a robotic arm and works for an underground network of revolutionaries (the Red Hand) fighting the government. Riz-Ali is a privileged Uplander who happens to cross her path, and quickly becomes entangled in the Red Hand and fighting the many issues — kidnapped children,a pandemic, massive robots — plaguing their world." —Rachel Strolle
Get it from Bookshop for $17.43, or Amazon for $18.95.
The Obsession by Jesse Q Sutanto "Delilah should feel guilty about killing her abusive stepfather, but after so long being controlled, she finally feels free. But Logan, who knows everything about Delilah, witnesses her crime. After all, he's learned everything through her social media, and watching the camera he has on her house. And though he won't let her forget what she did, Delilah refuses to be a character in a stalker's twisted fantasy. This is Jesse Q Sutanto's excellent debut novel, and buckle in because she's set to become a literary superstar with adult murder mystery romcom Dial A for Aunties (already optioned for Netflix) releasing later this year, and a YA romcom and a middle grade fantasy releasing next year!" —Rachel Strolle
Get it from Bookshop for $10.11, or Amazon for $9.34.
Payback by Kristen Simmons "Payback is the third book in Kristen Simmons' twisty trilogy, which began with The Deceivers as Brynn Hilder entered a school for con artists. Thanks to Vale Hall, and its director, Dr. Odin, she finally has folks around her that fully understand her. But they'll have to band together to take down their biggest mark of all: Dr. Odin himself." —Rachel Strolle
Get it from Bookshop for $18.39, or Amazon for $14.79.
Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson "After Andre receives a liver transplant, he inexplicably wakes up in 1969 and meets a boy named Michael. Returning to the present day, the family of his donor explains that the transplant came with the ability to time travel, and that Blake, their younger son, will teach him how to use it. As Andre bounces between Michael in the past and Blake in the present, he has to figure out where he belongs before the consequences of time travel catch up to him." —Rachel Strolle
Get it from Bookshop for $16.55, or Amazon for $17.49
The Project by Courtney Summers "After Lo Denham's parents died, her sister Bea joined the Unity Project, a charity and community group. But Lo knows there's something sinister about this organization, and she's determined to prove it. So when a man comes forward proclaiming that the Unity Project killed his son, Lo sets off on a mission to expose the group. Summers's highly anticipated YA mystery will absolutely take you on one hell of a ride, so buckle up. Read an excerpt." —Farrah Penn
Get it from Bookshop for $17.47, or Amazon for $15.99
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado "All Charlie wants is to have a good relationship with her body, but it's hard when her mother thinks she should fit a beauty standard she does not subscribe to: being slim, white, and quiet. Luckily, her BFF Amelia always has her back. But when a cute classmate starts to notice Charlie, she's over the moon — until she learns that he asked Amelia out first. At its core, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega takes readers through the journey of navigating friendships and relationships; insecurities and vulnerabilities. Both hilarious and heartfelt, debut Maldonado is a breakout voice to watch in YA this year. Read Maldonado's essay, 'How LiveJournal Fatshionistas Taught Me To Love My Fat Body.'" —Farrah Penn
Get it from Bookshop for $17.47, or Amazon for $16.99
A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen "A Taste for Love is a loose Pride and Prejudice retelling with an added splash of The Great British Baking Show. Liza Yang agrees to help her mother with her bakery's annual junior competition, but there's one catch: Her mother has handpicked eligible Asian American guys as contestants without her knowing in order to set her up. And to Liza's surprise, she finds herself attracted to the impenetrable (and sexy) James Wong. How is she supposed to deal with conflicting feelings over her mother's approval — and James? Yen's debut is an absolute delight and perfect comfort read. Bonus: you'll be craving boba by the time you finish reading." —Farrah Penn
Get it from Bookshop for $16.55, or Amazon for $17.99
Now in paperback: Verge by Lidia Yuknavitch: This short story collection refers to the characters on the verge: people forced to the edges of society, outcasts marginalized for their status, proclivity, or misfortune. But these are also people whose desire, rage, and ambition are underestimated or misunderstood, and Yuknavitch shines a light on them in bite-size, evocative, and often uncomfortable stories. —Arianna Rebolini
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe:Historian Alexis Coe is certainly not your parents’ fuddy-duddy historian, coming to general acclaim for her irreverent, witty approach to chronicling history. In her second book, she upends some popular myths about George Washington — with approval from acclaimed historians like Doris Kearns Goodwin, who has given this book a hearty endorsement. —Tomi Obaro
Deacon King Kong by James McBride: It’s 1960s New York; Cuffy Lambkin, better known as Sportcoat, a deacon at the Five Ends Baptist Church, has just shot 19-year-old drug dealer Deems Clemens in the face, instantly putting a target on his back. Residents try to make sense of the shooting as the mystery behind it slowly unravels in this latest novel by the National Book Award winner. —Tomi Obaro
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell: This slow-burning thriller follows Vanessa Wye, a woman whose decades-long predatory relationship with her high school teacher has lasting repercussions for her years later. The novel jumps back and forth in time between the late ’90s, when 15-year-old Vanessa first meets and eventually ends up in a sexual relationship with her high school English teacher Jacob Strane, to 2017 during the height of #MeToo, when 32-year-old Vanessa is pressured to publicize a relationship she spent years convincing herself wasn’t abusive. Russell is particularly adept at capturing the tortuous psychological effect this relationship wreaks on Vanessa; it's a very readable, slow-burning thriller. —Tomi Obaro
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