BOOK NEWS: January 30, 2024

Here are some books from the last release week of January 2024!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief Deluxe Edition – A special edition of the book that started it all!
Once a Queen – An American teen finds herself at an English manor with a grandmother she’s never met before – a woman who is possibly a queen from another realm.
These Deadly Prophecies – When a sorcerer is murdered, his apprentice and his youngest son team up to solve the murder. Yes, please!

Books for Adults


Canadian Boyfriend (Trade Paperback) – As a teen, Aurora used the hockey player she met once as her fake boyfriend, trusting he would never know. But when he shows up back in her life as an adult, she’s afraid the truth will come out and ruin things between them.
The City of Stardust (Hardcover) – Violet is the last of her family line, and she has been given 10 years to find her missing mother or she takes her place as the penance for a crime no one remembers – one that has taken members of her family for years. This sounds amazing!
Clover Hendry’s Day Off (Trade Paperback) – An overly accommodating woman takes the day off from everything, including her self-sacrificing ways. Yes, please!
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect (Hardcover) – Sequel to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Ernie is on a crime-writing festival aboard a train when someone is murdered, and the rest of the authors turn into amateur sleuths. YES!!
The Mayor of Maxwell Street (Trade Paperback) – A Black debutante and a speakeasy owner in 1921 Chicago team up to take down  the Mayor of Maxwell Street.
Not Bad for a Girl (Trade Paperback) – An IT specialist who is demoted to remote work finds a chance to remake her image, but her new boss assumes she’s a man. The longer she waits to clear up the mistake, the messier it’s going to get. This sounds great!
A Quantum Love Story (Trade Paperback) – A grieving woman discovers she is living in a time loop when the one person who recognizes the loop brings her into that same awareness. But when his awareness starts to wain, they realize they need to break out of the loop if they hope to keep what they have found together in the looping.
The Royal Game (Trade Paperback) – An American engaged to the future king of England becomes the target of threats that feel a lot like what the prince’s mother went through – before she was killed. Yes, please!

BOOK NEWS: January 23, 2024

Here are some of the new books out this week.

Books for Kids


The Racc Pack: Live Fast, Eat Trash – First in a new chapter book series about a family of raccoons and their quest for trash. This looks fun!

Books for Teens/Young Adults


The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee – A teen artist finds herself trapped in a fictional world she created, taking on evil corporations and maybe falling in love.

Books for Adults


The Breakup Tour (Trade Paperback) – A singer reconnects with the muse for her hit single and he goes out with her band on tour.
The Busy Body (Hardcover) – An independent candidate for President splits the vote and angers folks on both sides with the unfortunate outcome. So the candidate retreats home, inviting her ghostwriter to join her. But when a neighbor is killed, the former candidate – and the ghostwriter – team up to solve the mystery. Yes, please!!
The (Fake) Dating Game (LGBTQ+ – Trade Paperback) – A game show contestant teams up with his hotel concierge to see if they can fake date their way to a spot on the show. Yep, need this one too.
Wild Life (Trade Paperback) – A woman looking for a cancer cure crosses paths with a man who wants to hide away from the world, and together they have the most unexpected week of their lives. This sounds quirky and different – sign me up!
Have a Beautiful Terrible Day (Hardcover) – From the author of The Lives We Actually Have comes this new devotional for the ups and downs of life.

BOOK NEWS: January 16, 2024

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day – It’s a great day to read some of Dr. King’s writings or books about his life!

Here are some new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids


Bear Finds Eggs – Bear and his friends help Mama Meadowlark find her missing eggs, and then they paint them so they don’t lose track of them again.

Books for Teens/Young Adults


A Drop of Venom – A new novel for teens from Rick Riordan Presents. A young priestess and a monster hunter begin to form an attachment, but she is later assaulted and tossed from her mountain home. Instead of dying, she becomes a monster herself with the power to turn people to stone. As her monster hunter comes for her, he doesn’t know that the woman he wants to marry has become the thing he hunts. This is a bit dark, and I don’t know how triggering the sexual assault might be for readers. But the story is mesmerizing. I’m torn – part of me wants to read it and see how it all comes together while the other part of me knows this is a lot darker than the things I usually read.
So Let Them Burn – First in the Divine Traitors series. The village hero  faces a new challenge when her sister forms a bond with an enemy dragon that can only be severed by her death.

Books for Adults


Finding Mr. Purrfect (Trade Paperback) – Fake dating her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend seems like a great way to get both sets of parents off their backs, but Charity can’t tell if Will is a terrible idea or too good of one. The cat café setting for this series could be a lot of fun!
Say You’ll Be Mine (Trade paperback) – A fake engagement can help her as she plans the wedding for “the one who got away” and help him stave off his mother’s matchmaking attempts.
The Secret Book Club (UK – January 18) – A bookseller stifled by a community that won’t let her sell anything written in this century starts an underground book club. Yes, please!
Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. (Hardcover) – From the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. An introduction to spiritual formation. I have this one on my list!

BOOK NEWS: January 9, 2024

Here are some more of the books kicking off 2024!

Books for Kids


I Am Ruth Bader Ginsburg – The latest in the Ordinary People Change the World biography series.
Birtle and the Purple Turtles – In a community of turtles, an unusual friendship begins. This was DARLING! I’ll be reviewing it soon.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Slugfest – A group of middle schoolers have to take PE in summer school in order to get the required credit. This sounds amazing – which is what I would expect from Gordon Korman. Can’t wait to pick this one up!
You Wish – Another artist I love has branched out into books with this first in a new graphic novel series about a kid hoping for a little magic for her life who discovers more than she bargained for.
The Atlas of Us – A teen working on a community service project to be close to her late father discovers a found family that she’s not sure she can move on from when the project is over.
Dungeons and Drama – A girl with dramatic asperations convinces a teen at her dad’s gaming shop to cover her shifts in exchange for some fake flirting to help him with his crush. But she finds his D&D campaigns more fun than she expected, and the flirting isn’t as much acting as she planned, either. This sounds adorable! I hope to review this one soon.

Books for Adults


Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend (LGBTQ+ – Trade Paperback) – First in the Mischief and Matchmaking series. Two young women in “need” of husbands instead decide to try to get their widowed parents together. This sounds fantastic!
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules (Trade Paperback) – From the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List. A wealthy widow discovers she’s been named in a directory of such women for younger sons to persuade to marriage. So she gathers the other women named in the directory so they can turn the tables on the men. Yes, please!
Principles of (E)Motion (Trade Paperback) – When anxiety keeps a brilliant mathematician from sharing her discovery with the world, she shifts her focus instead to a quiet life of love, but when she decides to revisit her breakthrough, she discovers it has been stolen.  This – and the author’s first book, Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry – sounds amazing!
The Witch of Tophet County (Trade Paperback) – The premise here is just too weird to try to summarize. It involves a witch, county bureaucracy and government, and tentacled overlords. If that sounds quirky and interesting to you, be sure to check it out. I pre-ordered this one because I just have to see what it’s all about.

BOOK NEWS: January 2, 2024

Happy 2024! Here are some of the books kicking off a new year of reading!

Books for Kids


Don’t Trust Cats – Part of the Life Lessons from Chip the Dog series. This time Chip tells readers why cats should not be trusted.
Spider-Man: Quantum Quest! – Mike Maihack is one of my favorite artists (He has a line of Batgirl pieces as well as comics where Batgirl and Supergirl team up which I adore!). I loved his Cleopatra in Space series, and now he has a Spider-Man series. This is book two where Spider-Man teams up with the Fantastic Four. I can’t wait to read this series!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum – First in a new series. A group of misfits at a school for crime fighters have to stop the heist of the century. I hope to review this one soon!
Nina Under Arrest: A Birmingham Children’s Crusade Survival Story – Readers can learn how children protested during the Civil Rights movement because the adults could be arrested and lose their jobs. Sounds like a fascinating history lesson!
Teen Titans Go! To the Library – Raven tries to hide out at the peaceful library, but instead her friends find her and a villain decides to cause trouble. This looks fun!

Books for Adults


First Lie Wins (Hardcover) – An adult thriller from YA novelist Ashley Elston. A young woman puts together her false identity like she has numerous times before, but this mark, this assignment, seems different than the others. This sounds amazing!

BOOK NEWS: January 31, 2023

It’s the last release week of January – let’s see what new reading treasures we can find this week!

 

Books for Kids


This Book Is My Best Friend – Two kids consider the same book from the library their best friend.
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends – A new leveled graphic novel. Worm assumes they are friends because they are so much alike, but Caterpillar thinks there are big changes coming.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Simon Sort of Says – The only boy in his class to have survived a school shooting moves to a community where the internet is banned – somewhere he might be able to be known for something else.
Where the Black Flowers Bloom – An orphan goes on a quest to find out what killed her caretaker.
The Davenports – The Davenports are a wealthy Black family in the early 1900s, and this story centers around four women in and around the family.
Going Dark – An influencer goes missing – just like another girl two years ago – and a hacker starts looking for the truth.
Promise Boys – When a prep school principal is murdered, three boys at the school become murder suspects.
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling – Starting on New Year’s, Reggie and Delilah keep running into each other on holidays throughout a year – and they grow closer over time.

Books for Adults


Dear Henry, Love Edith (Trade Paperback) – A widow and a grump share a living space for a little while. He assumes she’s an old woman, and she assumes he’s a grumpy old man. The exchange notes in their shared space, but at the same time they keep running into each other around town – and they have no idea the other person is their house-mate. This is on my list for this week!
Dodged a Bullet (e-book, February 3) – Book 6 in the Samantha True series. Samantha is working with a woman dodging a stalker – and the stalker doesn’t care who gets in his way in his pursuit of his target. I can’t want to dig into this series!
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the fantastic Finlay Donovan series! Finlay finds herself in debt to the Russian mob, and they want Finlay to help them find a contract killer.
Sorry, Bro (Trade Paperback) – An Armenian woman’s mother is trying to set her up with men all over town, but it’s a woman who catches her eye.

BOOK NEWS: January 24, 2023

There are some fun looking books out this week – let’s check them out!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


6 Times We Almost Kissed – Bickering friends try to stay on their best behavior for the sake of their moms who are recovering from major surgeries. Living across the hall from each other while their moms recover leads them to re-examine several almost-kisses from their past.
Begin Again – Andie’s plans to transfer from her community college to a hyper-competitive state school don’t quite go like she imagined. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with an Emma Lord book, so this is definitely on my list!
Spice Road – First in a new series. Imani must track down her missing brother – who seems to be sharing their land’s spice magic with outsiders – so she can protect her home.

Books for Adults


 

Breaking All the Rules (Mass Market Paperback) – Beatrice has had enough and moved to a new community to live life on her own terms – and a cute local LEO might be just the guy to help with the romantic side of her new life.
Georgie, All Along (Trade Paperback) – After years of putting others first, Georgie has the chance to get in touch with herself through an old diary and an unexpected friend.
Make a Wish (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Spark House series. Harley thinks she is over the mortification of trying to kiss the widowed man she worked for – it’s been years, and he moved away. But now he’s back – and he doesn’t seem to remember anything at all.
How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us (Trade Paperback, Nonfiction) – A look at how we can become the best versions of ourselves.
How We Relate: Understanding God, Yourself and Others Through the Enneagram (Hardcover, Nonfiction) – A new book on the Enneagram, so of course, I already ordered this one!
The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships (Trade Paperback, Nonfiction) – Another new Enneagram resource – I don’t have this one ordered yet, but it’s on my list

BOOK NEWS: January 17, 2023

Lots of great-sounding new books out this week – let’s take a look!

Books for Kids


I Am John Lewis – The latest in the Ordinary People Change the World series.
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights – Examines the impact of the character of Uhura – and the actress who originally played her – on the world.
Nat the Cat Takes a Nap – First in a new leveled reader series from the author of the Enginerds and the Hunger Heroes. As Nat the Cat tries to nap, the narrator is keeping him awake.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Figure It Out Henri Weldon – Henrietta is excited about getting to move to a mainstream school, but the changes start causing problems at home. This one looks fantastic!
The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing – A girl who never seems to run out of questions gets some new ones when her grandfather moves in with them, still grieving the loss of his wife.
Lost Legends of Nothing (Graphic Novel) – Book two in this series. Nathan and his friends continue to work to save Nothing. I have book 1 on my wish list!
Star Trek Prodigy: A Dangerous Trade – An original story from the new Star Trek Prodigy series.
As You Walk on By – Theo hides in a bedroom when his promposal goes awry, but one by one he’s joined by other classmates also avoiding things outside the bedroom. This is on my list for this month!
Seven Percent of Ro Devereux – Ro’s remarkable app has gotten the attention of financial backers, but to show them her app is flawless she has to fake date her ex best friend.

Books for Adults


Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Hardcover) – The title of this alone would get me to pick this up! I can’t wait to read this family reunion mystery.
Murder at the Bookstore (e-book, January 19) – A mystery writer with writer’s block finds herself the suspect when a bookstore owner dies and she is named the heir. I have already pre-ordered this one!
The Reunion (Trade Paperback) – Former teen stars reunite at a cast reunion where they discover they still have chemistry together. This looks great!
Sweeter Than Chocolate (Trade Paperback) – A reporter and a baker team up to track the stories of customers who found love through the bakery’s special Cupid Chocolates.
Parenting: Getting It Right (Hardcover Nonfiction) – A parenting resource from pastor Andy Stanley and his wife.

BOOK NEWS: January 10, 2023

Here are some of the new books releasing this week that I have my eye on!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Superteacher Project – Two students suspect something about their new homeroom teacher isn’t quite right.
What Happened to Rachel Riley? – A new girl starts a podcast to document her search into what happened to take Rachel Riley from the top of the social food chain to the very bottom at their middle school. I am fascinated by this one!
What Is the Story of Nancy Drew?
Friday I’m in Love – Mahalia starts planning a coming out party, but in her effort to have everything she wants – including the party, and a girlfriend – things start to get out of hand.
The Wicked Ones – First in a new line from Disney that explores some of the classic villains. In this case, readers get an inside look at Cinderella’s step-sisters.

Books for Adults


Spare (Harcover) – A memoir.

BOOK NEWS: January 3, 2023

Happy 2023! It’s a new year full of new reading opportunities – here are some of the new books releasing this week!

 

Books for Kids


Peekaboo Rex! (Board Book) – A T-Rex plays peekaboo.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Captain America: The Ghost Army (Graphic Novel) – Captain America and Bucky face a mysterious challenge – war dead are coming back to life.
The Librarian of Auschwitz (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the original book.
Return to Atlantis – Book 2 in the Atlantis series by Kate O’Hearn. Riley is back home, ready to move on from her adventures, but the Atlanteans in the basement aren’t coping well so far from Atlantis.
The Unforgettable Logan Foster and the Shadow of Doubt – Book 2 in the Logan Foster series. When superheroes start going missing, Logan and his friends start investigating, wondering if the answers they are looking for might also lead to information about Logan’s birth parents. I really enjoyed the first book in the series – I think this will be a great sequel.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute – A new YA novel by romance author Talia Hibbert. Two ex best friends end up in a survivalist contest together where the togetherness might help heal old wounds – and spark something new.
They’re Watching You – A girl discovers a secret society at her school when her best friend goes missing. As long as she keeps winning their challenges, they will give her a clue as to what happened to her missing friend.
The Wrong Kind of Weird – Cameron’s summer fling with a person his social group despises has become a complicated secret for his senior year. But when a new girl catches his attention – and she’s someone he wouldn’t have to hide – it causes him to take a closer look at his choices.

 

Books for Adults


Back in a Spell (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. A first date turns complicated when the couple discovers history between their two families. But when one starts to unexpectedly develop magic – while the other’s magic mysteriously starts surging – they will have to work together despite the history to get things sorted out. I have book one on my TBR. I’m eager to check out this series.
Loathe to Love You (Trade Paperback) – Three STEM-adjacent novellas from the author of The Love Hypothesis. (All three novellas have been released previously.)