There are a lot of new books coming out every week. With New Release Radar, I’ll help you narrow down the week’s new book releases into the titles you should get excited about. This week, I have seven titles to share with you, including a fantastic new YA anthology and a sapphic soccer rom-com. Read on!
The Land of Lost Things by John Connolly
Eight-year-old Phoebe is a body without a spirit after a car accident leaves her in a coma. Her mother, Ceres, sits by her bedside and reads her fairy tales in hopes of bringing her daughter back. But an old house on the hospital grounds connected to a vanished author calls Ceres away from her daughter’s side, leading her on a journey into a world filled with childhood memories, folklore and lurking enemies.
Set in the same world as 2006’s The Book of Lost Things, The Land of Lost Things is a great standalone. Despite similarities between the stories, John Connolly keeps things fresh and just as magical in his new book release.
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Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
Vesper Wright left her staunchly religious home at age 18 and never looked back. She isn’t sure what to think when she receives a wedding invitation and an offer to return to the farm. Is it an olive branch or a trap? Despite everything, Vesper feels compelled to attend. As she returns home, dark secrets unravel, forcing her to confront her family and her ice queen mother.
Irreverent horror queen Rachel Harrison is back with another winner. Black Sheep is brutal and strange while holding onto the humor fans expect from Harrison’s novels.
The Collectors, Edited by A.S. King
From non-binary kids stealing pieces of other people’s collections to 1970s skaters seeking new adventures, everyone collects something. For The Collectors, Printz-winning author A.S. King challenged others to write about these strange and surprising collections; the stories don’t disappoint. Young adult authors, including Anna-Marie McLemore, David Levithan and Jason Reynolds, have written captivating and unconventional stories with something to entice every reader.
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A Crown So Cursed by L. L. McKinney
Alice and her friends thought they had saved Wonderland. However, when they start having strange shared dreams. They realize evil may still pose a threat. Someone is building an army of Nightmares to attack the mortal world, and Alice must confront her personal connection to Wonderland and what it means for the battle ahead.
The final book in the Nightmare-Verse trilogy, A Crown So Cursed returns one last time to Wonderland. L.L. McKinney’s twist on Alice in Wonderland is an irresistible urban fantasy full of romance, intrigue and adventure.
Valley of Shadows by Rudy Ruiz
When a series of gruesome crimes shock the 1883 border town of Olvido, retired Mexican lawman Solitario Cisneros must return to duty. Burdened by a mystical curse and his own inner demons, he sets out to save a group of abducted children. Alongside an Apache-Mexican seer named Onawa, he embarks on a journey that will change the course of both their lives.
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Valley of Shadows is a neo-Western blend of magical realism and horror. Rudy Ruiz’s new book release asks hard questions about justice, isolation and the enduring power of love, and I can’t wait to check it out.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
When Charlie’s enigmatic supervillain dies, he inherits his empire. Sure, he anticipates the usual elements: a lair in an undersea volcano, plenty of minions, world domination schemes and assassination attempts galore. What he wasn’t prepared for are the sentient, tech-savvy talking cats that run just about everything.
Starter Villain has a fun, easy-going style perfect for anyone looking for a quick, light read. John Scalzi’s newest sci-fi novel strikes the right balance between escapism and satire that fans of Glass Onion — or cats — will love.
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Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
When Grace Henderson, a young but seasoned star of the US Women’s National Team, is sidelined by an injury, talented upstart Phoebe Matthews is more than willing to take her place. To both women’s surprise and despite their differences, they become friends with benefits and rivals at the same time. As the World Cup approaches and Grace heals from her injury, they must navigate their evolving relationship and the possibility of playing for the same team instead of competing.
Meryl Wilsner’s new book is a sapphic rom-com perfect for fans of A League of Their Own and soccer as a whole. Read Cleat Cute if you want found family vibes and a genuinely slow-burn romance.
You can check out these new book releases at Bookshop.org or your local bookstore. What September 19 new release are you most excited to read? Let us know below, and tune in next week to grow your TBR.
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