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 books to share, including plenty of dystopian stories and works of historical fiction. Read on.
Private Rites by Julia Armfield
As unending rains reshape the world, estranged sisters Isla, Irene, and Agnes reunite in their late father’s iconic glass house. There, they uncover dark secrets about their family and his legacy. A shocking revelation in his will drives them further apart, complicating their personal struggles and unearthing long-buried mysteries surrounding their mother’s disappearance. With sinister forces closing in, the sisters must confront the truth of their shared purpose and its devastating impact on their fractured family and a world on the brink.
Julia Armfield is back after her breakout debut, Our Wives Under the Sea. Private Rites is a queer, speculative retelling of King Lear full of Armfield’s signature blend of literary horror.
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The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
Cassandra, cursed prophet and daughter of King Priam, arrives in Mycenae with Agamemnon, igniting a chain of bloodshed and betrayal. Her visions, ignored yet painfully accurate, entangle her with Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Electra in a tragic web of vengeance and power. As the aftermath of Troy’s fall unfolds, the fates of Cassandra and the Trojan women hang by a fragile thread.
The Voyage Home continues Pat Barker’s story of the captured Trojan women. While there are characters from previous installments, you can easily come into this one as a standalone novel.
The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor
Fledgling actress Amelia Grant seizes the chance to star in a biopic about famed romance author Gloria Diamond. Escaping her crumbling LA life for Gloria’s remote estate, Amelia finds Gloria distant and dismissive. She bonds, however, with her enigmatic son, Will, until she uncovers a shocking secret that challenges the authenticity of Gloria’s legendary love story. As the film’s production looms, Amelia must choose between protecting Gloria’s legacy or risking everything to reveal the truth.
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Jillian Cantor’s new book release is perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Seventh Veil of Salome. The Greatest Lie of All combines mystery, drama and romance into a narrative that switches effortlessly through past and present.
A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James
Emily’s small-town life on Prince Edward Island feels stuck -until a Wordle crisis forces her to seek help from her seemingly annoying coworker, John. What begins as a shared quest for a 365-day streak becomes an unexpected romance, pushing Emily to reevaluate her dreams, relationships, and what happiness truly means. Sometimes, the right word or person can change everything.
Did Amy James write the first Wordle-inspired romance? A Five-Letter Word for Love features an unlikely couple, a fun romance and the word game that took the world by storm.
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Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe
Su and Emerald, once serpents during the Tang Dynasty, now live vastly different lives. Su is a politician’s wife in Singapore, and Emerald is a carefree sugar baby in New York. When a violent incident reunites them, Su convinces Emerald to move to Singapore, hoping to keep their shared secret hidden. But in a city obsessed with order, Emerald’s wild ways threaten to unravel their tenuous bond — and expose their ancient past.
Sister Snake reimagines the Chinese folktale The Legend of the White Snake, exploring themes of chosen family, queerness, passing and resisting societal conformity. In her new book release, Amanda Lee Koe dives into the quest for authenticity, the courage to be seen, and the ultimate pursuit of living freely.
The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn
Three groups must navigate the fractured landscape of a climate-ravaged United States. Kelly races across a dangerous landscape to reunite with the daughter she left years ago, while Ava and her daughter Brook flee a sinister climate relief program, joined by a figure from Ava’s past. Meanwhile, in the far North, two abandoned settlers face worsening weather and a mystery that could change their lives.
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In her companion novel to Yours for the Taking, Gabrielle Korn brings readers another queer, dystopian story. The Shutouts is a profound exploration of survival, humanity and hope amidst chaos.
Dust by Alison Stine
Thea’s life feels as barren as the drought-stricken Bloodless Valley her family moves to after her father has an ominous premonition. Isolated and controlled by her parents, Thea finds a lifeline in Ray, a deaf boy she meets at her cafe job. As Ray teaches her sign language, Thea discovers not only a new way to communicate but also a sense of belonging, community, and the possibility of love.
I loved Alison Stine’s 2021 novel Trashlands, so I’m excited about her YA debut. Dust is a powerful coming-of-age story that deals with isolation, disability and climate change in a fascinating way.
You can check out these new book releases at Bookshop.org or your local bookstore. What December 3 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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