reviews

An indispensable guide for readers traveling to Taiwan and a book recommended for anyone interested in China-Taiwan-U.S. relations.

Contemporary romance author Katelyn Doyle and historical romance author Scarlett Peckham are one and the same and have a unique, sizzling second-chance rom-com and a sexy, bawdy, and fun historical romance out this summer.

These three romances offer new takes on classic stories, including a steamy, modern “Beauty and the Beast" tale, a rom-com reimagining of the "Rapunzel" fairy tale, and a unique contemporary twist on The Great Gatsby.

PEN America announces two award winners: Javier Fuentes’s Countries of Origin for debut novel and The Blue House: Collected Works of Tomas Tranströmer, tr. by Patty Crane, for poetry in translation. The Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist is announced, featuring books by Anne Enright, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Kate Grenville, Isabella Hammad, Claire Kilroy, and Aube Rey. NYPL’s Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers selects its class of 2024–25 fellows. A climate fiction prize will launch at Hay Festival on June 2. The U.S. Senate passes the TikTok bill, setting up legal and First Amendment challenges. Plus, LibraryReads and LJ offer read-alikes for Funny Story by Emily Henry, the top holds title of the week. 

Funny Story by Emily Henry is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

History highlights include an exploration of the Wild West, a book about the discovery of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance, a history of moutaineering, and a look at reproductive rights pioneers; plus two hit podcasts receive book treatments.

These novels span centuries, featuring a woman-centered Trojan War retelling, a midwife in 14th-century Provence, a 1920s jazz era singer, and two World War II stories.

This month's top foreign and indie picks include an animated pic of visionary Leonardo da Vinci, stories dramatizing Cuba's pro-Castro movement, and Barbara Stanwyck as a laid-off newspaper reporter who spawns a social movement. 

Upcoming DVD and Blu-rays to watch include an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste, River Phoenix with a prank turned bittersweet, and the story of fearless flight attendants.