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Big Books of the Week

Invisible by Danielle Steel (Delacorte) leads holds this week.

Other titles in demand include:

The Maid by Nita Prose (Ballantine; LJ starred review)

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins (St. Martin’s)

The Starless Crown by James Rollins (Tor)

Heartstopper: Volume 4: A Graphic Novel by Alice Oseman, illus. by Alice Oseman (Graphix)

These books and others publishing the week of Jan 3rd, 2022 are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet.

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest

Four LibraryReads and twelve Indie Next picks publish this week:

The Maid by Nita Prose (Ballantine; LJ starred review)

“As a maid in a posh hotel, Molly is very proud of her work and the care she takes of the guests, even though she often has difficulty navigating social cues. When she finds a wealthy guest dead, she never imagines she has the keys to uncover a killer, and finds, after the death of her beloved Gran, there are many people willing to help her. For fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and How Lucky.”—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“Very entertaining! Miss Marple meets The Rosie Project in this charming book about a hotel maid who sees the world a bit differently than many of us. Molly the maid and her cast of friends will bring a smile to your face!”—Jenny Stroyeck, The Homer Bookstore, Homer, AK

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan (S. & S.; LJ starred review)

“When recently-divorced Frida leaves her daughter home alone, she’s sentenced to a reeducation center where she must prove she's a good mom by bonding with a lifelike doll. This chilling dystopian novel highlights how performative and competitive parenting can be; for readers of The Handmaid’s Tale and Klara and the Sun.”—Elizabeth Zielinski, Olathe Public Library, Olathe, KS

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“A mother leaves her toddler alone for hours and pays the price for the rest of her life. Chan took me from being a judgmental spectator to understanding how the system is stacked against mothers. A Handmaid’s Tale and 1984 for Generation Z.”—Cathy Fiebach, Main Point Books, Wayne, PA

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins (St. Martin’s)

“When Lux and her boyfriend agree to ferry two women to a beautiful island near Hawaii, it seems like the perfect refuge for Lux, who’s still grieving her mother’s death. But then more people join them on the island and they find danger lurking everywhere. Give this inventive slow-burn thriller to fans of Ruth Ware and Riley Sager.”—Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburg, OH

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“A tropical murder mystery perfect for mid-winter reading, this book is set on a sinister island in the Pacific, packed with Hawkins’ wonderfully gritty characters, and a murderer amongst them. I devoured this one.”—Samantha Ladwig, Imprint Bookstore, Port Townsend, WA

Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire (Tordotcom; LJ starred review)

“Cora transfers from Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children to another boarding school for children who have traveled to fantasy worlds. This is in the comfort read territory of a lengthy, excellent series – with lots of emotion and explorations of hard themes, but it took a surprising turn and opened up the world even more! Readalikes: Drowned Country or A Deadly Education.”—Matthew Galloway, Anythink Libraries, Thornton, CO

Nine additional Indie Next picks publish this week:

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho (Viking)

“Beautiful, intimate look at the evolving relationship of two complex women navigating their lives from youth into adulthood. Fierce and unsentimental, this one will stay with you!”—Tova Beiser, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez (Flatiron)

“Get ready to root for Olga! I absolutely loved this book. It beautifully captures the Puerto Rican experience with humor and bravery. It felt like home and when a book feels like home, I can’t help but invite everyone over.”—Rosa Hernandez, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades (Random; LJ starred review)

“What an achievement this book is. Andreades gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of a tight-knit group of girls who are first-generation Americans growing up in Queens. Their stories announce the arrival of a major new talent.”—Cody Morrison, Square Books, Oxford, MS

Honor by Thrity Umrigar (Algonquin; LJ starred review)

“A powerful, compelling story with an honor killing central to the plot set in modern India. The characters’ stories will live on long after reading. A heart-wrenching novel, with hope, romance, redemption, and plenty of plot twists.”—Liz Welter, Novel Bay Booksellers, Sturgeon Bay, WI

No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib (Atria)

“Wow. How to find words that convey just how beautifully written and heartbreaking this novel is. I held the book close to my chest as I read it slowly, taking time to absorb each chapter. This book needs to be read, loved, and shared broadly.”—Stefanie Lynn, The Kennett Bookhouse, Kennett Square, PA

Seasonal Work by Laura Lippman (Morrow; LJ starred review)

“What is there to say about a new Laura Lippman story collection except for: More, please! Each tale is a gem, and Tess Monaghan makes a couple of appearances. Laura Lippman knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men…and women.”—Susan Taylor, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY

The Starless Crown by James Rollins (Tor)

“A captivating page-turner of impressive world-building and layered characters pits religious extremism against science; morally gray heroes against youthful innocence; and a mismatched squad trying to stop the end of their world.”—Ashleigh Howland, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA

The Latinist by Mark Prins (Norton)

“Despite the title and the focus on a second-century Roman poet and Latin, this novel is very readable, and I found myself staying up late to finish the last half of the book! An excellent debut!”—Lee Cornell, Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, Park Rapids, MN

Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol (Soho Press)

“A book lover’s dream filled with hilarity, poetry, and rampant bibliophilia — or, as she calls it, bibliolepsy.”—Jeff Sjerven, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO

In the Media

The People "Picks" book of the week is The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan (S. & S.; LJ starred review). Also getting attention are Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho (Viking), and When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham (Scribner). A “Star Picks” section highlights The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (Random), The Books in My Life by Henry Miller (New Directions), and Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart (Random).

The “Picks” section spotlights Amazon’s The Tender Bar, based on the book by J. R. Moehringer, and Around the World in 80 Days, based on the book by Jules Verne, on PBS. Plus, a look at the best Benedict Cumberbatch performances in the adaptations Doctor Strange, Sherlock, and Patrick Melrose. The cover story features beloved icon and author Betty White as she would have turned 100 this month. 

Reviews

The NYT reviews Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho (Viking): “While Ho, born in Taiwan and raised in California, circles sexuality, money and religion with grace, the most moving parts of the book are about the two women’s respective family roots.” And, The Story Paradox: How Our Love of Storytelling Builds Societies and Tears them Down by Jonathan Gottschall (Basic): “Drowning in his own story, he grabs us by the ankles. Voltaire’s Candide was miles ahead of Gottschall: Understanding stories means knowing when to laugh at them. This book is just sad.”

The Washington Post reviews The Latinist by Mark Prins (Norton): “The startling and grotesque metamorphosis that ends The Latinist might have earned the approval of Ovid himself. Like the classics that inspire it, The Latinist is an inventive wedding of the elegant and the barbaric.”  Also, No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib (Atria): "this is not simply a protest novel. In elegant prose, Zgheib skillfully mingles her protagonists’ memories with a nail-biting account of their 2017 ordeal to craft a narrative rich in metaphors and complex, believable characters."

USA Today rounds up top rom-com reviews for January. 

Briefly Noted

AudioFile announces the January 2022 Earphones Award Winners.

Publishers Weekly has a list of winter book festivals, fairs, and conferences.

The buyer’s pick in January’s Costco Connection is the 21st book in the Thomas Lynley series, Something To Hide by Elizabeth George (Viking; LJ starred review), due out January 11th. The assistant buyer’s pick is The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality by Mike Sielski (St. Martin’s; LJ starred review).

NYT has a feature on Noah Hawley and his latest book, Anthem (Grand Central).

People shares details about Tim—The Official Biography of Avicii by Måns Mosesson (Mobius), which includes final journal entries from the DJ, who died by suicide in 2018.

The LA Times profiles “Fascinating faces of 2021.”

A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Langston Hughes’ The Weary Blues, and other works from 1926 entered the public domain on January 1st. Duke Law has the list. 

USA Today picks five books for the week, “20 winter books we can't wait to read," and the best rom-coms of 2021. Plus, a recap of 2021’s four-star reviews. 

OprahDaily previews “The 50 Most Anticipated Books of 2022.”

CrimeReads suggests 10 books out this week.

NYT previews “16 New Books Coming in January.”

LitHub has "17 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books to Look Forward to in 2022," and "What to Read This Month, Based on Your Sign."

The Millions shares the “Literary Obits of 2021.”

Authors On Air

NPR's Morning Edition talks with James Goodwin about his new book, Supercharge Your Brain: How to Maintain a Healthy Brain Throughout Your Life (Pegasus).

NPR’s Book of the Day features Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg (Harvest; LJ starred review), which gets a new paperback release January 17th. Also, Machiavelli for Women: Defend Your Worth, Grow Your Ambition, and Win the Workplace by Stacey Vanek Smith (Gallery), due out in paperback on April 19th, and books by Glennon Doyle and Alexi Pappas. 

CBS Sunday Morning talks with artist Judy Chicago, The Flowering: The Autobiography of Judy Chicago (Thames & Hudson), about her career.

PBS Canvas has a feature on Amanda Gorman on her end-of-year poem, ‘New Day’s Lyric’.

NYT explores the new PBS series, Around the World in 80 Days, based on the book by Jules Verne.

USA Today writes about how the “Harry Potter reunion addresses author J.K. Rowling's anti-trans controversy.”  Vulture also covers the story.

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