Books Are My People Weekly Newsletter
out today, paperback releases and more!
Welcome to my weekly book recommendation newsletter. You can learn more about me by visiting my introductory post here. Please consider purchasing recommended books through my Bookshop.org affiliate links. It’s a great way to support the show and an ethical way to support your local bookstore. (You can even buy books I don’t link in my shop!)
SUMMER GUEST BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
I’m excited to introduce a new summer series while I’m taking a podcast hiatus. Most Tuesdays over the summer, you’ll get a guest author book recommendation! Kicking off this summer series is Jenn McKinlay author of Fondant Fumble. In this delicious cozy mystery, the Fairy Tale Cupcakes crew helps two professional football players in knead when the athletes are suspected of murder and their dream of opening a bakery is crushed. McKinlay recommends a favorite historic fiction read below:
BOOK GIVEAWAY:
I’m giving away a brand new copy of what is my favorite summer read thus far, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. This book doesn’t publish until July 7th. Moore is the author of Long Bright River, which I also loved. God of the Woods focuses on a girl’s disappearance at a summer camp which her parents own. Years earlier, her brother vanished from the same summer camp. This is a page turning suspense novel that is so beautifully written.
To Enter: Please be sure you are subscribed to my Substack and you are following me on Instagram and leave a comment on my Instagram GOD OF THE WOODS post.
This giveaway is open to US Mailing addresses only. This giveaway will close on July 11th and I will DM the winner from this account on July 12th. Thank you to Riverhead Books for sponsoring this giveaway.
Paying Substack Members: We’re meeting on Wednesday at 12:30 pm PT to discuss our June reads! You should have received a Lu.ma invite and reminder. If you haven’t, click here to sign up! There will be a bookish giveaway. I currently have 13 books in my giveaway stack for the winner to choose from.
Let Me Help You Discover Books You Might Not Otherwise Read!
Out Today (I’ve starred the ones I’ve read)
A beautifully written novel about two sisters in the Pacific Northwest who encounter a bear that changes their lives as their mothers struggle to survive.
key words: literary fiction, nature, sisters
When Dolores’s husband orders an eight thousand dollar AI sex doll named Zoey, she’s irate, but then Dolores and Zoey start to talk.
key words: dark humor, technology, relationships
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
Two women, separated by decades and continents, are noted by a family heirloom.
key words: New England, 2022, Cairo, 1950’s motherhood.
A coming-of-age story that follows the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young as she navigates fame in the late-90s and early-2000s era of pop music superstardom.
key words: Los Angeles, pop music
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
A chilling horror novel about a haunting, told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls "Other Mommy," from the author of Bird Box
key words: horror
Our Little Secret by Lisa Jackson
A sexy, twisty, gender-reversed spin on Fatal Attraction in this addictive tale of escalating obsession, betrayal, and violent delights.
key words: affair, suspense, thriller
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
For all of my romance fans out there: A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction...literally.
key words: romance, ideal town, grumpy bookstore owner
Paperback Releases:
*The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime and A Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel
A slim, quick read about a man and his partner responsible for over two hundred art heists across Europe.
*Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing : A Memoir by Matthew Perry
I listened to this one on audiobook. A sad, raw look at addiction.
*Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Childhood friends and video game design. This was one of the buzziest books from 2022.
Partners Jack and Elizabeth struggle to recognize each other, and the no-longer-youthful dreamers are forced to face their demons, from unfulfilled career ambitions to childhood memories of their own dysfunctional families.
Online Writing, Reading and Art Events This Week (three things I love!)
Reading:
Writing:
June 25th and 26th Gotham Writers: Open House Free one-hour classes in many different genres.
Art:
Wednesday, June 26th at 7-9 AM PT: Teacups & Bowls Workshop with
. Click here to sign up!
FREE: Thursday, June 20th at 4pm PT
from Art Hang Party will be drawing 100 People in 100 Minutes! What could go wrong?? (I’m already laughing thinking about how many wonky people I will draw.) Click here to bookmark page.Paying Members: Friday, June 28th at 8:30 AM PT Double Trouble Drawing Session with
and Shivam Choudhary.
I’m getting a little braver with my art experimentation and even painted this one on a canvas. It’s not done yet, (I see so many things I need to correct) but I really enjoyed painting the chicken!
What are you looking forward to this week?
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week! Any new releases out today that you’re excited to share? Leave me a comment!
Like what you read? You can buy me a coffee!
Books Are My People: A Podcast Companion Newsletter
(click here to listen to the most recent episode of my book recommendation podcast.)
The best way you can support this show is to click on the books below and purchase them through my Bookshop.org affiliate store. A portion of your spending goes to independent bookstores! A win-win-win! (You win, I win, indie bookstores win!)
And, if you haven't yet, the greatest gift would be to rate my show, wherever you listen!
Start doing your hand stretches in preparation for the 100 people insanity! 😬🤣 (thanks for the shoutout! 🤗💖✨)