Volume 271
Issue 4
01/29/2024
FICTION
Rumaan Alam
Entitlement (Riverhead, Sept.; $30; 150,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Entitlement feels custom-made for this moment. A thrill ride of a read that combines style, propulsion, social commentary, and entertainment. It’s taut, urgent, and increasingly unsettling in the very best way—a book that reveals things about ourselves and the American imagination, especially in terms of our relationship to money.” —Sarah McGrath, EVP and editor-in-chief, Riverhead
Opening: “It was a strange, sultry summer, the summer of the Subway Pricker, but Brooke Orr had decided not to let that interfere with the business of life in New York.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Katya Apekina
Mother Doll (Overlook, Mar.; $28; 25,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Mother Doll comes in hot from page one with an unwanted pregnancy, a complicated protagonist, a cloud of ghosts in purgatory, an American medium channeling a Russian great-grandmother, and generational trauma of mothers and daughters, all clenching you spellbound in author Katya Apekina’s steady and stable hands until the weird and bitter end. An astonishingly unique and unforgettable book.” —Taryn Roeder, executive director of publicity, Abrams
Opening: “It was ironic that Zhenia and Ben would come home from spending time with people who had kids and be so giddy with relief and self-righteousness over their decision not to have any that it would make them want to fuck.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Madeline Ashby
Glass Houses (Tor, Aug.; $27.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Glass Houses has a pitch-perfect thriller setup, with an eerily realistic cast of characters and all the darkly gleeful entertainment of what happens when people with power and wealth are set against those who are even more ruthless. The mystery is unsettling and compelling, the stakes are dazzlingly high, and no one on that island can be trusted.”
—Miriam Weinberg, senior editor, Tor
Opening: “It feels good to wash the blood off her hands.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Kirsten Bakis
King Nyx (Liveright, Feb.; $28.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “King Nyx is the first novel that nearly every member of the Liveright editorial board, in preparation for our meeting to consider signing it up, literally couldn’t stop reading until they had reached the end. It is compulsively readable—absolute narrative catnip.” —Peter J. Simon, editor-in-chief, Liveright
Opening: “Last night I dreamed my husband came back.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Melissa Blair
A Vicious Game (Union Square, Feb.; $17.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “A Vicious Game is the third book in Melissa Blair’s epic Halfling Saga, which brings an Indigenous perspective to a colonial fantasy world. Keera, a deadly assassin leading a rebellion, develops formidable powers that give us jaw-dropping magical battle scenes. There are also sizzling scenes with her fae love interest and a mind-blowing twist plotted since book 1!” —Laura Schreiber, editor, Union Square
Opening: “A cold wave crashed over me and drowned out my dreamless sleep.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Chandra Blumberg
Second Tide’s the Charm (Canary Street, Aug.; $18.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “You know that magical feeling when you’re not even two pages into a book and already in love? This is what happened for me with this second-chance reunion romance. Charming, emotional, witty, and packed with the sweetest heat. I can’t wait for you to meet marine biologists Hope and Adrian.” —Errin Toma, assistant editor, Canary Street
Opening: “There’s a mother barreling toward me with rage-eyes and a kayak paddle, but it’s not my fault her kid interrupted the lesson to spout fishy inaccuracies.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12
Alexander Boldizar
The Man Who Saw Seconds (Clash, May; $19.95; 6,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Compulsively readable, this action-packed thriller also delves into some of our deepest philosophical questions as it explores the nature of time and what lengths we will go to to protect the people we love. The Man Who Saw Seconds reads like Blake Crouch wrote the Jack Reacher books.” —Holly Watson, publicist, Holly Watson PR
Opening: “ ‘You need to think like a monster,’ Fish said as he and Preble walked out of the Flea House.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Kaliane Bradley
The Ministry of Time (Avid Reader, May; $28; 200,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “The Ministry of Time is the high-/low-culture mash-up masterpiece of my dreams: smart, sexy, funny, and unmistakably urgent. A genre-blending glitter bomb in novel form, it asks: how do you defy history when a Victorian explorer is living inside your house? Possibly the only novel to have blurbs from both Emily Henry and Eleanor Catton, it will knock you sideways and make you a zealot.” —Margo Shickmanter, executive editor, Avid Reader
Opening: “Perhaps he’ll die this time.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Sylvie Cathrall
A Letter to the Luminous Deep (Orbit, Apr.; $18.99; 25,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “This cozy debut fantasy has a charming pen-pal romance between scholars at its center that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, and a unique underwater setting that will intrigue you from the very first page. If you enjoyed Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, pick this one up next!” — Ellen Wright, publicity director, Orbit
Opening: “Dear Scholar Clel, Instead of reading further, I hope you will return this letter in its envelope or, better yet, crumple it into an abstract shape that might look quite at home on a coral reef.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors, Feb. 13
Essie Chambers
Swift River (Simon & Schuster, June; $27.99; 150,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “It’s not just that it’s a book that will make you laugh and cry. Essie Chambers finds the light in the darkness (and the darkness in the light) and fills scenes with the full spectrum of human emotion. Reading Swift River is like falling head over heels in love and then realizing you now have everything to lssose.” —Carina Guiterman, executive editor, S&S
Opening: “Picture my Pop’s sneakers: worn out and mud-caked from gardening, neatly positioned on the riverbank where the grass meets the sand.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Vanessa Chan
The Storm We Made (S&S/Rucci, out now; $27; 125,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “This beautifully written debut is a love letter to the author’s grandparents and a propulsive thriller featuring indelible characters—an unlikely housewife-turned-spy and her children—that gives us a rare glimpse at World War II’s Pacific theater.” —Marysue Rucci, v-p, president, and publisher, Marysue Rucci Books
Opening: “Teenage boys had begun to disappear.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors, Feb. 13
Myriam Chancy
Village Weavers (Tin House, Apr.; $27.95; 30,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Myriam Chancy, author of the award-winning novel What Storm, What Thunder, proves that she is one of our fiercest, most compelling novelists writing today. Village Weavers is timely and timeless, historical and contemporary, and a work that confronts the silences around class, race, and sexuality. This book will leave readers forever changed.” —Nanci McCloskey, associate
publisher, director of marketing and sales, Tin House
Opening: “Momo tells Sisi that her village is a place so small and insignificant that it cannot be mapped.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Abraham Chang
888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers (Flatiron, May; $29.99; 150,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers has something for everyone: an undeniable voice, multiple timelines, pop culture nostalgia, unabashed fandom; letters, email, pager codes, soundtrack suggestions, filmmaker cameos. It’s a maximalist novel of the best sort, a loving mishmash of Gabrielle Zevin, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Felicity.” —Zachary Wagman, v-p and editorial director, Flatiron Books
Opening: “Young was startled awake by the screeching squawk of the back-door gate opening—that distinct, familiar sound it made when Su Su was sneaking out of the house for his latest funtime foray into the wilds of female friendship.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Wendy Chen
Their Divine Fires (Algonquin, May; $28; 40,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “I found Wendy Chen’s debut so gorgeous and haunting. She manages to tell the stories of the love affairs of three generations of Chinese women, as they live through some of the most violent moments in history, with such a deceptively light touch that this reads almost like myth. It’s brilliant, epic, and deeply intimate.” —Kathy Pories, executive editor, Algonquin Books
Opening: “Don’t be afraid, Mei Mei. Hold the scissors like this.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Elaine U. Cho
Ocean’s Godori (Hillman Grad, Apr.; $28; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “I was as dazzled by the ambitious scope of Elaine’s worldbuilding as I was drawn in by her nuanced characters and relationships. Ocean’s Godori is a thrilling space opera that feels both epic and wonderfully intimate, delivering high-speed space races alongside slow-burn romance and unforgettable friendships.” —Tiffany Liao, executive editor, Zando
Opening: “Hadrian sits at the bar, gagging down a drink he hates.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors and evening author reception, Feb. 13
Lily Chu
The Takedown (Sourcebooks Casablanca, May; $16.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Lily Chu is clearly the Elle Woods of uplit romance. She effortlessly blends wit, humor, heartfelt swoons, and profound emotional depth into perfect escapist-yet-grounded reads only to say, ‘What, like it’s hard?’ as we stand amazed by what she’s accomplished.” —Mary Altman, assistant director, Sourcebooks Casablanca
Opening: “According to the many-worlds theory—and possibly an old Gwyneth Paltrow movie—we split our universe with each decision we make.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Caroline Cleveland
When Cicadas Cry (Union Square, May; $18.99; 30,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “When I began reading When Cicadas Cry, I was immediately drawn into the drama and the setting. There’s a uniqueness to a book set in the South—I could almost taste the sweet tea and smell the Spanish moss. I knew it was the real thing, and the plot was drawn from the headlines. I raced to reach the last page and was not disappointed. Because the author is writing about her own backyard, she’s introducing the reader to an authentic world.” — Claire Wachtel, editor, Union Square
Opening: “I never meant to kill the first one.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Leah Hager Cohen
To & Fro (Bellevue, May; $18.99; 10,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “To & Fro is a magical tale of two lonely girls in mirror worlds, one in a parable and the other in Manhattan. The book’s head-to-toe binding allows the reader to begin on either side and brings the girls’ stories together in the middle, joining them to one another at last. We can’t wait to share the novel’s delights with booksellers!” —Erika Goldman, publisher and editorial director, Bellevue Literary Press
Opening: “What can it mean?”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Donyae Coles
Midnight Rooms (Amistad, July; $28; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Midnight Rooms invokes the sumptuous and haunting tropes that draw readers to the gothic genre with a Black heroine at the center of the story. Donyae is an expert in all things macabre, and this spine-chilling fairy tale slowly reveals its secrets.” —Francesca Walker, assistant editor, Amistad
Opening: “Orabella stood at the threshold of the parlor, uninvited but determined to be present, for the matter of this strange man’s visit concerned her and only her.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Betty Corrello
Summertime Punchline (Avon, May; $18.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Summertime Punchline is a heartfelt and hilarious romance debut about a young comedian forced to move back to her Jersey Shore hometown and face everything she left behind a decade before, including the man who broke her heart. Betty’s voice shines through on every page—it’s authentic, genuinely funny, and moving. I truly can’t wait for readers to fall in love with Del and Eddie.” —Ariana Sinclair, editor, Avon
Opening: “The worst day of my life began like most: with my roommate, Misty, swinging open my bedroom door to drape her seven-thousand-foot-long limbs all over the cramped rectangle that constituted my part of the apartment.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12
Caro De Robertis
The Palace of Eros (Atria, Aug.; $27.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “In this sexy, subversive twist on the myth of Psyche and Eros, Eros is recast as a queer, nonbinary, hubristic deity who falls madly in love with the headstrong, artistic Psyche, the most beautiful mortal woman alive, under the cover of night—and Olympus’s societal norms. In their signature emotionally engaging, lush prose, Caro De Robertis detonates sparks and power struggles to keep you turning the pages all night long.” —Michelle Herrera Mulligan, executive editor, Atria
Opening: “All of time collapses in the immediacy of desire.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Dana Elmendorf
In the Hour of Crows (Mira, June; $28.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “This book had me hooked from the opening sentence. I found myself utterly enamored with the setting and characters, and the folklore behind the story feels so real. Dana has crafted a well-balanced blend of coming-of-age, magic realism, and atmosphere. I couldn’t put it down!” —Meredith Clark, senior editor, Mira
Opening: “I was born in the woods in the hour of crows, when the day is no longer but the night is not yet.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Leif Enger
I Cheerfully Refuse (Grove, Apr.; $28; 40,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Enger’s new novel may be even more exciting than his Book Sense Book of the Year–winning debut Peace Like a River, as it springs from our deeply uncertain moment in time with a surprisingly rare optimism. An Orphean musician sets sail solo on a stormy Lake Superior in search of his lost love and a future worth fighting for—an eloquent hymn to hope!” —Elisabeth Schmitz, v-p and editorial director, Grove Atlantic
Opening: “Here at the beginning it must be said the End was on everyone’s mind.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Elle Evans
Wedding Issues (Zibby Books, Apr.; $17.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Wedding Issues is a smart coming-of-age story that keeps the hilarious hijinks and drama of the classic Bride Wars story while giving the characters nuance and depth. It’s a fun look inside multiple love stories, including a relevant and touching look at LGBTQ+ love stories and the challenges queer partners face.” —Diana Tramontano, publicity manager, Zibby Books
Opening: “It was my third breakup of the month.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Lori Foster
The Love Shack (Canary Street, June; $18.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “I love immersing myself in Lori’s heartwarming summer books. In The Love Shack, readers will fall in love with Berkley, who keeps to herself and loves animals more than humans, which is challenging in a tiny town full of friendly people. Not to mention the annoyingly handsome new next-door neighbor. The Love Shack is a warm blanket of a read and Lori Foster at her very best.” —Cat Clyne, editor, Canary Street
Opening: “Carrying a colorful bouquet of flowers and a pastry box, Berkley Carr strolled down the sidewalk with her dog, Hero, taking in the sights, sounds and colors of the eclectic little town where she’d recently relocated.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12
Sarah Gilmartin
Service (Pushkin, June; $16.95; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Fresh off her sparkling 2023 debut Dinner Party, Irish sensation Sarah Gilmartin returns with a brilliant, conversation-starting novel set in a high-end Dublin restaurant that’s been called ‘Claire Keegan meets Sweetbitter.’ Perfectly balanced with quick wit and lively characterization, this post-#MeToo novel’s emotional insight is deepened by Gilmartin’s three narrators: the waitress, the chef, and the chef’s wife.” —David Goldberg, sales and marketing director, Pushkin Press
Opening: “I’ve never felt as alive as I did that summer.”
Book swap dinner, Feb. 11
Imani Hariri-Kia
The Most Famous Girl in the World
(Sourcebooks Landmark, May; $16.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “What if the most famous person in the world was secretly a criminal mastermind? In The Most Famous Girl in the World, readers will enjoy a thrilling, hilarious, and campy adventure of obsession and celebrity.” —Kate Roddy, associate editor, Sourcebooks Landmark
Opening: “When I learn that Poppy Hastings (née Watts) is being released from prison, I’m in the middle of getting my asshole waxed.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Cristina Henríquez
The Great Divide (Ecco, Mar.; $30; 250,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “The Great Divide is an incredible work of historical fiction about the construction of the Panama Canal. The canal has always been a source of fascination for Cristina Henríquez, whose family is from Panama. She wondered why she had never heard much about the lives of Panamanians whose homeland was transformed before their eyes, and she discovered that there was almost no documentation of their experiences. For the last decade, she has been writing into that void, bringing to life the people sidelined from the historical record.” —Miriam Parker, v-p and associate publisher, Ecco
Opening: “Somewhere off the Pacific coast of Panamá, in the calm blue water of the bay, Francisco Aquino sat alone in his boat.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Scott Alexander Howard
The Other Valley (Atria, Feb.; $27.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “This book speaks to past and present me: the introverted teenager yearning for friendship and first love, and the adult wondering what if. If future me could walk to the west, to the past, she’d probably tell me not to miss out on The Other Valley.” —Loan Le, senior editor, Atria
Opening: “I used to stand alone by the cloakroom door.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors and evening author reception, Feb. 13
Justinian Huang
The Emperor and the Endless Palace
(Mira, Mar.; $28.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “The Emperor and the Endless Palace is the most compelling novel I have read. The passionate male-male love story spans three timelines, from the emperor’s palace in 4 BCE China to the modern-day rave scene in L.A. It’s sexy, full of intrigue, and explores Chinese folklore, and the writing is fast-paced yet hauntingly beautiful.” —Nicole Brebner, editorial director, Mira
Opening: “What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors and evening author reception, Feb. 13
Swan Huntley
I Want You More (Zibby Books, May; $27.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “I Want You More is an electric queer romance and page-turning summer read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats!” —Diana Tramontano, publicity manager, Zibby Books
Opening: “The story of me and Jane Bailey doesn’t start with us.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Timothy Janovsky
You Had Me at Happy Hour (Afterglow, July; $12.99; 25,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “In You Had Me at Happy Hour, Timothy Janovsky takes two characters who seem so different on the surface and finds their connection. It’s highly original, hilarious, mature, and deeply sexy. The way Tim deftly explores how mental health impacts our sex lives and our willingness to accept the love we deserve had me swooning and laughing the whole time.” —John Jacobson, associate editor, Afterglow
Opening: “Julien Boire’s tongue has many talents.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12; evening author reception, Feb. 13
Miranda July
All Fours (Riverhead, May; $29; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “The world has waited a decade for Miranda July to return to fiction, but I don’t think anyone is prepared for what an urgent, tender tour de force she has created. Hysterically funny, disarmingly vulnerable, and profoundly moving, All Fours asks aloud the questions about our desires, bodies, and choices that no one else dares name. Her genius is singular.” —Jynne Dilling Martin, v-p and deputy publisher, Riverhead
Opening: “Sorry to trouble you was how the note began, which is such a great opener.”
Featured talk, Feb. 13
Marjan Kamali
The Lion Women of Tehran (Gallery, July; $28.99; 125,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Marjan Kamali has written a masterful exploration of how we are shaped by those we meet when we are young and the choices that define our lives. Her extraordinary tale of friendship, family, and class will burrow its way into your heart and not let go. I fell completely and utterly in love with this story and these characters.” —Hannah Braaten, senior editor, Gallery
Opening: “I stood on the lacquered floor—a small woman in black with a rectangular name badge on my chest.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Yulin Kuang
How to End a Love Story (Avon, Apr.; $18.99)
Why the buzz: “Yulin Kuang may be the screenwriter and director bringing Emily Henry’s books to the screen, but she has a voice all her own in this incredible rom-com that everyone should read!” —Jes Lyons, publicist, Avon
Opening: “All things considered, her little sister’s funeral is a pretty boring affair.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12
Rachel Kushner
Creation Lake (Scribner, Sept.; $29)
Why the buzz: “Rachel Kushner is one of today’s most exhilarating writers, continually upending our expectations about what a novel can be. Creation Lake, the propulsive, dazzling story of a mysterious American agent sent to infiltrate an anarchist collective in France, is Kushner at her finest: a work of high art, high comedy, keen insights, and unforgettable pleasure. Readers will be clamoring for this new work from a major writer.” —Nan Graham, senior v-p and publisher, Scribner
Opening: “Neanderthals were prone to depression, he said.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Jonathan Lethem
The Collapsing Frontier (PM Press, Feb.; $16; 5,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “With brand-new stories, essays, and the always engaging and revelatory author interview, this is the perfect pocket-size Lethem to savor and revel in. The Outspoken Author series started a dozen years or so ago with Kim Stanley Robinson. Jonathan Lethem coming in at number 30 provides a suitably fitting symmetry.” —Ramsey Kanaan, publisher, PM Press
Opening: “For years I thought I’d begin an essay with the title ‘They Also Wrote.’ ”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Claire Lombardo
Same as It Ever Was (Doubleday, June; $30; 125,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Lombardo’s debut was the first book I acquired at Doubleday, and she is among the most accomplished writers and storytellers I’ve ever worked with. Same as It Ever Was showcases the style, wit, knife-sharp dialogue, knotty familial bonds, and profound emotional intelligence that made her a star, but plumbs even greater depths. You will never want it to end.” —Lee Boudreaux, v-p and executive editor, Doubleday
Opening: “It happens in the way that most important things end up having happened for her: accidentally, and because she does something she is not supposed to do.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Paul Lynch
Prophet Song (Atlantic Monthly, out now; $26; 100,000-copy first printing)
Why the buzz: “Winner of this year’s Booker Prize, an urgent, important, timely and unforgettably propulsive story of a democratic society in rapid freefall told intimately through the eyes of a scientist mother of four who’s trying to keep her family safe. Lynch brilliantly captures people’s disbelief and denial in a slow inexorable slide to totalitarianism. Cannot think of a more timely book!” —Elisabeth Schmitz, v-p and editorial director, Grove Atlantic
Opening: “The night has come and she has not heard the knocking, standing at the window looking out onto the garden.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Layla Martínez
Woodworm (Two Lines, May; $21.95; 5,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “For fans of literary horror, Layla Martínez’s debut novel Woodworm is winningly dark and macabre, but it is also leavened by flights of fancy: the spirits who visit the house within appear in many startling forms. Martínez threads this mystical tale of women seeking revenge with true gravitas. It’s a thrill to publish such a potent book.” —Michael Holtmann, publisher, Two Lines
Opening: “I walked in and the house pounced on me.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Jahmal Mayfield
Smoke Kings (Melville House, Feb.; $19.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Smoke Kings won me over as a book about reparations, a brilliant thought experiment, and a bold, propulsive thriller. It dramatizes the debates around the work of Randall Robinson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Kimberly Jones in the form of a revenge caper. It’s a serious novel with a wicked sense of humor and some really nasty villains.” —Carl Bromley, editor-in-chief, Melville House
Opening: “The victim’s advocate meets them on the sidewalk in front of the hospital.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Casey McQuiston
The Pairing (Griffin, Aug.; $20; 500,000-copy advance market distribution—includes all formats)
Why the buzz: “Featuring exes who find themselves on the same European food and wine tour, The Pairing is the ultimate escapist romance. Casey McQuiston has crafted a story that is decadent, emotional, and fluid in love and gender. It’s meant to be indulgent, and nothing’s sweeter than two people discovering some things are better together, especially them.” —Vicki Lame, executive editor, St. Martin’s Griffin
Opening: “The first time I kiss Kit, he tastes like jalapeños and apricots.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Jean Meltzer
Magical Meet Cute (Mira, Aug.; $18.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “This funny, heartfelt novel follows an artist who gets drunk and builds her perfect man in the form of a golem. Throw in a grumpy dog, a meddling neighbor, and lots of books, and I was completely hooked. It also manages to explore the power of words, generational trauma, and the search for self. Don’t miss this magical romance!” —Dina Davis, associate editor, Mira
Opening: “It was hard and magnificent.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12
Claire Messud
This Strange Eventful History (Norton, May; $29.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Excited is too neutral a word to describe publishing Claire Messud’s masterpiece, This Strange Eventful History. It’s epic, symphonic, heartbreaking, penetrating, both a riveting family portrait and a tale of the second half of the 20th century. Vividly told, it’s a classic in the making that will stand out as a highlight of my career as an editor.” —Jill Bialosky, v-p and executive editor, Norton
Opening: “I’m a writer; I tell stories.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Juli Min
Shanghailanders (Spiegel & Grau, May; $28; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Shanghailanders is an accomplished, compulsively readable debut. A novel about family, marriage, secrets, and life in a glamorous, fast-paced city—told in reverse, beginning in 2040 and ending in 2014. The inventive structure fills the novel with surprise as Juli Min captures complicated matters of the heart.” —Joey McGarvey, senior editor, Spiegel & Grau
Opening: “Leo stepped onto the platform for the magnetic levitation train.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Amy Neff
The Days I Loved You Most (Park Row, July; $28.99; 200,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Leaving a puddle of tears in its tracks, The Days I Loved You Most will be the summer’s must-read love story. From Jodi Picoult to booksellers and influencers from coast to coast, readers are comparing this beautiful novel to The Notebook and Me Before You. Read with tissues!” —Erika Imranyi, editorial director, Park Row
Opening: “Joseph’s words loom before us, waiting.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Shirlene Obuobi
Between Friends & Lovers (Avon, July; $18.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Shirlene is extraordinarily talented. She’s a physician, comic, Washington Post columnist, and author. I honestly don’t know how she gets it done, but she does it all with sincerity and richness. Her novels feel pulled from real life and her characters feel like your best friends.” —Emily Fisher, publicity manager, Avon
Opening: “Surviving as a Black girl in high society is pretty easy, as long as you know the rules.”
Forever in Our Romance Era evening reception, Feb. 12
Tim O’Leary
The Corona Verses (Rare Bird, Apr.; $26; 1,500-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “I laughed out loud multiple times. In a world where I dread another story about Covid, this book managed to keep that dread at bay with true originality and sharp observation.” —Alexandra Watts, sales and marketing director, Rare Bird
Opening: “Nelson was in the kitchen when he heard the chirp.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Joanna Pearson
A Bright and Tender Dark (Bloomsbury, June; $28.99; 200,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “A Bright and Tender Dark is not just an unputdownable whodunit, it’s a hugely moving, multi-decade exploration of the impact of crimes on the many people in their midst. It portrays both our era of online obsession and late-’90s campus culture with insight and exhilaration, and suspensefully unpacks how we create myths around young women. I can’t stop thinking about it.” —Daniel Loedel, senior editor, Bloomsbury
Opening: “Joy’s freshman roommate had claimed that if you were being attacked, you had to throw a fit: fall to the ground, froth at the mouth, growl, fling your arms, spout gibberish.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Ryan Elizabeth Penske
The Dreamers (Rare Bird, Aug.; $28; 1,500-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “The Dreamers packs an electric blend of wonder, exhilaration, and imagination into an unflinching look at adolescence, coming of age, and the life of a young woman. Ryan Penske captures the danger and excitement of youth while dreaming up an adventure all her own, and I’m excited for readers to dive in.” —Guy Intoci, editorial director, Rare Bird
Opening: “Most nights I wake up drenched in sweat.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Helen Phillips
Hum (S&S/Rucci, Aug.; $27; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Our heroine, who lives in a grim near-future rife with AI and climate crises, sacrifices everything to create a meaningful experience for her family. Your heart will pound as things go terribly awry, but you’ll close Hum with a deep appreciation for humanity. Helen Phillips is a genius.” —Marysue Rucci, v-p and publisher, Marysue Rucci Books
Opening: “The needle inched closer to her eye, and she tried not to flinch.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Holly Ringland
The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding
(House of Anansi, Feb.; $19.99)
Why the buzz: “Holly Ringland creates a raw and beautiful world. Her characters explore loss, bravery, sisterhood, and memory in an epic tale set against stunning landscapes and intertwined with folklore, tattoos, and storytelling. Heart-wrenching yet joyful, The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding feels written just for you.” —Karen Brochu, publisher, House of Anansi Press
Opening: “On the afternoon that Esther Wilding drove homeward along the coast, a year after her sister had walked into the sea and disappeared, the light was painfully golden.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Rainbow Rowell
Slow Dance (Morrow, July; $28; 150,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “We’re pleased and proud to be publishing Rainbow Rowell’s first novel for adults since 2014’s Landline. Slow Dance is an utterly relatable, heartbreakingly human story of two friends: the misunderstandings that separated them, the love that helps them find each other again decades later, and the discovery that just because you leave does not mean you’re forgotten.” —Jennifer Brehl, senior v-p and director of editorial development, William Morrow and Voyager
Opening: “The wedding invitation came, and Shiloh said yes, of course she’d be there.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Danzy Senna
Colored Television (Riverhead, July; $29; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Somehow Danzy Senna has fused a wickedly funny skewering of Hollywood and the politics of race to a deeply tender and original portrait of a marriage of true minds, fighting to preserve both their individuality and their union. On my every read, Colored Television has made me laugh, cry, and marvel at how she does it.” —Becky Saletan, editorial director, Riverhead
Opening: “Jane had to remind herself it was February.”
Featured talk, Feb. 13
Joselyn Takacs
Pearce Oysters (Zibby Books, June; $27.99; 65,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Pearce Oysters, the first major novel about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, follows a family of oyster farmers clinging to survival and their inspiring path forward.” —Diana Tramontano, publicity manager, Zibby Books
Opening: “Jordan Pearce had left the boat’s cabin just as his father had arranged it, as if Al might step in from the heat and tell him where to head next.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Morgan Talty
Fire Exit (Tin House, June; $28.95; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Fire Exit is the stunning, arresting follow-up to Morgan Talty’s knockout story collection Night of the Living Rez. With this debut novel, Talty delivers a masterclass on what truly makes a family—the shared history that binds us, the transgressions that rip us apart, and the choices we can make to bring us, finally, back together.” —Masie Cochran, editorial director and interim publisher, Tin House
Opening: “I wanted the girl to know the truth.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Stuart Turton
The Last Murder at the End of the World (Sourcebooks Landmark, May; $27.99; 200,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Stuart Turton is back and better than ever in this intricate, mind-bending puzzle that cuts deep and spins fast. His immense literary talent shines bright, as a ticking clock propels us into a future only Stuart could imagine.” —Shana Drehs, senior editorial director, Sourcebooks Landmark
Opening: “ ‘Is there no other way?’ asks a horrified Niema Mandripilias, speaking out loud in an empty room.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Simon Van Booy
Sipsworth (Godine, May; $26.95; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Sipsworth is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances by one of America’s finest writers. Known for visionary novels such as The Presence of Absence, Simon Van Booy illuminates the deep friendship forged between two lonely creatures and the reverberations of goodness that ripple out from that unique bond. This is a novel you’ll treasure.” —David Allender, publisher, Godine
Opening: “Helen Cartwright was old with her life broken in ways she could not have foreseen.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Renée Watson
Skin & Bones (Little, Brown, May; $29; 85,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “This novel touched my heart. The opening of Skin & Bones could concern any woman who has not been heard or fully seen in a doctor’s office. And in scene after scene, Renée Watson illuminates other situations—trying to raise a child whole, performing at work, searching for a mate—and the sly way racism complicates all of them.” —Tracy Sherrod, v-p and executive editor, Little, Brown
Opening: “I don’t want to die fat.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Tia Williams
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde (Grand Central, Feb.; $29; 150,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Tia Williams knows how to write a sexy, romantic story about a swoonworthy couple falling in love while battling obstacles. This magical, epic love story has an even more ambitious scope as it spans timelines, moving from modern Harlem to the roaring 1920s Jazz Age, all written with Tia’s exhilarating signature wit.” —Karen Kosztolnyik, v-p and editorial director, Grand Central
Opening: “Leap years are strange.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Jacqueline Winspear
The Comfort of Ghosts (Soho Crime, June; $29.95; 250,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “It takes guts for an author to end a wildly successful series, but Jacqueline Winspear knew it was time to bring the Maisie Dobbs series to its emotional conclusion with The Comfort of Ghosts. I’ll be mourning the end of Maisie’s journey along with her ferocious fans, and savoring each word of this extraordinary installment as Winspear weaves together Maisie’s past and present.” —Bronwen Hruska, publisher, Soho Press
Opening: “The man caught a glimpse of his reflection in a shop window as he walked away from Victoria railway station.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Aliah Wright
Now You Owe Me (Red Hen, Sept.; $18.95)
Why the buzz: “Now You Owe Me takes on the serial killer story while providing searing commentary on the stark difference in media coverage for missing women of color. Part edge-of-your-seat page-turner, part social commentary—with a dedication reading ‘For women who die at the hands of men’—this impressive debut will haunt you long after you’ve closed the book.” —Monica Fernandez, media director, Red Hen
Opening: “Flying down a potholed highway, Corinthia and Benjamin Zanetti jostled against each other beneath a filthy tarp in the bed of an old, black Ford F-150.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Nonfiction
Hanif Abdurraqib
There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension (Random House, Mar.; $32)
Why the buzz: “There are few books that can knock you dead with a single phrase, and even fewer that can do it over and over again, but There’s Always This Year is one of them. You pick it up expecting to read about basketball, but you put it down thinking about your whole life. Hanif’s remarkable writing offers readers a huge gift with this one-of-a-kind book.” —Ben Greenberg, v-p/editor-in-chief, Random House
Opening: “You will surely forgive me if I begin this brief time we have together by talking about our enemies.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Alua Arthur
Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End (Mariner, Apr.; $28.99; 80,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Alua Arthur is one of the most special writers with whom I’ve worked. She’s a death doula. She helps people when they get to the end of life. Her memoir Briefly Perfectly Human is about the transformative experience her work has had on her personally and how it can help us all lead more fulfilling and intentional lives.” —Rakia Clark, executive editor, Mariner Books
Opening: “The car horn blasts, snapping me back to my senses just as I slam my hands on the hood and instinctively pull my body away from the red and yellow taxi.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Victoria Blanco
Out of the Sierra (Coffee House, June; $17.95; 8,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Out of the Sierra provides a much-needed look at the problems facing one of the largest Indigenous communities in North America. Rooted in participatory fieldwork, this unprecedented debut demands recognition and justice as the Rarámuri resist assimilation and uphold traditional knowledge. Out of the Sierra is a conversation starter, sparking ideas about racial, gender, and environmental justice.” —Laura Graveline, director of publicity, Coffee House Press
Opening: “In the beginning, the Sun and the Moon lived together in a cave.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors, Feb. 13
Zoë Bossiere
Cactus Country: A Boyhood Memoir
(Abrams, May; $27; 20,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Cactus Country is a highly anticipated and one-of-a-kind literary memoir about class, gender fluidity, and coming of age in an early ’00s Tucson trailer park. This beautiful debut will touch your heart, while making even the most open-minded of readers reexamine their views on the gender binary and the world at large that perpetuates it.” —Andrew Gibeley, senior publicist, Abrams
Opening: “The boy poses for a photograph in an Airstream trailer, the scruffy family dog wrapped around his shoulders like a feather boa.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors, Feb. 13
Adrienne Maree Brown
Loving Corrections (AK Press, Aug.; $17; 20,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Loving Corrections is wise, playful, generous, heart-centered, radical, and practical—like the author! adrienne maree brown shares approaches for setting boundaries, navigating conflict and privilege, and holding others (and ourselves) accountable. In this gem-filled collection, I especially love the lively, poignant conversation between adrienne and her sisters, April and Autumn, about sisters’ check-in, their shared accountability practice.” —Jill Petty, Emergent Strategy series editor, AK Press
Opening: “I stand corrected, over and over and over in my life.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Chelsea Devantez
I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This (but I’m Going to Anyway) (Hanover Square, June; $29.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Chelsea’s book occupies extremes in a way I’ve never seen in a memoir: the light and dark; easy hilarity and rewarding emotional depth; wild tales you want to reshare at a party and gorgeous lines you want to underline. Every page is entertaining, and her story is extremely brave—especially the parts she can’t (but still does) find a way to tell.” —Grace Towery, associate editor, Hanover Square
Opening: “I didn’t want to have an ugly story, and for a long time I thought I wouldn’t have to if I simply never told it.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Sarah Gerard
Carrie Carolyn Coco (Zando, July; $28; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Carrie Carolyn Coco is a remarkable portrait of a young poet in the prime of her life and her shocking 2016 murder by her roommate. Garth Greenwell has called Sarah Gerard’s prose ‘lacerating and compassionate at once,’ and this dialectical approach turned toward the murder of Sarah’s own friend makes for a singular, unforgettable work of true crime.” —Erin Wicks, senior editor, Zando
Opening: “/'stanhōp, stanəp/ 1. a light open horse-drawn carriage for one person; 2. an optical device that enables the viewing of a microphotograph without a microscope.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Antonia Hylton
Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum (Legacy Lit, out now; $30; 100,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Caste and The New Jim Crow created huge public discourse and change, and so will Madness. The field of psychiatry has advanced, but Black patients have been absent from the narrative. Madness will trigger national discussion about our current, broken mental healthcare system and our carceral one, to encourage better care for us all.” —Krishan Trotman, v-p/publisher, Legacy Lit
Opening: “I have come to this park with my loved one many times before.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Doris Kearns Goodwin
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (Simon & Schuster, Apr.; $32.50)
Why the buzz: “Welcoming the legendary author Doris Kearns Goodwin to Winter Institute this year is an honor beyond words. She is unparalleled in her brilliance, captivating storytelling, and ability to provide context about both historical and current events. Her new memoir will offer booksellers a seldom-seen intimate view into her incredible life and career.” —Wendy Sheanin, v-p, independent retail sales, Simon & Schuster
Opening: “There was a buzz of excitement when I arrived at my Harvard office at 78 Mt. Auburn Street one summer morning in 1972.”
Closing keynote, Feb. 14
Chris La Tray
Becoming Little Shell: Returning Home to the Landless Indians of Montana (Milkweed, Aug.; $30; 8,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Catalyzed by the death of his father, who had always denied Indigenous ancestry, Chris La Tray combines DNA tests, research, and interviews to piece together his family history, then enrolls with the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians and takes part in their struggle for federal recognition. Propulsive and illuminating, Becoming Little Shell will be a major contribution to the literature of Native America.” —Daniel Slager, publisher and CEO, Milkweed Editions
Opening: “It’s a midsummer morning in 2022 in Western Montana, and dark clouds boil and roil and threaten thunderstorms.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Erik Larson
The Demon of Unrest (Crown, Apr.; $35; 500,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “We are so excited to put this book into readers’ hands. Erik is a masterful storyteller, and once again he delivers a propulsive narrative, full of suspenseful moments, tantalizing details, and unforgettable characters. And after three books on wartime Europe, he’s bringing us back to American shores, illuminating our own history. It’s a thrilling read.” —Amanda Cook, v-p/editorial director, Crown
Opening: “The oars were audible before the boat came into view, this despite a noisy wind that coarsened the waters of the bay.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Margaret Juhae Lee
Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House, Mar.; $32.50; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “I’ve known Margaret since 1998, and even then, she was like a detective, searching for information about her grandfather, who’d died during Korea’s fight against Japanese occupation. Decades later, she sent me this gripping manuscript about the heroic revolutionary she ultimately uncovered, that’s also a moving exploration of his legacy as it played out in her family’s life in Korea and America.” —Carl Bromley, editor-in-chief, Melville House
Opening: “We arrive in Seoul the last week of 2019.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Amy Lin
Here After (Zibby Books, Mar.; $19.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Here After is an indispensable addition to books about loss and love. By delving into the specific details of her own story, Lin offers a unique perspective on grief that broadens our understanding of a universal human experience.” —Diana Tramontano, publicity manager, Zibby Books
Opening: “The first time I see Kurtis, I do not know who he is.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Zito Madu
The Minotaur at Calle Lanza (Belt, Apr.; $19.95; 5,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Zito Madu’s memoir treks through the labyrinth of memory with penetrating honesty, examining his family’s emigration from Nigeria to Detroit and his troubled relationship with his father while simultaneously exploring the quiet solitude of pandemic-era Venice. The fantastical twist at the end grips you and then spins you out, leaving you thinking for days after closing the back cover.” —Phoebe Mogharei, director of publicity and marketing, Belt Publishing
Opening: “Venice is one of those extraordinarily strange places in the world.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
Lydia Millet
We Loved It All: A Memory of Life (Norton, Apr.; $27.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Lydia Millet captures this powerful new experience that we’re all beginning to have. In prose as gorgeous as anything she’s ever written, she articulates that uncanny feeling of trying to be a good person in a world where huge, uncontrollable forces are fraying the environment, and unexpectedly finding hope!” —Tom Mayer, v-p/executive editor, Norton
Opening: “In the beginning we gave names to every creature that we found—the creeping things, the swimming things, the ones that walked and climbed and flew.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Sy Montgomery
Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic, Mar.; $30; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Sy Montgomery returns to her beloved octopus! Now she updates us on surprising discoveries about octopus intelligence and behavior, based on discoveries made since her 2015 bestseller, The Soul of an Octopus. Add to that gorgeous photography from around the world, and you have a winning combination for those fascinated by the octopus—and charmed by the inimitable Sy Montgomery.” —Susan Tyler Hitchcock, senior editor, National Geographic
Opening: “While the ocean had always captivated my mind, it was my first encounter with an octopus that captured my heart and later inspired me to become a marine biologist.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Michele Norris
Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity (Simon & Schuster, out now; $35; 125,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Michele Norris redefines our perception of race, emphasizing that amidst division, attentive listening builds bridges to empathy and understanding. Her impactful message is important, not just for booksellers but for the world. I am thrilled she is presenting the keynote and confident attendees will leave uplifted and motivated, carrying her empowering message with them, as I have.” —Wendy Sheanin, v-p, independent retail sales, Simon & Schuster
Opening: “This book is the result of a magnificent detour.”
Breakfast keynote, Feb. 13
James Rhee
Red Helicopter—A Parable (HarperOne, Apr.; $29.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Red Helicopter carries us forward to a kinder future, in which we need not compromise our values to succeed, in business or in life. James Rhee weaves classical traditions, his Korean parents’ wisdom, his business acumen, and the triumphant story of his time as CEO at Ashley Stewart in this moving read. The solutions he proposes are simple yet transformative.” —Gabriella Page-Fort, executive editor, HarperOne
Opening: “Some people have their revelation in a storybook setting—by an ocean, along a remote mountain pass, under a shady tree.”
Opening keynote, Feb. 12
Sara Daniele Rivera
The Blue Mimes: Poems (Graywolf, Apr.; $17; 6,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “The Blue Mimes is a book of profound grief, of familial connection, of searching, of sitting in discomfort, of accepting the states in-between loss and life. The image of the mime represents here the ways in which, in times of great difficulty, people will become mimics of themselves—will ‘mime’ the actions of a life, perform the stilted movements of a day, in order to make it through.” —Chantz Erolin, acquiring editor, Graywolf
Opening: “Now it’s all/ erased: a black stone/ polished by water.”
Lunch & Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors, Feb. 13
Kim Scott
Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better (Griffin, May; $19; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Radical Respect is as radically revised as any paperback I’ve published. Kim Scott has incorporated feedback she received about the hardcover, which resulted in cutting 30% of the material and sharpening the focus on explaining how bias, prejudice, and bullying get in the way in organizations—and giving practical, tactical tips for how to get them back out of the way. I couldn’t be more excited to bring this solutions-driven 2.0 version to reasonable people everywhere in 2024.” —Tim Bartlett, executive editor, St. Martin’s
Opening: “What is Radical Respect?”
Featured talk and evening author reception, Feb. 13
Zoë Schlanger
The Light Eaters (Harper, May; $29.99; 150,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Award-winning environment and science reporter Zoë Schlanger delivers a groundbreaking work of popular science that probes the hidden world of the plant kingdom and reveals the astonishing capabilities of the green life all around us.” —Sarah Haugen, senior editor, Harper
Opening: “What is a plant? You likely have an idea.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Dave Tarnowski
Disappointing Affirmations: Unfollow Your Dreams!
(Chronicle, Mar.; $14.95; 40,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Hilariously realistic affirmations acknowledge the hidden feelings we all have in this disappointing world, where failure is always an option. Pairing lovely vacation photos taken by Dave with sayings that are amusingly self-critical, encouraging, disillusioned, or all three at once, Disappointing Affirmations is a funny, sneaky self-help book for anyone who doesn’t feel seen in the ‘positive mental attitude’ culture.” —Steve Mockus, executive editor for entertainment, Chronicle Books
Opening: “Everyone wants you to be okay.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
William Ury
Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict
(HarperBusiness, Feb.; $32; 50,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “William Ury believes these times don’t just call for optimists or pessimists, but rather possibilists—those who unlock our full human potential to navigate any conflict. Equal parts memoir, manual, and manifesto from one of conflict’s leading experts, Possible empowers us to transform conflict from toxic confrontation into creative collaboration.” —Hollis Heimbouch, publisher, HarperBusiness
Opening: “It was a phone call that would change my life.”
Lunch keynote, Feb. 12
Bonnie Wan
The Life Brief: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living (Simon Element, out now; $27.99)
Why the buzz: “I love that The Life Brief is about reconnecting with the essence of who you are. There are so many books about making drastic changes, but this book is about creating space to think clearly about the life you most deeply want—and how to act strategically to make that life your reality.” —Leah Miller, executive editor, Simon Element
Opening: “What do you want?”
Featured talk, Feb. 14
Bill Weir
Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World (Chronicle Prism, Apr.; $27.95; 75,000-copy announced first printing)
Why the buzz: “Inspired by a series of Earth Day letters award-winning journalist Bill Weir wrote to his son, making sense of our changing world, Life as We Know It (Can Be) connects the lessons he’s collected from the happiest, healthiest, and most resilient societies. Finally, a hopeful approach to the eco-anxiety so many of us have been feeling!” —Cara Bedick, editorial director, Chronicle Prism
Opening: “Dear River, Against all odds, you were conceived in a lighthouse, born into a pandemic, learned to crawl amid democratic and industrial revolutions, and have tasted just enough of Life as We Know It to resent us when it’s gone.”
Evening author reception, Feb. 13
Paul Yamazaki
Reading the Room: A Bookseller’s Tale (Ode, Apr.; $13.95)
Why the buzz: “Paul Yamazaki has raised up generations of booksellers. In Reading the Room, he teaches by example, including the lesson that discernment and commitment need not compromise kindness and generosity, and shares wisdom won from a life devoted to books. We are lucky to live in the time of Yamazaki.” —Jeff Deutsch, co-publisher, Ode
Opening: “When I walk into Three Lives in New York, or other stores in San Francisco like Green Arcade or Green Apple, or on the rare chance I get to go to Seminary Co-op in Chicago, my eye gravitates to two things: one, the thing that I’m not familiar with and, two, something I may be very familiar with but now see in a new context. It’s all about developing a conversation between the books.”
Lunchtime author reception, Feb. 14
