Literairyland: Jan. 2-8, 2024

Welcome to Literairyland, your list of this week's new books and writer birthdays. Subscribe today and get Literairyland in your inbox every Tuesday!

This week’s email includes 118 books.

Happy New Year!

With the holidays behind us, publishers are wiping the egg nog off their faces and getting back to releasing books. 

I'm seeing a lot of buzz about two new releases this week: Vanessa Chan's The Storm We Made (Amazon | Bookshop) and Mercury by Amy Jo Burns (Amazon | Bookshop).

Speaking of buzz, from now on, I'm putting a bee emoji 🐝 next to books that I'm noticing on reading lists or that generate a lot of social media chatter. That way, you can quickly know which new titles people and critics are talking about.

Lastly, please vote in the poll question below if you haven't already. I will start rewarding you for referring people to Literairyland, and I'm curious about what reward you'd like to receive.

OK, that's all for this week. I've got a plane to catch as I head to California for what I hope are a few snowy days in the mountains.

Happy reading,
Nick Barron

Super Duper Important Poll

Table of Contents

• Last Week’s Most Clicked Book

• This Week’s New Books

  • Fiction

  • Nonfiction

• Poetry

• Bookish Trivia

• This Week’s Literary Birthdays & Events

Last Week’s Most Clicked Book 🔥

Njuta: Enjoy, Delight In: The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment by Niki Brantmark (Amazon | Bookshop)

This Week’s New Books

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Fiction

Mystery

• Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret by Teresa Trent (Amazon)

• The Twilight Queen by Jeri Westerson (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Pierogi Peril by Geri Krotow (Amazon | Bookshop)

• A Crust to Die For by Toni Lotempio (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Nubian’s Curse by Barbara Hambly (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Dog Across the Lake by Krista Davis (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Broadcast Blues: Volume 6 by R.G. Belsky (Amazon | Bookshop)

• A Dance with Murder by Elizabeth Coleman (Amazon) (Available Jan. 3)

• Murder by Candlelight by Faith Martin (Amazon) (Available Jan. 4)

• A Story to Strangle For by E.V. Hunter (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 6)

• Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 8)

Thriller

• This Plague of Souls by Mike McCormack (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Frostbitten by Rebecca Zanetti (Amazon)

• If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe (Amazon)

• Tom Clancy's The Division: Hunted: An Operation Crossroads Novel by Thomas Parrott (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Son's Secret by Daryl Wood Gerber (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Midnight by Amy McCulloch (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Anna O by Matthew Blake (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Ascent by Adam Plantinga (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer (Amazon | Bookshop)

• First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (Amazon | Bookshop)

• First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Couple's Revenge by Daniel Hurst (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 4)

• You Know Her by D.E. White (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 4)

• A Song for the Dead by D.K. Hood (Amazon) (Available Jan. 8)

• Forgotten Secret by S.F. Baumgartner (Amazon) (Available Jan. 8)

• Would You Rather by Shannon Hollinger (Amazon) (Available Jan. 8)

• The Lower Power by Michele W. Miller (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 8)

Science Fiction

• Shores of a New Horizon: A Terraforming Mars Novel by M. Darusha Wehm (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Barbarian's Touch by Ruby Dixon (Amazon | Bookshop)

Fantasy

• Sky's End by Marc J. Gregson (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Eye of a Little God by A.J. Steiger (Amazon | Bookshop) 🏳️‍🌈

• Wild Magic by Alexandra Ivy (Amazon)

• Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao (Amazon | Bookshop)

Romance

• Rocky Mountain Promise by Misty M. Beller (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 3)

• Upside Down by Danielle Steel (Amazon | Bookshop)

• A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn (Bookshop)

• House of Ash and Shadow by Leia Stone (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Ever After Always by Chloe Liese (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Protecting Her Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm by Alison Sherlock (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 3)

• Mayfair Misfit by Jennifer Seasons (Amazon) (Available Jan. 4)

• Enemies to Lovers by Portia MacIntosh (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 4)

• Her Dreamy Deceiver by Marie Higgins (Amazon) (Available Jan. 5)

Historical

• Dark Shadows Over Coronation Close by Lizzie Lane (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Poppy Sisters by Deborah Carr (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Spice Maker's Secret by Renita D'Silva (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 3)

• The Winter Waif by Lynette Rees (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 8)

• Battle Lord by P.W. Finch (Amazon) (Available Jan. 8)

Literary

• The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan (Amazon | Bookshop) 🐝

• Mercury by Amy Jo Burns (Amazon | Bookshop) 🐝

• Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Nonfiction by Julie Myerson (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Analyzing the Prescotts by Dawn Reno Langley (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 4) 🏳️‍🌈

• One Year After You by Shari Low (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 5)

Dystopian

• Dust to Dust: Rainwalker by Antonis Makridakis (Amazon) (Available Jan. 5)

Horror

• Stratford's Lighthouse by Joshua Stevens (Amazon ) (Available Jan. 5)

Short Stories

• Dreaming Out Loud: A Collection of "If..." Tales from the Imagination by Kevin Creager (Amazon | Bookshop) (Available Jan. 4)

Graphic Novels, Comic, and Manga

• Marriage Toxin, Vol. 1 by Joumyaku, illustrated by Mizuki Yoda (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Tamon's B-Side, Vol. 2 by Yuki Shiwasu (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Ghost Roast by Shawneé Gibbs and Shawnelle Gibbs, illustrated by Emily Cannon (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Cursed Princess Club Volume Three by Lambcat (Amazon | Bookshop)

Young Adult and Coming of Age

• Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver (Amazon | Bookshop) 🏳️‍🌈

• Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia (Amazon | Bookshop) 🏳️‍🌈

• Diary of a Confused Feminist by Kate Weston (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Courtesy of Cupid by Nashae Jones (Amazon | Bookshop)

• A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Cupid's Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton (Amazon | Bookshop)

Nonfiction

Memoir

• Faith of the Butterfly by Susannah Dawn (Amazon | Bookshop) 🏳️‍🌈

Essays

• A Hitch in Time: Reflections Ready for Reconsideration by Christopher Hitchens (Amazon | Bookshop)

Gardening

• Gardening Know How – The Complete Guide to Vegetable Gardening: Create, Cultivate, and Care for Your Perfect Edible Garden by Editors of Gardening Know How (Amazon | Bookshop)

Leadership

• Leading for Impact: The CEO's Guide to Influencing with Integrity by Jennifer Schielke (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Farmer's Code: How Legacies Are Built by Mike C. Young (Amazon | Bookshop)

• All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams by Mike Michalowicz (Amazon | Bookshop)

History

• The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State by Aime Alley Card (Amazon | Bookshop)

• All the Presidents' Gardens: How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America by Marta McDowell (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia by Louis Ferrante (Amazon | Bookshop)

Mythology

• Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes (Amazon | Bookshop)

Anthropology

• The Age of Deer by Erika Howsare (Amazon | Bookshop)

Technology

• The Algorithm: How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired and Why We Need to Fight Back Now by Hilke Schellmann (Amazon | Bookshop)

Globalization

• Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks by Daniel N. Warshawsky (Amazon | Bookshop)

Politics

• How to Read Like a Parasite: Why the Left Got High on Nietzsche by Daniel Tutt (Amazon | Bookshop)

Mental Health

• Sacred Psychiatry: Bridging the Personal and Transpersonal to Transform Health and Consciousness by Judy Suzanne Reis Tsafrir (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Mariel Buqué (Amazon | Bookshop)

Health and Diet

• How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It) by Jessica McCabe (Amazon | Bookshop)

• The Complete Carnivore Diet for Beginners: Your Practical Guide to an All-Meat Lifestyle by Judy Cho and Laura Spath (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Schizophrenia: A Strengths Perspective; Life Lessons Learned From Living With Schizophrenia by Robert Francis (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Psychedelics: The Revolutionary Drugs That Could Change Your Life--A Guide from the Expert by David Nutt (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Younger for Life: Feel Great and Look Your Best with the New Science of Autojuvenation by Anthony Youn (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals about Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments by Gary Taubes (Amazon | Bookshop)

Marriage and Relationships

• F the Fairy Tale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Own Love Story by Damona Hoffman (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Why Can't I Let You Go?: Break Free from Trauma Bonds, End Toxic Relationships, and Develop Healthy Attachments by Kelly Sheen and Michelle Sheen (Amazon | Bookshop)

• 12 Questions for Love: A Guide to Intimate Conversations and Deeper Relationships by Topaz Adizes (Amazon | Bookshop)

Parenting

• Cooperative Co-Parenting for Secure Kids: The Attachment Theory Guide to Raising Kids in Two Homes by Aurisha Smolarski (Amazon | Bookshop)

Money

• Your Money Narrative: Understanding Your Story to Build a Stronger Financial Future by Amy R. Cook (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Money Talks: A Lifestyle Guide for Financial Wellbeing by Ellie Austin-Williams (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Your First Million: Why You Don't Have to Be Born Into a Legacy of Wealth to Leave One Behind by Arlan Hamilton (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Live Richer Now: 100 Simple Ways to Become Instantly Richer by Jacob Sager Weinstein, illustrated by Lauren Radley (Amazon | Bookshop)

Self-Help

• Bold Kindness: A Caring, More Compassionate Way to Lead by Cathy Thorpe (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Manifest in Action: Unlock Your Limitless Potential by Roxie Nafousi (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow: A Motivational Guide for Those Seeking Their Ideal Home Later in Life by Marni Jameson (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Thrive: A Practical Guide to Harness Your Resilience and Realize Your Potential by Richard Sutton (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Let It Go: Free Yourself from Old Beliefs and Find a New Path to Joy by Chelene Knight (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Dialed in: Do Your Best When It Matters Most by Dana Sinclair (Amazon | Bookshop)

Spiritual

• Waiting in Gratitude: Prayers of Joy by Walter Brueggemann (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Timothy and Titus: Stories of Fear and Courage by David Murray (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People (Second Edition) (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Hope for Widows: Reflections on Mourning, Living, and Change by Marilyn Nutter (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Pause by Elizabeth F. Caldwell (Amazon | Bookshop)

• A Cloud of Women: The Powerful Connection Between Black Women and Women of the Bible by Georgia A. Hill, edited by Diane Proctor Reeder (Amazon | Bookshop)

Poetry

• vermilion by Samantha Erron Gibbon (Amazon | Bookshop)

• Fog and Smoke: Poems by Katie Peterson (Amazon | Bookshop)

Bookish Trivia 🤔

This Week’s Literary Birthdays & Events

January 2

• National Science Fiction Day

• Simon & Schuster is founded (1924)

• Lord Byron completes "The Corsair" (1814)

• André Aciman

• Isaac Asimov

• John Hope Franklin

• Moyshe-Leyb Halpern

• Leonard Michaels

• Robert Nathan

• Leonard B. Scott

• Jan Slepian

January 3

• Solomon Northup regains his freedom (1853)

• Alma Flor Ada

• Eric Jerome Dickey

• John Gould Fletcher

• Erik Larson

• J.R.R. Tolkien

January 4

• Harlan Coben

• A.E. Coppard

• Doris Kearns Goodwin

• Jacob Grimm

January 5

• "Waiting for Godot" debuts (1953)

• Mira Jacob

• Florence King

• W.D. Snodgrass

• Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

January 6

• E.L. Doctorow

• Kahlil Gabrin

• Carl Sandburg

• Elizabeth Strout

January 7

• Louise Imogen Guiney

• Zora Neale Hurston

• Chester Kallman

• Sofi Oksanen

January 8

• Don Bendell

• Francisco González Bocanegra

• Wilkie Collins

• Ashapoorna Devi

• Storm Jameson

• John G. Neihardt

• Dennis Wheatley

• Karen Tei Yamashita

See you next week!