Porchlight Books recommended four books for the week of July 1, including Kimberly Potts’ IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (Gallery), saying: "As thoughtful, provocative, and engaging as the show itself, this book also explores how the show has pushed the envelope and used absurdist comedy to explore major societal issues, including the #MeToo movement, LGBTQ+ rights, racism, and more.”
The New York Times reviewed Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS, and said: “The Beast in the Clouds is Nathalia Holt's immersive, sometimes harrowing account of the siblings’ Himalayan adventure… Absorbing.”
BookBub released their July humor picks and included Kimberly Potts' IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (Gallery).
Amazon has selected Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) as a Best Book of July, and editor Lindsay Powers picked the book as her Personal Pick for the month, saying: “This heart-thumping adventure through the Himalayas alongside Teddy Roosevelt’s sons will keep your pulse elevated for all of its brisk 288 pages. It’s full of larger-than-life swagger, surprising self-awareness, and satisfying twists… a rip-roaring journey back in time through a world that no longer exists. Great narrative history.”
Vulture included Saul Austerlitz’s KIND OF A BIG DEAL (Dutton) on its updated list of "119 Books Every Comedy Fan Should Read," saying: “Austerlitz, one of the world’s few comedy-history professors, weaves an oral history of the film that gives Anchorman its place in the funny-film canon — but also demonstrates how it’s a tipping point and opening salvo in a comedic-philosophy war that would possibly permanently send its creators, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, down very different career paths."
Vulture included Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s SEINFELDIA on its updated list of "119 Books Every Comedy Fan Should Read,” saying: "Many books will be written about Seinfeld…. Armstrong has the best take possible. She dives deep into the show’s history and mythology of the show’s huge universe, obsessing over the minutia of the show as if she were a Seinfeld character."
The New York Times recommended six podcasts to boost productivity, including Deep Questions with Cal Newport, saying: "As he addresses listener questions and shares concrete tips and techniques, Newport also encourages his audience to question their assumptions about productivity as a goal in itself."
Genevieve Plunkett’s story “The Cat Sitter” opens with two salacious pieces of small town gossip . . . Far from horrifying or repulsing Becky, these developments stir up in her longings that seem at once deeply rooted, freshly urgent, and endlessly confusing.
"Ryan has written her best book to date, which should be on everyone’s reading list.”
Finding Pleasure After Pain: For some assault survivors, “good sex” doesn’t happen easily. Sometimes it’s not even the goal.
"More than blood seeps into the soil of an elite Napa Valley winery in the outstanding Blood on the Vine. TV writer and showrunner J.T. Falco packs his first novel with murder, competitive businesses, family rivalry, greed, sex-cult rumors, controversial farming methods, and entitlement, but his smooth plotting and attention to fully realized characters ensure that this crime procedural doesn't seem overstuffed."
"Shapiro shines in her depictions of Berthe’s life and the challenges faced by women artists in 19th-century Paris."
"Tamara and Berthe are intense and intrepid women in two very different worlds, united by blood and art, a connection Shapiro infuses with supernatural elements as she orchestrates acts of passion, daring, and determination, mixing compelling art history with zesty fabrication, full-blown romance, and cleverly devised suspense."
"[Shapiro’s] latest work is also a slam-dunk for historical fiction fans. With crafty enhancements of history, sexy updates to real relationships, and bold inventions, Shapiro lays bare the genius and passion of Manet and Morisot and brings impressionism to life."
Author Lucy Bledsoe on courage and celebrating Pride Month with books, including her latest novel TELL THE REST.
From Title IX trailblazer to Valkyries superfan, Lucy Jane Bledsoe's discusses her full-circle basketball journey on CBS News.
Joseph Moldover's YA novel JUST UNTIL has been named a Best Children's Book of the Year (with Outstanding Merit) by the Bank Street College of Education
LOST ARK DREAMING is a Finalist for the 2025 Ignyte Award, in the Best Novella Category!
Barnes & Noble has selected Keith Houston’s THE BOOK (W.W. Norton) as one of the best history books of 2025 (so far), saying: "Bibliophiles, listen up! From writing to printing to binding and more, this is a comprehensive exploration of one of our favorite things.”
The New York Times featured Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) among “21 Nonfiction Books Coming This Summer,” writing: "In 1928-29, Theodore Roosevelt’s two eldest sons went on a swashbuckling global adventure to prove the existence of the until-then mystical panda bear. Holt chronicles their journey into the Himalayan wilderness — marred by sickness, violence and extreme weather — and what the landmark mission meant for the future of wildlife conservation."
Leila Philip's BEAVERLAND was selected by the Connecticut Center for the Book to be featured at the 2025 National Book Festival: “it is a masterful work of narrative science writing."
Christopher Moore was the New York Times' "By The Book" interview for the week of May 22, 2025.
"Don't Let Me Go is a moving, beautifully written, epic love story (that gets steamy!) about two young men-one gay, one straight (maybe?)-whose vivid dreams of each other turn out to be memories of past lives of when they were lovers. The tragic twist? All their past lives die at a certain point in the love story. As the author of They Both Die at the End, you see why l'm such a fan of this story, right? If you vibe with my book or Robbie Couch's If I See You Again Tomorrow, I trust you'll be obsessed with this book! And the ending is..let's say…..very bold and brave."
“A surefire hit for baseball fans young and old, and a resource for social studies, history, and language arts."
“Combining cogent philosophical explanations with entertaining examples from popular culture (including how Taylor Swift and Muhammad Ali used the power of persuasion), Heinrichs provides a … look at how to harness the power of the mind. It’s a spirited and innovative application of an ancient Greek art.”
"A series of biographical poems that are as sure-footed, smooth, and powerful as the athletes themselves...With the heedless passion of the most ardent sports fan, this book is all about the love of the game, a devotion felt so deeply by some—and clearly by Smith and Brandon—that only the most emotive form of writing could properly give it its due."
J.T. Falco, author of BLOOD ON THE VINE, on the hustlers, fraudsters, and murderers of the wine world.
Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) has won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the science and technology category. In her acceptance speech, she said: “The moon, my subject, does remind us that there are cycles. Inherent in the meaning of a cycle or a phase is a return. Things go away and they come back. Fascism went away and now is back. Authoritarianism went away, we thought, and now it is back. But there’s a flip side to that. Every phase that leaves brings something new. There’s also hope and renewal. And I think part of our job — the most important job we have as writers — is to remind us of the positive phases, the return of good, the return of new cycles and hope.”
Kirkus Reviews gave Anika Burgess’s FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE (W.W. Norton) a starred review, saying: “The book is packed with equally astonishing details, covering the fields of lunar, underwater, and microphotography (great for concealing sexually explicit images), and—long before artificial intelligence—photo manipulation. A scintillating history that’ll have you looking at photography in a new light.”
"The metamorphosis of the cousins’ relationship, which starts off prickly and softens into mutual respect and affection, is realistic and relatable, and the explanation behind the mysterious notes is a pleasant surprise... Codebreakers and mystery fans will want to read this fun adventure, tout de suite."
Hena Khan's MORE TO THE STORY was included in Kirkus's list of the "Best Books of the 21st Century"
"Deeply rooted in modern middle-school culture, resonant with the online experiences of so many tweens, and paced perfectly, this is a must-read for every kid who has dreamed of being an influencer and a great discussion starter about privacy and sharing online."
Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND is a USA Today bestseller at #117 for the week of March 26.
Barnes & Noble has selected Keith Houston’s THE BOOK (W.W. Norton) as a Best Book of April 2025, stating: "Bibliophiles, listen up! We have your next read. From writing to printing to binding and more, this is a comprehensive exploration of one of our favorite things. If you’ve ever wanted the book about books, you need this one on your shelf."
“Moore offers an absurdist and sardonic sequel, of sorts, to Frankenstein. . . This is a wild adventure through history, art, and literature for Moore’s many fans and those who enjoy historical fiction with a side of fantasy and wry humor.”
Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND was included in the New York Times' "24 Works of Fiction to Read This Spring" list.
Anne Ursu's NOT QUITE A GHOST was nominated for the 2025 Bram Stoker Award.
“I know it’s early to call it, but I’m certain Freda Epum’s debut The Gloomy Girl Variety Show will be one of the most important books published this year. Epum examines intersectional identities of being Black, disabled, female, and a first generation Nigerian American through an inventive and brilliant book structured as a search for the safety one can find in home.”
“Ten years after the heartbreaking events of bestseller Santopolo’s The Light We Lost, Lucy Carter Maxwell gets a second chance at life and love in this tear-jerking romance... Santopolo’s layered storytelling brings Lucy’s internal conflict to life while offering the perfect blend of heartache and hope. Readers should have tissues at the ready."
"In this lyrical coming of age novel, which follows Laskar’s acclaimed The Atlas of Reds and Blues, a young Indian American teenager feels caught between the traditional Bengali culture inside her house and the culture of the American South outside its doors...When a tragedy occurs on the cusp of adulthood, grief soaks into everything, altering the choices they make and the people they might otherwise have become. Told in second person, the narrative follows the evolution of the friends’ relationship."
"Cusick’s riveting and reverent history, packed with fascinating details and archival photos, focuses on often-forgotten players in the Space Race: chimpanzees, aka America’s first astronauts."
Vulture named its best comedy books of the year, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s SO FETCH (Dey Street) came in at #7. Vulture says: "It was no small feat to make a teen movie with substance and a message at the height of superficial 2000s trash culture, and out of a nonfiction self-help book at that. This is all about how an idea can become something much bigger than itself."
“This entire graphic novel is begging to be turned into a full-length animated feature. Every page felt like a glimpse into a gorgeous movie universe, and if Disney or Pixar or Sony or somebody doesn’t pick this up, they’re really missing out."
On his @dailydad Instagram, bestselling author and bookseller Ryan Holiday recommended Jessica Lahey’s THE GIFT OF FAILURE (Harper), saying, “This is one of the all-time great parenting books.”
Pitchfork selected Sheryl Kaskowitz’s A CHANCE TO HARMONIZE (Pegasus Books) as one of its Best Music Books of 2024, saying: “Vivid and thoroughly researched… A Chance to Harmonize is a nonfiction historical story that unfolds like a gripping thriller, complete with secret goals, compelling missions, and a years-long operation that believed music can build a progressive, cooperative society.”
Author/illustrator Tom Toro is the artist of the cover of the December 2nd, 2024 edition of the New Yorker.
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE appeared on NPR's yearly "Books We Love" end-of-year list for 2024.
Rob Sheffield's HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM is the cover of the New York Times Book Review (November 24th, 2024 edition)
Rob Sheffield's HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (Dey Street Books) is #11 on the Hardcover Nonfiction New York Times Best Sellers list.
The Astrochimps by Dawn Cusick has been selected as a 2024 Best of the Best Book by the Chicago Public Library. The Best of the Best lists represent the library's choices for the year’s most outstanding titles, books of exceptional quality for a diverse, city-wide readership.
Pediatric emergency medicine physician and author of SLEEP WELL, TAKE RISKS, SQUISH THE PEAS (HCI) gave a TEDx talk based on his book--about the traits toddlers possess that many of us aspire to have in order to improve our personal and professional lives.
Amazon has selected Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) as one of the year’s best science books.
The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing has selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as the winner of its Best in Business Book Award in the category of career development. The judges said, “Slow Productivity should be on the fast track for every business manager to read. It offers a tonic that is sorely needed in our overworked, burned-out society. Taking longer to do less seems counterproductive, but when the result is a top-quality product, it makes it all worthwhile. The author lays out his argument clearly and simply, creating a compelling read that should help shift your mindset about work.”
Amazon has selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as one of the year’s best business and leadership books.
"[Freitas] invokes food, culture, loyalty, and romance in magical yet utterly human ways... perfect for teen romance lovers who want all of the passion but are not comfortable with the graphic details."
“The first serious book-length discussion of Swift as an artist and cultural force… short, delightful and interesting.”
“The book is a rollercoaster to be devoured in one sitting and at the end, he somehow leaves you wanting more”
“Sheffield’s book, which unfolds over 30 punchy chapters, zooms in on Swift’s albums, feuds and marketing gambits. Each dispatch is a perceptive close read of Swift’s music and persona, from the symbolic importance of her guitar to her conspicuous use of the word 'nice.' Along the way, Sheffield drops enough of his own backstage encounters with Swift to satisfy fans hungry for new material to incorporate into their own character sketching…inevitably, his book of Swift criticism has been integrated into the Swiftie world-building project.”