Jess Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Jess

I am almost done with the audio of VELVET WAS THE NIGHT, the new Silvia Moreno-Garcia and it is just what it promises: a historical Mexican noir with two lonelyheart protagonists. Reader is great, too, so if you're into audio I'd go that route.

Jess

YERBA BUENA by Nina LaCour. Feels appropriate to finish off this queer-woman-heavy list with this beautiful love story about trauma and growing up and finding your way to yourself.

Jess

Also new today is EVERYBODY KNOWS by @jordan_harper I am very picky about neo-noir and this is absolutely one of the best I've seen. You feel both the old noir and the modern updates melding into a perfect blend.

Jess

And the two memoir audiobooks I mentioned are both not out yet, but highly rec for when they do come out in a few weeks: THE FAMILY OUTING by Jessi Hempel STAY TRUE by Hua Hsu

Jess

GETAWAY by Zoje Stage. After being a witness to a mass shooting, Imogen tries to integrate herself back into the world with a hike in the Grand Canyon with her sister and former best friend.

Jess

@McFlyCahill90 A few horrors I have very much enjoyed so far: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix The Spite House by Johnny Compton A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Jess

Alphabetical order today which also means starting with the biggest hype, this week we did indeed get a new Sally Rooney, BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU? and if you did not know that I deeply envy how well you've avoided The Discourse.

Jess

MY ANNIHILATION by Fuminori Nakamura, translated by Sam Bett. Nakamura continues to change the game. Best known for his noir-esque THE GUN and THE THIEF, this time he takes a swing at the twisty thriller and doesn't disappoint.

Jess

Next up, another much-anticipated book, A SLOW FIRE BURNING from Paula Hawkins, author of GIRL ON THE TRAIN. Hawkins really is a master of getting you to root for traditionally "unlikable" characters.

Jess

I also read and deeply enjoyed Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train and A Suspension of Mercy this year.