Loved this newsletter!!!! I’ve read Migrations and Once There Were Wolves. Loved them both and preordered Wild Dark Shore. I read Once There Were Wolves a couple years ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. I’m sure you will love it!!!
I’m in love with this newsletter! Thanks for putting Saltwater on my radar. I loved (and was so stressed out) by The Dream Hotel, and can’t wait for your take on it.
Thank you so much for reading & subscribing Sam!! I just saw Laila Lalami is having a book event here in LA in a few weeks, I’m going to try to go. With Antoine Wilson who I also love!
Thank you for such a great newsletter! I feel like the "what I won't be reading" is something not always shared but I enjoyed reading your explanations. I'm looking forward to Wild Dark Shore also. I'm going to try it on audio.
Thanks Nicole! Yes I’m always curious what goes into people’s processes of what they will and won’t read so wanted to do some of that - but also, share things that may be of interest to others even if it’s not a fit for me. Thank you so much for reading & subscribing!
I didn’t know Sonora Jha has a new book! I didn’t love The Laughter (I’ve heard such unanimous praise for this book that it makes me wonder if the reason it didn’t hit as hard for me is that as a South Asian woman I’ve both experienced what she writes about and so it didn’t feel particularly revelatory, and/or I have read more South Asian authors than the average reader and so maybe I am already familiar with the themes. I don’t know! I’m trying to puzzle this one out and would love to chat more with anyone who’s read this book and either loved it or had mixed feelings).
However that said, I’m excited about her new book. The premise sounds fascinating and I’ll probably pick it up.
Also I was able to score tickets to Othello! The two seats are on opposite sides of the theater, alas, but they were the only ones that weren’t going to send me into debt 😅
Really interesting to hear your experience with The Laughter! I think for me, I love very unlikeable characters like that and like, that kind of subversive approach to making a point by really immersing you in the “wrong” POV. I loved how it slowly unfurled and the big ending. So that was more what spoke to me vs the message itself which of course isn’t a new one—but I thought the way it was explored and portrayed felt really bold and fresh.
I VERY much want to hear details about Othello!! How lucky, enjoy it!
That’s fair! Reading your thoughts is making me think that perhaps it was just a chemistry mismatch between me and the book - I’m realizing that I didn’t connect with the narrator/main character to the degree that I have with other books that have ‘villain’ protagonists (I’m thinking about In Cold Blood and Lolita, both of which had me really invested in the protagonists, I very much got into their heads). And I know it’s not totally fair to compare a book to others, especially established classics, but sometimes it’s the only tool I have to help elucidate my feelings 🤷♀️
But I always love hearing contrasting opinions so ty for sharing!!
This is such a good roundup, thank you! Tilt is at or near the top of my March anticipated new releases. I'm finishing up Broken Country now and I'm so confused at seeing that "sweeping, sexy love story" marketing! Not accurate IMO. The Crawdads comparison is probably fair. Book marketing is so weird sometimes!
Thank you so much for reading!! I know, I need to actually get a copy of Tilt because I do want to prioritize it. That is really helpful to know that that description doesn’t feel accurate for Broken country ! I will keep an eye on it and more feedback around it as the year goes on.
Wow, Holly! What a great first outing for your newsletter! I feel like we are so close to being book twins :) All the books you want to read this month (and those you don't) are the same as mine. I am also on the fence about Broken Country because of the first half of that sentence haha. But I keep hearing great things, so I may end up attempting it. It just depends on how much 'sexy love story' there is to determine whether it will work for me.
I read the ARC of Saltwater and told some bookish friends that I thought it would be one of the big summer books, not realizing that it releases in March. But, I really enjoyed it, some great twists and turns and the setting was amazing. I feel like it is worth some buzz.
The book I am probably most excited about in March is The Dream Hotel. I hope it delivers!
Looking forward to hearing your reviews for the ones you read.
I haven’t seen anyone else talk about Saltwater so that’s great to know you enjoyed it!! I have a digital ARC but think I want to do it on audio. And please report back if you try Broken Country! I am curious even though I likely won’t read it. So glad we are book twins!
There are just too many intriguing books coming this month! I previously planned to pick up 3 out of 4 in your "want to read" category, I hadn't heard much about Saltwater but now I must check that one out too!
I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of Wild Dark Shore (BOTM pick) to come in the mail, I've read Once There Were Wolves and still need to get to Migrations.
Curious, would you consider the Wayward Children series YA?
Thank you so much for the kind words Carrie!! I hope to get to Once There Were Wolves this month. For the Wayward Children series, I think of it as more adult although I think it could also work for young adults and teens. But there are some dark and mature themes. It definitely doesn’t read as angsty YA, if that makes sense, which I sometime struggle with personally.
Loved this newsletter!!!! I’ve read Migrations and Once There Were Wolves. Loved them both and preordered Wild Dark Shore. I read Once There Were Wolves a couple years ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. I’m sure you will love it!!!
Thank you so much for reading Natalie!! I really can’t wait to pick up Once There Were Wolves. And Wild Dark Shore!
I’m in love with this newsletter! Thanks for putting Saltwater on my radar. I loved (and was so stressed out) by The Dream Hotel, and can’t wait for your take on it.
Thank you so much for reading & subscribing Sam!! I just saw Laila Lalami is having a book event here in LA in a few weeks, I’m going to try to go. With Antoine Wilson who I also love!
That sounds so good!
Thank you for such a great newsletter! I feel like the "what I won't be reading" is something not always shared but I enjoyed reading your explanations. I'm looking forward to Wild Dark Shore also. I'm going to try it on audio.
Thanks Nicole! Yes I’m always curious what goes into people’s processes of what they will and won’t read so wanted to do some of that - but also, share things that may be of interest to others even if it’s not a fit for me. Thank you so much for reading & subscribing!
I didn’t know Sonora Jha has a new book! I didn’t love The Laughter (I’ve heard such unanimous praise for this book that it makes me wonder if the reason it didn’t hit as hard for me is that as a South Asian woman I’ve both experienced what she writes about and so it didn’t feel particularly revelatory, and/or I have read more South Asian authors than the average reader and so maybe I am already familiar with the themes. I don’t know! I’m trying to puzzle this one out and would love to chat more with anyone who’s read this book and either loved it or had mixed feelings).
However that said, I’m excited about her new book. The premise sounds fascinating and I’ll probably pick it up.
Also I was able to score tickets to Othello! The two seats are on opposite sides of the theater, alas, but they were the only ones that weren’t going to send me into debt 😅
I will share detailed notes after viewing :)
Really interesting to hear your experience with The Laughter! I think for me, I love very unlikeable characters like that and like, that kind of subversive approach to making a point by really immersing you in the “wrong” POV. I loved how it slowly unfurled and the big ending. So that was more what spoke to me vs the message itself which of course isn’t a new one—but I thought the way it was explored and portrayed felt really bold and fresh.
I VERY much want to hear details about Othello!! How lucky, enjoy it!
That’s fair! Reading your thoughts is making me think that perhaps it was just a chemistry mismatch between me and the book - I’m realizing that I didn’t connect with the narrator/main character to the degree that I have with other books that have ‘villain’ protagonists (I’m thinking about In Cold Blood and Lolita, both of which had me really invested in the protagonists, I very much got into their heads). And I know it’s not totally fair to compare a book to others, especially established classics, but sometimes it’s the only tool I have to help elucidate my feelings 🤷♀️
But I always love hearing contrasting opinions so ty for sharing!!
This is such a good roundup, thank you! Tilt is at or near the top of my March anticipated new releases. I'm finishing up Broken Country now and I'm so confused at seeing that "sweeping, sexy love story" marketing! Not accurate IMO. The Crawdads comparison is probably fair. Book marketing is so weird sometimes!
Thank you so much for reading!! I know, I need to actually get a copy of Tilt because I do want to prioritize it. That is really helpful to know that that description doesn’t feel accurate for Broken country ! I will keep an eye on it and more feedback around it as the year goes on.
Wow, Holly! What a great first outing for your newsletter! I feel like we are so close to being book twins :) All the books you want to read this month (and those you don't) are the same as mine. I am also on the fence about Broken Country because of the first half of that sentence haha. But I keep hearing great things, so I may end up attempting it. It just depends on how much 'sexy love story' there is to determine whether it will work for me.
I read the ARC of Saltwater and told some bookish friends that I thought it would be one of the big summer books, not realizing that it releases in March. But, I really enjoyed it, some great twists and turns and the setting was amazing. I feel like it is worth some buzz.
The book I am probably most excited about in March is The Dream Hotel. I hope it delivers!
Looking forward to hearing your reviews for the ones you read.
I haven’t seen anyone else talk about Saltwater so that’s great to know you enjoyed it!! I have a digital ARC but think I want to do it on audio. And please report back if you try Broken Country! I am curious even though I likely won’t read it. So glad we are book twins!
I think Saltwater will be great on audio. I might even re-read it that way! I will definitely report back if I try Broken Country :)
There are just too many intriguing books coming this month! I previously planned to pick up 3 out of 4 in your "want to read" category, I hadn't heard much about Saltwater but now I must check that one out too!
I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of Wild Dark Shore (BOTM pick) to come in the mail, I've read Once There Were Wolves and still need to get to Migrations.
Curious, would you consider the Wayward Children series YA?
I loved this newsletter, excited for more!
Thank you so much for the kind words Carrie!! I hope to get to Once There Were Wolves this month. For the Wayward Children series, I think of it as more adult although I think it could also work for young adults and teens. But there are some dark and mature themes. It definitely doesn’t read as angsty YA, if that makes sense, which I sometime struggle with personally.
Yes agree, I can struggle with YA, will have to check those out!