In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale Tuesday.
1. “Vladimir,” by Julia May Jonas (Avid Reader Press, fiction)
What it’s about: A popular English professor’s charismatic husband comes under fire for alleged inappropriate relationships with former students at a small liberal arts college while she becomes infatuated with a married novelist in this provocative debut novel.
The buzz: “Like the man she shackles to a chair in the prologue, once this narrator has you, she won’t let go. A remarkable debut,” says a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
‘Notes on an Execution’: A different kind of serial killer story, and a brilliant one
2. “I Am Golden,” by Eva Chen; illustrated by Sophie Diao (Feiwel & Friends, children’s book)
What it’s about: Chen, director of fashion partnerships at Instagram, pens a joyful and beautifully illustrated ode to Chinese American identity and the immigrant experience.
The buzz: A starred review from Publishers Weekly calls it a “loving, affecting tribute to how children of immigrants can serve as bridges and torchbearers for their communities.”
3. “From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy,” by Scott Meslow (Dey Street, nonfiction)
What it’s about: This full-throated celebration of one of cinema’s most underappreciated genres pays its respects to the rom-com, from its ’80s and ’90s golden era through its decline and explosive reemergence with hits like “Crazy Rich Asians.”
The buzz: “A sprightly homage to a popular, seemingly evergreen film genre,” says Kirkus Reviews.
4. “Why? A Conversation About Race,” by Taye Diggs; illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Feiwel & Friends, children’s book)
What it’s about: Actor Diggs (“Empire,” “Rent”) starts a conversation with young readers on the topic of racial injustice.
The buzz: “Evans’s surreally colored, fluid illustrations add depth and emotion to this intergenerational narrative with a hopeful ending,” says Publishers Weekly.
5. “Black Girls Must Be Magic,” by Jayne Allen (Harper Perennial, fiction)
What it’s about: In the second installment of the “Black Girls Must Die Exhausted” series, Tabitha Walker discovers she’s pregnant and leans on her friends while she navigates motherhood on her own terms.
The buzz: “This bittersweet treat will have wide appeal with women’s fiction fans,” says Publishers Weekly.
More: Is your New Year’s resolution to read more? Here’s how to start an online book club
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taye Diggs talks race, Eva Chen celebrates immigrants: 5 new books
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