My books to start off the new year
My rom com, cozy mystery request was finally approved, just in time for Chinese/Lunar New Year 2024, which begins February 10
The Good, the Bad and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
March 26, 2024; Berkley, NetGalley
Setting: Jakarta, Indonesia
Book description: What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by the author of Dial A for Aunties.
After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Meddy and her Aunties however become helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission—but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible…
After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Meddy and her Aunties however become helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission—but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible…
Click on title to see my review
This next book title grabbed my attention
Book description: A bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town set in Georgia, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything
Publication: June 18, 2024; William Morrow, NetGalley
Click to see my review
Click to see my review
A collection of short stories also caught my eye
Book description: The Un-Inquired is the confession of refugees, families, and lovers. It chronicles the stories of those who are struggling to find their voice in society and discover themselves, recollecting their trauma and memories, from the loss of a foster brother in a shooting incident to the hallucinations of a Japanese American immigrant with schizophrenia.
An antiheroic tale of finding a way to survive in a world, the collection is at times emotional and tender, at times melancholy, lonely, and wryly introspective.
Publication: January 12, 2024; Querencia Press, NetGalley
Can't omit a thriller
The title The Plus One and book cover made me request this ARC
Book description: The wedding of Radhika Singh and Raj Josh at a luxury resort in Cabos will mark the union of two influential and wealthy Indian-American families. No expense will be spared for what Radhika and Raj have coined “R&R,” a week of rest, relaxation, and celebrating their love.
Shaylee “Shay” Kapoor is an outsider, dating Raj’s best friend, Caleb Prescott III, and is sucked into this world of wealth and excess. But on the morning of the wedding festivities, the wedding coordinator Daniela makes a frightening discovery: Raj and Radhika are dead, gunshots to the head.
Shay may be an outsider but she may be the only person with enough perspective to untangle everyone’s lies, and discover the motive for the murder. See my review
And for later, a book on the Booker Prize 2024 list
Book Description: Memorably introduced by Ishiguro himself, The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain collects the lyrics of sixteen songs he wrote for world-renowned American singer Stacey Kent, which were set to music by her partner, Jim Tomlinson. An exquisite coming together of the literary and musical worlds, the lyrics are infused with a sense of yearning, melancholy, love, and the romance of travel and liminal spaces.
Illustrated by the acclaimed Italian artist Bianca Bagnarelli
Publication: March 5, 2024; Knopf
What are your first reads for 2024?
Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, and Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday
I'm starting 2024 with something "light": 'America in Retreat - The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder' by Bret Stephens, followed by 'Plugged Nickel' by Robert Campbell.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Harvee!
I'm impressed with your book choice, though I wouldn't consider isolationism and global disorder necessarily light reading. Enjoy!
DeleteLooks like a fun bunch! Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy STS.
A mish mash of genres, yes, but I enjoy reading them all.
DeleteSo many good books to start off the new year! I'm interested in the first two especially! :D
ReplyDeleteThe Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain is going onto my TBR right now.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
Oh. The little library of banned books looks interesting. I think someone was doing that here, across the street from the high school.
ReplyDeleteLittle Library of Banned books looks interesting! I will be curious to see your thoughts on it! And, yay for your romcom coming in!
ReplyDeleteLooks like some good books. Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking books! Enjoy them all.
ReplyDeleteLike the mix. I wish I could get the Lalli book
ReplyDeleteMy first book of the year was a Christmas book. That's how far behind I am! I like the sound of the Kazuo Ishiguro book.
ReplyDeleteLooks like great selections - enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful reading week
So many good books!
ReplyDeleteThe Good, the Bad and the Aunties sounds like a fun read.
I think I need to look for the satire about little libraries and banned books.
And I'm always delighted to see a new Ishiguro book.
I had no idea that Ishiguro had written song lyrics! I have been a fan since his first book, which was set in wartime Japan. Have a great year in books and life.
ReplyDeleteBest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
All of these books sound so good. I especially want to read The Good, The Bad and The Aunties. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAll of these sound great. I especially want to read the first two. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great week!
ReplyDeletehttps://jennielyse.com/sunday-news-50/
The Ishiguro book looks fabulous. I love that art style!
ReplyDeleteGreat batch of books! My daughter read the first Auntie book and enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteNice selection of books. The Little Library of Banned Books looks looks delightful.
ReplyDeleteThese all look like wonderful reads! Happy New Year Harvee.
ReplyDeleteThe first book sounds very entertaining!
ReplyDeleteMary @Bookfan
Nice list of books. The Good, The Bad, and The Aunties and Lulu Dean's Little Library of Banned Books sound fabulous. Hope you enjoy your reading.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2024/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-and_7.html
Nice looking assortment of books. My first book read this year was a reread of Vengeance in Death by J. D. Robb. I didn't finish anything that wasn't a reread until Saturday when I finished The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read The Good, the Bad and the Aunties. I have the audio on request. And I did not know about the new book by Kristin Miller -- I loved The Change!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you are getting the year off to a good start! I am excited about The Good, the Bad and the Aunties. I enjoy Sutanto's books quite a bit. I am interested in Miller's book as well. And the Un-Inquired sounds like it will be a good one. I will have to look for that one when it comes out. I hope you enjoy all of these. Have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the next Auntie's book. I really wish she would write another Vera Wong. I loved that book so much!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading this new one now and it's good so far. NetGalley arc.
DeleteSuch a great variety! I hadn't heard about the Ishiguro book and am really interested in that one. Have fun with all of these reads!
ReplyDeleteGreat variety in your book haul. Lulu Dean's Little Library of Banned Books looks interesting to me. Have a good week and Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThis seems like it would be good - The Good, the Bad and the Aunties - and also The Plus One.
ReplyDeleteHope your week has been good so far.
The Ishiguro book -- wow. Interesting idea by the master himself. I like how he has branched into both music and movies with his writing.
ReplyDeleteOh a new Aunties book!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great selection!
ReplyDeleteLula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books and The Plus One sound good to me! Will keep them in mind. :)
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