Yesterday while I was taking a walk with my husband, I made the profound observation that most of the trees are now fully leafed-out, and how weird is it that our landscape and surroundings look so dramatically different from one half of the year to the other? Right now, the view my office window is totally lush and leafy, and will be for months. Whereas a month ago, and for months before that, it was spindly and stick-y. It’s such a dramatic shift, and I kind of love the way it creeps up and then is like BOOM! IT IS NOW THE LEAFY TIME OF YEAR!
My husband likes to make fun of my captain-obvious observations (teasing is our love language), and this time was no exception. But I will never stop making them. I think there’s something important, even urgent, about actively noticing the ordinary shifts, cycles, oddities, and minor miracles of life. So there.
Anyway, once the conversation moved on from foliage, I told my husband that I was trying to think of what to write about in my next Substack. He suggested writing about the pressure of trying to figure out what to write about in my Substack. But that would be about as boring to me (and probably you) as my commenting on the fact of spring was to him. Then it occurred to me that it had been a realllly long time since I’d done a book roundup.
As you know (or don’t), every once in a while, I recommend books I’ve read, complete with my unique rating system, which involves zebras, alcoholic beverages, clove cigarettes, items of apparel, and other such things. This time, though, I’m sharing some of the books I’m about to read.
Generally, I avoid shouting out books by friends in my list because, well, I’m friends with a lot of authors, and I hate leaving anyone out and/or implicitly revealing that I haven’t read their book yet. (Eep!) But because it’s spring, and because I am feeling inspired by THE LEAVES rippling in the breeze outside my office window, I’m throwing caution to the wind.
As it turns out, this is a VERY big publishing year for a certain subset of my writer pals—specifically, the novelists I’ve gotten to know through author Jenna Blum’s master novel workshop over the past six years.
I’ve taken Jenna’s workshop three times now. It’s by application, and geared toward “advanced” novelists—writers who have already published, or who are doing work of publishable quality. But the main requirements, judging by the people who take it, are joie de vivre, an obession with story, off-the-charts enthusiasm and support for one’s classmates, and a touch of lunacy. Not to mention a shit-ton of persistence—as this year’s bumper crop of master-novel-workshop-grad publications illustrates.
Some of these books are already out and some are coming out in the next few months. Click on any title to buy or pre-order it at Bookshop.org, which is where you should be buying your books when you buy them online, because Jeff Bezos sucks and independent bookstores rule and also, I get a kickback. Tra la la!
Ready? Grab a leaf, twirl the stem between your fingers, and read on!
To the End of Reckoning by Joseph Moldover
The premise: “After a traumatic brain injury alters a curmudgeonly psychiatrist’s mind, leaving him agitated and confused but obsessively observant, he enlists his reluctant son to help investigate a colleague’s mysterious suicide.” This is Joe’s first adult novel (his other two, Every Moment After and Just Until, are YA) and his first mystery, and judging by the reviews, he knocked it out of the park.
The author: Joseph Moldover LOOKS like a nice guy, but he’s actually the spawn of satan. Just kidding! Joe is lovely. He’s known for his wit, his thoughtful demeanor, and his infamous blue sweater headshot. (Sorry, Joe. I had to do it.) He’s got a whole other full-time career as a clinical psychologist, and I have no doubt that he’s extremely good at it.
The Stargazer of Nantucket by Julie Gerstenblatt
The premise: “An epic tale of adventure on the high seas, a spunky stowaway, and a family confronting the past to secure their future.” If you like historical fiction—especially the kind involving ships, secrets, and scrimshaw—OR you loved Julie’s last novel, Daughters of Nantucket, then you need to get your hands on this one, matey. It’s out in June.
The author: Julie Gerstenblatt is hilarious and whip-smart and easily one of the best dressed novelists I know. When I was gearing up for my tour for The Society of Shame—which sports an orange, blue and white cover—she kept sending me pictures of chic, color-coordinating clothes that she spotted in the wild, including the fantasic orange suede heels that I bought and wore at the majority of my events. (And which are now sadly dingy. I should have bought two pairs.) Check out her Substack.
What Happened Next by Edwin Hill.
The premise: “A young man investigating his father's crimes is determined to uncover the truth in a gripping novel of suspense about family secrets, betrayal, and the weight of the past.” As you can tell from the cover, there’s a lake involved, and as we all know, lakes are the second spookiest body of water, surpassed only by bogs. I plan to read this one on the dock at my favorite (not actually that spooky) lake, Squam—which, as it happens, is Edwin’s favorite lake, too, and which, I assume, is the inspiration for the setting of this book.
The author: Edwin Hill is a prolific author of thrillers and mysteries. We’ve never actually overlapped in a class, but we’ve raised many a glass together at various writerly events. He’s got a twinkle in his eye and a dog named Edith Ann, which makes him a star in my book. Although when I went back and looked at some old Edith Ann skits just now, I was reminded that everyone involved with Laugh-In, including the viewers, must have been high at all times if they actually thought that stuff was funny. I guess it was revolutionary at the time? Boomers, please chime in here. Sock it to me. I want to understand.
What Remains of You by Kimberly Hensle Lowrance
The premise: “A widow's discovery of her husband's devastating past threatens to destroy everything she believed about their marriage in a gripping and emotional novel about love and secrets.” Ooh, ooh, ooh! I love secrets. And I love the cover, because it totally looks like someplace I might hike. (Speaking of the cover, I put it right after Edwin’s, because it’s like they’re fraternal twins—the big words starting with WHAT spooky lake book, and the the big words starting with WHAT melancholy river book.) This is Kimberly’s debut novel.
The author: Kimberly Hensle Lowrance is by far the most mature member of our merry band of novelists. Not in terms of age, but in terms of her entirely appropriate, non-weird contributions to our group text thread. Make an off-color joke, or, say, share a video of creepy dolls, and Kimberly will firmly but hilariously reprimand you with your name in all caps. (i.e. JANE) She is a perceptive reader of other people’s work (although she is known for killing off characters) and a thoughtful friend, and I’m so excited for her.
Murder Like Magic by Trisha Blanchet
The premise: “A sort-of-telepathic witch-slash-PI takes on a murder case in this light urban fantasy mystery, perfect for fans of A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer.” I read the very first, early pages of this book a couple of years ago and I was like Oh my God, this is so freaking good. Look, I’ll be honest. Witches and magic and such are not generally my cup of tea when it comes to fiction. But in Trisha’s hands? Absolutely.
The author: Trisha Blanchet’s writing is so clever, so entertaining, so imaginative (which you already know if you’ve read her fantastic Neath Trilogy). She’s extremely funny and kind of a social media genius, who makes super cool videos. (Follow her on Instagram to see what I mean.) She also writes a great Substack, AND she was the founder of an amazing nonprofit, Operation Delta Dog, which provides service dogs to veterans. I am just generally a huge fan of her.
SO. There you have it my friends. Five excellent books to read during this green and leafed-out time of year. There are others on my list, too (how, oh how, will I get to them all?), including the much-buzzed-about Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, Laura Zigman’s juicy, “dark publishing” novel, The Author Weekend, Tom Perotta’s latest, Ghost Town (because I read everything the man writes), and Joan Cohen’s Aging is Murder, which I know is going to be smart and hilarious, just like its author.
What about you?? Any good ones on your list? Discuss. And happy reading.
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