Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. The 2024 TikTok Award Winners Since the biggest TikTok books sell hundreds of thousands of copies, one could argue that the cash is the prize of being a BookTok favorite. But apparently you can get a trophy too, as Rebecca Yarros did after Fourth Wing was named International Book of the Year (yes it was a 2023 release, book awards we need to speed things up). A panel came up with the finalists for the 82,000 voters to revert to the mean. The most interesting categories to me were for breakthrough author and the two creator awards. Lewis Lapham, Giant of 20th Century Journalism, Dies For a long time, I didn’t realize Lapham was a) a real person and b) still alive and thriving while I was first reading Harper’s 20 years ago. The name had a mythic quality to me (like Mencken or Ellison or Woolf) that I couldn’t quite believe was of the modern moment. Harper’s own notice of his life and passing exceed anything I could write here, but I will offer this one quote as tribute: “I know no other way out of what is both the maze of the eternal present and the prison of the self except with a string of words.” Why your local indie bookstore might not have Hillbilly Elegy in stock this week (or ever). I do not envy the task of indie booksellers in moments like these. Where there is huge interest in a book (HarperCollins says more than 600,000 copies last week. Can that be right?!), but that book…well it sucks. On several levels. And yet, you have customers who want it and bills to pay. What do you do? The most common strategy seems to be to keep it off the shelves but take special orders. And I can understand why this feels a little better than having a stack of them ready to wrap. But is it all that different, really? Did one copy not find its way into the hands of a reader that it wouldn’t have? Are the dollars you forewent, crucial dollars as bestsellers are the bedrock on which most bookstores are built, really better for the world than JD Vance getting a couple of extra bucks (remember, a bookstore gets a bigger cut of the price of a book than the author does)? These aren’t rhetorical questions. I wonder about them mostly to help indie bookstores give themselves some grace in moments like these. Whatever strategy you choose probably feels compromised. And it probably is. And you are doing the best you can. What is Going On With Book Sales? On the most recent episode of First Edition, I am joined by Brenna Connor, Director & Industry Analyst for U.S. books sales for Circana. She has the goods: what is selling, what is trending, how retailers are doing, and much more. I learned a TON, and I bet you will too. I am tempted to drop some numbers here, but go listen and you can hear them. Curiosity gap, baby. You can find the episode here, or anywhere you get podcasts.

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and today I have for you a couple new releases for the week, and a couple of releases that you might just want to smash the pre-order button on because they are exciting. I’m also going to take this opportunity to wheeze about a book I just finished reading: A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur. Historical detective fiction in Korea with a bonus enemies-to-lovers romance? Sign me the heck up. So of course I’ve grabbed her other books, and so far, I can also report that The Red Palace is dang good as well. Definitely check them out if historical fiction with a hint of romance is your thing—or maybe even if it’s not. (I thought the first book was going to be fantasy-ish, and it… really wasn’t. And I don’t even care.) Bookish GoodsFree Edmond Dantès Button by MemoraDeliaWe’ve got a Count of Monte Cristo retelling on the horizon (see below!), so of course I’m going to find you a button that points to the original. Definitely a ‘wear it and see who’s cool enough to get the reference’ item. $2.25.New ReleasesThe Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly Murashige Machi has simply given up on being human after her best friends ghosted her. After therapy, a different online school, and just not talking any more, she prays to the Japanese goddess Benzaiten to make her into a robot vacuum cleaner since that seems a much better alternative. She’s not expecting the goddess to actually be listening or to decide that she and Machi will go on an adventure together. At first, it’s hard to stand next to a goddess that all of humanity cannot help but love, but when she begins to speak with the souls of the dead who follow Benzaiten around, she finally begins to understand her place in the living world.Grand Theft AI by James CoxIn San Francisco, about 30 years from now, the city is a maze of holograms, quantum accelerators, and androids. In that maze dwells Baz Covane, a small-time thief who gets caught up in the wake of Ria Rose, a fixer who’s got a much bigger score: one that will either get them and their team killed or one that will set them up for life far away where there’s no extradition. All it’ll take is to get through the vault security of a psychotic criminal kingpin and before the federal warrants on them all touch down.For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.Riot RecommendationsWe’re over halfway through the year now, and it’s already been one heck of a six and a half months for new releases. But looking forward across the next couple of months, here are two I’m extremely hyped about that you might want to pre-order!Countess by Suzan Palumbo (September 10)Virika has worked hard to make her place in the colonized space that labors under the Ærobot Empire, rising through the ranks of the merchant marine to become a lieutenant. All of her hard work is summarily destroyed when her captain dies under suspicious circumstances and she’s accused of treason against the empire. Her imprisonment gives her time to think and plan, and when she finally steps outside her prison walls, she sets in motion her vengeance against the empire that betrayed her.Model Home by Rivers Solomon (October 1)The Maxwell siblings grew up in a gated community outside of Dallas as part of the only Black family in the area. While all the neighbors were outwardly nice, it wasn’t long until strange, scary things started happening in their house. But their iron-willed mother kept the family in place, unwilling to be chased from her home. It’s no wonder the three kids left the nest and got as far away as they could as soon as they were old enough. When they’re told that both their parents have died, they have no choice but to return home and try to find out what happened to their parents. Whatever it was, it was decidedly unnatural.See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.If an SFF fan forwarded this newsletter to you or you read it on bookriot.com and you’d like to get it right in your inbox, you can sign up here.

The new school year is just around the corner. Department stores are rolling out their school supplies, which are still hard for me to resist. The other day, my mom and I found a Corgi unicorn (Corgicorn?) school supplies set, and she said she had to buy it for me. So I guess I’m set then. I love notebooks, pens, and colorful tabs to take notes and annotate the books I’m reading. It helps me engage with the book’s content and remember what I’ve read. Today, we’re delving into a couple must-read books for Disability Pride Month, new books, and bookish goods.Bookish GoodsCute Corgi Reading Sticker by PixelsNPawsYe, I did pick this because of my personal interest. But, my goodness, isn’t it just too cute? $3New ReleasesThe Bluestockings: A History of the First Women’s Movement by Susannah GibsonSusannah Gibson details the first Western women’s movement, describing how a group of women began to push for women’s rights in the 1700s. She spotlights key women in the movement and shares their strategy as they fight for women’s rights.The Shape of My Eyes: A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself by Dave Gibbons Dave Gibbons was born to an American soldier and a Korean mother. He spent his childhood attending their conservative Christian church, trying to fit in as one of the only mixed-race families in the church. When tragedy strikes, Gibbons’ family is forced to confront the many secrets that come to light.For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.Riot RecommendationsThe Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me by Keah BrownCreator of the viral #DisabledAndCute campaign, disability rights advocate Keah Brown shares her story of growing up with cerebral palsy and a nondisabled identical twin (who people would call “the pretty one”). Brown learns to love herself and celebrate her life, encouraging other disabled people to do the same.Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space by Amanda LeducIn the media, most people with disfigurements are portrayed as the bad guys. Just look at Disney’s Captain Hook from Peter Pan or Scar from The Lion King. In fairytales, we constantly see disfigurement as a sign of evil. But why is that? Amanda Leduc breaks down the role disfigurement has historically played in Western storytelling.That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles on Book Riot.Happy reading, Friends!~ KendraIf a nonfiction fan forwarded this newsletter to you or you read it on bookriot.com and you’d like to get it right in your inbox, you can sign up here.

These Friday Check Your Shelf newsletters are where I focus on book banning news, so there’s usually not much in terms of happy updates. This is especially true this week, as NBC recently published an article about one police officer’s two-year attempt to bring charges against school librarians in Granbury, Texas. I have more information linked in the newsletter, but this is such an unhinged story that it needs to be called out specifically. And as we see more legislative attempts to criminalize librarians, we’re going to see an increasing number of law enforcement figures trying to take book banning into their own hands.Libraries & LibrariansNews UpdatesThe FCC has approved the final rules to support WiFi hotspots through the E-Rate program, but a lawsuit has been filed to block the expansion.“Austin City Council approved Thursday authorizing negotiations for an extended contract with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to support security services at Austin Public Library branches.”Book Adaptations in the NewsThe adaptation of Nickel Boys will open this year’s New York Film Festival. Colin Firth joins the cast of Young Sherlock. Emerald Fennell (the director of Saltburn) is directing an adaptation of Wuthering Heights for her next project. Dune: Prophecy will be released on HBO Max in November. Here’s a first look at the Fourth Wing TV series. Censorship NewsThe quiet censorship of Pride 2024. Librarian burnout rises as more censorship requests flood the system. The Law Library of Congress just published a report on book and media censorship in selected countries. “At my high school, the library is for everything but books.” Libraries can help end the culture wars. That’s why they’re under fire. Project 2025’s plan to eliminate public schools has already started. Inside the two-year fight to bring charges against school librarians in Granbury, Texas. This is a really chilling account of a law enforcement officer spending untold time and taxpayer dollars trying to pursue felony charges against school librarians for TWO YEARS. There’s body cam footage as he rifles through books, and he put together an 824 (!!!) page investigative file throughout the process. This is absolutely unhinged, and not at all the first time we’ve seen police officers pursue charges against teachers and librarians. Pure fascism.A conservative school board trustee in Lovejoy ISD (TX) said that challenged books can’t be judged on the basis of out-of-context passages. “‘When I first saw the request, some of the language was concerning to me. Then when I read the books in whole, I had a different perspective.’” This is why book banners so desperately want to discourage school and library boards from considering books in context — their entire case falls apart when you consider context.Highland Park ISD (TX) has removed All Boys Aren’t Blue. After urging from the Escambia County School Board (FL), a judge has ordered a 7-year-old girl “to testify in a deposition in a lawsuit over the district’s decision to ban some books from the library.” However, a judge has also ruled that the trustees and superintendent cannot be shielded from testifying about the removal of And Tango Makes Three.“An author whose novel about book banning was removed from a Florida school district’s library shelves has asked the school board to reinstate his book, saying that its removal is “erasure of the highest order.” This is in the Indian River County School District.“Kenneth Derrick, who is not a parent of a child at Park Vista [FL], is not pushing for the books to be removed from the library. Instead, he suggests the school district affix a label to the books that calls out authors who support book challenges but include sexual content in their own novels.” Look, we all know that book banners are hypocritical bigots, but tying up more school resources in retaliation is not helpful.“County commissioners have singled out a book in the young adult section of the Citrus County library [FL] as being pornography.” The book is Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts), and it is definitively NOT pornography.“Buildings at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster [PA] were forced to evacuate after receiving bomb threats Thursday morning.”“The Harford County Board of Education [MD] voted unanimously early Tuesday to restore an Advanced Placement course on African American studies, just weeks after canceling the class over concerns it lacked ‘positive narratives’ and perpetuated ‘a narrative of victimhood.’”Kids march at South Carolina State University to protest book bans. “Georgia state Superintendent Richard Woods said Wednesday that the state will pay for districts to teach a new Advanced Placement course in African American Studies, a day after he said districts could only teach the course using local funds.” Changes to the administrative code at the Alabama Public Library Service are official, although libraries will still receive state funding through the rest of the fiscal year, which gives libraries about three months to draft new policies.Meanwhile “a Mobile, Alabama event celebrating an LGBTQ+-themed children’s book has been canceled due to what the book’s author described as ‘continued and escalating threats’ against participants and multiple host venues.”Alabama’s proposed censorship bill would allow for criminal prosecution of librarians. “The Knox County Board of Education [TN] voted Thursday on a policy that will ban “explicit” books from school libraries.”(Paywalled): Librarians say that policy proposals in the Francis Howell School District (MO) could remove popular books. (Paywalled): Clancy Elementary School Board (MO) voted to retain Jack, Not Jackie.“As part of the new district policy, parents will also receive email notifications about books their children would like to check out from school libraries, and if they so choose, parents will have the option to say “no” to the request.” This is in the Mentor Public School District in Ohio. “Again, this is not pornography. It is not written to sexually excite anyone. The book has literary merit. It is written to describe a horrific reality that requires a mountain of resilience to overcome. This book should not be removed from the East High School Library [IN]. This is a letter to the editor in response to multiple challenges against Push.The Grand Forks Public Library (ND) board voted to move three challenged books on puberty to a newly created young adult nonfiction section. They are the only three books in the section.The director of the Alpena Public Library (MI) has resigned after just over a year on the job. Although she cites personal reasons for her decision, she and the Board have been embroiled in a months-long battle with a group of book banners.The Lansing School District (MI) is building two new elementary schools, and neither one will have space for a school library. Seaside City Councilor Steve Dillard (OR) is upset that his position is facing a recall vote after he’s pushed for books to be banned in the public library.The Arden-Dimick Library in Sacramento evacuated after receiving a bomb threat.Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley, members of the Sunol Glen Unified School District board (CA), have lost their recall elections. Both of these trustees voted to ban all non-US or CA state flags from the school after the superintendent and principal flew Pride flags at the school.“Lodi Unified School District’s [CA] new opt-out policy hasn’t quelled a controversy about access to books parents don’t want their children to read.Books & Authors in the NewsJD Vance is outselling Kamala Harris on Amazon’s book chart…for now. Kamala Harris’ book sales aren’t doing too badly, however. Numbers & TrendsThe most-read books on Goodreads last week. The best-selling books of the week. Romantasy and BookTok helped boost book sales in the first half of 2024. The New York Times’ Best Books of the 21st Century list is moving units. Award NewsAll the literary adaptations that were nominated for Emmy Awards. Plus Lily Gladstone makes Emmy Awards history by becoming one of two Indigenous women to ever be nominated in an acting category. The Hugo Awards disqualified hundreds of fraudulent votes for one particular finalist. Bookish Curiosities & MiscellaneousThe reading revolution: how the literary sphere took over in the UK. And Here’s a Cat Photo!Blaine took this photo of Dini after a long post-breakfast snoozle. He looks like me when I have to wake up early!All right, friends. That’s all I have, but I’ll be back on Tuesday!—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Yes, I’m still talking about the top books of the 21st century, and as I mentioned last week, I wanted to highlight some of the titles that would have been on my ballot. So here is another book from my list, and this pick is one of a couple horror titles that would be on my list. Obviously, I read a lot of horror, but, y’all, I think it’s time we all recognize the impact that horror has on literature as a whole. We all know horror is booming right now. It’s no longer niche. It’s mainstream. And some of it is thanks to books like this one. In fact, you’ve probably heard about this one before, but if you haven’t read it yet, this is your sign.My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady HendrixI once heard that Grady Hendrix decides on the title of his book before he figures out a plot, and with a title like My Best Friend’s Exorcism, I believe it. I was just randomly wandering through a Barnes & Noble (I’m sorry—indie bookstores forever, I promise) when I saw this book on the shelf. I knew nothing about it, but based on the title alone and the spooky yearbook-themed hardcover design, I knew I had to read it. This was my first Grady Hendrix novel, and since reading this book, I now consider Hendrix a must-read author.My Best Friend’s Exorcism starts and ends with friendship, and that’s what makes this horror novel work beyond the scary stuff and the fun ’80s references. Abby and Gretchen meet in the 4th grade and bond over fun ’80s kid things like roller rinks and E.T. By the time they’re high school sophomores in 1988, the two girls have become inseparable. But then after a sleepover gone wrong, something about Gretchen is different. She is moody, often cruel, and strange things keep happening all around her. When no one else seems to see a difference in Gretchen other than her best friend Abby, Abby knows she’ll have to take matters into her own hands. It soon becomes clear to Abby that her best friend has been possessed by some sort of demon, but no one else will believe her. Her friends think she’s just jealous, and adults think she’s acting out. But Abby sees proof of evil and she sees the horrifying things happening all around her, and she knows if they don’t perform an exorcism, she might lose her friend forever.I don’t necessarily think horror novels have to be scary to work, but if you care about being scared, this novel is so scary. If you love a terrifying possession story, you will not be disappointed. There are so many disturbing images and terrible things in this book. But there is so much heart and beauty in this story as well. If you read my reviews regularly you might start to see a pattern in the types of stories that work for me. Basically, I love a story that makes me cry. I really did cry at the end of the story, and it had everything to do with the power of Gretchen and Abby’s friendship. I don’t often reread books because there are so many good stories out there to read and life is short, but I’ve read My Best Friend’s Exorcism three times. I will probably read it again.Happy weekend reading, bibliophiles! Feel free to follow me on Instagram @emandhercat, and check out my other newsletters, The Fright Stuff and Book Radar!