This is the start of something new. Spring is new, and the time could not be more perfect. From now on, at the beginning of each month, I am going to share with you the notable new releases for that month. You’re in luck! There’s much to talk about for April.
Before I begin, please note: If there is a book you’re keen on that is not listed here, let me know. Perhaps I do not know about it and would like to read it. I will try to limit myself to ten books. Sometimes I may have more; sometimes I may have less. It all depends.
Without further ado. Here are the books I’m excited about for April.
1. The Lifeboat Charlotte Rogan
The debut novel of Charlotte Rogan, The Lifeboat, is getting a lot of attention right now. That is amazing, considering it was released on April 3. The New York Times ran a review in which I learned Rogan was 57 when she got her book deal. What an inspiration she is! The Lifeboat is perfect for your book club and the main character, Grace, on trial for murder, will generate much discussion.
2. The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen
This novel was released March 27, but Amazon has the title listed as one of its best of April. Another debut, The Land of Decoration features a ten-year-old heroine named Judith. It’s difficult to resist a story which Emma Donoghue, author of Room, said “grabbed me by the throat.”
3. The Coldest Night by Robert Olmstead
Robert Olmstead’s The Coldest Night is another title you can pick up now. Olmstead sets his story during the Korean War and after. I am lucky because Olmstead will visit Lemuria Books in Jackson, Mississippi, on April 19. If your local bookstore features signings, check to see if Olmstead will be there.
4. The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan
People Magazine loves this novel about four Harvard roommates who reunite after 20 years. Their seemingly perfect lives are anything but. The Red Book has been called “The Big Chill meets The Group.” This novel is out now.
5. Calico Joe by John Grisham
John Grisham’s newest book, Calico Joe, is one of Amazon’s best books of the month and comes out April 10. This time, Grisham turns to baseball and explores the themes of forgiveness and redemption. Like all of Grisham’s previous novels, Calico Joe is sure to become a bestseller.
6. The Cove by Ron Rash
The bestselling author of Serena returns with The Cove. The novel is about a sister and brother and the cove, which may be cursed, where they live. Rash will appear at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS, on April 18. Be sure to check in your area. Your city may be a stop on his tour. The Cove is an Amazon best book of the month.
7. The Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler
I must confess that I have never read Anne Tyler, but The Beginner’s Goodbye intrigues me. Tyler tells the story of a middle-aged widower who is having a difficult time dealing with the death of his wife. Until he starts seeing her, that is. Amazon has this listed as one of the best books of the month.
8. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
I cannot wait to read Wiley Cash’s A Land More Kind Than Home, to be released April 17. Cash’s debut has been compared to those of John Hart and Tom Franklin. Amazon chose the novel as one of its best books of the month. Cash will sign copies of his book on June 1, at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS. A Land More Kind Than Home is a “mesmerizing literary thriller about the bond between two brothers and the evil they face in a small western North Carolina town.”
9. Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall
The author of The Absence of Nectar and The House of Gentle Men (two of my favorites) returns with Blue Asylum. I would love to interview Hepinstall. During the Civil War, a Virginia plantation mistress is put on trial and convicted of madness. She is sent to Sanibel Asylum, where she meets many interesting people. Hepinstall asks the questions what is madness and who decides in this gripping tale.
10. Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd
On the cusp of World War I, a young English actor has an affair. She later goes to the police and accuses her former lover of rape. In a twist, the young man is saved from trial by two diplomats. William Boyd’s upcoming book is already getting lots of buzz before its April 17 release. This one could be a stunner!
Which books are you excited about this month? What about for summer? I’d love to hear all about them!
Bookmagnet's Blog 