Are you looking for something to read? USA TODAY’s scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books on Tuesday are on sale
1. “Vladimir,”Julia May Jonas (Avid Read 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,”” Starred reviewKirkus Reviews
“Notes on Execution”:This is a different kind of serial killer story and it’s a great one.
2. “I Am Golden,” by Eva Chen; illustrated by Sophie Diao (Feiwel & Friends, children’s book)
What it’s about:Chen, the director of fashion partnerships for Instagram, writes a joyous and beautifully illustrated tribute to Chinese American identity as well as the immigrant experience.
The buzz:A Starred reviewPublishers 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,”Scott Meslow (Dey Street nonfiction, Scott Meslow)
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,”” 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,”” Publishers Weekly.
5. “Black Girls Must Be Magic,”Jayne Allen (Harper Perennial fiction).
What it’s about: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,”” Publishers Weekly.
More:Do you have a New Year’s resolution? To read more. Here’s how you can start an online book group
