Starred Review Round-Up (7/30/21)

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We’re seeing stars! These titles all received multiple starred reviews:

NEVER SAY YOU CAN’T SURVIVE by Charlie Jane Anders
ISBN 9781250800015 | on sale 8/17/21

“Let Anders introduce you to the imaginary friends whose stories need to be told; provide you with tools to defeat enemies like imposter syndrome; and show you the many varied lifelines writing can offer, no matter who you are—and no matter what story you need to tell.”–Library Journal, starred review

“Through her encouraging counsel and intriguing questions, she encourages writers to keep writing and continue telling stories, brainstorming, day-dreaming, listening, and to have faith in their own abilities and their heart. Anders can give both new and experienced writers questions, exercises, and encouragement that will spark ideas and keep them motivated to continue their work.”–Booklist, starred review

HER PERFECT LIFE by Hank Phillippi Ryan
ISBN 9781250258885 | on sale 9/14/21

“Through masterful plotting and subtle characterizations, Ryan creates niggling doubts in the reader’s mind as to Lily and Greer’s motives while keeping the novel’s outcome deliciously uncertain. This is a fast-paced, surprise-packed treat.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A well-crafted plot and strong female characters drive a satisfying psychological thriller.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

MY MONTICELLO by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
ISBN 9781250807151 | on sale 10/5/21

“A sharp debut by a writer with wit and confidence.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Johnson wrestles with questions of racial identity, post-racial society, and the legacies of slavery in her masterly debut collection… This incandescent work speaks not just to the moment, but to history.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

PILGRIM BELL: Poems by Kaveh Akbar
ISBN 9781644450598 | on sale 8/3/21

“The poems in Akbar’s highly anticipated second collection span and invert boundaries, addressing addiction, faith, language, history, self, family, and power… Lyrical, profound, and honest, the kind of collection to which a reader will return.”–Library Journal, starred review

“This impressive, thoughtful work shimmers with inventive syntax and spiritual profundity.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE RIGHT TO SEX: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century by Amia Srinivasan
ISBN 9780374248529 | on sale 9/21/21

“Philosopher Srinivasan debuts with a fascinating collection of essays on issues facing the feminist movement today… Marked by lucid prose, innovative thinking, and a penchant for resisting easy answers, this is a must-read.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Srinivasan’s powerful thinking is matched by her powerful language, often striking like an electric revelation at the core of an issue. This is required reading.”–Booklist, starred review

LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS by Ryka Aoki
ISBN 9781250789068 | on sale 9/28/21

“A runaway trans girl, a harvester of souls for hell, and a family of refugee alien doughnut makers collide in unexpected and wondrous ways… Filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food and heart-swelling meditations on music, this novel is an unexpected gift.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Aoki’s novel is an exciting, wild web of an adventure, a unputdownable book about music, found family, and identity. Diving into the tough subjects, Aoki’s book emerges with a joyful, queer, radical ballad of a story that will appeal to fans of TJ Klune’s THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA (2020).”–Booklist, starred review

INFLAMED: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice by Rupa Marya and Raj Patel
ISBN 9780374602512 | on sale 8/3/21

“This is a powerful, knowledgeable, and important work about the dangerous connection between health and societal injustices and how it can be resolved.”–Booklist, starred review

“Particularly moving chapters highlight health care inequality in the United States that particularly affects Black Americans and Indigenous peoples; examples include racial disparities in COVID-19 infection and recovery rates. An excellent book for anyone concerned with health, community, or the environment. The accessible writing will draw readers in.”–Library Journal, starred review

THIS THING BETWEEN US by Gus Moreno
ISBN 9780374539238 | on sale 10/12/21

“In graceful prose peppered with terrifyingly vivid descriptions, Moreno gives a nod to 2001: A Space Odyssey to explore the perils of technology while probing the all-too-human complexities of grief. The devastating result marks Moreno as a horror writer to watch.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Moreno makes clever use of structure to maximize dread, opening with Vera’s funeral and then doubling back, while references to famous horror novels and films trick readers into thinking they’re following a familiar path before the tragic plot veers wildly off-map. Harrowing existential horror that lingers like a nightmare.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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