1. Welcome to The Sunday Reads
It's finally here! This has been something I've wanted to do for a few weeks now, so I'm incredibly excited to introduce The Sunday Reads, a reader's newsletter.
Welcome!
On this weekly newsletter, every - you guessed it - Sunday, we’ll discuss upcoming releases, an author of the week, top 10 books from last week, and recommendations from you. To send in your recommendation & review, visit the R&R page. Without further ado, let’s get into the first publication of The Sunday Reads.
Upcoming Releases
Here are 4 releases to look out for from the week of November 20th!
Alex Cross Must Die by James Patterson (mystery/thriller): Nov 20, 2023
The 32nd book in the Alex Cross series sees Detectives Cross and Sampson tracking the Dead Hours Killer - a serial killer who targets pilots. At the scene of a jet crash, they learn the plane was shot down with a machine gun from the Vietnam War era. With limited time and a limited list of people who can operate the gun, Cross must race against time to save others and himself.
Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy Book 1) by Nora Roberts (Romantasy): Nov 21, 2023
Sonya MacTavish is shocked when her late father’s unknown twin brother, Collin, leaves her everything he owned. The stipulation? Living in his Victorian mansion in Maine for at least 3 years. Sonya is determined to discover why the boys were separated at birth, and once she arrives to the house, she quickly learns that the place is maybe, slightly haunted. There’s a portrait of a woman Trey, the lawyer, refers to as “the first lost bride” as well as a painting of her father, let alone the other odd things that happen within the house. It becomes apparent to Sonya that she has to break the centuries old curse, if she can.
Defiant (Skyward Series Book 4) by Brandon Sanderson (YA Science Fiction): Nov 21, 2023
In the epic conclusion to this series, while Spensa made it out of the Nowhere, she is changed forever by what she saw and the answers provided about her gifts. While she was gone, her team - Skyward Flight - was able to hold off Winzik and even collect allies, but to stop The Superiority, it will require everything of Spensa. How far is she willing to go for victory? But she doesn’t have much time until humanity and the galaxy will fall.
How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera (Self-Help): Nov 28, 2023
In the final book of Dr. Nicole LePera’s “How To” trilogy, she dives into how to heal relationships, creating a foundation in respect and compassion. You will learn how to create internal safety, identify and heal your unmet needs, how to build emotional connections, and use all of that to maintain healthy interdependent relationships. Every person can benefit from Dr. LePera’s words, and here you will learn to break cycles and tap into your heart in order to heal.
The Author of the Week: Rebecca Ross
Our first author of the week is Rebecca Ross. I became introduced to her through her New York Times Bestseller book, Divine Rivals. I was able to read it at the beginning of November, and it was incredible! The second book comes out on December 26th, so make sure you write that down. Given that I’m going to be reading her Elements of Cadence duology soon, I thought it only proper to dedicate some time to getting to know this author.
Ross is a graduate from the University of Georgia (same!) with her degree in English. Although she had been a vivacious reader her whole life, her first few post grad jobs ranged from a dude ranch worker to a school librarian. She (thankfully) began writing at the end of 2014, and we have been blessed with her work ever since! She currently lives in north Georgia with her husband, dog, and sprawling garden. Besides theVows of Enchantment and Elements of Cadence, she has also written The Queen’s Rising duology and two stand alone books, Dreams Lie Beneath and Sisters of Sword & Song.
Here is your sign to read her lovely fantasy novels, for both teens and adults. To find more information on her, visit her website or her Instagram.
Top 10 from Last Week
The Top 10 from Last Week are a cumulation of books from the New York Times bestseller list, the Amazon bestseller list, and the B&N Top 100. In no particular order, here are the top 10 reads from the last week. sample:
The Woman in Me by Brittany Spears
In Brittany Spears’ groundbreaking memoir, she continues to use her voice and speak out, finally on her own terms. Here you will discover her life story and the internal strength of one of the greatest in pop music history.
Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
The Empyrean series has been incredibly popular this year, with the second book releasing last week. Yarros has created an intricate world full of dragons and riders, war and magic, friend and foe. “A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without its dragon is dead.”
Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry bares his soul in his memoir, taking you along his life journey from childhood to Friends to his lifelong battle with addiction. Called unforgettable, honest, and moving, many are taken with Perry and his memoir.
A Fire in the Flesh by Jennifer L Armentrout
The third book in Armentrout’s Flesh in Fire series, the prequel series to her bestselling From Blood and Ash series, Sera and Nyktos are both held captive by the false King of the Gods, Kolis. Sera has to use everything she has been taught to get Kolis to believe her and prevent a War of Primals. Surviving Kolis, convincing him, and the truths that come to light are only half of the battle for Sera, as her Ascension is rapidly approaching. However, Nyktos will stop at nothing to keep Sera alive, even risking the realms should he not Ascend as Primal of Life. But there is that pesky unforseen thread, the one even more powerful than the Fates …
Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich
The bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, takes a seemingly simple assignment - locate the security guard who is accused of stealing diamonds from a safe. She’s also on the hunt for a fugitive, Duncan Dugan. Seems easy enough, right? Wrong. With her boyfriend out of town, Plum has to watch his dog, Bob, who devours everything in his path. The security expert, Ranger, seems determined to stay by Stephanie’s side. And her best friend is convinced she’s being stalked by a mythological demon. Stephanie’s going to have to get a little dirty to figure this one out.
The Exchange by John Grisham
In the sequel to the bestseller, The Firm, Mitch and Abby are living in Mahattan fifteen years later with Mitch working at the largest law firm in the world. After a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor, Mitch finds himself at the center of a bone chilling plot that could send shockwaves throughout the world.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Grann revisits the shocking true story of the Osage Indian Nation and the beginning of the FBI. The Osages used to be the richest people in the world back in the 1920s, when they discovered oil beneath their land. Then, they slowly began to be killed off. The newly formed FBI began investigating after the death toll surpassed 24, but a corrupt bureau bungled the case. Eventually, an undercover team was created to uncover the mystery and expose a horrifying conspiracy.
Being Henry by Henry Winkler
The celebrated actor, author, comedian, producer, and director has now put together his memoir, where he thoughtfully writes of the deep effects of stardom and the struggle of becoming whole. The “nicest man in Hollywood” takes you along his life journey and is ultimately a testament to the power of kindness, trust, and fulfillment in yourself.
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This New York Times bestseller follows Marie-Laurie, a blind French girl, and Werner Pfenning, an orphan German boy, as they grow up and enter a horrifying war. Marie-Laurie and her father flee to Saint-Malo when the Nazi’s overtake Paris - with a priceless jewel. Werner and his younger sister use a radio to learn about and reach beyond the walls of their orphanage. When their lives unbelievably intertwine, Doerr shows that, at the end of the day, how people try to be good.
Author’s Note: This is one of my absolute favorite novels to ever exist.
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi
This book offers a new perspective on the conflict that continues to this day. The conflict that is traced from one hundred years of colonial war on Palestine. He highlights key colonial campaigns throughout the years, but also does not brush over mistakes of Palestinian leaders. This is a book that everyone should be reading in this day and age.
R&R
Recommendations & reviews from you! Thank you to everyone who submitted a R&R for the newsletter this week. You don’t have to look any further for any book ideas. I’ll start us off! Here are a few:
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft | R&R from me :)
Margaret Welty lives in a big house, pretty much on her own. She runs the house with her dog by her side, hoping and waiting for her mother to come home. As a great sharpshooter, Margaret sees the hala in the woods. She knows the Halfmoon Hunt is coming soon, and all she needs is an alchemist to help her win the hunt and bring her mother home. Wes is an aspiring alchemist, and Master Welty is his last shot. When he finds her not home, Wes begs Margaret to stay. She will on one condition - he joins her in the Halfmoon Hunt.
I love Margaret and Wes, and I only wish there were more of them. An incredible (and complete) stand alone that will leave you wanting more and is perfect for fall.
Before You Go
Let’s talk Rebecca Yarros. What exactly is going on here? If you have no idea what I’m talking about - I’m just like you. I had heard of some rumblings, so I decided to do my research and talk about it here. To begin, Iron Flame was released on Nov 7, only six months after Fourth Wing was released. Many copies were misprinted in several different ways from missing/skipping pages to an upside down spine to “Fourth Wing” being titled on the spine. The next issue people have is her appropriating the Gaelic language. She used Gaelic to name several of her characters, and then mispronounced them in various ways such as bad vowels and unnecessary added syllables. This user on TikTok, who is Scottish, finds it offensive when American authors don’t even look into their language. Finally, some are upset with her point of view of the Israel-Palestine war. In her Instagram post from October 15th, she says she adamantly does not support war in any form. In response to her not cancelling her book deal with Israel, she includes that she feels as though refusing a translation is a form of book banning. What are your thoughts on all of this? Please remain kind.
Now movie adaptations! Recently, Killers of the Flower Moon and All The Light We Cannot See were both released. It’s very interesting that both are in my Top 10 list as well. I love that people want to read the books before/after/around the movie releases! I have heard Killers of the Flower Moon is incredible, but I need to read the book first. From a star-studded cast to the team pivoting to keep the movie focus on the Osage people, I have heard wonderful things. As for Doerr’s book, it was adapted into a limited series by Shawn Levy and Netflix. I love Levy, but I am confused as to why it is a limited series. Personally, I see it more as a movie, but I do understand that there’s room for more screen time in a limited series. I’m very interested and terrified to watch it, though. I have high expectations from the book! I will report back when I can build myself up enough to watch it.
That’s all I have for this week! Much love.
Izzy <3