A new month means new books on the horizon. These are some notable new releases for the month of June in my favorite categories: Mystery and Thriller, Science Fiction, Fiction, Nonfiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir and autobiography, and Fantasy. If I could pick just one this month, it would be “Falling” by T.J. Newman (amazon, Goodreads, 2021)
Mystery and Thriller
“Falling” by T.J. Newman
Release date: July 6, 2021
You just boarded a flight to New York. There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. What you do not know is that thirty minutes before the flight, your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight.
Science Fiction
“Notes from the Burning Age” by Claire North
Release date: July 20, 2021
Ven was once a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age—a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven’s world, such material must be closely guarded so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated. But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he is willing to go to save this new world—and how much he is willing to lose.
Fiction
“The Tiger Mom’s Tale” by Lyn Liao Butler
Release date: July 6, 2021
Lexa Thomas has never quite fit in. Having grown up in a family of blondes while more closely resembling Constance Wu, she is neither white enough nor Asian enough. Visiting her father in Taiwan as a child, Lexa thought she had finally found a place where she belonged. But that was years ago, and even there, some never truly considered her to be a part of the family. When her estranged father dies unexpectedly leaving the fate of his Taiwanese family in Lexa’s hands, she is faced with the choice to return to Taiwan and claim her place in her heritage or leave her Taiwanese family to lose their home for good. Armed with the advice of two half-sisters (one American and the other Taiwanese, who cannot stand each other), a mother who has reevaluated her sexuality, a man whose kisses make her walk into walls, and her self-deprecating humor, Lexa finds the courage to leave the comfort of New York City to finally confront the person who drove her away all those decades ago.
Nonfiction
“The Life-Changing Science of Detective Bullshit” by John V. Petrocelli
Release date: July 27, 2021
No matter how smart we believe ourselves to be, we are all susceptible to bullshit―and we all engage in it. While we may brush it off as harmless marketing sales speak or as humorous, embellished claims, it is actually much more dangerous and insidious. It is how Bernie Madoff successfully swindled billions of dollars from even the most experienced financial experts with his Ponzi scheme. It is how the protocols of Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward resulted in the deaths of 36 million people from starvation. Presented as truths by authority figures and credentialed experts, bullshit appears legitimate, and we accept their words as gospel. If we do not question the information we receive from bullshit artists to prove their thoughts and theories, we allow these falsehoods to take root in our memories and beliefs. With real world examples from people versed in bullshit who work in the used car, real estate, wine, and diamond industries, Petrocelli exposes the red-flag warning signs found in the anecdotal stories, emotional language, and buzzwords used by bullshitters that persuade our decisions. By using his critical thinking defensive tactics against those motivated by profit, we will also learn how to stop the toxic misinformation spread from the social media influencers, fake news, and op-eds that permeate our culture and call out bullshit whenever we see it.
Historical Fiction
“The Forest of Vanishing Stars” by Kristin Harmel
Release date: July 6, 2021
After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what is happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything. Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and immersed with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made “Where the Crawdads Sing” a worldwide phenomenon, “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author.
Memoir and autobiography
“Stories to Tell: A Memoir” by Richard Marx
Release date: July 6, 2021
Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. In Stories to Tell, Marx looks back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he had written for him then asked for a 50% cut—which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he has experienced it over four decades—the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him—and that doctors have not been able to solve.
Fantasy
“Half Sick of Shadows” by Laura Sebastian
Release date: July 6, 2021
Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come–for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future. On the mystical isle of Avalon, Elaine runs free and learns of the ancient prophecies surrounding her and her friends–countless possibilities, almost all of them tragic. When their future comes to claim them, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana accompany Arthur to take his throne in stifling Camelot, where magic is outlawed, the rules of society chain them, and enemies are everywhere. Yet the most dangerous threats may come from within their own circle. As visions are fulfilled and an inevitable fate closes in, Elaine must decide how far she will go to change destiny–and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way.
SA Examiner 