Here’s the rundown on seven of the hottest new book releases.
‘Speaking of Summer’ by Kalisha Buckhanon
(Counterpoint, fiction, $26)
What it’s about: In this novel by Chicago writer Kalisha Buckhanon, Autumn’s twin sister Summer walks to the roof of their Harlem brownstone and vanishes. The authorities are indifferent, so it’s up to a desperate and unraveling Autumn to solve the mystery.
The buzz: Booklist calls it “devastating,” writing, “It is Buckhanon’s elegant images of grief that most captivate.”
Counterpoint
‘Chances Are…’ by Richard Russo
(Knopf, fiction, $26.95)
What it’s about: Three longtime friends in their 60s gather for a Memorial Day weekend trip to Martha’s Vineyard that will test the bonds of their friendship. This is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo’s first standalone novel in a decade.
The buzz: “At a rough time for masculinity, Russo’s flawed but always decent characters are repositories of the classic virtues of their gender,” Kirkus Reviews writes.
‘Never Have I Ever’ by Joshilyn Jackson
(William Morrow, fiction, $26.99)
What it’s about: Amy Whey has a husband who loves her, beautiful children, a best friend and a book club. All is threatened when a mysterious new woman joins the club and starts a game of spilling secrets — and seems to know Amy has a killer secret.
The buzz: “It’s a stay-up-all-night kind of book,” Kirkus Reviews says. “Compulsively readable.”
William Morrow
‘One Good Deed’ by David Baldacci
(Grand Central Publishing, fiction, $29)
What it’s about: Aloysius Archer fought WWII and soon after returning home finds himself imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Released early for good behavior, he becomes entangled in a mess in which chaos and mystery will have him once again trying to prove his innocence.
The buzz: “David Baldacci is a master storyteller, and he invokes the classic feel of the post-war 1940s evident in the timeless literature and film of that time,” The Associated Press writes. “He once again doesn’t disappoint.”
Grand Central Publishing
‘The Chain’ by Adrian McKinty
(Little, Brown, fiction, $28)
What it’s about: Kylie, 13, is abducted by parents dealing with the kidnapping of their own child. It turns out that ransom isn’t the essential part of her mom’s getting her back. She must pay — but she must also keep the chain going by kidnapping a child herself. If she goes to the police, her daughter will be killed, and her kidnappers will be forced to take another child. They cannot break the chain.
The buzz: “Adrian McKinty delivers one of the best thrillers of the year,” AP writes.
Little, Brown
‘Someone We Know’ by Shari Lapena
(Pamela Dorman Books, fiction, $27)
What it’s about: In a quiet New York suburb, a teenager has been sneaking into homes, hacking owners’ computers — and learning their secrets. Everyone has something to hide in this thriller.
The buzz: Publishers Weekly calls the book “slyly plotted.”
Pamela Dorman Books
‘The Chelsea Girls’ by Fiona Davis
(Dutton, fiction, $27)
What it’s about: Two women — playwright Hazel and actress Maxine — become fast friends after meeting at a USO show during World War II. That friendship is tested as the Red Scare sweeps America into McCarthy-era paranoia.
The buzz: “Featuring vibrant, witty characters who not only weather but thrive in a dark period of American history, Davis’ tale of one friendship’s strength will stun and satisfy readers,” Publishers Weekly writes.
Contributing: AP
