Skincare expert at The Strategist Rio Viera-Newton’s comprehensive skincare guide, LET’S FACE IT, is featured in New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix, landing in the “Lowbrow Brilliant” quadrant. Voracious will publish the book on March 23, 2021.

Christopher Sorrentino’s NOW BEACON, NOW SEA received a glowing blurb from author Steve Erickson. He writes: "As irresistible as it is unflinching, NOW BEACON, NOW SEA is a family memoir, a literary memoir, an American memoir, a memoir about the nature of identity in our time -- and if that means only Christopher Sorrentino could have written it, for all its singularity it does what riveting memoirs do: reveals not only its own secrets but ours as well." Catapult will publish the book on September 7, 2021.

THE PROPHETS by Robert Jones Jr. continues to receive acclaim. The Gay & Lesbian Review writes: “[Jones Jr.] has embarked upon a difficult undertaking. He writes about same-sex love between enslaved people, attractions that undoubtedly existed but have so far been little explored by historians or fiction writers…[THE PROPHETS brings] historical sweep, magic, and flights of lyricism to the earthbound world.” Jones Jr. was also interviewed by WWNO-NPR’s The Reading Life and CUNY’s Book Beat. Lastly, THE PROPHETS is featured on March must-read lists March for Paperback Paris, USA Today, and Pop Sugar. G.P. Putnam’s Sons published the book on January 5, 2021.

Jamie Figueroa’s BROTHER, SISTER, MOTHER, EXPLORER received a rave review from BookPage. They write: “BROTHER, SISTER, MOTHER, EXPLORER combines folklore with magical realism in a manner reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s BELOVED…Figueroa addresses important issues, including depression, suicide and personal and generational loss, with nuanced insight. She also skewers the tendency of white Americans to exoticize people with darker skin, portraying the impact of this prejudice in a deeply stirring manner…[A]n exquisitely woven story about resilience and trauma." The Brooklyn Rail also praises "Figueroa['s]...way with words. The prose is poetic, unique and engrossing…and oftentimes as magical as the story itself." Catapult published the book on March 2 2021.

2034 by Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis received a glowing review from The Hill. They write: "[T]he geopolitical thriller tells a fictional yet very plausible story of how the United States could find itself in a third world war. It takes place in the over a decade from now, and the global conflict described is the result of a series of strategic mistakes and a lack of foresight by the United States plus tensions with our adversaries reaching a breaking point." The co-authors also appeared on WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WRVA: Richmond's Early News radio, and Chicago's Morning Answer radio via YouTube to discuss the novel. Penguin Press published the book on March 9, 2021.

Carter Sickels’ THE PRETTIEST STAR is the 2021 winner of the Weatherford Prize for Best Books about Appalachia. Founded in 1970, the Weatherford honors books that “best [illuminate] the challenges, personalities and unique qualities of the Appalachian South.” The novel also received a glowing review from The Post and Courier. They write: “THE PRETTIEST STAR dazzles with its tenderness, honesty, and riveting brutality...It is queer fiction of the highest order, which is to say, a story of our humanity laid bare, a story for everyone...[S]mall yet searing insights poke a million holes in your heart — holes through which the light of THE PRETTIEST STAR can dazzle their way in.” Hub City Press published the book on May 19, 2020.

De’Shawn Charles Winslow’s IN WEST MILLS is the winner of the 2021 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. Jonathan Haupt, contest judge and executive director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, writes: “Winslow has given us such a world in his vision of West Mills – a world notably dedicated ‘to the reader’ in which Black stories matter and we cannot help but wish we would linger, listen and learn a while longer.” Bloomsbury published the book on June 4, 2019.

SIDECOUNTRY by John Branch received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. They write: “Branch showcases his keen ability to find unusual human interest angles in sports and culture journalism in this expansive collection...[He] delivers consistently smart, startling observations – and offers something for every reader, whether or not they’d consider themselves ‘sports fans.’” W.W. Norton & Company will publish the book on June 1, 2021.

AMERICAN DAUGHTER by Stephanie Thornton Plymale is one of The Global Mail’s “Five memoirs on overcoming adversity to help get us through these (hopefully) last COVID months.” Tara Henly writes: “Compelling and well-told, the story is full of surprises, including the revelation of a long-held family secret and the uncovering of lineage that traces back to famous American figures.” HarperOne published the book on January 12, 2021.

GOLDEN GATES by Conor Dougherty has been shortlisted for The New York Public Library’s Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. The award “honors a journalist whose work brings clarity and public attention to important issues, events, or policies.” Penguin Press published the book on February 18, 2020.

LOVE AND FURY by Samantha Silva received an enthusiastic starred review from Publishers Weekly. They write: “[A] gripping, meticulous novel…Silva’s heartbreaking but inspiring work captures the despair and joy, convictions and contradictions of an extraordinary woman.” Flatiron Books will publish the book on May 25, 2021.

Elly Griffiths appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered to discuss her latest novel, THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS. Speaking to the appeal of murder mysteries, Griffiths says: “It is a strange thing that lots of people — and me absolutely included — do find reading about these murders quite comforting, really. And of course, there's absolutely nothing cozy about murder, but I think we do like that sort of puzzle, and unlocking the puzzle.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published the book on March 2, 2021.