Wally Koval’s ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON was featured in a piece in The New York Times examining the relationship between social media and book sales. Elizabeth Harris writes: “[E]very book is different, an individual work of art or culture, so when the publishing industry tries to forecast demand for new titles, it is, however thoughtfully, guessing. Because there are so few reliable metrics to look at, social-media followings have become some of the main data points publishers use to try to make their guesses more educated...There are, however, plenty of examples where a social-media following does help sell books like ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON by Wally Koval…Mr. Koval’s Instagram account, of the same name and concept, had over 1 million followers when the book was acquired and now has 1.6 million. The book has sold more than 100,000 copies of the hardcover since it was published in October 2020.” The book was also recommended by Isaac Fitzgerald on The Today Show as a top holiday gift in December: “[ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON will] put a smile on either the travel lover or movie lover (or both!) in your life.” Voracious published the book on October 20, 2020.

Joss Lake's FUTURE FEELING is a nominee for the 2022 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. The prize is awarded annually to "a debut novel of exceptional literary merit by an American author." Finalists will be announced later this month. Soft Skull published the novel on June 1, 2021.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, the 60th book in the Stone Barrington series, will make its debut on The New York Times Best Seller list for the week of January 16, 2022. It will debut at number 7 on the Combined Print & E-book Fiction list. G.P Putnam’s Sons published the book on December 28, 2021.

Book Passage is hosting a special live virtual event for Charles Cumming on January 20 at 3pm EST to celebrate the publication of BOX 88, where Cumming will appear in conversation with Dan Fesperman to discuss the book. The Mysterious Bookshop will also be holding a virtual live event on January 26 at 4pm EST, where Cumming will appear in conversation with Mick Herron. Mysterious Press published BOX 88 on January 11, 2022.

Publishers Weekly praises REFUSE TO BE DONE by Matt Bell. The reviewer writes: “[A] heartening guide to writing a novel…[W]riters intimidated by the process will find solace in the case [Bell] makes that while good writing is not easy, putting one’s whole self into a novel is an ‘incredible’ joy. Budding novelists, take note.” Soho Press will publish the book on March 8, 2022.

Publishers Weekly awarded a starred review to Daniel Werb’s forthcoming book THE INVISIBLE SEIGE. The reviewer writes: “Epidemiologist Werb (CITY OF OMENS) takes a page-turning and unsettling look at the history of coronaviruses…This is a unique and valuable addition to the expanding body of work on COVID-19.” Crown will publish the book on March 1, 2022.

Business Insider named THE CRYPTONIANS by Laura Shin as one of the “22 Books on Big Tech to Watch Out for in 2022.” They write: “Shin walks readers through the inside story of the ongoing cryptocurrency craze, and promises to expose the market for what it really is: ‘a deeply personal struggle to influence the coming revolution in money, culture, and power.’" PublicAffairs will publish the book on February 22, 2022.

Winner of the Philippines National Book Award on its original release in 1997, BIBLIOLEPSY by Gina Apostol celebrated its U.S. publication this month. Writer and critic Idra Novey wrote a comprehensive review of the book for The New York Times Book Review, praising it as an “audacious first novel…[evoking] ‘reading’s endlessly replenishable boon.’” The book was also included on must-read lists from Ms. Magazine, Bustle, The A.V. Club, and more. Soho Press published the book on January 4, 2022.

MICKEY7 by Edward Ashton is a Library Journal pick of the month. In a starred review, Library Journal raves: “Ashton’s novel begins as farce and ends as something considerably deeper…Highly recommended.” Meanwhile BuzzFeed named MICKEY7 one of “23 New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books We’re Excited About,” praising the novel as “an engrossing sci-fi thriller with a unique premise.” St. Martin’s Press will publish the book on February 15, 2022.

THE LAST SLAVE SHIP by Ben Raines has earned two starred early reviews ahead of its publication. Publishers Weekly calls the book a “riveting chronicle” and “an evocative and informative tale of exploitation, deceit, and resilience.” Meanwhile, Kirkus praises Raines for writing a “highly readable, elucidating narrative that investigates all the layers of a traumatic history.” Simon & Schuster will publish the book on January 25, 2022.

STRANGER FACES author Namwali Serpell’s forthcoming THE FURROWS was named one of 2022’s most-anticipated reads by Electric Literature, Lit Hub, and Vulture. Lit Hub Senior Editor Corinne Segal writes: “Serpell, who won the 2020 Windham-Campbell Prize for fiction and 2015 Caine Prize for African Writing, is one of the world’s most exciting contemporary novelists, and I’m eagerly anticipating this new work from her.” Meanwhile, Israel Daramola of Vulture raves: “Serpell captures the way sadness both envelopes and burrows inside you…The whole thing is a gorgeous, surreal meditation on identity and mourning, one that squeezes the heartstrings and rarely relaxes its grip.” Hogarth will publish the book on September 27, 2022.

BuzzFeed Books editor Tomi Obaro’s debut novel, DELE WEDS DESTINY, is a 2022 must-read for both Electric Literature and Bookshop.org UK, the latter of which praises Obaro as “[a] dazzling new voice in fiction.” Deckle Edge will publish the novel on June 28, 2022.