THE STARS ARE NOT YET BELLS by Hannah Lillith Assadi continues to receive recognition as one of the most exciting books of January. BookRiot featured the book on their list of “10 Short, Fast-Paced Books to Kickstart Your Yearly Reading Goal” (“This lyrical historical fiction novel throws you right into the thick of its mystery, romance, and heartbreak”) and Southern Review of Books featured the novel as one of the “Best Southern Books of January 2022.”

New York Review of Books contributing writer Peter C. Baker’s debut novel, PLANES, was named one of Lit Hub’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2022.” Lit Hub Deputy Editor Emily Firetog writes: “Baker’s novel is an assured debut and the announcement of a new, bold voice.” Knopf will publish the book on May 31, 2022.

Jordan Castro’s forthcoming debut novel, THE NOVELIST, was named one of Lit Hub’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2022.” Lit Hub Staff Writer Walker Caplan writes: “Jordan Castro is the previous editor of New York Tyrant Magazine, which published barbed, efficient, emotional writing that lacked the didacticism and slow pacing of other outlets. I expect similar from Castro’s debut novel, which the titular novelist over a single morning as he struggles to write an autobiographical novel based on his own heroin addiction and recovery. I care about novelists, so I’m excited.” Soft Skull will publish the book on June 14, 2022.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

THE SEAPLANE ON FINAL APPROACH is one of Lit Hub’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2022.” Lit Hub Senior Editor Jessie Gaynor writes: “It sounds like a horny bottle episode of a novel that’s also a workplace comedy at the edge of the world. According to Tony Tulathimutte, ‘It’s like if Muriel Spark got seasick and dropped molly instead of dramamine.’ I’m extremely into it.” The novel is also one of Goodreads’ “Hot and Fresh: 60 Highly Anticipated Debut Novels.” Doubleday will publish the book on June 7, 2022.