On May 11, Esquire featured an exclusive excerpt from Alex McElroy’s debut novel THE ATMOSPHERIANS in advance of its publication later this month. Esquire will also publish an essay by the author in late May, and original pieces by McElroy are forthcoming in The Atlantic, Vulture, GQ, The Cut, Buzzfeed, and Literary Hub. Atria Books will publish the novel on May 18, 2021.

James Han Mattson’s next novel, REPRIEVE, has received another incredible endorsement. Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, writes: "REPRIEVE takes horror as its subject, while also using the genre as its means, delivering twists and fright and the kind of storytelling that keeps you turning pages. But the brilliance of James Han Mattson’s novel is in deploying the haunted house as a metaphor for our nation, where the true scare is a cultural reckoning with whiteness itself.” William Morrow will publish the novel on October 5, 2021.

Jodie Patterson spoke with Scary Mommy about BORN READY, and the importance of “broadening the scope of trans representation for kids and their families.” Patterson told the interviewer: [t]he reason why I wanted to write BORN READY was so that families and classrooms could share this with young eyes. Oftentimes, the adult conversation is discussing ideas that we’re interested in. But younger people have passed that, or they don’t even hold on to some of the same issues that we have as adults. So I didn’t want to put old ideas on new minds. For children to really have a positive story, a triumphant story without much of the weight that adults bring to the conversation around gender and transgender.” Crown Books for Young Readers published the book on April 20, 2021.

LOVE AND FURY by Samantha Silva received enthusiastic praise from Booklist. They write: "Related with superb detail regarding late-eighteenth-century locales and intellectual pursuits, Silva's portrait of the revolutionary Wollstonecraft generates an absorbing tale of courage, sorrow, and the dance between independence and intimacy that delivers a sense of triumphant catharsis." Flatiron Books will publish the novel on May 25, 2021.

The Sunday Times named THE OLD ENEMY by Henry Porter as their Book of the Month. They rave: “This novel is at once an up-to-the-minute political novel about an emergent second Cold War, a timeless ripping espionage yarn and a continuation of the lives of characters who become richer with each appearance. It’s an impressive achievement and, as ever with Porter, told in an addictive blend of tangy dialogue and polished prose.” Atlantic Monthly Press will publish the book on June 8, 2021.

EVERBODY by Olivia Laing continues to garner positive critical praise following its release. Michele Filgate, writing for The Washington Post, deems the book "quintessential…for the precarious moment we’ve found ourselves in,” adding that “[it] should be required reading for anyone who cares about not just where we are now, but the future.” Meanwhile, 4Columnns raves: "[I]t is a formidable undertaking, one that Laing executes savvily, her plainly diligent research synthesized in lucid, coolly urgent prose.” W.W. Norton & Company published the book on May 4, 2021.

Namwali Serpell's collection of speculative essays, STRANGER FACES, is a 2021 CLMP Firecracker Awards for Independently Published Literature finalist in the Creative Nonfiction category. The Firecracker Awards are given annually “to celebrate books and magazines that make a significant contribution to our literary culture and the publishers that strive to introduce important voices to readers far and wide.” The winners of the award will be announced on June 23rd at 7pm ET via a virtual awards ceremony hosted by The Center for Fiction. Transit Books published STRANGER FACES on October 20, 2020.

Cathy Park Hong’s award-winning essay collection MINOR FEELINGS has spent 6 weeks on the Top 10 of The New York Times bestsellers list for paperback nonfiction, and landed the #1 spot on The Los Angeles bestsellers list in the same category. Hong also appeared on The New York Times podcast Still Processing to discuss MINOR FEELINGS, as well as “the usefulness of rage, and her experience of speaking for — and listening to — the Asian-American community.” One World published the hardcover edition on February 25, 2020, and the paperback edition on March 2, 2021.

EVERYBODY by Olivia Laing published this week, accompanied by generous critical praise. The Financial Times writes: "Laing’s gift for weaving big ideas together with lyrical prose sets her alongside the likes of Arundhati Roy, John Berger and James Baldwin. In other words, she is among the most significant voices of our time.” Meanwhile, Dazed praises the collection for “[tackling] the vast complexity and precarity of inhabiting a body in a culture where certain bodies are deemed more valuable than others,” while The Boston Globe raves: “Dreaming beyond conventional wisdom and restrictive visions, Laing emboldens us to seek liberation across difference in the face of turmoil. EVERYBODY is a galvanizing book during a time of incredible hesitation.” Laing also sat down with The New York Times’ Book Review to discuss her book collection and reading habits for their By the Book column. W.W. Norton & Company published the book on May 4, 2021.

Margaret Kimball's AND NOW I SPILL THE FAMILY SECRETS is Belletrist's book club pick for May 2021, praised as “funny, poignant, and deeply inspiring in its portrayal of what drives a family apart and what keeps them together.” This is the first time Belletrist, founded by actress Emma Roberts and her best friend Kara Preiss, has selected a graphic memoir. The book will be promoted through their weekly e-newsletter and various social media platforms. HarperOne published the book on April 20, 2021.