It’s the last week of April! Can you believe it’s already over?
For us, it’s a quiet ending to the month. We only have four books to mention this time. Looking ahead to May, though, there are some big releases we can’t wait to talk about!
Which new releases are on your TBR pile? Or are you already looking forward to May books instead? Tell us in the comments!
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A Magical Girl Retires
Author: Park Seolyeon
Released: April 30, 2024 by HarperVia
Genre: LGBTQIA, Novella, Science Fiction/FantasyA millennial turned magical girl must combat climate change and credit card debt in this delightful, witty, and wildly imaginative ode to magical girl manga.
Twenty-nine, depressed, and drowning in credit card debt after losing her job during the pandemic, a millennial woman decides to end her troubles by jumping off Seoul’s Mapo Bridge.
But her suicide attempt is interrupted by a girl dressed all in white—her guardian angel. Ah Roa is a clairvoyant magical girl on a mission to find the greatest magical girl of all time. And our protagonist just may be that special someone.
But the young woman’s initial excitement turns to frustration when she learns being a magical girl in real life is much different than how it’s portrayed in stories. It isn’t just destiny—it’s work. Magical girls go to job fairs, join trade unions, attend classes. And for this magical girl there are no special powers and no great perks, and despite being magical, she still battles with low self-esteem. Her magic wand . . . is a credit card—which she must use to defeat a terrifying threat that isn’t a monster or an intergalactic war. It’s global climate change. Because magical girls need to think about sustainability, too.
Park Seolyeon reimagines classic fantasy tropes in a novel that explores real-world challenges that are both deeply personal and universal: the search for meaning and the desire to do good in a world that feels like it’s ending. A fun, fast-paced, and enchanting narrative that sparkles thanks to award-nominated translator Anton Hur, A Magical Girl Retires reminds us that we are all magical girls—that fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight can be anyone’s game.
Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur
Amanda: As someone who grew up on magical girl anime, I love this concept!
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Happy Medium
Author: Sarah Adler
Released: April 30, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy“A sincere and sincerely funny romance.”—Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House
A clever con woman must convince a skeptical, sexy farmer of his property’s resident real-life ghost if she’s to save them all from a fate worse than death, in this delightful new novel from the author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.
Fake spirit medium Gretchen Acorn is happy to help when her best (read: wealthiest) client hires her to investigate the unexplained phenomena preventing the sale of her bridge partner’s struggling goat farm. Gretchen may be a fraud, but she’d like to think she’s a beneficentone. So if “cleansing” the property will help a nice old man finally retire and put some much-needed cash in her pockets at the same time, who’s she to say no?
Of course, it turns out said bridge partner isn’t the kindly AARP member Gretchen imagined—Charlie Waybill is young, hot as hell, and extremely unconvinced that Gretchen can communicate with the dead. (Which, fair.) Except, to her surprise, Gretchen finds herself face-to-face with Everett: the very real, very chatty ghost that’s been wreaking havoc during every open house. And he wants her to help ensure Charlie avoids the same family curse that’s had Everett haunting Gilded Creek since the 1920s.
Now, Gretchen has one month to convince Charlie he can’t sell the property. Unfortunately, hard work and honesty seem to be the way to win over the stubborn farmer—not exactly Gretchen’s strengths. But trust isn’t the only thing growing between them, and the risk of losing Charlie to the spirit realm looms over Gretchen almost as annoyingly as Everett himself. To save the goat farm, its friendly phantom, and the man she’s beginning to love, Gretchen will need to pull off the greatest con of her life: being fully, genuinely herself.
Amanda: I’m a sucker for any type of con artist heroine.
Sarah: Speaking of ghosts! A fake medium sees real ghosts, and has to convince this dude not to sell a property so as to break curse over him. As you do.
Lara: This book’s denouement was a real keeper. Reader, I swooned.
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King of Sloth
Author: Ana Huang
Released: April 30, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Kings of Sin #4He’d never wanted anyone enough to chase them…until he met her.
Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips.
He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him…unless the woman in question is his publicist.
Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants.
***
Cool, intelligent, and ambitious, Sloane Kensington is a high-powered publicist who’s used to dealing with difficult clients.However, none infuriate—or tempt—her more than a certain billionaire heir, with his stupid dimples and laid-back attitude.
She may be forced to work with him, but she’ll never fall for him…no matter how fast he makes her heart beat or how thoughtful he is beneath his party persona.
He’s her client, and that’s all he’ll ever be. Right?
The latest in Ana Huang’s popular series. Any fans in the Bitchery?
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Truly, Madly, Deeply
Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
Released: April 30, 2024 by Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, RomanceSparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.
As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. She’s even signed on to record a podcast sharing relationship advice. Little do they know she feels like an imposter—her parents just announced they’re separating, she caught her fiancé cheating, and her entire view on love has been shaken to the core. Truly hopes the podcast will distract her… until she meets her cohost.
Her first impression of Colin McCory is…hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.
A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder… is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?
Amanda: Look…we all know that’s Steve from Stranger Things on the cover.
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Ana Huang’s Kings of Sin series hasn’t grabbed me quite as much as her earlier Twisted Love series, but I’ve still been reading them and am interested in KING OF SLOTH because the MCs have shown up as supporting characters in previous books in the series. In addition to KING OF SLOTH, the only other book I have on my tbr this week is HOUSE OF CARDS (May 2) by Garrett Leigh. It’s a reworking of an earlier book now looped in to Leigh’s Rebel Kings series of motorcycle club romances. This story features the friends-to-lovers trope between two tattoo artists.
Catriona McPherson’s new Dandy Gilver mystery is out on Thursday. I will be interested in watching Amazon on that day, because the new mystery is called ‘The Witching Hour’ and the reviews are linking it to the Anne Rice book. I may have to order a paperback from B&N.
The two I’m excited about this week are–
– Sarah Honey and Lisa Henry’s THE ALPHA TAU PLEDGE PROJECT, which continues their entertaining m/m series set on the fictional Lassiter campus featuring an LGBQT+ friendly frat, with a range of personalities and interests 🙂
and
– Beth Bolden’s HOT STREAK, a stand-alone m/m baseball romance. While I’m not much of a baseball fan, thanks in part to @DiscoDollyDeb’s recommendation, I loved KD Casey’s trilogy, and I loved this one by Ms Bolden. It’s clear she loves the game, and I hope more readers will pick this one up. If any of the B*tchery read this, would love to hear what you think!
Loved Sarah Adler’s MRS. NASH’S ASHES, so I’m looking forward to this one.
Mixed about Alexandria Bellefleur’s previous releases (liked but didn’t love) but have heard very good things about TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY so I’ve got a hold on it.
Also looking forward to Alexandria House’s ASSIST (Black sports romance–I’ve enjoyed the previous 2 in the series), Rochelle Bilow’s EFFIE OLSEN’S SUMMER SPECIAL (liked her previous RUBY SPENCER’S WHISKY YEAR), and Emily Henry recommended COLTON GENTRY’S THIRD ACT, so I’m going to check that one out, too.
As a 30+ year veteran of library work, can I just say that I’m truly, madly, deeply infuriated by the sight of some illustrated cover model planting her high heeled sandals on a stack of books in the course of her library canoodling. (The kids in our stacks avoid injury by LYING DOWN!
There is a new Celia Lake coming out on the 3rd. The Magic of Four.
All on the TBR!