Three stylish new releases rich in setting, character, and themes

Plus the ultimate summer reading list and how to take and give criticism

After panicking about reading as many books as possible this week before recording my best books of the year so far episode and subsequently starting and putting aside a truly astonishing number of titles, I finally settled into a good reading rhythm by focusing on a book club selection and then recommendations from trusted sources. This served me well and not only did I find books I really loved, but I felt my concentration return and I really settled into the books I was reading.

I often feel frantic whenever it’s time to make best of the year lists! This particular list was all 2024 releases and I’ll share that podcast towards the end of the month. I’ll also share some best of posts in in the regular newsletter and on my Instagram!

Also, I’m so excited to send off my first surprise book box to the winning newsletter subscriber (more about that new perk here). I’ll show you what I included after I’ve sent it to her but picking out five books that will hopefully surprise and delight another reader was one of the more fun things I’ve done of late!

This week in books.

This week I read…

• The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. This was the Buzzy Book of the Month for the FictionMatters Book Club and I found it to be a very satisfying summer read in spite of the dark Gothic cover. The book is set in Madrid during the Spanish Inquisition and follows Luzia, a scullion and an orphan who’s kitchen magic gets her noticed by her employers. Their attention to her gifts leads to a wealthy patron and then a magic tournament to win the favor of the monarchy. Luzia’s Jewish roots and unconventional beliefs mean entering the royal court poses a great danger to her life, yet the chance to escape the drudgery and loneliness of her current existence proves worth the risk. Both the writing and the setting of this novel are lush, rich, and evocative making for a transporting escape as well as a slower reading experience than I was expecting—and I mean that in the best way possible. I loved being in Bardugo’s world and thoroughly enjoyed this escape into historical fantasy. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

• Clear by Carys Davies. Carys Davies can write and I will now eat up anything and everything she puts out. Clear is a novella that follows Presbyterian minister John Ferguson as he travels to a remote Scottish island in order to evict its last remaining resident. Because this book is so small and the content is so surprising, I don’t want to say any more about the plot, but I’ll tell you that this story explores loneliness and connection as beautifully as any other piece of writing I’ve come across. I also very much enjoyed all of the descriptions of language and the ways it fosters relationships but can also betray us. If you love short books that pack an emotional punch, this one might be for you. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

• All Fours by Miranda July. I’m not sure it’s possible for me to review this book. I loved it. I couldn’t stop reading it and now I won’t be able to stop thinking about it. It’s hilarious, absurd, cringey, powerful, stylish, and brilliant. It’s also extremely provocative. The story follows a woman who leaves her husband and child to embark on a three-and-a-half week road trip across the country and back again in the hopes of reinvigorating both her work and her family life. But instead of this physical quest, she ends up renting a room in a motel 20 minutes from her home and undergoing a crisis of identity, desire, and autonomy. This book won’t be for everyone. Much has been made of the lewd scenes and bawdiness of the whole project, and—like many readers—this book made me deeply uncomfortable at times. But every scene that made me want to look away was also purposeful and revelatory and the questions this novel explores are ones that ought to be aired more often but also feel too specific and profound for me to simply list here. While it’s hard to blindly recommend this through an internet medium, I have already been pressing this into the hands of many friends and hope to read and discuss with my real life book club. This one absolutely blew me away. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

Now I’m reading…

• The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma. Yes, still! It’s fantastic but I couldn’t focus on the audio. Switching to print for the remainder! Amazon | Bookshop

• Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Amazon | Join Our Novel Pairings Read Along

Links I love.

The Ultimate Summer Reading List is here. (Lit Hub)

The Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Nonfiction were announced this week. (Women’s Prize)

I haven’t yet read The Anxious Generation. I do plan to, but I also have issues with Jonathan Haidt’s evidentiary style. This article from an expert on adolescence pushes back on some of his ideas in important ways. (Guardian)

I’m not the only one obsessed with All Fours. (NYT gift link)

This new memoir sounds so good and so intense. (NPR)

9 groundbreaking feminist and gender expansive anthologies. (Electric Lit)

The 30+ novels the NYT book editors are most excited about. (NYT gift link)

This lengthy review of the new book What Are Children For? was an interesting read. (New Yorker)

The questions in the most recent Am I the Literary Asshole column are so fascinating! (Lit Hub)

How to take (and give) criticism well—I really valued this advice. (Atlantic gift link)

End notes.

This week in views, listens, eats, and moments of joy.

• I really enjoyed this eclectic summer book preview.

• We’ve seen a lot of friends this week and I just love it. It’s the best feeling when everyone emerges from hibernation. We’ve been organizing spontaneous hangouts and staying out past (kid) bedtime, and it’s all been wonderful.

• I watched the first half of the new season of Bridgerton and am excited to check out the next batch of episodes that just dropped.

FictionMatters Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. If you’d prefer to support my work by purchasing the standalone Paperback Summer Reading Guide or with a one-time “tip,” visit my Buy Me a Coffee page.

Subscribed

---

For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!

This email may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please forward it to a book-loving friend. That’s a great way to spread bookish cheer and support the newsletter!

Happy reading!

Sara