The Best New Book Releases Out May 21, 2024

The author of the immensely popular The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is back with a very unique, sort of “locked-room mystery.” I say sort of because, instead of just a room, the confined area is an entire island that houses the last of humanity after a fog swept the planet killing everyone it touched (that’s the “locked” part). Life on the island is chill — albeit unsustainable. The 100+ villagers are fine enough fishing, farming, and following the orders of the scientists who keep them safe. But then, one of the scientists is found stabbed to death, and with them comes lowered security around the island. What’s more, the security system has wiped everyone’s memory of what happened the night of the murder. If they don’t find out what happened within the next four or so days, the island, with its compromised security system, will be overtaken by the deadly fog.

Here’s another welcome entry into the female-characters-in-mythology-revisited sub-genre that’s having a moment. Except, the female character in question is Hindu river goddess Ganga, and not one from Greek mythology, like so many other modern retellings. Ganga is content, for a time, as she watches over the spirited baby gods who run up and down her river, but when they cause trouble for the wrong sage, it’s Ganga who is cursed to become mortal. Adapting to her new life, she marries King Shantanu and births a son, Devavrata. As she struggles to finally rid herself of the curse, she finds out she’ll have to give up her son. Then, it’s Devavrata who carries on the curse, and who unknowingly sets the world off on the course of war. As the years pass, Ganga’s and Devavrata’s unique mother/son dynamic shapes the lives of so many.

The second installment of the sweet Guncle series finds the titular Guncle — that is, Gay Uncle — Patrick O’Hara reprising his uncle-ing duties with his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, once his brother announces a wedding in Italy. It’s there he meets a new Launt (Lesbian Aunt), contends with aging and loneliness after a breakup, all while trying his best to stop his sister Clara from having a Hot Girl Summer with wedding guests. With all that going on, Maisie and Grant are struggling with the changes going on in their lives. But at least Guncle Patrick is there to reassure them (while remaining their fave, hopefully).

There’s a Biblical level of begetting in this debut novel, but the focus is on mothers and their daughters. Evelyn births Charlotte, and Charlotte births Corinna, who then finally gives birth to Camille — Camille being the intelligent girl who offers her mother and mothers before her a shimmer of hope for the future. There’s a lot of trauma wrapped up in these women’s familial bonds, and though there’s a chance to right past wrongs with Camille’s rearing, each woman doesn’t really know how to go about it. When Camille leaves the backwoods of Tennessee for D.C., she’ll have to decide whether she’ll allow herself to be swallowed by what all the women who came before could not be but want her to be, or if she will move toward her own version of happiness.

When I read that this was a “hilarious nod to 1950s lesbian pulp fiction,” I was sold. It follows Astrid Dahl, who recently moved herself and her massive perfume collection to a small place in L.A. after getting kinda, sorta canceled for a thing. Trying to distract herself, she gets caught up with Ivy, a grad student researching 1950s lesbian pulp fiction, and Penelope, a vegan artist currently being sustained by an Urban Outfitters settlement, and who judges Astrid. Astrid hits a lick of luck when her agent calls her saying that an actress/influencer wants to adapt her book, but the pressure of it all sends Astrid down an Adderall/alcohol-induced series of low-key surreal blackouts and otherwise unfortunate events. This book will take you up, down, and around.