BROTHER, SISTER, MOTHER, EXPLORER by Jamie Figueroa has been longlisted for the 2021 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. The shortlist will be announced this fall, and the winner will be announced in December at the Center for Fiction’s Annual Awards Benefit. Catapult published the novel on March 2, 2021.

THE PROPHETS by Robert Jones Jr. has been longlisted for the 2021 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. The shortlist will be announced this fall, and the winner will be announced in December at the Center for Fiction’s Annual Awards Benefit. THE PROPHETS was also longlisted for the Crook's Corner Book Prize, which was created to “highlight emerging fiction writers who typically face some of the toughest obstacles in publishing.” The winner will be announced in January 2022. G.P. Putnam’s Sons published THE PROPHETS on January 5, 2021.

THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV by Dawnie Walton was recommended by THE VANISHING author Britt Bennett for Bookshop.org's literary newsletter as one of “several recent releases that have captivated [her]." 37 Ink published the novel on March 30, 2021.

CHINA ROOM by Sunjeev Sahota received a flurry of praise on the day of its release. Ploughshares deems the book a "deeply captivating and necessary novel,” while USA Today rates it 3½ out of four stars, writing: “Sahota has powerfully imagined a life under extreme constraint…a reminder that freedom is hard-won, but fear and anxiety can get passed down as heirlooms.” The book was also chosen as a Book of the Month pick, where author Tessa Hadley raves: “The material [in CHINA ROOM] was entirely fresh and new, the writing economical and elegant. And – what a compelling story.” Viking published the novel on July 13, 2021.

Virtuoso Life Magazine praises TOGETHER WE WILL GO by J. Michael Straczynski, writing: “Straczynski’s novel brims with joy and connection. While a couple of scenes will bring tears to even the most stoic eyes…what emerges is a story full of compassion, humor, and hope.” The book was also featured on the New York Post’s best-of list for new releases. Gallery/Scout Press published the book on July 6, 2021.

Deadline announced Zosia Mamet’s two-book deal with Viking Penguin, an anthology titled MY FIRST POPSICLE and a collection of personal essays. Viking executive director Meg Leder writes: “The anthology Zosia is curating is like an enviable dinner party—a spectrum of insightful contributors exploring the intersections between food and life, and we’re just as thrilled to be publishing her book of personal essays the following year — a vulnerable, witty, and relatable collection that makes you want to fight people on her behalf and immediately be her new best friend.” Viking Penguin will publish MY FIRST POPSICLE in Fall 2022, and the essay collection in Fall 2023.

CHINA ROOM by Sunjeev Sahota continues to gather a flurry of praise in the run-up to its highly anticipated release. Entertainment Weekly calls the novel "heart-wrenching" in its best-of list for July, while PopSugar hails it as an "epic story" and Apartment Therapy calls it "as beautiful as it is heart-shattering." The book was also featured on AARP’s list of “21 Hot New Novels for Summer.”
Viking will publish the book on July 13, 2021.

Kendra Allen’s debut poetry collection, THE COLLECTION PLATE, launched this week to a flurry of wonderful coverage. Literary Hub featured a poem from the collection on its website the day before publication, and Allen sat down with Skye Jackson for an interview in Electric Literature. As part of her virtual book tour, Allen will be hosting events in conversation with Kiese Laymon, Jason Reynolds, Sanderia Faye, and Brown Girl Collective, among others. Ecco published THE COLLECTION PLATE on July 6, 2021.

Kent Babb’s forthcoming ACROSS THE RIVER has received its first starred review, from Kirkus: “Washington Post reporter Babb isn’t interested in delivering a play-by-play analysis of Edna Karr High School’s 2019 [football] season. More significantly, he offers well-rounded portraits of the personalities involved with the team: the coaches, players, fans, and the city as a whole… A penetrating, wide-screen story of what it means to mentor under the toughest of circumstances.” HarperOne will publish the book on August 10, 2021.

The New York Times Book Review named Joss Lake's FUTURE FEELING as one of its "New and Noteworthy" titles for early July. Soft Skull published the book on June 1, 2021.