Literary Awards
WAYS AND MEANS by Daniel Lefferts has been longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, which honors the best debut fiction of the year. The shortlist will be announced in September, and the winner will be named in December at the Center for Fiction's annual awards benefit. WAYS AND MEANS was published by The Overlook Press on February 6, 2024.

PEARL continues to receive glowing reviews in the lead up to its publication. From A.V. Club, Oliver Sava praises: “[PEARL is] heavy material executed with a deft touch…The creative team uses symbolic imagery to boil down complex emotions into visuals that invite the reader to project their own feelings, providing a deeply personal entryway into World War II history for readers of all ages.” Caroline Carlson at Literary Hub writes: “[T]he well-calibrated balance of text, images, and white space makes PEARL a particularly powerful read.” Meanwhile, Historical Novel Society describes the book as an “underappreciated war story,” in which “Amy’s struggle with the dual facets of her nationality feels both realistic and compelling, and her efforts to survive war and understand herself are moving.” PEARL was also a featured pick for August by Amazon Books and The Children’s Book Council. Graphix will publish the book on August 20, 2024.

Rachel Khong’s instant New York Times bestselling novel REAL AMERICANS continues to receive strong press months after its publication, with Steven Whitton penning a paean for The Anniston Star. Whitton praises REAL AMERICANS in the highest terms, calling it “deeply affecting,” “extraordinarily moving,” and “nothing short of spellbinding.” Knopf published the novel on April 30, 2024.

Ryan Chapman’s novel THE AUDACITY received a terrific shoutout in a piece by Lisa Levy for The Washington Post highlighting three novels furthering the thriller genre’s interest in cults. Levy praises THE AUDACITY’S edgy takedown of late capitalism, writing: “At its core, THE AUDACITY is a satire of corporate culture — corporate culture being propaganda developed to make devotion to the company seem like it will lead to lots of money and larger fulfillment. Chapman contradicts this and floats the provocative idea that ridiculous individual wealth might be capitalism taking its last breath…Chapman’s skewering of the rich, the very rich and the ultrarich as they debate the world’s ills is as incisive as it is hilarious.” Soho Press published the novel on April 2, 2024.

Joanna Pearson’s debut novel BRIGHT AND TENDER DARK received more strong acclaim in a group review of four new novels centered around crime from The Toronto Star. Steven W. Beattie offered stunning praise: “[BRIGHT AND TENDER DARK] is character-driven and deliberately paced…[A] thoughtful slow burn of a thriller, crafted with uncommon depth.” Bloomsbury published BRIGHT AND TENDER DARK on June 4, 2024.

The cover has been revealed for this year’s THE BEST AMERICAN FOOD & TRAVEL WRITING. Mariner Books will publish the collection on October 22, 2024.

LIARS by Sarah Manguso received fantastic reviews surrounding its publication this week. For The New York Times Book Review, Brian Dillon writes: "’LIARS is an unflagging and acridly funny assault on [the narrative of a happy marriage], but also a formally canny study of how such tales get told — and how fragile our replacements may turn out." Meanwhile, NPR reviewer Heller McAlpin writes: “[LIARS] is a tour de force, but it is also relentless…Bitterness is never attractive. But good writing is. LIARS makes an old story fresh.” Lastly, Jenessa Abrams reviewed the book for The Los Angeles Review of Books, examining it “in the wake of Andrea Skinner’s revelation about her sexual abuse and her mother Alice Munro’s silence.” Hogarth published LIARS on July 23, 2024.

PEARL by Sherri L. Smith received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The reviewer praises Smith for her “carefully plotted dialogue and character interactions,” and illustrator Christine Norrie’s “[h]arrowing scenes of violence and tragedy…in a haunting progression of inky black panels while a muted blue and white palette adds ethereal ambiance to Amy’s everyday life.” Graphix will publish the novel on August 20, 2024.

Seth Fishman’s forthcoming picture-book, BRANDON AND THE TOTALLY TROUBLESOME TIME MACHINE, received a positive review from Kirkus: “Lighthearted and joke-filled…[T]his flippantly funny selection will appeal to reluctant readers, mistake makers, and homework shirkers alike. A lively lesson on the value of hard work and perseverance embedded in a wacky time travel adventure.” Penguin Workshop will publish the book on October 15, 2024.

Debutiful featured an interview with Sheila Sundar, where Adam Vitcavage calls the book “a deeply moving story about motherhood, immigration, and loss,” adding: “It quickly became a favorite book about motherhood that falls in line with NIGHTBITCH, THE NURSURY, and THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS. What makes this book so exquisite is how subtle and supple Sundar’s writing is. She crafts keen dialogue where you feel you’re in the room with her characters talking. She also allows moments of joy and grief to coexist without pushing one out of the way. The world she allows readers to inhabit is informative both emotionally and intellectually.” HABITATIONS was published by Simon & Schuster on April 2, 2024.