Four Hot New Releases

This week I am highlighting four books that have already released this year (one comes out next Tuesday) that you should add to your list! 2023 is going to be a huge year for books – so many fabulous titles are releasing throughout the year. These four are definitely worth reading:

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (thriller) – All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham fits the bill for anyone looking for a page turning thriller. A couple’s son goes missing out of his room, and we join the mother a year after the disappearance. It's an easy read with lots of clever twists and turns, and I loved Willingham's commentary on our culture's obsession with true crime. That aspect of the book is very thought-provoking. Clear your schedule because once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down.

The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page (contemporary fiction) – This book includes so many themes that I enjoy - intergenerational relationships, the importance of community, found families, how stories can change our lives, humor, and more. Janice cleans home for a living and collects her clients' stories as she works. She doesn't believe she deserves her own story, but as the book progresses, she slowly understands that everyone has a story. And there's the best dog ever in the book – he's a true standout. I truly loved this book.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson (historical fiction) – In 1950s Philadelphia, the story follows Ruby, a 15-year-old who plans to be the first in her family to head to college regardless of the lack of familial support. Meanwhile, Eleanor moves to Washington, DC where she meets and falls in love with William at Howard University. When the two women’s lives unexpectedly collide, they must contend with choices that will impact them both for years to come. In The House of Eve, Johnson brings 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to life while effectively demonstrating what it was like to be a black woman during that time period. I highly recommend this one.

Go As a River by Shelley Read (historical fiction) – Go As a River is a stunning and unforgettable debut set in rural Colorado that tells the story of one woman’s hardscrabble existence and how she learns to make her way in a man’s world. Seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash keeps her family’s household running while her father and brother tend the family’s peach farm in 1940s Iola, Colorado. When she meets a young Native American man, the pair fall in love, but their relationship sets in motion a shocking chain of events. Read’s incredibly strong sense of place and ability to bring the natural world to life are the backbones of the story, but the characters, particularly Torie, and their tales stole my heart, and this book will stay with me for a long time. It comes out next Tuesday, Feb. 28. 

What 2023 releases are you excited about? Comment below and let me know!

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram. Find upcoming Conversations from a Page events here.