Welcome to Issue #47!
The trees are whispering…
Friends, welcome
to another exciting week of The Pond Book News! Every Sunday, The Quiet Pond brings you a fresh issue of book news to catch you up on the week’s lineup of diverse book releases, cover reveals, book news, and sometimes more! We’re still working on our Book Community Spotlight feature too, and we really appreciate everyone’s patience as we work on getting it where we want to be. Now onward to the news!
Book Releases This Week [July 12th – July 18th]
The Extraordinaires by T.J. Klune
Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?
After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick’s best friend (and maybe the love of his life).
A queer coming-of-age superhero story with ADHD rep, um yes??? I’m so excited for a good time. Quiet stories set in fantastical/speculative worlds always end up being such fascinating books, and I hope this ends up spectacular as well!
Releases July 14th. Add this book on Goodreads!
A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee
Aubrey Choi loves living in her small town nestled in the foothills of California, running her highly successful bakery away from the watch of her strict Korean parents. When a cake mix-up and a harsh review threaten all of her hard work and her livelihood, she never thought the jaded food critic would turn out to be her one-night stand. And she sure as hell never thought she’d see her gorgeous Korean unicorn again. But when Landon Kim waltzes into her bakery trying to clean up the mess he had a huge hand in making, Aubrey is torn between throwing and hearing him out.
When she hears his plan to help save her business, Aubrey knows that spending three weeks in California wine country working with Landon is a sure recipe for disaster. Her head is telling her to take the chance to save her bakery while her heart—and her hormones—are at war on whether to give him a second chance. And it just so happens that Landon’s meddling friends want them to spend those three weeks as close as possible…by sharing a villa.
When things start heating up, both in and out of the kitchen, Aubrey will have to make a choice—to stick it out or risk her heart.
Hooray for more Korean-American adult romance, this time with bakery shenanigans! I’m always so drawn to stories where food is a central theme, and always here for a good ole bakery romance filled with ambitions and yearning.
Releases July 14th. Add this book on Goodreads!
Running by Natalia Sylvester
Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter’s vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutes–style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her father’s political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the man she thought he was.
But how do you find your voice when everyone’s watching? When it means disagreeing with your father—publicly? What do you do when your dad stops being your hero? Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it?
In a year where politics worldwide is evermore fraught with disappointment and outrage every single day, I hope this book can be a balm and a beacon of hope for the readers who need some way to be able to look past the desperation in the air right now. I’ve always firmly believed that fiction can be a tool for social change and revolution, and this book feels primed to do just that in a social climate like ours today.
Releases July 14th. Add this book on Goodreads!
Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
Shady Grove inherited her father’s ability to call ghosts from the grave with his fiddle, but she also knows the fiddle’s tunes bring nothing but trouble and darkness.
But when her brother is accused of murder, she can’t let the dead keep their secrets.
In order to clear his name, she’s going to have to make those ghosts sing.
Family secrets, a gorgeously resonant LGBTQ love triangle, and just the right amount of creepiness make this young adult debut a haunting and hopeful story about facing everything that haunts us in the dark.
I’ve been excited for this one ever since it was announced! A queer ghost story featuring music and fiddles, family and murder? I’m definitely going to look out for it on bookstore shelves!
Book News
Cover Reveal: The Ikessar Falcon by K.S. Villoso
Look at this fierce af cover!! I really do need to pick up Oren-Yaro, and this amazing cover is giving me yet another reason to go back to it. I love how the art style synergises with the cover of the first book too!
Cover Reveal: A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer
Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreakers trilogy finally finds a conclusion in this third book! The bold color choices for the covers of all three books (blue, green, and now red!) means this series is going to stand out on shelves for sure.
Book Announcement: New middle-grade Marvel graphic novels by authors of color!
This looks so very cool, and I’m definitely going to try picking this up! We’re also getting brand new stories about Miles Morales (authored by Justin A. Reynolds), and Kamala Khan (by Nadia Shammas) too, and I’m so excited to see new life breathed into these iconic heroes!
Book Announcement: A debut poetry collection from Erica Martin about Black Lives Matter and unsung historical figures
In this household we absolutely stan critical poetry collections about searing social issues and commentary. I’m very glad this is being written, especially for a YA audience! I’m definitely going to pick this up myself too, and hope that you’ll join me.
Book Announcement: A delicious, chefy graphic novel forthcoming from Mika Song
This sounds so cute! Stories about food have my whole, whole heart, and I have a soft spot particularly for ones specifically for cooking too. And more Asian author/illustrators in the industry? We love to see it.
Book Announcement: A West African and Igbo myth-inspired middle grade fantasy by Jamar J. Perry
OHHH I love this premise! An inherited generational magic and a hidden kingdom, all wrapped up in a West African and Igbo myth-inspired world? This is going on my TBR for sure.
Book Announcement: A Latinx magical realism YA graphic novel by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo
All the graphic novel love in this book news issue! This book looks like such a fun adventure, and I’m definitely always here for ownvoices Latinx magical realism, too. Friendly ghosts across the desert? Sign me up!
Book Announcement: African-inspired epic fantasy trilogy forthcoming from Saara El-Arifi
An epic fantasy about nobles, empire and rebels from an ownvoices MENA author published by an acclaimed SFF imprint… This is the stuff of my dreams. I cannot wait to hear more news about this series!
Book Announcement: Queer Indonesian graphic novel from Jessica and Jacinta Wibowo
SEA represent!! I am so very glad that the Wibowo twins are getting yet another fantastic-sounding graphic novel deal, and I’m so curious about their stories! A boy from the moon with a stepfather on Earth? Culture shock framed through this interstellar story? Definitely keeping an eye out for their work!
Book Announcement: J.C. Cervantes’ forthcoming Aztec shadow bruja MG fantasy duology
Storm Runner fans rejoice, we’re getting more book from J.C. Cervantes under Riordan Presents! I am so dang excited to discover this Aztec-inspired world filled with gods and brujas.
The Quiet Pond 
Great update!! Thank you for keeping me (us) informed!!
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