Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
This week I can't wait for
What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella
Published by The Dial Press on October 8, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Goodreads
Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain.
As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.
Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again.
“Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella
I am a long time fan of Kinsella's, so I will always want to read her new releases. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I started looking into it and was devastated to learn the personal nature of the story. I only really follow friends and other bloggers on social media, so I was unaware the Kinsella was battling brain cancer since 2022. Knowing that, I am even more interested in reading this book because I think it's beautiful that she wants to share this part of herself with her readers. I predict tears since I am crying now, but I am sure it will be heartwarming as all her books are.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Published by Knopf on August 3, 2021
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Goodreads
A smart, sexy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about ex-boyfriends, imperfect parents, friends with kids, and a man who disappears the moment he says "I love you."
Nina Dean is not especially bothered that she's single. She owns her own apartment, she's about to publish her second book, she has a great relationship with her ex-boyfriend, and enough friends to keep her social calendar full and her hangovers plentiful. And when she downloads a dating app, she does the seemingly impossible: She meets a great guy on her first date. Max is handsome and built like a lumberjack; he has floppy blond hair and a stable job. But more surprising than anything else, Nina and Max have chemistry. Their conversations are witty and ironic, they both hate sports, they dance together like fools, they happily dig deep into the nuances of crappy music, and they create an entire universe of private jokes and chemical bliss.
But when Max ghosts her, Nina is forced to deal with everything she's been trying so hard to ignore: her father's Alzheimer's is getting worse, and so is her mother's denial of it; her editor hates her new book idea; and her best friend from childhood is icing her out. Funny, tender, and eminently, movingly relatable, Ghosts is a whip-smart tale of relationships and modern life.
I think I because an instant fan of Alderton's after reading Good Material. Her book was smart and funny and thought provoking, and I am hoping for more of the same with Ghosts. This sounds like a look at modern dating, but also at the way we deal with life's complications. I have no doubt that Alderton will make it interesting and amusing while also being honest.
Let us know in the comments!
I've got Good Material piled on my stack here. We've been dealing with hurricane aftermath, so the idea of actually tackling my pile seems more daunting that it normally would.
ReplyDeleteI know you are reading a lot of thrillers and whatnot, but Good Material was great. Alderton has a great voice and with her keen observations and whip smart writing produces great books. I loved Ghosts, too. I hope you get to read it.
DeleteHope you enjoy both of these! It's been a long time since I've picked up one of Kinsella's books.
ReplyDeleteI will always pick up a Kinsella book. They make me happy, and Ghosts was great.
DeleteBattling brain cancer? Oh dang, that's really sad.
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been MIA for almost 2 weeks. My internet was out and I had a hard time getting on blogs with my phone. But it's fixed now and I'm making my way around to all the blogs I love.
Glad to hear the internet is fixed. That's a long outage in this day and age. I was in tears when I read about Kinsella. My heart goes out to her and her family. She's only a few years older than me.
DeleteThat's horrific news about Kinsella. I had no idea. I imagine this will be quite an emotional read.
ReplyDeleteI don't follow celebs, but I usually see important things. I was shocked I hadn't heard earlier.
DeleteGood Material is on my TBR (I think because of you again LOL) and I bought The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella while in Bath last week! So it's probable that I will end up adding these last two too!
ReplyDeleteI feel like Kinsella always does a good job of making me laugh and warming my heart. I just know this book will be emotional for me given its connection to her own hearth battle.
DeleteI was just approved for the Sophie Kinsella book this week, and am looking forward to it. I love all her work. I also didn't know about her cancer battle, so it will be very different, I'm sure. I hope we both enjoy it, Sam.
ReplyDeleteI did not put a request in after I found out what it was about. I think I need to read this one without the pressure of a review. I will be looking for your review.
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