#RHCBloggerPreview: 10 Spring/Fall Titles to Put on Your Radar

There are many reasons why I love being a book blogger, and one of them is being able to find out about new and exciting titles before they’re published. Last night, the wonderful ladies at Random House Canada (Lindsey, Aliya, and Jessica) hosted a blogger preview at their Toronto offices and it was a wonderful night learning about some of their upcoming books, chatting with fellow book-lovers, and munching on delicious pizza! I definitely left the event feeling super excited about the books they told us about, so I thought I would share my enthusiasm with you all. So, here is a list of 10 books that I think should be on everyone’s radar!

1. In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume (June 2nd, 2015)

Let’s just dive right in, shall we? I grew up reading (and loving) Judy Blume, so I couldn’t be more excited to hear that she is releasing a brand new adult novel. Based on true events that witnessed a series of passenger airplane crashes within a three-month period, In the Unlikely Event “bring[s] us the lives of three generations of families, friends, and strangers who will be profoundly affected by these events, either directly or indirectly.” Read more on Goodreads here.

2. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (March 3rd, 2015)

It’s been a decade since Never Let Me Go, but Kazuo Ishiguro is back with The Buried Giant! I’m really looking forward to reading this as I thoroughly enjoyed the #RemainsReread with Random House Canada last year where we read (or re-read) The Remains of the Day. (Read part 1 of my re-cap here.) This has been described as “a story of a marriage” as well as a “myth-like.” Aliya made a particularly great point about Ishiguro: (Paraphrased to the best of my ability!) “His books are not always easy, but they are always worth it. He never writes the same book twice.” Yep, I’m in. Read more on Goodreads here.

3. Boo by Neil Smith (May 12th, 2015)

Lindsey introduced this book as “Lord of the Flies meets The Lovely Bones.” Intrigued yet? “In an afterlife exclusively for thirteen-year-olds, an oft-bullied social misfits makes the friends he never had on Earth in this charmingly quirky coming-of-age novel.” In parts a murder mystery, I think this book will have everyone buzzing when it comes out in May. Read more on Goodreads here.

4. We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen (May 12th, 2015)

I have raved about Susin Nielsen before, but I couldn’t help squealing when We Are All Made of Molecules came on the screen at the conference. I have actually had the privilege of reading this book already, and it is amazing. Seriously, I have never disliked a Susin Nielsen book ever. This book is a “hilarious yet deeply moving story [about] a sweet, awkward boy and a not-so-sweet girl.” It has the perfect balance of laugh-out-loud funny and serious topics. SO. GOOD. Read more on Goodreads here.

5. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin (March 17th, 2015)

You may have heard of Gretchen Rubin before, as she is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project. In Better than Before, Rubin “tackles the question: How do we make good habits that are easy, effortless, and automatic?” I  am definitely a creature of habits (some of them bad), so this seems like just the book for me! Plus, I’m making it a point to read more non-fiction this year, so Better Than Before kills two birds with one stone. Score. Read more on Goodreads here.

6. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install (August 4th, 2015)

Everyone who has read A Robot in the Garden already seems to be enamored with it, and it’s not hard to see why. Described as “Pixar-esque” and “if Up and Wall-E had a baby” (credits go to Siobhan), this is a “funny, touching, charming, wise, and a bit magical novel that explores what it is to be a man, a sentient being, and even a parent.” It seems like Tang the robot will be one of those characters that we will love long after the book is done. Read more on Goodreads here.

7. His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay (August 11th, 2015)

I have an embarrassing confession to make: I have never read anything by Elizabeth Hay. It’s never too late to start though, right? His Whole Life is sure to be a big Canadian release, and I can’t wait to read this book that “[starts] with something as simple as a boy who wants his dog [and] takes us into a richly intimate world where everything that matters to him is at risk: family, nature, home.” Lindsey called this book “a story of a family” and “really accessible,” so I’m excited to make this my first book by Hay. Read more on Goodreads here.

8. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella (June 9th, 2015)

My heart started doing crazy things when this book was introduced. If you know me, you’ll know that I love the Shopaholic series, so it’s no surprise that I’d be excited for Sophie Kinsella’s venture into writing for young adults. I’m especially interested in Finding Audrey as it deals with anxiety disorder and psychological recovery. Plus, how amazing is that cover?? Read more on Goodreads here.

9. Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs by Davide Cali; illustrated by Raphaelle Barbanegre (April 14th, 2015)

What if Snow White didn’t have to entertain 7 dwarfs, but 77? This is a picture book reimagining of the famous Snow White tale “with hilarious results.” It’s “a funny, twisted retelling for fans of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and The Three Pigs by David Weisner.” We were shown a few of the illustrations at the conference, and I thought those alone made the book worthy of picking up. I’m intrigued by this one! Read more on Goodreads here.

10. Good Food, Good Life: 130 Simple Recipes You’ll Love to Make and Eat by Curtis Stone (March 10, 2015)

We all agree that Curtis Stone has a “media-friendly” (read: attractive) face, but that’s not the only reason to check Good Food, Good Life out. As someone who always struggles to find recipes that are both easy to make and delicious, this sounds like just the book for me. “Recipes include Butternut Squash with Sage Brown Butter, Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Alabama BBQ Sause and Asparagus, …” I’m drooling just thinking about it. Read more on Goodreads here.

Honourable mentions (Fall titles!):

• The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood. It’s a new Margaret Atwood book. What more do I need to say?
• Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Aliya loved “everything, everything” about this book. It’s about a girl who is allergic to everything and has to live a sterile life. What will happen to her when she falls in love with the boy next door? What intrigued me the most about this one is that there is artwork throughout the book. Ooooooh!
• The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. This sounds similar to The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and is a must-read for book lovers. I think the story speaks for itself. I’m sold.

So there you have it! It was so difficult to choose only 10 books, but somehow I managed. Are you excited about any of these upcoming titles? Are there any other books that should be on my radar?

*Thank you again to Random House Canada for hosting this fun event!