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It's Friday and I have been loving this sunshiny weather! There are three books that came out this week that I’m excited to tell you about. The first is Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth. Keefe’s 2018 book Say Nothing about The Troubles in Northern Ireland was adapted into a 2024 Netflix series and we had a blitz of interest in the book thereafter. I devoured London Falling, a spectacularly researched true crime deep dive about a young British man who adopts the persona of a Russian oligarch’s billionaire son and his ties to financially dubious businessmen. When he goes missing, his parents start to unravel the shocking grift. This cinematically recounted tale covers Britain's colonial economic history, including the evolution of London from a wharf-centered merchant town to a financial hub of the world. More shocking are whispers-turned-allegations that the Metropolitan police turn a blind eye to crimes tied to wealthy Russians. I cannot recommend this highly enough to our voracious non-fiction readers, but our fiction fans will love this as well.
For the fiction fans among you, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Yesteryear. Everyone is going to want to read this book. Natalie is a successful influencer, showcasing her homesteader life on Yesteryear Farm for millions across the internet. She swears she’s happy through gritted teeth until one day, she wakes up and finds herself in an early 1800s version of the idyllic online life she portrays. No running water, no medicine, and (perhaps most initially devastating for her) no smartphone. Is this some sick prank? Has she been kidnapped? Is this a reality show? But what kind of reality show would expose her to actual violence and danger? This book goes back and forth between “Influencer Natalie” and “Where Am I? Natalie” and we get very few hints about what is going on. The Big Twist was satisfyingly out of left field. Overall dark and funny, Yesteryear is a clever, contemplative take (takedown?) on performative femininity, “authenticity” in an online world, and influencer culture overall.
Last but not least, Emma Straub has a new book called American Fantasy. Once teen heartthrobs, the members of Boy Talk are now in their 50s and participate in a yearly cruise aboard the American Fantasy for the “Talkers”, their devoted fans. Sarah is the lead coordinator in charge of the multi-day event. Annie is a newly divorced mom who reluctantly agrees to join her Talker sister on the cruise, but an emergency leads to Annie attending solo. Keith is one of the Boy Talk members whose people pleasing tendencies have him trapped in a loveless marriage and on yet another Talker cruise despite his seasickness and preference for a quiet life. This was charming and cute and full of introspection about how to move through uncertainty toward happiness. Emma Straub fans won’t be disappointed and – you’re hearing it here first – she is one of our 2026 Ladies Of Summer! Mark your calendars for June 25th; our two other Ladies will be announced in coming weeks.
See you soon,
Mallory
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