My Pick:

John Scalzi knows how to write a whacky sci-fi story and I’m here for it.

From the publisher:

“Welcome to Richland, Ohio.

Things aren’t great.

The town’s biggest employer is closing shop, and Richland’s on the brink. It’s where Mike Boyd, with his own set of problems, finds himself returning to after decades away.

He’s not planning to stay. But Richland has other plans for Mike, his old friend Dave, and a newcomer Andi. They’re caught in a swirl of local troubles, private equity, executive theft… and something extremely weird involving Jeremy Keller’s prize cow.

Welcome to Richland. Leave your expectations behind. Bring a tarp.”

My Pick:

The need to control can often seem like a need. But, in reality, it can hinder allowing things to happen naturally. So, learning some tips on how to let go would be a benefit to anyone.

From the publisher:

“We’re living in a time of unprecedented control over almost every aspect of our day-to-day existence, from the precise way we brew and consume our favorite morning beverage, to the micro-regulation of the temperature and surround-sound audio in our car, to when and how we reproduce. No longer embedded in the greater tapestry of the universe, we now hold the world in the palm of our hand.

As such, we’ve become intolerant of uncertainty. When we encounter a circumstance we cannot predict or control, we engage in the narcissistic defenses of denial and pathological willfulness, attempting to further bend the universe to our will.The result?

An epidemic of anxiety, loneliness, boredom, and self-loathing shame: anxiety born of the fear of choosing poorly. Loneliness a consequence of self-aggrandizement. Boredom the essence of living in a predictable world. Shame the natural byproduct of narcissism, wherein we have only ourselves to blame when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Blending relatable stories with neuroscience, Dr. Lembke argues that the antidote to modern despair is living a surrendered life. Using her personal story of loss and subsequent existential reckoning as a powerful entry point, Dr. Lembke defines surrender as the moment we acknowledge a power greater than ourselves, however we define it, and give our will over to that power: less mastery and more a return to mystery.

Science-based and deeply inspiring, Radical Surrender is the perfect book for anyone seeking more meaning and connection in our self-obsessed, hyperrational, disenchanted universe.”

My Pick:

I love it when authors write different genres so I’m excited to see what Sutanto does with this new dark fantasy.

Plus the cover is really cool.

From the publisher:

“Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic–and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.

In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run–with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.

Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful… until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues–their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal–and therefore the revolution–was flawed all along? Or is there something darker–evil, ancient, inhuman–at play?

With stunning world-building, Jesse Q. Sutanto weaves an epic tale of characters whose lives irrevocably intertwine–and unravel–as paths collide across continents, racing toward an explosive twist that will forever change all of their fates…”

My Pick:

I started off 2026 with the goal of knitting a pair of socks and there’s still 2 months left.

From the publisher:

Prepare to be charmed by the sweetest collection of colorwork socks you ever did see! These adorable sock patterns from bestselling author and designer, Charlotte Stone, are easy to create and full of whimsy. Each project makes something fun to freshen up your sock drawer or to gift to family and friends.

Featuring a plethora of delightful motifs, you can roam the forest with Fuzzy Hedgehogs, Foxy Feet, and Catching Butterflies, or take a stroll through a lush garden with Enchanted Bluebells or Hysteria for Wisteria. Spark a bit of magic with Mystic Mermaids, Walking on Sunshine, or Magic Night Sky socks. Celebrate the seasons with new holiday patterns like Hop to It, Witching Hour, and Merry Berry. And because the tiny toes in our lives deserve sweet socks too, Charlotte dedicates an entire chapter to patterns for little ones, including Strawberry Delight, Tiny Tannenbaum, Boo Booties, Fluffy Lambs, and more.

With detailed instructions, large colorwork charts, and captivating details, you can bring a myriad of whimsical socks to life that you’ll want to wear–and knit again–as soon as you bind off.