Simon & Schuster recently held a breakfast for librarians to showcase its summer list. A way to build buzz and generate excitement for the objects of our desire (books!), these publishing events are a highly anticipated outing. Below are some titles to look out for. They’re not in our catalog yet, but rest assured, they will be.
Black comedy takes a morbid turn in Jamie Mason’s debut novel, “Three Graves Full.” When Jason Getty slays his longtime bullying tormentor, he buries his body in the backyard. But, when landscapers find two bodies other than the one Jason knows about, Jason begins to lose his wits.
“Schindler’s List” author Thomas Keneally is back with “The Daughters of Mars” in August. Sure to be a hit, and already given a starred review by Kirkus, readers will be entranced by the story of two Australian sisters who join the Nursing Corps in 1915 and witness terrible things during World War 1.
Samantha Geimer is “The Girl,” the girl at the center of the Roman Polanski scandal. Coming in September is the memoir of Geimer, whose identity was made public by Polanski, and whose life has always been tied to the notorious director.
In the spirit of Randy Pausch’s “The Last Lecture,” comes “The Priority List,” by David Menasche. A popular Miami high school teacher, battling brain cancer, reaches out to former students, now living across the country, to find out if he has made a difference in their lives.
From the darkest realm comes the sequel to “The Shining.” Horror master Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep,” was actually deemed too short by his longtime editor, Nan Graham. She asked for more pages. Look for it at the end of September.
Prolific mystery author Martha Grimes takes a different turn, pairing with her son, Ken Grimes to write “Double Double: a dual memoir of alcoholism.” Due in June.
You’ve heard of the slow food movement, but have you heard of the slow medicine movement? Katy Butler’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door: the path to a better way of death” began as a New York Times Magazine piece and strives to change how we talk about and handle end-of-life issues, out in August.
What happens when a vegan chef falls for the carnivore next door? It’s “Skinny Bitch in Love,” by Kim Barnouin, out in June.
For an insider’s look at the history of America’s most celebrated publishing house, FSG, be sure to look out for “Hothouse” by Boris Kachka, coming out in August. It’s sure to be a scorcher.
William Kent Krueger has been writing for decades, but “Ordinary Grace” could be his breakout novel, coming out in March. Frank begins the season preoccupied with the concerns of any teenage boy, but when tragedy unexpectedly strikes his family— which includes his Methodist minister father; his passionate, artistic mother; Juilliard-bound older sister; and wise-beyond-his-years kid brother— he finds himself thrust into an adult world full of secrets, lies, adultery, and betrayal, suddenly called upon to demonstrate a maturity and gumption beyond his years. (publisher’s book description)