There are no new titles on the bestseller lists this week, but there are still some things worth noting. Let’s start with the most fun to the least. First off, Gravity Falls was a cartoon that ended in 2016, but a new Gravity Falls book (The Book of Bill by Alex Hirsch) just came out, and it made the Publishers Weekly and USA Today overall top ten bestseller lists. I love this show, so it makes me happy to see it’s still got a strong contingent of fans.

The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists

We talk about a lot of books on Book Riot every month…a lot. Between our dozens of newsletters, our podcasts, and our on-site content, we’re recommending hundreds of books every month in all genres, age categories, and formats. Hopefully, these recommendations connect you with your next favorite book. But how do we know which of these recs were successful? We don’t have comprehensive data on which recommendations made you read a book — that would be creepy. What we do have, though, is data on which books we linked last month that you clicked on. It’s not a perfect metric for popularity, since we don’t know why you clicked on them, but it’s the closest thing we have. So, here are the top ten most clicked on books on Book Riot last month.

The 10 Most Popular Books on Book Riot in July 2024

As has been tradition every year, Barack Obama shared his summer reading list on social media this week. The list showcases his usual mix of fiction and nonfiction, and it shows off an interest in both books that have been popular and some that are lesser-known. His 2024 list is one of the longer reading lists in recent years, and it includes a twist on an American literary classic, a memoir about growing up and loving basketball, a twisty mystery that several big book clubs have selected to read, and more.

Barack Obama Releases His Summer Reading List for 2024

Summer is reading season – so why not add the Booker Dozen to your list? Here are the 13 books that have made the Booker Prize 2024 longlist. As always, 13 books have made the Booker Prize 2024 Longlist, whittled down from a whopping 156 eligible books published between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024 submitted to the prize. The Longlist includes three debut novelists alongside six writers previously nominated for the prize, with eight women and five men commended for their work.

Booker Prize 2024: The Longlist Has Landed

One could argue that every story is a “what if” story. Isn’t that the thought experiment that authors embark on with each book, short story, or poem? Honestly, it can be applied to any medium of storytelling: What if there was a galaxy far, far away? And what if there was such a thing as a hobbit? What if…?

What If?: 8 Thought-Provoking Books that Explore the Possibilities

Malmö is Sweden’s third largest city and the sixth largest Nordic conurbation, but also Sweden’s fastest growing city right now, partly due to immigration and its bustling port city atmosphere. And host city to Eurovision 2024 (I know this doesn’t mean much to American readers!). Malmö serves as a primary entry point for the majority of migrants heading to Sweden and the population could hit half a million in the next ten years. So, of course, a locale for the phenomenon of Scandi Noir given that Malmö has some rough and poor districts, some issues around migration and crime and, as ever with a port city, some shady types about. So where can we find Malmö in crime fiction?

Crime Fiction in Sweden's Fastest Growing City: Malmö

Real Simple

Some of these books were foundational in inspiring other writers to share their stories.

10 Banned Books Everyone Should Read, According to These Published Authors

One thing I love about reading children’s books is that they encompass all genres. On Sunday, I mentioned fantasy was my favorite genre, and while that’s true, I’ve always enjoyed reading books from every genre, including romance. Romance Awareness Day is tomorrow, so I thought I’d round up some excellent middle grade romance novels! But first, here are two great picture book new releases.

Sweet Romances for Middle Grade Readers

The New Republic

As Trump desperately tries to separate his campaign from Project 2025, users on X have noted one big problem: J.D. Vance wrote the foreword to a forthcoming book by the plan’s lead author, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts.On the Amazon product page, the promotional material for the book, titled Dawn’s Early Light, highlights Roberts’s role in composing Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation proposal for a conservative overhaul of the federal government.The product page also includes a favorable review from Vance. “Never before has a figure with Roberts’s depth and stature within the American Right tried to articulate a genuinely new...

J.D. Vance in Serious Trouble After Damning Project 2025 Book Foreword

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Herbie J Pilato

As an actor, Merritt Butrick was cast in one of the most coveted roles in the history of science fiction media. He played David Marcus, the son of the iconic Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by William Shatner in the 1982 theatrical movie, Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn. Sadly, Butrick died of AIDS in 1989. He was only 29 years old. This is his story.

In Memory of 'Star Trek' Actor Merrit Butrick: 35 Years After His Tragic Death

Before you read a word of “How to Leave the House” by Nathan Newman, it may help to know that a TV adaptation is already in the works. This is a book that unfolds like it’s destined for the small screen. “It was a cinematic sunset: pinks, oranges and periwinkle blues… Beneath it all was lonely Natwest, a single figure on the empty street…” That passage is about midway through the book, but you get the point. There are other parts that read like stage directions and the novel’s point of view switches from inside the mind of our “hero,” Natwest, to the perspectives of various town residents he encounters during the day.

Book Review: 'How to Leave the House' by Nathan Newman marks the debut of a bold new fiction voice

The Week

Friday's cartoons - reaching for the stars, a lawsuit too far, and more

Today's political cartoons - August 9, 2024

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

The stars align on August 13, 2024, forming a celestial setting that brings dreams to life for certain zodiac signs more so than for the others of the zodiac. Taurus, Libra, and Pisces are especially blessed during this period. The cosmos are working in your favor to manifest desires you may have been harboring for a while. Whether it is reaching career goals, finding love, or undergoing personal growth, these signs are set to see their dreams come true if the day is pursued properly and with passion.

3 Zodiac Signs Whose Dreams Come True  | August 13, 2024

Today’s book recommendation is a backlist pick from 2017 about the Combahee River Collective, a phenomenal group of radical Black feminists and one of the most important organizations to develop from the antiracist and women’s liberation movements of the 1960s and ’70s. They are perhaps the most well-known for the Combahee River Collective Statement, which was a stark contrast to the popular feminist movement of the time (which was racist) and the popular Civil Rights movement of the time (which was riddled with sexism and homophobia).

How We Get Free

Ohio State

Business Insider

Yale Law professor Amy Chua played a critical role in bolstering Vance's profile when she encouraged him to write his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy."

Meet the woman who helped boost JD Vance from Ohio obscurity to 'Hillbilly Elegy' superstardom

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Vision Pet Care

Cats are known for their independent and sometimes aloof nature, but beneath that calm exterior, they often harbor deep affection for their human companions. While their love may not be as overt as a dog's, there are subtle signs that indicate your feline friend holds a special place for you in their heart. Here are the reasons why your cat secretly loves you more than anyone else.

Reasons Why Your Cat Secretly Loves You More Than Anyone Else

Honesty may be the best policy, but it doesn’t generally make for very exciting reading. Many of today’s comics show the entertainment value in faking it until you make it (or at least make out)!. Bookish Goods. Deadpool Birthday Card by YeaOhGreetings. No birthday is complete until Deadpool...

Fake Relationships, Real Comics

Hello, star bits! You will not be surprised to learn that I spent this past weekend reading books. Shocking, I know! I read a few things that I enjoyed, but the book that really stood out was Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer and Steve McCarthy. Colfer is known for his Artemis Fowl series, but this is an upcoming long-form picture book based in Irish folklore that’s about a baby banshee who is looking to bond with a human. The story itself is wonderful, but it’s the artwork that took my breath away. It’s some of the most imaginative illustrations I have seen, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy!

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Massachusetts State

Dianna Carney

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, has recently introduced a tiny 8lb dog named Bingo who is looking for her forever home. Bingo is a 3-year-old Shih Tzu mix with an adorable appearance and a sweet disposition. However, she needs a patient and understanding owner who recognizes that "dogs are not toys, and not all dogs love to be picked up right away," explains Sandy Paws Rescue Inc. This little lady requires some decompression time upon arriving at her new home to settle in comfortably.

Meet The Sweet Little Lady Looking For Love

This week’s new YA releases has something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of a good romance or want to be scared silly, the options are wide and varied. Where it can be overwhelming to have so many new books come out at a time — who can keep up? — the fact is it means that so many readers can have their interests met.

New YA Books Hitting Shelves This Week: August 12, 2024

NewsBreak

Celebrity Memoirs, Summerween Reads, and More Library News

I don’t have the exact numbers, but celebrity memoirs seem to be on the rise — I have not one, not two, but three celebrity memoir...

Celebrity Memoirs, Summerween Reads, and More Library News

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