In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale Tuesday.
1. “Lessons From the Edge,” by Marie Yovanovitch (Mariner, nonfiction)
What it’s about: The American diplomat and former ambassador to Ukraine, who was recalled from her post and became a key witness in the 2019 Trump impeachment hearings examining then-President Donald Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukrainian officials to investigate then-Democratic rival Joe Biden, offers timely insights in this urgent memoir. A child of parents who survived Soviet and Nazi terror, Yovanovitch has a personal stake in the preservation of democracy.
The buzz: “Full of shrewd insights and bitter irony, Yovanovitch’s saga offers a revealing insider’s take on the labyrinth of foreign policy and on one of the most sordid episodes of Trump’s presidency,” says Publishers Weekly.
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2. “A Ballad of Love and Glory,” by Reyna Grande (Atria, fiction)
What it’s about: Amidst the atrocities of the Mexican-American war, Mexican army nurse Ximena Salomé falls in love with Irish soldier John Riley, who has deserted the Yankee army to join the Mexicans in their fight.
The buzz: “It’s a great story and a revealing look at a lesser-sung chapter of American history,” says Publishers Weekly.
3. “Mecca,” by Susan Straight (FSG, fiction)
What it’s about: From the National Book Award finalist comes a California epic told through interlocking stories examining race, history and family in the Golden State.
The buzz: “The author’s love of the Inland Empire and its people shines through on every page, and there is a Didionesque quality to Straight’s depiction of SoCal characters living in the shadow of prejudice and poverty, but in place of Didion’s free-floating anomie there is fierce compassion, “says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
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4. “The Kaiju Preservation Society,” by John Scalzi (Tor, fiction)
What it’s about: As COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, unsuspecting food-delivery driver Jamie Gray gets roped into working for the Kaiju Preservation Society, studying large, dinosaur-like creatures roaming an alternate dimension.
The buzz: “A more ethical ‘Jurassic Park’ meets the camaraderie of ‘Parks and Recreation’ in this wonderfully witty and refreshingly earnest adventure yarn,” says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
March’s most delightful romances:‘Hook, Line, and Sinker’ by Tessa Bailey and more must-read March rom-coms
5. “The Match,” by Harlan Coben (Grand Central Publishing, fiction)
What it’s about: In the latest installment of Coben’s thrilling Wilde series, a DNA match on an online ancestry database gives Wilde an opening to track down his father. But trying to find the truth behind his abandonment opens him to greater danger.
The buzz: “The topical follow-up to Coben’s best-selling ‘The Boy from the Woods’ addresses reality shows, DNA searches, cyberbullying, and social media influencers in a suspenseful novel guaranteed to be a hit,” says a starred review from Library Journal.
