Joby Warrick, LaToya Watkins, Katy Simpson Smith, and more: 20 new books out today!

August zooms on, or trickles on, depending on how you look at it. We’re reaching a quieter moment of the publishing cycle: a few weeks of slowness and peace before the onslaught of September. But until then, enjoy the numberous treats that still await us in August. Such as Joby Warrick’s work of nonfiction about a legendary terrorist, Katy Simpson’s new novel, and many more. Read on, and happy Tuesday!

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Joby Warrick, The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World’s First Super-Terrorist
(Scribner)

“A riveting portrait of the larger-than-life man who invented the role of celebrity terrorist—and of the journalists, ideologues, spymasters, and dictators who helped elevate him to prominence.”
–David McCloskey

LaToya Watkins, The Book of Chuck
(Tiny Reparations)

“A transcendent reading experience that reveals life’s darkest corners while transmitting a surprising amount of hope.”
–Kirkus

Katy Simpson Smith, The Maltese Version
(FSG)

“Katy Simpson Smith playfully turns the Mediterranean psychological thriller on its head with this lush, finely textured, riveting dive into lives tangled by language and time.”
–Téa Obreht

Dorthe Nors, trans. by Caroline Waight, Range
(Graywolf)

“A brilliant novel that is as intellectually vast as it is deeply rooted in the everyday experience of being human.”
–Kirkus

Raphael Montes, The Secret Dinner
(Celadon)

“Dark, compelling, and wickedly smart, The Secret Dinner is a deliciously twisted thriller about friendship and ambition with a mind-blowing end.”
–Lisa Jewell

Julie Kliegman, Finding Renee Richards: The Groundbreaking Story of Tennis’s Trans Pioneer
(HarperOne)

“A fascinating account of an important and often overlooked figure in American sports and culture.”
–Jonathan Eig

Steve Hawk, Nearshore
(Viking)

“Engrossing, graceful, and transporting, this is a terrific—if terrifying—tale of near apocalypse.”
–Publishers Weekly

Tom Rosenstiel, The Next Journalism: How the Press Must Change to Serve Democracy
(Crown)

“Acclaimed journalist and novelist Rosenstiel presents thoughtful strategies to cope with this increasingly fragmented media landscape.”
–Booklist

Kim Eui-Kyung, trans. by Sora Kim-Russell, Hello Baby
(Hogarth)

“What a humane, sometimes funny, and always illuminating exploration of the hopeful, painful pursuit of pregnancy and birth that so many people undertake around the world every day.”
–Lydia Kiesling

Danny Ramadan, Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir
(Soft Skull)

“An elegantly told, candid, and often intriguing personal history, the memoir never fails to edify.”
–Vancouver Sun

Camille Acker, A Very Special Episode
(Random House)

“A sly social commentary on the interplay of race, class, and family legacy.”
–The Millions

Anjet Daanje, trans. by David McKay, The Song of Stork and Dromedary
(FSG)

“A significant and moving literary achievement, an unforgettable story of a historical mystery.”
–Elizabeth DeNoma

Malavika Kannan, Unprecedented Times
(Holt)

“A sparkling work of fiction, this story feels like pages ripped straight from your funniest friend’s diary.”
–Booklist

Rowan Hooper, Togetherness: Symbiosis and the Hidden Story of Life’s Greatest Collaborations
(Knopf)

“I think this may be one of those rare books that’s a classic upon its publication. It calmly and comprehensively helps you see the world in a very new and hopeful way.”
–Bill McKibben

Ekin Oklap, First Summer
(Summit)

“This gorgeous novel will immerse readers in its heady and tender story of young love. This dreamy, queer, coming-of-age story about deep friendship and first love will resonate with teens.”
–Booklist

Mariana Salomao Carrara, trans. by Julia Sanches and Alison Entrekin, The Loneliest Tree in the World
(Catapult)

“An arresting exercise in naturalism.”
–Publishers Weekly

Jennifer Givhan, The Sleeping Sisters
(Little Brown)

“A thrilling and heartbreaking ride from the first page, Givhan lyrically draws us into the emotional wounds, obsessions, grief, guilt, and trauma of complex characters living in the Southwest.”
–Nina McConigley

Lucinda M. Vardey, The Green Soul: Returning to Our Sacred Belonging in Nature
(HarperOne)

“This hugely important book should be read by anyone who cares about the life of the Spirit and the future of the planet.”
–Jennifer Kavanagh

Jennifer Michelle Herrera, Siren Says
(Putnam)

“Siren Says blooms with enchantment, mystical secrets, and otherworldly connections, the story’s characters seeking purpose and redemption while navigating intimate bonds and past harms.”
–Diane Marie Brown