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The Aspen Words Literary Prize winner was announced recently. It was Tommy Orange for his latest novel, Wandering Stars. The book was up against some heavy competition, as this year’s finalists included James, Before the Mango Ripens, There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven, and The Safekeep. What’s so cool about this year’s award cohort, apart from the winner being granted $35,000, is how many BIPOC writers made it to the shortlist. You love to see it.
Now for the most notable BIPOC books out this week. There is a dark social media thriller, a weird horror/mystery, a Ghanaian heiress romance, and a historical merman romance (!).
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
There have been so many deliciously dark thrillers coming out lately that look at social media and influencer life, and this is the latest. Mega-popular influencer Chloe VanHuusen makes a video where she finds her long-lost twin and buys her a house…for the views, obvi. Then, Julie Chan, the twin and a supermarket cashier with not a lot going for her, finds her twin sister dead and decides to step into her life and have everything she could have ever wanted. This means designer clothes, a bomb skincare routine, and millions of followers. It also means struggling to fit into Chloe’s social circle and attending a weeklong island retreat where things get out of control, and Julie uncovers the dark forces that led to her twin’s death. Forces that may target her next.
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
This is like a super duper freaky mystery/horror mashup. It follows Cora, who has been desensitized to bloody travesties because she saw her sister get pushed in front of a train by a man who was never caught, whose last words were “bat eater.” Now, Cora is surrounded by other people’s gore as a crime scene cleaner, and drifting away from the people who care about her. If she’s not careful, she could fall victim to the culprit behind the unexplained killings of East Asian women in Chinatown—or the slack-jawed shadow posted up near her door frame.
Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone
Ofosua Addo is a Ghanaian heiress who loves the vibrant cultural traditions of her people…and who also comes across one Cole Drake during a publishing party. The two flirt, and even share a little kissy-kiss that neither can stop thinking about. Problem is that Ofosua is engaged to a man even her picky mother loves, but when the big Ghanaian wedding they plan turns from a dream to too much, she’s left having to reevaluate some things. Re-enter Cole, who fits into her life differently than he did before. Now Ofosua needs to decide between true chemistry and tradition.
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
Yes, I am very excited for this queer, 1910s New York City-set romance and its Shape of Water essence. In it, Benny Caldera should really be labeled as an artist for the stunning ironwork tank he makes for the Coney Island playground, even if orphaned Boricua blacksmiths usually aren’t. But more awe-inspiring than his tank is the merman who comes to occupy it in captivity. Benny comes to know the merman—Río—as a kindred spirit captured from the East River, and soon the deep love that develops has him questioning his ideas around captivity and what he will sacrifice for the sake of the one he loves.
**All Access members, continue on for an extended list**
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
This week, we’re highlighting a post about the literary events that should be on your calendar for the rest of 2025. From awards announcements to famous authors’ birthdays to Banned Books Week, these are the dates readers should have on their radars. Read on for an excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.
The Most Anticipated Literary Events of (the Rest of) 2025
For some, the major literary events of the year come as a pleasant or interesting surprise—something to enjoy in the moment, rather than to anticipate. For others, there’s big appeal in bookmarking these occasions in advance to plan, predict, and build around. I and the rest of the editorial team are in the business of thinking ahead about what the year has in store for book lovers, publishers, industry experts, and the like, which is why we all got together toward the end of 2024 to plot out everything from birthdays of literary greats, to anniversaries of books that have made a deep cultural impact, to literary awards and events coming up this year. We’ve been marking these events as they happen on the site for what’s shaping up to be a very busy year in books, but there are still so many big, exciting literary events of 2025 to anticipate.
Whether you’re a book-focused or -adjacent content creator, someone who beefs up their TBR with literary awards honorees, or a book lover who appreciates being in the know, I’m here with a starting place for calendaring out the rest of this storied year…
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