Silvia Moreno-Garcia reinvents 'Doctor Moreau,' 'John Wick' oral history: 5 new books this week
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.
For more new must-read book recommendations, check out our summer books guide of the 20 hottest books of the season; our favorite books of 2022 so far; the most swoon-worthy rom-coms coming out this month from Ruby Barrett and Lacie Waldon; and the juiciest celebrity memoirs released this year from Kenny Loggins, Christine Quinn, Jennifer Grey, Viola Davis and more.
To see what everyone else is reading, check out the USA TODAY Best Selling Books list for this week's best sellers.
'The Daughter of Doctor Moreau'
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey, fiction)
What it's about: The “Mexican Gothic” author reimagines “The Island of Doctor Moreau” in 19th-century Mexico, where the daughter of the infamous researcher with the human-animal experiments and the island’s overseer see their world upended by the arrival of an unwanted outsider.
The buzz: Kirkus Reviews calls it "a fun literary remix."
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'Dirtbag, Massachusetts: A Confessional'
By Isaac Fitzgerald (Bloomsbury, nonfiction)
What it's about: Fitzgerald's raunchy coming-of-age memoir-in-essays recounts his impoverished New England childhood and getting lost in alcohol, drugs and porn before charting his path to personal salvation.
The buzz: A starred review from Publishers Weekly calls it "a marvelous coming-of-age story that’s as wily and raunchy as it is heartfelt."
'They Shouldn't Have Killed His Dog'
By Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman (St. Martin's Press, nonfiction)
What it's about: This oral history of the "John Wick" film franchise goes deep behind the scenes of the modern gun-fu action classics, through exclusive interviews with the cast, writers, directors, stuntmen and fight choreographers.
The buzz: Kirkus Reviews calls it "a layered closeup look at an explosive series from the people involved in the creation."
'Illegally Yours': Rafael Agustin revisits the moment he learned he was undocumented
'The Work Wife'
By Alison B. Hart (Graydon House, fiction)
What it's about: Three women connected to billionaire film mogul Ted Stabler collide at the Hollywood party of the year in a smartly observed novel about sexual abuse, complicity and ambition in the entertainment industry.
The buzz: A starred review from Kirkus Reviews calls it "a ruthless takedown of misogyny and entitlement. One hell of a debut."
'Mary: An Awakening of Terror'
By Nat Cassidy (Tor Nightfire, fiction)
What it's about: Mary is a middle-aged woman dealing with hot flashes and weird voices in her head. After she’s fired from her New York City job, she moves back home and is overwhelmed by strange visions and inner thoughts reminiscent of an infamous serial killer.
The buzz: "It’s as scary as it is smart," says Publishers Weekly.
Contributing: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Moreno-Garcia's 'Doctor Moreau,' 'John Wick' oral history: 5 new books
