5 books not to miss: ‘Wild and Crazy Guys,’ ‘Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered,’ ‘Queen Bee’

“Wild and Crazy Guys,” by Nick de Semlyen. (Photo: Crown)

In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases.

1. “Wild and Crazy Guys,” by Nick de Semlyen (Crown, nonfiction, on sale May 28)

What it’s about: They were icons who defined a generation of comedy: Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy. Just to see their names is almost to laugh. Film journalist Nick de Semlyen chronicles this era of comedy with entertaining anecdotes and revelations based on candid interviews.

The buzz: “Fans of Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd and their wild-and-crazy ilk will find pleasure here,” says Kirkus Reviews.

2. “Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered,” by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (Forge, nonfiction, on sale May 28)

What it’s about: The true-crime mavens behind the enormously popular podcast “My Favorite Murder” are out with their first book. The women get personal, sharing stories of their past mistakes and struggles with depression, substance abuse and eating disorders. It’s part autobiography, part self-help and completely hilarious even when it’s serious.

The buzz: “The genres of true crime and self-help might seem like odd bedfellows,” says Publishers Weekly, but the authors “create a winningly quirky amalgamation of the two.”

3. “Flatshare,” by Beth O’Leary (Flatiron, fiction, on sale May 28)

What it’s about: In this charming high-concept romantic comedy, a man and a woman become roommates and share a bed – but not at the same time, thanks to wonky work shifts. Oh yeah, and they communicate almost exclusively through Post-it notes. It would never happen in real life, but that’s not what we want from a good romance, is it?

The buzz: A starred review from Kirkus Reviews calls it “a warm, enchanting love story perfect for fans of classic rom-coms.”

4. “How Not to Die Alone,” by Richard Roper (Putnam, fiction, on sale May 28)

What it’s about: Andrew has an unusual job: sorting through the belongings of dead people to find their next of kin, a friend or anyone to claim the deceased. Even more unusual: Andrew has invented a made-up family of his own to fool his coworkers into not thinking he’s a loner. All is well and good, until Andrew’s boss insists on meeting his nonexistent family.

The buzz: “This story of a neurotic, tenderhearted man struggling to learn how not to be alone is irresistible,” says Publishers Weekly.

5. “Queen Bee,” by Dorothea Benton Frank (William Morrow, fiction, on sale May 28)

What it’s about: Beekeeper Holly tends her hives and works at the local library in the Carolina Lowcountry. Her life is upended when her flamboyant sister returns to town, her hypochondriac mother starts to spiral and Holly falls for her widowed neighbor – who’s getting married to somebody else.

The buzz: Publishers Weekly says Frank “shows off her formidable storytelling chops and her gift for creating memorable characters in this quirky and delightful Southern tale.

Source: Read Full Article