Karen Rivers
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karenrivers.bsky.social
Karen Rivers
@karenrivers.bsky.social
I write books, read books, think about books, teach people how to write books, and talk to my dogs about books. A PRETTY IMPLAUSIBLE PREMISE out now from Algonquin/Hachette. Coming Soon: Birdfish (Little Brown) and more!
Lately I've been leaning into horror (both writing it and reading it) and I'm learning that I like a subtle horror that creeps up on you like a formerly friendly cat who suddenly starts hissing whenever you walk by. In that vein, may I recommend The Night Guest, which is a quick eerie read.
March 14, 2025 at 5:17 AM
I got my hands on Emma Pattee's Tilt, my most anticipated book of 2025, and it did not disappoint. 10/10. A+.

Some pro-tips: You are going to want to read this in one sitting. Set aside some time. Buckle in.Have tissues nearby. Remember that you, too, live on the Cascadia subduction zone. Panic.
March 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I've tried to stop myself from posting this and outing my inner SuperNerd, but it comes up surprisingly often, and...I...can't...stop...myself this time. @nytgames.bsky.social -
March 6, 2025 at 3:48 PM
What #book are you most excited about that's coming out this spring? Mine is TILT, by Emma Pattee, coming March 25 from @simonandschuster.bsky.social. "A primal scream of a novel"? Yes, please!
March 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Absolutely flattened by the volume of incredibly good books coming out in 2025. Yes, the world is a dumpster fire, but where there are books this good, there is still hope. Currently reading (and loving) this fresh debut (via Netgalley and WWNorton).
February 9, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Important "what am I reading?" update:

I am reading this and it is verrrrrrry good. Make a note! Pre-order! Do something! I love it.
February 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Woke up to this audiobook by Charlotte McConaghy in my Netgalley queue and I would only be more excited if I won the lottery. She is a genius and everything she writes is exquisite and I can't wait to press 'play' on this one. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for making my day!
February 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The Toilet Stabbing has to be the most illustrious! I think about it every time I use a pit toilet, tbh, even knowing that if someone was down there, the gases would have killed them already. But... what if?
February 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
The things that are keeping me sane in this insane time are reading & writing. Currently reading this, which I have a feeling will be one of those contagious books (like Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow) that gets passed around by word-of-mouth before suddenly being everywhere. It's very good.
February 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Today's recommendation goes to this absolute gem by Emily Adrian. A funny, clever novel about the marriage between two writers/college faculty, told from the perspective of the wife's grad student. It's a conceit that I didn't like until I did. Magic. Preorder this one so you don't forget!
February 1, 2025 at 12:45 AM
And to round it out at three for now, this absolutely chillingly accurate portrayal of what's probably just around the corner for us kept me listening all day yesterday. Helen Phillips novels are always uniquely surprising and this perfectly polished slice of the future is well worth a read.
January 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Second very strong rec is for this precious gem of a book. I'm jealous of everyone who hasn't read it yet & gets to read it for the first time! It turned me inside out. I love it so much, I want to gift it to everyone, but I can't afford to, so you should treat yourself!
January 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM
What are you reading? I have a string of books to recommend, starting with this one (although I'm only a quarter of the way in!) It's about a psychiatrist who is treating a woman who has hyperthymesia, which is a condition I'm obsessively interested in.
January 27, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Today I need more moss and more trees and fewer Terrible Things. You?
January 27, 2025 at 9:54 PM
2 days until A Pretty Implausible Premise launches into the world!

Please consider pre-ordering.

Pre-orders /first-week orders make a huge difference and I promise that this book is full of #love (with a dash of #TaylorSwift and maybe you need that right now?

I know I do.
September 24, 2023 at 4:37 PM
My book comes out in 4 days and I've used my excessive panicky energy to clean every millimetre of my fridge (dumping condiments that have been in there for a decade!) while listening to Taylor Swift and trying to channel her magic into willing readers to find it, read it...and hopefully love it.
September 23, 2023 at 5:51 PM
Six days until release day!
September 21, 2023 at 12:20 AM