April 2025 Book Recommendations: Celebrating Diverse Voices

As the literary world continues to evolve, it’s essential to recognize and support voices that have historically been sidelined. Each month, this column aims to highlight new and compelling works from authors of various backgrounds, shedding light on their unique experiences, narratives, and insights.

This Month’s Focus

These curated lists of upcoming releases from authors belonging to historically marginalized groups serve three main purposes:

• Disrupting the traditional literary landscape dominated by white, cis, heterosexual male authors.
• Promoting works from diverse narratives, including those by women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities.
• Encouraging readers to actively buy, borrow, and delve into these stories.

Featured Books Coming in April

April brings a fresh selection of titles that reflect diverse perspectives and groundbreaking ideas. Below is a list of notable books set to be released this month:

Highlighted Titles

• By Vicki DeArmon – Sibylline Press. Available April 1. This memoir recounts DeArmon’s journey in the independent publishing landscape of the 1990s, blending humor with candid reflections.
• By Huda Fahmy – Dial Books. Available April 1. The latest installment in the Huda series, which focuses on a junior grappling with her parents’ divorce.
• Written by Neige Sinno – Seven Stories Press. Available April 1. This powerful memoir reveals Sinno’s experience with abuse and the complex interplay of memory and agency in healing.
• By Natalia Theodoridou – Tin House. Available April 1. A debut novel that threads the intricacies of gender and masculinity through a hallucinatory narrative.
• Edited by Rae Garringer – University Press of Kentucky. Available April 1. A vital anthology of work by trans and queer writers from Appalachia that redefines regional narratives.
• By Aurora Mattia – Nightboat Books. Available April 1. A collection of stories interwoven with themes of trans experience and desire.
• By Katie Kitamura – Riverhead Books. Available April 8. Audition explores perspectives and the act of performance in a sharp, concise narrative.
• By Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu – Anansi International. Available April 8. A gothic story that confronts themes of race and mental illness in a haunting setting.
• By Dolen Perkins-Valdez – Berkley. Available April 8. This historical novel, inspired by real events, portrays the lives of formerly enslaved individuals living with dignity and hope.
• Written by Lai Chu Hon – Two Lines Press. Available April 8. An investigation of autonomy and societal pressures framed within a body horror narrative.
• By Kayla E. – Fantagraphics. Available April 8. An experimental graphic memoir that juxtaposes childhood trauma with nostalgic comic styles.
• By Bianca Tylek and Worth Rises – The New Press. Available April 8. A primer on prison systems and the push for abolition, diving into systemic oppression.
• By Vauhini Vara – Pantheon. Available April 8. A collection of essays that challenges technological perceptions and evokes critical thought.
• By Saumya Dave – Park Row. Available April 15. A satirical take on the expectations of working moms and the absurdity of societal pressures.
• Written by Sayaka Murata – Grove Press. Available April 15. A speculative narrative exploring family and societal norms through artificial procreation.
• Edited by Jyotsna Vaid and Amy Hoffman – Duke University Press. Available April 18. A collection of Urvashi Vaid’s impactful writings, advocating for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights.
• By Sarah Aziza – Catapult. Available April 22. A memoir intertwining personal struggles with anorexia with themes of loss and heritage.
• By Mary Annette Pember – Pantheon. Available April 22. An examination of the impact of boarding schools on Native communities with a focus on survival.
• By Gloria J. Browne-Marshall – Beacon Press. Available April 22. An exploration of historical protests and their relevance to current social movements.
• By Zeina Sleiman – Roseway Publishing. Available April 22. A narrative about reconnecting with Palestinian roots amid personal and familial secrets.
• By Morgan Jerkins – Harper. Available April 22. A novel that traces the threads of love entwined with historical legacies of slavery.
• Written by Guadalupe Nettel – Bloomsbury. Available April 29. This collection of stories explores the intricate struggles with identity and connection.
• By Kylie Lee Baker – MIRA. Available April 29. A horror narrative tackling contemporary issues like systemic racism while offering a thrilling read.
• By Molly Olguín – Red Hen Press. Available April 29. A debut collection that traverses multiple genres, creating a rich and diverse experience for readers.
• By Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Haymarket Books. Available April 29. An urgent call to explore environmental themes through a poetic lens.

Additional Noteworthy Releases

• A/S/L by Jeanne Thornton – Soho Press. Available April 1.
• Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety for All by Sandy Hudson – Pantheon. Available April 1.
• Letters from the Edge: Outrider Conversations by Margaret Randall – New Village Press. Available April 1.
• Making the Best of What’s Left by Judith Viorst – Simon & Schuster. Available April 1.
• Off the Spectrum by Gina Rippon – Seal Press. Available April 1.
• Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards – Pantheon. Available April 1.
• Those Who Stayed: A Vietnam Diary by Claudia Krich – University of Virginia Press. Available April 1.
• Hail Mary: Stories by Funmi Fetto – Harper. Available April 8.
• I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Rachel Ang – Drawn & Quarterly. Available April 8.
• The Influencers: A Novel by Anna-Marie McLemore – The Dial Press. Available April 15.
• Unfit Parent by Jessica Slice – Beacon Press. Available April 15.
• Book of Hope by Agnes R. Pascal – Fernwood Publishing. Available April 22.
• The Edge of Yesterday by Rita Woods – Forge Books. Available April 29.
• One Way Witch by Nnedi Okorafor – DAW. Available April 29.

Conclusion

The literary offerings of April 2025 promise to engage, challenge, and inspire readers from all walks of life. Supporting these authors helps ensure that diverse narratives continue to flourish in the literary landscape.