Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #585: Model Actress Whatever by Kim Newman

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: From the acclaimed critic and award-winning author of Anno Dracula comes a bitingly satirical story of superheroism, soap opera and alternative reality -- for readers of Austin Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible and George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards.

When Chrissie Chambers (model actress whatever) discovers her soap opera character is about to be killed off, she finally stops dieting and discovers hitherto untapped supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, Chrissie’s aunt - former national heroine Lady Shade - goes missing. Afraid for Jasmine’s safety and itching to costume-up, Chrissie and her ghost-possessed best friend Loulee break into Devil’s Dyke, the asylum where Jasmine works as a therapist with the most dangerous cutthroats (supervillains) in Britain… only to find the inmates have taken over…  Chrissie debuts successfully as a cloak (superheroine), but who will become the arch-nemesis of Lady Shade II?

In Chrissie’s timeline, the Beatles didn’t split up and recorded a hallucinodelic album in 1972 – Never Mind (strictly, Never Mind the Beatles) – which literally changed the world. Set in an alternative 2020s London, this hugely entertaining, darkly humorous superhero tale is packed with Newman’s trademark wit, and comes with wickedly sharp edges.

Model Actress Whatever by Kim Newman is expected out May 12, 2026 from Titan Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I love the idea that stopping dieting could give someone super powers. And I like the idea that she decides to use them for good as a "cloak." I wonder what her powers are and who her "cutthroat" will be. I like the idea of an alternate 2020s timeline. And I like that it's supposed to be "hugely entertaining" and full of "darkly humorous wit with wicked sharp edges."

What book are you waiting on?  Leave a note about it in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing TBR lists. Happy Reading!