Each week, there’s an avalanche of upcoming albums, films, books, theater and art—from monumental new voices in culture to guilty pleasures worth indulging in. We’re here to help narrow down what deserves your attention. Our picks for the week of July 1st are below:
The Book: In her anticipated debut novel The Rest of Us, Jessica Lott deftly explores the aftermath of a relationship between a young woman and her celebrated poetry professor. Out Tuesday.
The Play: After a successful London run, Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy lands at Manhattan Theatre Club. The latest from the creator of The Brother/Sister Plays follows a young boy struggling with his identity at an all-black prep school. Opens Tuesday.
The Album: Fresh off working on the much-hyped soundtrack to The Great Gatsby, Jay-Z is releasing his own 12th album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. The record, which was announced via commercial during the NBA Finals, features contributions from Swizz Beatz and Frank Ocean. Out Thursday.
The Movie: A extraordinarily funny cast—including Steve Carrell, Maya Rudolph and Rob Corddry, among others—takes on a coming-of-age tale about a 14-year-old boy on summer vacation with his mom and her awful boyfriend in The Way, Way Back. Opens Friday.
