With finals coming to a close, here are four pieces of media that are coming out next week. 

“The Collected Regrets of Clover”

Literary newcomer Mikki Brammer’s debut novel “The Collected Regrets of Clover” is set to release Tuesday. The book follows the main character, Clover Brooks, as she grapples with a fundamental juxtaposition in her life: Her way of life is centered around death. Clover is a death doula, someone who helps bring dying people peacefully to rest. For Clover, her job stifles her ability to live a full life, instead she’s living one where she isn’t fulfilling any of her own wishes. When she gets assigned to work with a particular old woman, Clover realizes that she has to go live her life and adventure ensues. “The Collected Regrets of Clover” looks to be a deep dive into the way we view death, while still keeping up a semi-lighthearted front. 

“Paved Paradise” 

If you like urban planning and transportation studies, Henry Grabar’s “Paved Paradise” is the book for you. A sprawling piece of nonfiction, Grabar looks at the way car-focused life, particularly parking said cars, influences our lives. Looking at everything from economics to the environment to architecture, Grabar is able to take something small, like the way we park our cars, and make it an in-depth analysis of modern human life. Taking its title from Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Paved Paradise” looks to be one of the most well-researched, well-argued and most interesting pieces of nonfiction to come out this year. “Paved Paradise” releases Tuesday. 

“Hypnotic”

Releasing May 12, “Hypnotic,” a film starring Ben Affleck, follows an Austin Police Department detective as he tries to crack the case of a bank heist and search for his abducted daughter. As the film runs on, the sci-fi elements move more and more to the film’s foreground. While at first, the film seems perfectly normal, it goes on to introduce something called hypnotics. Similar to what we know as hypnotics, in this film, this type of manipulation makes people believe whatever the hypnotist is saying. This film may be really good, but it all hinges on how well it pulls off the whole hypnotism thing. Look for “Hypnotic” in theaters May 12. 

“The Album” – Jonas Brother

“The Album” by Disney-pop sensation the Jonas Brothers is their first album since 2019 and their second since getting back together. The two singles from the album, “Waffle House” and “Wings,” are certainly not high art. Of course, no one is expecting anything by the Jonas Brothers to be great; but, if you temper your expectations enough, there’s a chance you’ll like the trio’s new album. Both singles are interesting pop songs with vocal performances unlike those I’ve heard from the brothers’ past work. Additionally, the 12-song-long album is only 32 minutes long, so even if you don’t love it, it’s a quick, fun listen. If “Waffle House” and “Wings” are any reflection of the album to come, “The Album” is set to be made up of fun pop songs with interesting instrumentals. For simple pleasures with small touches of musical creativity, “The Album” releases May 12.