Michelle Obama uplifts with 'The Light We Carry,' Steve Martin gets laughs: 5 new books

In search of something good to read? USA TODAY's Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale Tuesday.

For more new must-read book recommendations, check out our fall books guide of the 20 most exciting books of the season; our favorite books of 2022 so far; fall's most swoon-worthy rom-coms, including Timothy Janovsky's "You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince" and Amy E. Reichert's "Once Upon a December"; and the juiciest celebrity memoirs released this year from Tom Felton, Geena Davis, William Shatner, Constance Wu, Jennette McCurdy and more. 

To see what everyone else is reading, check out the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list for this week's bestsellers.

USA TODAY Book Club: Celeste Ng's 'Our Missing Hearts' is a book that demands discussion

‘The Light We Carry’ 

By Michelle Obama (Crown, nonfiction)

What it's about: Her 2018 book “Becoming” became a bestseller with more than 17 million copies sold. The former first lady seeks to strike gold twice with a new book in which she reflects on navigating an increasingly stressful world. “We become bolder in brightness. If you know your light, you know yourself,” Obama writes in the introduction.

The buzz: "I never thought I would be the author of one book, let alone two. But I’ve found that writing this has been a way for me to gather my thoughts and find more clarity during this time. So, I hope this book means as much to you as it does to me," Obama wrote on Instagram.

'Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions'

By Steve Martin; illustrated by Harry Bliss (Celadon, nonfiction)

What it's about: The silver screen comedic icon takes readers on a tour of his cinematic legacy in an illustrated memoir full of anecdotes from the sets of his most beloved films, including "Roxanne," "The Jerk" and "Father of the Bride," and his interactions with luminaries like Robin Williams, Diane Keaton and Paul McCartney. And yes, there's some banjo playing too.

The buzz: "Film buffs, comedy fans, and legion admirers of both the actor and artist will find themselves smiling from cover to cover," says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

'The Queen: Her Life'

By Andrew Morton (Grand Central, nonfiction)

What it's about: Longtime royal observer Morton provides a definitive, comprehensive telling of Queen Elizabeth II's historic 70-year reign, which came to an end with her death in September.

The buzz: Kirkus Reviews calls it "a fitting tribute to a long reign."

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'A Book of Days'

By Patti Smith (Random House, nonfiction)

What it's about: The musician and National Book Award-winning author of "Just Kids" returns with a book inspired by her Instagram account, filled with images from her life and daily observations.

The buzz: Kirkus Reviews calls it "a powerful melding of image and text inspired by Instagram yet original in its execution."

'Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius'

By Nick Hornby (Riverhead, nonfiction)

What it's about: What did the 19th-century author of "Great Expectations" have in common with the 20th-century pop star who wrote "Darling Nikki"? Not much, you would think. But Hornby sees a cosmic link between his two artistic heroes and geniuses of their craft.

The buzz: "No one else could have gotten a book like this published, but no one else could have pulled it off, either," says Kirkus Reviews.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michelle Obama's 'The Light We Carry,' Steve Martin: 5 new books