Will Smith and Emily Ratajkowski bare all in new memoirs, plus more must-read 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.

1. “Will,” by Will Smith with Mark Manson (Penguin Press, nonfiction)

What it’s about: The global superstar opens up about his life, tracing his transformation from a fearful child in West Philadelphia to a Hollywood box-office titan, and the inspirational journey of self-knowledge needed to master his emotions and keep his family together.

The buzz: Early excerpts indicate a particularly juicy read: Smith writes of wanting to avenge his mother against his abusive father and even contemplated killing him, as well as falling in love with his “Six Degrees of Separation” co-star Stockard Channing.

2. “My Body,” by Emily Ratajkowski (Metropolitan Books, nonfiction)

What it's about: The model, actor and social media influencer goes deep on the subject of the commodification of women in this collection of essays that explores feminism, sexuality and the cultural treatment of women. If anyone would know, it’s her.

The buzz: “A refreshingly candid, fearless look into a model’s body of work and its impact on her identity and politics,” says Kirkus Reviews.

3. "The Sentence," by Louise Erdrich (Harper, fiction)

What it’s about: The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of “The Night Watchman” returns with a ghost story. A bookstore in Minneapolis is haunted by its most annoying customer, Flora, who refuses to leave even in death, and bookseller Tookie struggles to get rid of her.

The buzz: “Erdrich has crafted a hard-won love letter to readers and to booksellers, as well as a compelling story about how we cope with pain and fear, injustice and illness,” reads a ★★★★ (out of four) review for USA TODAY.

4. “Please Scream Inside Your Heart: Breaking News and Nervous Breakdowns in the Year That Wouldn't End,” by Dave Pell (Hachette Go, nonfiction)

What it’s about: The publisher of the popular NextDraft newsletter takes readers on a cathartic (and funny) trip down memory lane in this real-time ride through the objectively insane 2020 news cycle.

The buzz: “Fans of Nextdraft and news junkies with an appreciation for the absurd will savor Pell’s ability to find humor and hope in a year of chaos,” says Publishers Weekly.

5. “I Don't Want to Read This Book,” by Max Greenfield, illustrated by Mike Lowery (Putnam Books for Young Readers, fiction)

What it’s about: A narrator who doesn’t want to read their own book? That’s the charming premise of this picture book for kids who think they don’t like to read and their pandemic-weary parents tired of homeschooling them from actor Greenfield (aka Schmidt from TV’s “New Girl”).

The buzz: “A feisty manifesto and appealing visual experience for those who find books thrust upon them,” says Kirkus Reviews.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Smith and Emily Ratajkowski bare all: 5 new books not to miss