A New Look at the Influence of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Is One of Best Books to Read This November

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This month, pile your nightstand with a thrilling look inside the current state of the British royal family, a deep dive on the enduring legacy of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, a long-awaited biography from one of music's most iconic stars, and so much more. Here are T&C's picks for the best books of November 2023.

CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion

It's been more than two decades since her tragic death, but Carolyn Bessette Kennedy remains as legendary for her mystique as for her timelessly elegant style. With a foreword by Gabriela Hearst and a preface by Edward Enninful, this book is a photographed compilation of her most iconic looks, peppered with personal remembrance notes from the likes of Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Calvin Klein.

The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture

In the late 1970s a group of Black women writers, including Toni Morrison, Ntozake Shange, and Alice Walker, began having monthly meetings at an apartment in Brooklyn to discuss their work. “The Sisterhood,” as they called themselves, quickly expanded and the event became a vital gathering spot for artists and activists. In her well-researched new book, Courtney Thorsson, an associate professor of English at the University of Oregon, combines first-hand accounts from attendees about the gatherings with analysis of how Sisterhood members went on to change the literary scene and American culture.

My Name Is Barbra

At long last, Barbra Streisand's memoir is coming this fall. Clocking in at over 1,000 pages (yes, you read that right), Streisand's memoir will detail her childhood in Brooklyn, her breakout Funny Girl performance, her music career, and much, much more. More details on My Name Is Barbra here.

Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival

Royal correspondent Omid Scobie looks at the royal family in the aftermath of the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The book promises to go behind the scenes "on an institution in turmoil—exposing the chaos, family dysfunction, distrust and draconian practices threatening its very future." More details on Endgame here.

Feeding Dangerously

That José Andrés is a man of many talents is no surprise—he's a chef, a humanitarian, a professor, and an author, just to name a few. But have we ever seen him in graphic novel form before? Feeding Dangerously—which is co-writte with Steve Orlando and illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli—offers just that, telling the story of Andrés and the founding of his World Central Kitchen in some of the globe's most unforgiving areas. The story itself is inspirational, but to add to that, $5 from every book sold goes directly to WCK, making it the easiest decision you might have to make today.

Flight of the WASP: The Rise, Fall, and Future of America’s Original Ruling Class

In his previous books, journalist and author Michael Gross has investigated the founding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, gone behind the mystique of 740 Park Avenue, and delved into the sordid world of fashion photography. Here, he puts his considering skill to use with a deeply researched history of America's relationship with the WASP, from the earliest days through the present. It's a thoughtful deep dive into the history of the country and who has wielded power here, but is kept lively thanks to Gross's ability to spin yarns that make even the Pilgrims feel exciting.

Day

How can a family be falling apart when they're stuck so closely together? That's what this new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours wonders, as it charts the fates of one family—complicated, confused, perhaps slightly unhinged—from 2019 to 2021, as the world changed completely and they're forced to find out whether being together in the middle of a worldwide disaster is really better than not.

The Vulnerables

Sigrid Nunez's ninth novel is set during the COVID-19 pandemic, when an unnamed New York City writer ends up taking care of a parrot named Eureka. It's a short, profound meditation on living through history, and what it means to write in the modern age.

Alice Sadie Celine

For those of us who grew up in the 1990s, the idea of seductive parents has always been lurking around the edges of the popular unconscious; just ask Stifler's mom or Stacy's mom. This debut adult novel from Sarah Blakley-Cartwright takes the idea a step further, when Alice starts to feel distant from her longtime best friend Sadie and unexpectedly finds herself tangled up in a romance with, you guessed it, Sadie's mother. But this isn't a cougar-joke comedy, instead it's a heartfelt, smart, and keenly observed take on friendship and fulfillment, and what it means to start thinking of parents as actual people.

The Happy Couple

There's a year until Celine and Luke's wedding, which should be plenty of time for them to prepare... or implode completely. Hot off a hit international release, this keenly observed comedy follows not just the bride and groom to be but also their nearest and dearest friends, in the months leading up to the big day. It exposes the messy truth about who they are behind their good manners, and begs the question: How much would our friends like us if they knew who we really are?

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education

In 2019 Stephanie Land made headlines when Barack Obama selected her memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, for his annual summer reading list. The book became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a Netflix series starring Margaret Qualley. Her new memoir, Class, describes a later period in her life when she worked at earning a college degree and becoming a published author all while holding down low-paying jobs and raising a child.

Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History

Twenty years after the hit teen drama The O.C. first aired, its creators are taking us all for a romp down memory lane with an oral history of the series, featuring interviews with its stars, writers, directors, and more. It's a fascinating peek behind the making of a megahit, and a delightful but of nostalgia for those of us who remember life before streaming TV.

Eternal Echoes: Erich Neumann's Timeless Relevance to Consciousness, Creativity, and Evil

In her latest, Jungian analyst Nancy Furlotti looks closely at the writings of Erich Neumann, C. G. Jung's close friend and collaborator, which have become so pertinent to our understanding of human nature. Eternal Echoes offers an overview of Neumann's examinations of the evil as witnessed during World War II, making the author's analysis more relevant now than ever.

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