Winter Is Just Around The Corner, So Cozy Up With These Brand New Books Releasing In November
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Flight by Lynn Steger Strong
The holiday season is fast approaching, and with that comes the (often thorny) concept of family. Lynn Steger Strong’s newest novel, Flight, is an intimate exploration of complicated family dynamics featuring nuanced portraits of distinct characters. It’s a perfect book for anyone who feels more than a little conflicted about going to visit family for the holidays. With compassion and a deep sense of understanding, Flight explores the nature of belonging, and what it means to truly be part of a community. —David Vogel
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander
A timely and poignant book about trauma, loneliness, and stepping outside of our comfort zones — literally. Meredith hasn't left her house in over 1,000 days. She has her remote job, online forums, jigsaw puzzles, and her cat, Fred, to keep her company, though. And her best friend Sadie stops by, despite being a busy single mom. But despite her best efforts, these distractions aren't enough to keep Meredith's anxiety and traumatic memories at bay. When a new friend shows up at her door, Meredith will have to finally face the world waiting for her outside — and the secrets that kept her hiding away for so long. The audiobook narrated by Freya Mavor was an impressively emotional performance. —Kirby Beaton
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick
Quick’s latest covers timely topics and themes, including grief, loss, therapy, and depression, set during the aftermath of a mass shooting. Told in letters to his former Jungian analyst, Karl, high school counselor Lucas pleads for him to write back. He is suffering through the loss of his wife after the shooting at the Majestic Theater, and the people of the Majestic community are attempting to heal. Lucas also sees his wife in the form of an angel, who visits him at night, and has explained that he’s to be there for Eli, an ostracized teen who finds an unlikely companionship with Lucas. —Farrah Penn
They're Going to Love You by Meg Howrey
They’re Going to Love You centers around Carlisle, the adult child of a former professional ballerina and an openly gay father, searching to unravel the mystery of her past. Coming of age in New York City during the AIDS epidemic, she realizes there’s much about the world she grew up in that she didn’t understand at the time. She receives a call one day that starts her journey to get to the truth of what really happened, and discovers just how deeply her past informed the person she’s become. Deftly tackling issues like the nature of art, creative desire, family relationships, mortality, and the human need to be seen and validated, They’re Going to Love You is beautifully layered and unforgettable. —David Vogel
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
If you are someone who gravitates toward emotional gut punch reads, allow me to introduce you to this spectacular debut. Someday, Maybe follows Eve, a young Nigerian woman, who discovered her husband Quentin’s body on New Year’s after his death by suicide, as she tries to put the pieces back together in a way she never expected. With his death taking her completely by surprise, she not only has to work through her own feelings of loss and guilt and frustration, but also reckon with a mother-in-law who blames her, and her friends and family who can’t completely understand what she’s going through. As Eve begins to climb out of the hole she’s been stuck in, with grief as an emerging companion, she must reckon with a new vision of a future without Quentin by her side. Not since the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “The Body” have I felt quite so utterly captured by a portrayal of loss. —Rachel Strolle
The Wind at My Back by Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland’s memoir is a beautifully told recollection of her friendship with the legendary Raven Wilkinson, Misty’s mentor and close friend. As the first African-American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre, Misty pays heartfelt homage to Raven, who paved the way for diversity within the ballet world in the 1950s and ‘60s when hostile racism was prevalent and discouraging, but Raven persisted. Misty reveals honest truths about her journey to ballet stardom while also sharing important stories from Raven’s journey. It’s a touching, important, and unforgettable read. —Farrah Penn
Deliberate Cruelty by Roseanne Montillo
Roseann Montillo’s Deliberate Cruelty is a cross between true crime and literary criticism, and I devoured every page of it. Truman Capote wrote in his story The Thanksgiving Visitor, “There is only one unpardonable sin — deliberate cruelty.” So, why did Capote use the personal scandals of his closest friends (his “swans”) as fodder for his unfinished final novel? Deliberate Cruelty is a compellingly written, painstakingly researched chronicle of the stories of Ann Woodward, a socialite who shot her husband, and notorious gossip Capote, who used her scandal as the basis for fiction, leading to tragic ends for both of them. Exploring the intersection of real life and art, and the consequences of using someone's personal misfortune for professional gain, this is a read that stayed with me for a long time after I finished reading. —David Vogel
Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry
Rabia Chaudry opens her deeply truthful memoir by focusing on her mother's life, and then linearly divulges into her own life. As a baby, Chaudry's mother and father immigrated from Pakistan to the United States where she writes about the indulgence and abundance of American foods that contributed to her diet growing up. Chaudry writes authentically, reflecting on her relationship with food, fatness, and diet culture, while also exploring her passion for cooking and her feelings surrounding comments on her body. She includes a recipe section at the end, which many might want after reading her sensational descriptions of Pakistani food. —Farrah Penn
Jack in the Box by Jack O'Brien
In his second book, Jack O’Brien, Tony Award-winning director and theatrical legend, attempts to answer the question, “What does a director do?” Part memoir, part how-to guide, with more than enough juicy backstage anecdotes to keep readers entertained, this book is the perfect companion for any theater lover. If you don’t know who Jack O’Brien is, he provides an accessible, informative overview of his life in the theater, and if you’re already a fan, you’ll finish this book with a newfound respect for a living legend. It’s a charming, utterly delightful read that flies by. —Farrah Penn
Have I Told You This Already? by Lauren Graham
Graham’s latest book is an insightful, honest, funny, and moving collection of captivating stories that happened to her throughout her life, many of which focus on family, friendship, stardom, and growing up. While this is a book fans of Graham will surely enjoy, you don’t have to know her that well to become fully immersed in her tales. Some story topics include: behind-the-scenes of late night shows, orange trees, New York, bras, ageism in the industry, adopting a dog, Mae Whitman, her mother, and much more. —Farrah Penn
And Yet by Kate Baer
And Yet is a lovely and enlightening collection of poetry by Kate Baer, whose short poems explore themes of family, motherhood, the pandemic, grief, love, hope, and more. Baer stirs up a range of emotions through her writing, a beautiful offering of relatability and vulnerability. —Farrah Penn
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
This propulsive literary horror is one of my favorite books of the year. Kari James, a Chickasaw and Apache woman, loves bars, old bookstores, Stephen King novels, and heavy metal. When her cousin and best friend Debby finds and gives Kari an ancestral bracelet, Kari’s mother starts haunting her. Kari thought her mother had abandoned her as an infant, but now, she realizes something more sinister must have happened to her. The bracelet holds even more horrors: A monster out of legend also begins to terrorize her. Frantic to get to the bottom of the bracelet and her mother’s story, Kari investigates her mother’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Debby’s controlling husband and Kari’s guilt over the death of a childhood friend plague her. The audiobook narrated by Tonantzin Carmelo is enthralling. —Margaret Kingsbury
Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire
This delightful cozy murder mystery with lots of Agatha Christie nods takes place in an independent bookstore in a remote, snow-laden Colorado hamlet. Ellie Christie has recently moved back to her hometown to run the family bookstore with her sister Meg. Along with Agatha the cat, she lives above the bookshop and is happy with her quiet life learning the ins and outs of running a bookstore. However, when she and her sister witness the murder of a customer who had been lurking in their quiet bookstore earlier that week, Ellie decides to live up to her last name and conduct some sleuthing. With the only mountain road in or out temporarily closed, she knows the murderer must be still in the hamlet, but who could it be? This is a super fun read, perfect for the wintry months ahead. —Margaret Kingsbury
Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen
Set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, the year is 1994 and Maeve wants two important things: her exam results, and to move to London. She takes a job at a factory with two of her friends for the summer to make extra income for her move, and to also move our of her parents' house. Fans of Derry Girls will enjoy the snarky, smart-mouthed Maeve, as well as her friends Caroline and Aoife, as they wittily navigate the working world and life complications that come with entering adulthood. —Farrah Penn
When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins
Part Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, part magical realism, this sparkling debut follows Franny Steinberg, a woman who knows the unique power of laughter. While the men of Chicago have left to fight in World War II, the women have stepped up into typical "men's" jobs — including stand-up comedy. To everyone's shock, something unbelievable happens when a woman makes an entire crowd laugh: She is transformed. Every woman's "Showstopper," as this transformation is called, is different, but when Franny accidentally ends up onstage one night, she realizes her Showstopper could be powerful enough to change everything. A warm hug of a novel that empathetically covers topics like trauma, queerness, and gender equality. —Kirby Beaton
Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk
This sapphic novella is a short — but wild — ride into grimy and gritty 1940s noir. Magical private investigator Elena Brandt made a deal with the devil 10 years ago to trade her brother's soul for her own. In three days, her deal is up, and she'll be sent down to Hell. But her best client (who reveals herself as a demon) offers her a better deal: track down a serial killer terrorizing the city, and she'll not only save Elena's soul but offer her the chance to live happily ever after with the love of her life, Edith. Elena accepts, but these murders aren't just murders — they're something far more dangerous. —Farrah Penn
All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce
True crime fans will love this gruesome take on the real story of a family of murderers. In 1871, Kate Bender and her family flee their farm after one of them murders a local man. Settling in Kansas, they each try to make desperate cash in their own way: mother Elvira by whipping up herbal potions or Kate by posing as a medium for the locals. But the Benders' main cash flow comes from robbing and murdering transients who land on their doorstep. As the family falls deeper into their twisted crimes, their secrets bubble to the surface. A horrifyingly realistic view into the minds of a serial killing family that really tormented the old West. —Kirby Beaton
Lost in the Long March by Michael X. Wang
An epic, multi-generational novel set during The Long March about two people caught in the crosshairs of war. In 1934 China, shy gunsmith Ping has fallen in love with seasoned veteran — and staunch Marxist — Yong, who instead seems to favor Ping's best friend. On the night before a great defeat, Ping sabotages his friend's gun, causing his death. As the army begins a year-long retreat, known as The Long Walk, Yong turns to Ping for comfort, although the relationship is tinged with guilt. Yong becomes pregnant and, with a crying baby stalling the army's progress, decides to leave him with a local woman. Twelve years later, their son enlists in the Japanese army to search for his parents, who never returned. A sweeping tale of country, family, and war that is rich with well-researched historical detail. —Kirby Beaton
The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin
The conclusion to Jemisin’s Great Cities duology is a searing commentary on present-day politics as manipulated by a primordial evil. New York City’s avatars thought they had mostly defeated the Woman in White, though her presence still looms over Staten Island. However, a series of events makes NYC’s avatars realize that the threat may be much bigger than the Woman in White. Padmini is on the receiving end of an anti-Asian attack manipulated by those familiar white tentacles, a racist rally lands Brooklyn’s daughter in the hospital, and a Republican mayoral candidate whose rallying cry is “Make New York Great Again” stirs hate groups into a frenzy. It’s clear that NYC is once again under attack. Brooklyn decides to run against the Republican candidate, but she needs everyone’s help to succeed. Meanwhile, Manny begins to visit the avatars in other cities, hoping to convince them to convene a council and help NYC. Neek senses that the enemy has a far bigger agenda than last time and that they’ll need every city to help if they have any hope of survival and of saving NYC. This riveting and powerful urban fantasy duology is masterfully written. Start with The City We Became. —Margaret Kingsbury
Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell
This politically and emotionally charged space opera takes place in the same universe as Winter’s Orbit but can be read as a stand-alone. The irreverent aristocrat Tennal Halkana is in hiding, desperate to avoid his aunt and her military cronies so he can escape being forcibly conscripted into the military. Tennal is a reader, capable of reading minds and navigating the chaos of space, which makes him an extremely valuable military asset as a potential pilot. Readers are often synced to architects, who can rewrite people’s impulses and control their actions. The architect Surit knows he will have a tough climb in military service since his mother was a traitor, but he knows it’s the only way to provide for his other parent and ensure she has military benefits. When he’s commanded to sync with Tennal, Surit assumes it’s with Tennal’s consent. When he realizes Tennal is being forcibly conscripted into the military, he balks. Surit, unlike Tennal, places high value on his ethics, and he cannot ethically sync with Tennal. The two hatch a plan to fake being synced while they complete their current mission and plan an escape route. However, there’s more at stake than Tennal’s freedom; meanwhile, their temporary allyship begins to form into something more romantically fraught. —Margaret Kingsbury
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
This steamy followup to A Marvellous Light follows Robin’s sister Maud Blyth as she boards the R.M.S. Lyric undercover as the companion to one of the last living holders of a magical contract that, if in the wrong hands, could wreak havoc on England’s magical community. However, the last contract holder is almost immediately murdered, and her magical items stolen. Now, Maud is stuck on a ship for six days with the unknown murderer and needs to find the stolen goods before the ship reaches land. If she’s going to accomplish her mission, she needs help. She enlists the aid of an arrogant magical aristocrat, a handsome and poor thieving journalist, and the sultry actress turned heiress Violet Debenham, who sets Maud’s nerves aflame. As in the first book, this second book is full of witty and charged banter, steamy sex scenes (this time sapphic), and lots of adventurous hijinks. —Margaret Kingsbury
Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
This fun novella takes place in an alternative version of the 19th-century American West, where, after Heaven’s War, Angels (Virtues) are at the top of the power ladder, and Demons (the Fallen) are at the bottom. Celeste’s mother was a Fallen and her father a Virtue, which makes her an outcast to both groups. As a child, Celeste’s Virtue father spirited her away from her Fallen mother and sister and educated her. As soon as her father died, Celeste returned to her sister Mariel, wracked with guilt for abandoning her. Celeste now works as a card sharp in the mining town of Goetia, in the same joint where her sister sings. When her sister is arrested for murdering a Virtue, Celeste vows to do anything to save her, no matter what. This compelling, dark fantasy mystery could easily be read in one to two sittings. —Margaret Kingsbury
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan
The second and final book in the Celestial Kingdom duology is as beautiful and lushly written as the first, Daughter of the Moon Goddess. A year after the events in the first book, Xingyin is trying to find peace and contentment living with her mother Chang’e on the moon once more. Liwei wants them to marry, which would require Xingyin to leave her mother and live in the palace, where she knows the Celestial Emperor and Empress won’t welcome her. Full of remorse, Wenzhi is also intent on winning Xingyin back. When uninvited immortals cause havoc on the moon and attempt to drug and steal a powerful magic object, Xingyin once more finds herself reluctantly in the center of the Celestial Kingdom’s political machinations, forced to leave her home. This epic fantasy series based on Chinese mythology is one of the year's best fantasies. —Margaret Kingsbury
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
If you loved Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (and, let’s be real, if you’re a queer-romance lover, you definitely did), then you definitely had feelings about her stepsister, the ever-perfect Astrid. But you didn’t really get to know her, and that’s the beauty of this companion novel, in which Astrid discovers that she’s not straight and that she’s falling for the granddaughter of her biggest (and only) new design client and the key to reviving her career. With her heart and future on the line, Astrid has to figure out what she wants and how to go for it. The results are all too relatable, and as sexy and charming as its predecessor. —Dahlia Adler
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
Fans of Alison Cochrun’s debut, The Charm Offensive, will love her new queer romance, Kiss Her Once for Me. It features Ellie, a Portland transplant, who falls in love with a beautifully mysterious woman on Christmas Eve, only for this stranger to disappear into thin air. Flash-forward a few months, and Ellie has agreed to enter into a marriage of convenience with her friend Andrew to alleviate her financial worries. There’s only one problem: Andrew’s sister, Jack, is the woman Ellie fell in love with last Christmas Eve. Will love or practicality win the day? Read this sexy, insightful, and utterly charming book to find out! —David Vogel
Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
Much Ado About Nothing gets a sexy contemporary spin in this fake-dating romance about an unlikely pair who attempt to get revenge on their matchmaking friends and family by pretending to fall in love and then dramatically break up. Unfortunately, for pan autistic free spirit Bea and stuffed-shirt Jamie, it's hard to go through with the dramatic breakup when you quickly grow to like each other a whole lot, and discover you've got explosive chemistry. This was my first foray into Chloe Liese's catalog, but it definitely won't be my last! —Dahlia Adler
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Emotional depth abounds in this remarkable, layered romance. Yasmen and Josiah are recently separated, still reeling from the tragedies that pushed them apart. The two finally seem to have a system in place, as they co-parent and co-run their business. As they both try to move on, they're constantly pulled back into each other's arms. One kiss, then another, and another. But falling back into their old rhythm also means opening old scars and old heartaches. Kennedy Ryan's newest is a second chance romance filled with such hope for love after loss, and it's a gorgeous love story. —Rachel Strolle
Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
Liza Bennett is a DJ, trying to keep a property developer from destroying her neighborhood. But her first protest goes wrong when she assumes a hot guy is a waiter, as opposed to the CEO himself. Dorsey Fitzgerald assumes Liza's outrage is performative. He himself is no stranger to feeling out of place, as the Filipino son of adoptive white parents. It's not long before sparks start to fly between the pair. But when a meme from Liza's protest goes viral, both of their worlds will change forever. This new imagining of Pride and Prejudice is an inventive take on a classic love story. —Rachel Strolle
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin
The worst person to leave your bookstore to might be a self-proclaimed book hater, but alas, Drew's grandma didn't pay attention to that. Now saddled with the Book Nook, Drew is in over her head. When Jasper Williams, bestselling author, meets Drew at his signing, he finds himself with a new challenge. Determined to show Drew all the wonder of books, he begins to connect with her as much as he can. And the book club at the store, complete with seven old ladies, begins to meddle in Drew's life. With the future of the bookstore in jeopardy, the book hater and the author will need to keep the store above water while also maintaining the chance at a new happily ever after. Alexa Martin writes dynamic couples, and Jasper and Drew are a new favorite literary couple! —Rachel Strolle
How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow
Queer holiday rom-coms are all the rage this fall, and Arlow's doing YA proud with this contribution about two girls who literally crash into romance during winter break in Washington, DC. When a dog-walking gig brings science nerd Shani to May's door, it's all she can do not to run home screaming. But sticking around proves to be worth her while when the girls fall for each other, forcing Shani to get over her pre-vacation breakup once and for all if she wants a chance at a happy future. This warm and witty romance is bound to be a new favorite, perfect for reading by a cozy fire. —Dahlia Adler
Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Written by acclaimed and bestselling authors, Whiteout follows a group of friends — Stevie, Kaz, E.R., Sola, Jordyn, Jimi, Ava, and Mason — as they become stuck in Atlanta during a blustery snowstorm. The problem is that each teen has the desire to accomplish something this evening, and the snow is impeding on their plans, especially Stevie’s plans, since she needs to make things right with Sola after fearing she ruined everything. Will this whiteout turn out to be magical — or a bust? —Farrah Penn
At Midnight edited by Dahlia Adler
This super entertaining collection of 15 reimagined fairytales includes stories by Malinda Lo, Rory Power, H. E. Edgmon, and so many more fantastic YA authors. In editor Dahlia Adler’s retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, “Say My Name,” a teenage computer hacker attempts to manipulate a rich girl into giving up her spot in a prestigious coding competition so the girl she’s crushing on can claim it. In Anna-Marie McLemore’s opening story “Sugarplum,” based on The Nutcracker, a brown ballerina is forced to perform at her father’s boss’s annual Christmas party, but not this year. This year, she’s been conscripted into entertaining the boss’s teenage daughter with a broken arm. Hafsah Faizal gives readers a hijab-wearing Little Red Riding Hood heist story in “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” All 15 of these stories are inclusive, diverse, and so much fun. It would make an excellent gift for any fairytale-lovers over the holidays. (Adler is a BuzzFeed Books contributor.) —Margaret Kingsbury
A Consuming Fire by Laura E. Weymouth
One of my favorite fantasy authors has crushed it again with this searing new standalone. The forest village of Weatherell offers a tribute every 18 years. One girl, sent to the god of the mountain, presents the sacrifice and then goes back home. But the year that Ilva is chosen, she doesn't make it back. Her twin, Anya, is left alone, heading to the god of the mountain herself. But rather than a tribute, she's setting out to get rid of the god for good. —Rachel Strolle
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
Senior year brings unexpected changes for Avery, namely in the form of a move from DC to the Georgia home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. As tensions rise in their living situation — past drama between mom and Mama Letty that neither will talk about — Avery grows closer to Simone, the next door neighbor, and Jade, the daughter of the most prominent family in town. With so many truths hidden beneath the surface — what happened between the women in Avery's life, Jade's mother's unsolved murder, the racist history of the town — she'll need to decide if she wants to dissolve the delicate relationships she has begun to build to unbury the past. An absolute must read. —Rachel Strolle
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
Bree’s search for the truth behind her mother’s death has led her to a new position within the Legendborn Order. But with Nick kidnapped and other friends threatened, it’s harder and harder for Bree to trust others. Plus, she has her new powers that she’s still adjusting to, and complicated feelings about both Nick and Selwyn. I truly mean it when I say this series is one of the best fantasy YA series ever written. —Rachel Strolle
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
Dennard's newest begins with a triumphant success, heralding her third sensational series filled with delectable world-building and dynamic characters. Winnie cannot wait for her 16th birthday, since that's when she can take the Luminary hunter trials. The Luminaries are an ancient order, protecting the town of Hemlock Falls from the nighttime monsters, and if Winnie makes it, she may just be able to restore her family's name. But she'll have to live through the trials first. —Rachel Strolle
Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
This fifth voyage in the Graceling Realm follows Hava, the spy and secret half sister of Queen Bitterblue. As Hava and the rest of the queen's entourage head back to Monsea, and Bitterblue reckons with the discovery of new weaponry, their ship is wrecked in the ice, north — far north — of where they need to go. I may be biased, as Cashore has been my self-proclaimed favorite author for over a decade, but this book quite literally made me sob at my desk at one moment, so longtime (and newer to the series) fans will be extremely thrilled. —Rachel Strolle
Invisible Wounds by Jess Ruliffson
In this nuanced collection, Ruliffson uses expressive, monochromatic comics to depict the oral interviews of 12 US veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. She chose veterans with diverse experiences and backgrounds, from a trans-Chinese soldier who experiences difficulty accessing veteran benefits while transitioning to a disillusioned Vietnamese-American soldier to many soldiers experiencing PTSD both during and after serving. Their narratives are emotionally rendered in each brief comic, culminating in an intimate and complex glimpse into the personal side of the wars and the lives of contemporary soldiers. It’s a necessary collection, one that also shows the need for more such collections. —Margaret Kingsbury
