And just like that, the winter season is almost upon us. While the colder temperatures and fewer hours of daylight may seem unappealing to some, for book lovers, winter is an absolute dream. Why? Because it gives them every excuse to hibernate inside with a warm drink and a good book.
With the new season comes a flurry of fresh titles, perfect to give as holiday gifts or to keep for yourself. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the most highly-anticipated reads from new authors, established authors and even a couple celebrities (hello, Barbra Streisand!).
Whether you’re ducking into a bookstore to escape the snow or ordering online to avoid the cold entirely (completely valid), make sure to keep an eye out for these new books.
My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (Nov. 7)
Barbra Streisand has won the hearts of people all over the world for her work as a singer, actor, director and producer. And now, after a career spanning six decades, she can finally add “author” to her list of titles. In her tell-all memoir, Streisand looks back on her career in all its highs – achieving EGOT status, becoming the first woman to write, produce, direct and star in a major motion picture – and lows – early stage fright and criticisms of her appearance. In addition to her career, the “Funny Girl” star writes about her relationships and friendships with a number of figures, from Marlon Brando to Madeleine Albright to King George. This book is a must-read for all fans of Barbra Streisand, as her well-known humor and charm shine through on each page.
The Worlds I See by Dr. Fei-Fei Li (Nov. 7)
Dr. Fei-Fei Li has spent the past 20 years at the forefront of artificial intelligence research, her impact so significant that Wired credited her as belonging to a group of scientists “perhaps small enough to fit around a kitchen table” who are responsible for AI’s recent advancement. However, Lee had to overcome lots of obstacles before reaching this point. When she was young, she and her family immigrated to the United States from China and struggled to make ends meet. Despite this hardship, she worked diligently in school and went on to create ImageNet, an AI image recognition software. In this memoir, Li writes about what drew her to this world of technology and what she believes the future of AI will looks like – all the while, she does not lose sight of her core values and where she came from.
Pretty Boys Are Poisonous by Megan Fox (Nov. 7)
Megan Fox dropped a bombshell in August when she announced she wrote a poetry book. The 176-page book, originally marketed as a reflection of Fox’s love life, turned out to be so much more than fans anticipated. In her poems, the “Jennifer’s Body” actor reveals a darker side to her seemingly glamorous life, including domestic abuse and a miscarriage. She writes alarmingly honest prose about the fear and heartbreak that, unfortunately, some of her readers will relate to firsthand. By publishing this book, Fox – who has long been exploited and sexualized in Hollywood – gets a chance to claim her own story, possibly for the first time. “This book is for anyone who has given much more than they received,” she writes, “or for anyone who struggles to believe they deserve to be heard.
Flores and Miss Paula by Melissa Rivero (Dec. 5)
Flores and her Peruvian immigrant mother, Paula, have never seen eye-to-eye. While Paula pushes her daughter to put more effort into finding a future husband, Flores wishes her mother would ask for a raise at her retail job – or at least find a best friend who isn’t a married man. They’ve been stuck in this cycle of misunderstanding one another ever since Martín, Flores’ father and Paula’s husband, passed away three years prior. Then one day, Flores uncovers a note in Paula’s handwriting: “Forgive me if I failed you. Remember that I always loved you.” This puzzling discovery, paired with the threat of losing the apartment they share, forces both women to revisit their complicated past and tell secrets they’ve kept. This story shows the sharp edges of mother-daughter relationships and the work it takes to maintain those relationships.
Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn (Dec. 5)
In 2050, climate change is tearing New York City apart. The only chance of survival is to join The Inside Project, a network of safe havens created by billionaire and women’s rights advocate Jacqueline Millender. The businesswoman draws herds of starry-eyed women into her world of empowerment and innovation, from her personal assistant, Shelby, to the head of the health department, Olympia. However, the women drawn into Jacqueline’s orbit begin to notice cracks in the facade. This safe space, they realize, might not be as safe as they once believed – especially as Jacqueline becomes increasingly unhinged. This sci-fi novel draws readers into the intoxicating yet horrific landscape of corporate feminism at a time when the world is burning and time is running out.
Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear (Dec. 5)
Ellen Walsh has done something horrible, but she doesn’t know what it is. It all started when she received a note in the mail, reading: “People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I’m going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose.” Puzzled by this message, the teacher, mother and wife racks her brain to figure out whom she might have offended. Of course, she’s never intentionally hurt anyone. But this doesn’t matter to the person who sent the note. According to this person, Ellen is to blame for all of their misfortune in life – and perhaps this blame is justified. As the threats continue to permeate her everyday life, Ellen is forced to address five bad deeds she’s committed in the past. But is it already too late to make amends? From bestselling author Caz Frear comes a suspenseful novel about revenge and justice.
The Vacation House by Jane Shemilt (Dec. 26)
One summer night, a wealthy English family is drinking wine and enjoying time in their vacation home in Greece. Meanwhile, a young woman – the teenage daughter of the Greek caretaker – takes a walk on a private beach. When she returns from that walk, her life will never be the same. Ten years later in England, a woman named Julia has a seemingly perfect life. Beautiful and wealthy, she’s won over high society with the speeches she writes for her influential husband. However, her deep-rooted anxiety leads her to visit a therapist named Laurel, who promises to help her find fulfillment. Little does she know, she and Laurel are bound together by that fateful night in Greece 10 years before. When they discover the truth of what happened that night, this book has two possible endings: will these women be destroyed, or set free?
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid (Jan. 30)
From the New York Times bestselling author of “Such a Fun Age” comes a new novel about a university student who gets tangled up with a professor and three unruly students. Millie Cousins, a senior residential assistant at the University of Arkansas, has a straightforward plan: graduate, secure a job and buy a house. But a visiting professor and writer named Agatha Paul throws a wrench in her plan when she offers her a simple yet unusual opportunity that she can’t turn down. Little by little, Millie gets pulled further away from her aspirations as she meets odd new friends and finds herself participating in vengeful dorm pranks. This tension-filled story explores the intrigue of money, indiscretion, and of course, bad behavior.
The Women by Kristin Hannah (Feb. 6)
It’s 1965 on Coronado Island, California. Twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath has always prided herself on doing the right thing and making her conservative parents proud. One day, upon hearing the words “Women can be heroes, too,” she surprises everyone and decides to join the Army Nurse Corps, following her brother, who ships out to serve in Vietnam. Frankie, who was raised very sheltered, is overwhelmed by the destruction of war – and when she returns home, she’s struck by a changed and polarized America. This coming-of-age tale explores how a young woman copes with a world that’s changing too fast. Instead of retreating to the comforts of home, she decides to step up and serve her country, no matter what she loses.
