Dive into a fictional world this summer with books connected to the DMV that you won’t be able to put down.
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
In Sabit’s debut novel, when a second-generation Afghan American teenager dies, the family’s neighbors and friends offer their perspectives (and plenty of gossip). Set in an upscale Northern Virginia suburb, these testimonies serve to entertain the reader, reveal the story, and offer social commentary on contemporary American life.
The Comeback Era by Yasmine Cheyenne
What if we reframed “midlife crisis” as “midlife comeback”? That’s the premise of this DC-based Today show wellness coach’s new nonfiction book, which presents a framework for remembering and pursuing your passion. Aimed at women in midlife, it’s meant to encourage readers to finally follow their dreams.
The Maidenheads by Benny B. Peterson
Washington, DC, and its influential early-2000s indie rock scene set the stage for the first novel by Washingtonian contributing writer Peterson. It follows a couple who meet in a high school gym class, start a band, break up, and reunite a decade later. You’ll recognize many of the storied spots in this queer coming-of-age romance, such as Tryst and the 9:30 Club, and perhaps feel pangs of nostalgia for the music and memories of your youth.
The Queen’s Coronation by Jennifer Ryan
The latest work of historical fiction from the Alexandria-based author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir transports readers to 1953 London as Queen Elizabeth II prepares for her coronation. The feel-good read explores the lives of three women working at Buckingham Palace (a journalist, a dresser, and a wardrobe assistant) and the power of friendship in a changing world.
The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen
The latest suspense novel by New York Times bestselling, Chevy Chase–based author Pekkanen alternates between 1964 and present day as its protagonists untangle a decades-old mystery. Drawing on real academic parapsychology research of the era, it centers on four young women whose enrollment in university experiments ends in their mysterious disappearance. Sixty years later, the sole survivor sets out to learn what happened to her three friends.
There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson
Step into late-1950s Hollywood in this cinematic novel by Georgetown University graduate Newson, who is also a screenwriter and TV producer. Part mystery, part social history, it follows the rise and mysterious death of a charismatic, closeted Black movie star groomed to rival Sidney Poitier, told from the point of view of a studio fixer tasked with protecting closeted actors.
Feature image courtesy publishers
This story originally ran in our August issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
