As the weather gets colder and the leaves start to change colors, more of your time will be spent inside. For book lovers, that means you have an excuse to curl up on the couch with a hot drink and a new book. If you are looking for some new reads this season, here are 26 books to dive into this fall, as recommended by local experts.
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
“Jodi Picoult fans are likely to be surprised by this novel which follows parallel tracks that involve a woman and her near-death experience. That even serves as a wake up call and leads her to rewind her life. As a result, her involvement in years past with a scholar of ancient Egypt provides a backstory involving the death practices of the ancients. At its core, this is a romance, but also a novel about choices.” – Jean L. Ross, PWPL Chief, Materials Services Division, Prince William Public Library
Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood (Releasing Tuesday, Oct. 27)
“Good news, mystery readers, your new favorite sleuthing duo has arrived on the scene! Lillian Pentecost, an elegant lady detective, is not as steady on her feet as she used to be, so she enlists the unique skills of Willowjean Parker, formerly of the traveling circus, and together they take on New York City’s most baffling cases. Fortune Favors the Dead is a refreshing update to a classic Golden Age mystery, serving hard-boiled thrills and laugh-out-loud wit with charm and panache. A fantastic read!” – Rebecca Speas, bookseller, One More Page Books
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
“Gifty, a young neurologist studying behavior in mice, struggles to reconcile the mother she once called “The Black Mamba” with the now-older woman who can’t get out of bed; the God she prayed to everyday who she now may believe is non-existent; and the heroic older brother who could do no wrong, but has died of a drug overdose. Moving back and forth between Gifty’s childhood diary and her present day life, Gifty’s journey from childhood to adulthood is simultaneously familiar and unique in its details, and a truly rewarding read.” – Molly Mahon, Scrawl Books
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
“We cannot keep our true crime section stocked fast enough to fulfill the voracious appetite our customers have for the subject. The Stranger Beside Me is particularly chilling, as crime writer Ann Rule recounts her real experience of sitting side-by-side with serial killer Ted Bundy while they worked a suicide hotline together. Sometimes, there’s truly nothing more terrifying than real life.” – Lindley Estes, Riverby Books
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
“Sixteen years after Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, the fantasy author returns with a tale that is more compact but no less enchanting, expanding like a maze as the reader learns its secrets. Piranesi melds the whimsy of Clarke’s earlier work with the mind-bending horror of House of Leaves and the claustrophobic suspense of The Lighthouse to form a creation like no other. It’s my favorite book of 2020 so far.” – Amy Woolsey, bookseller, Bards Alley
Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter by Nigel Slater
“Just in time for autumn and winter, beloved English cook Nigel Slater introduces the U.S. edition of a pair of plant-base cookbooks (the other being Greenfeast: Spring, Summer due out in April 2021). This book offers a unique arrangement with recipes laid out by how one might eat or prepare them, and uses whimsical chapter titles like ‘In a pan’ and ‘With a crust.” – Jason Margolies, adult services librarian, Ashburn Library
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
“Covering pre- and post-9/11, this novel of a young Pakistani American’s struggle with family, money and societal issues is part-memoir, part fiction – and written as a series of linked short stories. Exploring the essential questions about belonging that confront many immigrants, this Pulitzer Prize winning playwright provides an intimate look at one immigrant’s experiences.” – Jean L. Ross, PWPL Chief, Materials Services Division, Prince William Public Libraries
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
“Even if you have a hard time with non-fiction, put this book on your list. It’s a great read that is not too dense, and really packs a punch. An incredibly honest account of the Asian American experience in the U.S., Minor Feelings outlines many of the injustices people of color face. As an Asian American, this reader has never felt so seen.” – Mika Tuzon, Scrawl Books
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter (Releasing Tuesday, Oct. 27)
“Set in early 20th-century America, the Dolan brothers yearn for a better life, but there is conflict in what that means to each of them. Can the young brothers circumvent the corrupt union boss and the crooked mining workers? Will their sacrifices for love pay off? This is a story of passion, more often than not for things that are unattainable. Walter’s writing is both tender and mighty. He brings to life serene and picturesque scenes of the Pacific Northwest but doesn’t let us forget how fierce things can be, both in the wild and in human nature itself.” – Jen Morrow, owner, Bards Alley
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
“Soon to be a Netflix original series. Italian teenager Giovanna finds herself torn between the two worlds of Naples—one of excess and vulgarity and one of perceived refinement. Fearing her pretty face is turning ugly she seeks out clear perspectives and a sense of identity. Unable to find truth, or a mirror, within either world she’s left with no escape. Elena Ferrante is frequently touted as a future Nobel Prize-winner and named one of 2016’s most influential people by TIME Magazine.” – Kelly Jeon, Adult Services Librarian, Sterling Library
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
“On the recommendation of a friend, I picked up Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches, the first title in the All Souls series. Soon after, I devoured the next book and the next by Harkess. It was exactly the kind of escape I needed, an hour worrying instead of the pandemic, about whether her main character and Yale-tenured academic Diana would step up to her legacy as a witch and whether she and vampire Matthew Clairmont would or if they wouldn’t. Harkness is a historian and it shows in this title and its two sequels. The details are precise and accurate and it’s a deep dive into a fantastical world that would be a joy with a cup of tea on a chilly fall day. There’s even a television show starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode of the books, so the magic doesn’t have to end on the last page.” – Lindley Estes, Riverby Books
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
“This delightful book is the best fake-dating themed British rom-com you will read this year. The snarky but well-meaning son of a rock star decides to clean up his image by keeping up a fake romance with a suit wearing, SAT word-wielding, ethically conscious lawyer, who is basically a cinnamon roll in a tie. I laughed out loud at the phenomenal banter; I sympathized with the main characters’ emotional baggage as it followed them around like a conveyor belt; I applauded the authenticity of their journeys towards each other–and more importantly towards self-acceptance.” – Lelia Nebeker, bookseller, One More Page Books
A Promised Land by Barack Obama (Releasing Tuesday, Nov. 17)
“Moved up to a fall publication date, this is the first of two volumes about his years as president and is eagerly anticipated. As always with political memoirs, the question is whether there will be new revelations and the early buzz for the book suggests that possibility.” – Jean L. Ross, PWPL Chief, Materials Services Division, Prince William Public Libraries
A Fire Story by Brian Fies
“In 2017 wildfires burned throughout Northern California killing 44 people and destroying 6,200 homes. One of those homes was that of author and illustrator Brian Fies who gives a firsthand account of this tragic event in an honest and unflinching depiction of his personal experiences. This comic expands upon Fies’s hastily posted webcomic that immediately went viral and includes fire stories of others in his community.” – Jason Margolies, Adult Services Librarian, Ashburn Library
Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin
“Young women take charge and plot their revenge against the young men who see the world and the women in it as theirs for the taking. A clever retelling of Macbeth, Foul is Fair is a revenge thriller with a fast pace and female heroics.” – Stephen Ahearn, Scrawl Books
Haunted Heroine by Sarah Kuhn
“No one captures the highs and lows of female friendships like Sarah Kuhn does, and when this book combines that with having to deal with regrets and figuring out if you’re even on the right path in life? Yes, please. For everyone who is spending their pandemic nights lying awake, staring at the ceiling in the dark wondering if you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing – this book will make you feel better about all of that, and it’ll combine it with ghosts, banter and romance. What more do you need?” –Amanda Quain, bookseller, One More Page Books
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
“Jesmyn Ward is one of my favorite authors and in my mind, she is the undoubted inheritor of William Faulkner’s crown as the giant of Southern fiction. In Sing, Unburied, Sing, 13-year-old Jojo can communicate with ghosts and animals. It also explores the rest of his family in Ward’s fictional hamlet of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi and weaves a compelling narrative. There’s a reason it won the National Book Award.” – Lindley Estes, Riverby Books
To Be a Man: Stories by Nicole Krauss (Releasing Tuesday, Nov. 3)
“While reading this exquisite collection of stories, I longed to have a friend reading it right beside me. I desperately wanted to be able to turn to her to discuss certain phrases or passages, or to examine the feelings left after the end of each piece. Krauss is a magnificent writer whose insight is powerful and transformative, not only for her characters, but for us readers. This is a work that tilts the head, so that we may see the world anew – or perhaps askew? For those who are unfamiliar with her novels, this is a terrific place to start. For those who are fans, get ready to be dazzled once again.” – Amy Lane, book buyer, Bards Alley
Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson
“It’s technically a fantasy novel, but don’t let the classification deter you. This novel is actually about mobsters in the 1940s. It has a supernatural element to it, with characters that are primarily non-white, and racism is key to the story. It’s a worthwhile read that speaks to current events” – Stephen Ahearn, Scrawl Books
The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
“When Margot Lee’s mother doesn’t return her calls she visits her childhood apartment in L.A.’s Koreatown only to find her mother dead under suspicious circumstances. Margot begins to dig through the past, discovering her mother’s life as a Korean War orphan and undocumented immigrant. Margot soon learns how little she truly knew about her mother.” – Kelly Jeon, Adult Services Librarian, Sterling Library
One by One by Ruth Ware
“When the descriptive terms used about a book’s plot are “management retreat” + “disasters” + “avalanche,” you know you are in for a wild ride. Ware’s latest suspenseful novel features an idyllic setting with disastrous and riveting consequences. Will all eight team members survive being stranded in a cozy chalet in the Swiss Alps?” – Jean L. Ross, PWPL Chief, Materials Services Division, Prince William Public Libraries
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy, MD
“This book by the former Surgeon General is so insightful and engaging, you’ll feel like you’re just having a conversation with him about his quest to analyze what it is about “community” that helps humans survive – and why it can mean the difference between surviving and really living. This book perfectly blends psychology, anthropology, and Dr. Murthy’s personal experiences.” –Lelia Nebeker, bookseller, One More Page Books
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab. (Releasing Tuesday, Oct. 6)
“This is a period fantasy novel by an author who has already proven her talent in writing both adult and young adult fantasy novels. According to V.E. Schwab’s website, the novel follows a young woman, the immortal Addie Larue, from early 1700s to current day. She’s spent her entire life thus far attempting to make a name for herself, but unfortunately her immortality came at the steep price of being instantly forgotten by all her acquaintances. However, after 300 years, Addie finally meets someone who can remember her.” – Miranda Madro, Adult Services Librarian, Brambleton Library
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
“Set in the very near future, Migrations takes the reader on a quest with narrator, Franny Stone, through a world where animals are quickly becoming extinct, and the people she loves are either lost or gone. Her determination to follow the last of the Arctic terns on a migration from one pole to the next, complements her search to find and save the people she has somehow lost. This book affirms the strong tie between humans, animals, the earth and its environment. It’s a great book that takes your breath away with its last few lines.” – Molly McMahon, Scrawl Books
The Return by Nicholas Sparks
“Best-selling author Sparks returns to his typical coastal Carolina setting with this story of an injured soldier returning to his hometown. Trying to unravel the mystery of his grandfather’s death finds him falling in love with Detective Natalie, while also trying to solve the mystery of her cool attitude towards him. Sparks fans will love it, and readers new to his romantic fiction will be hooked.” – Jean L. Ross, PWPL Chief, Materials Services Division, Prince William Public Libraries
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
“A wonderful professor in undergrad assigned this book in an African American literature class. James Baldwin is always a joy to read, whether it’s his fiction or his essays, but this book is especially prescient for our lives in 2020. It focuses on the black experience in America, but from the lens of his life in the early 1960’s. Anyone looking to read more black authors or update their reading list with nonfiction about race should pick it up. It’s a quick read but a powerful one. No matter what, reading itself is an act of joy and defiance– and in this strange year in which days seem slow– from the normal pace of time.” – Lindley Estes, Riverby Books
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