What To Read

Happy New Books Tuesday! Notable releases this week include: Kiley Reid’s highly anticipated sophomore novel, an inspiring manifesto on how to make positive change in society, a crypto thought-leader's take on why blockchains are still crucial for our future, a RomCom that the New York Times calls “like Nora Ephron with a British twist,” and more.

FICTION

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid

Reid's sophomore follow-up to her smash hit, Such a Fun Age, follows Agatha, a visiting professor who is surreptitiously observing privileged students in a scholarship dorm. Reid’s keen observations of how entitlement, racism, consumerism and guilt affect our relationships are held in high relief in this satirical take on the campus novel. A Tertulia Staff Pick for January.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Well-known for her hilariously insightful memoir, Everything I Know About Love, bestselling author Dolly Alderton returns to fiction to reflect on the formative power of heartbreak from the point-of-view of a recently dumped, down-on-his-luck, 30-something year old comedian. Praised in The Guardian for a “Hornbyesque charm to her well-meaning characters and their relatable dramas”, Alderton proves once again that she is the queen of writing love and heartbreak. 

Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili

Vardiashvili’s debut unpacks the lasting effects of generational trauma and the aftermath of war in this familial tale of one man searching for his missing father and brother in post-Soviet Georgia. A Tertulia Staff Pick for January.

Everyone on This Train Is A Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Whodunit lovers will get on board for this funny and unexpected story tracking a group of talented mystery writers trying to uncover the murderer in their ranks.

Your Utopia: Stories by Bora Chung

The author of Cursed Bunny returns with another highly anticipated genre-bending short story collection that is as darkly absurd and experimental as her last, translated by Anton Hur, and featuring stories about artificial intelligence, mortality, and “casual cannibalism.” 

Held by Anne Michaels

Similar to Michaels’ previous novels (including Fugitive Pieces, chosen as one of the BBC’s “100 novels that shaped our world”) this historical novel delves into themes of memory, and the effects of trauma and grief over time. Locations shift through various war zones and the timeline loops from 1902 to present day. “A rave review in The Guardian acknowledged that “the fluid structure of this work may be challenging for some readers,” but that “it’s clear that Michaels’s writing continues to stand head and shoulders above most other fiction.”

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden

This bone-chilling, haunted house horror follows an American couple whose renovation of a dream home in Italy turns into an unimaginable nightmare.

Prima Facie by Suzie Miller

Based on the hit international play of the same name, Suzie Miller’s novel tackles the flaws in our justice system when Tessa Ensler, a lawyer who spent her career successfully defending those accused or rape, is sexually assaulted by a colleague. Kirkus called this adaptation of the play “a rawly moving debut filled with insights into the legal system and its shortcomings.”

Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir by Ai Weiwei with Elettra Stamboulis and Illustrated by Gianluca Costantini

Through the lens of the Chinese zodiac, renowned conceptual artist Ai Weiwei recounts his childhood living in exile with his family during the Cultural Revolution and how art allowed him to express himself despite his country’s socio-political restrictions. This stunningly illustrated story is an accessible way into the life of this once-in-a-generation artist.

The House of Plain Truth by Donna Hemans

On his deathbed, protagonist Pearline’s Jamaican father wishes for her to find her estranged siblings in Cuba and learn the truth about their complicated family history. Kirkus Reviews praises this lyrical and mesmerizing family saga for its “rocking-chair musings on mortality and responsibility” and for being “a welcome reprieve from stories laden with plot twists and action for the sake of it.” 

The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham

Set in crime-ridden Chicago during the Jazz Age, Nelly Sawyer, a young journalist and daughter of a wealthy Black family, wants to expose her city’s corrupt underbelly and turns to a mixed-race manager of a speakeasy who has secret ties to the underworld. Cunningham’s debut novel is an exciting blend of romance, history, and drama against the backdrop of prohibition-era Black society. Publishers Weekly raves, “Readers will be eager to see what Cunningham does next.”

NONFICTION

Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—And How You Can, Too by Ijeoma Oluo

The author of the bestselling So You Want To Talk About Race returns with an inspiring resource for readers aspiring to make individual and collective change for the betterment of society. Through various stunningly rendered portraits, Oluo shows that there is a part for everyone in the revolution.

Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet by Chris Dixon

From a partner at the well-known venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Dixon makes a compelling and strong case for how the Internet can return to its democratic and entrepreneurial ideals before it was controlled by the small handful of tech giants. Publishers Weekly found this to be “a stimulating overview of blockchain’s potential.” 

I Did a New Thing by Tabitha Brown

For thirty days in a row, internet sensation and bestselling author of Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business), Tabitha Brown challenged herself to try something new. This motivational, laugh-out-loud book is all about how taking the plunge to try new things changed her life for the better. 

Everyone Who is Gone is Here: The United States, Central America, and The Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer

In this searing and heavily-researched book of reportage, New Yorker staff writer Jonathan Blitzer gives a masterful account of the migrant crisis from the perspective of four individuals from Central America who risk it all to seek asylum across the border. The Texas Observer praised this “welcome intervention in a toxic discourse, one that unveils the ties that bind our artificially fractured hemisphere.” 

One Nation Under Guns: How Gun Culture Distorts Our History and Threatens Our Democracy by Dominic Erdozain

In a starred review, Kirkus praised this historian’s “incisive commentary on the catastrophic failure of legislative safeguards” in this “profound demolition of misguided gun-rights arguments.” This book attempts to correct common misconceptions around the Second Amendment with historical analysis and persuasive arguments as well as offer an explanation for how gun culture has become such an integral part of the identity and lifestyle of many Americans. 

Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes by Moshe Kasher

A hilarious, emotionally-resonant exploration of stand-up comedian Moshe Kasher’s various selves and the communities that have shaped him throughout his life. From Burning Man to Young People’s Alcoholics Anonymous to reconnecting to Judaism, this touching new memoir will remind readers that they didn’t get anywhere on their own. Kasher offers “part history lesson, part standup set and, often, part love letter,” in which, as the New York Times remarks, “You’ll probably learn something . . . and laugh in roughly equal measure.” 

Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind: A Powerful Plan to Improve Mood, Overcome Anxiety, and Protect Memory for a Lifetime of Optimal Mental Health by Georgia Ede MD

An inspiring and enlightening guide for those looking to elevate their mental and physical health through the foods they eat.

POETRY

Spectral Evidence: Poems by Gregory Pardlo

Pulitzer Prize winner Gregory Pardlo returns with his first major collection of poetry since 2015. This deeply moving and raw exploration of Blackness through familiar figures and themes made wholly fresh and original through lyrical and masterful writing. “With characteristic intelligence,” raves Publishers Weekly, “Pardlo confronts uncomfortable and enduring truths.” 

This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets by Kwame Alexander

Featuring work from award-winning and bestselling poets such as Tracy K. Smith, Terrance Hayes, Nikki Giovanni, and more, this curated collection of poetry explores the full scope and emotional landscape of the Black experience making it an essential staple for any poetry lover’s bookshelf. A stellar collection that radiates with lyrical imagery and language brought together into one book from New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander.

Notable Releases for the Week of January 23, 2024

FICTION

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Recently spotted in Sarah Jessica Parker's "blissfully transportive" reading list, this poet’s debut novel follows the orphaned son of Iranian immigrants on a quest that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. "Akbar creates scenes of psychedelic opulence and mystery, emotional precision, edgy hilarity, and heart-ringing poignancy as his characters endure war, grief, addiction, and sacrifice, and find refuge in art and love," raved Booklist.

Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn

A California woman impersonating her dead brother descends into madness, blurring the lines between reality and fiction in a debut novel that Kirkus praised as “intelligent, bizarre, and brilliantly written,” adding that “Blackburn shares a deep intellect and odd sensibility with authors like George Saunders and Rion Amilcar Scott, but this novel is its own thing.”

Family Family by Laurie Frankel

From the author of the Reese's Book Club pick This Is How It Always Is comes a thought-provoking story about family and adoption that’s “supercharged with cliffhanger chapter endings and parallel reveals,” that Kirkus also found “full of warmth, humor, and sound advice."

Broughtupsy by Christina Cooke 

This Jamaican-born author’s debut follows a young woman who returns to her native Jamaica after her brother’s death, and embarks on a soul-searching journey of self-discovery. Chicago Review of Books praised “an atmospheric story…If your favorite movie is Moonlight and/or you're a Justin Torres stan, Broughtupsy will wound and delight."

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

Featured in Airmail’s best mystery books to read in January, this thriller “with numerous characters pursuing various agendas” follows rival true crime authors racing to crack the case of a notorious baby raised in a cult, and is “Janice Hallett’s twistiest, most penetrating novel yet.”

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

The Mona at Sea author’s latest is a time-hopping caper starring a 19th Century Mexican bandido who reappears in 1960s Mexico City on a generational quest, which The Washington Post found “combines the thrills of a western with a hint of magical realism to explore the trauma that individuals, families and entire cultures face.”

Picasso's Lovers by Jeanne Mackin

In the latest historical novel from The Last Collection author, a 1950s art journalist dares to pull back the veil on the famed Spanish artist’s mysterious muses. “Thanks to Mackin, the women who loved and inspired Picasso get their turn in the spotlight," remarked Publishers Weekly.

NONFICTION

The Truce: Progressives, Centrists, and the Future of the Democratic Party by Hunter Walker

Journalists Walker and Luppen provide a fascinating tick-tock of the transformation of the Democratic party, dishing on backroom party negotiations, exposing what's underneath the tensions between progressive and centrist candidates, and covering milestones such as Bernie Sander's primary loss in 2020 with deep original reporting.

The Holocaust: an Unfinished History by Dan Stone

In a provocative reexamination of one of humanity’s darkest chapters, one of the world’s foremost Holocaust scholars argues that we need to stop thinking of the Holocaust as an exclusively German project. "This vital history shatters many myths about the Nazis' genocide…even if you think you know the subject, you'll probably find something here to make you think," observed The Sunday Times.

Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America’s Suburbs by Benjamin Herold

Named to The Washington Post’s list of Best New Books for January, this award-winning education reporter’s provocative exploration of the decline of America’s suburbs and their schools is told through the lives of five diverse families living across the US, drawing “attention to a morally urgent problem while offering a possible route toward revival."

The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky by Simon Shuster

Time correspondent Simon Shuster chronicles the invasion through an intimate and complex profile of Volodymyr Zelensky, following him from his time as a maverick entertainer to his leadership in the war with Russia.

One in a Millennial: on Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting in by Kate Kennedy

The host of the popular pop culture podcast Be There in Five reflects on her millennial girlhood, covering everything from AOL Instant Messenger and Spice Girls feminism to American Girl Dolls, with her signature wit and hilarious style, in a personal memoir that will have readers reminiscing on their own childhoods. The zeitgeisty exploration is also Marie Claire's virtual book club pick for January!

Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks by Crystal Wilkinson

Kentucky’s former Poet Laureate explores the hidden stories of Black Appalachians in this culinary journey that blends memoir with cookbook, featuring “close to forty recipes, complete with stunning photos that capture priceless moments centered around family and the great food that brings them together,” according to BookRiot.

Legacy: a Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock

One of NPR's 11 Books to Look Forward to in 2024, this esteemed Black physician’s debut memoir offers a thought-provoking critique of racism in health care that Ms. magazine called “a rousing personal story and an equally rousing cry for change, at its heart is is a beautiful ode to Blackstock's mother and her continuing legacy."

Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton

The NY Times listed this Emmy-winner’s mind-boggling history of one of the country’s last segregated asylums on its shortlist of noteworthy January releases, finding a “lacerating indictment of America’s treatment of Black health [that] is also a highly personal work of history giving face and voice to patients, employees and families.”

Ukraine: the Forging of a Nation by Yaroslav Hrytsak

From a leading Ukrainian public intellectual comes a fresh, inside look at Ukrainian history from the 17th-century Cossack uprising, through the fall of the USSR, and up to the 2022 invasion that “lays bare the enduring pride that persuaded his countrymen to resist Russian aggression and offers grounds for hope,” remarked The Observer.

The Rebel’s Clinic: the Revolutionary Lives of Frantz Fanon by Adam Shatz

The shocking biography of the remarkable Afro-Caribbean intellectual and post-colonial activist who inspired some of today’s social movements, written by The U.S. editor of the London Review of Books. “It's been a minute since Fanon's been the subject of a major biography, and Shatz proves more than up to the task of elucidating the interplay between the psychoanalyst's biography and his anti-colonialist theory,” observed Publisher’s Weekly.

Black Women Taught Us: an Intimate History of Black Feminism by Jenn M. Jackson

In eleven powerful essays, this award-winning political science professor and columnist for Teen Vogue pays homage to the often-overlooked contributions of Black women in the fight for racial, gender, and sexual justice in an enlightening debut work. *A Tertulia staff pick for January.

Year Zero: The Five-Year Presidency by Christopher P. Liddell

Lidell lays out concrete recommendations for how incoming presidents can rebuild voters' trust in their governance during the year before their inauguration through assembling a leadership team, acquiring institutional knowledge, designing structures and decision-making apparatus, and more.

Notable Releases for the Week of January 16, 2024

FICTION

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

The latest by the author of Parakeet is a bittersweet sci-fi story that’s landed on multiple 2024 must-read lists, about a remarkable extraterrestrial baby born to a human mother in Philly, during Voyager 1's launch. Alexandra Jacobs was smitten by this “remarkable funny-sad novel,” calling it in her New York Times review, “astonishing…This is the kind of humor that made Seinfeld millions, and Bertino does pathos, too."

Ilium by Lea Carpenter

In the Red, White, Blue author’s latest spy thriller, “the tension of espionage, grief, and longing come together in this brilliant, original work,” hailed the Star Tribune. After falling for a mysterious older man, a young British woman is thrust into a covert operation on a heavily-guarded compound in Cap Ferret.  Check out an excerpt of the book here.

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler

The latest from the author of the acclaimed Locus Award-winning The Mountain in the Sea is a brainy sci-fi thriller about an elephant expert who’s murdered and resurrected as a genetically-engineered mammoth, which Publishers Weekly called “impassioned and impressive...an uncompromising climate fiction that strikes like a spear to the gut."

Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj

LitHub praised this “rich, complex, and moving immigrant story with a beautifully-rendered ensemble cast” that drops readers into Baltimore’s vibrant Palestinian American community, and follows three immigrant families through the joy of their weddings, heart-wrenching funerals, financial struggles and long-simmering secrets. 

The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller

This WWII art heist adventure “boasts a little bit of everything—a truly fascinating setting; rich, quirky characters; tragedy, suspense, warmth and humor,” remarked BookPage. Orphaned in Rome by American bombs, a plucky boy meets a charismatic smuggler and together they embark on a remarkable caper that will remind readers “of Anthony Doerr's beloved World War II novel, All the Light We Cannot See."

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Start the year with a stylish psychological thriller from The NY Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient, about a reclusive movie star's gathering on a private Greek island that takes a deadly turn. “Fury is pure Agatha Christie-esque fun– genre romp, complete with remote island setting and larger-than-life characters who might’ve dunit,” exclaimed The Boston Globe.

True North by Andrew J. Graff

A married couple tries to save both their relationship and their nascent whitewater rafting business amid pressure from outsiders and mother nature in this heartfelt blend of “character-driven domestic fiction with an exciting adventure story. Readers will enjoy the ride,” declared Publishers Weekly.

The Oloris: Heroes Will Unite Volume 1 by Roye Okupe

Extraterrestrial androids battle it out with a legendary 15th-century West African warrior queen in this award-winning Nigerian filmmaker’s graphic fantasy novel. 

NONFICTION

I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: Everything I Wish I Never Had to Learn About Money by Madeline Pendleton

"Move on, Jim Cramer. Here's the real deal—smart, undaunted, and eminently wise," declared Kirkus of this TikTok superstar’s no-bullshit memoir that vividly recounts her journey from living paycheck to paycheck to creating a multi-million-dollar LA clothing business.

More: a Memoir of Open Marriage by Molly Roden Winter

An unputdownable memoir by a devoted Brooklyn mom who opens up on her unexpected open marriage. “Rather than rejecting monogamy outright, this thoughtful foray into free love asks if polyamory can enrich a couple’s relationship,” mused the Financial Times. 

The Last Fire Season: a Personal and Pyronatural History by Manjula Martin

An arresting combination of memoir, natural history, and literary inquiry that chronicles one Northern California woman's life during the worst fire season on record. The New York Times singled it out among noteworthy January releases for “teasing out the intricate connections between human beings and the natural world on which they depend.”

Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris

Through stories, essays, and photographs, the prize-winning journalist and former host of NPR’s All Things Considered offers an eye-opening dialogue on race and identity in America anchored by her work at The Race Card Project, which Kirkus praised for offering “crucial insight into how Americans think about race, combining the painful with the inspiring."

So Fetch: the Making of Mean Girls (And Why We're Still So Obsessed with It) by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

The bestselling author of Seinfeldia turns her “immersive, entertaining” gaze on one of the most iconic teen comedies of all time, with Book Riot hailing “a smart, incisive look at a film that remains relevant today.”

Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life by Nell Greenfieldboyce

An inspiring essay collection by the beloved NPR science correspondent that blends memoir with explanatory science, original reporting, and personal experience. “The title is borrowed from a phrase in a Walt Whitman poem. He surely would be pleased to be linked to Greenfieldboyce's display of inquiry and imagination, inevitability, and possibilities,” remarked Booklist.

Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are by Rebecca Boyle

Publisher’s Weekly was delighted by this “dexterous blend of science and cultural history” that reveals everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the big, mysterious ball of cheese in our night sky…but were afraid to ask. It’s an “excellent exploration of how the moon has shaped life on Earth” by an Atlas Obscura columnist that’s garnering praise from astronauts to bestselling science writers like Ed Yong and Neil Shubin.

Tripping on Utopia: Margaret Mead, the Cold War, and the Troubled Birth of Psychedelic Science by Benjamin Breen

The shocking secret history of psychedelic research in the post WWII era, focusing on the pioneering and controversial work of anthropologist Margaret Mead and her husband Gregory Bateson. Publisher’s Weekly was taken by a “riveting exploration of a shadowy episode in 20th-century history.”

Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka

This New Yorker tech columnist’s “intriguing and distressing” investigation of the mathematical formulas that give shape to modern life shows “how we can reject the algorithms of the digital era and reclaim our humanity,” observed Kirkus.

The Maga Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out) by Tina Nguyen

An insider take on the MAGA movement from former Vanity Fair journalist and founding partner of Puck. From working for Tucker Carlson in her first job to blogging for conservative outlets before becoming a political reporter, Nguyen had first-hand experience of the growing Trump movement. In this book, she pulls back the curtain on the MAGA recruiting machine.

Notable Releases for the Week of January 9, 2024

FICTION

Old Crimes by Jill McCorkle

The beloved Life After Life author’s latest story collection explores the pivotal moments when lives are forever changed through lies, secrets and other misdeeds with “plenty of humor and heartache... and often pushes her stories toward empathetic and surprising climaxes. McCorkle fans will gobble this up," remarked Publishers Weekly.

My Friends by Hisham Matar

From the Booker Prize-nominated and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Return comes a luminous tale of friendship, family, and exile set against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. “Khaled’s elegiac ruminations never throttle the suspense as the characters continuously risk their lives for Libyan liberation. This is both a melancholic examination of the horrors of repression and a powerful ode to the freedom of speech,” raved Publishers Weekly.

One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall

In the latest psychological thriller from Gillian Flynn’s imprint, two young women mysteriously vanish in an English seaside town, thrusting a couple of locals into the middle of a police investigation. The bestselling author of Gone Girl declared, “Not only is the book an addictive page-turner, but…also a fascinating exploration of gender roles in the age of social media.”

You Only Call When You're in Trouble by Stephen McCauley

The beloved The Object of My Affection author returns with a “beautifully written” novel “replete with laugh-out-loud pronouncements” starring a tiny house architect torn between building his miniature masterpiece or helping out his perennially needy family. Booklist loved this “unmitigated delight and a book that you'll hate to see end." *A Tertulia staff pick for January.

The Glass Box by J. Michael Straczynski

An incarcerated woman fights back against a draconian regime in this action-packed dystopian sci-fi novel by a renowned Marvel writer with credits like The Amazing Spider-Man under his belt. Publishers Weekly found "Echoes of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest reverberate through this cinematic tale...readers looking for an adrenaline-inducing resistance plot will find this worth their time." Check out our interview with the legendary sci-fi author here.

Aednan: An Epic by Linnea Axelsson

An award-winning Swedish author makes her American debut with this “sharp-edged tale in verse” that follows multiple generations of two Sámi families as they navigate “colonial suppression, resistance, and survival,” according to Kirkus. 

The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell

The National Book Award finalist and author of the bestselling Once Upon a River returns with a story about a family of fiercely independent women living in the rural swamps of Michigan. "Once you get thoroughly sunk into the story, you'll resent ever having to leave this matriarchal family that insists on preserving its own peculiar ways in a world determined to move on..."  —The Washington Post.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

The Villa author returns with “a delicious tale of murder, greed, and the ties that bind” set in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge mountains, that follows a man who inherits a complicated fortune from his notorious mother. “Nonstop twists and surprises make this a true thrill ride,” exclaimed Publishers Weekly.

The Fetishist by Katherine Min

Nothing goes as planned when a grieving punk rocker exacts revenge on the man whose callous acts caused her mother's death. i-D Magazine was taken by this “posthumous novel which confronts race, sexuality and complicity,” calling it “savage, horrible and very funny.”

California Bear by Duane Swierczynski

The prolific crime writer is back with another thriller full of “jaw-dropping twists” starring four amateur sleuths on the hunt for a notorious serial killer. Publishers Weekly called it "a tour de force," while praising its Edgar-nominated author for being “brilliant at fooling even savvy readers.”

You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue; translated by Natasha Wimmer

The Sudden Death author turns his focus toward fourteenth century Tenochtitlan – today’s Mexico City -- with this fantastical work that reimagines the famed city’s fall at the hands of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. “Parts of the novel play like an Aztec West Wing, taking us deep into the political manoeuvrings of the royal court but blending its particularities with 21st-century psychology. It's a rich approach that achieves a hallucinatory vividness." The Guardian. 

Goldenseal by Maria Hummel

Two long estranged friends reunite at a Los Angeles hotel in this saga of “love, betrayal, and reconciliation” told through one long conversation over a single evening. Publishers Weekly praised this story that “skillfully evokes the Cranes' gilded world of hotels and Hollywood, and deeply explores the women's fraught friendship from both points of view. Readers will be rapt."

Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky

A young girl grapples with a friend’s tragic loss by weaving imaginary tales in this “strange, beautiful, and tragic…story of tragedy and redemption” that LitHub found “charming and eerie.” 

A Bean to Die for by Tara Lush

In the latest cozy caper from the Coffee Lover's Mystery series, a local activist turns up dead in Devil’s Beach’s community garden, thrusting the caffeine-craving amateur sleuth Lana Lewis into the investigation. 

River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure

Jumping between Shanghai in 2007 and Qingdao in the 80s, this “remarkable story of a family caught between cultures” illuminates the personal stories behind China’s radical transformation, according to Publishers Weekly.

NONFICTION

Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie

Bill Gates had high praise for this data scientist’s eye-opening and hopeful book that goes beyond the dire headlines to highlight signs of environmental progress, with the tech titan calling it “an essential antidote to environmental doomsday-ism.”

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito

From a Karl Marx for the climate crisis, this well-reasoned argument for degrowth has garnered praise from across the spectrum (from philosopher Slavoj Žižek to The New York Times). Kaito, a University of Tokyo philosophy professor, makes the case for social ownership as the only way to combat the climate crisis. "Saito's clarity of thought, plethora of evidence, and conversational, gentle, yet urgent tone…are sure to win over open-minded readers,” observed Kirkus.

The Rebels: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Struggle for a New American Politics by Joshua Green

The author of Devil's Bargain turns his attention across the aisle, with a “fast-paced, sober, yet hopeful” (The Atlantic) account of the rise of left-wing populist politics, led by Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. *A Tertulia staff pick for January.

Gut Check: Unleash the Power of Your Microbiome to Reverse Disease and Transform Your Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health by Steven R. Gundry MD

You might think you’re running the show, but in reality there’s trillions of single-celled organisms controlling every aspect of how our minds and bodies function. Taking care of this microbiome with the detailed eating plans and recipes in this research-filled book might just be “the secret to good health,” mused Kirkus.

Filibustered!: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America by Jeff Merkley

Washington wonks are praising this treatise by the U.S. Senator from Oregon on how today's dysfunctional Senate can be reformed through restoring a less destructive version of the speaking filibuster.

Swamp Monsters: Trump vs. Desantis--The Greatest Show on Earth (or at Least in Florida) by Matt Dixon

An entertaining and incisive look at the clash within MAGA republicanism that has defined the current state of the Republican party. The New York Times listed the book on a shortlist of noteworthy January releases: "With fresh insights from a chorus of mostly anonymous political insiders, he charts DeSantis’s rise from relative obscurity in Congress to the Florida governor’s mansion and into the race for the White House."

1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg

Get motivated to put pen to paper with a writing manual Publisher’s Weekly called an “encouraging handbook” that’s inspired by the NY Times bestselling author’s #1000WordsofSummer movement, and features essays by notable names like Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado. 

Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. (and How It Got That Way) by Rachel Slade

A Publishers Weekly Top 10 Pick in Business and Economics that follows a couple's ambitious journey to craft an ethically made, all-American hoodie, showcasing the ups and downs behind the "Made in the USA" label, while providing “an incisive look at the history and current state of American manufacturing. Readers will feel invigorated.”

The Furies: Women, Vengeance, and Justice by Flock, Elizabeth

The Emmy Award–winning journalist and The Heart is a Shifting Sea author is back with a provocative look at women around the globe taking justice into their own hands, including a young Alabama woman who killed a man she accused of rape, the leader of an Indian gang avenging victims of domestic abuse, and an all female militia battling ISIS in Syria. It’s a “powerful reminder not only of the difference individuals can make in larger struggles for justice, but also of the limits of their success," observed The Star Tribune.

China’s World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict by David Daokui Li

A distinguished Chinese economist and senior advisor to the Chinese Communist Party offers an eye-opening and myth-busting analysis of Chinese economic and governmental policy, from state-owned enterprises, private businesses, the stock market, education, media and the internet to real estate, the environment, and more.

Of Greed and Glory: In Pursuit of Freedom for All by Deborah Plant

From the author of Alice Walker: A Woman for Our Times comes this powerful and personal examination of slavery's continued legacy in America, that draws on her academic research and the harrowing story of her brother's life sentence in Angola Prison. BookPage hailed “an emotional and passionate book, raw in its grief and anger, but also imbued with hope for redemption.”

Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence by Yaroslav Trofimov

Reporting from the front lines, The Wall Street Journal's chief Ukraine correspondent delivers “a comprehensive account of the startling and heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people,” according to the National Review, and captures “in a quietly devastating way, the sheer human cost of the war.” *A Tertulia staff pick for January.

Rental Person Who Does Nothing: A Memoir by Shoji Morimoto 

In 2022, this author went viral for getting paid to "do nothing." After his boss told him he was useless, the Japanese worker embraced the sentiment and began renting out his presence to the socially anxious and lonely. "Morimoto describes himself as 'living without doing anything' but he emerges as a semiaccidental painter of modern life," raved Sukhdev Sandhu in The Guardian.

Good Eats: 32 Writers on Eating Ethically by Jennifer Cognard-Black

"A wonderful starting place to think about how to eat ethically," according to Kirkus, featuring essays by award-winning writers, chefs, farmers, activists, educators, and journalists like Ross Gay, Barbara J. King, DeLyssa Begay, Lynn Z. Bloom, Michael P. Branch, Nikky Finney, and others who offer their thoughts on eating for sustainability, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing. 

Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia by Kate Manne

The author of Down Girl and Entitled delivers a fierce exposé on the harms of size discrimination that blends her personal struggles with rigorous research to deliver a "brave, thought-provoking book [that] tackles and dismantles fatphobia in all its forms,” according to Kirkus.  

Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity by Soo Jin Lee

A formerly undocumented immigrant and professional therapist offers vital insights on mental health in Asian communities, alongside proven tools to process and heal racial and intergenerational trauma.

Notable Releases for the Week of January 2, 2023

FICTION

This Plague of Souls by Mike McCormack

Named a most anticipated book of the year by The Guardian, The Irish Times, and The New Statesman, this follow-up to the Booker-longlisted Solar Bones is “a magnificent Irish novel” about a man who returns from prison to discover that his family’s vanished and only a mysterious caller claims to know why. “For the most part, it reads like a thriller, shot through with a pervading atmosphere of precarity and uncertainty… a beautifully written collision of mystery and metaphysics." —The Telegraph.

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

This highly anticipated family saga, set during Japan's brutal occupation of Malaysia during WWII, is "poised to be a breakout debut of 2024," according to Esquire. After becoming an unwitting spy for the invading Japanese forces, a Malay mother is forced to reckon with the dire consequences of her actions.

Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody

A high school English teacher becomes obsessed with her sister’s unsolved disappearance in this twisty, suspenseful debut that Nylon claims is perfect for “anyone who's ever indulged in a late-night Reddit binge or found themselves in the amateur sleuthing vortex of true crime junkies."

Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton

In the latest by the author of Social Creature, two diametrically different sisters fall under the spell of a cultish New York City cabaret troupe in a “spellbinding and sincere” thriller that “enthralls while exploring the frequently fraught nature of adult sibling relationship,” according to Kirkus.

Anna O by Matthew Blake

In this gripping psychological thriller, a young writer commits a double murder while sleepwalking, then never opens her eyes again. Now a famed London forensic psychologist must risk his personal life and career to unravel the mystery of what happened that fateful night. “Blake never lets the reader, or his hero, get comfortable, delivering one game-changing twist after another. The exhilarating results are likely to shock even seasoned thriller fans," raved Publishers Weekly. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

In this “savvy thriller with intrigue and momentum,” a con artist escaping from her past reinvents herself as the perfect Southern Belle to ensnare her next mark. “Evie is a smart and engaging protagonist, and her time on the run is anything but predictable," declared Kirkus.

Upside Down by Danielle Steel

The OG blockbuster romance author’s latest novel delves into the complexities of a Hollywood icon's strained relationship with her daughter, a successful New York City plastic surgeon romantically involved with an older TV anchorman. But mother and daughter are forced to put aside their differences when a blackmail scheme threatens to derail the liaison.

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns

In this family drama set in the 1990s, a teenage loner finds the family she’s always longed for in a Pennsylvania small town, until a long-buried secret threatens to tear down everything they’ve built. "With clear, luminous prose, able to plumb the complementary and contrasting depths of masculine and feminine energy, emotion, and ambition, Mercury is a delight,” declared Booklist.

The Storm Gathers by Maelan Holladay

Three ambitious women vie for power in this "electric work of epic fantasy," with Kirkus praising a fast-paced debut by a young author whose “worldbuilding is rich and subtle, and her protagonists are memorably bold.”

NONFICTION

The Power of Art: A Human History of Art: From Babylon to New York City by Caroline Campbell

This acclaimed curator’s unique art history book deviates from the genre’s typical personality-driven narrative, instead focusing on how art has been shaped by specific places and moments in time. “The director of the National Gallery of Ireland argues that innovative artistic expression reflects the character of the cities that drive it. Campbell covers a huge expanse of territory as she explores the nexus of culture, cities, and artists,” observed Kirkus. 

The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors by Erika Howsare

A poet and nature writer brings both scholarly research and a philosophical perspective on humans' complicated relationship with deer. With starred reviews in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly and a spot on the "Indie Next List" of books anticipated by booksellers, this unique natural history promises to enthrall readers.

F the Fairy Tale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Own Love Story by Damona Hoffman

Dump the dating myths and build real love with the host of the podcast 'Dates & Mates' and love expert on The Drew Barrymore Show. Drawing on 20 years of experience, the renowned dating coach explores the psychological and social factors behind our behavior, helping readers break free of old habits for good.

Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Mariel Buqué

Kirkus praised this “field-tested, practical guidebook for reclaiming health in the face of intergenerational trauma” by a Columbia University-trained trauma expert who explains how to break free from the painful emotions inherited from our relatives and ancestors.

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes

The bestselling author of Pandora's Jar returns with a “fun take on Greek myth” from the female perspective, delving into the complexities of Athene, Aphrodite, Hera, Demeter, Artemis, and the Muses with “lighthearted tone and humor [that] will keep even those already familiar with Greek mythology entertained through lengthy recaps of various legends, making the stories fresh and accessible for a new generation,” according to Publisher’s Weekly.

The Other Side: A Story of Women in Art and the Spirit World by Jennifer Higgie

Weaving memoir, biography, and art history, this groundbreaking reappraisal by The Mirror and the Palette author turns its attention to women artists and their engagement with the spirit world—from mystic Hildegard of Bingen to Hilma af Klint. Kirkus commended this “globetrotting survey of the role women and spiritualism have played in modern art. An illuminating commentary on much more than art, demonstrating how new ideas and cultural shifts take hold.” *A Tertulia staff pick for January.

The Noom Kitchen: 100 Healthy, Delicious, Flexible Recipes for Every Day by Noom

Everyone’s favorite self-care app is now a companion right in your kitchen! Dive into the blockbuster health app’s official cookbook for easy, nutritious recipes for guilt-free delights like Saucy Pizza-Stuffed Chicken Breast, Spinach & Feta "Hot Pockets," and Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.

12 Questions for Love: A Guide to Intimate Conversations and Deeper Relationships by Topaz Adizes

Can having one meaningful conversation incorporating these twelve thought-provoking questions transform your intimate relationships forever? That’s the simple premise behind this relationship guide from the minds behind the Emmy-winning documentary {THE AND}, which shows couples how to break free from surface-level relationships, embrace vulnerability, and discover the magic of deep, lasting love. 

Your First Million: Why You Don't Have to Be Born Into a Legacy of Wealth to Leave One Behind by Arlan Hamilton

An entrepreneur who built a rising venture capital fund while homeless explains how to overcome life’s obstacles and get your million dollar idea off the ground. Publishers Weekly found that “aspiring entrepreneurs will appreciate this” inspirational guide that shows how to harness your potential, identify needs, raise funds, build a million-dollar idea, empower yourself, reinvest in your community, and change the world.