What To Read

Every month, we share the books we can't wait to read. This month we've got the latest from romance phenom Emily Henry, a debut nonfiction work by Pulitzer finalist Lydia Millet, and a new collection of stories from A Gentleman in Moscow author, Amor Towles.

FICTION

Real Americans by Rachel Khong (April 30)

Selected by Laurann Harrington

I relish some serious family drama—when it's someone else's family. While the multigenerational family saga can be a heavy commitment, I loved the humor and fresh insights in Rachel Khong's debut (Goodbye Vitamin) so I am ready to delve into this three-generation story of a Chinese-American family. The early reviews have been stellar, and I was especially sold on a review in Vogue, which praised the book as one of the best of the year so far:

"Along the way, with shades of magical realism, it considers destiny, race, and privilege as its three main characters confront how their lives have been shaped by a confluence of biology, world events, their parents’ choices, and pure luck. Ultimately the novel excavates the tricky endeavor of breaking free from preordained destiny."

Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles (April 2)

Selected by Emmanuel Hidalgo-Wohlleben

Amor Towles has managed a literary hat trick, with his first three books (Rules of Civility, The Lincoln Highway and the blockbuster A Gentleman in Moscow) which have sold more than six million copies collectively! And I haven’t read a single one yet. I’m skipping straight to his forthcoming short story collection after happening upon an excerpt on Today, which follows an art assessor with financial troubles as he tries to arrange the sale of a Renaissance painting. Much of the charm of the story lies in quotidian details of Upper East side NYC life, which Towles sprinkles throughout, and the dynamics between the characters. I love when writers can distill these small moments of our life into larger meaning; Towles himself described the stories as often simply illustrating "two of the characters facing each other across a kitchen table to confront some new reality in their lives.”

Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett (April 30)

Selected by lliyah Coles

What a harrowing premise! You wake up in your luxe Airbnb on vacation only to find a dead white woman in the foyer—and your boyfriend is nowhere to be found. I'm panicking just thinking about it! Garrett knows how to take you for a straight-up thrill ride and the title, a nod to the "missing white woman syndrome," is an intriguing hook.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (April 23)

Selected by Romina Raimundo

Falling in love with your ex-fiancé's new fiancée's ex? Now that's the kind of romcom hijinks that seems too over-the-top to be real, but Emily Henry has a way of writing such charming and believable characters that I find myself totally sucked in.

Honey by Victor Lodato (April 16)

Selected by Sophia Nash

Victor Lodato won my heart over with his charming and quirky debut Mathilda Savitch, and he is coming back full-force with this next novel. Meet Honey Fassinga: an angsty teen turned art connoisseur, back in her mobbed-up Jersey hometown with vengeful intentions. Lodato artfully details the glitz and glamour of her lifestyle while portraying Honey in all her witty, glittering glory. She's such a memorable character that the publisher compares her to Elizabeth Strout's tenacious Olive Kitteridge and Andrew Sean Greer's irresistible Arthur Less - the perfect trifecta to invite to my dream literary dinner party.

NONFICTION

All Things Are Too Small: Essays in Praise of Excess by Becca Rothfeld (April 2)

Selected by Laurann Harrington

We seem to have reached peak minimalism, where everything is neat, pared-down and beige. That's why it is so refreshing to see a book like this one from a Washington Post critic that celebrates excess and abundance when it comes to life and art. I can't wait to add this book to the top of a big messy stack of books in my own cluttered apartment, and dig into the observations and insights Rothstein shares on minimalism, mindfulness, and morality — including a much-needed takedown of tidying guru Marie Kondo.

Let's Talk about Aging Parents by Laura Tamblyn Watts and Debra Whitman (April 30)

Selected by Lynda Hammes

I rarely read self-help books, but I've discovered this one at the perfect time. As my parents graduate from octogenarians to nonagenarians, I'm seeking answers on how to step up my care for them while respecting their boundaries and independence. From gently pressing the need for a hearing aid to broaching the topics of assisted living and end-of-life planning, these conversations can be really emotionally tense. This book offers expert advice—and even conversation scripts—to cover those touchy topics with the oldsters.

We Loved It All: A Memory of Life by Lydia Millet (April 2)

Selected by Emmanuel Hidalgo-Wohlleben

The barrage of information we consume on a daily basis around the state of the climate, the potential for global conflict, and the weakening of democracy is so overwhelming at times, that I often forget to appreciate the human connections, moments of serendipitous joy, and immense natural beauty that surrounds us. Lydia Millet’s novels have this way of tapping into our primal fears while also connecting us viscerally to the other beings we share the planet with. This new book is a first work of nonfiction from the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, and I can’t wait to hear her more personal take on how we can and should think about our place in this world and our role in resisting these existential threats.

Give Me Space But Don't Go Far: My Unlikely Friendship with Anxiety by Haley Weaver (April 16)

Selected by Iliyah Coles

There's a good chance that you're a fan of Haley Weaver without even knowing it — her art is everywhere! But don't let the cute factor fool you. The premise of the book is an illustrated memoir co-starring her lifelong companion: Anxiety. So many of us struggle with anxiety, myself included — and I'm convinced that reading this book will improve my sense of humor and even give me an appreciation for that whispering voice of what-ifs always in the back of my head.

POETRY

With My Back to the World by Victoria Chang (April 2)

Selected by Sam Haecker

Victoria Chang first came on my radar with Obit, her collection of poems written in the form of newspaper obituaries. I was floored by how she managed to transform one of the most unpoetic forms of writing into a deeply personal take on the death of her mother, her father’s stroke, and other losses in our lives. With her first poetry collection set to come out since then, Chang has found a muse in the art of Agnes Martin, a minimalist abstract painter and writer whose work has served as beautiful ekphrastic inspiration for poems on grief, art, and feminism.