New Arrivals: The Best Recent Book Releases

Drawing from personal trials—including illness, grief, and identity crises—and insights from luminaries like Jane Fonda and Ocean Vuong, this collection addresses 20 enduring life questions with vulnerability and wisdom. Described by Doyle as “the guidebook for being alive,” it offers solace and clarity for navigating love, loss, and self-discovery.

Set in the turmoil of civil war, Isabel Allende’s latest historical novel follows a young writer’s journey to South America in search of the truth about her father and her own identity. "Isabel Allende never fails to deliver on the sweeping and spellbinding front," praised Today. "Her latest historical novel is about an ambitious young aspiring writer who goes after her dreams--much like Allende herself did."

A recently unemployed homeowner takes on a tenant to make ends meet—only to find the walls closing in. Another tightly wound, twist-laden stunner from a modern master of psychological suspense.

In this unforgettable and deeply moving tale, Backman once again delves into familiar emotional terrain—grief, unexpected kinship, and everyday heroism—with the same compassion and humor that made A Man Called Ove a global favorite. "Backman again pays tribute to the forces that make an ordinary life extraordinary," raved BookPage. "By focusing his tremendous empathy on the power of art and friendship, he has created a novel that celebrates the beauty of being alive."

As forest fires rage and guests disappear, two women form a tense, unexpected bond in a family-owned hotel on the brink of climate disaster. Publishers Weekly called this haunting story of trust, danger, and resilience “a work of psychological suspense” that imagines “a world that no longer offers respite.”

Inspired by the life of G.W. Pabst, one of cinema’s greatest directors, The Director follows his journey from Hollywood to Nazi-occupied Austria. Forced to create propaganda films for the regime, Pabst confronts the blurred lines between artistic integrity and survival, while grappling with his pact with the devil. Zadie Smith called it “a wonderful book about complicity and the complicity of art… funny and brilliant.”

After a devastating storm, a mother must name her newborn—defying her controlling husband. What unfolds are three alternate versions of their lives, each shaped by that single act. Spanning decades, this novel examines domestic abuse, generational trauma, and the struggle for agency. Publishers Weekly calls it “intriguing and nuanced… readers won’t stop talking.”

When a woman whose sister vanished years ago crosses paths with someone whose sister disappeared the same way, the mystery reignites. Together, they chase answers through small-town secrets and lingering trauma in a novel Booklist calls “impossible to put down” and Gillian Flynn praises for its “genuine beating heart.”

Rutger Bregman, the historian who famously told billionaires to pay their taxes to their faces, returns with a bold manifesto that challenges us to redefine success. Bregman urges us to move beyond wealth and status, advocating for careers focused on solving the world’s biggest problems. "Brisk and persuasive," observed The Financial Times. "Bregman's un-preachy and persuasive writing style makes profound change look easy."

The internet’s favorite “older sister” of millennial advice brings her sharp wit to fiction in a sizzling, satirical summer romp through influencer enclaves, beach-house betrayals, and emotional glow-ups.