New Arrivals: The Best Recent Book Releases

Inspired by the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, this “lushly painted, surprisingly feminist historical fiction” follows a young woman and her lover marooned on an island after their forbidden relationship is discovered. According to People magazine, “It’s a perfect read for cozying up by a roaring fire—and feeling thankful you’re not the sixteenth-century heroine the story is based on.”

Hailed as "the bloody belle of the 2025 literary ball" by Oprah Daily, this wickedly sharp novel offers a thrilling ride through madness, manipulation, and sinister gifts. The story follows a governess—soon to be brought to life by Margaret Qualley in an upcoming film adaptation—who uncovers disturbing family secrets, spirals into madness, and plots a shocking Christmas surprise.

"First published in French in 1949, this book tells the intimate story of Baker’s evolution from a teenage heartthrob of the Harlem Renaissance to Parisian superstar entertainer (and decorated French Résistance intelligence officer) to the only woman to speak at the March on Washington. Whew. Finally, we English speakers are hearing how she did all that firsthand. It’s about time." – Charley Burlock, Oprah Daily.

When her husband, Tony Horwitz, passed away unexpectedly, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks faced overwhelming grief amid life's relentless demands. Three years later, seeking solace, she retreated to a remote Australian island to reflect on their extraordinary life together—from war zones to Martha's Vineyard—and explore how cultures process loss. With raw emotion and poetic grace, this memoir celebrates a timeless love and offers a deeply moving meditation on rebuilding life after heartbreak.

The prize-winning author of How to Be Both follows up her acclaimed Seasonal Quartet with a dystopian story about two siblings living in a totalitarian near future Britain. “ If Smith’s recent books were a handbook for 21st-century life,” pondered The Guardian, “Gliff is a warning as to what will happen if we ignore their lessons.”

A man, lost and broken, retreats to a cabin in Oregon, only to find it occupied by a mysterious young girl and her protector. As they are hunted by cultists and government forces, he must choose between confronting his past or fighting for a future he never imagined.

In this gothic coming-of-age debut steeped in eerie folklore, a mother and daughter lure lost travelers into their secluded home—until a stranger’s arrival forces a reckoning. Booklist calls it “a brutal meditation on motherhood, feminine rage, and what it takes to survive,” adding that fans of Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch and Kristi DeMeester’s Such a Pretty Smile “will be perversely delighted.”

"Provocative and expansive. . . Joy, sorrow, rage, fear, guilt, lust, adoration -- it's all there in equal parts. The book empowers us to consider: When we look back at our pasts, how comfortable are we with seeing who we really were and embracing that version of ourself, however flawed? Perhaps more important, how do we shed the parts of us we no longer find useful to become something new?" - The San Francisco Chronicle

The visionary tech founder and philanthropist, Bill Gates, shares his journey from a curious child with ambitious parents to a young coder who sparked a global revolution. Explore his formative experiences, deep friendships, and personal losses that shaped his path. Gates reveals the moments that defined his life, offering an insightful portrait of one of the twenty-first century's most influential figures.

Written by a performer and professional dominatrix, this "sage and witty" novel follows a woman diving into San Francisco’s seedy underbelly after her ex disappears. From strip clubs to BDSM dungeons, she encounters bizarre characters and unravels herself in pursuit of love, revenge, and self-destruction. “A giddy, bracing entry into the scrappy-women-becoming-themselves canon,” raved LitHub.