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Big Books of the Week

Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich (Atria) leads holds this week.

Other titles in demand include:

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (Flatiron)

Triple Cross by James Patterson (Little, Brown)

Racing the Light by Robert Crais (Putnam)

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris (St. Martin’s Griffin)

These books and others publishing the week of Oct. 31, 2022, are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet.

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest

Eight LibraryReads and eleven Indie Next picks publish this week:

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson (Sourcebooks Landmark)

“Maggie takes a temp position at a friend's bookstore and gets more than she bargained for when she discovers the entire town seems to revolve around the legacy of author Edward Bell. Before she knows it, she’s selling books from a secret stash, planning author events, and finding love. A fun read for fans of Abbi Waxman and Emily Henry.”—Jaime Bink, Harford County Public Library, Whiteford, MD

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“I love a book about a bookstore! This was cute and funny, but also showed that we’re never too old to figure out what we want to do with our lives—or to not know what the heck we’re doing at any age. Loved it!”—Kristin Prout, Gathering Volumes, Perrysburg, OH

The Cloisters by Katy Hays (Atria; LJ starred review)

“Ann lands an internship at the Met’s Cloisters museum, where she works on an exhibit about tarot cards during the Renaissance. After Ann makes a surprising discovery, she sets in motion a series of sinister twists and turns. This great debut set in the atmospheric world of dark academia is perfect for those who loved The Ninth House and Discovery of Witches.”—Shari Suarez, Genesee District Library, Genesee, MI

The Cloisters is also an Indie Next pick:

“An atmospheric masterpiece! Ann Stillwell becomes increasingly obsessed with the occult after discovering a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards at the Cloisters. Hays creates a world so sinister that it is a character in itself.”—Sharon Davis, Book Bound Bookstore, Blairsville, GA

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske (Tordotcom; LJ starred review)

“This second installment of The Last Binding trilogy focuses on a magical locked-room mystery aboard an early 1900s ocean liner. Full of thrills, steamy romance, and clever humor, this delightful queer historical fantasy will appeal to fans of Naomi Novik and C.L. Polk.”—Jessica Trotter, Capital District Libraries, Lansing, MI

A Restless Truth is also an Indie Next pick:

“A sexy, mysterious romp at sea! It was exciting to be reacquainted with some characters from A Marvellous Light and to meet some phenomenal new characters. I had a blast reading this!”—Danny Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun (Atria)

“Financially struggling Ellie agrees to get fake-engaged for cash to help get back on her feet. But when she visits her fiancé’s family for the holidays, she finds that his sister is the person Ellie fell for a year before. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll find the queer holiday rom-com you’ve always wanted. For fans of You Had Me at Hola, Take a Hint, Dani Brown and Written in the Stars.”—Andrea Tucci, Glencoe Public Library, Glencoe IL

The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch (Berkley)

“Frankie and Ezra run into each other at a friend’s wedding, revisiting the highs and lows of their college romance, and discover a lot about themselves and each other along the way. With the 1999 college campus setting, this is a nostalgic and heartfelt journey to a bygone era. For fans of Just Another Love Song or The Half of It.”—Alicia Ahlvers, Henrico County Public Library, Henrico, VA

Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli (Graydon House)

“The story of a woman widowed by the suicide of her husband, who was a photographer. The story walks through her grief process and what others outside of her grief must see. A poignant story, while peppered with occasional humor, is still a tough read. For readers of You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty.”—Theresa Coleman, Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis, IN

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall (Forever; LJ starred review)

“Paris becomes a Bake Expectations contestant but being in a reality competition isn’t easy. Fortunately, he connects with Tariq in spite of the pressure of the competition and his anxiety. A realistic depiction of anxiety balanced by an adorable romance filled with fun characters. For fans of Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake.”—Claire Sherman, Clearwater-Countryside Library, Clearwater, FL

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris (St. Martin’s Griffin)

“When Ned proposes a business deal - a proforma marriage that will earn her enough money to go to university, Emily accepts, despite her girlfriends having warned her about him. After the marriage, Ned isolates Emily, and everything unravels. Readalikes for this twisty tale include The Couple at Number 9 and The Golden Couple.”—Tine Kristensen, Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax, VA

Eight additional Indie Next picks publish this week:

The Islands: Stories by Dionne Irving (Catapult)

“The Jamaican diaspora is so diverse, far from the stereotypes of Bob Marley and marijuana. The Islands depict colonialism, migration, and the immigrant experience. For readers of Anthony Veasna So, Ye Chun, and Nicole Dennis-Benn.”—Audrey Huang, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth (Flatiron; LJ starred review)

“Such a great horror story about family, friendship, and facing your demons. After finishing this one, I have a strong desire to reread The Shining and blast some Megadeth. I’m excited to see what Erika T. Wurth writes next!”—John Cauley, The Doylestown & Lahaska Bookshops, Doylestown, PA

Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet (Biblioasis)

“Such a great, satisfying, smart read. This has it all: a psychological drama between therapist and client; swinging ’60s London; a writer fully enjoying the storytelling; sharply observed moments of family. One of my favorites of 2022.”—Toby Cox, Three Lives & Co., New York, NY

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander (Grand Central)

“Meredith spent over three years alone in her house—she was not isolated due to a pandemic, but this book put my feelings into words. She made me giggle, cry, and root for her. A story we need after such a numbing time. I feel alive again.”—Tahlia Moe, Bound to Happen Books, Stevens Point, WI

Foster by Claire Keegan (Grove)

“Claire Keegan has a way of telling a story where the space between words counts as much as the words themselves. Atmospheric and moving, one finishes her novels and sits in admiration of them. Easily as good as Small Things Like These.”—Sheryl Cotleur, Copperfield’s Books, Sebastopol, CA

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy (Riverhead)

“When Catholic teacher Cushla Lavery & Protestant barrister Michael Agnew meet, the spark is immediate. Set in 1970s Belfast, Louise Kennedy captures a time of fierce loyalties, suspicion, and bigotry that smolders from the first page.”—Diana Van Vleck, Bloomsbury Books, Ashland, OR

Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning (Scribner)

“An epic tale! Sylvie Pelletier is the daughter of a mine worker in early-1900s Colorado. She glimpses at how the wealthy owners live and is changed forever. A full-bodied historical novel relatable to today’s issues of wage inequality.”—Paula Frank, The Toadstool Bookshop, Nashua, NH

#1 Pick: We Are the Light by Matthew Quick (Avid Reader)

“Matthew Quick scores a perfect ten in this deeply stirring, gorgeously hopeful novel that shines a brilliant beam on the path out of grief and toward healing. May we all learn the way to be such lights from this remarkable guide.”—Beth Stroh, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, IN

In the Media

The People magazine “Picks” book of the week is Poster Girl by Veronica Roth (Morrow; LJ starred review). Also getting attention are My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women (Grand Central) and Heretic: A Memoir by Jeanna Kadlec (Harper). People’s “new in nonfiction” section highlights Don Rickles: Merchant of Venom by Michael Seth Starr (Citadel: Kensington), Uphill by Jemele Hill (Henry Holt), and Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the Meaning of Family by Erika Hayasaki (Algonquin).

People remembers actor Leslie B. Jordan, author of How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived (Morrow), who died last week. Rock-and-roll muse Pattie Boyd shares pictures from her life from the forthcoming Pattie Boyd: My Life in Pictures (Reel Art Pr.), due out on December 20. U2 frontman Bono “dives deep into his past” in his new memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story (Knopf; LJ starred review). There is a profile of chef Jacques Pépin and his new cookbook, Art Of The Chicken: A Master Chef’s Paintings, Stories, and Recipes of the Humble Bird (Harvest). Plus, Kardea Brown, author of The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family (Amistad), shares a recipe. 

Reviews

The Washington Post reviews Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (Knopf; LJ starred review): “Surrender is more introspective than salacious or score-settling, and proof that the tunesmith who wrote it also speaks fluent prose.” The LA Times also reviews: “This is an introspective story written by a man whose spirit is never far removed from the sadness and grief of his childhood; the hunger, literal and figurative, of a teen wannabe rocker; and the gratitude of one who worked his butt off and made it to the top.” NYT also weighs in: “Like U2, Surrender soars whenever the spotlight comes on. Bono is never more powerful, on the page or the stage, than when he strives for the transcendence that only music can offer.”

The Washington Post reviews Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (Flatiron): “Perry’s wryly conversational, self-deprecating style will seem familiar to Friends viewers; it’s like a smarter version of Chandler wrote a book. He is easy to like, if prickly, and as easy to relate to as someone with multiple Banksys and a talent for repeatedly blowing up their own life could be.”

NYT reviews White Horse by Erika T. Wurth (Flatiron; LJ starred review): “The novel has potent things to say about how trauma reverberates throughout generations and how very often the most unimaginable violence is alarmingly close to home”; Foster by Claire Keegan (Grove): “Like a great, long Ishiguro novel, Keegan makes us complicit in what her characters want, setting us up for utter heartbreak when they don’t get it”; The Lemon by S.E. Boyd (Viking): “As tart as ‘artisanal citrus,’ as sharp as a chef’s knife, The Lemon is both a gleeful foodie sendup in the tradition of Simon Wroe’s Chop Chop and Chelsea G. Summers’s A Certain Hunger, and an incisive takedown of the commercial exploitation of just about everything, even death”; and A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto by China Miéville (Haymarket): “His Communist Manifesto is the inspiration for a very big tent, one where class and race, gender, ability, sexuality and origins are all part of a single revolutionary movement, not ceding priority to one another, but insisting that no liberation worth its name would exclude any of these elements.”

The Guardian reviews Playing Under the Piano: From Downton to Darkest Peru by Hugh Bonneville (Other Pr.; LJ starred review): “I loved Bonneville as Ian Fletcher in the mockumentaries Twenty Twelve and W1A, and now I see why he was so right. In Playing Under the Piano, he hits the same sweet spot, a delicious and endearing mode somewhere between utmost sincerity and utter bafflement.”

The LA Times reviews Still No Word from You: Notes in the Margin by Peter Orner (Catapult): “In 107 short essays or chapters (some just a paragraph), Orner shapeshifts and time travels”; and The Acrobat by Edward J. Delaney (Turtle Point Pr.): “He’s not satirizing Grant or Hollywood so much as crafting a character who’s effectively character-less. If Delaney clings overly much to his mask metaphors, he’s also sensitive to how those masks change, how hard they are to remove.”

Briefly Noted

People shares details from Jessica Willis Fisher’s memoir, Unspeakable: Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice (Thomas Nelson), which publishes this week. 

Darrel Rooney and Mark A. Vieira discuss the newly published expanded edition of their 2011 book, Harlow in Hollywood: The Blonde Bombshell in the Glamour Capital, 1928–1937 (Angel City Pr.), at FoxNews.

Vulture shares “The 13 Best U2 Stories From Bono’s Memoir, Surrender.”

OprahDaily has a preview and cover reveal of Colson Whitehead’s forthcoming Ray Carney caper novel, Crook Manifesto (Doubleday), due out in July 2023.

Jemele Hill, authorof Uphill (Holt), remembers the tweet that changed her life at Elle.

NYT’s “Group Text” recommends Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning (Scribner) for book clubs and shares discussion questions.

Shondaland has 6 books for Halloween. 

USA Today picks five books for the week and 10 best selling horror novels for Halloween. 

CrimeReads suggests 10 books out this week.

B&N shares “Best Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples Month 2022.”

ElectricLit lists “7 Memoirs About Unearthing Ancestral Magic.”

BookRiot recommends horror comics for the rest of the year. 

“Gerald Stern, prize-winning and lyrical poet, dies at 97.” NPR has more on his life. 

“Msgr. John Meier, Who Searched for ‘Historical Jesus,’ Dies at 80.”

“Thomas Cahill, Popular Writer of Ireland’s History, Dies at 82.”

“Gerald Stern, Poet of Wistfulness, Anger and Humor, Dies at 97.”

“Carmen Callil, Founder of the Feminist Press Virago, Dies at 84.” NYT has obituaries.

Authors on Air

Ian McEwan, Lessons (Knopf), describes writing as “a way of being” on CBS Sunday Morning. McEwan also spoke about “private lives, global events and the accidents of fortune that shape us,” on Writers & Company.  

Siddhartha Mukherje, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner), discusses “how an experimental treatment beat a little girl's cancer,” on CBS Sunday Morning. 
George R.R. Martin gives his thoughts on House of the Dragon, as reported by Deadline. 

Matthew Perry, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (Flatiron), will be on with Stephen Colbert tonight. 

John Irving, The Last Chairlift (S. & S.), visits Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Jessica Willis Fisher, Unspeakable: Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice (Thomas Nelson), will be on with Tamron Hall tomorrow. 

Sohla El-Waylly, editor of The Best American Food Writing 2022 (Mariner), visits with Seth Meyers tomorrow. 

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