Facts and dates can sometimes obfuscate links between the past and the present, but historical fiction often does. People from history are brought to life and seated next to us at the surface, mumbling, smiling, and terrified. Additionally, it may encourage people to look into historical evidence.

The following historical fiction works will be available in October 2023:

1. The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

A glitzy, witchy retelling of Pride and Prejudice told from Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister who is difficult and, in her opinion, unfairly criticized. The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch, offers a remarkably surprising redemption for the wildest Bennet sister while being full of magic, intrigue, danger, and endless enchantment. It has all the irreverent humor, power, and romance of Pride and Prejudice. Grand Central Publishing anticipates releasing this book on October 3, 2023.

2. Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem

The depths of mystery here stun. This is a sprawling tale of neighborhood, crime, and gentrification that spans more than fifty years in one Brooklyn neighborhood. The pieces opt to act independently and oppose the whole even if the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts. Lethem is questioning the act of storytelling in general as well as the structure of the crime book. All the while, the book is enjoyable to read, filled with odd characters, and the setting is wonderfully portrayed. This incredible, genre-busting masterpiece will undoubtedly make its impact. This book is scheduled to be released by Ecco on October 3, 2023.

3. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

Written by the acclaimed, Booker Prize-nominated author of The Garden of Evening Mists, this enthralling book is about love and betrayal, colonialism and revolution, storytelling and redemption. The House of Doors, a stunningly beautiful book based on actual incidents, explores the complex nature of friendship and love under the shadow of empire while tracing the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and power. On October 17, 2023, Bloomsbury Publishing is anticipated to release this book.

4. Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris

Heather Morris, the popular author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, has written an amazing book on tenacity and survival. Sisters beneath the Rising Sun, by the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka's Journey, and Three Sisters, is a novel about sisterhood, fortitude, and friendship in the most difficult of circumstances. It is a narrative of women in battle. This book is anticipated to be released on October 24, 2023, by St. Martin's Press.

5. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

A devastating masterwork about an enslaved child in the years leading up to the Civil War comes from Jesmyn Ward, the two-time National Book Award winner, youngest recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for Fiction, and MacArthur Fellow. An equally heartbreaking and brilliantly depicted portrayal of American enslavement is found in Let Us Descend. The novel takes the reader on a trip from the Carolinas' rice fields to New Orleans' slave markets and into the terrifying core of a Louisiana sugar plantation. It is searching, frightening, and full of sublime love. This miraculous work, written by one of the most talented and well-liked authors of her age, inscribes Black American anguish and ecstasy into the very soil—the abundant but merciless forests, marshes, and rivers of the American South. The most exquisite book Jesmyn Ward has ever written, Let Us Descend is a classic. This book is anticipated to be released by Scribner on October 24, 2023.

Where to buy these books...

Even when exploring imaginary worlds through stories that live only in the reader's head, reading fiction may offer many of the same advantages for self-improvement. It is a very effective technique to comprehend people, unleash our creativity, and challenge our intellect. The brain's ability to create a mental map of the intents of others is at its peak when the "theory of mind" is in operation.

The following fiction books are slated for publication in October 2023:

1. Death Valley by Melissa Broder

A darkly humorous novel about loss that turns into a narrative of desert survival, is the most deep work to date from the visionary author of Milk Fed and The Pisces. In the amazing new book by Melissa Broder, a lady travels alone to a Best Western in search of relief from the emptiness that has been plaguing her. Her father is in the intensive care unit, and her husband's condition is getting worse. She has run away to the high desert of California to get away from the sadness. But due to a receptionist who suggests a nearby walk, the hotel offers a route rather than serenity. This book is scheduled to be released by Scribner on October 3, 2023.

2. Family Meal by Bryan Washington

An enthralling, personal story about two young guys, who were once closest friends, whose lives collide again after a loss, from the internationally bestselling, award-winning author of Memorial and Lot. The theme of Family Meal is how those who have known us the longest may hurt us the most while simultaneously setting the bar for affection. Bryan Washington is back with a great new book, bringing with him his trademark generosity and an eye for pleasure, love, and the moments that make us feel the most human. This book is anticipated to be released on October 10, 2023, by Riverhead Books.

3. The Hive and the Honey: Stories by Paul Yoon

A stunning collection of exceptional stories facing issues of identity, belonging, and the clash of cultures across nations and centuries is available from the well-known, award-winning author Paul Yoon. The Hive and the Honey is written by an author at the pinnacle of his abilities and is one of Yoon's breathtaking novels that are interwoven with both beauty and brutality. This book is anticipated to be released on October 10, 2023 by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books.

4. America Fantastica by Tim O'Brien

A discredited journalist commits a bank robbery, setting off a cross-country manhunt across a society corroded by blatant delusion and dishonesty. An American Master returns: the author of The Things They Carried publishes his first new novel in twenty years. An important voice in American literature makes a successful comeback in America Fantastica. It holds up a mirror to a country and a period that have grown dangerously detached from reality and ravenous for falsehood, much as how O'Brien's modern classic The Things They Carried so beautifully showed the unromantic fact of war. On October 24, 2023, Mariner Books is anticipated to release this book.

5. Everything is Not Enough by Lola Akinmade Åkerström

The eagerly awaited sequel to Lola Akinmade Kerström's #1 international bestseller In Every Mirror She's Black follows three Black women as they battle their own insurmountable obstacles in Sweden, one of the most equitable countries in the world. The loosely connected and complicated lives of Kemi, Brittany, and Yasmiin are followed in Everything Is Not Enough as they explore issues of location, racism, and patriarchy in Europe, demonstrating once more that Lola Akinmade kerström is the next major author of complex modern women's literature. This book is anticipated to be published on October 24, 2023, by William Morrow.

Where to buy these books...

The attraction of being a

fraid is not lost on anyone. Even if some people manage to avoid feeling scared, doing so is still a task. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released by the brain that sets off the body's fight-or-flight response. On a brighter side, the brain has the ability to process these physical impulses without fear of injury. The reader uses this method to deal with fear on a regular basis. It's possible that we read mysteries only for the suspense. Getting sucked into this particular genre has some hidden advantages, though. 

Here are a few thriller books that will be published on October 23: 

1. Midnight Is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead

The preacher's daughter and the lad from the wrong side of the tracks are two outcasts who hold the key to learning the truth in this gothic Southern thriller from the highly acclaimed author of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife. Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead is a dark and compelling book that fans have come to expect from her. It examines the ways we've come to expect love, religion, and stories to save us, the lengths we have to go to in order to reclaim power, and the monstrous work of being a girl in this world. This book is scheduled to be released by Sourcebooks on October 3, 2023.

2. The Intern by Michele Campbell

In this gripping story about class, ambition, family, and murder, a young Harvard law student is seduced by a charismatic judge. Richly detailed characters and an intriguing subject that captures readers' attention right away. Campbell continues to introduce twists until the tension becomes nearly intolerable. It has the entertainment industry written all over it with its relentless action, compelling reasons, pulsating pace, and dramatic Boston location. Fans of The Firm will like this contemporary high-stakes blend of familial tensions, legal maneuverings, and unexpected turns. Michele Campbell has mastered the modern legal thriller.  This book is anticipated to be released on October 3, 2023, by St. Martin's Press.

3. The Death of Us by Lori Rader-Day

In this spine-tingling suspense book from the bestselling author of Death at Greenway and The Lucky One, the discovery of a sunken automobile in a murky pond uncovers betrayals and family secrets that will rip a tiny community apart. This book is scheduled to be released by William Morrow Paperbacks on October 3, 2023. 

4. The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok

From the New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation comes a moving family drama and a suspenseful mystery about the fierce pull of motherhood for two very different women. These two remarkable ladies are put on a startling collision course in The Leftover Woman. It's a complex examination of identity and belonging, motherhood and family that is twisting, suspenseful, and surprisingly moving. A kid serves as the link between two women in a divided city who are separated by stark economic and cultural disparities. This book is anticipated to be released on October 10th, 2023 by William Morrow.

5. The Exchange: After The Firm by John Grisham

A breathtaking new legal thriller by New York Times bestselling author John Grisham features high-flying international intrigue and Mitch McDeere, the brilliant hero of The Firm, who makes a triumphant return. The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that started the career of America's favorite author, was followed up with the engrossing thriller The Exchange. After fifteen years, Mitch and Abby are still together and residing in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the biggest legal firm on the planet.  This book is anticipated to be released by Doubleday on October 17, 2023.

Where to buy these books...

“Each memory, good and bad, was another invisible thread that bound them together...It was as simple and complicated as that. Love after children, after you've hurt each other and forgiven each other, bored each other and surprised each other, after you've seen the worst and the best...-well, that sort of love is ineffable. It deserves its own word.”

― Liane Moriarty, What Alice Forgot

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.

So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes.

Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

My reaction to this novel...

The book's cover has greatly piqued my interest in reading it. Since I am one of those readers who is drawn in by book covers, the majority of the books I have read have beautiful covers that entice people to pick them up and read them. Although I am not all that familiar with the author, I have seen a lot of her books in shops and am aware of how amazing they are, so I had high expectations for this book.

I don't know whether I'm the only one, but it seems that the majority of Alice-centric books deal with memories in some way. I'm not sure whether it's simply a coincidence, but I've read other books with memory issues under the name Alice, and this one seems pretty intriguing. Well, I read the book right away because I was so interested in finding out what happened to Alice in it.

The first few pages are easy to read and pleasant. It will pique readers' curiosity since you'll consider what actually occurred to the protagonist and how her brain suffered damage after falling to the gym, which is why she had the condition she is currently experiencing, memory loss. In some ways, I find it suspicious since it occurs in such an unbelievable manner. But, because that's what the author prefers, I'll dive right in.

The story's presentation of each chapter's opposing viewpoint caught my attention. You could be wondering who they are and what their roles are in Alice's memory loss, so it was a little confusing. They occasionally make the chapter terrible and uninteresting, so for me, it was a little odd. Perhaps it would be better if the author divided the other characters' points of view into distinct chapters so that the reader wouldn't become confused about who and what they were saying. Apart from that, I find the tale to be really sluggish. There are times when you'll really want to know what happened before the gym fall event, but the author will leave you feeling ravenous without providing a sustaining follow-up that will rescue the entire plot.

Every time Alice asks a character why she and Nick filed for divorce and they refuse to answer, I imagine that the reason they reveal will either shock me or at least make sense as to why they are withholding it from her. As a result, I became patient because I was curious to learn the reasons, but sadly, I found the justifications to be incredibly superficial, which made me feel betrayed. Is that all there is, I found myself wondering. Is that the sole explanation? I don't think the reasoning behind it is appropriate, hence the author has to come up with a stronger argument. I find the narrative to be ludicrous. I became quite annoyed because I was hoping there would be a decent explanation for it because the story frequently dragged on, not only because of the sluggish pace but also because the author used the name of The Almighty too frequently and did so in an impolite manner. It irritates me so much that frequently she used it for cussing that I'm really skipping the phrases containing it. The author should be aware of this.

However, despite the fact that this book has a lot of elements that I don't like, it also has one aspect and one character that I enjoy, and that is Elizabeth, Alice's sister. I could feel her agony and her deep desire every time I read her part. I truly root for her, am continually thinking about her predicament, and anticipate that she will play a significant role in the resolution of the narrative. I can truly relate to her character and how dejected she has gotten as a result of her circumstances.

Because this narrative genuinely let me down, I sincerely hope that Moriarty's subsequent works will differ from this one in more significant ways. I'm hoping that her subsequent books will have a stronger plot, be less tedious, and include less profanity. This book is not very recommending to me, and it won't be on my list of favorites. I didn't enjoy this book, but I'll try reading some of her other works in the future.

My Overall Rating: 

⭐⭐(2/5)

Where to buy this book...

"Give your struggles to God and He will just fill you with love and joy and heal your wounds."

--Gianna

Gianna tells the extraordinary true tale of one girl's astonishing transformation from abortion survivor to faithful protector and life-lover. This novel isn't about problems; rather, it's the story of a young lady who is determined to take use of the chances that God has given her.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

At the tender age of 17, Tina was frightened and pregnant. Feeling abandoned and desperate, she stepped into the clinic to have an abortion. But in the midst of it, something unexpected happened . . . something wonderful. Instead of snuffing out the growing life within, the procedure failed. And with defiance and courage, a baby girl made her way into the world.

My reaction to this novel...

I'm not sure what inspired me to start reading nonfiction or true-story novels. Reading about the successes people have after adversity truly astounds me. The choice to read this book was really prompted by a little incident: I took it up ready to read a book, but as I got into it, my attention began to hesitate because I had no idea what the tale was about at first.

I came to see that the novel addresses a very important issue and is particularly pertinent to this age. I was shocked by how ludicrous it was for this problem to start more than a decade ago and continue up until now. It was a topic that really generated a lot of discussion, not just in the media but also throughout the entire world. Even in my school days, I can still recall how divisive the abortion debate was, requiring us to decide where we were on the issue in order to respond to a question on an exam.

I could sense the grace that God had given Gianna as I read the book. I concurred that she had a reason for existing, and I believe she has been carrying out that reason up to this point. I looked for her and discovered that she was still engaged in the cause she is supporting, and I was so moved by how her life had changed as she continued to acknowledge God's support. Because of her, many individuals who went through the same horrors as her biological mother did had their lives altered. She is so strong that she overcame the opposition she faced and spoke her tale honestly.

The fact that many teens are having abortions because they are unaware of what they are about to do was also rather upsetting and honest to hear about in this book. The majority of them did not receive a thorough explanation of the procedure, and since they are still adolescents, they are unaware that the object they are trying to remove from their wombs after having intercourse is actually a human being and not simply a piece of tissue. We can also see in this book that teenagers did not have access to enough knowledge back then or, at least, up to this point when it comes to this topics.

The sides in the argument are pro-life and pro-choice. I have always been a pro-life advocate and have never wavered from my convictions. This book gave me the opportunity to imagine what it might be like for individuals who were aborted but lived. In my opinion, they are not to blame; in reality, they are the victims of this world, and as such, they merit to be heard and taken into consideration. It is quite terrible that it is so simple for someone to take an innocent life in the world we live in, where even abortion wants to be made legal.

I'm aware that there are certain cases in which the baby was produced as a result of crimes like rape and abuse, but that doesn't mean it should be used as justification for killing defenseless infants. Because it takes away the life of an innocent unborn child, I do believe that abortion is the same as murder. There are also numerous instances where premarital sex resulted in the birth of the child, and I find it unacceptable to carry out abortions because of this problem because even teens are aware that having premarital sex increases the likelihood of a pregnancy. Given this information, the unborn babies are not to blame; rather, those who engaged in premarital sex should be held accountable for their actions. They should take responsibility.

As a nurse, I have observed many teenagers before, during my practice, who had experienced post-abortion trauma and had to deal with the horrors of what followed. We were startled to learn that many young people those days attempted premarital sex, became pregnant, and then immediately took steps to remove the pregnancy on their own. As a result, they later visited the hospital and had so many issues with bleeding that their uterus has really suffered damage. Additionally, some of my patients' uteruses before have been harmed because of what they took and did, which makes it difficult for them to conceive years after doing an abortion. Seeing such things was pretty heartbreaking, especially when the patients were really desiring a child years after their abortion but now were unable to have one because of the damage that it had done to both their bodies and their wombs. It was really damaging.

There are a lot of things about abortion that most people these days agree on, but if you meet someone who has had one and is now trying to conceive but is unable to because of her past abortion, you will undoubtedly understand the misery they are through. We recognize that people might not be ready or equipped to be parents at certain times, but what if it was the last opportunity you had to conceive or have a child? It is so easy to say and decide to remove it, but it is so hard to feel when you later want it but will not be able to get it because of what you did.

I wish to suggest this book to teens as well as to parents who are indifferent to problems like these. It's a real eye-opener. As a Christian, I want other Christians to read it as well since we may feel God's magnificence and power in this book. He moved mountains for Gianna and the rest of the believers. He certainly is a magnificent God. I should absolutely add this book to my list of favorites.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

Where to buy this book...

Are you still in need of a justification to buy a new book for yourself this week? Using preliminary reader feedback, Goodreads has compiled a list of the most popular new releases for us this week. Here are several novels that could be appropriate for our lazy day:

1. Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong's first standalone horror book, published by the New York Times. A genuinely unsettling story with complicated characters, peculiar turns, real goosebumps, and strong emotions. A hand is soon seen sticking up from the ground after tensions, secrets, and murmurs in the nearby woods. The accompanying body follows after that. But by that point, someone had already left the island through their lone escape route, and they were now encircled by someone or something that didn't want them to survive the ordeal. If we enjoy horror, thrillers, secluded island homes, unexpected discoveries, gory bones, hex circles, and The Summoning, then we should read this novel.

2. Rouge by Mona Awad

A lonely clothing store clerk whose mother's abrupt death sets her on a perilous path in search of youth and beauty is the subject of a horror-tinged, gothic fairy tale by Bunny's highly renowned author. Can she make a relationship that goes beyond the surface and avoid her mother's fate? In this surreal exploration of the evil side of beauty, envy, loss, and the nuanced love between mothers and daughters, Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut. Rouge examines the risk of internalizing the beauty business's ruthless gaze while also examining the cult-like character of the beauty industry with sly comedy and enticing terror. Rouge, bursting with California sunlight and acrid rose petals, throws up a twisted mirror to our connection with mortality, our society's concern with what is visible, and the magnificent, deep desire that can be hidden within. This novel is recommended for those who enjoy horror with a philosophical bent, dark comedy, eerie health spas, bizarre Southern California, and veiled criticism of the modern beauty business.

3. The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

One lively child is left alone in the bush in Lauren Groff's tense and enthralling new book, striving for survival. The latest book by Lauren Groff is both an exciting adventure tale and an insightful parable about attempting to discover a new way of life in a society that is falling victim to colonialism. The Vaster Wilds is a work of unadulterated and prophetic force that asks how—and if—we can change rapidly enough to rescue ourselves by telling the tale of America in microcosm through the eyes of one girl at a turning point in history. If we enjoy historical fiction, literary fiction, colonial-era North America, action stories, survival stories, tense allegories, Fates and Furies, and Lauren Groff works in general, we should read this book.

4. Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

This fiery, irreverent horror book from the author of Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle features a jaded twenty-something who is forced to confront the terrible secrets of her unusual family. Harrison surprises and piques your interest with a ritual of macabre wit and group terror, hooking you like a Hellraiser. Black Sheep presents a compelling argument for avoiding all family gatherings. Harrison's most recent book, which is compulsively engaging, is a rallying cry for any daughter who has been excluded from her family and considered the consequences of returning home. If we enjoy scary movies, poisonous relationships, hazardous cults, extreme religious groups, shady family gatherings, and Cackle, we should read this book.

5. The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu

Shakespeare's Hamlet is retold in a poetic, queer science fiction thriller set in a confined chamber. A frantic, intensely immersive recreation of Hamlet that seems both contemporary and eternal. Each scene has many layers of suspense and growing dread that are expertly built to a terrifying conclusion. This is the type of narrative that will linger in the forefront of your thoughts like static for a considerable amount of time. If we enjoy science fiction, locked-room mysteries, retellings of well-known tragedies from the 16th century, gay themes, artificial intelligence, and writers who are also biochemists, we should read this book.

6. Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fall of Ruin and Wrath is the first book in a riveting fantasy romance series for adults by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book From Blood and Ash. This book is recommended for anyone who enjoy fantasy, romance, resourceful courtesans, wandering princes, envious barons, civil unrest, knights, monsters, and the Blood and Ash series.

Where to buy these books...

“Science may provide the most useful way to organize empirical, reproducible data, but its power to do so is predicated on its inability to grasp the most central aspects of human life: hope, fear, love, hate, beauty, envy, honor, weakness, striving, suffering, virtue.”

― Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air

American physician Paul Kalanithi is the author of the nonfiction autobiographical book When Breath Becomes Air. It details his life and his fight with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. Random House released it as a posthumous edition on January 12, 2016.

Synopsis from Wikipedia...

In his last year of neurosurgical residency at Stanford University, Kalanithi experiences negative changes in his health. Rapid weight loss and severe back and chest pains begin to raise concern for him and his wife, Lucy Kalanithi. He worries that cancer might have caused his symptoms and his decline of health – unlikely for people in their thirties. However, when the X-ray results in a routine medical check-up return normal, he and his primary care physician attribute the symptoms to aging and work overload.

Determined to finish the last months of his residency, he ignores whatever symptoms have not subsided. A few weeks later, the symptoms come back, stronger than before. Around this time, Kalanithi and his wife experience conflict in their relationship when Lucy feels that he is not communicating with her. Visiting friends in New York, Kalanithi is almost certain that he has cancer and says it out loud for the first time to his friend Mike. Returning home, upon landing in San Francisco, Kalanithi receives a call from his doctor telling him that his lungs "look blurry." When he arrives home with Lucy, both of them know what is happening. The next day, Kalanithi checks in to the hospital, and the room where he examined his patients, delivering good and bad news, becomes his own.

My reaction to this novel...

This is a book that, in my opinion, you cannot put down once you have read it. Because of the subject, I was first a little hesitant to grasp it, but after receiving multiple recommendations and assurances that it wasn't all hopelessness, I gave it a go. I am glad I did. Paul Kalanithi was an excellent neurologist before learning that he had lung cancer, which despite therapy spread and ultimately resulted in his untimely death. Paul was also a wonderful and very talented writer who, in his long-term intentions before they came to fruition, planned to spend twenty years of his life after leaving his clinical profession, chose to write. In this work, his ability to compose is evident. His use of words is excellent, and he expresses himself in a virtually beautiful way while being utterly true to the situation he is in.

Funny enough, I thought this novel was more about life than death. Paul talked about his experiences with medicine and the privilege of being able to change someone's life through a medical procedure. He is seen to be managing his own sickness venture rather than having it specified to him. He keeps working and wants to have a family with Lucy, his girlfriend. He describes the difficult transition he wants to make from being the expert to being the patient and how he isn't always successful in doing so.

Following my reading of the book, I had a mix of awe and comfort. Dazed by the realization that someone as extraordinarily talented and convincing as Dr. Kalanithi was taken from the world at such a young age. Confident in the knowledge that despite having only lived for 37 years, he shown what humans are capable of in their highest forms. His family may have faith that his book will serve as a lasting tribute to him and that it will be treasured forever. I wholeheartedly suggest this work to all readers.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

Where to buy this book...

Are you still in need of a justification to buy a new book for yourself this week? Early data from our other readers on Goodreads indicates that these are the books that just came out this week that have gotten the most attention on this particular day.

1. The Fraud by Zadie Smith

A vivid piece of historical fiction about who is deserving of telling their story—and being believed—by acclaimed and best-selling author Zadie Smith, set against the court case that tore Victorian England apart. The Fraud, a brilliant tale about truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain, falsity and authenticity, and the mystery of other people, is based on actual historical events. This work should be read if we enjoy Jamaica, White Teeth, notable real-life cases involving imposters and inheritances, literary fiction set in London in 1873, historical fiction, or any of the aforementioned topics.

2. Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

With a compelling examination of Palestinian-American women's aspirations, what it means to live a full life, and how our unresolved pasts influence our present, the celebrated New York Times bestselling author of A Woman Is No Man makes her triumphant comeback. This book is one that we ought to read if we enjoy literary fiction, family sagas, moms who are artists, mothers who are artists, Palestinian-American women, tradition against progress, and A Woman Is No Man.

3. Holly by Stephen King

Holly Gibney, a famous King character, makes a successful comeback in Stephen King's novel Holly. In Mr. Mercedes, Holly is a timid loner who is brave and ethical. In Finders Keepers, Holly is Bill Hodges's partner. In The Outsider, Holly is a fully-fledged, shrewd, and occasionally harsh private investigator. In King's most recent book, Holly is fighting a pair of horrifyingly evil and expertly disguising foes alone. If we enjoy Stephen King books, mysteries, criminal fiction, investigative firms, adored recurring characters, nasty tenured professors, and horror, we should read this book.

4. Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score

Women are broken by males who are broken. It is what Lucian thinks and what he has seen, and he won't risk it with Sloane. He'd rather have a solitary existence than endanger her. But he discovers the hard way that abandoning her means leaving her defenseless against additional dangers. If we enjoy romance, modern fiction, steamy one-night encounters, high-strung business moguls, energetic small-town librarians, the Knockemout series, and the everlasting power of passion, we should read this book.

5. The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram

Fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey and Linda Holmes will enjoy this engrossing and enlightening debut book, which will speak to anybody who has ever felt a little lost. Readers of southern literature seeking the nostalgia of Sweet Home Alabama will enjoy The River Runs South's relevant reflection on Alabama's delicate environment and exploration of themes of sorrow, love, and community. This book is recommended for anyone who enjoy original books, contemporary fiction, romance, bereaved mothers who visit their hometowns in coastal Alabama, attractive fisherman, and ecological problems.

6. The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

In this stunning stand-alone book from the New York Times bestselling author, a tiny Minnesota community is rocked by the death of its most influential resident in 1958, adding new fuel to long-standing tensions. The River We Remember is an unrelenting examination at the wounds left by the wars we struggle both abroad and at home, an emotional search of the means in which we seek for closure, and an affirmation to the lasting impact of the stories we convey regarding the places we consider home. It is also an intricate, captivating mystery and an effective perspective of midcentury American culture. If we enjoy Victorian-era murder mysteries, 1958 small-town Minnesota, wartime trauma, customs and traditions of midcentury America, and This Tender Land, we should read this book.

Where to buy these books...

“I remember what it felt like to fall in love for the first time. You think you’ll never love like that again. But you do.”

--Jenny Han, Burn For Burn Series

Consider Mary, Kat, and Lillia to be invincible? Reconsider your position. The explosive finale to the Burn for Burn trilogy from Jenny Han, author of To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and Siobhan Vivian, author of The List, both New York Times bestselling books.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

New Year’s Eve ended with a bang and Mary, Kat and Lillia may not be prepared for what is to come.

After Rennie’s death, Kat and Lillia try to put the pieces together of what happened to her. They both blame themselves. If Lillia hadn’t left with Reeve… If Kat had only stayed with Rennie… Things could have been different. Now they will never be the same.

Only Mary knows the truth about that night. About what she is. She also knows the truth about Lillia and Reeve falling in love, about Reeve being happy when all he deserves is misery, just like the misery he caused her. Now their childish attempts at revenge are a thing of the past and Mary is out for blood. Will she leave anything in her wake or will all that remain be ashes?

My reaction to this novel... 

To be honest, I expected to like Ashes to Ashes in the same manner that I did Burn for Burn and Fire with Fire, but I didn’t. In a good perspective, I can state that a number of elements in this book work beautifully. For example, the tale begins with a really serious tone, which is fine, and despite the fact that it took me a little longer to get into it, I thoroughly like it since it made that horrible section of the storyline a lot more realistic. Things quickly warm up after that, and they continue to do so until the end of the novel. The second part is fairly spectacular, with crazy things continuing and the young girls struggling to finish their senior year.

With Mary, the paranormal element becomes arguably the most essential factor in this tale, and guess what… It was fantastic! It may be the first time I’ve appreciated something like this, but I attribute it to the book’s incredibly modern vibe. I imagined it was original in terms of paranormal notions, and I needed to stay up all night simply to see how things would eventually work out. I was completely wrong in my predictions about what the paranormal aspect would be, and as a result, since it finished on such an abrupt note, I believe a component of the last segment was lost or an epilogue was chopped in the editing system. I’m a little disappointed after finishing the book because it didn’t completely satisfy me. The ending left me perplexed. There came that final twist, the sting that just hurts. I felt like something important was about to happen, something I was rooting for, but I became sidetracked and disappointed.

Anyway, I’m not trying to confuse anyone; the conclusion ruined this book for me. I didn’t think the completeness was necessary. It did not come out positively. It has no bearing on the plot; it just happens. What happened a short time afterwards was very awful. I’m torn because I thoroughly loved the first two volumes. This confirms my belief that few strange books require an epilogue.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5)

Where to buy this book...