Books
September is somehow here, and while I will certainly miss the lazy days of summer, there's plenty to get excited about in the fall reading season. This fall, readers will be getting some absolutely amazing new novels, and this month's new fiction releases are certainly starting things off with a bang.
So many of our favorite authors are delivering enthralling new reads this month; plan on spending some time over the next few month with the words of Salman Rushdie, Ann Leckie, Celeste Ng, Robin Sloan, Jesmyn Ward, James McBride and more.
From the drama of 19th century Spanish royalty, to the intrigue of small Southern towns, to futuristic worlds of drugs and tech, this list of books is covering an impressive amount of ground. Sure, the summer may have been a good time for light, fluffy reads. But this fall, authors are keeping us on our toes with smart, captivating books that will spark your curiosity and have you asking important questions about the world we live in.
Fall means back-to-school, the crunch of fallen leaves, pumpkin spice mania, and, of course, plenty of good reading. Now's the time to hit up your local bookstore and get your hands on these spectacular fall books.
'Sing, Unburied, Sing' by Jesmyn Ward (September 5, Scribner)
This new novel from the National Book Award-winning author of Salvage the Bones and The Men We Reaped is one of the must-reads of fall. Set in contemporary rural Mississippi, this is the breathtaking story of a black family haunted by their past. Upon the release of her children's white father from prison, Leonie (a drug addict tormented by her brother's death) takes her children on a road trip that is "rife with danger and promise."
'The Golden House' by Salman Rushdie (September 5, Random House)
When the legendary Salman Rushdie puts out a new book, you want to get your hands on it stat. Rushdie captures the zeitgeist of the post-truth era through the lens of the Golden Family — who, sitting atop a real estate dynasty and a mysterious past, have immigrated to the United States to reinvent themselves among Manhattan's elite.
'Sourdough' by Robin Sloan (September 5, MCD Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Fans of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore get excited, because Robin Sloan has a new book! And this time, Sloan has turned his attention to food. The book follows Lois, a software engineer whose job consumes her life. But when visa issues force the owners of her favorite restaurant to leave the country, they entrust her with the safe-keeping of their precious sourdough culture, and Lois' life is changed forever.
'Sisters' by Lily Tuck (September 5, Atlantic Monthly Press)
In this hypnotic, psychological read, an unnamed narrator becomes obsessed with her new husband's first wife (known to us only as she), and the secrets that lie between them. This is a short read that will have you thinking for days.
'The Child Finder' by Rene Denfeld (September 5, Harper)
At times haunting, at times devastating, this captivating read follows Naomi, a woman with the special ability to find missing children. When the disappearance of a young girl takes Naomi to the dangerous, snowy backwoods of Oregon, she finds herself drawn closer to the mysteries of her own beginnings.
'Little Fires Everywhere' by Celsete Ng (September 12, Penguin Press)
The author of the hit Everything I Never Told You is back with another fantastic read. Set in Shaker Heights, Cleveland, the Richardson family leads perfect, planned-out lives. But everything gets shaken up when an artsy, single mother and her daughter move to the community.
'Bluebird, Bluebird' by Attica Locke' (September 12, Mulholland Books)
From writer and producer of Empire this smart thriller is more than just a captivating read, as it draws a clear and unsettling picture of the racial politics that rule communities today. Set in East Texas, the book follows Darren Matthews, a black Texas Ranger whose life is in chaos. Darren gets called to the small town of Lark, where the murders of a black man and a white woman have stirred up a hornet's nest of secrets and resentment.
'The Living Infinite' by Chantel Acevedo (September 12, Europa Editions)
Who can resist a good historical fiction? This irresistible read is based upon the true story of the Spanish princess Eulalia of the Bourbon Court. As she travels to first Cuba and then the 1893 Chicago World Fair, Eulalia is secretly on a mission to get her autobiography published.
'Autonomous' by Annalee Newitz (September 19, Tor Books)
In this futuristic science fiction, Jack is a "pharmaceutical Robin Hood" who travels the world in her own submarine, bringing cheap drugs to the poor. But her latest drug is bringing only devastation, as it causes people to become addicted to her work. Now Jack is on a race to stop this drug epidemic before it's too late.
'Provenance' by Ann Leckie (September 26, Orbit)
After blowing readers away with the mutliple award-winning Ancillary Justice series, Ann Leckie is back with a novel set amidst an interstellar conflict. The protagonist is a young woman who is hell-bent on reclaiming her people's precious lost artifacts and claiming the status she deserves.
'Five Carat Soul' by James McBride (September 26, Riverhead)
National Book Award-winner James McBride delivers another unforgettable read with this collection of never-before-published short stories. Each told with McBride's trademark insight, eye for character, and masterful story-telling ability, these pieces are sure to knock you out.
