New Books for October 2023

Eight books readers won't want to miss

Hi friends,

September is in the rearview mirror, and fall is here for many of us. I can’t wait for some cooler weather here in Texas. I’ve struggled to find a rhythm in my writing since retiring. I was used to doing everything (writing, cleaning, laundry, etc.) on the weekends since I worked Monday through Friday, and now that I have seven whole days a week to do things, I don’t know what to do when. Consequently, not much has been getting done, and things have to change. I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things again, starting with today’s newsletter.

At the beginning of every month, I look ahead to the books that are publishing during the month, and I get excited when I see books from some of my favorite authors. I’ve been reading many backlist books, so I’ve read very few of the books listed below. I enjoyed the couple I have read and am looking forward to reading the rest of the list in the near future. Let’s get started!

• The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar (10-3-23) - Set in Seattle in the 1920s, this book tells the story of a seamstress working to bring in extra money by mending and fixing hems while dreaming of becoming a famous designer like Coco Chanel. Led into the underground of speakeasies by her best friend, Zora finds a world she’s never experienced before, yet she sees that it could lead to her dreams of designing. It’s also a tale of friendship, discovering who you are, and how to go after what you want from life. I read this as an ARC from Net Galley, and I really enjoyed it. The cover is striking, which drew me to it instantly.

• The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert (10-3-23) - From author Christina Hammonds Reed, “Colbert delivers yet again with a whip-smart look at gender, Blackness and aspiration, and what the Hollywood machine has historically given and taken from performers of color. The Blackwoods is a story about the messiness of family and the burdens and triumphs of carrying the legacy of Black excellence.” After reading Colbert’s nonfiction book about the Tulsa Race Massacre, I have read two other books by her, which were fantastic. She has become a must-read author, and I can’t wait to read her latest.

• The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella (10-10-23) - From author Beth O’Leary, “I’ll drop anything for a new Sophie Kinsella. The Burnout is hilarious, sparky, and joyful; just the book you need if you’re desperate for a break.” Fans of Kinsella have been waiting patiently for this book, and early reviews say that this book captures the essence of her earlier works with romantic tropes and lots of fun, relatable characters. I’ve read a couple of Kinsella’s books before, and they are fun to read and great when you need a break between heavier books, especially if you are a fan of rom-coms.

• The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok (10-10-23) - I am on hold for this through Libby, and hopefully, I’m not too far down the line when it releases. I’m dropping everything to read it when I get it. From author Angie Kim, “… is an unforgettable, beautifully written page-turner that’s about so many things at once: a courageous woman fighting to escape an abusive husband, a mother’s love and sacrifice, and how culture and language dramatically change the lens through which we are seen and evaluated by others. Kwok uses an intricately layered plot to ensnare and mesmerize us with fierce, complex characters.” I’ll let you know what I think when I read it.

  

• Family Meal by Bryan Washington (10-10-23) - I’m always on the lookout for compelling LGBTQ+ fiction, and this book was put on my radar by Laura Sackton of

  Books & Bakes
  . I’ve never read any of Washington’s books before, so this will be a first for me when my hold comes in on Libby. From author Rumaan Alam, “… is filled with love—for the sensual pleasure of life, the places that we call home, the beauty of the people around us. This novel will break your heart twice over, with sadness, sure, but more unexpectedly, with joy.” Sounds like my kind of book.

• Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward (10-24-23) - From the publisher, “… is a reimagining of American slavery, as beautifully rendered as it is heart-wrenching. Searching, harrowing, replete with transcendent love, the novel is a journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and into the fearsome heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation.” This book reminded me of The Yellow Wife as it was difficult to read but so worthwhile and so eye-opening, as are many books written about enslaved people and their journeys across the country. Magical realism is a part of this book, and I struggle when reading books with that in them. It’s difficult to say that reading it was enjoyable since it was such a difficult subject, but I learned much about that time period, and Ward’s writing kept me turning the pages until the end.

• Hidden Potential by Adam Grant (10-24-23) - I’m not much of a nonfiction reader unless it is political or history-related. I rarely read self-help and motivational type books, but I’m keeping an open mind on this one. I’m a proud “Governerd,” and a member of the @sharonsaysso community and private book club, and this is one of the books we are reading this semester. From tennis champion Serena Williams, ”This brilliant book will shatter your assumptions about what it takes to improve and succeed. I wish I could go back in time and gift it to my younger self. It would’ve helped me find a more joyful path to progress.” I’m an OG member of the private book club, and Sharon has never steered me wrong yet, so I’m expecting this book to be another great book to read with the Governerd community.

• Being Henry by Henry Winkler (10-31-23) - I remember when Happy Days appeared on network TV, and this cool, funny character showed up that was the opposite of anything I’d ever seen on TV before. The “Fonz” was everything all the other characters wanted to be, but underneath that character was a real man who was nothing like the Fonz himself. He had a difficult childhood, was severely dyslexic, and struggled to figure out the path forward after Happy Days ended. He’s widely regarded as the “nicest man in Hollywood,” and his memoir is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.” I’ve purchased the audiobook and can’t wait until it drops on publication day.

There are so many good books publishing between now and the end of the year; it’s going to be a great “fall” reading season. I’ll be back at the beginning of November and December with each month’s books I’m looking forward to reading.

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This week (October 1-7) is Banned Books Week. Check out the official website of the ALA here. On the website, you can see the list of all the books being banned, the happenings across the US to stop book banning, and how one can get involved in their community to ensure that these books are available to all who want to read them.

One of the best newsletters to stay informed on book bans and the efforts to stop the bans is

Literary Activism

by Kelly Jensen. She also writes a personal Substack newsletter

Stacked Thoughts from Kelly Jensen

, where she gets more personal and goes into more detail about the effects of book banning. I encourage all readers to check out both of her newsletters.

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It feels good to be writing again; I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it the last couple of months until I sat down over the weekend to write this. My mind was on retiring and moving, and it was all-consuming and left little time for anything else. I’m still getting settled and have some boxes to go through, but my new apartment is slowly feeling like home. I’m looking to the future for trips I want to take next year, and I’m definitely enjoying the additional time I have to read. I feel like I’m playing hooky, but then I realize that this is “retirement,” and so far, it’s everything I thought it would be.

In case I haven’t mentioned this lately, I appreciate every one of you who reads this newsletter. I hope I’m putting books on your radar that you are interested in reading. Have a wonderful week, and read a good book or two. Happy reading!

Some of the links in this newsletter may be affiliate links. That means that if you click through and purchase anything, I may earn a small commission. This costs you nothing and helps me feed my voracious reading habit, and for that, I thank you.