What to read next: a memorable graphic memoir, a buzzworthy romantic fantasy, the latest from Brené Brown, and more
Sometimes having many choices can be paralyzing, and while we can’t tell you whether or not to invest in crypto (or even what crypto is), who to swipe right on, or if you should have a side of fries or the potato salad (I’m Polish, Irish, and Scottish, so I would say both), the Amazon Editors can narrow down your options in the reading department. Here are the books we recommend this week.
Out this week, Alchemised is the dark romantic fantasy debut that has taken the world by storm before even being published. In a ravaged world of alchemy and necromancy, Helena awakes a prisoner with memories she can't access. Convinced she holds the key to finally defeating the Resistance, she's sent to the enemy to uncover the memories at any cost. Tortuous and all-consuming, this novel is breathtaking in scope and became my entire personality. A truly spellbinding read, and everything a fantasy should be. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
Cam is back in his hometown of Houston after the loss of his partner, self-medicating with sex, drugs, and alcohol. The devastating circumstances behind Kai’s death are slowly meted out, but that mystery isn’t the beating heart of another moving novel by Bryan Washington (Memorial). After a stint bartending at a beloved, but imperiled, gay haunt, and later, rehab, Cam finds himself back in the kitchen, working at a bakery run by the family who raised him, including his childhood friend TJ. It’s clear that Washington’s love language is food, because his evocative descriptions will whet your appetite and squeeze your heart, as the characters use cooking to smooth the rough edges of their fraught relationships. Family Meal is a meditation on grief, but also a celebration of found family—the people we often treat the worst, but love the most. Dig in before you put Washington's highly-anticipated fall release (Palaver) on your reading plate. —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
Brené Brown’s Ted Talk on the power of vulnerability has more than 23 million views, making it one of the most-streamed lectures of all times. Her book, Atlas of the Heart, an Editors’ Pick for the Best Nonfiction, is a best-seller that explores connection, shame, courage, empathy, and bravery—themes this University of Houston professor has been researching for more than two decades. In Brown’s latest book, she’s getting back to business, focusing on inspiring leaders and the workforce in the face of rapid technological changes and growth. While this book skews more toward career advice, Brown still expertly applies her theories of shame, vulnerability, and daring onto every page. Fans and new readers alike will find plenty to love (and learn from) about building strong foundations on solid ground. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
This graphic novel memoir is pretty incredible, and for me, it ranks up there with Persepolis and Nimona. Eugene Yelchin’s account of coming of age in Russia in the 1980s and falling in love with his American wife is shocking, sad, tender, and even funny. The illustrations do much of the talking, vividly capturing a range of emotions so well that it was impossible not to feel deeply while reading this. I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This is a fascinating window into a troubling time and place from the perspective of someone who lived every difficult moment of it. I learned a lot, laughed out loud, and got a little teary reading this very special memoir. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
If you like big, sprawling, multigenerational stories that cross continents, then the Booker Prize- winning Kiran Desai's latest novel is for you. Hotly anticipated by the literary community, this novel charts the lives of two young Indian writers who spend time in America and whose lives intersect, thanks to their families who try to arrange their marriage. Full of wit and family dynamics, Desai's novel also investigates the tension between the generations when it comes to matters of the heart, independence, and how America looms in their imagination and reality. You'll root for these two ambitious and struggling 20- somethings. A soaring and immersive novel that readers of Abraham Verghese and Ann Patchett will devour. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Looking for more reading recommendations? Check out:
