Happy September! As we ease into the fall season, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a great book. Check out our latest recommendations and find your next literary escape. Happy reading!
Want even more recs? Check out our What We’re Reading page, or complete a short form and we’ll email you a list of personalized recommendations.
Kate says:
“For page-turning sci-fi adventure with humor, heart, and a memorable narrative voice, check out this first novella in the Murderbot Diaries series. A security construct built by a powerful space corporation hacks itself free, but instead of going on the expected murderous rampage, it bingewatches entertainment. Drawn into protecting a group of humans, Murderbot must face a hostile planet, mysterious sabotage, and the pains of social interaction. I adore this compulsively readable (and re-readable) book! It’s especially relatable for anyone who feels awkward, anxious, or like they’d rather be enjoying their media than dealing with situations.”
Sarah says:
“What does it mean to be a dinosaur? That someone is old, out of touch, headed for extinction? Birds are modern-day descendants of dinosaurs, and many of them can be vicious and opportunistic; their survival depends on it. Gil is a man whose privilege means he has never had to worry about survival, even though he has known suffering and hardship. He is deeply uncomfortable because he knows he hasn’t earned his wealth or his privilege. When he moves to the Arizona desert, his life becomes intimately intertwined with the family who lives next door. Together, along with a few friends and neighbors, they muddle through life. While this isn’t a political book, it is set against the backdrop of the 2016 – 2018 elections, and the tension of those years affects the characters’ lives in very real ways. I love Lydia Millet’s writing: It’s sparse and simple on the surface, but there is so much going on underneath. Reading this book felt like catching a glimpse of the characters’ messy, imperfect, complicated lives, and left me wondering what comes next – for them and for us.”
Libby says:
“Start spooky season off the right way with Grady Hendrix’s hilarious and surprisingly moving stab at the vampire genre. Branching off from a stodgy book club into oh so much more, a group of women learn about themselves, their community, and the meaning of family while dipping in and out of various states of madness. The suburban ennui and drama are pitch-perfect, but race and class issues ground what could easily become condescending parody. It’s fast, creepy, sexy, and I now feel confident I could identify and destroy any Dracula that dares set foot in Decatur.”
Shakira says,
“I love a good fantasy novel, and I usually go for YA fantasy. However, A Darker Shade of Magic has been on my TBR list for a long time. It has such rich worldbuilding that it’s hard not to fall in love with this universe and its four alternate but isolated Londons. I loved the protagonist Kell, a magician with the rare power to travel between the alternate Londons. Kell’s job as an ambassador for the royal family of Red London provides cover for his work as smuggler of artifacts, and, well – you can read what follows. This book had me on the edge of my seat, and I so look forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.”
Tom says,
“Heat 2 serves as both a prequel and a sequel to Michael Mann’s 1995 movie of the same name. It provides fascinating backstories for the film’s protagonists, LAPD homicide detective Vincent Hannah and criminal boss Neil McCauley. It also answers the question as to whether or not McCauley’s right-hand man Chris Shiherlis made it out of Los Angeles in the aftermath of the failed bank robbery and subsequent shootout with the police. You will definitely want to read this book if you are a fan of the movie.”