Fresh Book Picks for Fall

By Barbara Bellesi Zito

Just like apples and pumpkins, books are ripe for the picking this season. Here are some of our faves to enjoy—pumpkin spice latte optional.

“There’s No Coming Back from This”

by Ann Garvin | Lake Union Publishing

Thanks to her accountant who ran off with her money, single mom Poppy is bankrupt and nearly homeless. When her movie producer ex calls to offer a costume job, she’s more than ready to leave the Midwest for Hollywood. Never mind that she doesn’t sew, doesn’t know a thing about costumes, and doesn’t really even watch a lot of movies. If it means creating a better future for her daughter, she’ll do it. Her unlikely ally out in LA is Allen Carol, an irritable movie star who likes Poppy’s attitude. When Poppy discovers a corrupt scandal brewing, she plays up her fish-out-of-water existence to discover the bad actors.

The more Poppy discovers, the more she realizes that she just can’t keep up with the Hollywood machine. Should she stay mum or show the powers that be that there’s more to Poppy behind her unglamorous façade?

>>Garvin is a USA Today bestselling author and founder of Tall Poppy Writers, a women’s author collective.

“XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexual’s Guide to Self-Love, Relationships, and Tactful Pettiness”

by Cody Rigsby | Ballantine Books

If you’re part of Peloton nation, then you need no introduction to Cody Rigsby. But even if you get your cardio kicks elsewhere, you’ll want to read his memoir. Rigsby is known for his outrageous humor and positive attitude, but it wasn’t always easy. He grew up gay and poor in a small town in North Carolina and lost his father and best friend to the horror of addiction. Years later, as a struggling dancer trying to get by in New York City, he took a chance and auditioned for Peloton—and the rest is history. As his fans know, Rigsby doesn’t hold back with his opinions, especially this one: “Don’t let fear of judgment stop you from being yourself.” His book is full of inspiring stories, some heartfelt, some hilarious, that will remind you it’s OK to laugh, especially at yourself.

>> In addition to being a popular Peloton instructor, Cody was a finalist on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2021.

“The Leftover Woman”

by Jean Kwok | William Morrow

Jasmine Yang escaped a controlling husband and her rural village in China to go to New York City, where she hopes to find her daughter taken from her at birth due to China’s One Child Policy. Rebecca Whitney, successful publishing exec, has it all—including a daughter she adopted from China and a nanny to help her maintain the perfect work-life balance. When her career and personal life seem at the mercy of an industry scandal, Rebecca realizes that perhaps things weren’t so perfect in her world after all. Part family drama, part mystery, this novel portrays the meaning of motherhood and identity to two very different women.

>> Kwok is the internationally bestselling author of “Mambo in Chinatown” and “Girl in Translation.”

“What You Are Looking For Is in the Library”

by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts) | Hanover Square Press

We like to think we make good book recommendations in this column, but none are so good as those titles suggested by Sayuri Komachi, a mysterious Tokyo librarian. When visitors talk to Komachi, they not only leave with something to read, but they also find insight on whatever they need to do to regain their purpose in life. From a retail worker seeking career advancement to a retiree looking for a fresh start in life, Komachi’s recommendations are the recipe to dream fulfillment. This inspiring book is a love letter to the magical places we call libraries.

>> >> This Japanese bestseller is an uplifting choice for fans of “Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

“Everything Here Belongs to You” by Saborna Roychowdhury | Black Rose Writing

Pushcart Prize nominee Saborna Roychowdhury’s latest novel tells a story of love, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of India’s political history and rich culture. Here’s what readers can expect, in Roychowdhury’s own words:

“In ‘Everything Here Belongs to You,’ a Bengali middle-class family employs 6-year-old Muslim village girl, Parul, as a servant after she loses her mother. Parul must abandon her faith and adopt Hindu practices to live in their house. Despite considering themselves generous saviors, the Sen family overlooks the hardships Parul endures—losing her mother, being forced into labor, and forsaking her identity. They treat her as inferior, limiting her education and social interactions. Their growing classism drives Parul to betray them. I want the readers to ask themselves: How would they treat someone different? Are there entrenched class divisions? Should prosperity be confined to a privileged few?”

Support Your Favorite Hollywood Actors and Writers

As of the writing of this article, writers and actors were still on strike. Hollywood might be a multibillion-dollar industry, but that doesn’t mean everyone is getting a fair cut. If you can’t wait until filming resumes so you can see your favorites back in action, why not read some of their books? Better yet, download an audiobook and they’ll read them to you. Our platform of choice is Libro.fm, which supports independent bookstores with every audiobook purchased. Here are some titles current available:

“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey

“Finding Me” by Viola Davis

“Dear Girls” by Ali Wong

“All the Women in My Brain” by Betty Gilpin

“This Will Only Hurt a Little” by Busy Phillipps

“Stories I Only Tell My Friends” by Rob Lowe

“Taste: My Life Through Food” by Stanley Tucci

“Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard” by Tom Felton

“As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride” by Cary Elwes (with Joe Layden)

“Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living” by Nick Offerman