What To Read This Month: October
Welcome to our October WHAT TO READ THIS MONTH where we’re bringing you a diverse and eclectic selection of books to satisfy all your reading cravings. You can read Linda Ronstadt’s homage to her home in the Sonoran Desert, discover some new YA, or start the Christmas season early with some holiday titles.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll agree that there is always something new and fun to read and there is never enough time for all the good books!
The Take-Over Friend by Carol Dines
When Frances befriends new student Sonja, the two become close right away. Sonja not only becomes part of Frances’ world, but she also infiltrates herself easily into Frances’ family, bonding with her father, and crushing on her brother. But family drama and tension escalate to a surprising ending. The Take-Over Friend is an emotionally-driven and compassionate story that explores the importance of setting boundaries and finding your own voice when it comes to relationships.
Women Holding Things by Maira Kalman
This beautifully illustrated book includes the paintings of Maira Kalman as she considered “What do women hold?” And the list is abundant: home, family, children, food, friendships, work, memories, sorrow, love, and more. She shares insightful and personal commentary while exploring the things women carry, metaphorically, abstractly, and physically, in a book that celebrates life and art.
The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
Chloe and Peter do not get along, and neither do their parents, who run rival restaurants at the mall food court — one serves Korean food, the other Chinese. But when the families discover the mall is going to be demolished so condos can be built, Chloe and Peter put aside their annoyances for one another to save their family restaurants and bring a Merry Christmas to all.
Feels Like Home: A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands by Linda Ronstadt and Lawrence Downes
Fans of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Linda Ronstadt will adore this beautiful coffee table book that celebrates her upbringing in the high desert, along the Arizona-Mexico borderlands. Feels Like Home is Linda’s visual memoir, her personal road trip through the desert, co-written with Lawrence Downes with photographs by Bill Steen. This is a love letter to the region where Linda Ronstadt was raised, and to its people, history, culture, landscape and foods.
Book of Knives by Lise Haines
Nora has agreed to help her new husband and his family renovate Hidden Lake Camp, which is in complete ruins. She didn’t expect it to be such a huge undertaking but the camp is a mess, and Paul’s family is difficult. When a prized collection of handmade knives start disappearing under lock and key each night, Nora becomes paranoid. If you’re into thrillers, you’ll love this original and unsettling story.
Confessions of the Other Sister by Beth Harbison
The only thing Frances and Crosby have in common are their parents. Crosby has the perfect life — she’s beautiful, men love her, and she’s writing a novel that is going to pay her handsomely. Unlike her lucky sister, Frances follows all the rules and never gets anywhere. Crosby is frustrated with Frances and her inability to realize her talents and make things happen in her life. But fate is about to strike, and Crosby and Frances will realize that no one is invisible in this heartwarming and touching story about family and sisterhood.
Never Meant to Meet You by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
Marjette and Noa are neighbors, but stick to their own sides of the driveway. Marjette is preparing for her kindergarten classroom, dealing with the challenges of her son’s ‘budding manhood,’ and avoiding her thorn-in-her-side ex-husband. When there’s a tragedy in the neighborhood, Marjette needs to contend with her neighbor Noa, and also deal with a personal heartache. Through loss and connection, Marjette and Noa will discover how to remake their lives in this special story that tackles race, religion, parenting, love and heartache.
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
Endgame House hosts an annual Christmas game for the Armitage family, and this year, the prize is the deeds to the house. Lily isn’t interested though. She hasn’t been back to Endgame since her mother died and wants nothing to do with the house. But her aunt has promised that Lily will win the game, and she’ll receive not only the keys to the home, but all of its darkest secrets, including who murdered her mother twenty-one years ago. Lily embarks on the adventure with her estranged cousins, but a storm has hit, everyone is stuck at Endgame, people are not playing fair, and yes, some are dying. Consider giving The Christmas Murder Game to friends and family who love classic mysteries — it’s a perfect holiday read!
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
When Olivia’s husband reveals a dark side, she and her son Asher return to her hometown where she takes over the family’s beekeeping business. High school senior Lily knows what it’s like to start over too. She and her mom have relocated in the hopes of a fresh start. When Asher and Lily meet and fall for each other, she’s happy for the first time in a long while. However, not all is as it seems. Olivia receives a call that Lily is dead, and her son Asher is being questioned. Deep in her heart, Olivia wants to believe Asher is innocent, but she’s seen glimmers of his father in his temper, so she’s not sure. The case against Asher unfolds in this suspenseful and unforgettable story that’s sure to be a book club pick!
Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne
After her mother dies, seventeen-year-old Cecilia moves in with her estranged grandmother, who is a famous murder mystery writer. When the town’s homecoming queen is murdered and a copycat killer surfaces, Cecilia gets hooked and begins investigating the murders, the town, and all of its secrets. As she gets deeper into her investigation, she fears that this murder mystery may not have a storybook ending.
The New Annotated Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, edited by Leslie S. Klinger
Whether you’re a fan of the original or brand new to this novella, you’ll love this new annotated edition of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which includes over a hundred and fifty color images from the history of this cultural phenomenon. This tale has thrilled readers for more than a century, and the story is always being reimagined and reinterpreted. With Edgar-award winning editor and Victorian era expert Leslie S. Klinger as your guide, revisit this horror tale and delight in the introduction from bestselling author Joe Hill.
