Entertainment Weekly Entertainment Weekly
20 new books to read in February
  • Subscribe
  • TV
  • Recaps
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Books
  • Oscars
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • GIVE A GIFT
    • Customer Service
    • Order Past Issues
  • Recaps
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Books
  • News
  • Reunions
  • Gaming
  • PeopleTV
  • Newsletters
  • Emmys
  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. 20 new books to read in February

20 new books to read in February

placeholder
David Canfield
January 31, 2019 at 08:30 AM EST
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
<p>Lush romances just in time for Valentine&#8217;s Day, steamy thrillers to get you through sub-freezing temperatures, and a few brilliant literary achievements should keep you busy during the shortest month of the year.</p>
pinterest
Get cozy with these must-reads

Lush romances just in time for Valentine’s Day, steamy thrillers to get you through sub-freezing temperatures, and a few brilliant literary achievements should keep you busy during the shortest month of the year.

Ecco; Berkley; Riverhead Books; Knopf; Simon + Schuster
<p>Scharer&rsquo;s splashy first book is a lush fictionalized study of Lee Miller, the photographer who struck up a passionate dalliance with the artist Man Ray. <a href="https://ew.com/books/2018/04/04/whitney-scharer-interview/">Read a preview</a>. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QvNOaLfZ4-J_MGxM0UwTJyUAAAFooFvaYQEAAAFKAdc8yKk/https://www.amazon.com/Age-Light-Novel-Whitney-Scharer-ebook/dp/B07BVP94K4/ref=sr_1_3_twi_kin_1?imprToken=Ewbt1hIZzEaINHQWvoHRVQ&amp;slotNum=45&amp;creativeASIN=B07BVP94K4&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=sBMBXsG2DkRN8OGR5O8Fug&amp;slotNum=0&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1522767328&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=%22THE+AGE+OF+LIGHT%22+WHITNEY">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Age of Light, by Whitney Scharer

Scharer’s splashy first book is a lush fictionalized study of Lee Miller, the photographer who struck up a passionate dalliance with the artist Man Ray. Read a preview. (Feb. 5)

Little, Brown and Company
<p>Teased as the &ldquo;African <em>Game of Thrones</em>,&rdquo; this epic fantasy by the Man Booker Prize winner (<em>A Brief History of Seven Killings</em>) is set to kick off a new trilogy called The Dark Star. <a href="https://ew.com/books/2019/01/28/black-leopard-red-wolf-marlon-james-excerpt/">Read an excerpt</a>. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/Qu4vhcCeoALP2XTOG3jXYikAAAFooFyOzwEAAAFKAWAGli8/https://www.amazon.com/Black-Leopard-Wolf-Dark-Trilogy/dp/0735220174/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=0735220174&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=hTj4uQFqgrg2uuaiDiHBuQ&amp;slotNum=45&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545260266&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=marlon+james+black+leopard">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
Black Leopard, Red Wolf, by Marlon James

Teased as the “African Game of Thrones,” this epic fantasy by the Man Booker Prize winner (A Brief History of Seven Killings) is set to kick off a new trilogy called The Dark Star. Read an excerpt. (Feb. 5)

Riverhead Books
<p>The brilliantly witty writer returns with her first novel in 18 years, an incisive and generous portrait of a New England clan who operate a candlepin bowling alley. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/Qjkm4S1I4SZTkJuC8b7AFZ0AAAFooF11XgEAAAFKASEJT3w/https://www.amazon.com/Bowlaway-Novel-Elizabeth-McCracken/dp/0062862855/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=0062862855&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=wBbaYVnXdasamQjF1sC31Q&amp;slotNum=45&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545259992&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=bowlaway">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
Bowlaway, by Elizabeth McCracken

The brilliantly witty writer returns with her first novel in 18 years, an incisive and generous portrait of a New England clan who operate a candlepin bowling alley. (Feb. 5)

Ecco
<p>Wang won a prestigious Whiting Award for this utterly unique book of essays: a deep, illuminating, and explosively written dive into a life of living with mental illness. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QiRKkaLEcXlbv2ncXBewVvAAAAFooF3VXQEAAAFKAWcFrDE/https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Schizophrenias-Esm%C3%A9-Weijun-Wang/dp/1555978274/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?creativeASIN=1555978274&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=BuhWim0issZzo9l-erukXQ&amp;slotNum=45&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545271723&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+collected+schizophrenias+by+esm%C3%A9+weijun+wang">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Collected Schizophrenias, by Esmé Weijun Wang

Wang won a prestigious Whiting Award for this utterly unique book of essays: a deep, illuminating, and explosively written dive into a life of living with mental illness. (Feb. 5)

Graywolf Press
<p>Fisher recounts the harrowing fallout of the rupture of an undiscovered mass in her brain at age 30, as well as the people &mdash; a few friends in particular &mdash; who helped bring her back to herself. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QoRmFZaEgSCYSE8xRk0FTboAAAFooF9YkwEAAAFKAc0fapU/https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Loved-Lifesaving-Friendship/dp/054499115X/ref=sr_1_1_atc_badge_A2N1U4I2KOS032_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=054499115X&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=JJp79UVbI6ERI9.EpXwS7w&amp;slotNum=45&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545267376&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=%22how+to+be+loved%22">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
How to Be Loved, by Eva Hagberg Fisher

Fisher recounts the harrowing fallout of the rupture of an undiscovered mass in her brain at age 30, as well as the people — a few friends in particular — who helped bring her back to herself. (Feb. 5)

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
<p>The best-selling author (<em>The Dry</em>) delivers a nuanced but pulse-pounding thriller set in the heart of the Australian Outback, where two brothers find their sibling dead. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Man-Jane-Harper/dp/1250105684/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879929&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=%22the+lost+man%22">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Lost Man, by Jane Harper

The best-selling author (The Dry) delivers a nuanced but pulse-pounding thriller set in the heart of the Australian Outback, where two brothers find their sibling dead. (Feb. 5)

Flatiron Books
<p>The product of a seven-figure book deal, <em>Merchants of Truth</em> explores the disruption of the news media over the last decade. Abramson, the former executive editor of <em>The New York Times</em> who was <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/why-jill-abramson-was-fired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversially fired</a> in 2014, seems like the perfect person to tell that story, though the book has <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/1/15/18182634/jill-abramson-merchants-of-truth-fact-checking-controversy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drawn allegations</a> of poor fact-checking and misleading readers in advance of publication. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QidgBYIMebOA9qi6D3t6v7oAAAFooF-24QEAAAFKAROBubg/https://www.amazon.com/Merchants-Truth-Business-Fight-Facts/dp/1501123203/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=1501123203&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=pfRf5v-R8N.M0krkvNIaNg&amp;slotNum=45&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545261594&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=%22merchants+of+truth%22">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
Merchants of Truth, by Jill Abramson

The product of a seven-figure book deal, Merchants of Truth explores the disruption of the news media over the last decade. Abramson, the former executive editor of The New York Times who was controversially fired in 2014, seems like the perfect person to tell that story, though the book has drawn allegations of poor fact-checking and misleading readers in advance of publication. (Feb. 5)

Simon + Schuster
<p>Thomas had a big 2018 without even publishing a book, as the film adaptation of her red-hot debut, <em>The Hate U Give</em>, hit theaters to great acclaim. Now the author has her encore: the story of aspiring rapper Bri, and an ode to hip-hop. <a href="https://ew.com/books/2018/02/15/angie-thomas-on-the-come-up-cover/">Read a preview.</a> (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QrLqR5cJDHLfh4SRuoSg00wAAAFooGC8rQEAAAFKAc32IOQ/https://www.amazon.com/Come-Up-Angie-Thomas/dp/0062498568/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=0062498568&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=caQm27VnbkwNqITFliXIQQ&amp;slotNum=45&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545261818&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=%22on+the+come+up%22">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
On the Come Up, by Angie Thomas

Thomas had a big 2018 without even publishing a book, as the film adaptation of her red-hot debut, The Hate U Give, hit theaters to great acclaim. Now the author has her encore: the story of aspiring rapper Bri, and an ode to hip-hop. Read a preview. (Feb. 5)

Balzer + Bray
<p>Optioned for film by Brad Pitt&#8217;s Plan B and breaking presale records,&nbsp;<em>The Silent Patient&nbsp;</em>is one of the year&#8217;s most highly anticipated thrillers. It depicts the high-stakes relationship between an obsessive psychotherapist and a woman who&#8217;s just killed her husband. <a href="https://ew.com/books/2019/01/29/the-silent-patient-excerpt/">Read an excerpt</a>. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Patient-Alex-Michaelides/dp/1250301696/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879278&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+silent+patient">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

Optioned for film by Brad Pitt’s Plan B and breaking presale records, The Silent Patient is one of the year’s most highly anticipated thrillers. It depicts the high-stakes relationship between an obsessive psychotherapist and a woman who’s just killed her husband. Read an excerpt. (Feb. 5)

Celadon Books
<p>Coming off her gorgeously devastating memoir&nbsp;<em>Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life</em>, Li turns back to fiction with this dark, moving novel.&nbsp;<em>Where Reasons End&nbsp;</em>imagines a series of conversations between a mother and her son, who has just died by suicide. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Where-Reasons-End-Yiyun-Li/dp/198481737X/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548880268&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=where+reasons+end">Feb. 5</a>)</p>
pinterest
Where Reasons End, by Yiyun Li

Coming off her gorgeously devastating memoir Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life, Li turns back to fiction with this dark, moving novel. Where Reasons End imagines a series of conversations between a mother and her son, who has just died by suicide. (Feb. 5)

Random House
<p>This ingenious update on the spy novel is set in the heart of the Cold War, and combines the comforting thrills of espionage classics with an urgent interrogation of race in America. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Spy-Novel-Lauren-Wilkinson/dp/0812998952/ref=sr_1_3_atc_badge_A2N1U4I2KOS032_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548880364&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=%22american+spy%22">Feb. 12</a>)</p>
pinterest
American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson

This ingenious update on the spy novel is set in the heart of the Cold War, and combines the comforting thrills of espionage classics with an urgent interrogation of race in America. (Feb. 12)

Random House
<p>We&#8217;re in New York in the summer of 2000, at a spacious apartment where a gorgeous young couple fall in love. But both harbor secrets, and one seems to be losing her grip on reality. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Sandra-Newman/dp/0802129021/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879825&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+heavens+newman">Feb. 12</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Heavens, by Sandra Newman

We’re in New York in the summer of 2000, at a spacious apartment where a gorgeous young couple fall in love. But both harbor secrets, and one seems to be losing her grip on reality. (Feb. 12)

Grove Press
<p>A slice of queer historical fiction that we hope is as delectable as it sounds. Castellani examines the relationship between Tennessee Williams, his lover Frank Merlo, and the mysterious young beauty Anja Blomgren that formed over the hot, fateful summer of 1953. (<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QnYsOxjRGmJUMD1fLU-T2zwAAAFooGFu0gEAAAFKATcdP3Q/https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Men-Novel-Christopher-Castellani/dp/0525559051/ref=sr_1_1_atc_badge_A2N1U4I2KOS032_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=0525559051&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=n6.rf42Q-mvMPGAnzZSewg&amp;slotNum=45&amp;s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545267800&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=%22leading+men%22">Feb. 12</a>)</p>
pinterest
Leading Men, by Christopher Castellani

A slice of queer historical fiction that we hope is as delectable as it sounds. Castellani examines the relationship between Tennessee Williams, his lover Frank Merlo, and the mysterious young beauty Anja Blomgren that formed over the hot, fateful summer of 1953. (Feb. 12)

Viking
<p>This could be a major moment for Luiselli, the two-time National Book Critics Circle Award finalist behind <em>Faces in the Crowd</em> and <em>The Story of My Teeth</em>. Her new book is in many ways a classic American family road-trip novel, only one that confronts our ongoing immigration border crisis.&nbsp;(<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QvJ70mT-nO8Tsd0TPPGh1N0AAAFooGH5OAEAAAFKAdErfvk/https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Children-Archive-Valeria-Luiselli/dp/0525520619/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?creativeASIN=0525520619&amp;linkCode=w50&amp;tag=entertain07-20&amp;imprToken=MugDHNq6fhMz3mG-6B.rrg&amp;slotNum=45&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545267007&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=%22lost+children+archive%22">Feb. 12</a>)</p>
pinterest
Lost Children Archive, by Valeria Luiselli

This could be a major moment for Luiselli, the two-time National Book Critics Circle Award finalist behind Faces in the Crowd and The Story of My Teeth. Her new book is in many ways a classic American family road-trip novel, only one that confronts our ongoing immigration border crisis. (Feb. 12)

Knopf
<p>A new collection from essays and speeches from one of our greatest living writers includes explorations of culture, art, and society. These pieces have been drawn across four decades of Morrison&#8217;s writing. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Source-Self-Regard-Selected-Speeches-Meditations/dp/0525521038/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879344&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+source+of+self+regard">Feb. 12</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Source of Self-Regard, by Toni Morrison

A new collection from essays and speeches from one of our greatest living writers includes explorations of culture, art, and society. These pieces have been drawn across four decades of Morrison’s writing. (Feb. 12)

Knopf
<p>In his lyrical debut novel,&nbsp;Sudbanthad spans an entire century in his vast, illuminating portrait of Bangkok, bringing together a cast of characters as they experience love, revolution, and sorrow. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bangkok-Wakes-Rain-Pitchaya-Sudbanthad/dp/0525534768/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879438&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=bangkok+wakes+to+rain">Feb. 19</a>)</p>
pinterest
Bangkok Wakes to Rain, by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

In his lyrical debut novel, Sudbanthad spans an entire century in his vast, illuminating portrait of Bangkok, bringing together a cast of characters as they experience love, revolution, and sorrow. (Feb. 19)

Riverhead Books
<p>This intimate family saga, sure to appeal to fans of Tayari Jones and Celeste Ng, follows the Butlers, pillars of their community, and the aftermath of an arrest that leaves them in disgrace. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Care-Feeding-Ravenously-Hungry-Girls/dp/1984802437/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879566&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+care+and+feeding+of+ravenously+hungry+girls">Feb. 19</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, by Anissa Gray

This intimate family saga, sure to appeal to fans of Tayari Jones and Celeste Ng, follows the Butlers, pillars of their community, and the aftermath of an arrest that leaves them in disgrace. (Feb. 19)

Berkley
<p>With just four books to her name, Leckie (<em>Ancillary Justice</em>)&nbsp;has emerged as one of the most game-changing speculative-fiction authors around, netting Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke awards.&nbsp;<em>The Raven Tower&nbsp;</em>is her first fantasy novel. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Tower-Ann-Leckie/dp/0316388696/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548880036&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+raven+tower">Feb. 26</a>)</p>
pinterest
The Raven Tower, by Ann Leckie

With just four books to her name, Leckie (Ancillary Justice) has emerged as one of the most game-changing speculative-fiction authors around, netting Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke awards. The Raven Tower is her first fantasy novel. (Feb. 26)

Orbit
<p>Fans of Beagin&#8217;s spiky debut&nbsp;<em>Pretend I&#8217;m Dead</em>&nbsp;should cheer the author&#8217;s quick follow-up, which brings back the character of Mona (now in Taos, New Mexico) and trades her first boyfriend, Mr. Disgusting, for an equally, unconventionally memorable new romantic partner. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Dark-Novel-Jen-Beagin/dp/1501182145/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=vacuum+in+the+dark&amp;qid=1547857900&amp;s=Books&amp;sr=1-1">Feb. 26</a>)</p>
pinterest
Vacuum in the Dark, by Jen Beagin

Fans of Beagin’s spiky debut Pretend I’m Dead should cheer the author’s quick follow-up, which brings back the character of Mona (now in Taos, New Mexico) and trades her first boyfriend, Mr. Disgusting, for an equally, unconventionally memorable new romantic partner. (Feb. 26)

Scribner
<p>Ruffin&#8217;s pointed satire imagines a near-future in which racism has been further normalized in American society, centering on a multiracial family vying to protect themselves from an increasingly unsafe world. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cast-Shadow-Maurice-Carlos-Ruffin/dp/0525509062/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548879707&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=we+cast+a+shadow">Jan. 29</a>)</p>
pinterest
We Cast a Shadow, by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Ruffin’s pointed satire imagines a near-future in which racism has been further normalized in American society, centering on a multiracial family vying to protect themselves from an increasingly unsafe world. (Jan. 29)

One World
1 of 22

Advertisement
1 of 21 Ecco; Berkley; Riverhead Books; Knopf; Simon + Schuster

Get cozy with these must-reads

Lush romances just in time for Valentine’s Day, steamy thrillers to get you through sub-freezing temperatures, and a few brilliant literary achievements should keep you busy during the shortest month of the year.

Advertisement
2 of 21 Little, Brown and Company

The Age of Light, by Whitney Scharer

Scharer’s splashy first book is a lush fictionalized study of Lee Miller, the photographer who struck up a passionate dalliance with the artist Man Ray. Read a preview. (Feb. 5)

3 of 21 Riverhead Books

Black Leopard, Red Wolf, by Marlon James

Teased as the “African Game of Thrones,” this epic fantasy by the Man Booker Prize winner (A Brief History of Seven Killings) is set to kick off a new trilogy called The Dark Star. Read an excerpt. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
4 of 21 Ecco

Bowlaway, by Elizabeth McCracken

The brilliantly witty writer returns with her first novel in 18 years, an incisive and generous portrait of a New England clan who operate a candlepin bowling alley. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
5 of 21 Graywolf Press

The Collected Schizophrenias, by Esmé Weijun Wang

Wang won a prestigious Whiting Award for this utterly unique book of essays: a deep, illuminating, and explosively written dive into a life of living with mental illness. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
6 of 21 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

How to Be Loved, by Eva Hagberg Fisher

Fisher recounts the harrowing fallout of the rupture of an undiscovered mass in her brain at age 30, as well as the people — a few friends in particular — who helped bring her back to herself. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
7 of 21 Flatiron Books

The Lost Man, by Jane Harper

The best-selling author (The Dry) delivers a nuanced but pulse-pounding thriller set in the heart of the Australian Outback, where two brothers find their sibling dead. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
8 of 21 Simon + Schuster

Merchants of Truth, by Jill Abramson

The product of a seven-figure book deal, Merchants of Truth explores the disruption of the news media over the last decade. Abramson, the former executive editor of The New York Times who was controversially fired in 2014, seems like the perfect person to tell that story, though the book has drawn allegations of poor fact-checking and misleading readers in advance of publication. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
9 of 21 Balzer + Bray

On the Come Up, by Angie Thomas

Thomas had a big 2018 without even publishing a book, as the film adaptation of her red-hot debut, The Hate U Give, hit theaters to great acclaim. Now the author has her encore: the story of aspiring rapper Bri, and an ode to hip-hop. Read a preview. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
10 of 21 Celadon Books

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

Optioned for film by Brad Pitt’s Plan B and breaking presale records, The Silent Patient is one of the year’s most highly anticipated thrillers. It depicts the high-stakes relationship between an obsessive psychotherapist and a woman who’s just killed her husband. Read an excerpt. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
11 of 21 Random House

Where Reasons End, by Yiyun Li

Coming off her gorgeously devastating memoir Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life, Li turns back to fiction with this dark, moving novel. Where Reasons End imagines a series of conversations between a mother and her son, who has just died by suicide. (Feb. 5)

Advertisement
12 of 21 Random House

American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson

This ingenious update on the spy novel is set in the heart of the Cold War, and combines the comforting thrills of espionage classics with an urgent interrogation of race in America. (Feb. 12)

Advertisement
13 of 21 Grove Press

The Heavens, by Sandra Newman

We’re in New York in the summer of 2000, at a spacious apartment where a gorgeous young couple fall in love. But both harbor secrets, and one seems to be losing her grip on reality. (Feb. 12)

Advertisement
14 of 21 Viking

Leading Men, by Christopher Castellani

A slice of queer historical fiction that we hope is as delectable as it sounds. Castellani examines the relationship between Tennessee Williams, his lover Frank Merlo, and the mysterious young beauty Anja Blomgren that formed over the hot, fateful summer of 1953. (Feb. 12)

Advertisement
15 of 21 Knopf

Lost Children Archive, by Valeria Luiselli

This could be a major moment for Luiselli, the two-time National Book Critics Circle Award finalist behind Faces in the Crowd and The Story of My Teeth. Her new book is in many ways a classic American family road-trip novel, only one that confronts our ongoing immigration border crisis. (Feb. 12)

Advertisement
16 of 21 Knopf

The Source of Self-Regard, by Toni Morrison

A new collection from essays and speeches from one of our greatest living writers includes explorations of culture, art, and society. These pieces have been drawn across four decades of Morrison’s writing. (Feb. 12)

Advertisement
17 of 21 Riverhead Books

Bangkok Wakes to Rain, by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

In his lyrical debut novel, Sudbanthad spans an entire century in his vast, illuminating portrait of Bangkok, bringing together a cast of characters as they experience love, revolution, and sorrow. (Feb. 19)

Advertisement
18 of 21 Berkley

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, by Anissa Gray

This intimate family saga, sure to appeal to fans of Tayari Jones and Celeste Ng, follows the Butlers, pillars of their community, and the aftermath of an arrest that leaves them in disgrace. (Feb. 19)

Advertisement
19 of 21 Orbit

The Raven Tower, by Ann Leckie

With just four books to her name, Leckie (Ancillary Justice) has emerged as one of the most game-changing speculative-fiction authors around, netting Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke awards. The Raven Tower is her first fantasy novel. (Feb. 26)

Advertisement
20 of 21 Scribner

Vacuum in the Dark, by Jen Beagin

Fans of Beagin’s spiky debut Pretend I’m Dead should cheer the author’s quick follow-up, which brings back the character of Mona (now in Taos, New Mexico) and trades her first boyfriend, Mr. Disgusting, for an equally, unconventionally memorable new romantic partner. (Feb. 26)

Advertisement
21 of 21 One World

We Cast a Shadow, by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Ruffin’s pointed satire imagines a near-future in which racism has been further normalized in American society, centering on a multiracial family vying to protect themselves from an increasingly unsafe world. (Jan. 29)

You May Like

Read More

Get your EW TV news

Subscribe to EW TV for the latest TV news.
Signup Now
Tags
  • Elizabeth McCracken
  • Marlon James
  • Fiction
  • Nonfiction
  • Novel
EDIT POST

Subscribe & Save

Subscribe to EW for just $0.32 an issue!
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get your EW TV news

Subscribe to EW TV for the latest TV news.
Signup Now
Entertainment Weekly
Subscribe
Home
  • Homepage
All products featured were editorially selected. EW.com may receive a percentage of sales for items purchased from these links.
© 2019 Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Usethis link opens in a new tab and Privacy Policy (Your California Privacy Rights)this link opens in a new tab. | EU Data Subject Requests
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.