Books We Can't Wait to Read: January 2023
We are back with a list of fiction, and nonfiction January releases that we can’t wait to read. Did you miss anything? For poetry releases, check out this post.
Fiction
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff — January 3 (Ballantine Books)
A young Indian woman finds the false rumors that she killed her husband surprisingly useful--until other women in the village start asking for her help getting rid of their own husbands--in this razor-sharp debut.
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor— January 3 (Riverhead Books)
Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best.
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo — January 10 (Flatiron Books)
Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. The Ivy League is going straight to hell in the sequel to the smash New York Times bestseller Ninth House from #1 bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.Thick with history and packed with Bardugo's signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.
Small World by Laura Zigman — January 10 (Ecco Press)
From bestselling author Laura Zigman comes a heartfelt novel about two offbeat and newly divorced sisters who move in together as adults--and finally reckon with their childhood.
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey— January 17 (William Morrow & Company)
A hilarious and painfully relatable debut no vel about one woman's messy search for joy and meaning in the wake of an unexpected breakup, from comedian, essayist, and award-winning screenwriter Heisey.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix — January 17 (Berkley Books)
New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past--and your family--can haunt you like nothing else.
The Faraway World: Stories by Patricia Engel — January 24 (Avid Reader Press)
The Faraway World is a collection of arresting stories from the New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Country, Patricia Engel, "a gifted storyteller whose writing shines even in the darkest corners" (The Washington Post). Intimate and panoramic, these stories bring to life the liminality of regret, the vibrancy of community, and the epic deeds and quiet moments of love.
Maame by Jessica George — January 31 (St. Martin's Press)
Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.
Nonfiction
Local: A Memoir by Jessica Machado — January 1 (Little A)
Interwoven with a rich and nuanced exploration of Hawaiian history and traditions, Local is a personal and moving narrative about family, grief, and reconnecting to the land she tried to leave behind.
Drinking Games: A Memoir by Sarah Levy— January 3 (St. Martin's Press)
Part memoir and part social critique, Drinking Games is about how one woman drank and lived-- and how, for her, the last drink was just the beginning.
Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World by Lauren Fleshman — January 10 (Penguin Press)
Written with heart and verve, Good for a Girl is a joyful love letter to the running life, a raw personal narrative of growth and change, and a vital call to reimagine sports for young women.
Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein— January 24 (Harper)
In this lively, funny memoir, Peggy Orenstein sets out to make a sweater from scratch--shearing, spinning, dyeing wool--and in the process discovers how we find our deepest selves through craft. Orenstein spins a yarn that will appeal to everyone.
Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America by Daniel Black — January 31 (Hanover Square Press)
A piercing collection of essays on racial tension in America and the ongoing fight for visibility, change, and lasting hope. As Daniel Black reminds us, while hope may be slow in coming, it always arrives, and when it does, it delivers beyond the imagination. Propulsive, intimate, and achingly relevant, Black on Black is cultural criticism at its openhearted best.
