I’m not sure when summer got the reputation for being the least stressful time of the year. I, for one, find the endless heat and sunshine exhausting. There are so many social events to coordinate, and there never seems to be enough time to just relax.
I am daydreaming of fall—when I can enjoy a bit of sweater weather and a good book. Looking ahead at all of the great reads releasing in the upcoming months, here’s what made my list.
Nonfiction
Dear Founder: Letters of Advice for Anyone Who Leads, Manages, or Wants to Start a Business
Maynard Webb, with Carlye Adler. St. Martin’s, $28 (352p) ISBN 978-1-25019-564-7
On Sale: 9/11
From former Yahoo and eBay executive Maynard Webb, Dear Founder serves as a great source of wisdom for people at any stage of their business career: from start-up to stagnant. Through 80 different letters, Webb delivers advice that is both relatable and easy to digest. This is a perfect book to pick up when you have a few free moments. Clear a spot on your bedside table for this one!
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
Keith O’Brien. Dolan, $28 (368p) ISBN 978-1-328-87664-5
On Sale: 8/7
Amelia Earhart may be a household name, but this novel highlights four of the other barrier-breaking ladies of aviation alongside our “Lady Lindy.” As well-researched as popular historical novels like The Boys in the Boat, Fly Girls is an adventure from start to finish.
If you thought you knew the history of flight: think again. Hailed by the New York Times Book Review for his “keen reportorial eye” and “lyrical” writing style, O’Brien’s work has already been featured across publications like the New York Times and various NPR radio shows. Get inspired to reach new heights in your career… Too much? Okay.
Small Fry: A Memoir
Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Grove, $26 (400p) ISBN 978-0-8021-2823-2
On Sale: 9/4
How better to gain an intimate look into the life of the late Steve Jobs than through the eyes of his own daughter? n this memoir, Lisa Brennan-Jobs weaves a vivid of coming-of-age story that will bring a new perspective to both those familiar and unfamiliar with Jobs’ story.
Through the question of her paternity, to her eventual relationship with Jobs and, ultimately, his death, Brennan-Jobs does not shy away from making the reader feel the emotional depths of her journey. She adds a touching personal element to his life and their relationship, making the read surprisingly relatable to anyone with a tumultuous relationship with a parent.
Leadership: In Turbulent Times
Doris Kearns Goodwin. Simon & Schuster, $30 (496p) ISBN 978-1-4767-9592-8
On Sale: 9/18
After dedicating her career to American history, Pulitzer Prize-winner Doris Kearns Goodwin seeks to answer the question: are leaders born or made? Finding common strengths of four great American leaders (Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson) reveals a path for readers to emulate in their own leadership careers.
Goodwin’s previous novel, Team of Rivals, was the basis for the 2012 Academy Award-winning film Lincoln, and this follow-up will not disappoint: Leadership promises to be one of the most interesting explorations of the US Presidents published this year.
Thirst: A Story of Redemption, Compassion, and a Mission to Bring Clean Water to the World
Scott Harrison. Currency, $27 (336p) ISBN 978-1-5247-6284-1
On Sale 10/2
A page-turner of a redemption story, Thirst is a great book for those who are feeling emotionally taxed by their current situation: Harrison weaves a narrative about his journey from club promoter to hospital boat worker to eventually founding the nonprofit charity: water.
Focusing on the idea that it is “never too late to change your life,” readers will gain insight into how one of the most innovative social entrepreneurship companies got its start. Need more incentive? 100-percent of the author’s proceeds from Thirst will go to fund charity water projects.
Temp: How American Work, American Business, and The American Dream Became Temporary
Louis Hyman. Viking, $28 (400p) ISBN 978-0-7352-2407-0
On Sale: 8/21
In every point of someone’s career, there is a question of job security. While it is easy to blame technological advancement for a job becoming automated, Temp explores the history of America’s workforce stability to reveal this is not always the case. From the perspectives of business people of all sorts—executives to line workers to, well, temps—Hyman explores the historical effects on “work” dating back to the 1940s. Why do businesses run the way they do? And, more importantly, how should business run?
Fiction
Dear Mrs. Bird
AJ Pearce. Scribner, $26 (288p) ISBN 978-1-5011-7006-5
On Sale: 7/3
Ok, ok, I am breaking all my own rules and this book has technically released already—but, you’re going to thank me. Dear Mrs. Bird is the new Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and you won’t want to miss it! Set against WWII London, the novel follows Emmeline Lake, a young woman dreaming of becoming a war correspondent, only to end up running a secret advice column under a nom-de-plume, Mrs. Bird.
She maintains a positive and humorous outlook, even in the face of the Nazi takeover, and serves as a good reminder to readers that sometimes the best way to be happy is to be kind.
The Dinner List
Rebecca Serle. Flatiron Books, $28 (288p) ISBN 978-1-250-29518-7
On Sale: 9/11
For those who “don’t have time to read,” this one is for you. This quick and fun novel (with a killer twist!) explores the question we all had to answer at our company icebreaker event… If you were able to invite five people to dinner, who would you choose? From the author of Famous in Love (now a series on Freeform) comes this fun, romantic, and a bit snarky look at what relationships you carry with you—and what your past can bring to your future.
Leave No Trace
Mindy Mejia. Atria/Emily Bestler Books, $26 (336p) ISBN 978-1-5011-7736-1
On Sale: 9/4
A novel surely fit to get you in an autumn mood, Leave No Trace is a thrilling story of a boy and his father who go missing… only for the boy to return 10 years later. Set against moody Minnesota scenes, and with characters holding more secrets than a game of clue, this fast-paced novel allows readers to explore the darker part of themselves, while Mejia guides them to the unexpected finale of the story.
The Flame: Poems Notebooks Lyrics Drawings
Leonard Cohen. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $28 (288p) ISBN 978-0-3741-5606-0
On Sale: 10/2
When Cohen stated he was “ready to die” in this New Yorker piece mere days before his passing, he mentioned an unfinished collection of poems, lyrics, and other passages he needed to complete. The Flame is just that. An emotional and soulful farewell, Cohen expresses his musings through familiar topics like love, regrets, and hummingbirds. Perfect for readers who have only a few moments in the morning, this collection sparks deep introspection and most importantly—inspires hope.
What are you excited to read this fall? Leave a comment with your recommendation!
