PEOPLE’s best books of October.
From dystopian fantasy to literary fiction to Britney’s bombshell memoir — here are PEOPLE’s picks for the best books of October.
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Farrar, Straus and Giroux
In 1963 Vietnam, two American wives navigating expat life alongside their career-driven husbands form an unlikely friendship. When naive newlywed Tricia, determined to serve as her husband’s “helpmeet,” suffers a miscarriage, savvy socialite Charlene swoops in with support—and a dubious plot to provide aid to the locals. A tender tour de force exploring the Vietnam War era from a woman’s perspective. —Claire Martin
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Spiegel & Grau
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Catapult
When an Indigenous girl goes missing, the loss reverberates through two very different families: one Native American laborers, the other lap-of-luxury whites. A stunning debut about love, race, brutality and the balm of forgiveness. —Caroline Leavitt
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In this sincere memoir, the ‘Happy Days’ star reflects on his expansive television career, marriage and life with dyslexia.
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The long-awaited memoir from the iconic pop superstar details her career, conservatorship and relationship with Justin Timberlake. Emotional and honest.
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Scribner
In the antebellum South an enslaved girl, Annis, learns from her mother to identify mushrooms, handle a weapon and befriend bees. The skills become crucial when she is sold, leaving North Carolina for a Louisiana sugar plantation. Equally crucial: the spiritual strength her ancestors have passed on. Harrowing, immersive and otherworldly, this tale of survival and rebirth in the dark heart of the American South is another triumph for two-time National Book Award winner Ward. —Wadzanai Mhute
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Harry N. Abrams
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Bloomsbury Publishing
There’s nothing more boring than someone else’s dreams—unless that someone is cartoonist Roz Chast. Among the conjurings of her sleeping mind: a leprechaun with a unibrow, helium hairspray, and an encounter with a spider-covered Glenn Close. Nighttime dullards, the pressure is on.
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Algonquin Books
Complex characters and a slow-burning plot distinguish this literary thriller about a Wisconsin town’s unsolved mystery and the outsider who uncovers buried truths.
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Crooked Lane Books
A would-be jazz musician in 1930s Harlem finds his skills are more suited to crime — until a murder he deeply regrets changes everything. A moody, fast-paced noir.
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Sourcebooks Landmark
When a skull is found in the local swamp, Louisiana librarian Ruth Cornier must confront her past — and help her hometown root out the evil in its midst.
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Henry Holt and Co.
TheFull Housestar details his marriage, alcohol addiction and expansive career in Hollywood in this emotional, entertaining new memoir.
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With candor, the actress provides intimate details about her youth, marriage and journey toward “reclamation”…and yes, she also addresses “The Slap.”
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Little, Brown and Company
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Atlantic Monthly Press
A mild-mannered Black man wakes up standing naked on his deck in L.A. Gradually he realizes he has a new alter ego—a ferocious superhero in close communication with the lords of the universe. Time to save the world! “ThrillerMaster” Mosley’s sci-fi tale will knock your socks off.— Marion Winik
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Astra House
Jonathan Abernathy is in financial peril. To work off his debt, he takes a job entering the minds and sanitizing the dreams of American workers. What could go wrong Disturbing and darkly funny, McGhee’s surrealist debut is sure to keep readers up at night.— Serena Puang
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âRodale Books
From pimples to body odor to mental health, a straight-talking guide to puberty that should ease the way for both parents and kids.— Carly Tagen-Dye
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W. W. Norton & Company
The months the author and his wife spent rehabilitating an orphaned screech owl transformed their understanding of our feathered friends—and the world. Irresistible.
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Flatiron Books
The comic who laid bare his depression struggles in HBO’sThe Great Depreshreturns with a poignant, hilarious memoir. Boston accent (“Jews don’t go to yahd sales, Gah”) included.
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Showcasing some of her most iconic outfits from Nashville and beyond, Parton gets candid (and humorous) as she reveals new insight into her life, career and fashion.
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Roc Lit 101 publishing
The founder and CEO of Klutch Sports Group looks back on his challenging upbringing in this unforgettable memoir that made partner Adele cry when she read it.
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In November 2022 a brutal quadruple homicide shocked Moscow, Idaho. The victims: four university students with bright futures ahead. A gripping dive into the investigation, the lives lost and the nation’s obsession with catching the killer. —Corin Cesaric
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The bestselling YA and middle grade author pays tribute to poet and activist Langston Hughes in his festive and lyrical debut picture book.
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Penguin Press
Touching upon his life — from his Hollywood career and his time in politics — theTerminatorstar and former California governor shares his tips for success in his debut self-help book.
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Little, Brown Spark
In this poignant memoir, theScandalandLittle Fires Everywhereactress describes her journey, including past traumas and surprising family secrets.
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Days before their wedding, Ola and Michael are blindsided when he’s accused on Twitter of harassment and assault. Fallout from being named on “the List” is swift, as this astute debut about the Internet and reality’s gray areas leads to a disturbing twist.— McKenzie Jean-Philippe
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In this witty and intimate memoir, theJeopardysuperstar pays tribute to her love of learning — and discusses everything from tarot to polyamory.
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Simon & Schuster
The former Trump staffer details her journey from the White House to testifying against the administration during the House committee’s Jan. 6 investigations in this tell-all memoir.
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Seeking respite from the ordeal of her father’s near-fatal accident and her husband’s chronic illness, a writer takes a hike into the desert. When disaster threatens, her new friends — a pile of rocks, a rabbit, a cactus, the motel desk clerks— save the day. Extremely funny and deeply felt. —Marion Winik
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When they met in the 1990s, Jack and Elizabeth were lonely college kids fleeing awful families; they fell in love as if swept into a private tornado. Twenty years later Elizabeth’s wish list for their forever home—a condo into which they’ve sunk every penny—includes separate bedrooms. Hill’s second Great American Novel, afterThe Nix, brilliantly blends ideas about wellness culture, modern parenting, Internet algorithms, gentrification and, most importantly, love. —Marion Winik
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Estranged from her mother, Ava and her son are homeless in 1980s Philadelphia. When they reconnect with the boy’s father, leader of a Black commune, the incendiary racial politics of the era blow up their lives. Ten years afterThe Twelve Tribes of Hattie, Mathis again strikes storytelling gold. —Marion Winik
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Inaugural poet Gorman conveys a hopeful message to kids facing problems that seem insurmountable. —Sue Corbett
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A heartfelt collaboration about how art can help a boy grappling with his father’s death. Lovely and poignant. —Sue Corbett
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When he meets a stranger, Stickler introduces him to the things he loves. “Friendship! Happiness! Maple syrup!” A sweet ode to life’s small joys. —Sue Corbett
source: people.com
