Saturday, May 9, 2026

This month’s best new biographies and memoirs

 
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This Month’s Best New Biographies & Memoirs
 
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Book cover for Famesick by Lena Dunham
This juicy memoir from a ‘generational voice’ (Financial Times) has everyone talking
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • In this instant #1 New York Times bestseller, the creator of HBO’s Girls reflects on her ascent to fame, her battle with chronic illness, and the high price of achieving her dreams
  • “Dunham is able to write about the painful parts of life in a way that feels both intimate and universal” (The Guardian)
  • “A moving and candid look at an overexposed and misunderstood life” (Kirkus Reviews starred review)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Famesick by Lena Dunham MEDIA MENTIONS: Book of the Month, NPR, TODAY Show, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic, People, The Washington Post, Slate, Vogue, Elle, Vulture, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Variety
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Book cover for The Madness Pill by Justin Garson
A must-read for fans of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Meet Solomon Snyder, the genius psychiatrist who worked for decades to replicate schizophrenia — and found answers that transformed the treatment of mental illness
  • A “riveting, sometimes unnerving read” (Psychology Today) from a historian of science at the City University of New York
  • Robert Kolker, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road, calls this “enlightening” biography “a fascinating guide to how mental illness takes shape in the brain”
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Madness Pill by Justin Garson MEDIA MENTIONS: Library Journal, Literary Hub
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Book cover for This Is Not About Running by Mary Cain
Mary Cain was an athlete on the rise — but she was the victim of abusive coaches and systems
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • “A brave, blisteringly honest memoir about a young girl who loved running, and about the systems, policies, and people who placed winning at all costs above her well-being” (Elle)
  • A moving personal story and a call for clarity and change in the treatment of young athletes
  • “Grippingly charts her path from glory to disillusionment to despair and back. It’s a powerful and haunting testimonial” (Publishers Weekly starred review)
Learn more...
Media mentions for This Is Not About Running by Mary Cain MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, Elle, The Guardian, New York Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal
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Book cover for Extra Sauce by Zahra Tangorra
‘A memoir that feeds both body and soul… Lush, fearless, and tender’ (Ruth Reichl)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • “Reading this book is like sitting down with [a] friend who always has a rollicking, tragicomic story to tell” (The New York Times Book Review)
  • A beloved Brooklyn chef and writer looks back on her life — moments rich and messy — through the lens of memorable meals and meaningful loves
  • “An endearing tale of food, family, and finding your own place in the world” (Eater)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Extra Sauce by Zahra Tangorra MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Eater, Publishers Weekly, Booklist
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Book cover for The Queen and Her Presidents by Susan Page
During her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II had a quiet influence on 13 US presidents
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Learn about how Richard Nixon sought her help amid the Watergate scandal, her surprising admission to Barack Obama, the reality of her relationship with Donald Trump, and more
  • A must-read for fans of The Crown
  • Penned by an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Queen and Her Presidents by Susan Page MEDIA MENTIONS: PBS, USA Today, The Times
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Book cover for Backtalker by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
A ‘beautifully written’ memoir (Bryan Stevenson) from a pioneering scholar
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • One of the nation’s most influential public intellectuals takes readers on an “extraordinary journey” (The New York Times) through her childhood and life’s accomplishments, including coining the term intersectionality
  • With praise from Kiese Laymon and Henry Louis Gates Jr., who calls it “powerful” and “compelling”
  • “Outstanding… An entertaining and invaluable account of personal triumph and political awakening” (Publishers Weekly starred review)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Backtalker by KimberlĂ© Williams Crenshaw MEDIA MENTIONS: The New Yorker, NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Forbes, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage
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Book cover for Mother Tongue by Sara Nović
After fighting to fit into the hearing world, Sara forged a new path into the Deaf community
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • A compelling memoir from the New York Times bestselling author of True Biz
  • “A book that refuses to let us look away from how we fail disabled people — and shows us how we can do better” (EsmĂ© Weijun Wang, author of The Collected Schizophrenias)
  • With frank discussion of questions of identity, politics, and more, this read is “for anyone who has felt the need to hide their true self” (Booklist)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Mother Tongue by Sara Nović MEDIA MENTIONS: Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise by Isabel Vincent
An award-winning investigative reporter probes the life of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • This “bombshell new biography” (People) is based on the Cabinet member’s personal diaries, interviews, and previously unreleased material
  • Learn how RFK Jr. grieved his father, battled addiction, and found his way to becoming the US Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • This timely, discussion-worthy read “illustrates the intimate details of the controversial figure’s life” (USA Today)
Learn more...
Media mentions for RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise by Isabel Vincent MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Entertainment Weekly, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, The Times, New York Post
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Book cover for The Future Is Peace by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon
Two peace activists take readers on a tour through the history of Israel and the West Bank
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Highly anticipated by The New York Times, which calls it a “short but immensely poignant account” that’s “raw with pain and rage and yet bravely insistent on the imperative of hope”
  • Expected to meet each other with hatred, Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah and Israeli Maoz Inon instead formed a bond — and here, they call for peace and compassion in the midst of suffering
  • From authors who “are not only brilliant guides to the tortured geography of the Holy Land but also guides for how to retain our humanity, no matter how much pain we endure” (New York Times bestselling author Peter Beinart)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Future Is Peace by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Literary Hub
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for Happiness Included by Marcia Wilkie and Eve Plumb
The actor who played TV’s iconic Jan Brady tells her story
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Go behind the scenes of a long-running Hollywood career with this intimate, heartfelt read
  • “Peels back the curtain on what it was truly like to grow up as one of television’s most recognizable children” (Keegan-Michael Key)
  • “Plumb reflects on a surprisingly diverse career, from a childhood spent going from audition to audition to fame on television to stints as an improv performer and professional artist, in this lighthearted, pleasant memoir” (Kirkus Reviews)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Happiness Included by Marcia Wilkie and Eve Plumb MEDIA MENTIONS: CBS Mornings, Entertainment Weekly, People, The Boston Globe, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal
GET EBOOK ON:
Amazon Other formats and retailers
 
   
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Your ebook bargains for Saturday

 
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The Burnout
The Burnout
By Sophie Kinsella
“I devoured The Burnout in one greedy gulp” (Jojo Moyes). When Sasha arrives at what should be the seaside resort of her dreams, she discover a ramshackle hotel with just one other guest, grumpy Finn. Soon, mysterious messages begin appearing for them on the beach! “Just the book you need if you’re desperate for a break” (Beth O’Leary).
Because you're interested in Bestsellers, Contemporary Romance, and Women's Fiction  (Edit)
$1.99  $12.99
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Cold Wind
Cold Wind
By C. J. Box
A “superlative” New York Times bestseller (Booklist) from “one of today’s solid-gold, A-list, must-read writers” (Lee Child): Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett must prove his own mother-in-law’s innocence when her husband’s body turns up atop a massive wind turbine. “Searing… This engaging series just keeps getting better” (Publishers Weekly).
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The Flying Circus
The Flying Circus
By Susan Crandall
“Every detail sings, and every character will touch your heart” (Melanie Benjamin). Three 1920s stunt pilots struggle to maintain their makeshift family in this “absorbing and frequently touching story” (USA Today) that has “all the twists and turns of an aerial acrobat” (Lynn Cullen, author of Mrs. Poe).
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$1.99  $12.99
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The Road from Gap Creek
The Road from Gap Creek
By Robert Morgan
“A moving, lyrical saga” (Kirkus Reviews starred review) that “shines with a subtle brilliance” (The Minnesota Star Tribune): As change comes to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hank Richards, his wife, Julie, and their two children face the joys and challenges of farm life. “What a writer, and what a novel” (Ron Rash).
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$1.99  $11.99
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The Daughters of Mars
The Daughters of Mars
By Thomas Keneally
“An epic, sweeping book” (Los Angeles Times) from the New York Times bestselling author of Schindler’s List: In 1915, two Australian sisters become nurses — and find their lives transformed by war. “The work of a master storyteller… simultaneously sprawling and intimate” (NPR).
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$1.99  $15.99
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The Girl from Donegal
The Girl from Donegal
By Carmel Harrington
“Unputdownable” (Cathy Kelly): In 1939 Ireland, a fateful meeting on Ballymastocker Bay threatens to change everything for war widow Eliza. Almost 100 years later in Bermuda, Saoirse discovers a connection to Eliza that will reveal a secret — and transform her life. “Timeless… An emotional roller coaster” (Hazel Gaynor).
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$0.99  $3.99
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The Stories We Tell
The Stories We Tell
By Patti Callahan Henry
From a New York Times bestselling author: In Savannah, Georgia, Eve and Cooper Morrison seem to have it all. But when Cooper is involved in a car crash alongside Eve’s sister, secrets swirl… and their perfect lives begin to unravel. “Book clubs rejoice — your next pick is here!” (Sara Gruen).
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$1.99  $11.17
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Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap
By Connor Sullivan
“A must-read thriller from a brilliant new talent in the genre” (Jack Carr): Brian Rhome, a former agent in a shadowy CIA organization, comes out of retirement to stop a dangerous conspiracy. “An adrenaline rush… Buckle up and enjoy the ride” (Lisa Gardner).
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$1.99  $14.99
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Fight or Flight
Fight or Flight
By Fern Michaels
A 2025 release from a #1 New York Times bestselling author: When Katherine Winston, the resident of a remote home perched atop a mountain, realizes a passionate fan of her popular book series is in danger, she must leave her familiar life behind to help them.
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Four Cold Months
Four Cold Months
By K.J. Kalis
Macy Chandler has been missing for four months, held for a ransom her family can’t pay. Can haunted detective Max Grady find out who took her before it’s too late? A taut, twisty thriller!
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Crime Paradise
Crime Paradise
By Gene Desrochers
In this page-turning crime novel, PI Boise Montague wakes on a Caribbean beach beside three dead women. With blood on his clothes and no memory of the night, Boise becomes the prime suspect. Now he must outwit killers, corrupt power brokers, and his own haunted past — before he becomes the fourth body.
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Perfect Record
Perfect Record
By Kerry J Donovan
Detective David Jones is used to getting his man. But when a master jewel thief targets one of England’s most secure locations, Jones’s skills face the ultimate test… An exciting series starter!
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Free!  $4.99
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