2018 has officially arrived, and with it, a slew of new reading material to curl up with during the most brutal of winter months.
Seriously, is there anything better than spending a weekend with good food, a great book, and little to no contact with the subarctic outside world? I think not.
So read on for a list of the new releases we’re most excited about this month and get thee to a bookstore (not to mention a Whole Foods), stat.
Getting Off: One Woman’s Journey Through Sex and Porn Addiction by Erica Garza, January 9
Erica Garza’s first memoir tracks her lifelong struggle with sex addiction, from “strings of failed relationships and serial hook-ups with strangers, inevitable blackouts to blunt the shame,” shedding light on a very real dependency that women are rarely empowered to speak about.
BRAVE by Rose McGowan, January 30
A book so hotly anticipated it already has its own documentary special, Rose McGowan’s memoir follows the actress and activist’s life from coming of age as part of the cult Children of God to Hollywood, where she found herself constantly exploited and sexualized, to her current reality as a #MeToo icon and a rebellious agent of change. Expect wild stories, disturbing revelations,and, ultimately, a resounding argument for the importance of female empowerment at all costs.
Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World by Women’s March Organizers, Condé Nast, January 16
With essays by Rowan Blanchard, Senator Tammy Duckworth, America Ferrera, Ilana Glazer, Ashley Judd, Jill Soloway, Elaine Welteroth, and more, this full-color tome will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the seminal Women’s March, which occurred in Washington, DC as well as in cities around the world. With personal anecdotes from participants, never-before-seen images, and exclusive interviews, it seems poised to be a staple on any feminist’s bookshelf.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, January 9
In 1969, a Lower East Side psychic informs four children of how they will die, prophecies which deeply inform how the next decades of their lives will unfold. Called “2018’s first must-read” by Entertainment Weekly, it feels poised to pique the interest of anyone who loves a good mystery – especially one that probes at the truths of the universe.
The Afterlives byThomas Pierce, January 9
When 30-year-old Thomas Byrd dies briefly of a heart attack before being revived, he awakens with no memory of anything – no angels, no tunnels, no bright lights. But, as Jim and his wife reckon with what happened to him (and what eventually happens to all of us), they encounter a ghost, holograms, psychics, and messages from beyond.
Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence by Amy Alkon, January 23
If you’re looking to start the year off with some good advice, look no further than author and advice columnist Amy Alkon, who has spent the last 20 years translating behavioral science into practical wisdom for everyday people. Pulling together findings from the neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and clinical psychology communities, Alkon presents cutting-edge wisdom about relationships, self-improvement, and self-acceptance with humor and readability.
This Could Hurt, Jillian Medoff, January 9
If you’ve ever round yourself annoyed, depressed, or just plain stumped by the unique social construct that is the modern office, this may be the novel you’ve been thirsting for. Jillian Medoff follows five members of an HR team at a consumer research firm as they attempt to navigate the highs and lows of everyday corporate life.
The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin, January 16
If historical fiction is more yourbag, you’ll love this ode to old Hollywood. Centering on the creative partnership between screenwriter Frances Marion and actress Mary Pickford (and featuring cameos by fictionalized versions of Charlie Chaplin, Lillian Gish, and Douglas Fairbanks), it’s also a story about friendship and what makes it truly enduring.
Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee, January 16
Two sisters, Miranda and Lucia, deal with the death of their mother, Lucia’s sudden mental illness, and the realities of growing up. Told in alternating chapters, it’s a book about sisterly devotion, familial love, and what it means to save and be saved.
Green by Sam Graham-Felsen, January 2
From Barack Obama’s former campaign blog director comes this novel about race, privilege, and the American dream told through the eyes of a middle schooler named Dave who makes an unlikely friend that exposes him tosome hard truths about the world.
