#NationalLibraryWeek – 11 New Books I Can’t Wait to Read

Local libraries are things to be proud of.  They provide great programs for their communities and often have a lot more than just books.  Many libraries offer magazines, seed exchanges, book clubs, kids’ activities, Internet and printer access, movies and video games, online databases, and even kitchen tools!

It’s National Library Week and I’m excited to celebrate it the best way I know how – with books!  Check out 11 new books I can’t wait to read in 2019, from fiction to personal development, cookbooks, and interior design books.  I hope you enjoy checking these new books out from your local library or adding them to your bookshelf.

The Cook

Maylis de Kerangal

The Cook was rated one of BBC Culture’s Top Ten Books to Read this March and for good reason!  It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story that follows a chef, Mauro, from baking as a little boy to his travels and business adventures in his adult life.  It’s told by a female narrator (who may or may not be in love with him!) and Kerangal’s lyrical writing explores discovering a passion for food and the rigors of life in the kitchen.

The Testaments

Margaret Atwood

Who doesn’t want to know what happened after The Handmaid’s Tale? Margaret Atwood is back with a novel that’s set 15 years after the inconclusive end to her revolutionary book.  It includes three testaments from female narrators in Gilead and answers all of your pressing questions!

Burnout – The Secret to Solving the Stress Cycle

Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Let’s be honest – it’s so easy to become burned out in today’s fast-paced world!  This book does an amazing job helping women fight against burnout and societal pressures using science, advice, and even worksheets.  Learn to relax, love yourself, and befriend your inner critic.

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell wrote two of my favorite books – The Tipping Point and Outliers – so his latest is definitely on my must-read list!  Like his other books, Talking to Strangers will make you think and challenge you at the same time.  He identifies the flaws in how we relate to people we don’t know and shares the negative impact this has on our lives.

Bowlaway

Elizabeth McCracken

This enchanting novel follows three generations of a quirky New England family who own a bowling alley.  Meet the enigmatic Bertha Truitt, who’s found unconscious in a cemetery with a bowling ball, candlepin, and 15 pounds of gold, and learn how her life and choices impact future generations through inheritance battles, murky paternities, and hidden wills.  As always, McCracken’s writing sneaks up on you and knocks you off your feet throughout each and every story.

The Suspect

Fiona Barton

Fiona Barton is the queen of thrillers (her novel, The Widow, topped the New York Time’s best seller list) and this book doesn’t let her readers down.  Two 18-year-old girls go missing in Thailand and journalist, Kate Waters, works hard to find out the truth and discover the decisions they made prior to disappearing.  It’s the kind of book that will keep you up at night – in a good way!

The Matchmaker’s List

Sonya Lalli

This book is a lighthearted, funny love story and would make the perfect beach read!  Raina Anand decides to let her grandmother play matchmaker but after her life spirals into a series of bad blind dates, she works to find a way out of this modern-day arranged marriage plan.  Will she find love along the way?

We Must Be Brave

Frances Liardet

Get out the tissues for this one!  It’s a beautiful story about Ellen Parr, who finds a little girl on a bus as her English town is being evacuated.  The year is 1940 and Ellen takes the girl home and falls in love with her as World War Two rages on.  Then, one day, the little girl is taken away.  This is the story of friendship, kindness, and hardship.

Legendary Artists and the Clothes They Wore

Terry Newman

We all know that artists’ clothing reflect their creativity and are often some of the most interesting outfits you’ll find!  This book explores the unique styles of famous artists, like Cecil Beaton and Cindy Sherman.  It even features forty illustrated profiles of these masters!

Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves

Emily Henderson

Emily Henderson is an interior design genius.  I mean, have you seen her Instagram feed?  In this book, she features 1000 ideas for styling any space you can possibly imagine.

Dinner for Everyone

Mark Bittman

My favorite thing about this new cookbook is that each of the 100 recipes is presented in three ways – easy, vegan, or perfect for company.  That means that you can easily prepare food that fits your dietary needs or the needs of your picky family members or friends.  Perfect!  Explore recipes including gumbo, clam chowder, Caesar salad, and pad Thai.  There’s something for everyone!

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I’d love to hear from you.  What are the best new books that you’ve read this year?  How do you love to use your library?  Let me know in the comments!