FOR FICTION FANS

House of Gold (GP Putnam’s Sons) by Natasha Solomons

In 1911, the Goldbaum family heads up one of Europe’s biggest banks, their members enjoying great wealth and power throughout the continent. But when World War I breaks out, a free-spirited Austrian heiress has to choose between the British family she’s married into — or the family to which she was born. An epic family saga.

Ohio (Simon & Schuster) by Stephen Markley

On a summer night in 2013, four former classmates all find themselves back in their struggling Ohio hometown, a decade after graduating. Each is there for different reasons, but none will leave the same.

Family Trust (William Morrow) by Kathy Wang

Stanley Huang is dying, but before he does his ex-wife and their two children are determined to figure out if the “small fortune” he boasts of is real or grossly exaggerated. A charming, funny portrait of Asian-American family life, money, success and the ties that bind.

Where the Crawdads Sing (GP Putnam’s Sons) by Delia Owens

Kya Clark has always been called the “Marsh Girl” by North Carolina locals who mock her wild existence on the marshes. Since being abandoned by her parents at a young age, she has eschewed school, fishing by herself in order to survive. When Chase Andrews, a handsome village boy, is found dead, Kya is immediately suspected.

The Great Alone (St. Martin’s) by Kristin Hannah

It is 1974, and angry Vietnam vet Ernt Allbright moves with his family to Alaska, seeking a life off the grid. The family is woefully unprepared and brings few supplies; locals take pity on them and show them how to survive the winter. Ernt becomes physically abusive to his wife, Cora, and as the weather gets colder, she and her daughter realize they will have to rely on each other to survive.

Lake Success (Random House) by Gary Shteyngart

Barry Cohen has just walked out on his marriage. Convinced that life’s answers rest with his college girlfriend, Barry sets off on a Greyhound bus tour that is by turns hilarious, infuriating and moving.

If You Leave Me (William Morrow) by Crystal Hana Kim

War, family and doomed love are all center stage in this debut novel about the Korean civil war, the years that follow and the choices that people are forced to make. Haemi Lee, the protagonist, will stay with you long after this haunting book is finished.

America for Beginners (William Morrow) by Leah Franqui

Pival Sengupta is a widow, and her only son has died. With nothing left to tether her to her upscale Kolkata life, she books a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company and sets out to understand America, the country her son lived in for the last years of his life. Gorgeous and moving.

Sweet & Low: Stories (Blue Rider Press) by Nick White

No one is quite what they seem in this story collection, which paints a picture of the modern South, tackling issues of sexuality, masculinity and place.

Rust & Stardust (St. Martin’s) by T. Greenwood

A fictional treatment of the real-life abduction of 11-year-old Sally Horner, who was kidnapped from a Camden, NJ, Woolworth’s by a sexual predator named Frank La Salle, who held her for over a year.

An American Marriage (Algonquin Books) by Tayari Jones

Celestial and Roy are young black newlyweds embarking on their new lives together when Roy is accused and subsequently sentenced to 12 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Celestial is left to pick up the pieces alone. Heartbreaking and raw.

Unsheltered (Harper) by Barbara Kingsolver

Willa Knox and her husband have done everything right in life, yet they’ve still ended up practically broke in a crumbling house Willa is desperately trying to landmark in hopes that this will pay for its much-needed restoration.

Melmoth (Custom House) by Sarah Perry

The follow-up to “The Essex Serpent,” which finds Helen Franklin in Prague working as a translator. She thinks she has found a refuge — but that all changes when her friend Karel disappears after finding a mysterious letter in the library.

FOR MEMOIR OBSESSIVES

Heartland (Scribner) by Sarah Smarsh

Sarah Smarsh grew up in Kansas in the 1980s and ’90s, a product of generations of poverty and teen moms. Her memoir is a fascinating and heartfelt look at what it means to be poor in a country of abundance and wealth.

The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border (Riverhead Books) by Francisco Cantu

This memoir by a former US Border Patrol agent takes a look at both sides of the America-Mexico divide with the clear-eyed vision of having experienced it on a daily basis. Incredibly moving.

Becoming (Crown) by Michelle Obama

The bestselling autobiography from the ex-first lady is revealing, honest, moving and a welcome departure from typically safe political-spouse memoirs.

Educated (Random House) by Tara Westover

Growing up in a survivalist family in the Idaho mountains, Tara Westover had never been to see a doctor, and she was 17 when she first stepped into a classroom. Desperate for a new kind of life, she went to college, eventually getting her Ph.D. from Cambridge University. A tale of family ties and reinvention.

So Close To Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know (St. Martin’s) by Retta

The “Parks and Recreation” star shares the secrets of her success, ditched dreams of medical school and subsequent move to Hollywood in a collection of hilarious essays that will have readers giggling long after they turn the last page.

The Restless Wave (Simon & Schuster) by John McCain

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here,” writes John McCain in this moving memoir. “I have some things I’d like to take care of first, some work that needs finishing and some people I need to see. And I want to talk to my fellow Americans a little more if I may.” We’re glad he did, and although he is no longer here, he lives on in his last book.

FOR POP-CULTURE JUNKIES

Bullsh*t Jobs: A Theory (Simon & Schuster) by David Graeber

Every day, there are millions of people across industries working in what Graeber calls “bullsh*t jobs” that effectively do nothing and create nothing of value. Worse yet: The people who hold said jobs are powerfully aware of just how little these gigs matter. Graeber explores the conundrum in a hilarious and lively book that calls for a cultural shift in what we value.

The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success (Little, Brown) by Albert-László Barabási

Why do some succeed wh ile others — who measure up equally in terms of performance — flounder? Barabási takes a scientific approach to the phenomenon, studying success and coming up with a formula for what it takes. Fascinating and fun.

Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People (Thomas Nelson) by Bob Goff

The runaway bestseller has inspired people all over to “give away love like we’re made of it.” An engaging read at a time when we could all use more positive thoughts and actions.

Them: Why We Hate Each Other — and How to Heal (St. Martin’s) by Ben Sasse

The country is divided, local communities are crumbling and people are less likely than ever to know their neighbors. The US is the richest country in history, but pessimism is at an all-time high. Why? And most importantly, what can be done to bridge this divide? The Nebraska senator presents a hopeful path forward.

FOR THRILLER LOVERS

Dracul (GP Putnam’s Sons) by Dacre Stoker & J.D. Barker

A prequel to “Dracula” inspired by notes left behind by Bram Stoker, who quite possibly believed vampires were real. This novel explores Bram’s sickly childhood and his mysterious nanny, a young woman named Ellen. When there’s a rash of strange deaths across town, he becomes convinced she is involved.

The Witch Elm (Viking) by Tana French

Coming home from drinks with colleagues, Toby surprises two burglars and is beaten and left for dead. As he recuperates, he returns to his ancestral home to care for his dying uncle. But a skull found on the property makes Toby realize that his family past is not what it seems.

Trust Me (Forge Books) by Hank Phillippi Ryan

An accused killer similar to Casey Anthony insists she’s innocent, while a veteran journalist covers the murder trial, looking for her next big project after a personal tragedy. When she agrees to write a book about the accused, the two women are thrown together in a confusing, uneasy alliance.

Baby Teeth (St. Martin’s) by Zoje Stage

Suzette is a stay-at-home mom devoted to her 7-year-old daughter, Hanna, who does not — or will not — speak. Unrelated, Hanna’s also kind of a handful, the scourge of babysitters and might possibly be a complete psychopath. Or is it all in Suzette’s head? The reader won’t know, making this a deliciously creepy read.

FOR HISTORY BUFFS

Napoleon: A Life (Basic Books) by Adam Zamoyski

This deep dive cuts through much of the myth surrounding Napoleon and gets straight to the heart of who he was as a leader and a person.

Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War (Twelve) by Gus Russo and Eric Dezenhall

In late 1970s in Washington, DC, two newly arrived intelligence men CIA agent Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko became close (and wildly improbable) friends. Perfect for the person who’s still mourning the end of “The Americans” and its bromance between Stan Beeman and Philip Jennings.

Atticus Finch: A Biography (Basic Books) by Joseph Crespino

It might seem strange to have a “biography” of the fictional “To Kill a Mockingbird” character, but this is a look at A.C. Lee, Harper Lee’s father and the inspiration for Scout’s dad. A fascinating profile of a complicated person.

Churchill: Walking with Destiny (Viking) by Andrew Roberts

This definitive biography of the storied leader was made possible through unprecedented access to material, including diaries, letters, unpublished memoirs and even the detailed diary notes taken by King George VI.

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (Simon & Schuster) by David Blight

An escaped slave who went on to become a leading orator, writer and abolitionist, this is the first major biography of Douglass in nearly 25 years.

Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto (Picador) by Alan Stern and David Grinspoon

In July 2015, a NASA spacecraft whizzed past Pluto for the first time — and took pictures of the icy planet, capturing the world’s imagination. Mission leader Dr. Alan Stern tells the inside story of an unforgettable adventure.