5 new books not to miss this week, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's memoir

Jocelyn McClurg | USA TODAY

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USA TODAY’s Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.

1. Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Harper, non-fiction, on sale March 6)

What it’s about: A memoir by the British composer, whose many hit musicals include Sunset Boulevard, School of Rock, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

The buzz: Arrives as NBC gears up for an Easter Sunday (April 1) live broadcast of the ’70s Webber-Tim Rice rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, starring John Legend.

2. I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb, illustrated by Suzie Mason (HarperCollins, fiction, ages 4-8, on sale March 6)

What it’s about: An illustrated picture book for kids that celebrates the bond between parent and child.

The buzz: Today show co-anchor Kotb was inspired to write her first children’s book after adopting her baby daughter, Haley Joy.

3. The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss (Viking, non-fiction, on sale March 6)

What it’s about: The fight for women’s suffrage in the USA came down to a crucial vote in Tennessee, and this history looks at the fierce forces aligned on both sides of the issue.

The buzz: “Page-turning…remarkably entertaining,” Publishers Weekly says in a starred review.

4. 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop’s Multibillion-Dollar Rise by Zack O’Malley Greenburg (Little, Brown, non-fiction, on sale March 6)

What it’s about: The author of Empire State of Mind (a Jay-Z bio) returns with a look at how three titans of hip-hop, including Shawn Carter, made it to the top.

The buzz: “Engaging…will satisfy neophytes and devotees alike,” says Kirkus Reviews.

5. Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala (Harper, fiction, on sale March 6)

What it’s about: Niru, a Harvard-bound track star in Washington, D.C., is hiding a secret from his conservative Nigerian parents: he’s gay.

The buzz: It’s an Indie Next pick of independent booksellers. “Heartbreakingly beautiful,” says Jill Zimmerman of Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Mich.