We recommend: The best new book releases

The best of new fiction

‘Isaac’s Song’ by Daniel Black: This latest offering from the author of ‘Don’t Cry For Me’ and ‘Perfect Peace’ tells the story of a young queer black man living in late 1980s Chicago—who is the son of the protagonist of ‘Don’t Cry For Me’. With the AIDS epidemic and institutionalised racism prevalent in the background, Isaac is encouraged by his therapist to write his memoir. Introspection is the order of the day, as this process helps him tap into his childhood struggles as well as generational trauma that looms over broader American history. There are no reviews out for this book yet. (January 14)

‘The Oligarch's Daughter’ by Joseph Finder: Gripping modern-day spy thriller that rivals Cold War classics. Central character—Paul Brightman—once a Wall Street rising star, is now a fugitive with a million-dollar bounty, hiding in a quiet New England town. His cover blown, he escapes into the New Hampshire wilderness, pursued by Russian operatives who always seem one step ahead. As for reviews, Booklist effuses, “deep characterization, cliffhanger suspense, and a wealth of information ranging from Russian spies to survival in the woods and in public spaces make this one of Finder’s best,” whereas the Library Journal describes it as a “suspenseful thriller [that] keeps readers off-balance and unsure whom to trust.” (January 28)

‘The Burnings’ by Himanjali Sankar: This Kolkata-based novelist’s sophomore effort is a gothic horror tale centred on a woman named Shalini—who receives a panic-stricken phone call from her first boyfriend Akshar. The setting: Akshar’s ancestral mansion, nestled in the hills in a state of decay. It’s all very Stephen King, from the mansion’s creepy older residents and Akshar’s few visitors to ominous locked rooms and haunting corridors. There are no reviews out for this house of horrors yet. (January 15)

‘Life on Mars: Collected Stories’ by Namita Gokhale: This is a collection of 15 fictional stories which have the recurring theme of love, lust, death and fate. The book is arranged in two sections: ‘Love and Other Derangements’ and ‘The Mirror of the Mahabharata’—which spans modern Covid time stories to the Indian epic.  (January 15)

‘I Think They Love You’ by Julian Winters: If you’re looking for some masala and fluff, look no further than this book. Two exes, Denzel Carter and Braylon Adams, run into each other in a coffee shop. Life situations compel them to pretend-date each other but of course the line gets blurry—especially for Denzel who was dumped first. Oh and the novel is from ’s POV. Kirkus Reviews writes: “A sweet, surprisingly emotional romance you won’t be able to put down.” (January 28)

This month’s poetry pick

‘Poetry Prescription: Words for Love’ by Deborah Alma: A small collection of poems exploring various forms of love—romantic, familial, and platonic. Curated by the founder of the Poetry Pharmacy, this book offers verses for times of heartache, celebration, and tenderness. It includes works by poets such as WB Yeats, Walt Whitman, and William Shakespeare, making it a thoughtful gift for anyone seeking comfort or reflection. (January 23)

The best of the non-fiction 

‘In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space’ by Irvin Weathersby Jr: The author is a Brooklyn-based writer and cultural commentator. In the book, he provides a hopeful reimagining of the whitewashed spaces in US history with essential pieces of Black American history like plantation workers and slaves. Some of the places discussed are New Orleans, Whitney Plantation, Monument Avenue in Virginia, sugar factory in Brooklyn, New York. Art cannot exist in a vacuum and it is always political. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “spirited” and finds the treatment of the timely topic “poetic”. 

‘How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty’ by Bonny Reichert: A heartfelt memoir of self-discovery, where the author reconnects with her Holocaust legacy through the flavors of her past. Raised by a father who survived Auschwitz, Bonny avoided this painful history until a bowl of borscht in Warsaw set her on a journey to uncover her culinary roots. From baking knishes with her baba to perfecting vichyssoise as a student, food became her anchor through life’s trials, including childhood, marriage, motherhood, and a transformative trip to Poland. Booklist hails it as a “life-affirming tale of family bonds, food, and love,” while Publishers Weekly applauds its “luminous prose” and calls it “nimble and nourishing... not to be missed.”

‘This Beautiful, Ridiculous City: A Graphic Memoir’ by Kay Sohini: A vibrant tale of starting over in New York. Arriving from India after leaving behind family, friends, and a gaslighting ex, Sohini confronts the gap trauma left in her memory while finding unexpected belonging on the city’s streets. Equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting, it explores healing, love, and self-discovery in a place that saves you in its own strange way. Kirkus Reviews calls the illustrations “marvels of bright colors and elegant compositions,” while Publishers Weekly notes it’s as much about India as it is about her new life in New York, “and the ways Sohini balances her homeland with her chosen home.” (January 28)