search-icon

8 Nonfiction Must-Reads Coming Out This October

by  | October 3
Bookcase with brightly-colored books

Have we mentioned that fall is an amazing time to be a reader? ’Cause it is. Awards season is in full swing (the National Book Awards, the Kirkus Prize, the Andrew Carnegie Medal, are all announced, to name just a few!), and publishers are falling all over themselves to release their biggest titles. That’s nothing but great for us, the readers, ’cause we have excuse after excuse to sit at a café with a PSL, a scarf, and a stack of new reads. This October there are some amazing nonfiction books coming out, from celeb memoirs to in-depth studies on female rage (of which there is a lot), and more—check them out!

My Squirrel Days

My Squirrel Days

by Ellie Kemper

Shefali's Pick

One of the perks of publishing (of which there are not many—but the few we have are awesome) is knowing about a book super early. When I found out we were publishing a title by Ellie freaking Kemper, I basically flipped. I loved her on The Office and was so happy when she got a lead role on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt where she could showcase her particular brand of aggressively optimistic and adorkable. I’m only part way through My Squirrel Days, but it is ah-mazing! Ellie is still sweet—but somewhat surprisingly (I stress the somewhat!), she is incredibly smart and I learned a lot about her. She went to Princeton (Princeton!) and is as much a writer as she is an actress—she’s written for The Onion and McSweeney’s (which is one of my all-time favorite sites) and The Huffington Post and could probably write most of the SNL writers under the table (that’s how you use that phrase, right?). You’ve seen her on TV—now read about Ellie IRL.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Make Something Good Today

Make Something Good Today

by Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Abby's Pick

Can you lose an entire sunny Saturday binge-watching Fixer Upper? Do you have a mood board for your dream kitchen (mine is white glass-front cabinets, quartz counters, farmhouse sink) even though you live in a 300-sq. ft. studio? And are you a sucker for a cute couple in love? Then pick up this memoir from the stars of HGTV’s Home Town and discover how they met, how they like to create, and how they saved their hometown of Laurel, MS.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Good and Mad (Audio)

Good and Mad (Audio)

by Rebecca Traister

Lauren's Pick

Have you ever heard the famous quote: “Well-behaved women seldom make history”? Well Rebecca Traister’s new book Good and Mad proves exactly that. In her incisive and timely exploration of the transformative power of women’s collective anger, Traister tracks the history of female fury as political fuel, from suffragettes through present day, and demonstrates that fury’s ability to transcend into a political movement. With the audiobook read by Traister herself, there is no better way to get fired up and join the national conversation. Read it or listen to it, or both!

Audible logoGoogle Play logoiTunes logoKobo logoLibro.fm logo
When's Happy Hour?

When's Happy Hour?

by The Betches

Abby's Pick #2

If you’re not already following these hilarious women on Instagram, you should be; in their newest book (after Nice Is Just a Place in France and I Had a Nice Time and Other Lies), they guide millennial women ready to take the leap from #bossbetch to being the boss. Whether you're trying to become a CEO, figure out your 401(k), or just save enough money to go to happy hour twice a week, they’re ready to help (and pour the rosé).

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
The Library Book

The Library Book

by Susan Orlean

Sienna's Pick

Susan Orlean tells the story of the mysterious fire that destroyed the Los Angeles Central Library back in 1986. Not only is this book a whodunit, but it also covers the history of the American library and how it’s evolved over time. Do you ever wonder how people used to find the answers to random facts before the Internet? Apparently, you used to be able to CALL the Los Angeles Central Library’s help line and a librarian would find the answer for you!

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Single State of Mind

Single State of Mind

by Andi Dorfman

Abby's Pick #3 (Abby loved a lot of books this month!)

America’s favorite Bachelorette has penned not one but two books about life “after the final rose,” It’s Not Okay and Single State of Mind, now out in paperback. SSOM follows Andi as she faces her most brutal relationship challenge yet: surviving the New York dating scene. And because it’s Andi, even her bad dates are fun and fabulous to read about!

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
This Will Only Hurt a Little

This Will Only Hurt a Little

by Busy Philipps

Erin's Pick

Did you love  Dawson’s Creek? Were you obsessed with  Freaks and Geeks or  Cougar Town? Are you a feminist with a love of pop culture? (Of course, you are.) Are you a former Arizonian like me who sees the words “left Arizona to pursue her passion,” immediately thinks, “I need to support this!” and runs out to buy the book? If so, you have to add Busy Philipps’ memoir to your shelf right now. From the title alone, I knew this was going to be a hilarious read, and I wasn’t disappointed. Busy opens up about a Hollywood filled with sexism, on-set bullying, and body shaming, and about facing professional betrayal. But even as she describes a life of being repeatedly knocked down—both literally and figuratively—each page contains her incredible sense of humor and her unshakable sense that disappointment shouldn’t stand in her way. And if I haven’t convinced you this book is a must-read yet, just imagine a naked toddler setting off on her own to explore her neighborhood in Scottsdale, Arizona. This was at the beginning of Busy’s life, and it only got crazier from there.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Hindsight

Hindsight

by Justin Timberlake

Saimah's Pick

Justin has been tearin’ up the charts since the ’90s. And now, he is telling his story with a new book, Hindsight. It will include photos and anecdotes from Justin’s childhood as well as more recent projects. Justin will be sharing the inspiration behind many of his hit songs and albums. He will also be sharing candid photos and stories about adjusting to fatherhood and his search for inner calm and strength.

If you were a fan of Justin in *NSYNC, like I was, or if you are a newer fan of his, you will want to get your hands on this book, which hits shelves on October 30th!

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logo
Love to get lit... erary? Sign up to get the latest delivered to your inbox!