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What to Read if You Want to: Escape From It All
Relax and get lost in a good book. Thrillers, romance, fantasy, and more.
Published on November 18, 2020
Big Summer: A Novel
Jennifer WeinerWe may not be able to escape it all by taking a vacation right now, but the new novel from “Mrs. Everything” author Jennifer Weiner brings the beach to your couch. Set seaside at a Cape Cod mansion during a glamorous wedding where something big goes wrong, “Big Summer” sparkles with friendship and forgiveness.
Luster: A Novel
Raven Leilani“Luster” is the new book everyone’s talking about this summer (Emma Roberts even picked it for her book club, Belletrist). When a Black artist in her 20s starts dating a white man in an open relationship, her life quickly becomes tangled up in his family’s drama. “But the real fire here,” according to Shondaland, “is Leilani’s writing. Her sentences are gorgeous, and both the prose and the content will make you sweat. What more could you want from a summer release?”
The Guest List: A Novel
Lucy FoleyThey planned a picture-perfect destination wedding, but stormy weather isn’t the only thing ruining a celebrity couple’s big day in this summer thriller. Reese Witherspoon picked “The Guest List” as one of her summer book club selections, saying “Get ready for so many twists and turns as you try to figure out the who, what and when of this mystery. It reminds me of some of my favorite mysteries from Agatha Christie.”
The Jetsetters
Amanda Eyre Ward“The Jetsetters” is the ultimate 2020 escapist read (as the cover would suggest). Amanda Eyre Ward’s novel follows a widowed mother trying to reconnect with the three adult children she fell out of touch with on a family vacation, which happens to be a cruise through Europe. Secrets are revealed and fun follows on the high seas.
Migrations: A Novel
Charlotte McConaghyWandering is in Franny Stone’s blood, and her roaming is spurred on by her desire to outrun the secrets and losses haunting her life. Fascinated by birds, Franny schemes her way onto a fishing boat to witness the last flight of Arctic terns. As the ship follows the flock, Franny’s dark past rises up, threatening everyone onboard. Dive into this adventure on the high seas.
Saint X: A Novel
Alexis SchaitkinWe consider this thriller one of the best books of 2020 so far. The main character, Claire, was still in elementary school where her college-aged sister was killed in the Caribbean, and two men who were initially suspects are exonerated. The passage of time only makes Claire wonder more about what really happened, and in adulthood, she starts her own stealthy investigation. A debut with whispers of Gillian Flynn.
Empire of Wild: A Novel
Cherie DimalineLeave the ordinary behind with this enthralling new literary thriller. Joan, a Métis woman in rural Canada, has been searching for her missing husband for months when a preacher who looks exactly like him shows up at a revival in a Walmart parking lot. But the preacher swears he’s never met Joan before. Convinced he’s under the thrall of the Rogarou, a mythical half-man, half-wolf, Joan sets off to track the beast and win back her husband. Fans of Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” will find a lot to love in this gritty quest novel, where creatures of legend interact with everyday folks.
Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel
S. A. CosbyBuckle up and brace yourself for a thrilling ride with this cinematic page-turner. Beauregard “Bug” Montage put his former life as the best getaway driver on the East Coast behind him. But his new life as a loving father and small business owner is starting to unravel, so when his criminal past reappears to lure him back for “one last job,” he thinks it might be the answer to his financial woes. “Blacktop Wasteland” promises to be a modern classic.
Hysteria
Jessica GrossDark humor illuminates this novel about a young woman prone to making questionable decisions who becomes convinced that the new bartender at her Brooklyn haunt is actually Sigmund Freud. As he expertly dispenses mixed drinks paired with psychological insight, the narrator begins to reevaluate her topsy-turvy life. An intoxicating debut.
The Family Upstairs: A Novel
Lisa JewellGet lost in this thriller from “Then She Was Gone” author Lisa Jewell. A propulsive read, “The Family Upstairs” was a Good Morning America book club pick. Libby Jones doesn’t know she’s an adopted child until she receives a house that’s been kept in a trust for her from her birth parents well after they died in said house by apparent suicide. But what really happened within those walls?
Oona Out of Order: A Novel
Margarita MontimoreIf you’re looking for lighthearted fiction to lose yourself in, you should take a leap of faith on “Oona Out of Order.” It follows Oona Lockhart, who goes from 19 to 51 years old one New Year’s Eve, and then leaps through time to a random age in her life with every passing year.
Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel
Casey McQuistonLet the next few romance picks sweep you off your feet and reassure you that, at least in these stories, there will definitely be a happy ending. After their confrontation at a royal wedding goes viral and threatens to damage international relations, Alex (the First Son of the United States) and Henry (the Prince of Wales) are forced to make nice for the cameras. But their fake friendship wakes up very real desires to be more than just frenemies. A sweet LGBTQ+ love story that provides a heavy dose of much-needed escapism from real-world politics.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown: A Novel
Talia HibbertForget your troubles with this feel-good rom-com about fake dating one’s way to real love from “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” author Talia Hibbert. Get ready to fall for Danika Brown, a career-driven woman who’s so over romance, when she agrees to fake date her coworker Zafir.
You Should See Me in a Crown
Leah JohnsonLose yourself in the sweet loveliness that is “You Should See Me In a Crown.” This novel is a perfectly executed rom-com starring a queer, Black teen running for prom queen. Wallflower Liz Lighty is determined to be crowned prom queen and win the $10,000 scholarship prize associated with the honor so she can afford to go to an elite college. The biggest problem? Liz is in love with one of her competitors.
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
Roseanne A. BrownEngross yourself in this fantasy debut inspired by West African folklore. Princess Karina is looking for a way to resurrect her mother, while refugee Malik has to kill Karina if he wants to save his sister. The two end up falling for each other during their quests to undermine the other, and they get caught in much larger political machinations.
Star Daughter
Shveta Thakrar“Star Daughter” shines for its intricate worldbuilding inspired by Hindu mythology. The titular star daughter is Sheetal, a half-human, half-celestial being determined to save her mortal father and learn more about her heritage among heavenly beings.
If It Bleeds: Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat
Stephen KingIf horror is your favorite distraction from the real world (because, hey, sometimes it’s nice to be able to say, “Look, it could be a lot worse”), then these next few books are for you. Stephen King’s latest release is a collection of four frighteningly good novellas. Escape into these enthralling stories by the, well, king of short fiction. You’ve probably heard of “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” (adapted into the movie “Shawshank Redemption”) and “The Body” (aka “Stand By Me”), so you don’t want to miss his newest ones in “If It Bleeds.”
The Only Good Indians
Stephen Graham JonesStephen Graham Jones’ new horror novel, one of the buzziest books of the year, is “scary good” according to author Tommy Orange, who says: “[The Only Good Indians] is full of humor and bone chilling images. It’s got love and revenge, blood and basketball. … It also both reveals and subverts ideas about contemporary Native life and identity.” Years after four young friends go hunting on forbidden land, an eerie supernatural being stalks them, hellbent on vengeance in this gory thriller.
Tender is the Flesh
Agustina BazterricaNot for the faint of heart, this blend of science fiction and horror tells the tale of a future world where a mysterious virus has rendered all animal meat poisonous to humans. Unfortunately, humanity finds cannibalism a more appetizing option than going vegetarian. Pull up a chair and devour Bazterrica’s delectable debut.
Severance: A Novel
Ling Ma“Severance” is not a horror novel, but it is about a catastrophic plague sweeping through New York City. So if you find yourself turning to fiction about pandemics to cope with the very real coronavirus, then escape into Ling Ma’s terrific debut. It feels like a crossover episode from “The Office” and “The Walking Dead” and manages to satirize everything from careerism to apocalyptic thrillers without sacrificing empathy or believability. A super smart page-turner.