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The Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books in America
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 29, 2016



It's Banned Books Week, readers! Defend the first amendment and celebrate the freedom to read by checking out a banned book. Need a suggestion? The American Library Association released its annual list of the most frequently challenged books of 2015, based on reports of complaints in schools and libraries as well as media reports.


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Looking for Alaska
by John Green

Reasons for challenge: Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group


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Fifty Shades of Grey
by E.L. James

Reasons for challenge: Sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other ("poorly written," "concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it")


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I Am Jazz
by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Reasons for challenge: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group


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Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out
by Susan Kuklin

Reasons for challenge: Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other ("wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints")


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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon

Reasons for challenge: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other ("profanity and atheism")


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Holy Bible

Reasons for challenge: Religious viewpoint


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Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
by Alison Bechdel

Reasons for challenge: Violence and other ("graphic images")


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Habibi
by Craig Thompson

Reasons for challenge: Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group


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Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan
by Jeanette Winter

Reasons for challenge: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence


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Two Boys Kissing
by David Levithan

Reasons for challenge: Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group



How many of the top 10 most frequently challenged books have you read? Explore more banned books on Listopia and learn about Banned Books Week here!
(Image credit: American Library Association.)

What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 27, 2016

Need another excuse to go to the bookstore this week? We've got seven! Bulk up your Want to Read shelf with these brand-new standalone titles.


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The Vanishing Year
by Kate Moretti

You should read this book if you like: Mysteries, psychological thrillers, secret lives, Manhattan's social elite, unreliable narrators


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A Taste for Monsters
by Matthew J. Kirby

You should read this book if you like: Young adult fiction, horror, 19th-century London, Jack the Ripper, bumps in the night, murder investigations



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Irene's Children:
The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto

by Tilar Mazzeo

You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, World War II history, tales of survival and redemption, real-life heroes


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Echoes of Family
by Barbara Claypole White

You should read this book if you like: Literary fiction, family drama, honest portrayals of mental illness, small towns, offbeat characters



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Frazzled:
Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom
by Booki Vivat

You should read this book if you like: Middle grade fiction, humor, doodles, everyday adventures, overly-dramatic kids, endearing outsiders



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Born to Run
by Bruce Springsteen

You should read this book if you like: Memoirs, musicians, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, lyrical prose, rock and roll


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Written in the Ashes
by K. Hollan Van Zandt

You should read this book if you like: Historical fiction, Egypt, thrilling adventures, fifth-century Alexandria, forbidden romance, fate



BONUS: The wait is over—check out four of the buzziest sequels coming out today!

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Crooked Kingdom
by Leigh Bardugo

The sequel to the bestselling YA fantasy Six of Crows!


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British Manor Murder
by Leslie Meier

The 23rd installment in the Lucy Stone mystery series!
(Start off the series with The Mistletoe Murder.)


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A Night Without Stars
by Peter F. Hamilton

The sequel to the sci-fi space opera The Abyss Beyond Dreams!


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Do You Want to Start a Scandal?
by Tessa Dare

The fifth installment in the Spindle Cove Regency romance series!
(Start off the series with A Night to Surrender.)


What are you reading this week? Let's talk books in the comments!


13 Ways Book Lovers Make More Time for Reading
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 23, 2016


So many books, so little time? Every reader's been there. We asked on Facebook and Twitter: How do you make more time for reading? From savvy tips ("Listen to audiobooks while you drive!") to cheeky suggestions ("Just don't sleep!"), these are the ways your fellow book lovers fit reading into their busy lives.


1. "Throughout the day I play a little game. I read a chapter (just one) and then I get up and clean something. Example: Go and sweep the kitchen floor. Then read a chapter. Then fold a load of clothes and put them away. Then go read another chapter. I can do this all day. It works great for me!" (Shannon Strickland-Brown)

2. "I always carry a book with me, so if I have to wait—like at a doctor's office—I can get some reading in." (Brigitta M.)

3. "Get called for jury duty! Ha! Waiting can take hours. Get prepared to catch up on your reading." (Elizabeth Thayer)

4. "I take the bus to work instead of my car, which saves me money and gives me lots of time to relax and read!" (Michelle Garcia Ortiz)

5. "Well, I stay up late reading, which has lead to a mild sleeping disorder…but, guys, books are worth it!" (Kyushu Arora)

6. "I wake up a little earlier each day and enjoy a book with breakfast." (Kaitlynn Scribner)

7. "I am a huge fan of audiobooks. I listen to audiobooks while driving, taking a walk, cooking, and traveling…. Audiobooks offer huge opportunities to make the most of your time while you are doing something else." (Emile Armanious)

8. "Instead of watching TV before bed, I read! You sleep better that way, too. (Raquel N. DeSouza)

9. "I actually 'plan' my reading time each day and night. Even if I have a hectic day, I schedule at least 30 minutes for myself." (Susan Master)

10. "It's not the safest way to make time, but I read while walking to work." (Eliza viola Legault)

11. "I've actually called in sick when I've been reading something particularly good!" (Angela Free)

12. "I watch TV a LOT. However, it finally dawned on me that the commercial breaks these days are much longer than they used to be. So I keep my book with me when I'm watching TV, and I can get several pages read during commercial breaks. I average about 30-40 pages per night this way!" (Sara Foster)

13. "Get old. Retire from your job. Presto! More reading time!" (Linda White)


How do you make more time for reading? Share your tips in the comments!
(Top image credit: Beauty and the Beast)
What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 20, 2016

Need another excuse to go to the bookstore this week? We've got seven! Bulk up your Want to Read shelf with these brand-new standalone titles.


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The Wonder
by Emma Donoghue

You should read this book if you like: Historical fiction, mysteries, Ireland, psychological thrillers, stories of good versus evil


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Now: The Physics of Time
by Richard A. Muller

You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, science, subjects that stumped Einstein, questioning assumptions about the universe



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The Family Plot
by Cherie Priest

You should read this book if you like: Fantasy, gothic mysteries, haunted houses, dark and stormy nights (with a chance of ghosts)



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The Female of the Species
by Mindy McGinnis

You should read this book if you like: YA contemporary fiction, flawed characters, frank and unapologetic depictions of teen struggles



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Deal Souls
by J. Lincoln Fenn

You should read this book if you like: Horror, ill-advised deals with the devil, bone-chilling reads, dark humor, gripping page-turners


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Second
by Chantal Fernando

You should read this book if you like: New adult romance, bad boy heroes, friends-to-lovers stories, second chances, secrets



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The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of a Blockbuster Novel
by Jodie Archer and Matthew L. Jockers

You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, books about books, the relationship between creativity and technology, writing



BONUS: The wait is over—check out four of the buzziest sequels coming out today!

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Magic Binds
by Ilona Andrews

The ninth installment in the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series!
(Start off the series with Magic Bites.)



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Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd
by Alan Bradley

The eighth installment in the Flavia de Luce mystery series!
(Start off the series with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.)



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Frost Like Night
by Sara Raasch

The third installment in the Snow Like Ashes YA fantasy series!
(Start off the series with Snow Like Ashes.)



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Death's End
by Liu Cixin; translated by Ken Liu

The third installment in the Remembrance of Earth's Past sci-fi series!
(Start off the series with The Three-Body Problem.)



What are you reading this week? Let's talk books in the comments!


21 Fall Film Adaptations
Posted by Catherine on September 19, 2016


Hollywood has long looked to literature for inspiration. Indeed, some of the most famous movies ever made have been based on books—think The Godfather, To Kill a Mockingbird, Doctor Zhivago, The Big Sleep, No Country for Old Men, The Shining, Gone with the Wind, and The Martian, not to mention all the Harry Potter films and The Wizard of Oz. This fall is no exception with a number of highly-anticipated adaptations coming to the big screen. Popular books such Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and the bestselling thriller The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins are among the most buzzed about. Others include next month's American Pastoral, based on the Philip Roth book, and Inferno, from the Dan Brown novel. We've highlighted some of the adaptations heading your way this fall. Check out our list below and tell us which movies you're excited—or perhaps nervous—about seeing!


SEPTEMBER RELEASES
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Queen of Katwe
September 23

Based on the nonfiction book by Tim Crothers
Starring Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, and Lupita Nyong'o



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The Dressmaker
September 23

Based on the bestselling Australian novel by Rosalie Ham
Starring Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, and Hugo Weaving



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Goat
September 23

Based on the 2004 memoir by by Brad Land
Starring Ben Schnetzer, Nick Jonas, and James Franco



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Denial
September 30

Based on the book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier by Deborah E. Lipstadt
Starring Rachel Weisz, Andrew Scott, and Tom Wilkinson



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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
September 30

Based on the bestselling fantasy novel by Ransom Riggs
Starring Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, and Samuel L. Jackson



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Maximum Ride
September 30

Based on the YA series by James Patterson
Starring Allie Marie Evans, Patrick Johnson, and Peter O'Brien




OCTOBER RELEASES
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The Girl on the Train
October 7

Based on the bestselling thriller by Paula Hawkins
Starring Emily Blunt, Luke Evans, and Justin Theroux



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The Great Gilly Hopkins
October 7

Based on the Newbery Award-winning novel by Katherine Paterson
Starring Sophie Nelisse, Kathy Bates, and Octavia Spencer



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Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
October 7

Based on the middle-grade bestseller by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
Starring Griffin Gluck, Lauren Graham, and Rob Riggle



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The Late Bloomer
October 7

Based on the memoir Mad Made by by Ken Baker
Starring J.K. Simmons, Maria Bello, and Brittany Snow



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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
October 21

Based on the 18th book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child
Starring Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, and Robert Knepper



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American Pastoral
October 21

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Philip Roth
Starring Ewan McGregor, Dakota Fanning, and Jennifer Connelly



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Inferno
October 28

Based on the fourth book in the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown
Starring Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, and Ben Foster




NOVEMBER RELEASES
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Arrival
November 11

Based on the short story "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang
Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker



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Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
November 11

Based on the 2012 novel by Ben Fountain
Starring Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, and Steve Martin



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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
November 18

Based on the Hogwarts textbook by Newt Scamander (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling)
Starring Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, and Colin Farrell



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A Street Cat Named Bob
November 18

Based on the true story of an unlikely friendship by James Bowen
Starring Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt



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Lion
November 25

Based on the memoir A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
Starring Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman




DECEMBER RELEASES
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The Bye Bye Man
December 9

Based on the supernatural short story by Robert Damon Schneck
Starring Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, and Cressida Bonas



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Julieta
December 21

Based on three short stories from Runaway by Alice Munro
Starring Adriana Ugarte, Rossy de Palma, and Emma Suarez



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A Monster Calls
December 23

Based on the YA fantasy by Patrick Ness
Starring Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, and Lewis MacDougall





Which film adaptations are you looking forward to the most? Which are you dreading? Tell us all your book-to-film thoughts in the comments!

12 Books with Plot Twists Even the Queen of Crime Wouldn't Have Seen Coming
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 15, 2016




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Agatha Christie was born 126 years ago today! The Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple creator is the best-selling novelist of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare, and has kept generations of readers guessing with genre-defining capers like And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, and Murder at the Vicarage. To celebrate the inimitable Queen of Crime and her love of surprise endings (the reveal in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is still one of our all-time favorites), we asked you on Facebook and Twitter: What book has the best plot twists? Your top answers—full of enough madness, mayhem, monsters, and murder to make Christie proud—are below. How many of them have you read? Did you guess any of the twists before they happened?


Fight Club
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Jane Eyre
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Gone Girl
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Ender's Game
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The Thirteenth Tale
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Shutter Island
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The Final Empire
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We Were Liars
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Wayward Pines
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Fingersmith
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My Sister's Keeper
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A Game of Thrones
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What book's twists impressed you the most? Titles only, please—no spoilers!
(Image credit: Lucy Mangan and Mark Thomas for The Guardian.)
Fashionable Reads for Fashion Week
Posted by Danny on September 14, 2016

Fashion Week is in full swing and this season's hottest accessory isn't the latest It bag, but the industry book you slip inside it. From models, to McQueen, to Miuccia, and more, there's something for every fashion lover. So if you can't make it to one of the shows in New York, London, Paris, or Milan, simply curl up with one of these books in the comfort of your home; then do a little turn on the catwalk.


Tales From the Back Row
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The Beautiful Fall
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GIRLBOSS
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A.L.T.
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I'll Drink to That
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The Asylum
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The Battle of Versailles
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Grace
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Alexander McQueen: Blood Beneath the Skin
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House of Versace
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The Woman I Wanted to Be
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Champagne Supernovas
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Hijacking the Runway
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Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life
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D.V.
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The End of Fashion
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Blow by Blow
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Dior by Dior
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Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Luster
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Unbroken
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Is your favorite fashionable read missing? If so, tell us in the comments below.
What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 13, 2016

Need another excuse to go to the bookstore this week? We've got seven! Bulk up your Want to Read shelf with these brand-new titles.


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Jerusalem
by Alan Moore

You should read this book if you like: Mythology, historical fiction, genre-bending fantasy, "a tale of everything, told from a vanished gutter"


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Where Am I Now?
by Mara Wilson

You should read this book if you like: Memoirs, former child stars, hilarious and poignant essays, Twitter wit, coming-of-age stories



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Darktown
by Thomas Mullen

You should read this book if you like: Mysteries, police dramas, honest and harrowing depictions of the pre-Civil-Rights era, slow-burn thrillers



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Commonwealth
by Ann Patchett

You should read this book if you like: Literary fiction, family sagas that span generations, "the far-reaching ties of love and responsibility"


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Roman Crazy
by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci

You should read this book if you like: Contemporary romance, Rome, second-chance love stories, Italian food (and Italian men)
First in a new series!


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The Hidden Life of Trees
by Peter Wohlleben

You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, natural history, the science behind everyday things, forests, environmentalism


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The Reader
by Traci Chee

You should read this book if you like: YA fantasy, heroines that hunt, rich and complex new worlds, the magic of stories, the power of readers
First in a new series!



What are you reading this week? Let's talk books in the comments!


25 Big Books of Fall
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on September 06, 2016


Time to pack up the beach blankets and pool toys, readers. Summer may be coming to a close, but fall is just around the corner! Do you know what that means? For us, it's curling up in big blankets and sipping a hot beverage by the fire—book in hand, of course. To help prepare you for cozy fall reading sessions, we've crunched the numbers to find the biggest, buzziest books of the season. These are stories your fellow Goodreads members can't wait to devour: Shakespearean mischief on a prison stage, magic and madness in a reimagined Wonderland, deathbed confessions of existential adventure, and more! What catches your eye?


FICTION
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Hag-Seed
by Margaret Atwood
Release date: October 11


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Here I Am
by Jonathan Safran Foer
Release date: September 6


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Swing Time
by Zadie Smith
Release date: November 15


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Commonwealth
by Ann Patchett
Release date: September 13


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Moonglow
by Michael Chabon
Release date: November 22


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The Wangs vs. the World
by Jade Chang
Release date: October 4


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Small Great Things
by Jodi Picoult
Release date: October 11


YOUNG ADULT
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Heartless
by Marissa Meyer
Release date: November 8


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The Reader
by Traci Chee
Release date: September 13


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The Sun Is Also a Star
by Nicola Yoon
Release date: November 1


NONFICTION
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Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
Release date: December 6


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Love Warrior
by Glennon Doyle Melton
Release date: September 6


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Scrappy Little Nobody
by Anna Kendrick
Release date: November 15


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Every Falling Star
by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland
Release date: September 13


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Another Day in the Death of America
by Gary Younge
Release date: October 4


MYSTERY AND THRILLER
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The Vanishing Year
by Kate Moretti
Release date: September 27


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Fractured
by Catherine McKenzie
Release date: October 4


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Nutshell
by Ian McEwan
Release date: September 13


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The Chemist
by Stephenie Meyer
Release date: November 15


FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION
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Jerusalem
by Alan Moore
Release date: September 13


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Everfair
by Nisi Shawl
Release date: September 6


ROMANCE
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Punk 57
by Penelope Douglas
Release date: October 21


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The Protector
by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Release date: September 6


HISTORICAL FICTION
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A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles
Release date: September 6


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The Wonder
by Emma Donoghue
Release date: September 20




What books are going on your Want to Read shelf this fall? Let us know in the comments!

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