An Irish family drama, a long-awaited Murakami adventure, and a witty postdivorce romance — plus some juicy new celebrity memoirs — here are PEOPLE’s picks for the best books to read in November 2024, so far.
‘Cher: The Memoir, Part One’ by Cher
There’s simply no one like Cher. In book one of two, she charts her extraordinary life and rise to fame, up to her relationship with Sonny Bono, in revelatory detail.
‘Citizen’ by Bill Clinton
With a frank, candid look back at Clinton’s post-White House life in both the personal and public sphere, this memoir is rich with reflections on our country’s journey and lessons to carry us forward.
‘Time of the Child’ by Niall Williams
In the Irish village of Faha, the quotidian rhythms of life are as constant as the ceaseless rain. But when a newborn baby near death is brought to Dr. Jack Troy and his daughter Ronnie’s house, their lives and roles in the community are upended as they conceal the infant’s presence. Set over one December in the same village as his 2019 novel This Is Happiness, Williams’s newest is another master class in stunningly poetic depictions of the sorrow and beauty of arduous lives. — Andy Abrahams
‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’ by Haruki Murakami
In love with a girl from a neighboring town, the narrator of Murakami’s highly anticipated latest is intrigued when she tells him her real self exists elsewhere. The boy travels to the walled city she describes — and a fantastical, dreamlike tale unfolds. — Kim Hubbard
‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’ by Sophie Cousens
A divorced and disillusioned columnist needs to save her job, so she decides to let her kids find her seven offline dates — then write about what ensues. It’s a hilariously heartwarming jaunt about finding love later in life with characters that feel like friends.
‘Master of Me’ by Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer grew up a child star, but she’s so much more than that. In this powerful new account, the actress and singer takes us through her journey in stardom, relationships, motherhood and more to show how readers can get through challenging times just like she has — and how to empower themselves in the process, too.
‘From Under the Truck’ by Josh Brolin
The actor, known for roles in classics like The Goonies and No Country for Old Men, looks back on his unconventional childhood amongst animals on a California ranch, the tragic death of his mother, Jane, and the journey that brought him to Hollywood fame. With insights on fatherhood, addiction and relationships, Brolin’s “un-celebrity memoir” is a thought-provoking read.
‘Pony Confidential’ by Christina Lynch
This equine odyssey is narrated by a snarky pony hellbent on finding the one owner he loved: a girl who dumped him decades ago. “Pony” finds her sitting in a jail cell, accused of a murder committed on the night of their last ride. Clever, funny and full of sugar cubes. — Sue Carswell
‘The Magnificent Ruins’ by Nayantara Roy
Roy’s powerhouse debut centers on a fabulous decaying mansion, “five stories of gold and orange” with a secret sixth-floor deck that towers over the city — and the plot. For her 29th birthday, New York-based book editor Lila De gets bad news and good news: Her beloved grandfather has died, but he’s left her the crumbling mansion all her relatives call home. If you love a family epic set in India (the food! The melodrama!), this one’s for you. — Marion Winik
‘Lazarus Man’ by Richard Price
After an apartment building collapses in Harlem, the neighborhood characters spring to life. A detective tries to track down a missing resident, while one of the survivors peddles a hopeful message. A gritty, deeply human portrait of New York City life far removed from the glitz and glamour. — Andy Abrahams
‘Pictures of You’ by Emma Grey
What would you do with a second chance? Evie wakes up in the hospital after a crash that killed her husband, but she has no memory of him — or anything after high school. As she pieces her life back together, a new man makes her question everything in this vivid, beautiful novel.
‘What the Chicken Knows’ by Sy Montgomery
If you’ve never given the humble backyard bird much thought, try this short and sweet exploration that starts with the author’s own personality-filled flock. You’ll never look at the country’s most familiar fowl the same way again.
‘Still Life at Eighty: The Next Interesting Thing’ by Abigail Thomas
From the celebrated author of A Three Dog Life comes a wry, witty memoir that flits between memories and the present and proves that growing old doesn’t have to mean fading away.
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