Lex's Picks: Most Anticipated Fall & Winter 2020 Book Releases
- Alexa Burban
- Nov 14, 2020
- 5 min read
Although there are only just a handful of weeks left in 2020, there are a lot of exciting book releases left to enjoy. Working in a bookstore has many perks and we get to be one of the first to know about an exciting and highly anticipated book’s release date. I’ve created a shortlist of books that I can’t wait to get my hands on and books that will also make great gifts during this holiday season!
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Nonfiction, Politics, Autobiography, Memoir, History
Just a few weeks following the 2020 US Presidential Election, Barack Obama is releasing his highly anticipated book titled A Promised Land. Following his presidency, Obama spoke about an imminent book however, he never said when it would be released. His wife, Michelle went on to release her bestselling novel, Becoming, so we assumed he would allow Michelle her time to shine before he dropped his.
It’s no surprise that A Promised Land would be the top of my to-read list. I adore the Obamas and am so excited to dive into Barack's masterpiece.
“A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of ‘hope and change,’ and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.
This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.” - Goodreads
Release Date: December 8, 2020
Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller, New Adult
Colleen Hoover has spoken about this novel for quite some time and how it’s quite different from her previous novels. I was a huge fan of Hoover’s Verity which was very different and quite dark in comparison to her other romance novels so I’m excited to read more as she ventures outside of her comfort zone of contemporary romance.
“When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her—until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.
Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow—another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental for all of them.” - Goodreads
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Poetry
It's been a few years since Rupi Kaur last published a book so I’m excited to see what new perspective she writes in this time. I took a strong liking to Kaur’s Milk and Honey as it was dark and honest. I’m sure this book is going to fly off the shelves come release day!
“Rupi Kaur constantly embraces growth, and in home body, she walks readers through a reflective and intimate journey visiting the past, the present, and the potential of the self. home body is a collection of raw, honest conversations with oneself – reminding readers to fill up on love, acceptance, community, family, and embrace change. Illustrated by the author, themes of nature and nurture, light and dark, rest here.
i dive into the well of my body
and end up in another world
everything i need
already exists in me
there’s no need
to look anywhere else
– home” - Goodreads
Release Date: October 27, 2020
Nonfiction
I have watched Marci Ien on the Canadian talk show, The Social since she joined the other hosts and have long admired her honesty and courage when speaking her mind on national television. But before I started watching Ien on The Social, she had a long career in broadcast journalism where she takes pieces of her life and shares them with us in her novel.
“Finding Your Voice, Living Out Loud
For over a decade, millions of Canadians started their day with Marci Ien. As a Black female news anchor and, later, the first Black woman in Canada to co-host a national morning show, Marci felt the pressure to stay “on script”—with little room for error. She had to be great. She had to show, every day, that she deserved to be there.
When her career veered sharply away from the news, Marci embraced her new role “off script.” With a greater opportunity to speak her mind on the air, Marci now bravely shares experiences from her own life with viewers and pursues more ways to make a difference in her community.
In Off Script, Marci shares personal milestones, tales of resilience and kindness, dramatic moments from her career as a journalist, and insights from the many unforgettable people that she’s met and interviewed. Living off-script means having the courage to speak up, trust your voice and follow your own formula for what matters most.” - Indigo
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Nonfiction
Who doesn’t love royal fashion? While I may not be the biggest fan of all of the members of the British Royal Family (#TeamMeghan), I’m still a sucker for their individual fashion choices! This book is broken down into 4 parts, highlighting the fashion evolution and key pieces that have been worn by Queen Elizabeth II; Diana, Princess of Wales; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
“Today, the fashion choices of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are frequently headline news. More than just wearing beautiful clothes -- and they are really beautiful -- these women dress with purpose. Their choices of color, silhouettes, and brands send a message about their values, interests, and place within the royal family. But to fully understand what Kate and Meghan are wearing, one must look to two style icons that came before them: Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. For nearly seven decades, the Queen has made her wardrobe work for her, settling into a uniform of colorful coats and hats that make her instantly recognizable. Diana unlocked royal fashion's ability to shock and awe, earning a spot on the front page and rejuvenating interest in the crown. Kate introduced a welcome relatability with her accessible choices, unleashing a shopping frenzy in the process. Meghan, a biracial American and a working actor, brought a new audience and aesthetic, as well as her social media savvy to the mix.
With one section devoted to each woman, HRH pairs hundreds of gorgeous photographs with extensive research to paint a vivid portrait of each woman's fashion preferences, messaging, and evolution. The sections on each will be a seamless combination of major moments and notable details, from the choice of each woman's wedding dress designer to the meaning of a single bow tied on a ponytail. But mostly, through these four biographies, a picture emerges of the evolution of the British monarchy over the past century, showing royal fashion is so much more than what meets the eye.” - Goodreads
With the holiday season just around the corner, these books are the perfect things to read when you’re trying to get all warm and cozy! They’re also the perfect gift for an avid bookworm, who appreciates politics, thriller romances, poetry, memoirs, or books on fashion. I think my book selections will have you checking off people from your holiday shopping list in no time!
Happy reading!
xx Lex
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