Tuesday, June 9, 2026

This month’s best new biographies and memoirs

 
Readworthy by BookBub
This Month’s Best New Biographies & Memoirs
 
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Book cover for Gowanus Crossing by Vincent Coppola
‘A beautifully written elegy to a vanished world’ (Kirkus Reviews)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • An award-winning writer brings his childhood in mid-century Gowanus — a Brooklyn neighborhood dominated by the Mafia and the Catholic Church — vividly to life
  • Fans of Frank McCourt shouldn’t miss this “moving and unputdownable memoir” (Booklist)
  • “Elegiac and eloquent, hilarious and harrowing, Gowanus Crossing is a tribute to a lost, rough, but sometimes magical time and place” (Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Gowanus Crossing by Vincent Coppola MEDIA MENTIONS: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel by Douglas Brunt
Meet Emanuel Nobel, the wealthy Russian rival to the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • A New York Times bestselling author gives “well-deserved attention to a little-known slice of history” (Kirkus Reviews) in this gripping read
  • While his uncle became famous for creating the Nobel Prize, Emanuel built a petroleum empire — and landed in Stalin’s crosshairs
  • “A thrilling picture of another overlooked titan… I could not put this book down” (internationally bestselling author Gareth Russell)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel by Douglas Brunt MEDIA MENTIONS: New York Post, Kirkus Reviews
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for Called by the Hills by Anuradha Roy
A moving portrait from ‘one of India’s greatest living authors’ (O, The Oprah Magazine)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • After stumbling upon a run-down cottage on the edge of a Himalayan forest, Anuradha Roy and her husband made it their new home
  • “Transportive… Roy’s memoir is a time capsule, an ode to a way of life that might already be lost” (Booklist starred review)
  • “Makes you want to rush to the Himalaya… In every way a beautiful book” (Sebastian Faulks, author of Birdsong)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Called by the Hills by Anuradha Roy MEDIA MENTION: Booklist
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for View from the East Wing by Jill Biden
Jill Biden shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time in the White House
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • The former First Lady and New York Times bestselling author recounts entering office amid the COVID-19 pandemic, making history by continuing to work during her husband’s term, and more
  • Offers a long-awaited personal perspective on Joe Biden’s withdrawn reelection bid
  • “A smart, revealing memoir by a presidential partner of skill and consequence” (Kirkus Reviews), this is one of the season’s most highly anticipated memoirs
Learn more...
Media mentions for View from the East Wing by Jill Biden MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, CBS Mornings, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic, Entertainment Weekly, People, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Slate, Town & Country, San Francisco Chronicle, The Times, The Boston Globe, New York Post, Kirkus Reviews
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for Good Morning Moon by Brad Gooch
A New York Times bestselling biographer tells his own story of starting a family
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Choosing to have kids with his husband in late middle age caused Brad Gooch to reflect on his upbringing — and led him to a DNA test
  • “Parents of all backgrounds will see themselves in Gooch’s elegant reflections on the transformative power of child-rearing. Refined prose and a tender heart make this a winner” (Publishers Weekly)
  • “This honest but celebratory book about late-stage happiness is a beacon of hope and discovery” (National Book Award–winning author Andrew Solomon)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Good Morning Moon by Brad Gooch MEDIA MENTIONS: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist
GET EBOOK ON:
Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for Crossroads by Dusty Baker
An American sports icon looks back at his remarkable career
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Legendary baseball manager Dusty Baker writes about being mentored by Hank Aaron, winning the World Series, guiding the Houston Astros after a cheating scandal, and more
  • Come for the behind-the-scenes stories and leave with life lessons on perseverance and leadership as Baker “pours out his soul” (USA Today)
  • A must-read for anyone who loves baseball — or simply a triumphant personal story
Learn more...
Media mentions for Crossroads by Dusty Baker MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Publishers Weekly
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright by Casey Sherman
Erik Larson fans will love this gripping blend of history and true crime
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • 1914: At one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic homes, seven people were murdered — including his partner — in a tragedy that shocked the nation
  • Discover a lesser-known side to the famed architect in this compelling read that highlights one of his darkest moments
  • “Spellbinding and gratifyingly substantive” (Kirkus Reviews), from a New York Times bestselling author
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright by Casey Sherman MEDIA MENTIONS: New York Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal
GET EBOOK ON:
Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for The Sane One by Anna Konkle
A complicated childhood comes to life in this ‘equal parts hysterical and moving’ memoir (Marie Claire)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • The cocreator of Hulu’s Pen15 shares her own coming-of-age story — complete with a roller coaster of family drama
  • “Elegant prose, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and a tender heart make this a delight even for readers unfamiliar with Konkle’s TV work” (Publishers Weekly starred review)
  • Amy Sedaris says, “It’s insane how much I enjoyed it”
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Sane One by Anna Konkle MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
GET EBOOK ON:
Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for The Family Man by James Lasdun
Dive into the corruption and lies behind a Southern dynasty — and how they led to murder
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • In 2023, Alex Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son. Drawing on original interviews, phone transcripts, and more, a novelist and New Yorker contributor pulls back the curtain on the highly publicized case
  • Discover the man behind the murder that won’t stay out of the headlines, as the case remains contested today
  • The Family Man is the Truman Capote version of the Murdaugh story, a thoughtful, well-researched, and beautifully written inquiry into how and why a person comes to commit such an appalling crime” (Slate)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Family Man by James Lasdun MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Slate, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Literary Hub
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for Legs Hearts Minds by Chris Jones
Hope, healing, and an underdog soccer team
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • When sports writer Chris Jones discovered illicit text messages on his wife’s laptop, his life changed forever — and in the midst of his grief, he decided to follow and report on his grandfather’s favorite team
  • “An arresting account of humanity… An invitation to confront our deepest fears” (Emmy Award–winning journalist Jemele Hill)
  • “Readers who’ve struggled through losses of their own will find comfort in these pages” (Publishers Weekly)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Legs Hearts Minds by Chris Jones MEDIA MENTIONS: The Atlantic, The Times, Publishers Weekly
GET EBOOK ON:
Amazon Other formats and retailers
 
   
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This month’s best new biographies and memoirs

Don’t miss the best new biographies and memoirs from the past month, hand-picked by our editors! We’ve rounded up this month’s biggest and b...