Here’s the lowdown on five new books that are worth a read.
‘Catch and Kill’ by Ronan Farrow
(Little, Brown and Company, nonfiction, $30)
What it’s about: The Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter shares his account of investigating and reporting on Harvey Weinstein and intimidation tactics he says were employed by the wealthy and connected to avoid accountability.
The buzz: Details leaked early from the book are staggering, including new information about Matt Lauer’s 2017 firing from NBC and an accusation of rape against the former “Today” host. Lauer has since denied the allegations.
Little, Brown and Company
‘Your House Will Pay’ by Steph Cha
(Ecco, fiction, $26.99)
What it’s about: In 1991 Los Angeles, a Korean woman shoots and kills an innocent black woman and gets no jail time for the crime. It was an era of profound racial tension. But in 2019, little has changed. And, as the city tumbles again toward violence, the two families of that long-ago incident are forced to confront their shared history.
The buzz: The Associated Press calls Steph Cha’s first standalone novel “riveting” and says it offers “an emotional look at families and how trauma and violence can reverberate for generations . . . . ‘Your House Will Pay’ sets a new high for the talented Cha, who also writes the Juniper Song series.”
Ecco
‘Wild Game’ by Adrienne Brodeur
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, nonfiction, $27)
What it’s about: When Adrienne Brodeur was 14, her glamorous mother began an extramarital affair with a family friend — and told her daughter all about it. “Wild Game” is a wild memoir, as Brodeur recounts how she was molded into her mother’s accomplice and confidante.
The buzz: “This layered narrative of deceit, denial and disillusionment is a surefire bestseller,” Publishers Weekly writes.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
‘Dear Girls’ by Ali Wong
(Random House, nonfiction, $27)
What it’s about: The actress and comedian writes heartfelt and hilarious letters to her two daughters with all of the advice they need to make it through life, covering dating, how to succeed as a working mom in a male-dominated profession and more.
The buzz: “Comedian and actress Ali Wong’s first book ... is everything her fans would expect: raunchy, real and uproariously funny,” a USA Today review says.
Click here for an excerpt from “Dear Girls” by Ali Wong.
Random House
Read more at USA Today.
