Reading With Rochelle Weinstein: October

October 29, 2022 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

Hello Readers & Friends,

WHAT A MONTH FOR BOOKS! Fall is my favorite time of the year, and there’s nothing like falling into some fantastic reads. We’ve got our favorite NYTimes Bestseller back for a propulsive page-turner, a violin story—yes, I was hesitant about this one, but WOW—a fire, family, friendship, engagements, other entanglements, and my new favorite Hispanic protagonist. Strap in for some fun, fantastic reads with great surprises.

How Not To Drown In A Glass Of Water by Angie Cruz, Audible

Cara Romero has just been let go from her lifelong job, and through meetings with a career counselor, her life story is revealed.

What to expect: An audiobook must-read for its unique structure and honest and raw life advice with touches of real humor.

The Secrets We Hide by Patricia Sands, Softcover

A Japanese husband and father cope with his wife’s mental illness.

What to expect: A descriptive trip through Hawaii, Japan, Corsica, and the South of France, a protagonist readers will root for, and the resilience and heartbreak of a sinister disease.

Good Talk: A Memoir In Conversations by Mira Jacob, Paperback and Audible

An interracial family faces the challenges of modern-day parenting.

What to expect: The graphic memoir will have you flipping pages while the audiobook experience captures America and all her complexities. Tough subjects are discussed with heart and humor.

A Brighter Flame by Christine Nolfi, Softcover

A fire sends Vale Lightner home to face her past and all its secrets.

What to expect: Nolfi’s authentic, touching prose, layered and complex family relationships, the best fictional names I’ve ever read, and two sisters who find their way back to one other.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau, Paperback

Fourteen-year-old introvert, Mary Jane, leaves her ordinary home for a summer job with the psychiatrist down the street who’s helping a famous rock star (and his famous actress girlfriend) get clean.

What to expect: Beautiful coming-of-age story that will appeal to fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and Almost Famous. Music and hormones abound, and for this young protag, a chance to figure out what she really wants out of life.

Acne by Laura Chinn, Hardcover

A moving and redemptive memoir of one woman’s journey through childhood acne and a harrowing family dynamic.

What to expect: Sharp, hilarious writing on a number of difficult subjects—loss, abandonment, identity. I loved Chinn’s heroism, honesty, and vulnerability, and felt it on every single page.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult, Audible

A young girl turns up dead, and her boyfriend with his complicated family is arrested for her murder.

What to expect: Picoult draws on today’s headlines for another provocative love story centered on how much of ourselves we are required to share. This one reminded me of The Pact with a brilliant, thought-provoking twist.

The Violin Conspiracy, Brendan Slocumb, Audible

A black man and his quest to become a world-class violinist until his violin, a prized Stradivarius, is stolen.

What to expect: Discrimination and prejudice with a protagonist who never gives up hope. Ray’s tenacity and gentle spirit make this book a winner.

Forever Hold Your Peace, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, NetGalley ARC

A newly engaged couple learn their parents had a complex past.

What to expect: Fate, family, friendship, and second chances. Visual read that could easily translate into a movie. I had goosebumps and tears on the final page—the way every good book should end. Releases July 11, 2023

The Friendship Breakup, Annie Cathryn, Softcover ARC

Fallon Monroe’s best friend dumps her without an explanation which begins this mom’s journey to self-discovery.

What to expect: A lot of humor and heart sprinkled throughout some relatable topics on parenting, friend groups, cliques, and the secrets that hold us back. A ‘mom-com” that will appeal to anyone who has lost a close friend. Releases February 7, 2023

Code Name Sapphire, Pam Jenoff, Softcover ARC

Hannah Martel, a member of the Sapphire Line, a secret resistance network, must figure out a way to rescue her family from a train bound to Auschwitz.

What to expect: Jenoff at her absolute best with unforgettable characters and a perfectly-paced plot that grips you from page one. Resiliency, courage, and impossible choices abound, with an ending that will leave you utterly shocked. Releases February 7, 2023

The Lost Girls of Willowbrook, Ellen Marie Wiseman, Audible

When Sage Winters learns her beloved twin sister is not dead, but actually a resident—who’s now missing—of Willowbrook State School, Sage plans a visit, and is mistakenly locked up.

What to expect: Based on true, historical events. Wiseman’s depictions are difficult to read at times, but Sage’s fight for survival shines, and these characters stay with you long after the last page.

The Moments Between Dreams, Judith F. Brenner

It’s World War II, and Carol struggles through its challenges along with her daughter’s paralysis from polio and an unsupportive, abusive husband.

What to expect: Heavily researched historical fiction with strong writing. A character study on hope, courage, and the power of perseverance. #empoweringwomen

So many good ones! I hope you enjoy. Happy Reading!

Rochelle

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Rochelle B. Weinstein is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of six women’s fiction novels. Rochelle spent her early years, always with a book in hand, raised by the likes of Sidney Sheldon and Judy Blume. A former entertainment industry executive, she splits her time between sunny South Florida and the mountains of North Carolina. When she’s not writing, Rochelle can be found on NBC 6 in the Mix sharing book recommendations, teaching workshops at Nova Southeastern University, hiking, reading, and finding the world’s best nachos. Her seventh novel, What You Do To Me, releases in October 2023. Please visit her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or subscribe to her newsletter at www.rochelleweinstein.com.