With Autumn approaching, the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing. There’s no better time to cozy up with some of these reads. Read about a woman finding herself again in a pottery studio after corporate burnout. Be in awe of the stunning illustrations in Babe in the Woods as a woman tries to survive in the forest with her baby. Invite your friends and family over for a meal, whether that’s with a juicy chicken from Beer-Can Chicken or crawfish boil from Bayou. These stories and recipes will give you lots to celebrate this season!
This cozy Korean bestseller invites readers into a warm, sunlit pottery studio where thirty-year-old Jungmin quit her job as a TV broadcast writer. She’s burnt out and finally finds inspiration for the first time in a pottery studio in her neighborhood. The smell of clay, the friendly cat, and the incredible coffee awaken her sense. As the seasons change, she slowly heals herself and builds a new community. All this change helps Jungmin feel ready to face the memories she’s been running away from.
From acclaimed Japanese author Sanaka Hiigari comes a heartwarming, life-affirming novel about a magical photo studio, where people go after they die to view key moments from their life—and relive one precious memory before they pass into the afterlife.
The hands and pendulum of the old wooden clock on the wall were motionless. Hirasaka cocked his head to listen, but the silence inside the photo studio was almost deafening. His leather shoes sank softly into the aging red carpet as he strode over to the arrangement of flowers on the counter and carefully adjusted the angle of the petals… Full of charm and whimsy, The Lantern of Lost Memories will sweep you away to a world of nostalgia, laughter, and love.
Although summer may be over, that doesn’t mean you need to put the grill away just yet. America’s barbeque guru, Steven Raichlen, provides fifty recipes and easy-to-follow steps for the most succulent birds and dazzling sides and desserts. There’s no better way to celebrate the beginning of the cool weather than with Cousin Rob’s Cajun Chicken or Stoned Chicken. These will be some of the most flavorful chickens you’ve ever had.
The cards were stacked against her, so on a whim Daphne McFadden decides to pose as an “outdoorsy hunk of masculinity” male author for her new book. The results? A bidding war and huge book deal that gives her the kind of fame every author dreams of. To convince the world that Zane Remington exists, she hires an actor. While Chris Stanton isn’t an official actor, he mostly certain he can pose as some overly macho bro-author. While balancing this double life and his serious crush on Daphne, it’s only a matter of time before someone discovers their write lie.
In this visually stunning graphic work of autofiction, a young mother and her infant son are lost overnight on a hike. During her journey, Julie reflects on her childhood, parents, marriage, and path to becoming a painter. Each step in the unknown forest terrain leads her deeper into a reckoning with survival and unresolved past issues. Babe in the Woods is an extraordinary tale of memory, remorse, and rebirth.
Get ready for the holidays with this holiday tale about a family of three missing someone dear to them. Unexpected guests arrive at their empty house and begin filling it with Christmas memories in the making. This is sure to become a Christmas classic.
Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and Bimbo have been friends since childhood. Death has always been close, with hurricanes, car accidents, gang violence, and suicide. Gabe’s grandma has said they are surrounded by ghosts. When Bimbo’s mother turns up dead from gun violence, they all agree that they’re going to find whoever did it. Bimbo becomes almost unrecognizable as grief overcomes him. They learn Maria has been gunned down by guys working for the drug kingpin of Puerto Rico, a fate no one has survived. Storms are brewing in this harrowing coming-of-age story, one that blurs the boundaries between myth, mysticism, and grim realities.
People on the Louisiana bayou mark the seasons of the Cajun calendar with traditions and gatherings. With 100 Southern Louisiana recipes, you’ll be able to have a whole year of celebrations with humble ingredients, such as onions, potatoes, and local bounty, like shrimp. These recipes are perfect to share, from the Carnival Crawfish Boil to Cracklins and Back Bone Stew. With the changing season, these recipes give you the perfect reason to gather your loved ones around the table for nourishment, communion, and restoration.
Emily Hoang is a writer and editor, who is obsessed with haunted houses, ghosts, and dreams. More info can be found on her website.