In theory, November is a slower month for publishing, especially compared to September and October. Despite that, there are still some very exciting books out this month in every genre. There’s the newest book from the author of author of My Sister, the Serial Killer, a fascinating history of Black bookstores, the follow-up to the cozy fantasy Bookshops & Bonedust, and so much more. Here are ten of the titles you should know about in November.
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Literary Fiction
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
This is a literary horror novel from Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister, the Serial Killer. Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the same day that her family buried her cousin Monife. Right away, everyone sees the connection between Eniiyi and Monife and worries Eniiyi will be doomed to the same tragic fate. Between that and the family curse, will Eniiyi be doomed to a life of sadness and heartbreak? Or will she be able to break the cycle? —Emily Martin
New Books
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Sci-Fi
The King Must Die by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Here’s an exciting new sci-fi novel from the author of The Splinter in the Sky! On a failing planet, the daughter of executed rebel instigators joins a group of underground insurgents. But are the dangerous rebels the planet’s greatest hope, or will they prove to be its downfall? —Liberty Hardy
Nonfiction
Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams
A November LibraryReads and Indie Booksellers pick, Black-Owned highlights the importance of Black-owned bookstores. From Malcolm X giving speeches in front of the National Memorial African Book Store in Harlem to Maya Angelou becoming the face of National Black Bookstore Week, Black-owned bookstores have played a huge role in Black activism and community. Char Adams takes us on tour of these indie bookstores throughout history, giving us a love letter to these treasured havens for Black resistance. —Kendra Winchester
Romance
The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann
I am a sucker for romances that take on reality television in a new and interesting way. This book introduces Jordan, whose family has long been the subject of a reality show, Kardashian-style. The producers are urging him to marry his ex for the plot, but he wants to do things on his terms. A marriage of convenience with ambitious Zinnia, who views marriage in very businesslike terms, ought to work out cleanly. But we readers know that those pesky feelings are always bound to make a mess. —Isabelle Popp
Fantasy
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
This funny fantasy is a follow-up to Bookshops & Bonedust, featuring everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed talking rat, Fern. After decades of selling books in Murk, Fern decides to move to Thune, where her friend Viv has a coffee shop. But as she travels toward Thune, Fern encounters all kinds of new friends and foes. (More f-words!) —Liberty Hardy
Historical Fiction
Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto
I love Jesse Q. Sutanto’s cozy mysteries, Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, so I’m thrilled to see her dipping her metaphorical toes into historical fiction. In Next Time Will Be Our Turn, Sutanto explores complicated family relationships and second chances. When Izzy Chen reluctantly shows up to her family’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration only to see her grandmother walk in with a stunning woman, everything she thought she knew about her family is turned on its head. Izzy’s reaction reminds Magnolia Chen of the girl she once was, prompting her to share her story of being sent to LA from Jakarta and finding herself caught between familial expectations and the girl she loved. —Rachel Brittain
Horror
The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
Here’s a haunted house story perfect for fans of The Last House of Needless Street. In Chicago, there is an abandoned house on an otherwise unremarkable street. But terrible things have happened at this house, and everyone is warned to stay away. Plenty of children have dared each other to go inside, so of course, Jessie also dared her little brother Paul. Then Paul went in… and never came back. Some say the house ate Paul. Some say he was kidnapped. Whatever happened to her little brother, Jessie has not been able to let it go. Now an adult, Jessie still lives on the same street as that house, and she feels it calling to her. —Emily Martin
Young Adult
Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson
Amala’s whole life has been about becoming the perfect princess. But she’s murdered the night of her wedding and everything is out the window.
Kha’dasia has always been “too much.” She doesn’t fit the image of the perfect princess and she’s okay with that. She’s on a quest to fulfill the last wish of her dead brother. But she, too, is killed before she can.
The two princesses meet in the afterlife and they’re given a chance to live again by the gods in the forest. If they kiss their one true love, they’ll be brought back to life. If they kiss the wrong person, though, they’ll be dead and gone forever.
Now Amala and Kha’dasia are growing closer as they pursue this opportunity for their lives. Except, perhaps, the biggest challenge and threat (and love?) is right before their very eyes. —Kelly Jensen
Children’s/Middle Grade
My Gender, My Rules by Andy Passchier
My Gender, My Rules is a great introduction to discussing gender with young children. In this colourful book full of fascinating facts, My Gender, My Rules teaches about the different ways people express their gender; how important it is as a part of someone’s identity; and most crucially, that everyone gets to reach their own conclusions about their gender and deserves to have their feelings respected. —Alice Nuttall
Mystery, Thriller, or True Crime
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
Margo Miyake wants the next step in her life now: the perfect house and to have a baby with her husband. When she hears about a house that will soon go on the market, she thinks it’s totally natural to befriend the couple with the hopes of getting them to sell to her before listing the house. The problem? The couple figures out what she’s up to and “unfriends” her. While Margo’s husband is ashamed, she is not. Instead, she sets her sights on revenge… —Jamie Canaves
Other Book Riot New Releases Resources:
- All the Books, our weekly new book releases podcast, where Liberty and a cast of co-hosts talk about eight books out that week that we’ve read and loved.
- The New Books Newsletter, where we send you an email of the books out this week that are getting buzz.
- Finally, if you want the real inside scoop on new releases, you have to check out Book Riot’s New Release Index! That’s where I find 90% of new releases, and you can filter by trending books, Rioters’ picks, and even LGBTQ new releases!
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