Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
With Autumn winds finally arriving, it means that it’s Big Book season and time for all the kiddos in our lives to go back to school. Every week, there seems to be a new book list or another book challenge in libraries. This week’s round-up includes a little bit of everything, so let’s jump right in.
Bookstores Contend with National Guard Presence in Washington, D.C. (Publisher’s Weekly)
The rise in police, National Guard, and federal law enforcement, has resulted in a continued disruption in book sales for the local bookstores in Washington D.C.
All Access members continue on for more on D.C. bookstores, new Indigenous cookbooks, fall’s biggest nonfiction books, and parental perceptions of public and school libraries.
Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
According to this article from Publisher’s Weekly, bookstores have seen a drop in their bottom line. Several bookstore owners and employees gave statements to PW, outlining how their overall sales have been impacted by the reduction in foot traffic around the city..
New Indigenous Cookbooks (Publisher’s Weekly)
I’m always here for a good book list, and this one is magnificent. It includes three titles from Indigenous authors celebrating native recipes from around Turtle Island (North America). After the success of his first book, The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen (co-written with Beth Dooley), Sean Sherman (Ogala Lakota) returns with his new cookbook Turtle Island. Rooted in Fire, by Pyet DeSpain (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), highlights Native American and Mexican cuisines. And Adán Medrano’s The Texas Mexican Plant-Based Cookbook features Indigenous foodways from the region.
The Biggest Books of Fall 2025: Nonfiction Edition (B&N Reads)
Fall means new books! As always, publishers have saved some of their best books for autumn, and Barnes & Noble has rounded up some of their most anticipated titles. They’ve included Elizabeth Gilbert’s controversial memoir All the Way to the River, Michelle Obama’s new book The Look which is about her intentional use of fashion over the years, and The Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood. Of course, there are a host of other tiles on the list to check out. So don’t be shy and get your TBRs ready.
Parental Perceptions of Public and School Libraries, 2025 Edition (Book Riot)
Book Riot’s own Kelly Jensen continues to give us the best in book censorship news. In a recent post, she highlights six takeaways from three surveys conducted via a partnership Book Riot did with the EveryLibrary Institute. Jensen mentioned that another round of surveys have just been completed and that she will be sharing that data over the next several weeks. So be sure to keep an eye out for them.
You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
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