Books
10 Of August 2016's Best Fiction Books
Whether you choose to spend these final days of summer sprawled out by the pool or lounging out on the porch, you'll need a good book by your side. Luckily, there are plenty of August fiction releases to keep you company.
This month's fiction list has everything: there's historical fictions that will transport you to a unique place and time and introduce you to passionate, remarkable characters. There's great romances, too — the perfect read for an afternoon on the beach. And if you're looking to embark on an emotional roller coaster, there's definitely a story for you. More than one of these books will tug on your heartstrings and have you reaching for a box of tissue.
The characters you meet this month will pull you into to their moments of discovery and love and triumph and loss. They'll stay with you long after you've closed the book. They'll tell you their deepest, darkest secrets and they'll show you their dreams. Summer may be ending soon, but fall will feel lightyears away once you get sucked into these stories. Here are the 10 new fiction books from August that you need to be reading:
1. The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs (August 2; Arcade Publishing)
That's right, Hamilton fans, this is the novel you've been waiting for. "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?" Centered upon the love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, this delicious historical fiction is not only a heart-wrenching, page-turner of a read, but it's also been hailed for its historical accuracy.
2. How I Became a North Korean by Krys Lee (August 2; Viking)
Told from the point-of-view of three characters that have escaped to the Chinese-North Korean border, this novel is endlessly fascinating. Yongin is an accomplished student, whose prominent father was shot by the Dear Leader himself. Danny is a a Chinese-American teenager of North Korean descent, whose cultural quirks mark him as an outcast in American high school, and Jangmi is a fierce young woman, smuggling goods across the dangerous border, who seeks safety after becoming pregnant. Every story paints a searing portrait of the desperate circumstances people are faced with and the strength it takes to break free.
3. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood (August 9; Thomas Dunne Books)
Wavy, the eight-year-old daughter of a drug addict and a meth dealer, is afraid to speak, eat, or touch anyone. But when her father's employee, Kellen, wrecks his motorcycle and Wavy helps him, a spark is lit between these two unlikely companions. As Wavy grows, she turns to Kellen support. And when she becomes a teenager, their relationship becomes something more. This is an emotional story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
4. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson (August 9; Amistad)
From the author of the National Book Award-winning YA novel, Brown Girl Dreaming, comes a vibrant novel about August and her three close friends. Growing up in 1970s Brooklyn, August must confront many issues: adolescence, her absent mother, and the racial and societal issues of the time.
5. When Watched by Leopoldine Core (August 9; Penguin Books)
This collection of short stories will make you feel like you're peering into something special and private. Featuring a wonderfully diverse array of characters, When Watched is a dazzling collection that will have you turning pages long into the night.
6. The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman by Mamen Sánchez (August 9; Atria)
If you're a fan of Jane the Virgin or The Grand Budapest Hotel, you'll adore the quirky spirit of this novel. An Englishman disappears after being sent to Spain to shut down a literary magazine staffed by a team of tight-knit, crafty women. Filled with literary references, including the ghost of J.R.R. Tolkien, this is a romp perfect for book nerds.
7. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (August 9; William Morrow)
You've never read a workplace romance like this one. When two rival publishing companies merge, the CEO's executive assistants Lucy and Josh are thrown together — forced to share a tiny office every single day. With a promotion at stake, their competitive banter becomes even more heated. Charming, sexy, and romantic, this novel is the perfect late-summer read.
8. I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows (August 9; Henry Holt & Co.)
Set during the tumultuous Dust Bowl, this historical fiction novel will hit you right in the gut. Annie just wants to keep her family together amidst all the dust, but when she falls for an unlikely admirer, she must decide her path.
9. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (August 23; Random House)
This is the searing story of a family who has immigrated to the U.S. from Cameroon, right before the 2008 recession. When Jende lands a job as a chauffeur with an executive at Lehman Brothers, he begins to imagine a brighter future for his family. But as the country spins towards financial crisis, Jende and his family begin to see cracks forming within their employers. This is a beautiful novel that offers a sharp perspective on what the American Dream means in today's age.
10. The Nix by Nathan Hill (August 30; Knopf)
If you're looking for a big, brilliant book to wrap yourself up in, The Nix is it. Thirty years after his mother's disappearance, Samuel sees her on the nightly news, throwing rocks at the governor. Beautifully and intricately written and jumping between three decades, this book is so many things: the story of a mother and son, a depiction of media and culture in our changing times, and a hypnotic work that pops off the page.
Images: Gaelle Marcel/Unsplash
