Stay ahead of the curve with these buzz-worthy books
If your TBR list is filled with buzzy debuts, headline-making memoirs, and stories already optioned for the screen, you’re a Trendsetter Reader. At Bookfinity, we know you’re always ahead of the curve—scouting the next big book before it blows up and passing along recs your friends can’t stop thanking you for.
This fall, the hottest new releases are here to keep your reading game strong. From sharp literary hits and culture-shifting fiction to can't-miss celeb memoirs, these books are made to spark conversation, light up your group chats, and secure your status as the go-to book guru of the season.
November New Releases
100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life
by Dick Van Dyke
On the eve of his 100th birthday, national treasure Dick Van Dyke brings us this autobiographical collection of stories, reflections, and life advice on how he's maintained a zest for life.
Dick Van Dyke danced his way into our hearts with iconic roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Now, as he's about to turn 100 years old, Dick is still dancing and approaching life with the twinkle in his eye that we've come to know and love. In 100 Rules for Living to 100, he reveals his secrets for maintaining your joie de vivre and making the most out of the life you've been given.
Through stories of his pivotal childhood, moments on film sets, his expansive family, and finding love late in life, Dick reflects on both the joyful times and the challenges that shaped him. His indefatigable spirit and positive attitude will surely inspire readers to count the blessings in their own lives, persevere through the hard times, and appreciate the beauty and complexity of being human.
Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother
by Taran Armstrong
A look inside the TV show that watches you back
In a house designed for manipulation, paranoia, and power plays, sixteen strangers are cut off from the outside world--watched every second by cameras, judged by millions.
Welcome to Big Brother. A show ahead of its time, it was once dismissed as fluff television. Now this voyeuristic reality show has quietly become a cultural juggernaut, capturing the rawest truths of human behavior while building an intense, obsessive fanbase along the way.
But what are the costs of turning human lives into entertainment? What kind of psychological toll does it take to be put in isolation, under constant surveillance, in a perpetual state of suspicion? And what does it say about us as a society that we love to watch it unfold?
Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother peels back the layers of the historic franchise and dives deep into the game that never sleeps. Through years of live footage, online discourse, and controversial castings, this eye-opening book unpacks how Big Brother has shaped and exposed societal dynamics around race, gender, identity, power, and surveillance. It's the story of a show that thrives in chaos and reveals a reflection of us all--ambitious, flawed, strategic, and deeply human. Whether you're a diehard fan or an unimpressed skeptic, Behind the Mirror will challenge what you thought you knew about reality TV.
Because if you think Big Brother is just a game, you haven't been paying attention.
Heart Life Music
by Kenny Chesney - Holly Gleason
Heart Life Music is a love letter to the journey: all the places I've gone and how we got here. This book takes you on the ride.
Knoxville. Moscow. Myrtle Beach. The Virgin Islands. Plentywood, Montana. Holmdel, New Jersey. Key West. New England. The Road. No Shoes Nation. Beyond.
We've had a lot of fun, a bunch of challenges, a few moments of wondering "what the hell?"--and more love than any artist deserves. You're gonna meet so many people, some you'd never expect to see crossing my path, whether it's the Wailers, Willie Nelson, John Madden, or Grace Potter. Maybe you won't be surprised at all. I just know this: A whole lot has happened.
For anyone who's found a piece of your life in any of my songs, this is for you. Open a cold drink, get out on your deck or your boat or wherever your happy space is, jump in, and live them along with me.
And if you've got dreams, whatever they are, know they don't always come easy. But if you believe, do the hard work, and keep coming back, you'd be amazed at what can happen. I'm a pretty average guy, so look at this--know you might could do it, too.
It's been a helluva trip around the sun.
Star of the Show: My Life on Stage
by Dolly Parton - Tom Roland
A stunning celebration of Dolly Parton's iconic career as a performer, featuring entertaining personal stories alongside more than 500 full-color photographs, including exclusive images and ephemera from her archive, and an eight-page gatefold listing her lifetime of performances.
In Star of the Show, the culminating book in Dolly Parton's photographic trilogy--following Songteller (lyrics) and Behind the Seams (fashion)--the global superstar finally shares a definitive look at her career as one of the world's most dazzling and beloved performers.
Featuring engaging stories and memories from Parton's dynamic life behind the microphone, this book spotlights her signature performances and star-making moments, from singing in front of her family to premiering on the Grand Ole Opry stage and beyond. Her formative years performing with country legend Porter Wagoner are chronicled as she learns hard lessons from life on the road. Breaking out on her own at state fairs and critically acclaimed venues, she toured the world performing for millions of fans in arenas, stadiums, and at festivals. From making her onscreen debut in the blockbuster feature film 9 to 5 to playing the Dallas Cowboys' 2023 Thanksgiving halftime show to 42 million viewers, this global superstar knows no limits. Along the way, Dolly shares the stage with Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and others, while offering insight on touring big, singing strong, and staying on top for seven decades.
Brimming with Parton's trademark wit and heartfelt sincerity, Star of the Show: My Life on Stage is not only an homage to one of history's most cherished artists, but also a must-have collector's item for--and love letter to--any fan of the one and only Dolly Parton.
Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life
by Nia Sioux
"Sioux's harrowing reality TV ordeal cuts deep, and her subsequent self-assurance is endearing and infectious. It adds up to an inspiring account of reclaiming artistic agency." - Publisher's Weekly
When you've been told over and over that you belong at the bottom, how do you come out on top? Dance Moms star and triple threat Nia Sioux shows the way via her story of resilience, triumph, and defining success for herself.
Young dancer Nia Sioux was only nine years old when she stepped into stardom as one of the original cast members of Lifetime's reality TV show Dance Moms. Nia learned new choreography week after week and competed against dancers from across the country as well as at her own studio. Perhaps her greatest obstacle was suffering through her dance teacher's ranking of the girls against each other in her infamous pyramid, where Nia spent the majority of her time on the bottom--all in front of an audience of millions.
But there was much that viewers didn't see. How her experiences in the studio went far beyond what made it into the show. How she was ostracized for not fitting into an aesthetic that wasn't designed for girls like her. How her friendships and her mental health crumbled under the strain of the show. How she lost control of her story and her voice.
But don't be fooled--this is a story about resilience. Nia is not looking for pity, sympathy, or validation as she reflects on her experiences. Instead, she is choosing to use her story as a celebration of triumph. Nia finally gets to tell her story in her own way and in her own words. In this captivating memoir, Nia reclaims both the spotlight and her narrative.
In addition to going behind the scenes of the seven seasons of Dance Moms, she shows how she fought against the negative perceptions that dominated her tween and teen years and emerged as a confident young woman secure in her talents and her direction. Anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or stuck at the bottom of the pyramid will be inspired by Nia's story of overcoming. "Despite barriers and constant naysayers, assumptions and criticisms, only you know who you are inside and out," Nia says. "And you have the power to create your own narrative, your own level of success."
Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much
by Cynthia Erivo
In this vulnerable and enlightening book of life lessons, globally renowned performer Cynthia Erivo draws from her singular experience to show us how to embrace being "too much" and to live up to the fullest iteration of ourselves.
It is never too late to build the life you're seeking.
Cynthia Erivo learned the music to Wicked a decade before she needed it, not knowing those same lyrics would change her life. Now she has performed those songs on the world stage, showing us there is always time to keep discovering ourselves. And to illustrate that it's often the parts of ourselves we are told to bury that make us shine.
In a series of powerful, personal vignettes, Cynthia reflects on the ways she has grown as an actor and human and the practices she's learned over years of performing and reminds us all we are capable of so much more than we think.
We all have hopes and dreams that we want to bring across the finish line. We all falter and take missteps. In this book, Cynthia draws from her experiences running marathons, both real and metaphorical, onstage and onscreen, to show how each challenge can help us. She urges readers to lean into the wisdom of their bodies, to understand and strive for a physical and mental balance. Because when we chase our deepest desires, each small step leads us closer to where we want to go.
We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir
by Anthony Hopkins
Academy Award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins delves into his illustrious film and theater career, difficult childhood, and path to sobriety in his honest, moving, and long-awaited memoir.
Born and raised in Port Talbot--a small Welsh steelworks town--amid war and depression, Sir Anthony Hopkins grew up around men who were tough, to say the least, and eschewed all forms of emotional vulnerability in favor of alcoholism and brutality. A struggling student in school, he was deemed by his peers, his parents, and other adults as a failure with no future ahead of him. But, on a fateful Saturday night, the disregarded Welsh boy watched the 1948 adaptation of Hamlet, sparking a passion for acting that would lead him on a path that no one could have predicted.
With candor and a voice that is both arresting and vulnerable, Sir Anthony recounts his various career milestones and provides a once-in-a-lifetime look into the brilliance behind some of his most iconic roles. His performance as Iago gets him admitted into the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and places him under the wing of Laurence Olivier. He meets Richard Burton by chance as a young boy in his art teacher's apartment, and later, backstage before a performance of Equus as an established actor meeting his hero. His iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter was informed by the creepy performance of Bela Lugosi in Dracula and the razor-sharp precision of his acting teacher. He pulls raw emotion from the stoicism of his father and grandfather for an unforgettable performance in King Lear.
Sir Anthony also takes a deeply honest look at the low points in his personal life. His addiction cost him his first marriage, his relationship with his only child, and nearly his life--the latter ultimately propelling him toward sobriety, a commitment he has maintained for nearly half a century. He constantly battles against the desire to move through life alone and avoid connection for fear of getting hurt--much like the men in his family--and as the years go by, he deals with questions of mortality, getting ready to discover what his father called The Big Secret.
Featuring a special collection of personal photographs throughout, We Did OK, Kid is a raw and passionate memoir from a complex, iconic man who has inspired audiences with remarkable performances for over sixty years.
October New Releases
Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum
by Michael J Fox - Nelle Fortenberry
A poignant, heartfelt, and funny memoir about how, in 1985, Michael J. Fox brought to life two iconic roles simultaneously--Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties and Marty McFly in Back to the Future. An amazing true story as only Michael J. Fox can tell it
In early 1985, Michael J. Fox was one of the biggest stars on television. His world was about to get even bigger, but only if he could survive the kind of double duty unheard of in Hollywood. Fox's days were already dedicated to rehearsing and taping the hit sitcom Family Ties, but then the chance of a lifetime came his way. Soon, he committed his nights to a new time-travel adventure film being directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg--Back to the Future. Sitcom during the day, movie at night--day after day, for months.
Fox's nightly commute from a soundstage at Paramount to the back lot at Universal Studios, from one dream job to another, would become his own space-time continuum. It was in this time portal that Alex P. Keaton handed the baton to Marty McFly while Michael J. Fox tried to catch a few minutes of sleep. Alex's bravado, Marty's flair, and Fox's comedic virtuosity all swirled together to create something truly special.
In Future Boy, Fox tells the remarkable story of playing two landmark roles at the same time--a slice of entertainment history that's never been told. Using new interviews with the cast and crew of both projects, the result is a vividly drawn and eye-opening story of creative achievement by a beloved icon.
Gone Before Goodbye
by Harlan Coben - Reese Witherspoon
Combining the storytelling talents of Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben into one masterpiece of suspense fiction, Gone Before Goodbye is the unforgettable story of an indomitable woman, trapped in a conspiracy she helped create but can't understand. Her harrowing search for the truth could expose a plot woven throughout the exclusive world of the global über elite--but at an unfathomable cost to Maggie herself.
Maggie McCabe is teetering on the brink. A highly skilled and renowned Army combat surgeon, she has always lived life at the edge, where she could make the most impact. And it was all going to plan...until it wasn't.
Upside down after a devastating series of tragedies leads to her medical license being revoked, Maggie has lost her purpose, but not her nerve or her passion. At her lowest point, she is thrown a lifeline by a former colleague, an elite plastic surgeon whose anonymous clientele demand the best care money can buy, as well as absolute discretion.
Halfway across the globe, sequestered in the lap of luxury and cutting-edge technology, one of the world's most mysterious men requires unconventional medical assistance. Desperate, and one of the few surgeons in the world skilled enough to take this job, Maggie enters his realm of unspeakable opulence and fulfills her end of the agreement. But when the patient suddenly disappears while still under her care, Maggie must become a fugitive herself--or she will be the next one who is...
Gone Before Goodbye
Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur
by Jeff Pearlman
New York Times bestselling author Jeff Pearlman turns his sharp eye and meticulous storytelling to one of pop culture's most enduring and enigmatic figures--Tupac Shakur--presenting the definitive retelling of his life, complete with explosive new details.
Scrutinized in life, mythologized in death, Tupac Shakur remains a subject of immense cultural significance and speculation nearly thirty years after his murder. Despite a multitude of books, documentaries, and even a feature film, much about Tupac's story remains shrouded and misunderstood. Like many icons who died tragically young, Tupac the man has long been obscured--his edges sanded down, his complexity numbed--by the competing agendas that surround his legacy.
In Only God Can Judge Me, accomplished biographer and cultural historian Jeff Pearlman tackles his most nuanced subject, telling the definitive story of Tupac Shakur in unprecedented depth. In this authoritative look at Tupac's life, Pearlman skillfully recreates West Coast hip hop in all its glory, going inside Death Row Records and on the sets of movies like Juice and Poetic Justice to offer the most clear-eyed rendering to date of the man who still casts a shadow over modern hip hop. But more than just a biography of a complicated figure, Only God Can Judge Me also captures the time and place in which Tupac rose, a singular moment in music history when West Coast hip hop became a phenomenon and transformed popular music.
Featuring nearly seven hundred original interviews and never-before-published details from every corner of Tupac's life, the result offers a truly singular portrait of one of modern pop culture's most towering figures. Guided by the voices of those who knew and lived life alongside him, Only God Can Judge Me captures the layers of a man who, even thirty years after his death, remains as elusive as ever.
Party People: A Cookbook for Creative Celebrations
by Brie Larson - Courtney McBroom
Celebrate any occasion (really, any occasion!) with 100 creative recipes and endless ideas for your next party, from Academy Award-winning actor Brie Larson and former Milk Bar culinary director Courtney McBroom
Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom found each other through food--a huge vat of molten queso, to be exact. They've been throwing food-filled parties together ever since. From weekly Game of Thrones viewing parties, to Dirty Dancing-themed birthday parties and their annual Hot Dog Appreciation Festival, they can find a reason to celebrate just about anything.
While their debate over whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich will never end, Brie and Courtney can agree that food always tastes best when you cook it and eat it with the ones you love. They wrote Party People to help you create meaningful connections with the ones you love, whether that's with family, friends, or yourself. And with recipes like Old Pal cocktails, Cheesy Jenga Bread, and Dueling Roast Chickens, they have you covered.
Technically, this is an entertaining cookbook. But Brie and Courtney are serving up more than party tips and menus. They give you the tools to spark a new dining revolution in your home, one where connection takes center stage and entertaining is an afterthought. Now, go forth and party!
The Intruder
by Freida McFadden
There's someone at your front door - should you let them in? Find out in a riveting new thriller from global sensation and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid, Freida McFadden!
Who knows what the storm will blow in...
Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.
She's young. She's alone. And she's covered in blood.
The girl won't explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.
The girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.
In this taut, deadly tale of survival and desperation, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden explores how far one girl will go to save herself.
Told You So
by Mayci Neeley
From TikTok and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley, a deeply personal story of love, grief, motherhood, and resilience.
Mayci Neeley and the women of MomTok burst into the center of pop culture when Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives took the world by storm. But the show barely scratched the surface of Mayci's personal story. From becoming a mom at twenty, to losing her son's father in a tragic car accident, to going back to college as a single mother, she's only ever given us glimpses of the challenging things she's been through. Now, finally, she's ready to tell us everything.
In this inspiring and darkly funny memoir, Mayci lifts the veil for readers on what growing up Mormon is really like and how it's strict standards completely blow up for many young people when they get to college. When Mayci arrived at BYU on a tennis scholarship, she was unprepared to manage the temptations she'd been taught were sins. She found herself drinking too much, stuck in an abusive relationship, and on the verge of falling down a dark and dangerous path. Suddenly, she was pregnant at nineteen and mourning a boyfriend she'd been building a future with. Mayci captures the period from college to adulthood with brutal honesty, grace, and humor, offering up a heartfelt portrait of a woman finding her voice and her strength.
All of these trials led to her current love story, her journey with IVF, and of course the inside story of MomTok. Fans looking for a juicy play-by-play on the friend group drama will get everything they want--and then some--but more than anything, readers will walk away with a sense of confidence in themselves and an ability to wear their scars proudly.
The Widow
by John Grisham
#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham is the acclaimed master of the legal thriller. Now, he's back with his first-ever whodunit, even more suspenseful than his courtroom dramas, as a small-time lawyer accused of murder races to find the real killer to clear his name.
Simon Latch is a lawyer in rural Virginia, making just enough to pay his bills while his marriage slowly falls apart. Then into his office walks Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow in need of a new will. Apparently, her husband left her a small fortune, and no one knows about it.
Once he hooks the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar. But soon her story begins to crack. When she is hospitalized after a car accident, Simon realizes that nothing is as it seems, and he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn't commit: murder.
Simon knows he's innocent. But he also knows the circumstantial evidence is against him, and he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. To save himself, he must find the real killer.…
September New Releases
Night People: How to Be a DJ in '90s New York City
by Mark Ronson
Capturing the music, characters, escapades, and energy of his DJ days, a profound memoir from seven-time Grammy-winning record producer Mark Ronson.
Lady Gaga, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, the Barbie soundtrack--behind some of the biggest musical moments in the past two decades is one man: Mark Ronson. Night People conjures the undeniable magic of the city's bygone nightlife--a time when clubs were diverse, glamorous, and a little lawless, and each night brought a heady mix of music, ambition, danger, delight, and possibility. It's about the beauty of what you can create with just two Technics and a mixer, in a golden era before Giuliani, camera phones, and bottle service upended everything. It's also about a teenager finding his way--stalking DJ Stretch Armstrong and biting his mixes, crate-digging in every corner of New York, grinding gig after gig through a decade of incredible music--and finding a community of people who, in their own strange, cracked ways, lived for the night.
Organized around the venues that defined his experience of the downtown scene, Ronson evokes the specific rush of that decade and those spaces--where fashion folks and rappers on the rise danced alongside club kids and 9-to-5'ers--and invites us into the tribe of creatives and partiers who came alive when the sun went down. A heartfelt coming-of-age tale, Night People is the definitive account of '90s New York nightlife and the making of a musical mastermind.
About Time: Poems
by David Duchovny
DAVID DUCHOVNY'S SEVENTH PUBLISHED--AND FIRST POETIC--WORK covers a range of intimate themes and topics, including love, the loss of love, parenting, Duchovny's own parents (in particular his father, who looms large throughout the work), alienation, and other emotional quandaries. Fans of Duchovny's fiction will recognize the insightful and clever play of words that, in this new form, distill to an emotionally impactful portrayal of what the author holds most dear.
Duchovny's approach to poetry is beautifully (and, typically, humorously) encapsulated in his introduction to the work, in which he writes:
Poetry is not useful. And that is exactly why we need it. It reminds us of two important things: our ultimate lack of agency (unpopular to say, I know) and our inability to say anything plain, our inability to capture what it means to be human with the imperfect tool of words; we come face-to-face with our shadow selves, for in the end we will all die and be forgotten, and come away with nothing, nothing in the way of utility anyway, no talking points, no bullet points, no propaganda, no resolutions, no policy, no knowledge. If anything, maybe we remember a few lines . . . something like a pop song from the collective unconscious, something like wisdom.
You see, I wanted to say it plain, but out comes that torrent of modifiers and adjustments, denials, double negatives, shading, stabs at wit, backpedaling, playing at capturing the lightning. Maybe this time. Maybe that's what a poem is--that glorious feeling of Maybe this time I'll get it right. If that's the case, it seems a worthy enterprise to me. You see, I got somewhere, but the way back is unclear--that's a good enough definition of poetry for now. No, it's not.
Duchovny's efforts at achieving such clarity range in this collection from laser-sharp, single-sentence poems to emotionally sweeping ruminations. With About Time--perhaps his most personal work to date--Duchovny continues his journey as one of the most prolific creators of his generation.
Front cover photo (c) Stefan Sappert
Please Don't Lie: A Thriller
by Christina Baker Kline - Anne Burt
In this stylish, twisty thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline and award-winning author Anne Burt, a young woman heads to the Adirondacks with her new husband for a fresh start--but the past won't let her go.
Two years ago, Hayley Stone lost everything. First, her parents died in a devastating fire. Then, her sister overdosed, leaving Hayley alone and hounded by a media circus that turned her family's tragedy into tabloid fodder. When her new husband suggests a fresh start in the Adirondacks, the promise of anonymity in an isolated mountain town feels like salvation.
But the mountains hold darker secrets than she ever imagined.
Her once-loving husband grows distant and volatile. The widow down the road keeps spewing vague accusations. Not even their new friends--a free-spirited couple living on the property--can help Hayley shake the creeping sense that something is off.
As winter edges closer, Hayley discovers that her sanctuary is anything but safe. Trapped and isolated, she faces a terrifying truth: in trying to escape her past, she may have run straight into something far more dangerous.
Softly, as I Leave You: Life After Elvis
by Priscilla Presley - Mary Jane Ross
"A heartfelt record of stepping into one's own." --Publishers Weekly
The long-awaited memoir by Priscilla Presley chronicling her difficult, inspiring journey beyond the walls of Graceland and behind the elegant image the world sees.
Priscilla Presley's divorce from Elvis left his fans incredulous. How could she leave the man every woman wanted? From the outside, life in Elvis's mansion looked glamorous and enviable, and in many respects, it was. But inside the mansion, her husband was constantly surrounded by a male entourage while at the gates, lines of beautiful women waited hopefully for an audience with the King. From the time she was seventeen years-old, that life was all Priscilla had known. During her ten years with Elvis, it became painfully apparent that she had no idea who she was outside Elvis's world. The only way to find herself was to leave that world and seek a new life of her own, because leaving was the only way to survive, for herself and for her daughter.
Softly, As I Leave You, is the deeply personal story of what Priscilla lost and what she found when she walked away from the man she loved. Despite the legal separation, their love for one another transformed into a touching and tender dynamic that endured until Elvis's untimely death four years later. Shattered by Elvis's passing, she had to reinvent herself a second time as the single mother of a talented, often headstrong daughter who never really recovered from her father's death. Priscilla's dedication to motherhood was enriched by the birth of her second child, and she gradually found her footing as a businesswoman, actress, designer, and legislative advocate. She transformed Graceland into an international destination and helped guide the development of Elvis Presley Enterprises. But the unexpected, shattering loss of three immediate family members years later brought Priscilla to her knees. She shares her journey with a quiet dignity that will comfort and reassure anyone who has suffered - and survived - seemingly unbearable loss.
A passionate, compassionate, and inspiring story of finding your place in the world, Softly, As I Leave You, is a sweet Southern melody that will take the reader with Priscilla on her long road home.
Still Bobbi
by Bobbi Brown
"She didn't just change how people wear makeup--she changed how they see themselves" (Charlamagne tha God, for the Time 100 Most Influential People list). Bobbi Brown, beauty mogul and visionary, opens up in her first memoir about the true story: reinvention, resilience, and the power of staying real.
Bobbi Brown is a trailblazer in the beauty industry. A New York Times bestselling author of nine makeup tutorial books to date, she is the founder of both her namesake beauty brand, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and her four-year-old clean beauty brand, Jones Road. Recognized as one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women in 2021, included in Forbes's "50 Over 50" list of Most Influential Women in 2022, and honored with the Glamour Woman of the Year Award, Bobbi's career has been nothing short of groundbreaking. In Still Bobbi, she shares her personal journey, including the integral relationships that inspired and emboldened her from a young age to pursue her creative vision despite numerous challenges--offering a heartfelt and inspiring memoir guaranteed to captivate readers of all ages.
In 1980, Bobbi Brown had a wild idea: real faces are beautiful. When makeup trends were about covering, contouring, and transforming, Bobbi blazed her own path, using makeup that accentuated a woman's natural beauty. In the process, she revolutionized the makeup industry. Bobbi's philosophy is part of who she is, and it's reflected in the way she lives her life. Real is better than fake. Simple is better than complicated. Family comes first. When real life throws you obstacles, maneuver and just figure it out. This hard-earned, deceptively simple wisdom is at the core of her new book, Still Bobbi.
Bobbi has authored many makeup books but has never written about her life...until now. Bobbi shares her story--a seemingly typical suburban girl who thrived socially but struggled academically and had a wonderfully complicated and glamorous mother. Bobbi navigated her childhood and discovered and refined her own view of beauty. She talked her way into New York's beauty and fashion scene in the 1980s, found the love of her life, built her namesake brand into a billion-dollar worldwide business, sold control of her namesake brand, only to build another juggernaut beauty brand--all while raising a family and remaining true to herself. In sharing a lifetime of intimate stories, hard-won practical wisdom, tips, and business savvy, Bobbi's transformational memoir urges readers to embrace their own potential and pursue their dreams with confidence and clarity of purpose.
A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap
by Rob Reiner - Christopher Guest - Michael McKean - Harry Shearer
For the first time, director Rob Reiner and cocreators Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer provide the full behind-the-scenes story of the making of the groundbreaking mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap and its upcoming sequel.
Since its original release in 1984, This Is Spinal Tap has evolved from a beloved cult film into a cinematic landmark: an all-time comedy classic that pioneered an entire genre, the mockumentary. Now, director Rob Reiner and his cowriters and costars, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, tell the complete story of the movie and its fictitious band--how they met, how Spinal Tap came to be, and how their low-budget indie film took on a life of its own. Years after the movie first came out, the Library of Congress selected This Is Spinal Tap for inclusion in the National Film Registry and Tap went on to play The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and to over 100,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in England.
Reiner, Guest, McKean, and Shearer provide the backstories to the movie's famous lines--among them "Hello, Cleveland!," "None more black," "You can't dust for vomit," and "These go to eleven"--and to such Tap anthems as "Big Bottom" and "Stonehenge." Featuring never-before-seen photographs, band memorabilia, and personal reminiscences of their enduring creative partnership, A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever will delight Tap-heads of all ages--just as the long-awaited Spinal Tap sequel is hitting theaters.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever also comes with a bonus memoir by Reiner's directorial alter ego, Marty DiBergi, in which he interviews Tap band members Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls about their musical journey and their drummers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to the rock gods.
Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist
by Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
An intimate and captivating exploration of Lin-Manuel Miranda's artistic journey, revealing how the creator of the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights found his unique voice through bold collaborations and a seamless blend of cultures, redefining the world of musical theater.
How did Lin-Manuel Miranda, the sweet, sensitive son of Puerto Rican parents from an immigrant neighborhood in Manhattan, rise to become the preeminent musical storyteller of the 21st century? Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist offers a compelling narrative that traces Miranda's path from a friendly but often isolated child to the winner of multiple Tonys and Grammys for his Broadway hits Hamilton and In the Heights, a global chart-topping sensation for his songs in Disney's Moana and Encanto, and the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur Genius Grant.
Miranda's journey is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and cultural synthesis. Despite not being a musical prodigy, Miranda's insatiable drive to create art and learn from those around him propelled him to synthesize his Latino heritage with the pop, hip-hop, and Broadway musical styles of New York City. The unique blend allowed him to craft a new way of telling American stories.
Drawing on over 150 interviews with Miranda's family, friends, and mentors, including insights from Miranda himself, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner delves into the formative experiences that shaped Miranda's artistic vision. From his early musicals in high school and college to the creation of his professional masterpieces, this book reveals the sources of Miranda's creativity--not only as innate genius, but also as a result of exceptional openness and collaboration. With full access to Miranda's inner circle, this behind-the-scenes origin story is sure to captivate his legions of fans and beyond.
Truly
by Lionel Richie
The long-awaited memoir of the legendary Lionel Richie.
As a storyteller second to none, Lionel Richie is ready to tell it all. In this intimate, deeply candid memoir, Lionel revisits hilarious and harrowing events to inspire all who doubt themselves or feel their dreams don't matter. Lionel chronicles lessons learned during his unlikely story of remarkable success--his dramatic transformation from painfully shy, "tragically" late bloomer to world-class entertainer and composer of love songs that have played as the soundtrack of our lives.
Funny, warm, and riveting, Lionel recalls his childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he grew up on its university campus during the heyday of the Civil Rights movement, raucous adventures as a member of The Commodores, coming-of-age in late 1960s Harlem, culture shock playing gigs on the French Riviera, the big break of being signed to Motown, his meteoric solo career that included an Olympics performance witnessed by two billion around the globe, all the way through to writing and recording "We Are the World" and his current multi-generational fame as a judge on American Idol. Even with its turbulence, loss, and near-calamity, Lionel's journey takes us on a thrill ride and delivers a memoir for the ages--reminding us of the power of love to elevate our own lives and our world.
Lionel Richie's memoir includes three eight-page photo inserts.