Fall back into reading: 15 books expected for September

Zibby Owens is the creator and host of the “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books” podcast, an editor and author of “Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature.” She is a regular contributor to GMA.

Back to school. Back to life. Return to…. reading!? No, usually September isn’t the month with endless amounts of free time (at least not for me). And yet, so many great books debut in the fall, around this time every year.

This year is no different. I might have to skip school from work and school pickups just to squeeze through all these titles. Failing that, I know I’ll be reading through every stolen moment of the day, listening to audiobooks as I zoom – literally – from place to place, and crawling into bed at night with a story that keeps me guessing. will transport elsewhere while I drift off to dreamland.

Meet me! These 15 books are definitely worth your time.

Years ago, when Oanh left her marriage to pursue true love, a witch placed a curse on her and her descendants: they would never find love or happiness and would only have daughters, not sons. son. In little Saigon of Orange County today, descendant Mai is divorced with three adult daughters and two younger sisters from whom she is estranged. Yet Mai finds conflicting evidence in a Hawaiian psychic who predicts that this year would see a wedding, funeral, and the birth of a son. An incisive look at culture, family, communication and charisma, this novel shows what it takes to truly break a curse.

“The Fortunes of Jaded Women” is also the “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick for September. Read an excerpt here.

Child welfare advocate David Ambroz was recognized by former President Barack Obama as an American champion for change. But you might not know that he grew up homeless for 11 years and was then placed in foster care. As the horrors of David’s childhood unfold in his brilliant tale – his mother’s battle with mental illness, bathing in public toilets, stealing food, dealing with abuse in foster homes – his only salvation is the library. It’s hard to sit still and not get up to help solve societal problems after reading Ambroz’s story of bravery and resilience.

The anonymous narrator of “The Deceptions” struggles with a lot: a strained marriage, a child who has left home, a book of poetry about to come out and her job as a teacher at an all-boys school in New York. York. She travels to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to refocus and remembers a long-lost friendship around gods and statues, which take on real characteristics as she revisits her past. But what is real? And who can she turn to when something terrible happens?

Author of “Dominicana” from the “GMA” book club, Angie Cruz returns with the intimate story of Cara Romero who loses her factory job in her 50s and must turn to something new. When she sees an employment counselor to pull herself together, she begins to share her life story. In a series of 12 sessions, divided into the book itself, Cara’s life unfolds as we learn about her life and relationships in this creative novel.

Sometimes it takes a Hindu priest to really relax and reassess us. Renowned speaker Dandapani reveals that focus is the salvation from anxiety and fear. After spending 10 years in a monastery, Dandapani learned how useful and essential the power of concentration really was. In his book, he shares specific tips and techniques for having better relationships, energy, productivity, and a better life.

A series of interconnected short stories, “If I Survive You” is a powerful new tale set in the 1970s about a Jamaican family in Miami. Getting through Hurricane Andrew, the recession and even a cursed house only strengthened this family’s resolve. One son, Trelawney, even ends up homeless. And yet, as the family confronts racism, capitalism, and exclusion as immigrants, they learn to navigate the white world they have fallen into.

One Hundred Saturdays. That’s how long it took gifted author Michael Frank to get to the heart of Stella Levi’s Holocaust story and her life story, which began in Jewish Rhodes. The Jewish community of Rhodes earned the distinction of being the group forced to travel the farthest to be executed during Hitler’s reign. But Stella’s story isn’t just about survival, it’s also about family, reinvention and faith. Told from the author’s perspective over 100 encounters, each with its own short chapter, this story is a unique insight into a forgotten history that we all need to learn.

Oh, that’s delicious. The debut novel by memoirist Amy Fusselman focuses on Shelly Means, the wealthy Midwest-born stay-at-home mom who is determined to land a beach house in the Hamptons — even if it’s a shipping container-style home expedition to the less glamorous part of town. But when her thrifty husband loses his job, his plans begin to crumble. Shelly refuses to let that happen in this family tale of real estate endeavors and dreams.

Acclaimed poet and literary agent Hafizah Augustus Geter shares the story of her growing up as the queer daughter of a Muslim Nigerian immigrant and a Black American visual artist. After her mother’s tragic death from a stroke when Hafizah was 19 and her father’s triple bypass surgery, Hafizah’s real pain began. As she deconstructs pain, race, disability and identity, Hafizah uses beautiful language to paint a picture of her unique journey.

Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author, knows how to craft passion and warmth. In her latest novel, protagonist Margot Noble runs the family winery in small town Napa, where a stranger named Luke arrives just in time for a one-night stand. But the next day, Margot discovers that he is the new recruit. Luke, a high school dropout from Silicon Valley is hiding (even from his mother’s expectations) in the basement. Finding passion so quickly was not in his plans. The flirtations, drinks and more that ensue make this an irresistible book club read, complete with a bottle of vino.

Sara Glikman is a Lower East Side matchmaker; she knew she was blessed with the gift even as a child in 1910. But a woman matchmaker? The pious older men who saw the matchmaking as their job were dissatisfied with his intervention. Two generations later, Abby, Sarah’s granddaughter, ends up becoming a divorce lawyer for the rich and famous – not quite the same gift. When Abby inherits her grandmother’s diaries, she discovers a mysterious promise to a stranger that puts her entire career in jeopardy. Which end of the equation does she really want to be?

I was obsessed with the novel Hamnet. Brilliant, original and memorable, Hamnet is unforgettable. I always feel like I’m wandering in the woods, running to get the doctor and learning about Shakespeare. Now Maggie O’Farrell is back with another novel, this one a dazzling delight about a duchess in 16th-century Florence. Young Lucrezia is forced to marry her older sister’s fiancé after her sister’s sudden death, but once she is settled in the new court, her very survival depends on her ability to provide an heir.

OK, now I don’t feel so bad for not training so often. Wellness has become a giant industry designed to get women to part with what’s in their wallets, concludes journalist Rina Raphael in this review of the wellness industry. Can eating right, exercising, and following all the steps actually help over-programmed, stressed women feel better — or not? For anyone who’s ever sipped green juice, eaten kale, tried a new workout, or decided against none of the above, this book is a must-read.

This book is so good. You may know Brooke Siem from her episode of “Chopped” in which she mastered chocolate, caviar, seaweed, and crabs, or from her many articles and essays. But now you’ll know her as a truly talented memoirist and observer, someone who undertook the under-documented act of quitting antidepressants. The withdrawal symptoms Brooke experienced felt like a psychotic breakout themselves, but she was determined to go off the medication she was prescribed at the age of 15 after the sudden death of her father. Brooke takes us from the edge of a high-rise window on the 30th floor – gazing at the jump – to being stung by swarms of jellyfish while diving underwater; from Food Network cameras to the streets of Reno, Nevada. A fresh new voice, Brooke is now an advocate for mental health awareness.

Elizabeth Strout, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times #1 bestselling author, returns to the scene this fall with a timely story about a divorced couple stuck during lockdown. Taking her heroine from “My Name is Lucy Barton” at the start of the pandemic, Elizabeth writes about a beach town in Maine where Lucy – and William – are to stay. An ode to love and loss, this novel will bring back feelings of isolation, while reinforcing them with love.