October’s Top Picks in Fiction

See Me, by Nicholas Sparks
Sparks is at the top of his game in this deeply human story of starting over and dealing with life’s complexities. Colin Hancock’s past is filled with violence and bad decisions, but he’s committed to turning over a new leaf, pursuing a teaching degree, and living a quiet existence. When he meets Maria Sanchez—a successful lawyer with her own dark past—love springs up despite their mutual hesitation. Their affection is challenged by past secrets, even as ominous events in the present push them to the breaking point. This deeply emotional book once again proves that Sparks understands human nature and relationships as well as anyone writing today.

City on Fire, by Garth Risk Hallberg
The “It Book” of the fall, City on Fire is a dense story set in 1977 New York, a year marked by the infamous blackout that plunged the City That Never Sleeps into chaos and magic for a few hours one sweltering July evening. Featuring a cast of characters from all walks of life, tied together by a mystery surrounding a violent crime, Hallberg’s raucous novel is filled with energy and creative visuals, including letters, emails, photos, and diary entries. Propelled by sharp writing that captures a moment in time and the inner voices of characters who offer unique views of life, this is the novel everyone will be talking about for months.

After Alice, by Gregory Maguire
Maguire is the master of flipping the script, famous for his inventive, subversive, and effortlessly entertaining reimagining of fantasy worlds in bestselling books like Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. His new novel, After Alice, takes on the classic Lewis Carroll story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from a fresh perspective—that of Ada, Alice’s friend, briefly mentioned in the original story. Maguire follows her into Wonderland in pursuit of Alice, determined to bring her friend back to the world and back to life. The book also explores what’s going on at home while the girls have their adventures, populating these sections with real historical figures, combining the two settings into a story that will have you re-thinking the way you view fairy tales…again.

All the Stars in the Heavens, by Adriana Trigiani
Bestseller Trigiani returns with a story based on real-life events: set in 1935 Hollywood, the story centers on young actress Loretta Young, who meets Clark Gable (at the height of his charm and looks and 14 years her senior) and embarks on a love affair with the married actor. Young takes on a personal assistant in Ada Ducci, a former nun out of the convent and struggling to maintain her moral code in the raucous new world of Old Hollywood. The two women form a bond and make their way through the coming years, facing scandals, passion, and adventure through a friendship that turns out to get top billing in this fantastic, cinematic story. Filled with cameos by some of the biggest stars of the era, it marries human drama with movie-star glamour. The result is electrifying.

The Secret Chord, by Geraldine Brooks
Pulitzer Prize-winner Brooks’s latest begins with an aging King David—yes, from the Bible—reflecting on his life and the Old Testament God who first sent him prophesies of glory and success, and later, prophesies of punishment and regret for his actions. Brooks uses archaic language to ground the story in the ancient world, and effortlessly paints a picture of David as a human being of his time—a brutal, violent man who united tribes but also loved and thought deeply about his place in the world and the consequences of his actions. A fascinating story that requires no faith to enjoy.

The Lake House, by Kate Morton
Detective Sadie Sparrow is put on leave after becoming too emotionally involved in her work. Retreating to her grandfather’s cottage in Cornwall, she stumbles on the abandoned country home of the Edevane family, whose son Theo went missing in 1933. Sparrow re-opens the case, tracking down Alice, Theo’s older sister and now a successful mystery writer, who offers her own story of the events leading up to Theo’s unsolved disappearance. The dual mysteries each offer their own pleasures, and the time-shifting storylines come together in a master class of plotting that entertains and surprises in equal measure.

Slade House, by David Mitchell
The author of the complex, challenging Cloud Atlas and The Bone Clocks is back with a novel that is less structurally intricate but no less ingenious. Around the corner from an English pub is the Slade House, where every nine years, the Grayer Twins invite someone to come stay. Their invitee is always someone who is different, lonely, or both: a misfit. At first, these guests don’t want to leave. Then they discover they can’t, as the twins seek immortality through the souls they acquire in the house. The story ties back to previous Mitchell novels, but they aren’t required reading to enjoy one of the most unusual novels of the year.

Winter Stroll, by Elin Hilderbrand
Heartwarming, dramatic, and romantic, Hilderbrand’s new book whisks us away to another Quinn Family Christmas on Nantucket. As the Quinns prepare for their holiday, wives and lovers (both invited and otherwise) descend on the Winter Street Inn, including patriarch Kelley’s estranged wife, his son Kevin’s devious ex, and his granddaughter Ava’s chaotic old flame. The family drama is engrossing and surprising, and once again set against the beautiful environs of Nantucket, which Hilderbrand describes in rapturous prose that will not only transport you mentally, but prod you to make real-life travel arrangements.

The Mountain Shadow, by Gregory David Roberts
Roberts returns to Bombay and the thief and smuggler Lin in the long-awaited sequel to 2003’s Shantaram. Returning to the city from a smuggling expedition, Lin finds a whole new set of mafia lords running the underworld, with new rules and new personalities, while at the same time, all his familiar friends have moved on, and the love of his life has married a wealthy tycoon. Bombay has become a whole new experience for both his charming main character and for readers, plunging us once again into the fascinating underbelly of one of the world’s most crowded and oldest cities. It’s an epic story filled with colorful characters and palpable tension.

Shopaholic to the Rescue, by Sophie Kinsella
Back for another hilarious adventure, Becky Brandon must rescue her father, missing after leaving for Las Vegas with her best friend Suze’s dad. Heading west on a road trip to end all road trips, Becky must deal with Suze’s hysterics, her own mother’s mania, and the presence of her sworn enemy Alicia in the tiny confines of her car as they all race to Vegas to investigate. What they find there is surprising and entertaining, leaving Becky to use all of her wits to figure out a plan. Kinsella fans know what to expect, and they get it in spades, but even if you’ve never read a Shopaholic book, it’s a fun ride that will keep you grinning for days.

The Tsar of Love and Techno, by Anthony Marra
A novel in stories that explores different facets of Russian life, this book is divided like a mix tape—Sides A and B split by an intermission (or tape flip). The chapters are interconnected, with characters and their extended families turning up in different episodes, linking it together into a single, powerful story written in language that draws a clear picture of what life is like—and was like—in Russia and the former Soviet Union.