--- description: Here are the best new books to read this month, from Kamala Harris' memoir to new works by Chigozie Obioma and Leila Slimani. title: 11 New Books to Read This January image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaec79b0303043c40/698940e48fd2ee969135d539/featured-image-january.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Books](/tag/books/) ## Books Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 11 New Books to Read This January  by [Annabel Gutterman](/author/annabel-gutterman/)  ## Annabel Gutterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Editor Jan 4, 2019 6:47 PM CUT   by [Annabel Gutterman](/author/annabel-gutterman/)  ## Annabel Gutterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Editor Jan 4, 2019 6:47 PM CUT No matter your resolution, there’s no better time than the new year to start reading more. The first month of 2019 brings with it new books that are filled with stories of adventure, survival and obsession. From intense crime thrillers to deeply affecting memoirs, there’s no shortage of interesting books to kick off the new year. Here, 11 books you should read this January. ## _The Truths We Hold: An American Journey_, Kamala Harris (1/8)  The Truths we Hold Kamala Harris In 2016,[ Kamala Harris](http://time.com/3665461/kamala-harris-senate/ "undefined") made history when she became the country’s second black woman ever elected to the Senate and [California’s first](http://time.com/4621736/kamala-harris-sworn-in-first-black-female-senator-ca/ "undefined"). Her memoir highlights her dedication to public service, detailing her journey as a prosecutor out of law school to becoming District Attorney of San Francisco to her rise to the U.S. Senate. Democratic Sen. Harris’ passion for helping others is on full display in _The Truths We Hold_, where she shares her insights on leadership, problem solving and the power of speaking your truth. **Buy now:** [_The Truths We Hold: An American Journey_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525560718/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0525560718&linkId=8e7189f636e0df408433a160d3a97433 "undefined") ## _Scrublands_, Chris Hammer (1/8)  Scrublands Chris Hammer The desolate, dying town of Riversend is left rattled when a young priest shoots and kills five men outside his church. One year later, journalist Martin Scarsden is sent to report on how the community is dealing with the tragedy. As Martin talks to more townspeople, he realizes details he’d learned about the shooting — theories his own newspaper reported in an award-winning investigation — might be incorrect. Things get even more complicated when two bodies are found in the scrublands, furthering Martin’s determination to unearth the truth. **Buy now:** [_Scrublands_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/150119674X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=150119674X&linkId=59b35655d177595271896c206749f41a "undefined") ## **_An Orchestra of Minorities_** **, Chigozie Obioma (1/8)**  An Orchestra of Minorities Chigozie Obioma The Man Booker finalist’s second novel follows Chinonso, a poultry farmer whose life completely changes after he stops a woman, Ndali, from jumping off a bridge. He falls in love with Ndali, who is from a wealthy family, and sells almost everything he has to enroll in college so her family will accept him. Chinonso is guided by his _chi_, a guardian spirit who narrates the story and helps him through a tumultuous journey as his plans begin to crumble. **Buy now:** [_An Orchestra of Minorities_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316412392/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0316412392&linkId=859f44b21b26365ef1fa524d661b18cd "undefined") ## **_You Know You Want This: “Cat Person” and Other Stories_** **, Kristen Roupenian (1/15)**  You Know You Want This Kristen Roupenian Kristen Roupenian’s “Cat Person” — a short story about a college student and her relationship with an older man — rocked the Internet when it was published in 2017 amid a nation-wide conversation about consent and control. It became the _New Yorker_’s second most-read story of the year and landed Roupenian a seven-figure two-book deal. Her debut collection, _You Know You Want This_, includes “Cat Person,” as well as several other stories that tackle the complicated way we experience and perceive pain, pleasure and power. **Buy now:** [_You Know You Want This: “Cat Person” and Other Stories_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1982101636/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1982101636&linkId=c0fa6c06866e2aaab1a2198315e748bf "undefined") ## **_Adèle_** **, Leila Slimani (1/15)**  Leila Slimani Adele Despite having a seemingly perfect life — a good job, a surgeon husband and a young son — Adèle wants more. Specifically, more sex. The Parisian is obsessed with sex, in an all-consuming way, leaving her to lie to nearly everyone in her life as she rearranges her calendar for extramarital affairs. Slimani, author of the 2018 bestseller [_The Perfect Nanny_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143132172/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0143132172&linkId=0afecdddf1839bb6e5ea79a5283eb6ea "undefined"), explores addiction and desire through Adèle, who desperately wants to feel wanted, but is spiraling out of control. **Buy now:** [Adèle](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D23Z3MC/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07D23Z3MC&linkId=369f96fed19eefa124fffd22cd2434ee "undefined") ## **_To Keep the Sun Alive_** **, Rabeah Ghaffari (1/15)**  To Keep the Sun Alive Rabeah Ghaffari Bibi-Khanoom and her husband, a retired judge, grow fruit on their orchard in the small city of Naishapur, Iran. It is 1979, the eve of the Iranian Revolution, and conversations at family lunches are dominated by the country’s impending crises. In her debut novel, Ghaffari addresses the political concerns of the period through an intense portrait of a family struggling against them. **Buy now:** [_To Keep the Sun Alive_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/194822609X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=194822609X&linkId=78c1a117522d526c7c86260e63dfdc12 "undefined") ## **_The Orphan of Salt Winds_** **, Elizabeth Brooks (1/15)**  The Orphan of Salt Winds Elizabeth Brooks How strongly can memories haunt us? Elizabeth Brooks brings this question to the forefront in her debut novel, which centers around Virginia Wrathmell, an 86-year-old who can’t shake the memory of a plane crash that occurred near her home when she was young. As Virginia reflects on growing up in rural England on the cusp of World War II, she grapples with the decisions she’s made and the secrets she’s kept along the way. **Buy now:** [_The Orphan of Salt Winds_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1947793225/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1947793225&linkId=ddb052f5f2e1b9792bc23fb0e318d685 "undefined") ## _99 Nights in Logar_, Jamil Jan Kochai (1/22)  99 Nights in Logar Jamil Jan Kochai After spending six years in the U.S., 12-year-old Marwand returns to his family’s home province of Logar in war-torn Afghanistan, where he is overwhelmed by his new surroundings. Matters are made much worse when the family dog, Budabash, runs away on Marwand’s watch. Determined to find Budabash, Marwand and his cousins embark on a province-wide search, discovering more about each other and the culture that they share in this coming-of-age story. **Buy now:** [99 Nights in Logar](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525559191/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0525559191&linkId=2529b9e1558d3cc44a428c25bf6daa2d "undefined") ## **_Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive_** **, Stephanie Land (1/22)**  Maid Stephanie Land After becoming pregnant at 28, Stephanie Land was determined to provide for her daughter, but struggled to find work and make ends meet. In her memoir, Land reflects on the time she spent as a housecleaner working in the homes of the wealthy. She details the invisibility and shame she felt in order to create an important and moving account of wealth disparity in the U.S. **Buy now:** [_Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316505110/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0316505110&linkId=fdc9873502a92c7d62f37ca481a25d01 "undefined") [_Available on Amazon_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316505110/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=tmjanbooks2019-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0316505110&linkId=14dcb1cbc1d7279aaf5d2b9e4d98b071 "undefined") ## **_All the Lives We Ever Lived: Seeking Solace in Virginia Woolf_** **, Katharine Smyth (1/29)**  All the Lives we Ever Lived Katharine Smyth Katharine Smyth uses Virginia Woolf’s [_To the Lighthouse_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0156907399/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0156907399&linkId=cca2429610bc2db0882aae417f765d27 "undefined") to explore her own grief in this inventive memoir about literature and loss. Smythe’s connection to the revered novel revolves around her father, whose death was both inevitable and unexpected. Smyth’s memories of both her parents come to the surface as she learns more about Virginia Woolf and her book, showcasing the capacity fiction has to help make sense of life’s biggest questions. **Buy now:** [_All the Lives We Ever Lived: Seeking Solace in Virginia Woolf_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1524760625/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1524760625&linkId=e0524498780d5c6524cebe5bb9822f85 "undefined") [_Available on Amazon_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1524760625/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=tmjanbooks2019-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1524760625&linkId=171b9446335d3ffb3387433a83b7c9bf "undefined") ## **_Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left_** **, Philip K. Howard (1/29)**  Try Common Sense Philip Howard As the rhetoric between American political parties grows more tense, Philip K. Howard offers a solution based in practicality. In his book, Howard explains how the ideologies of both the Democrats and Republicans have left Americans with little choice but to demand more for themselves. He believes that a successful democracy is built on accountability and outlines his framework here, arguing that current bureaucratic processes are inhibiting the change America needs. **Buy now:** [_Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1324001763/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1324001763&linkId=7ed4f156ee74f7ec11dd034a7c85f79e "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5472577/best-books-january-2019/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5472577/best-books-january-2019/"},"headline":"11 New Books to Read This January","datePublished":"2019-01-04T18:47:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:57:22.635Z","description":"From intense crime thrillers to moving memoirs","url":"https://time.com/5472577/best-books-january-2019/","keywords":["Books"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaec79b0303043c40/698940e48fd2ee969135d539/featured-image-january.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Annabel Gutterman","jobTitle":"Senior Editor","url":"https://time.com/author/annabel-gutterman/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaec79b0303043c40/698940e48fd2ee969135d539/featured-image-january.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"What To Read in January","caption":"","creditText":"","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/books/","name":"Books"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5472577/best-books-january-2019/","name":"11 New Books to Read This January"}}]}] ```