The best new books to read in November 2023
Tick off your reading list with these great new books
Ah, the penultimate month of the year. If you find yourself asking where the rest of 2023 has gone, you’re not the only one. But now – with just 60 days until 2024 – is not the time to start making excuses for not sticking to those New Year’s resolutions or personal aspirations you committed to way back when. If upping your reading list was one, and it’s been forced to take a backseat recently, it’s time to shake things up. Here are the best new books to read in November, from science fiction epics to Hollywood biographies.
A City on Mars by Dr Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith
If you find yourself dreaming of outer space, look no further than the Weinersmiths’ hilarious and educational take on whether humans really could relocate to Mars, published on 7 November. Having compiled years of research, and interviews with space scientists, engineers and legal experts, A City on Mars investigates whether the dream of new worlds is feasible and positive, both for settlers and the people they leave behind.
My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
One of Hollywood’s few EGOTs (meaning she’s won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), Barbra Streisand has spent her life on stage – but that doesn’t mean she’s always been able to use her own voice. In her new biography, Streisand recalls growing up in Brooklyn and performing in New York nightclubs at the start of her career, as well as her political advocacy and her marriage to James Brolin. Fans will no doubt love this first-hand, 992-page insight into the life of one of the biggest stars of our time. It would make the perfect Christmas gift, too.
Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park
This is one for those who like a book they can really sink their teeth into. Over 544 pages, Park reimagines Korea which, in his book, is still run by the Korean Provisional Government, and features plenty of assassins, mad poets, K-pop bands and social media. We are shown this different country through the eyes of three distinct characters, whose stories are underpinned by Korean history and American pop culture.
The Future by Naomi Alderman
From the award-winning author of The Power comes another mind-blowing exploration of our current world and its future. The plot focuses on a handful of friends – the daughter of a cult leader, a non-binary hacker, an ousted Silicon Valley visionary, the concerned wife of a dangerous CEO and an internet-famous survivalist – who are hatching a daring plan. But if it doesn’t go accordingly, the world and civilisation as we know it will be at stake…
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
Published on 14 November, What The River Knows begins in 19th-century Buenos Aires, where protagonist Inez Olivera has everything – until her globetrotting parents disappear. When she discovers they’ve passed away in mysterious circumstances, she becomes determined to uncover the truth and sets sail for their last port-of-call: Cairo. Upon her arrival in Egypt, not everything is as it seems and Inez must watch her back at every turn…
Class by Stephanie Land
From the New York Times bestselling author who inspired hit Netflix series, Maid, Stephanie Land’s newest novel Class paints an intimate portrait of motherhood as it conflicts with personal desire and professional ambition. In candid and moving prose, Class grapples with important questions while offering a searing indictment of America’s educational system and an inspiring story of a mother striving to succeed against the odds.
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