Fascinating Books About Authors and Publishing to Read Now

Natalie, a struggling writer, faces a new challenge when she discovers a scathing one-star review of her debut novel on GoodReads—penned by Rob, the meticulous best man at her friend's upcoming wedding.

Forced into close proximity as maid-of-honor and best man, Natalie and Rob navigate some pivotal moments over the years—vacations, celebrations, and more. Readers discover a beautiful series of heartwarming revelations as the two confront their differences.

Don't miss my Laura Hankin interview, during which we discuss this romance book and offer advice for writers navigating their GoodReads review moments. It's an enlightening conversation!

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In Gill Paul's new novel, Mad Men meets the scandalous world of 1960s publishing.

Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls and Jackie Collins's The World Is Full of Married Men shake up the literary scene, but both women pay a steep price for writing about sex.

As they face public backlash, young editorial assistant Nancy White navigates the rampant sexism at her Manhattan publishing job.

Nancy's friendship with Susann and her connection to Collins ignite a race to the top of the bestseller charts. Let's hope that Ryan Murphy picks this one up for adaptation!

Release Date- 13 August 2024

This literary fiction novel is at the top of my summer stack because it resonates with Mona Awad fans.

Astrid Dahl, a midlist author with a penchant for collecting perfumes, is struggling to stay sober and avoid falling into another toxic relationship with her new Los Angeles neighbor.

But as she finds herself caught between the secretive Ivy from her online writing group and the captivating Penelope next door, Astrid's world spirals.

Readers set off on a sapphic roller-coaster ride that pays homage to the history of lesbian pulp fiction.

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Paging The Bachelor fans- this new adult debut novel is for you.

Jacqueline Matthis, a romance novelist whose career has hit a slump, plans to boost her book sales by joining a Bachelor-esque reality show called the 1.

Her goal isn't to win the bachelor's heart, Marcus Bellamy, but to gain enough attention to revive her career.

However, things get complicated when she has a one-night stand with Henry, a show producer, just before filming starts.

She is cast as the season's villain as she navigates the show's drama, torn between her growing attraction to Henry and Marcus's unexpected interest in her.

Release Date- 2 July 2024

Turning to ghostwriting to make ends meet, Zara lands a coveted job penning the memoir of celebrity chef Jane Bailey, renowned for her budget-friendly culinary creations.

Thrilled by the luxurious perks of Jane's estate, Zara soon discovers unsettling secrets hidden beneath the facade.

But, as their collaboration deepens, readers are pulled into a direction you likely won't expect.  

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My co-host on our FULLY BOOKED Patreon podcast loved this new romance book from the screenwriter charged with bringing two Emily Henry movie adaptations to life.

Shortly before their senior year ends, a shocking accident tragically brings Helen and Grant's lives together.

Thirteen years later, Helen is a bestselling YA author whose series is being adapted for TV, and Grant is a successful screenwriter hired for her show.

Despite their painful past, they agree to work together professionally.

But, as they rekindle their friendship, their feelings intensify, showcasing their complicated history.

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This new Judy Blume biography traces her humble beginnings as a suburban New Jersey mother to becoming a literary sensation in the 1960s.

Despite facing intense censorship and backlash, Blume's unwavering commitment to honest storytelling transformed cultural norms and ignited conversations about women's rights, autonomy, and adolescence.

Release Date- 16 July 2024

This nonfiction memoir debut follows aspiring novelist Cory Leadbeater, who believes he has escaped a dead-end life by landing a job as Joan Didion's assistant.

However, proximity to literary greatness does not grant this gift, and Cory harbors many secrets that this memoir carefully unearths.  

Poetic and deeply personal, fans of Joan Didion love this tribute to the author.

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We all have encountered Judith Jones's work, but we may have never tied so many of our favorite book moments to her revolutionary career.

In this illuminating biography, we discover her serendipitous encounter with Anne Frank's diary at Doubleday's Paris office in 1949.

Jones's keen editorial eye and passion for literature propelled her to champion voices like Sylvia Plath, Anne Tyler, and John Updike during her illustrious fifty-year tenure at Alfred A. Knopf.

But, beyond shaping literary icons, Jones revolutionized publishing by spearheading cookbook trends down to the unique delivery of cooking instructions, cementing her legacy as a visionary editor whose influence transcends generations.

This 2022 Booker Prize Longlist nominee intricately weaves four narratives to explore the themes of wealth, power, and the voices often silenced in history.

In this mixed media experience, readers can access a novella, manuscript, memoir, and diary exploring America's elite during the Roaring '20s and the Great Depression.

This captivating, thought-provoking story challenges readers to discern truth within its unreliable characters and multifaceted plot, making it a must-read for fans of complex, character-driven stories.

Eve is an aspiring writer who has been dissatisfied with her current job. When the opportunity arises to work as an assistant to a famous New Yorker writer, she jumps at the job offer.

Not only does she get to act as his research assistant, but she also gets to live there and immerse herself in their lives.

The job entails a coveted invitation to attend their annual "Book" Party, where attendees are encouraged to dress like their favorite literary characters.

You would be surprised how much drama can unfold in such a short read- I devoured it in a day!

This satirical novel offers thought-provoking commentary on the publishing industry's treatment of race and identity.

The story follows Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, an African American writer who struggles with the industry's demand for stereotypical narratives.

He creates an outrageous pseudonym to expose these biases, which inevitably brings him the elusive fame and fortune he's always been chasing.

If you love it, I recommend streaming American Fiction, one of my favorite films of the year. It is now available for streaming and is an adaptation of this novel!

Maurice has always wanted to be a writer but lives an uninspired life.

He will do all he can, though, to achieve his fame and fortune by stealing the stories of others by any means necessary and calling them his own.

Prepare for a master manipulator as he coerces stories from others and receives the fame he has always dreamed of. But as Maurice ages, he begins to lose his charm.

So, when a student decides to write a piece on him for college, he indulges in his first good story. No longer feeling the need to tell any lies, he wolfishly reveals his truth in all its glory, leading to some brilliant plot twists leaning heavily into satire.

I fell in love with Lily King's writing this year when I discovered Father of the Rain, which made my Best Fiction Books of 2023 list.

This month I've been reading this novel, where Casey Peabody navigates her creative ambitions in one of my favorite decades- the 90s!

Juggling multiple jobs, mourning her mother's death, and struggling to finish her novel, Casey is drawn to two distinctly different men: Oscar, a successful writer with a complicated past, and Silas, a sensitive yet unreliable artist.

As Casey wrestles with her insecurities and desires, King's prose captures the raw, messy reality of pursuing dreams while navigating the complexities of the heart.

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In this character-driven story, an unnamed English professor at a small college navigates the fallout from her husband's numerous affairs with students.

Instead of feeling betrayed, she is frustrated by the scrutiny and forced performance as the outraged spouse.

So, when the college hires the handsome and successful novelist Vladimir Vladinski, her jealousy over his literary acclaim and her sexual attraction to him ignites obsession.

This leads to a tense and gripping narrative on power dynamics in marriage and academia that could yield an incredible book club discussion.

Amidst the aftermath of a confessed affair, Augusta, a seasoned painter, and her writer husband, Owen, seek solace on a farm.

To their surprise, a new neighbor develops unexpected connections with them, building tension for the reader and their marriage.

I loved this character-driven love story, which beautifully unravels their vulnerabilities of aging and the fragility of marriage.

Acclaimed author Paul Sheldon finds himself at the mercy of his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes after a near-fatal car accident leaves him trapped in her remote home.

However, as Paul recovers from his injuries, he realizes that Annie's obsession with his novels goes beyond mere admiration, plunging him into a terrifying struggle for survival

This novel later was memorably captured on screen by Kathy Bates in the Misery movie adaptation.

This provocative novel about cultural appropriation in the literary world offers readers a juicy publishing story when a struggling writer steals the manuscript of her deceased friend, a successful Asian American author

The most eye-opening scenes involve the author's marketing and publishing team, creating her ambiguous pseudonym that may convince readers that the author has a more complex race story than reality.  My jaw was to the ground!

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Bestselling romance author Helena Ross faces a daunting truth: her time is running out. With a heavy heart, she sets aside writing in her beloved genre to confront a haunting secret she can no longer ignore.

In her race against time, Helena enlists the help of a skilled rival to ghostwrite the untold story, which has weighed on her conscience for four years.

But, as these truths unravel and emotions run high, Helena must navigate the delicate balance between fiction and reality in this thrilling selection.

This novel is part of the Kindle Unlimited catalog.

An aspiring writer takes on the daunting task of completing the remaining books in an acclaimed series by the now-bedridden author Verity Crawford.

But, when she moves in with the writer's family to immerse herself in Verity's world and process, she uncovers dark and unsettling truths about her life.

I found the ending quite clever and recommend it for an easy read to keep you guessing.

Jo Jones is an autistic editor who inherits a rundown English estate. Her keen eye for detail helps her unravel the estate's hidden mysteries when a valuable portrait disappears and a body turns up.

Inspired by the author's personal insights, Schillace creates a sharp-witted investigator who demonstrates how Autism can provide a unique advantage in solving mysteries.

This novel has been a huge hit with our cozy mystery readers.

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In this twisty and suspenseful debut, a young aspiring writer seizes the opportunity to become the assistant to a reclusive and successful author.

But the writer finds herself involved in a horrible car crash, waking up to find the author and her identification gone.

Seizing the chance of a lifetime, she considers stepping into her shoes and becoming Maud Dixon, offering the reader page-turning reveals.

January and Augustus are next-door neighbors who are both writers. While January works hard to pen a perfectly romantic happily ever after, Augustus writes well-researched stories that kill off his characters.

So, when they discover they both are in a writing slump, they strike a deal to help each other get out of it.

Augustus will write something happy, and January will tackle a serious novel. But as they explore each other's writing processes, they discover an unexpected romance off the pages.

I recommend the audiobooks for all of Emily Henry's books because they are narrated by Julia Whelan, who adds extra magic to each story.

Although I chose Beach Read for this assignment, Book Lovers is also a fantastic pick for this assignment!

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Evelyn Hugo is an aging starlet who has decided to hire a magazine reporter to write her biography. As someone who has been very private, it is the chance of a lifetime for a virtually unknown writer to be given a story worth millions of dollars.

As she opens up about her seven marriages to a young journalist, Evelyn's narrative reveals the glamour and ambition that drove her and the sacrifices and secrets she kept to protect herself and her legacy.

Through Jenkins Reid's skillful portrayal, Evelyn Hugo becomes a complex and unforgettable character for her readers, launching her career into Booktok book fandom.

The author's way of navigating these revelations is as fascinating as the starlet's plot in this story.

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I gave this sweet romance a glowing five-star review for a perfect play on the ghosts and ghost writers.

Florence Day is struggling through a painful breakup while ghostwriting for a renowned romance author.

When a stubborn editor refuses an extension, Florence's career is jeopardized. Then, news of her father's passing compels her to return home after a decade.

Back in her Southern town, she is haunted by the eerie presence of a ghost at her family's funeral parlor.

But, as Florence navigates both the mysteries of the afterlife and her skepticism about love, she discovers that romance may still have a story to tell, even in death.

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This is my all-time favorite romance novel.

When Eva Mercy and Shane Hall, two acclaimed Black writers, cross paths at a long-awaited reunion, their shared history unfolds.

To say more will rob you of the angst, the passion, and the longing between these childhood sweethearts.

I love that you feel like you get a peek behind the curtain at both the writing process and the creative challenges of creation.

If you want to see these fictional authors on tour, take advantage of their cameo in The Love Song of Ricki Wilde.

In this spicy romance, a ghostwriter finds herself giving sex lessons to her celebrity client during a series of fan conventions.

Solomon's novel was selected by the New York Times as a Best Romance of 2023.

The reviewer noted its unique exploration of intimacy, which reverses the idea of what we see as true intimacy in life and the bedroom.

Now is the time to indulge in this literary thriller, as The Sequel hits store shelves in October 2024.

Jacob Finch Bonner always dreamed of being a successful writer, but his writing career has yet to go as planned.

Struggling for inspiration, he ends up teaching in an MFA program where a student claimed to have the perfect plot for a book that would be a sensation.

But after his death, Jacob uses his plot for his latest novel, which becomes a massive success.

However, his triumph is short-lived when he starts receiving threats.

Margaret Fuller accepts an invitation from Ralph Waldo Emerson to meet his circle of enlightened friends.

It's through this introduction that Fuller becomes a role model to a young Louisa May Alcott, an inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hester Prynne and the scandalous Scarlet Letter, a friend to Henry David Thoreau as he ventures out to Walden Pond . . . and a muse to Emerson.

But chances are that you knew little about her life's other fascinating details, like her role as the first female foreign news correspondent!

This illuminating historical fiction novel, from the author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, helps fill in the gaps on a literary muse.

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In this vibrant historical fiction novel, Marilyn Kleinman's life takes surprising turns when a scandalous incident with the Rabbi's son threatens to tarnish the family's reputation.

Sent to her firecracker Aunt, her family hopes she can help restore Marilyn's reputation.

But, as Marilyn navigates the summer under Ada's guidance, she discovers unexpected freedom and a chance to rewrite her future through a gifted typewriter to pen her first novel. 

I recommend this sweet novel to Judy Blume fans.

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We couldn't have a list of books about writers without including Jo March, the spirited and determined aspiring writer, in this classic sister story.

Jo's writing career develops during the Civil War, during which she courageously pursues her greatest literary ambitions despite societal expectations.

From her makeshift attic writing space to the challenges of publishing her stories, Jo embodies the timeless struggles and triumphs of a young woman striving to make her mark in the literary world.

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"All children mythologize their birth… Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won't be the truth; it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story."

So begins Diane Setterfield's beautiful debut novel, which took me on an adventure that I did not want to end.

Margaret Lea, who leads a quiet life with her father, receives an unexpected letter from a world-famous, reclusive author.

Vida Winter requests Margaret to write her untold life story, which is as captivating as it is eerily similar to Margaret.

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