12 Books Scary Mommy Editors Couldn’t Put Down In January

“Warning: This book features domestic violence. If you're OK with that, proceed to immediately read The Names. It's written as three ‘what ifs,’ a sliding doors-type situation of what happens if different choices are made. It's beautifully written, thought-provoking, and just a lovely meditation on life and choice and why we are who we are. I can't recommend it enough.” — Kate Auletta, Editor in Chief

“I love good dogs, I love good food, and I love a good thriller. This book combines all three into a really delightful romp through the apparently cutthroat world of... truffles. Our hero, Danny Pasko, is a Cincinnati musician living a modest life before his golden retriever unearths a sought-after truffle. Finding these fungi starts to turn into a lucrative side quest, until Danny gets told to cease and desist by centuries-old (and fiercely protective-slash-territorial) truffle fraternities. Original and entertaining.” — Julie Sprankles, Deputy Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment

“This was my favorite book of the month. It's about a woman who finds out one of her best and oldest friends dies in a senseless accident — and is then charged with getting his most meaningful possessions back from an ex-girlfriend who lives across the world. This is a book about friendship, grief, love, and understanding, by one of the writers of the TV show Hacks. It's beautifully written, funny, and heartbreaking.” — Sarah Aswell, Deputy Editor, News & Social

“Hunger Games meets Handmaid’s Tale in this dystopian debut! I was on the edge of my seat and could not stop reading this book. Plus, there was a little romance sprinkled in, which didn't hurt. The second installment in this series comes out this year.” — Katie Garrity, News & Social Editor

*Releases on May 5

“This book has been on my TBR since reading an interview Amanda did for Romper last year. I think we're all evaluating our relationships with our phones more than ever, between reports of Grok's AI producing naked photos of children and the fact that we can't open any social media app without seeing traumatizing video and images. Second Life is Hess' reckoning with the role of technology in her life through the lens of getting pregnant and raising a child with a medical difference, and it's hitting extremely close to home for me.” — Katie McPherson, Associate Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment

“It's the dystopian future and the government has decided that the best way to control the population and save resources is by forcing people to merge consciousnesses with someone else, so that they take up one body instead of two. For Amelia, that means merging with her mom, who suffers from dementia. Will she decide to merge to save her mom, even if it means she might put herself in danger? And is there more going on with this program than it seems on the surface?” — Sarah Aswell

“Looking for a big old epic that spans three timelines and a few centuries? I found a good one for you. This chonky novel follows three very different people: A British historian in the 1800s, a water researcher living on a houseboat in London in modern times, and a little girl named Narin whose homeland in Turkey is being destroyed. I learned a lot about history, water, and the Mesopotamian region, and the stories weave together so well!” — Sarah Aswell

“I love a health memoir, and this one, written by a veteran reporter who experienced a rare form of encephalitis, did not disappoint. Cahalan interviewed her family, friends, coworkers, and physicians to piece together the month she can't remember, during which she experienced hallucinations, violent outbursts, seizures, and catatonia.” — Katie McPherson, Associate Editor, Lifestyle

*Releases on Feb. 3

“Mary Kubica is on her TENTH mystery/thriller, and if you loved her last one, She's Not Sorry, her latest one will resonate. Set in the North Woods of Wisconsin, a mysterious double murder leaves one woman wondering how something like this could happen.” — Katie Garrity

“I put off reading this for a while because I had been warned by friends that it would wreck me. And it did. But it’s also one of the best books I’ve read, and one that I feel like should 100% be on everyone’s TBR. Set in Jim Crow-era Florida, it follows 12-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr., who gets sentenced to a segregated reform school for kicking a wealthy landowner’s son in defense of his sister. It’s haunting in every sense of the word.” — Julie Sprankles

*Releases on May 26

“I am a Kevin Wilson completist, and his newest book is just as delightful as all of his others: funny, quirky, and with great characters. This slim novel tells the story of four half-siblings who have all been abandoned by the same father and their cross-country road trip to find out why their dad can't seem to stay.” — Sarah Aswell

“This historical fiction masterpiece spans multiple generations of a Korean family that immigrates to Japan searching for a better life. I knew it was good, but this sat on my shelf for years because of its size. I'm so glad I finally read it, it is really wonderful, filled with great characters, history, and love.” — Sarah Aswell