#The best books of the week

Make Your Mess Your Memoir

Anna David (memoir, Launch Pad Publishing)


Anna David has made a career out of candid sharing and ’fessing up to the “messy” parts of her own life; in “Party Girl,” she wrote about her drug addiction and recovery. In her latest book, part memoir, part how-to manual, the bestselling author shows readers how they can take their own “mess” and make it work for them. Refreshing and honest.

Survival Instincts

Jen Waite (fiction, Dutton)


Anne and her daughter Thea are happily living in Vermont. When they decide to take a trip with Anne’s mom to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, relaxation and hiking are on the agenda. But while on their hike, they are accosted by a gun-wielding man — and end up fighting for their survival in an abandoned cabin.

The Nesting Dolls

Alina Adams (fiction, Harper)


From 1930s Siberia to modern Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, “Nesting Dolls” traces the stories of three generations of Russian Jewish women, each trying to break free of the constraints placed upon them.

The Safe Place

Anna Downes (fiction, Minotaur Books)


Emily’s life was a bit of a mess until she met Scott, a charismatic CEO at the company where she works as a temporary receptionist. One day, out of the blue, he offers her the job of housekeeper on his beautiful French estate, where his wife and daughter live. But while the setting is beautiful, and his wife is charming, Emily discovers the whole setup is a bit too good to be true.

Mother Land

Leah Franqui (fiction, William Morrow)


Rachel Meyer has moved from NYC to Mumbai with her Indian-born husband. She’s starting to settle in to her new home when one day, her mother-in-law arrives at their apartment out of the blue and announces she’s left her husband and she’s planning to stay at their place indefinitely.

Never Ask Me

Jeff Abbott (fiction, Grand Central Publishing)


In a leafy neighborhood in the Austin suburbs, a body is discovered on a bench. The victim is ID’d as Danielle, a beloved member of the community who was also an adoption consultant. One family, the Pollitts, is especially shaken up by her death. When their teenage son receives an anonymous email with the cryptic message, “You have been told a huge lie,” secrets fly through the neighborhood, and accusations are made.