Acting legends Chita Rivera, Laura Dern and Diane Ladd release must-read books this week
Barbara VanDenburghIn search of something good to read? USA TODAY's Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale Tuesday.
For more must-read book recommendations, check out the 20 books we are most excited about this spring, including Andy Cohen's "The Daddy Diaries: The Year I Grew Up" and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah fierce new novel "Chain Gang All Stars"; our favorite books of 2022 that received perfect four-star reviews; and the juiciest recent celebrity memoirs from Matthew Perry, Tom Felton, William Shatner, Jennette McCurdy and more.
Make sure to sign up for our books newsletter to have the latest books news delivered straight to your inbox.
Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
'Chita: A Memoir'
By Chita Rivera (HarperOne, nonfiction)
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
What it's about: The three-time Tony-winning actress and Broadway star ("West Side Story," "Chicago") takes readers behind the scenes of her extraordinary showbusiness career and her work with legends like Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse and Liza Minnelli.
The buzz: "Fans of musical theater and dance are in for a real treat," says Kirkus Reviews.
‘Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding)’
By Laura Dern and Diane Ladd (Grand Central, nonfiction)
What it's about: When an illness threatened legendary actress Ladd’s life, her doctor prescribed long walks to help build her lung capacity. It was a struggle, but her daughter, the equally legendary Oscar-winning actress Dern, distracted her by sharing stories. Those conversations – about life, love, marriage, art, everything – are collected here.
The buzz:Library Journal calls it "a warm and engaging memoir."
'The Rescue'
By T. Jefferson Parker (Forge, fiction)
What it's about: The Edgar Award-winning author of "A Thousand Steps" returns with a new gripping thriller about a journalist who falls in love with a Mexican street dog with a mysterious gunshot wound. When she adopts the dog and his story goes viral, some dangerous people become interested.
The buzz: "Another fine effort from the talented Parker," says a starred review from Booklist.
‘Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution’
By Rainn Wilson (Hachette Go, nonfiction)
What it's about: The writer and actor who starred as Dwight on “The Office” isn’t just funny, he’s spiritual. Here, he proposes no less than a spiritual revolution, a “Soul Boom,” to achieve transformational healing on an individual and global scale.
The buzz: "With sincere enthusiasm and a playful tone, Wilson highlights the vitality of spirituality in our lives," says Kirkus Reviews.
- "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution" at Amazon for $25.20
- "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution" at Bookshop for $26.04
'Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma'
By Claire Dederer (Knopf, nonfiction)
What it's about: Expanding on her viral 2017 Paris Review essay “What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men?” Dederer poses the question: Can we love the work of artists like Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Michael Jackson and other talented male artists who've provoked moral outrage?
The buzz: "Bringing erudition, emotion, and a down-to-earth style to this pressing problem, Dederer presents her finest work to date," says a starred Kirkus review.
