Five picks for September

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

All This & More by Peng Shepherd (speculative fiction) – In this creative novel, a woman wins the chance to rewrite every mistake she’s ever made. But there’s a twist: The reader decides what she does next to change her destiny. Marsh is a recently divorced housewife who is questioning many of her life decisions. When she is given the opportunity to participate in a reality show that would allow her to alter her past choices, Marsh jumps at the chance. However, as the season progresses, cracks start to appear – fragments of memories blur into new timelines, mysterious texts appear on her phone and pathways meld into one another. I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child, and this ode to them is very well done. Shepherd’s exploration of regret and our tendency to look back on our past with rose-colored glasses is a delight. This book will appeal to fans of choose your-own-adventure stories and reality TV, unique storylines, and those who loved The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum (nonfiction) – While the only reality TV I watch is The Amazing Race, I loved this deep dive into the genre that now dominates our screens. Nussbaum chronicles how reality television came to be, including the roots of the genre all the way back to the 1940s through the popular shows of today. The chapter about an early show called An American Family is a particular standout. She discusses the more popular shows like The Real World, Big Brother, Survivor, and The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and explains how each show contributed to the genre as a whole, while also highlighting smaller shows that experimented with various ideas and formats. The most fascinating (and often horrifying) parts are the behind-the-scenes details that evidence how fake and manipulated “reality TV” really is. This cultural and social commentary is a must-read for anyone interested in modern society.

Do the Next New Thing: Embrace Uncertainty and Discover Purpose, Happiness, and Friendship by Pamela Lamp (nonfiction) – When Houstonian Pamela Lamp moved to a new city, she was lonely and missed her network of friends she had developed over the years. As a result, she set out on a journey of self-discovery, trying one new thing each day. Her book chronicles everything she learned from this experience and encourages readers to try something similar. Each chapter is headlined by a quote from another book that ties in with the theme of the chapter. My favorite snippet is from Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: “When you go home today, ask yourself what you will change. And then get started.” Pamela uses discreet examples of how she implemented her ideas and why those methods worked for her. For anyone who is moving or has moved, is at a new stage in life, is now an empty nester, or just wants to shake up their life a little bit, this will be a highly useful read.

Mademoiselle Eiffel by Aimie K. Runyan (historical fiction) – Claire Eiffel loses her mother at a young age and is tasked with helping raise her younger siblings in addition to becoming her father’s apprentice and helper. She dreams of becoming a painter but sets aside these dreams to help her family and the family business including the building of the Eiffel Tower. Runyan vividly describes the complex designing and creation of one of the most iconic structures in the world including all of the planning and work that went into its building, including the observation deck, laboratory, methods of reaching the top, and the restaurants. When Gustave Eiffel’s subsequent involvement in building a canal in Panama lands him in jail, Claire is tasked with securing her father’s freedom as well as preserving her family’s legacy. A formidable yet diplomatic woman with practical ideas, Claire was born long before her time, and I enjoyed learning about this strong woman who was previously lost to history. There is a fabulous Author’s Note at the end about the extensive research Runyan conducted to bring Claire to life.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (thriller/horror) – Eve is home by herself when Thomas and his family knock on her front door. Thomas explains that he grew up in the home Eve and her partner, Charlie, recently purchased. While she initially hesitates, Eve is a people pleaser and eventually allows the family in to look around. As soon as the family enters the home, strange things start happening, including the disappearance of the family’s youngest child somewhere within the dwelling, and the family refuses to leave. The eeriness factor is off the charts; We Used to Live Here is dripping with dread, tension, and a fun creepiness factor that kept me turning the pages, but it wasn’t so scary that I couldn’t sleep at night. Kliewer also sows doubt about whether Eve is actually experiencing these events or whether it might all be in her mind, which kept me guessing and crafts a spectacular ending. The book is being adapted for Netflix with Blake Lively starring as Eve.

Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast www.thoughtsfromapage.com, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfrompage, and regularly speaks to groups about books