Fall is here! Time to curl up in a cozy sweater, grab your favorite spiced latte, and settle in with a great book. In honor of International Coffee Day (October 1), we’ve perfectly paired this season’s hottest reads with delicious coffees to make your selection a breeze. Get comfy with our Cozy Covers Fall 2020 Reading list, and share pics of your favorite pairings with us via Instagram and Twitter!
And take our BuzzFeed quiz to see which book you get paired with!
Grab an Americano for this dose of Americana as we head out West to join an eclectic cast of characters, as they explore the highs and lows of life in these rich, multifaceted short stories.
About the book: This prize-winning collection brings to life skiers, ranchers, cyclists, suffragettes, tourists, super models, dead pigs, burro racers, religious beet farmers, immigrant miners, scorned lovers, penitent centenarians, and musicians. Some historical, some contemporary, its stories revel in their Western settings, as varied as the region’s landscape. Yet each story explores the ways society’s values clash with our individual desires, compelling us, despite tears or laughter, to weave our lives through these opposing forces, often creating not a lifeline, but a noose.
Release date: September 21, 2020, V Press LC
This delicious coffee cocktail is sweet, but look out: like the events in this gorgeous contemporary novel, it’s packing heat and there’s more here than meets the eye.
About the book: Three women are lost in a single morning, one at a commuter train, one at a school, one while walking her dog in the woods. The police think the women are making some kind of political statement by setting themselves on fire….maybe members of a cult. But Cassandra knows better. You won’t rest until Cassandra, a mom and former anthropologist, solves the mystery of these fiery deaths. Part mystery, part science fiction, part a suburban domestic novel, Only the Women are Burning asks important questions about women in contemporary suburban lives.
Release date: October 1, 2020, Apprentice House
This classic ground brew was a staple in American households during the 1940s, and was even part of WWII soldiers’ ration kits in 1942, making it the perfect match for this inspirational historical novel set in 1921-1942. Plus the protagonist’s name is Grace Maxwell–we couldn’t resist.
About the book: Down to the Potter’s House is a 1921-42 historic novel that takes the tenacious Gracie Maxwell from the quicksand of mediocrity to higher ground as she climbs and never stops. Across the way, evil is beginning to bubble beneath the surface and only one soul will buoy and begin to float as the flood waters rise. Not everyone has escaped the lies that are holding them hostage. Fortified with bully-proofed valor to ride out the undercurrents, the Maxwell clan lays bare the daunting portrayal of what matters most in life ― family, faith, love ― and the main attractions are given their shot at setting the captives free.
Release date: November 3, 2020, Morgan James Fiction
This hipster-meets-boho beverage is the perfect blend of sweetness and spice, and the perfect match for this poignant contemporary novel about a struggling musician’s journey to reconnect with an old flame — and possibly discover his self respect along the way.
About the book: Joe Harper has backpedalled throughout his life. A once-promising guitar prodigy, he’s been living without direction since abandoning his musical dreams. Now into his thirties, having retreated from every opportunity he’s had to level up, he has lost his family, his best friend, and his own self-respect. But Joe finds an unlikely path to redemption when he starts working as a carpenter for the bohemian conceptual artist October Danko. The job returns him to his hometown, loaded with bittersweet reminders of his former life, in the shadows of his beloved redwood trees. As Joe’s relationship with October develops, he yearns to take a daring step toward a bold future, and must decide: Is cowardice reversible? Sorrow is a stunning, moving novel that explores masculinity and suspended adolescence, all the while begging the questions: Can courage be learned? And is it ever too late to follow your heart?
Release date: October 20, 2020, Woodhall Press
This soup-bowl sized coffee is perfect for when you’re sitting down for a long chat with your best friend, and Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt will feel like your best friend by the time you finish her funny, relatable, and motivating book. Like a double shot of espresso, MOMF will wake you the f*ck up.
About the book: I’m not good enough. This shouldn’t be happening. Things never work out for me. When we’re anxious, stressed, or fearful, the negative voice in our heads can be extremely powerful. It tells us we’re not smart or attractive enough. It berates us for our mistakes. And it keeps us feeling stuck in an endless loop of worry, shame, and hopelessness. But there is a way to shut it down. Blending evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and profanity, this unexpected guide will show you how to respond to your negative inner voice with one very important phrase: Move on, mother*cker (MOMF)! This book also includes journaling and other self-awareness exercises to help you put MOMF to work every day.
Release date: November 3, 2020, New Harbinger Publications
What better pairing for this international story of sex and revenge than espresso poured over ice cream? Sultry. Dark. Sweet. You know you probably shouldn’t — but don’t you want to?
About the book: Mr. Pink is a sociopathic magazine publisher hell-bent on taking an elaborate revenge for an old wrongdoing. Half Swedish and half English with the right pedigree, good looks and enviable self-esteem, Mr. Pink opens every door. He plays by his own rules, uses every trick in the book and invents some new ones. For Mr. Pink, sex is a way to manipulate others and see to it that he gets what he wants. He plays his victims like an instrument, each time getting the tune that he seeks. When Mr. Pink’s path is crossed by a Swedish journalist, Andreas, the two enter into a volatile relationship that will leave Mr. Pink taking a hard look at his own reflection — and wondering if he likes what he sees.
Release date: October 6, 2020, Books Fluent
Capture a taste of Paris with this French morning coffee and this absorbing memoir about a woman traveling around the world on a journey to find herself.
About the book: At forty, Margaret quits her sales job to follow her husband’s hotel career to Paris. Everyone tells Margaret she’s living the dream, but she feels adrift without a professional identity. Desperate to feel productive and valued, she abandons her writing and throws herself into new roles: perfect wife, hostess, guide, and expatriate. When she and her husband move to Cairo, however, the void inside she’s been ignoring threatens to engulf her. It’s clear that something needs to change, so she does the one thing she was raised never to do: asks for — and accepts — help. Over the next fifteen years abroad, the cultures of Egypt, Thailand, and Singapore confront Margaret with lessons she never would have learned at home. But it’s only when they move back to Chicago — with Margaret now stepping into the role of perfect caretaker to her parents — that she has to decide once and for all: will she dare to let go of the old rules and roles she thinks keep her safe in order to step into her own life and creative destiny?
Release date: September 15, 2020, She Writes Press
This sweet, mellow latte invites you to take a deep breath, focus on yourself, and discover a year’s worth of mindful reflections and daily encouragement — now in paperback.
About the book: From two experts on the psychology of behavior change comes A Mindful Year, the first book of its kind to join the age-old wisdom of mindfulness with cognitive behavioral science — the best-tested set of practices for alleviating stress and anxiety. Written from friend to friend, one day at a time, A Mindful Year invites you to start a new pattern–one that begins with taking just a few quiet moments to reconnect with what is most important, each day. As practical as it is inspirational, A Mindful Year marries moments of mindful reflection with calls to action — daily nuggets of wisdom paired with friendly encouragement to live in a way that is grounded, authentic, and compassionate.
Release date: September 10, 2020, Blackstone Publishing
Sometimes life pulls us apart, but with time and healing, we can decide how to build ourselves back together — and stronger than before — one step at a time.
About the book: When faced with overwhelming hardship, what we believe makes all the difference. At age twenty-six, Anne Reeder Heck was attacked by a stranger and brutally raped. Years later, still seeking to heal the remnants of this trauma, Anne stands alone in her living room one winter day and claims her desired belief aloud: “This is my year of strength.” Her clear intention results in a phone call; her rapist has been identified–fourteen years after the crime. Offering all the gripping and uplifting details of a story that sparked national interest–Heck appeared on the front page of The Washington Post and was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America–A Fierce Belief in Miracles lights the way for those seeking to heal from life’s traumas by demonstrating the importance of clear intention and trusting inner guidance, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Release date: September 22, 2020, She Writes Press
This colorful coffee drink is served in separate layers, much like the different worlds that Vivan Conan navigates as she digs through the layers of her past, and journeys to reconcile the pieces of her life into a more balanced whole.
About the book: Born in 1940s Brooklyn to a father prone to rages and an emotionally erratic mother, Vivian Conan grew up in two different worlds: Outside and Inside. Outside, she had friends, excelled in school, and was close to her cousins and brother. Inside, she saw faces that weren’t hers in her bedroom mirror and was surrounded by an invisible Atmosphere that bathed her in the love and understanding she craved. Moving between these worlds enabled Vivian to survive her childhood but limited her ability to live fully as an adult. Here is the riveting account of her journey toward self-understanding and wholeness; and her unconventional relationship with the therapist who was finally able to guide her through the courageous, messy work healing required. Told with honesty, humor, and grace, Losing the Atmosphere is a never-too-late story about the growth possible for anyone with the guts to pursue it, and a testament to the redemptive power of love: not the perfect kind Vivian experienced in her imaginary world, but the imperfect kind that connects us, flawed human being to flawed human being, in the real world she lives in now.
Release date: September 29, 2020, Greenpoint Press
This one-of-a-kind New Orleans staple is full of flavor and packs a memorable punch. Oh, and the coffee is pretty good too.
About the book: From the eponymous star of one of the most popular reality shows in Fuse’s history, this no-holds-barred memoir and “snappily dictated story of inverted cultural norms in the wards of New Orleans” (East Bay Express) reveals the fascinating truth about a gay, self-proclaimed mama’s boy who exploded onto the formerly underground Bounce music scene and found acceptance, healing, self-expression, and stardom. As the “undisputed ambassador” of the energetic, New Orleans-based Bounce movement, Big Freedia isn’t afraid to twerk, wiggle, and shake her way to self-confidence, and is encouraging her fans to do the same. In her engrossing memoir, Big Freedia tells the inside story of her path to fame, the peaks and valleys of her personal life, and the liberation that Bounce music brings to herself and every one of her fans who is searching for freedom.
Release date: December 1, 2020, Greenpoint Press (Paperback)
You love bubble tea, but how about bubble coffee? Iced boba milk coffee is definitely a thing, and a delicious one at that. You may have to hunt for it — much like the daemon-hunting protagonist in this fabulous interdimensional fantasy — but both this usual beverage and this novel are well worth adding to your collection.
About the book: Rachel Wilde comes from a dimension that exists adjacent to ours. The people there have structured their society around daemon collecting: they locate, catch, and repair malfunctioning daemons (creatures out of phase with our world that tempt people to do good or evil). Now Rachel has been given two unusual assignments: 1) find a person who has been trying to break down dimensional barriers, and 2) track down a missing line of gatekeepers, human placeholders for a daemon that was too badly damaged to repair. Authorities of Rachel’s world believe the missing gatekeepers are descended from a girl who went missing from West Africa hundreds of years ago, likely sold into slavery. With no leads to go on, Rachel seeks help from Bach, a raving homeless man who happens to be an oracle. Bach does put her in the path of both of her targets — but he also lands her in a life-threatening situation. Somehow, Rachel has to stop the criminal, reunite a gatekeeper with her stolen past, and, above all, survive.
Release date: October 6, 2020, SparkPress
The smooth surface of this no-frills coffee drink hides something dark underneath–a double shot of espresso, to be exact. And much like a double shot of espresso, this gripping thriller will keep you up all night.
About the book: Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings send their wives on a desperate search for answers–and a desperate attempt to save their families’ lives. Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband’s murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts. Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock — and now Cessy’s expected to pay up. Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband’s murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they’re not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.
Release date: November 10, 2020, Crooked Lane Books
Mocha Latte + Should Grace Fail: A Twin Cities Mystery by Priscilla Paton
This coffee delivers the caffeine dose you’re craving and has fun doing it. Likewise, this police procedural mystery serves solid crime fiction but will entertain you with snappy dialogue, colorful characters, and an enjoyable pair of investigators who will have you guessing to the end.
About the book: When a man who saves lives has his own brutally taken, Greater Metro Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger have their strengths pushed to the limit. The murdered man rescued trafficked teen addicts from a vindictive crime boss, but he was also an alcoholic who left the police force under suspicion. Is his murderer a drug dealer, a pimp, a corrupt police colleague, all of the above? Or could the killer be a victim who lashed out at her savior? In the mix is the imperious matriarch of a hotel chain who is blind to incidents on her properties. To solve the case, blunt Deb has to ingratiate herself with the hotel matriarch while resisting her attraction to the woman’s foxy assistant. Reserved Erik needs to earn the trust of a wrongfully accused teen. The detectives are pushed over a riverbank, pushed off a golf course, and pushed into a tiger enclosure. If they don’t catch the killer, the best friend and the young pianist are as good as dead. Erik and Deb, working with and against each other, must move fast before helping others proves fatal.
Release date: December 8, 2020, Coffeetown Press
A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.
Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.
Can I still arrange to be featured in an author event?
How do I know which booksellers are in attendance?
Kick back with the girls and enjoy a drink that’s as sweet and sassy as the novel it’s paired with, which has been hailed as “the perfect beach read” that “makes the Real Housewives look like Girl Scouts.” 
Transport yourself with 
This summer cocktail tastes delicious, but beware: the sweetest fruit has thorns, just as this heart-pounding suspense novel reveals when 20-year-old Tara escapes her abusive home life and joins her ideal virtual family–only to discover that “perfect” can be deceiving. 
This spicy citrus cocktail burns so good, just like this gripping debut thriller that weaves a twisting tale of romance, arson, and buried secrets set in a cabin deep in the New Hampshire woods. 
Fresh Spanish sangria brimming with summer fruit is the perfect match for this delightful romantic comedy (with a touch of magical realism), which sends protagonist Callie on a life-changing adventure to Spain after she receives a mysterious phone call from Ernest Hemingway. 
This Prohibition-era classic is as refreshing and no-frills as it gets–and definitely a drink our tough-as-nails protagonist Jane would have swilled while posing as a man at her newspaper job in this Depression-era noir thriller. 
This surprisingly light and fresh summer cocktail is a perfect match for this hysterical YA rom-com about Kate and Nate, two coworkers at a zombie-themed escape room who team up to compete in a survivalist weekend competition–but the real challenge will be keeping their hearts intact. 
It takes two to tango, and we’ve got the perfect pair: this citrusy-sweet cocktail straight from the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, and this delightful novel about a mom who runs off to Vegas with her therapist on a renegade girl’s trip. 
It’s time to break out the tequila and trade stories about our exes as we dive into this laugh-out-loud (true!) story of Dani Alpert’s strangest break-up. 
Here’s a twist on the classic mint julep, and we’re oh-so-eager to dive into the twists of this eerie thriller about a woman who takes a job on a remote Maine island–and discovers nothing is at it seems. 
I mean c’mon, how could we 
