Carlile and Hunter Biden share personal journeys

In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s Barbara Van Denburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale on Tuesday.

1. “Broken Horses” by Brandi Carlile (Crown, nonfiction)

What it’s about: The singer, songwriter and Grammy winner opens up in an intimate memoir, from her impoverished and dysfunctional childhood through the events that shaped her life and art.

The buzz: “An intimate, lifeaffirming look at a musician whose artistic journey is far from over,” says a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

2. “Beautiful Things: A Memoir” by Hunter Biden (Gallery, nonfiction)

What it’s about: President Joe Biden’s embattled son writes candidly of his alcohol and drug addiction – but also of the love that helped him back on the winding path to sobriety.

The buzz: “Yes, the book touches on (former President Donald) Trump and Biden’s Ukraine business, but more compelling are the vulnerable, human details of Biden’s personal life,” says a preview from USA TODAY.

3. “Good Company” by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (Ecco, fiction)

What it’s about: The author of the bestselling novel “The Nest” returns with a tender, bighearted story of the bonds of marriage and friendship. Everything Flora thought she knew about her life is upset when she stumbles across an envelope containing her husband’s wedding ring, which he claimed he lost.

The buzz: “Sweeney’s second novel lives up to its title: warm, witty, and interesting,” says Kirkus Reviews.

4. “Broken (in the best possible way)” by Jenny Lawson (Henry Holt and Co., nonfiction)

What it’s about: With humor and honesty, Lawson takes readers on her mental and physical health journey as she grapples with anxiety and depression.

The buzz: “Fans will find comfort in Lawson’s dependably winning mix of shameless irreverence, wicked humor, and vulnerability,” says Kirkus Reviews.

5. “Caul Baby” by Morgan Jerkins (Harper, nonfiction)

What it’s about: The “Wandering in Strange Lands” author makes her fiction debut with a novel about the Melancon, a powerful Harlem, New York, family of female healers known for their caul, a precious layer of skin that is the source of their power.

The buzz: Publishers Weekly says “it’s vividly conceived, and the strong plot will carry readers to the end.”