REQUIRED READING

Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Philip Gefter This behind-the-scenes look at the Edward Albee play and the classic movie – starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton – explores the wide-reaching effect the groundbreaking work had on America and ideas about love and marriage.

Crosshairs

James Patterson and James O. Born (Little, Brown and Company) The latest Michael Bennett thriller finds the detective teaming up with an Army Ranger-turned-NYPD officer to track down a highly skilled murderer. But, when Bennett’s new partner disappears for long stretches of time, questions arise.

If You See Them: Young, Unhoused, and Alone in America

Vicki Sokolik (Spiegel & Grau) After meeting a school friend of her son’s that was living on her own and struggling to support herself, Sokolik intervened and delved into the issue of youth homelessness, eventually founding a non-profit dedicated to helping struggling young students in her home state of Florida.

The Lantern’s Dance

Laurie R. King (Bantam) For decades, King has explored the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and a character she imagined called Mary Russell — a plucky, highly intelligent young woman who eventually marries Holmes. The new book finds the detective duo visiting Holmes’ son in the French countryside, only to discover he and his family have mysteriously disappeared.

The Lede: Dispatches from a Life in the Press

Calvin Trillin (Random House) The New Yorker writer zeroes in on journalism and journalists, writing about everything from a Miami crime reporter to the lack of gossip columns in Russia.

My What If Year

Alisha Fernandez Miranda (Zibby Books) Just before her 40th birthday, Miranda decided to take a break from her draining job as the CEO of a consulting firm and explore other gigs — from being a gopher for a Broadway production to working with priceless art at Christie’s. Along her humorous journey, she gains confidence and resilience.