Leading ladies get the spotlight

New books examine Houston, Fisher.

1. “A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston” by Robyn Crawford (Dutton, nonfiction, on sale Nov. 12)

What it’s about: The late singer’s best friend opens up for the first time since her death in 2012, beginning with the start of their friendship as teenagers in the ’80s. It was a connection that endured superstardom, sold-out world tours, a tumultuous marriage and divorce. Now, the person who knew her best seeks to set the record straight.

The buzz: In an early excerpt of the novel published by

People, Crawford reveals the two were once romantic partners. “We never talked about labels, like lesbian or gay,” writes Crawford. “We just lived our lives and I hoped it could go on that way forever.”

2. “The Andromeda Evolution” by Daniel H. Wilson and Michael Crichton (Harper, fiction, on sale Nov. 12)

What it’s about: The longawaited sequel to Crichton’s best-selling “The Andromeda Strain,” published 50 years ago, details in thrilling fashion a scientific crisis that nearly wiped out humanity.

The buzz: A ★★★☆ review for USA TODAY calls the sequel “an infectious evolution of the Michael Crichton literary legacy.”

3. “Carrie Fisher: A Life on the Edge” by Sheila Weller (Sarah Crichton/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, nonfiction, on sale Nov. 12)

What it’s about: This biopic appreciation of the late actress and writer sources friends and colleagues to celebrate Fisher’s one-of-a-kind spirit and singular talent, and is candid about her open struggles with bipolar disorder and drug addiction.

The buzz: Kirkus Reviews calls it “an expansive look at a woman who lived large, loved deeply, and did a lot to destigmatize mental illness.”

4. “The Innocents” by Michael Crummey (Doubleday, fiction, on sale Nov. 12)

What it’s about: Two children, orphaned at a young age in 19th-century Newfoundland, rely on one another to survive in one of Earth’s most challenging climes in this harshly beautiful novel. Based on a true story.

The buzz: A ★★★g review for USA TODAY says, “What begins as a gripping survival tale deepens into a psychological inquiry into intimacy, conflict and what it means to be alone together in the world.”

5. “The Book of Eating: Adventures in Professional Gluttony” by Adam Platt (Ecco, nonfiction, on sale Nov. 12)

What it’s about: The James Beard Award-winning contributing editor and restaurant critic for New York Magazine details his globe-trotting culinary adventures in an entertaining food memoir.

The buzz: Kirkus Reviews calls it “a candid, entertaining look at an often bizarre new gustatory landscape.”