Books

Health

Her love life was in chaos. The solution? Giving up sex

Marielle Segarra

Margaret Cirino

After a bad breakup, writer Melissa Febos decided to abstain from sex and dating for a year. She didn't realize how much it would change her life. She tells her story in a new book, The Dry Season.
Where to start? This week's new releases are an all-you-can-read buffet

Colin Dwyer

This week, new horror from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a funny college do-over from Jeneva Rose, and autofiction from Hannah Pittard. Plus, stories about the American South, and a deep dive into the Earth.
National

Wrongly convicted, he became 'The Jailhouse Lawyer' — and helped free himself

Terry Gross

While serving a life sentence for a murder he was eventually exonerated of committing, Calvin Duncan studied law and helped many wrongfully convicted prisoners. His memoir is The Jailhouse Lawyer.
Through comics, 'Essex County' creator shows us the struggles, triumphs of his career

Tahneer Oksman

Jeff Lemire explores his career arc, the road to successfully delivering Essex County and other comics to the public, in a new graphic memoir.
By land and by sea, these new nonfiction books will carry you away

Maureen Corrigan

Helen Whybrow's memoir, The Salt Stones, is a closely-observed account of her life as a shepherd. In A Marriage at Sea, Sophie Elmhirst tells the true story of a couple adrift on a rubber raft.
A young novelist takes on misconceptions about teen moms in 'The Girls Who Grew Big'

Tonya Mosley

Mottley's latest novel follows three young women as they navigate pregnancy and motherhood in a small town in Florida. She sees the novel as an extension of her work as a doula.
New books this week focus on Caitlin Clark, King Tut, and how 'Democrats Lost America'

Colin Dwyer

Plus: a new novel from Gary Shteyngart, a true story of a shipwreck, and a memoir from a wrongly incarcerated inmate who was exonerated after 28 years behind bars.
From caterpillar to butterfly, 'Papilio' grows up in a new picture book

Samantha Balaban

Papilio is a picture book told in three parts about three stages of a butterfly's life (there are really four stages but egg time is pretty boring). It's also written and illustrated by three friends.
Jenny Han is an expert in embarrassment

Rachel Martin

Jenny Han feels close to her teen self, which explains why her books and their adaptations connect with teen audiences. She spoke with Rachel about the potency of shame and what she's selfish about.
Arts & Culture

'Hamilton' producer Jeffrey Seller traces his journey from 'Theater Kid' to Broadway

Terry Gross

Seller has been a key behind-the-scenes figure for some of Broadway's biggest hits including, Hamilton and Rent, but he got his start on a much smaller scale. He looks back in a new memoir.