Bay Area authors bounce into 2023

2023 got off to a roaring start for San Francisco Bay Area authors; here are selected new hardcover and paperback titles, listed by release date.


New in Hardcover

IN THE TIME OF OUR HISTORY

by Susanne Pari (Atherton)
(Kensington, Jan 3)

Inspired by her own Iranian-American heritage, a story of mothers and daughters, secrets and lies, and defying expectations—even when those choices come with an irrevocable cost.

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About the Author


THE BANDIT QUEENS 

by Parini Shroff (Los Altos)
(Ballantine, Jan 3)

In this debut novel, a young Indian woman finds the false rumors that she killed her husband surprisingly useful—until other women in the village start asking for her help getting rid of their own husbands. 

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MONEY AND LOVE

by Myra Strober (Stanford) and Abby Davisson (San Francisco)
(HarperOne, Jan 10)

A guide for navigating life’s most consequential and daunting decisions using research-based insights road-tested in a popular Stanford University course.

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About Myra Strober

About Abby Davisson


THE RIDERS COME OUT AT NIGHT

by Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham (Oakland)
(Atria, Jan 10)

A critical look at the systematic corruption and brutality within the Oakland Police Department, and the more than two-decades-long saga of attempted reforms and explosive scandals.

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About Ali Winston

About Darwin BondGraham


IMMEASURABLE OUTCOMES

Gayle Greene (Mendocino)
(Johns Hopkins University Press, Jan 17) 

In teaching a Shakespeare class at a small liberal arts college, Greene shows as well as tells what is vital and urgent about the humanities. 

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About the Author


THE CHINESE GROOVE

by Kathryn Ma (San Francisco)
(Counterpoint Press, Jan 24) 

A novel about a blithely optimistic immigrant with big dreams, dire prospects, and a fractured extended family in need of his help — even if they don’t know it yet. 

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About the Author


UNRAVELING

by Peggy Orenstein (Berkeley)
(Harper, Jan 24)

In this quirky memoir, Orenstein sets out to make a sweater from scratch—sheering, spinning, and dyeing wool—and in the process discovers how we find our deepest selves through craft.

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About the Author


THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN

by Myisha Battle (San Francisco)
(Seal Press, Jan 24)

Swipe. Match. Get ghosted. Repeat. A certified clinical sexologist helps make the world of dating and relationships more enjoyable (and bearable!).

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About the Author


New in Paperback

THE STRESS PRESCRIPTION 

by Elissa Epel (San Francisco)
(Penguin Life, December 27)

From the director of UCSF’s Aging, Metabolism, and Emotion Center, a simple plan to turn your stress into your strength in just seven days.

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About the Author


THAT DANGEROUS ENERGY

by Aya de Leon (Berkeley)
(Kensington, January 3)

A young Black artist in a love triangle with a climate activist and a fossil fuel mogul begins spying on the billionaire for the movement.

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About the Author


PLEASE REPORT YOUR BUG HERE 

by Josh Riedel (San Francisco)
(Holt, Jan 17)

In this debut novel, a dating app employee discovers a glitch that transports him to other worlds.

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About the Author


OUT OF SILENCE, SOUND. OUT OF NOTHING, SOMETHING.

by Susan Griffin (Berkeley)
(Counterpoint, Jan 17)

Griffin breaks down the creative process step-by-step, guiding the reader through a practical course in how to begin and end a work of literature, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, or prose.

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About the Author


VAMPIRE WEEKEND

by Mike Chen (Palo Alto)
(MIRA Books, Jan 31) 

A genre-mashup from Mike Chen, featuring a punk-rock vampire learning to connect to the world again when her surly teenaged grand-nephew needs her, and her music, to get him through a tough time.

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About the Author

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