Fall is just around the corner, which means we're all getting ready to curl up on the couch, light a candle and read a good book.
If that sounds like your definition of bliss, you're in luck — we have all of the book recommendations that should be on your list this month.
Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of "Tell No One" and the recently released "Win," stopped by the 3rd Hour of TODAY to share six picks that are worth picking up in September.
Whether you prefer to immerse yourself in a thriller, read for pleasure or enjoy a good work of fiction every now and then, Coben has a pick for every kind of reader.
Best thriller read
"The Last Mona Lisa," by Jonathan Santlofer
Based on the true story of how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and not returned until 1913, this novel digs into the mystery of the two-year interim period. It's a historical thriller and a page turner that Coben says fans of Dan Brown will love.
Best fun read
"So We Meet Again," by Suzanne Park
What Coben calls a "comfort read" is this funny, romantic and real-world novel. It centers on Jessie Kim, a young Korean woman who is laid off from her finance job in New York City and relocates to Tennessee to start over. It tackles sexism and racism in gripping ways, Coben said.
Best fiction read
"Beautiful World, Where Are You," by Sally Rooney
The follow-up to Sally Rooney's bestselling novel, "Normal People," this story is a "tragic and witty story about youth, friendship and sex," Coben says. It centers on four young people trying to find their way — and struggling to do so — in this world, and the complex relationships that exist among them.
Best autobiography
"All In," by Billie Jean King
What Coben calls a "must-read" is King's autobiography that doesn't hold anything back. It's not just a love letter to tennis and competition but also a story of bravery, perseverance, love, grit and King's dedication to making the world a better place for everyone.
What Harlan's reading now
"Intimacies," by Katie Kitamura
A story about power, violence, obsession and intimacies, this novel centers on a woman of many identities struggling to find a place to call home. As an interpreter in the International Court in New York, she finds herself pulled into complex situations and dramas, which force her to confront power, love, heartbreak and her own desires.
For young adults
"Elatsoe," by Darcie Little Badger
A blend of a modern murder mystery, indigenous mythology and supernatural happenings, this book is a "compelling" read for those 12 and older, Coben said. It's the story of Elatsoe, who lives in contemporary America, and has the power to summon spirits — when one tells her that her cousin was murdered. It's up to Elatsoe to track down the killer and unravel the mystery on her own.
For more book recommendations, check out:
- Jenna Bush Hager picks first mystery novel for Read With Jenna book club
- Interested in a book or album you saw on TODAY? Here's where to get it
- 5 books to read after 'The Turnout,' by Megan Abbott
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