13 New Books for March

As much a love letter to California as it is to the artists that Timberg championed, this posthumous collection gathers pieces that are deep and meditative, creating a narrative about the trajectory of culture, at times exciting, often disappointing, and always interesting. Heyday, March 21

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The first jaywalking ordinance was passed in 1925 in Los Angeles. In the nearly 100 years since, car culture has come to dominate urban spaces, and Knowles explores its damaging effects, from environmental hazards to public safety concerns, arguing, as he looks to metropolises like Tokyo and New York for inspiration, that there is still hope for the road ahead. Abrams Press, March 28

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Simpson’s new novel highlights the strength it takes for one woman to build a family—and how quickly it can all fall apart. After dropping her oldest son off at college, Diane Aziz, a single mother, is hospitalized for a depressive episode, and the threads that connect her to her children begin to unravel. One scrapes for funds, one gambles on her future, and one begins experimenting with drugs, all while a family friend attempts to hold down the fort. Knopf, March 21

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McKenzie is back with an absurd tale following the charming, and a bit eccentric, Penny Rush. Penny has a multitude of problems, including a failed marriage, no work (she has quit her job), a missing mother and stepfather, and a mentally unbalanced father. But none of this stops her from chasing a fresh start. Penny encounters a piñata, a dog named Kweecoats, and an old van along the way as she works to reclaim her life and rebuild relationships and friendships—as well as find new ones. Penguin Press, March 14

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In this paperback edition of her book, which features a new afterword, Cengel relates the stories of four families who fled Cambodia for the United States. The matriarch of one is San Tran Croucher, a survivor of attacks in Vietnam and of the Khmer Rouge’s brutal regime. With her daughters, San painfully pieces a new life together in California, only to face criminal deportation 40 years after resettling in the United States. Potomac Books, March 1

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Victoria Nash is only 17, but as the last surviving female in her bloodline, she keeps things running smoothly on her family’s peach farm in Iola, Colorado. After she meets a mysterious young rover named Wilson Moon, the two fall for each other, and soon, Victoria leaves for the nearby mountains. Inspired by true events, Read’s debut novel is about the pain of choosing between the needs of others and carving one’s own path in life. Spiegel & Grau, February 28

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The former chief executive officer of Black Entertainment Television reveals a lot in this memoir, which highlights the realities of being a Black female executive in the entertainment industry. Lee was CEO for more than 13 years and racked up knowledge and experience. Now, she shares everything from her youth in the segregated South to thoughts on how to juggle the demands of motherhood and professional success. Legacy Lit, March 7

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In this coming-of-age novel, Byl brings readers to rural Montana, where the working-class Kinzler family—parents Josiah and Margaret and their daughters, Cody and Louisa—live. The story takes place through four decades, focusing on Josiah and Cody. The Kinzler family are bound by love, but they harbor secrets threatening to upturn their lives. The result is a nuanced look at family life in the American West, where not everything is as it seems. Strange Object, March 14

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Three lives converge in Norris’s novella, which takes place in San Suerte, deep in the California desert. Young Lustre Little is running from a violent past, while Sharone Bonilla escapes a history of crime and Destiny Deveraux flees after being orphaned young. Norris, author of The Confession of Copeland Cane, allures readers with his artful prose and compelling world-building. Nomadic Press, March 4

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In her new book, Odell calls out the capitalist clock that ticks away the minutes of our lives. Arguing that every bit of time has now become commodified, Odell draws on ancient cultures and civilizations as well as the natural rhythms of the earth to offer strategies for adjusting our understanding of time itself. Random House, March 7

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With the rise of ChatGPT, questions about the human relationship with technology are once again on the minds of many. In this book—which revolves around Olga and Mateo, a retiree and a student who hatch a scheme to earn a Google sponsorship for a technology-training program—Gopegui explores the iterations and nuances. Empathy, corporate capitalism, and Google itself come under the microscope in Olga and Mateo’s conversations. City Lights, March 21

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Yamas went from a documentary producer with an Adderall addiction to one of the biggest drug dealers in San Francisco. His memoir is an intimate and unguarded look at the fast-growing problem of crystal meth addiction in the queer community. He also approaches the lives of others with addictions with intention and empathy. Unnamed Press, March 7

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Imagine visiting the doctor for an illness and being told to pick up a guitar. The treatment may be unorthodox, but Magsamen and Ross argue that intentional engagement with the arts can transform one’s health and well-being and even extend longevity. Featuring breakthrough research, advice from neuroaesthetic experts, and anecdotes from people who use art for therapeutic reasons, their book offers a new perspective on how to enrich one’s life. Random House, March 21

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