Books to Make Family Dinner Less Awkward

Meet this crew. Lisa Jewell’s, “The Family Upstairs,” is a family saga slash thriller set in Europe. It follows a 25-year-old as she learns of her adoption, new sprawling inheritance, and the truth behind her birth family. It weaves in and out of the present and will leave you on the edge of your seat. The perfect distraction for a conversation you want to stay clear of. 

Give her this. Alison Roman, of “#TheCookies” and “#TheStew” fame, has a new cookbook out. Hit recipes include a slow-roasted chicken, labneh dip, and salty chocolate cookies. The only thing better than eating food with your family is talking about it. PS: pairs well with wine too. 

Try this spy novel out for taste. John Le Carré‘s latest book (his 25th), “Agent Running in the Field,” is here to your rescue. It follows a 47-year-old British Secret Intelligence Service agent who is called in for one final job. Russians are involved and it’s both escapist and real, with references to Brexit, Boris Johnson, and Trump.

Try out something you'll be able to agree on: the magic of Carrie Fisher. Sheila Weller’s new biography of the “Star Wars” actress is your next great conversation starter. Weller is a famed profiler in her own right (she’s penned a biography on other VIP women like: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon.) Her newest book covers Fisher’s life growing up as Hollywood royalty, her titular role as Princess Leia, her relationship with Paul Simon, and more. May the reading force be with you.

“Nothing to See Here.” Kevin Wilson’s new book is the perfect family meets friendship drama to distract you from your own holiday problems. It centers on two former boarding school friends who are brought back into each other’s lives as one begins taking care of the other’s two stepchildren with some extra special magical powers. Think: accidentally combusting into flames. It’s fiction with a sci-fi plot twist. 

Elton John will do the trick. The “Tiny Dancer” singer is out with his first and only autobiography, “Me.” For prime happiness, listen to the audiobook instead of picking up the hard copy. John narrates the stories along with Taron Egerton, the actor who played him in the movie “Rocketman.” In it, John covers everything from his career and famous friendships with Freddie Mercury and John Lennon, to his struggle with addiction and his collaboration with his longtime song-writing partner. Headphones on, stomach full = the mood we’re heading into the holidays with. 

Adam Platt knows a thing or two about that. “The Book of Eating: Adventures in Professional Gluttony” is the perfect conversation starter for your next family gathering. Platt, who’s the restaurant critic for New York Magazine, is out with a memoir about his life growing up around the world and eating his way through it. He writes about everything from dim sum in Hong Kong to pierogies in Moscow. It'll make you want to book a dinner and a flight.

Caroline Hulse’s “The Adults” can relate. This one’s what happens when a family Xmas goes very very wrong. The premise: a divorced couple is bringing their new SOs to family Christmas. The police get called and you’re left to figure out what happened. PS: it’s now out in paperback and is the perfect holiday thriller to distract you from politics chatter.

Talk about these women instead. It’s an anthology of past “Vanity Fair” archive pieces from women about women. Think: Gail Sheehy on Hillary Clinton. Jacqueline Woodson on Lena Waithe. You get the idea. They’re telling the female stories of the last few decades and is a perfect gift for anyone who loves history, magazines, women, and good writing. Oh and they’re short so you can read a section in between family activities, holiday parties, or even meal courses.