Entertainment
3 Greatest Books to Read This Weekend (Sep 5-6)
September is here, and every dedicated book-lover knows what that means: it’s time for peak reading season. With major releases on the horizon and the ideal level of coziness setting in the air, what better way to celebrate fall than with some great reads? And if you’re looking for a new book this weekend, you’ve certainly got a lot to choose from.
Between beloved classics and new bestsellers, there’s a wealth of great books out there in the world, but to make things a little easier, we’ve narrowed down a selection of must-reads that have been rocking the charts and sweeping accolades recently. Without further ado, here are three great books that we think you should read this weekend.
1
‘The Disappearers: A Novel’ (2026)
Written by acclaimed Jamaican author Marlon James (creator of the Channel 4/HBO series Get Millie Black), The Disappearers is a novel set in 1980s Kingston, Jamaica. The story revolves around a gay theatre troupe preparing for a production of John Herbert’s Fortune and Men’s Eyes, who experience a homophobic attack and adopt different strategies to navigate its aftermath. The novel is James’ first new book set in Jamaica after his Booker Prize-winning 2015 work A Brief History of Seven Killings.
Like James’ acclaimed previous work, The Disappearers is an intense story that shows great dedication to realism in both its characterizations and its depiction of violence. The novel made it onto the longlist for the 2026 Booker Prize and has been highly acclaimed by critics. Informed partly by the author’s own experiences and stories he heard in his youth, the book paints a fascinating picture of queer life in Jamaica and the complex intersections of race and sexuality.
2
‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’ (2026)
The world at large was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of actress and singer Hayden Panettiere last month. Despite her popularity and accolades, Panettiere’s death certainly reminded a lot of people that they knew so very little about the star beyond her work in iconic classics like Remember the Titans, Nashville, and Heroes, and if you’re one of those people, then you need to have this book on your reading list.
Published in May 2026, just months before Panettiere’s death, This Is Me: A Reckoning is a candid, intimate memoir in which the star recounts her lifelong relationship with the world of entertainment. The book shares the highs and lows of Panettiere’s life, including her struggles with loss, postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, domestic abuse, and more. Yet, despite the pain and hardships it outlines, the book is ultimately inspiring, which also makes it all the more heartbreaking.
3
‘Theo of Golden’ (2023)
The third book and first novel by American author Allen Levi, Theo of Golden started life as a self-published book before being picked up by Simon & Schuster for a traditional release in 2026. The story follows the titular stranger, who arrives in the small city of Golden and visits the local coffee house, where he finds 92 portraits of the people of the city. Buying them one at a time, he sets out to reunite the portraits with their subjects, with each exchange leading to a new connection.
Despite the fact that none of the marketing materials for Theo of Golden mention this, it is a narrative rooted in Christian values. This can come as a surprise to some readers who may be expecting a quirky slice-of-life story, but the book is most accurately described as an allegorically and morally charged Christ-narrative, with its protagonist often interpreted by reviewers as a stand-in for God. While that does mean that the book may not be as appealing to all audiences, it’s a heartfelt work with an emphasis on kindness and grace, which we could all use a lot more of, regardless of our religious persuasions.
- Release Date
-
2024 – 2024-00-00
- Network
-
HBO Max
-
Tamara Lawrance
Millie-Jean Black
-
You must be logged in to post a comment Login