Education, Culture, Art, economy

1. NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US

by Stephanie Powell Watts (Ecco)

A newly wealthy man moves back to his failing hometown after 15 mysterious years away and starts building a big, beautiful house to woo the woman he loves—even though, you know, she's married. Sound familiar? Inspired by The Great Gatsby, Watts loosely (masterfully, too) retells the American saga from the present-day perspective of a once-thriving African-American community, breathing fresh life into a classic ina way that feels more essential, more moving than the original.

2. THE DROWNING KING

by Emily Holleman (Little, Brown and Company)

You don't need to have read Holleman's 2015 debut, Cleopatra's Shadows, to enjoy this sequel about the Egyptian royal family, but you should. (E! only wishes it could film this infamous, primed-for-reality-TV family.) In the equally fast-moving, heart-poundingly good follow-up, Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe is torn between supportingCleopatra or their young brother for heir to the throne. Cue the lies, betrayal, and manipulation!

3. THE ARRANGEMENT

by Sarah Dunn

(Little, Brown and Company)

Dunn's latest, about an attempted open marriage, is damn funny, which isn't exactly a spoiler—see: her hit show, American Housewife. Lucy and Owen try to break the monotony by taking a break from monogamy. But even with all the rules laid out, their six-month plan is comically fallible.4. MARLENA

by Julie Buntin (Henry Holt & Co.)

When 15-year-old Cat moves to a poor, rural community, she never expects she'll form the most impactful, intoxicating, haunting relationship of her life: Marlena.

A year later, Cat's wild-child BFF is dead. Decades afterward, Cat is still trying to put the pieces together in this gorgeous, knowing debut that will make you reflect on the people who continue to shape our lives long after we leave them behind.