5 Books You Need to Read in February

A freshly orphaned 23-year-old from Michigan is taken in by her affluent, influential New York cousins and uncovers a treasure trove of secrets, including the reason why she and her mother became estranged from her father's side of the family. Drama ensues. 

When a veteran grappling with PTSD returns from his tour of duty in Vietnam, he chooses to move his family to Alaska, where his friend who passed away during the war has a property. Things take a turn when he finds himself struggling to confront his demons during the harsh winter.

Rose McGowan spares no disturbing details in her much-hyped memoir, including her time spent growing up in a religious cult and a graphic account of her alleged rape by Harvey Weinstein in a jacuzzi at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. 

RELATED: Rose McGowan Says She Told Ben Affleck About Her Harvey Weinstein Assault When It Happened

With her trademark wit and keen observations, Zadie Smith tackles weighty political topics (Brexit) and offers philosophical analyses of pop culture figures (Justin Bieber). 

In a series of page-turning vignettes, a writer chronicles 17 near-death experiences that made an indelible mark on her life, from being held at knifepoint in Chile to navigating her daughter's severe food allergies. Buckle up.