Monthly Pop Picks Digest – November 2025

Who Is Government? by Michael Lewis

Who Is Government? is a collection of essays by Michael Lewis and other writers that showcases the vital, yet often invisible, work of federal civil servants. The book profiles individuals in various government agencies, such as mining safety engineers, IRS agents, and National Archives employees, to challenge negative stereotypes of bureaucrats and reveal the essential functions they perform to serve the public good. The stories highlight the dedication, expertise, and impact of these public servants, demonstrating how their work is crucial for the functioning of the government and American life.

History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook

As a newly minted junior professor, Daphne Ouverture spends her days giving lectures on French colonialism, writing her first academic book, and going on atrocious dates. Her small world suits her just fine. Until Sam Taylor dies. The rising star of Harrison University’s anthropology department was never one of Daphne’s favorites, despite his popularity. But that doesn’t prevent Sam’s killer from believing Daphne has something that belonged to Sam–something the killer will stop at nothing to get. Between grading papers and navigating her disastrous love life, Daphne embarks on an investigation to find out what connects her to Sam’s murder. With the help of an alluring former-detective-turned-bookseller, she unravels a deadly cover-up on campus.

The Fort Bragg Cartel by Seth Harp

A groundbreaking investigation into a string of unsolved murders at America’s premier special operations base, and what the crimes reveal about drug trafficking and impunity among elite soldiers.

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

The first thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and the Will Trent Series. Welcome to North Falls-a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think. Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites. For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend’s daughter needed help-and now she must bring her home. But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did. Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?

Wrath of the Dragons by Olivia Rose Darling

In the explosive sequel to the bestselling romantasy Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them”– Provided by publisher. Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he’s determined to fulfill his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he’s ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience. Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she’d ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more.

Immortal Consequences by I. V. Marie

Six students at Blackwood Academy, an enigmatic boarding school located at the edge of the afterlife, must compete for the once-in-eternity chance to change their fate–or risk remaining at Blackwood forever”– Provided by publisher. Welcome to Blackwood Academy: the legendary school located at the fringes of the afterlife, where students are fated to spend the rest of eternity shepherding lost souls. Once a pupil enters the school’s arched gates, there is no way out…except for the Decennial, a once-in-a-decade celebration that rewards nominees who pass its trials with a choice: formally graduate and join Blackwood’s magical elite, or venture into the unknown and cross over to the mysterious Other Side.

No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams

In one Halloween obsessed Midwestern town, everyone’s on red alert after a local politician goes missing. Little do they know it’s only the beginning. It’s been close to twenty years since forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin. The town is famous for its Halloween celebrations, but also its history of violent deaths linked to the holiday. To Dolores, it’s the place she fled, family, bad memories, and all. Until the FBI calls to tell her that her father–the former mayor turned US Senator–is missing under mysterious circumstances. Some people count to ten to wake up from a nightmare. Dolores always counts the bones of her head instead: sphenoid, frontal, lacrimal. But no matter how many times she counts them, it doesn’t change the fact that her father is missing, that his final words of warning to her were to trust no one, and that now, the rest of her family is giving Dolores a chilling welcome.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore An’ying’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mo–beautiful, ravenous demons–roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls. An’ying is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life–the one thing An’ying knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition. Death is common in the Trials.

Love is a War Song by Danica Nava

A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, author of The Truth According to Ember. Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather war bonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery-not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.

The Wealth Ladder by Nick Maggiulli

From the author of Just Keep Buying, a groundbreaking new framework for building wealth.”– Provided by publisher. The Wealth Ladder offers a strategic, stage-based approach to building financial stability and growth. Instead of relying on generic advice or working harder without results, this book introduces six distinct levels of wealth, each requiring a unique strategy for managing spending, income, and investments. Designed to adapt with life’s changes, The Wealth Ladder helps readers make smarter financial decisions with less stress and a clearer path to long-term prosperity.