April means spring when a cool breeze blows through the trees in bloom. On my back porch, I relax in a deck chair with my favorite new-to-me book and a glass of ice tea. At the dog park, my Corgis frap about through the fresh green grass and luxuriate in the fresh puddles of mud.
Of course, as a fan of true stories, nonfiction is always at the top of my to-be-read pile, and April is full of incredible new releases! I could start with Maggie Smith’s new essay collection for writers, which is full of excellent advice for the creative life. Or I could read a memoir by one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Kristin Kish. Or maybe I’ll check out the new vegetarian cookbook that features 80 recipes on the perfect combination of rice and dal. Or what about the new essay collection by one of today’s greatest writers and thinkers, Viet Thanh Nguyen?
In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected ten of some of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in April. You might be new to nonfiction or a true stories pro, but whatever the case, there’s sure to be something on this list that catches your eye.
All publication dates are subject to change.
 Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith (April 1st)For years, writer and teacher Maggie Smith has given writing advice through her newsletter For Dear Life. Now, she’s taken all of her experience and turned it into the perfect book for writers from all walks of life. Smith’s short essays are perfect for reading in between moments in readers’ busy, creative lives. |
 Kwéyòl / Creole: Recipes, Stories, and Tings from a St. Lucian Chef’s Journey: A Cookbook by Nina Compton with Osayi Endolyn (April 1st)Chef Nina Compton gathers together recipes from her birth place in St. Lucia to Jamaica and everything in between. Her unique blend of Caribbean cuisine highlights her one-of-kind favorite food to make and share with others. |
 Dal Chawal: 85 Vegetarian Indian Recipes Combining the Power of Dal and Rice by Sapna Punjabi (April 8th)Rice and dal, the perfect combination of foods if there ever was one. In this new cookbook, Sapna Punjabi provides dozens of recipes that combine different kinds of dal and rice to create a seemingly never-ending variety of these incredible foods. |
 Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara (April 8th)Vauhini Vara, an award-winning tech journalist and editor, delves into the world of Chat GPT. What will the world look like now that this powerful AI has been unleashed? Vara answers this question and more in her new essay collection. |
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 To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other by Viet Thanh Nguyen (April 8th)First given as a series of Norton Lectures, To Save and to Destroy delves into what it means to create art as an outsider in America. After arriving in the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975, Nguyen attended UC Berkeley and made his way in the world as a novelist and essay writer. Nguyen draws deeply from these experiences in his latest work. |
 The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse: A Memory of Vietnam by Vinh Nguyen (April 15th)In 1975, the Vietnamese refugee crisis began in earnest, and millions of people fled Vietnam. Decades later, Vinh Nguyen begins researching his father’s history, searching for answers about the details of his family history. The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse takes readers on a tour of abandoned homes and refugee camps, examining questions about what might have been. |
 Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish (April 22nd)Ever since her breakout moment on Top Chef, Kristen Kish has graced television screens around the world. Now, she’s an Emmy-nominated host of the same television series. In her new memoir, Kish shares her story of her childhood as a Korean American adoptee growing up in the Midwest. Readers follow her journey working in the restaurant business, making a name for herself, and working towards becoming a well-known TV personality and queer icon. |
There are so many good books — I don’t know where to start! If you’re looking for even more nonfiction book recommendations, check out 10 New Nonfiction Book Releases of March 2025 and 10 New Nonfiction Book Releases of February 2025.
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·