You’ve watched all the movies and seen all the TV shows. With 30 days left of Charlotte’s mandatory Stay At Home order, you’ve found yourself scratching your head, wondering, what do I do now? Though not considered an especially literary city, Charlotte is home to some pretty amazing authors. Below we’ve listed some of our favorite books from writers who call the Queen City home. We’ve also included some greater NC authors for good measure. So cozy up, grab a cup of tea, and immerse yourself in a great story.
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Books by Charlotte Authors
The Elephant in the Room, By Tommy Tomlinson
At 50 years old, Tommy Tomlinson weighed a dangerous 460 pounds. His debut book, “The Elephant in the Room: One Fat Man’s Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America,” is an intimate and often brutal portrayal of Tomlinson’s lifelong battle with food. The memoir candidly chronicles his weight loss journey, the steps he took towards a healthier lifestyle, and the issues he faced along the way. Tomlinson served as a longtime columnist at the Charlotte Observer and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He currently hosts a radio show called, “SouthBound” on WFAE. He lives in Charlotte with his wife.
The Antidote For Everything, By Kimmery Martin
Kimmery Martin is a Charlotte-based emergency room physician turned-novelist. Her most recent novel, “The Antidote for Everything,” follows the story of urologist Georgia Brown and her best friend/coworker Jonah Tsukada, a charismatic family medicine doctor. While out of the country for a medical conference, Jonah informs Georgia that the hospital has instructed doctors to no longer provide medical services to transgender individuals. After Jonah, a gay man, is fired for refusing to turn his back on his patients, Georgia is forced make a tough decision that changes the course of both of their lives.
All the Missing Girls, By Megan Miranda
“All the Missing Girls” is a New York Times Bestselling thriller that follows protagonist Nicolette Farrell. Ten years ago, Nicolette’s best friend Corinne disappeared from their rural hometown without a trace. After a decade away, Nicolette returns to Cooley Ridge to care for her ailing father. She is soon forced to reconsider Corinne’s case as a neighborhood girl goes missing in a similar manner. Ugly secrets soon unfold in this nail biting novel. Megan Miranda lives in Huntersville, North Carolina with her husband and family.
The Woman in Our House, By Andrew Hart
For the first time since giving birth, Anna Klein is ready to return to her job as a literary agent. Her and her husband Josh decide to hire Oaklynn Durst, a live-in nanny with spectacular reviews. What starts as a blissful arrangement, soon turns into a nightmare as the children become mysteriously ill. Anna dives deep into Oaklynn’s past and discovers she’s not the woman she claims to be. Author Andrew Hart is the pseudonym for A. J. Hartley, a professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Déjà Dead, By Kathy Reichs
“Déjà Dead” is the first book in author Kathy Reichs popular Temperance Brennan series. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, has just left her dysfunctional marriage. She flees her home in North Carolina and winds up in Québec. When a trash bag containing a disfigured female corpse is discovered, Temperance must partake in the harrowing journey to find the killer. “Déjà Dead” is the inspiration for the hit Fox TV show “Bones,” where Reichs served as a producer. Reichs has residences in both Charlotte and Montreal, Québec.
Books by NC Authors
Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier
Confederate soldier W.P. Inman embarks on an odyssey through the war torn fields of the South to reunite with his beloved Ada. Ada too is facing her own struggles caused by the devastating effects of the Civil War. In 2003, the book was adapted into a movie starring Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. North Carolina native and author, Charles Frazier wrote Cold Mountain based on the stories passed down by his great-great-grandfather.
The Rest of the Story, By Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen is queen of the Young Adult fiction genre. Her newest book, “The Rest of the Story,” tells the tale of Emma Saylor, who lost her mother when she was just ten-years-old. Emma is unexpectedly sent to go spend the summer with her mother’s relatives, many of whom she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl. While there, Emma dives deep into her family’s history, discovering the socio-economic divide between her mother’s side of the family and her father’s. Sarah Dessen lives in Chapel Hill with her family.
Calypso, By David Sedaris
David Sedaris is an American humorist and nonfiction writer who grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. His most recent book “Calypso” is a collection of essays he wrote after buying a vacation beach house on the Carolina coast. While he envisions relaxing days by the ocean, the reality of his stay isn’t quite as idyllic as he’d hoped. During his time there, he realizes an important truth: that it’s “impossible to take a vacation from yourself.”
Support these Charlotte and NC authors today. Happy Reading!
