We’re celebrating Indie Author Day (October 13) this year by reading up on our favorite independently published books of the year. From memoirs to essays and intriguing fiction, this is what we’re reading on Indie Author Day.

A Marriage in Four Seasons by Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki

Longing to have a second child, Joy and her husband escape to Spain after a devastating heartbreak. But as the two embark on separate adventures in the foreign country, they come to find that infidelity and distance has torn them apart, leading to divorce. But now Joy’s ex-husband is facing his new wife’s illness and will have to raise their child with ex-wife Joy. A Marriage in Four Seasons is a story of lust, human emotions and the surprises you never see coming.


Mouths Don’t Speak by Katia D. Ulysse

When Jacqueline assumes that her parents have died in the earthquake, she heads to Haiti to get closure, leaving behind her young daughter and her husband, who is suffering from PTSD. Back in Haiti, she encounters more death and destruction and knows that she needs to get back home because her daughter is the only thing that matters now.


All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

Nicole Chung was adopted and never knew her biological parents. Raised by white parents in Oregon, Chung was often discriminated against. In this new memoir, she details her journey to finding herself and uncovering the truths from her past.


Two Minus One: A Memoir by Kathryn Taylor

Kathryn Taylor thought her life had completely turned around when she married her second husband, but five years in, he asks for a divorce. Having to start her life over again, she seeks the advice of attorneys and therapists who will help her meet new people and become the woman she wants to be.


She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore

This fictional story, based on the very beginnings of Liberia, looks at three young people destined to make a difference in their community and in the world. With a touch of magic, history and bravery, She Would Be King is one of the best indie novels to come out in 2018.


Neon in Daylight by Hermione Hoby

Kate has just moved to New York and is trapped in a routine of Skyping with her sad boyfriend and taking care of a cat. She didn’t expect to meet Bill and his teenage daughter, who take her world and spin it into something brand new.


What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape by Sohaila Abdulali

Sohaila Abdulali knows what it’s like to be the victim of rape. In her book, she draws on her own experiences to uncover the truth about rape culture in America and around the world. Talking about the truths no one wants to hear, Abdulali’s book is one everyone should pick up.


Broken Whole: A Memoir by Jane Binns

Jane Binns, unhappy and trapped in her marriage, divorced her first husband to keep her young son from experiencing a childhood full of fighting and disappointment. Now single, Jane meets Steve. The couple’s toxic routine proves to be too much for Jane as she is continuously let down by him. It’s not until she breaks free from his hold that she becomes the kind of woman she’s always envisioned herself being.


Call Them by Their True Names: American Crises (and Essays) by Rebecca Solnit

In this intriguing nonfiction book, Rebecca Solnit explores difficult problems that the United States has encountered in the past decade. From global warming to police shootings and everything in between, this important book brings a fresh insight into our highly controversial political system.


Uberland: How Algorithms Are Rewriting the Rules of Work by Alex Rosenblat

There’s no doubt that Uber is a successful technology-based company but with their business model becoming more popular by other employers, our world has the potential of moving toward a place where all employers are virtual. Uberland brings up the ways in which this platform has begun to change the way society thinks and acts as they get involved with social issues that shape the world.