WSJ’s Top Book Recommendations-Cary Regional

Discover the best books of the year, handpicked by the editors of The Wall Street Journal. From thought-provoking nonfiction to engrossing fiction, our Top Book Recommendations offer a curated list of exceptional reads that will inform, inspire, and entertain. Featuring titles from acclaimed authors and emerging voices, our selection spans genres and subjects, ensuring there's something for every reader. Dive into the world of ideas, stories, and perspectives that will change the way you think, feel, and see the world.
 

Showing 1 - 5 of 5  There are a total of 302 valid entries on the list.

1. Dare to lead: brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts

Book cover for "Dare to lead"
Star rating for Dare to lead
Author:
Brown, Brené
Average Rating:
3.2 stars
Formats:
Book, Audiobook, OverDrive eAudiobook, OverDrive eBook
Description:
In her number one New York Times best sellers, Brené Brown has taught what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she's showing listeners how to put those ideas into practice so they can step up and lead.

2. Dark sacred night

Book cover for "Dark sacred night"
Star rating for Dark sacred night
Author:
Connelly, Michael, 1956-
Series:
Renee Ballard novels volume 2.
Average Rating:
4.1 stars
Formats:
Book, Audiobook, Large Print, OverDrive eBook
Description:
Detective Renee Ballard is working the graveyard shift again, and returns to Hollywood Station in the early hours only to find that an older man has snuck in and is rifling through old file cabinets.The intruder is none other than legendary LAPD detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin. Ballard kicks him out, but eventually Bosch persuades her to help and she relents. Bosch is investigating the death of fifteen-year-old...

3. Magpie murders

Book cover for "Magpie murders"
Star rating for Magpie murders
Author:
Horowitz, Anthony, 1955-
Series:
Magpie murders volume 1.
Average Rating:
3.5 stars
Formats:
Book, Audiobook, Large Print, OverDrive eBook
Description:
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel, she has no reason to think it will be much different from any of his others. An homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Alan's traditional formula has proved hugely successful. Conway's latest tale has Atticus Pund investigating a murder at Pye Hall, a local manor house. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing...

4. The radium girls: the dark story of America's shining women

Book cover for "The radium girls"
Star rating for The radium girls
Author:
Moore, Kate (Writer and editor)
Average Rating:
4.3 stars
Formats:
Book, Audiobook, Large Print, OverDrive eAudiobook, OverDrive eBook
Description:
As World War I raged across the globe, hundreds of young women toiled away at the radium-dial factories, where they painted clock faces with a mysterious new substance called radium. Assured by their bosses that the luminous material was safe, the women themselves shone brightly in the dark, covered from head to toe with the glowing dust. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" were considered the luckiest alive--until they began to fall mysteriously...

5. To kill a mockingbird

Book cover for "To kill a mockingbird"
Star rating for To kill a mockingbird
Author:
Lee, Harper
Series:
To kill a mockingbird volume 1.
Average Rating:
4.5 stars
Notes:
Ranked #4 for the Best Book On Life In Small Towns in the WSJ on July 25-26, 2025.
Formats:
Book, Audiobook, Large Print, OverDrive eAudiobook, OverDrive eBook
Description:
"Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee exploreswith rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice--but the weight of history will only tolerate so much."--Provided by publisher.