Books: New and noteworthy

Paste BN's Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.

1. Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling (Little, Brown, non-fiction, on sale April 14)

What it's about: The 2008 commencement speech Rowling gave at Harvard – about embracing failure – comes to book form, with illustrations.

The buzz: Poised to be the graduation gift book of the spring for Harry Potter fans; proceeds will aid international children's charity Lumos.

2. Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline (St. Martin's Press, fiction, on sale April 14)

What it's about: A young psychiatric patient puts his doctor at risk when a teenage girl turns up murdered.

The buzz: Sixteen of Scottoline's books have made Paste BN's top 50.

3. Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew (Little, Brown, non-fiction, on sale April 14)

What it's about: This memoir by the actress (Orange Is the New Black) includes the story of her 30-year search for a baby girl she gave up for adoption.

The buzz: "Introspective and revealing," says Kirkus Reviews.

4. The Road to Character by David Brooks (Random House, non-fiction, on sale April 14)

What it's about:The New York Times columnist makes the case that our "Culture of Achievement" has thrown our lives off-balance.

The buzz: "A vital, uplifting read," says Publishers Weekly.

5. The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg (Random House, fiction, on sale April 14)

What it's about: Historical fiction about George Sand, the 19th-century female French writer known for cross-dressing and love affairs with famous men including Chopin.

The buzz: "Exciting… wonderfully disarming," says Booklist.