Personal narratives headline this fall’s nonfiction—from stellar celebrity memoirs to elegant essays by authors who should be household names.

A celebrity book that doesn’t dish is a letdown. Thankfully, Connie Chung’s new memoir is a banquet. Connie (Grand Central, Sept. 17) depicts “the dizzying highs and nauseating lows of a landmark broadcasting career,” Kirkus writes in a starred review. Born in Washington, D.C., to parents who immigrated from China in 1945, Chung transformed from a “meek” child to the “fearless” young woman who “smash[ed] through barriers of sexism and racism at each of the three major networks.” This delectable volume details everything from professional sabotage by Dan Rather to her long-distance open marriage with Maury Povich.

Not unlike Chung, the Grammy-winning rapper and singer Eve “rose to fame amidst industry manipulation, misconception, [and] cutthroat competition,” our reviewer writes of Who’s That Girl?, a memoir written with Kathy Iandoli (Hanover Square Press, Sept. 17). From humble West Philadelphia beginnings to hip-hop it girl status, Eve shares stories of being ushered into the industry by Ma$e, collaborating with Prince, and journeying toward motherhood. Kirkus calls this powerful memoir a “potent, passionate celebrity autobiography grounded in authenticity and fearlessness.”

Rounding out our celeb recommendations is the sweet and satisfying story of a soprano saxophonist. Life in the Key of G by Kenny G with Philip Lerman (Blackstone, Sept. 24) tells “how a ‘skinny, white, nerdy guy’ named Kenneth Gorelick became one of the bestselling artists of all time,” Kirkus writes. The Seattle native’s life changed forever when his high school’s composer-in-residence introduced him to the music of Grover Washington. Gorelick played sax for Barry White and Jeff Lorber—becoming Kenny G along the way—before superproducer Clive Davis helped guide him to solo stardom. Life in the Key of G offers pure “feel-good reading from a feel-good musical artist.”

Whenever Edwidge Danticat puts pen to paper—novels, short stories, nonfiction, young readers’ literature—you’re in for a transformative reading experience. Her latest collection, We’re Alone: Essays (Graywolf, Sept. 3), contemplates the multifarious meanings of home. “The acclaimed author discusses influential authors, her native Haiti, and the challenges of life in America,” Kirkus writes. “[A]n elegant commentary on injustice and the mixed feelings one’s home can engender.”

Sarah Smarsh, the author of Heartland, a 2018 Kirkus Prize finalist, returns this fall with Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class (Scribner, Sept. 10). This set of 36 pieces ranges from a consideration of America’s costly dental care system to the widening divide between citizens and lawmakers. “This powerful reckoning with the costs of being poor should be required short-form nonfiction reading,” according to our starred review.

And don’t miss this excellent memoir with breakout potential from a bold new voice: Oliver Radclyffe’s Frighten the Horses (Roxane Gay Books/Grove, Sept. 17) is a later-in-life coming-of-age story that’s “consistently frank, vulnerable, perspicacious, and insightful, covering an impressive variety of aspects of the transgender experience in intimate, lyrical language and dry, compassionate humor,” our critic says in a starred review.

Editor at large Megan Labrise hosts the Fully Booked podcast.