What books should a new Orthodox inquirer read?

There are a few go-to books I really recommend. For the historicity, The Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware is probably the most thorough. It's not perfect, but it's a very good historical explanation of the church. Second, Blessed Theophylact's commentary on the Gospels: you really just need to read one of them so you have a deeper, more profound understanding of Christ, his teaching, and his ministry.

Third, the lives of the saints. As it is said, the lives of the saints are the explanation of the gospel. How do you put the gospel into practice? You live like the saints, with humility, love, forgiveness, repentance. We're not going to live exactly how they lived, many were monastics, but there are principles in their life and repentance that anybody can get on board with.