|
Never Miss a Contest or a Promotion!
Follow and Like Us on Social Media
A Great Summer of Reading!
I have had such a great summer of reading, and this newsletter touches on so many of the books that I have enjoyed. I wonder if you have felt the same way! Let me know.
Vacations kept my group from meeting this month, so we will be having our discussion of Marjan Kamali's THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN next month. No one wants to miss out talking about this one. I am going to do something fun with some of the group members next week. All of them have young children, so I will be hosting a pool party here for those who are in town. Hmmmm…this may be an issue going forward. If the kids know their moms are headed to a house with a pool for book group, will they let them leave the house alone, or will they want to tag along?
We have FOUR new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Chris Whitaker, whose New York Times bestseller, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection and was July’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. Chris explains how he developed the book by spending a year writing just dialogue to get a feel for his characters, Patch and Saint. Once he had a good grasp of their voices, he could write around that.
Chris went through trauma in his youth that overshadowed his life, and it fueled his writing here. He shares how he researches the locations that he uses in his novels and talks about the joy of having Edoardo Ballerini as a narrator for the audiobook. And yes, he addresses the book’s 261 chapters that are just one to three pages long. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Next up is T.J. Newman, whose third thriller, WORST CASE SCENARIO, is a Bets On pick just as her first two books, FALLING and DROWNING, were. When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, which becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications.
T.J. shares how she came up with the idea for this book and the research that was required (including a detail that I saw to be totally plausible). She discusses her character development and why she feels that Joe Morton is the perfect narrator for the audiobook. We also hear about T.J.’s close relationship with her agent and how they work together. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
I also had the pleasure of talking to Amy Neff, whose debut novel, THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST, is a Bets On title. Unforgettable and utterly romantic, this heart-wrenching, life-affirming work of fiction asks: How much would you sacrifice for the one you love?
Amy discusses her 10-year journey to write this beautiful novel and the influences that she had for it. She expounds upon why she chose the time frame that she did for the storyline and what she changed along the way. Amy also shares the story behind the artwork on the stunning cover and what it means to her. Book groups will want to consider this book for a discussion! Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. We also are featuring the discussion guide in this newsletter.
Last but certainly not least is Dawn Tripp, whose new book, JACKIE, is a Bets On pick that novelizes the life of the legendary Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. A rare photograph, which became the cover of the book, inspired Dawn’s writing as much as the reading that she did. Along with books about Jackie, she read books that had been some of Jackie’s favorites.
Dawn and I point out that while Jackie had always been looked upon as a style icon, her contributions were so much broader. We commiserate about how Jackie defined her style early --- and from there she continued to challenge herself intellectually as she had done in her youth and young adulthood. Her love for her children and of horseback riding was well known, but here we speak about her love of water skiing and open-water swimming.
Yes, there is mention of Jackie’s time at both Knopf and Doubleday, and Dawn explains what drew Jackie to become an editor. Lovely nuggets are sprinkled throughout this interview. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Our Latest Monthly Contest is Live!
Our new “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest book is TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin, an instant New York Times bestseller that recently released in paperback.
During his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees Sadie Green. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard her name being called, but then she turns around and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends borrow money and beg favors --- and before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Not even 25 years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.
Three groups will win up to 12 paperback copies of TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, September 11th at noon ET.
In her new novel, BY ANY OTHER NAME, Jodi Picoult brings to life the incomparable Emilia Bassano, the real-life English poet believed to have authored many of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. Told in intertwining timelines, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage and desire centers on two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on, no matter the cost?
Our Bookreporter reviewer Pamela Kramer says, “It's hard to conceive of the depth and breadth of Picoult's research as Emilia's whole life and even the dialogue in her sections of the novel reflect the actions and dialogue in various Shakespeare plays…. The ending of BY ANY OTHER NAME --- by turns inspiring, tragic, hopeful, heartbreaking and breathtakingly beautiful --- is one that will leave many readers with damp eyes.” Click here to read the full review and here for the guide.
THE WEDDING PEOPLE, Alison Espach’s instant New York Times bestseller, is this month’s #1 Indie Next pick, as well as the Barnes & Noble Book Club selection and the “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. The novel revolves around an unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help get her life back on track.
Here’s how Jenna describes the book: “It’s about where we are when we're in the middle of our life and expectations versus reality. It’s about love and friendship and finding that love when you least expect it. I think you will love this book if you want to laugh, maybe shed a couple tears, but also just have a lot of fun.” Click here for the guide.
On Tuesday, September 3rd at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will host a live virtual event with Alison. She will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, B&N’s Fiction Category Manager, and Allyson Gavaletz, B&N's Publisher Liaison. You can sign up for the event by clicking here.
We also have added guides for these four books:
-
LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE: Taffy Brodesser-Akner follows up her much-talked-about debut, FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE, with this exhilarating second novel that spans the entirety of one family’s history. It winds through decades and generations, all the way to the outrageous present, and confronts the mainstays of American Jewish life.
-
SLOW DANCE: Rainbow Rowell’s first novel for adults since 2014’s LANDLINE is Reese’s Book Club pick for August. Two star-crossed best friends come crashing back into each other’s orbits years later. Once upon a time, everybody thought they would end up together. And maybe it’s only now that they finally can work out what they’re supposed to be to each other.
-
THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME: Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest novel is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. It’s the 1950s, and the most famous director in Hollywood is searching for the lead for his next blockbuster film. It shocks the whole town when he casts a veritable nobody --- Vera Larios, a Mexican American ingenue making her screen debut --- as his Salome.
-
CADENZA: Justin Courter’s third novel follows SKUNK: A Love Story and THE HEART OF IT ALL, which won the Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) for contemporary fiction in 2015. This is the story of a woman's drive to succeed and overcome her physical and emotional scars. It's a tale of relentless ambition, dark secrets and the lengths to which the human mind will go.
For more August selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event last Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 24 books releasing between now and September 3rd, plus 16 from October, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, September 11th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between September 10th and October 1st, in addition to a few from November, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
The following week, join us for a special “Bookaccino Live” Fall Preview evening program on Wednesday, September 18th at 8pm ET. I will be talking about a number of books releasing this fall that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. You can sign up for the event by clicking here.
Announcing This Year’s Bookreporter Fall Reading Feature
Speaking of fall, our Fall Reading feature on Bookreporter is back for a 14th year! On select days between now and October, we will spotlight a different title and offer a 24-hour contest to win five copies of the book. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce each day's title. If you have not done so already, you can sign up here to receive these dedicated newsletters.
We launched the feature this week with SPIRIT CROSSING, the 20th installment in William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series and our current New Release Spotlight title on Bookreporter. It also will be a Bets On pick, so don’t miss my commentary in the next newsletter.
The photo that you see above is courtesy of Carla Rosen. She and her group, the Susan Kaplansky Book Club of United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis, MO, won copies of GOOD NIGHT, IRENE by Luis Alberto Urrea in a “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest earlier this year. Carla added, “This month we did SYMPHONY OF SECRETS by Brendan Slocumb, which prompted quite a bit of discussion.” We love when our readers share photos like this.
We are wrapping up the summer (around our office, the official end is Labor Day), so we are encouraging you to get some last-minute summer reading done in the next week. We will be back in September with our regular schedule of two updates a month. And for those who enjoy our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events, those will be back as well! We are noodling a few author guests for the fall, and those invites will be going out soon.
Enjoy your next discussion!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you check out the discussion guides and various features on our site, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
New Guide: BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jodi Picoult
BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jodi Picoult (Historical Fiction)
Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor, Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym. In 1581, Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling. But she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theater productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage --- by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach
August’s #1 Indie Next Pick, Barnes & Noble
Book Club Pick, and “Read with Jenna” Pick
THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach (Fiction/Humor)
It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years. She hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband. But she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield…except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan --- which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
» THE WEDDING PEOPLE is August's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, September 3rd at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Alison Espach. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of
TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW
by Gabrielle Zevin for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" feature, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win up to 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group.
Our latest prize book is TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin, which is now available in paperback. In this instant New York Times bestselling novel, two college friends become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, September 11th at noon ET.
Please note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin (Fiction)
On a bitter cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him. But then she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom.
These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money and beg favors. Before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even 25 years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.
Spanning 30 years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read to visit Gabrielle Zevin's website.
- Click here to connect with Gabrielle Zevin on Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE
by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Fiction)
In 1980, a wealthy businessman named Carl Fletcher is kidnapped from his driveway, brutalized and held for ransom. He is returned to his wife and kids less than a week later, and the family moves on with their lives. But now, nearly 40 years later, it’s clear that perhaps nobody ever got over anything. Carl has spent the ensuing years secretly seeking closure to the matter of his kidnapping, while his wife, Ruth, has spent her potential protecting her husband’s emotional health. Their three grown children aren’t doing much better. As they hover at the delicate precipice of a different kind of survival, they learn that the family fortune has dwindled to just about nothing, and they must face desperate questions about how much their wealth has played a part in both their lives’ successes and failures.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell
Reese’s Book Club Pick for August
SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell (Romance)
Shiloh and Carey were best friends. They spent entire summers sitting on Shiloh’s porch steps, dreaming about the future. They were both going to get out of north Omaha --- Shiloh would go to college and become an actress, and Cary would join the Navy. They promised each other that their friendship would never change. Well, Shiloh did go to college, and Cary did join the Navy. And yet, somehow, everything changed. Now Shiloh is 33, and it’s been 14 years since she talked to Cary. She’s been married and divorced. She has two kids. And she’s back living in the same house in which she grew up. When she’s invited to an old friend’s wedding, all Shiloh can think about is if Cary will be there --- and if she hopes he will be. Would Cary even want to talk to her? After everything? The answer is yes. And yes. And yes.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff (Fiction)
In the summer of 1941, on the New England shores where they were raised, Evelyn and Joseph fell in love. Now, more than 60 years later, with a lifetime between them, they have gathered their three grown children to share the staggering news: she has received a tragic diagnosis, and he cannot live without her. So in one year’s time, they will end their lives on their own terms. As the couple comes to grips with their fate, they retrace their past --- the joys and regrets, the laughter and the sorrow --- that brought them to this moment. They embark on a journey to live out their greatest dreams and to comfort and connect with each of their children before they're gone. But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of what they are about to do, and make peace with the legacy they will leave behind for their family.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Amy Neff.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Amy Neff's website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME
by Silvia Moreno Garcia
August’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Historical Fiction)
1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times. So when the film’s mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves. Two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood, make for a sizzling combination. But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod: a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to see why the book is month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: CADENZA by Justin Courter
CADENZA by Justin Courter (Fiction)
At the age of seven, Jennifer Coleman is severely burned in a house fire that kills her sister. Despite the barriers of her scarred face and her tragic childhood, she reaches the pinnacle of achievement as a classical concert pianist, but at a deep psychological cost. During Jennifer's meteoric rise as a virtuoso pianist, her disfigurement takes on mythic proportions. She is internationally loved and admired, but unable to love herself. At a pivotal point in her career, she meets an extraordinarily creative, suicidal musician named Felix, who challenges Jennifer's beliefs and falls deeply in love with her. Will Jennifer be able to learn from Felix's example before she self-destructs?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read critical praise.
- Click here to read a Q&A with Justin Courter conducted by Deborah Kalb.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for August
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.
Below is a preview of August's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach
THE PAIRING by Casey McQuiston
HUM by Helen Phillips
A SORCERESS COMES TO CALL by T. Kingfisher
THE AU PAIR AFFAIR by Tessa Bailey
LibraryReads
Top Pick: HOUSE OF GLASS by Sarah Pekkanen
YOU'RE THE PROBLEM, IT'S YOU by Emma R. Alban
THE DEAD CAT TAIL ASSASSINS by P. Djèlí Clark
STRANGE FOLK by Alli Dyer
MORBIDLY YOURS: A Love in Galway Novel, by Ivy Fairbanks
Barnes & Noble Book Club
THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach
"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
PBS Books Readers Club
THE HUNTER by Tana French
"Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club
THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach
Reese's Book Club
SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell
Target Book Club
THE GOLDEN GATE by Amy Chua
New August Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Here are a number of books releasing in August for the first time, which we aren't currently featuring on the site or in the newsletter, that we think will be of interest to book groups.
AND SO I ROAR by Abi Daré (Fiction)
AND SO I ROAR is a stunning, heart-wrenching new novel from Abi Daré, the New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE.
THE BERLIN APARTMENT by Bryn Turnbull (Historical Fiction)
For fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, this sweeping love story follows a young couple whose lives are irrevocably changed when they’re separated overnight by the construction of the Berlin Wall.
A GREAT MARRIAGE by Frances Mayes (Fiction)
When a perfect wedding is called off just days before the big event, it sends two people --- and their families --- reeling in this poignant novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN and WOMEN IN SUNLIGHT.
HOUSE OF GLASS by Sarah Pekkanen (Domestic Thriller)
A young nanny who plunged to her death. Or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?
HUM by Helen Phillips (Dystopian Science Fiction/Thriller)
HUM is a work of speculative fiction that unflinchingly explores marriage, motherhood and selfhood in a world compromised by global warming and dizzying technological advancement, a world of both dystopian and utopian possibilities.
JOY by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
In this deeply moving novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a determined young woman must survive a series of abandonments to find a love that is worthy of her.
MEN HAVE CALLED HER CRAZY: A Memoir by Anna Marie Tendler (Memoir)
MEN HAVE CALLED HER CRAZY is a powerful memoir that reckons with mental health, as well as the insidious ways men impact the lives of women.
THE PAIRING by Casey McQuiston (Romantic Comedy)
Two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other --- except they're definitely not.
SCANDALOUS WOMEN: A Novel of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann by Gill Paul (Historical Fiction)
"Mad Men" meets the world of publishing in international bestselling author Gill Paul’s new novel about Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann --- two dynamic, groundbreaking writers renowned for their scandalous and controversial novels --- and the beleaguered young editorial assistant who introduces them.
SPIRIT CROSSING by William Kent Krueger (Mystery)
A disappearance and a dead body put Cork O’Connor’s family in the crosshairs of a killer in this 20th installment of the New York Times bestselling series from William Kent Krueger, “a master storyteller at the top of his game” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
THAT LIBRARIAN: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones (Memoir)
Part memoir, part manifesto, THAT LIBRARIAN is the inspiring story of a Louisiana librarian advocating for inclusivity on the front lines of our vicious culture wars.
THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY by Elif Shafak (Fiction)
From the Booker Prize finalist author of THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES comes an enchanting new tale about three characters living along two rivers, all under the shadow of one of the greatest epic poems of all time.
THE THIRTEENTH HUSBAND by Greer Macallister (Historical Fiction)
Based on a real woman from history, THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO meets THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE in this fictional tell-all narrated by the glamorous Aimee Crocker.
WANTED: TODDLER'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America by Stephanie Kiser (Memoir)
In this unputdownable memoir, Stephanie Kiser chronicles her journey from newbie nanny to beloved caregiver --- and the painful decision to eventually say goodbye to the children she has grown to love.
Announcing Bookreporter.com’s 14th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. In Bookreporter.com's Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Our New Release Spotlight on Bookreporter.com:
SPIRIT CROSSING by William Kent Krueger
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
SPIRIT CROSSING by William Kent Krueger (Mystery)
The disappearance of a local politician’s teenage daughter is major news in Minnesota. As a huge manhunt is launched to find her, Cork O’Connor’s grandson stumbles across the shallow grave of a young Ojibwe woman --- but nobody seems that interested. Nobody, that is, except Cork and the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police.
As Cork and the tribal officers dig into the circumstances of this mysterious and grim discovery, they uncover a connection to the missing teenager. And soon, it’s clear that Cork’s grandson is in danger of being the killer’s next victim.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to visit William Kent Krueger's website.
- Click here to see William Kent Krueger's book tour schedule.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
SPIRIT CROSSING will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
WORST CASE SCENARIO by T.J. Newman, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? by Shari Lapena, JACKIE by Dawn Tripp,
and BOSS LADY by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
WORST CASE SCENARIO by T.J. Newman (Thriller)
T.J. Newman has written three thrillers that I would not recommend you bring on a plane: FALLING, DROWNING and her latest, WORST CASE SCENARIO. In the first two books, the action happened on the plane or part of the plane (I am not giving anything away here).
In her latest effort, we truly learn the worst case scenario when a commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant. For those of us who think that these facilities are safer after 9/11, T.J. sends out a wake-up call that they are not. And she stresses that even if the nuclear reactor is offline, there is still a lot to worry about. Add that to things I never pondered!
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on WORST CASE SCENARIO.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? by Shari Lapena (Domestic Thriller)
I am not sure how she does it, but all of Shari Lapena’s books are absolute page-turners. This time I tried to slow myself down to see if I could analyze her method, but once again her propulsive storytelling did not allow this.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? opens in Fairhill, Vermont, where everything is beautiful and bucolic. One morning, a local farmer finds in his field the body of a young woman that is being feasted upon by vultures. For the record, the description of the vultures was enough to get the hair on my arms standing up. Soon the victim is identified as Diana Brewer, a local high school senior, and the chatter starts up about how she got there and who wanted her killed.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
JACKIE by Dawn Tripp (Historical Fiction)
Yes, there have been many books written about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, but I really appreciate the fresh way that Dawn Tripp wrote her novel, JACKIE. Dawn explores Jackie’s love of literature and how she applied her intellect and desire to learn throughout her entire life. She looks at Jackie and Jack as intellectuals who challenged each other, and what she brought to his world as well as to the country.
While Jackie was known as a style and fashion icon, Dawn pulls back her many layers, ensuring that her life is viewed more broadly. There are nuggets tucked between the pages that I am sure will be news to you, as they were to me.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on JACKIE.
BOSS LADY by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (Fiction)
A few years ago, I met Alli Frank and Asha Youmans at a library event, and I immediately became a fan of their work. BOSS LADY, their fourth book, does not disappoint. Their stories are true to life but also laced with lots of humor.
Antonia "Toni" Arroyo is Black and Puerto Rican. She is working at the San Francisco Airport where she assists passengers getting to and from their gates. Among her regulars is Sylvia Eisenberg, a widow who travels between San Francisco and Arizona. Sylvia enjoys hearing all about Toni’s plans --- and is continually cheering her on. Toni appreciates the older woman’s zest for life, as well as the love she has for her family.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on BOSS LADY.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 13th Annual Book Group
Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
From left to right: Laura Dave, Kaira Rouda, Janice Hallett
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are a number of upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, August 27th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle and Heather Gudenkauf will talk to their fellow "Killer Author Club" host Kaira Rouda about her new book, THE SECOND MRS STROM, a completely gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked in and turning pages late into the night.
Wednesday, August 28th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Madeline Martin about her upcoming novel, THE BOOKLOVER'S LIBRARY.
Tuesday, September 3rd at 2pm ET: Murder By The Book: Alan Bradley will be chatting with Louise Penny about his latest Flavia de Luce novel, WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST. This time, the amateur sleuth investigates the murder of a former public hangman and uncovers a secret that brings the greatest shock of her life.
Tuesday, September 3rd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Alison Espach for a live virtual event to discuss THE WEDDING PEOPLE, August's B&N Book Club pick. Alison will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, B&N's Fiction Category Manager, and Allyson Gavaletz, B&N's Publisher Liaison.
Wednesday, September 4th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to TJ Klune about his upcoming fantasy novel, SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA, which is the hugely anticipated sequel to THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA.
Thursday, September 5th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Alan Bradley will talk about WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST, the 11th installment in his series featuring amateur sleuth Flavia de Luce, whose latest case will lead her to a most surprising discovery.
Monday, September 9th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome USA Today bestselling author Rachel Harrison and acclaimed author Alexis Henderson for a live virtual discussion of their latest novels --- Rachel's SO THIRSTY and Alexis' AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS --- as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series.
Monday, September 9th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Janice Hallett will talk about her latest book, THE EXAMINER. Told in emails, text messages and essays, this innovative page-turner follows a group of students in an art master’s program that goes dangerously awry.
Tuesday, September 10th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Sandra Block about her new thriller, THE BACHELORETTE PARTY, in which a true crime devotee gets more than she bargained for at her killer bachelorette party.
Wednesday, September 11th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between September 10th and October 1st, along with a few from November, that she would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, September 11th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Laura Dave about her highly anticipated new thriller, THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, in which estranged siblings discover that their father has been keeping a secret for over 50 years, one that may have been fatal.
Thursday, September 12th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Renée Knight for a live virtual discussion of DISCLAIMER as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Renée will be in conversation with USA Today bestselling and multiple award-winning author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed this year include:
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
BEAR by Julia Phillips (Fiction)
From the celebrated, bestselling author of DISAPPEARING EARTH comes a mesmerizing novel of two sisters whose lives are upended by an unexpected visitor --- a tale of family, obsession and a mysterious creature in the woods.
BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jodi Picoult (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling co-author of MAD HONEY comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart --- one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays --- who are both forced to hide behind another name.
CADENZA by Justin Courter (Fiction)
With brutal honesty and layered storytelling, CADENZA makes Jennifer Coleman’s progress as a pianist and composer read like a mystery novel. Bold characters and personal tragedies emerge as it becomes clear that Jennifer is a force of nature that can be stopped by no one but herself.
THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of FRIENDS AND STRANGERS comes a novel of family, secrets, ghosts and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine.
THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff (Fiction)
Unforgettable and utterly romantic, THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST is a heart-wrenching, life-affirming novel that asks: How much would you sacrifice for the one you love?
THE HEART IN WINTER by Kevin Barry (Historical Fiction)
Award-winning writer Kevin Barry’s first novel set in America is a savagely funny and achingly romantic tale of young lovers on the lam in 1890s Montana.
HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
Two women --- separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom --- reclaim secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of THE SUMMER WIVES.
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali (Fiction)
From the nationally bestselling author of THE STATIONERY SHOP comes a heartfelt, epic novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.
LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE comes an exhilarating novel about one American family, the dark moment that shatters their suburban paradise, and the wild legacy of trauma and inheritance.
THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine (Psychological Thriller)
Daphne and Amber Parrish are thrust back into each other’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat, forcing a vicious game of cat and mouse where everything is on the line, in this thrilling sequel to the million-copy-bestselling Reese’s Book Club pick THE LAST MRS. PARRISH.
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Jamie Day (Domestic Thriller)
With razor-sharp wit, heart, thrills and twists, Jamie Day's ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY delivers a unique brand of summertime suspense.
THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Historical Fiction)
A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine --- but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of MEXICAN GOTHIC.
SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell (Romance)
SLOW DANCE is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
THE SUMMER PACT by Emily Giffin (Fiction)
In the wake of tragedy, a group of friends makes a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark upon a life-changing adventure together.
TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin (Fiction)
Sam and Sadie --- two college friends, often in love but never lovers --- become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.
THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach (Fiction/Humor)
By turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s THE WEDDING PEOPLE is a propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN by Melanie Benjamin (Historical Fiction)
Two sisters navigate the thrilling, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and the tangled ties between mothers and daughters from the New York Times bestselling author of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE.
CUTTING TEETH by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
New York Times bestselling author Chandler Baker's CUTTING TEETH is a witty, thrilling story of parental love that asks: Is there anything a mother won’t do for her children?
THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman (Mystery)
It's rarely a quiet day for the Thursday Murder Club. In THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE, shocking news reaches them --- an old friend has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.
ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
Hank Phillippi Ryan's heart-racing psychological thriller explores the insidious nature of gossip, scandal and lies --- and how careers, friendships and even marriages can be shattered forever.
PIECES OF BLUE by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Holly Goldberg Sloan comes a compelling and heartfelt novel for fans of Maria Semple and Emma Straub about a family trying to restore a ramshackle beachside motel --- and their own lives.
THE SISTERHOOD: The Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy (History)
The acclaimed author of CODE GIRLS returns with a “rip-roaring” (Steve Coll) history of three generations at the CIA, “electric with revelations” (Booklist) about the women who fought to become operatives, transformed spycraft and tracked down Osama bin Laden.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS by Lisa Scottoline (Domestic Thriller)
Lisa Scottoline, the #1 bestselling author of WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS, presents another pulse-pounding domestic thriller about family, justice and the lies that tear us apart.
|
