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In the first of our two new "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews, Carol chats with Fiona Davis,
whose latest historical novel, THE CHELSEA GIRLS, is a Bookreporter Bets On pick.
Take a look at the interview by clicking on the image above.
Our second "Bookreporter Talks To" interview features Marjan Kamali, whose new novel,
THE STATIONERY SHOP, is a Bets On pick and is one of Carol's favorite books of the year.
Click on the image above to watch the interview.
Carol talks about this month's ReadingGroupGuides.com update.
On Tuesday, August 27th at 5pm ET, members of the Simon & Schuster team will host a
Facebook Live Book Club chat to discuss WATCHING YOU by Lisa Jewell,
August's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites program.
The Fleeting Days of Summer!
I am hosting the Long Hill Book Group that I belong to at my house on Monday night, where we are going to be discussing ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger. We selected this book as we know his second stand-alone novel, THIS TENDER LAND, is coming out on September 3rd (more about that later in this newsletter). For me, it will be a re-read as I read it when it first came out in 2013.
I am hoping that the weather stays lovely, and we can be sitting poolside for our discussion. What have I been thinking about? Mosquitoes. The weather here in the northeast lived up to the forecast, and it has been wetter and more humid than usual --- which means mosquitoes. So I am working on configuring torches and citronella candles; everyone can have a citronella wristband and one for their ankles, too. I can even color coordinate the latter to what everyone is wearing! I just looked at the forecast for Monday night, and it's going to be hazy and hot. We may meet in the pool. I must see how many floats and tubes we have!
We already selected our September book, which will be I.M., Isaac Mizrahi's memoir. I listened to it on audio, and so did some members of the group, and we all loved it. I am looking forward to this discussion. My Red Hill Book Club is going to be discussing SOMEONE WE KNOW by Shari Lapena. They loved that it is set in a neighborhood much like ours, and there is a younger new couple who has moved in. Our group’s founder is the youngest of us, and she is new to the neighborhood. It should be a fun discussion, and I shared with them my interview with Shari.
Speaking of interviews, I am happy to share my two latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews with you. First, we have Fiona Davis, who talks about THE CHELSEA GIRLS, which is a Bookreporter Bets On title. Unlike her other books, she did not have the location selected first for this one, but rather a woman inspired the book and then she looked for the location. I always have loved talking to Fiona, and am so glad to be able to share this conversation with you.
The second interview is with Marjan Kamali, who wrote THE STATIONERY SHOP, a Bets On pick that is one of my favorite books of 2019. Most of Marjan’s novel is set in Tehran in the ‘50s, which is a timeframe that I knew little about. The book has been talked about in the same breath as THE KITE RUNNER, so that can give you some perspective on how special it is.
I really enjoyed seeing Mary Beth Keane on “The Tonight Show” last night. Her latest novel, ASK AGAIN, YES, is this year’s “Tonight Show” Summer Reads pick, so Jimmy Fallon had her as a guest on the program. If you missed it, you can watch the interview in its entirety here. You may remember that I interviewed Mary Beth a few weeks ago as part of our “Bookreporter Talks To” series, so I got a huge kick out of seeing her talk about the book again, this time on national television. Click here for the discussion guide and here for our review on Bookreporter. ASK AGAIN, YES is also a Bets On title; see my commentary here.
I also am sharing a very short video that we did with me talking about what is on ReadingGroupGuides.com this month. I typically share all of our videos on Facebook, so keep an eye out for them there! And you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here. All of the interviews that we host are out there. So you can watch them as you have time!
Our latest “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest title is THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict, which recently came out in paperback and was a Bets On pick when it released in hardcover at the beginning of the year. Hedy Kiesler’s marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer allows her to evade Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. She overhears the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devises a scheme to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape lands her in Hollywood, where she becomes film actress Hedy Lamarr. But Hedy is keeping a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she is a scientist. And she has an idea that might help the country…that is, if anyone will listen to her.
Three groups will win 12 copies of THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM; to enter, please fill out the form on this page by Monday, September 9th at noon ET. In the meantime, be sure to check out the discussion guide, our review on Bookreporter and my Bets On commentary.
In our previous “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, here are the five books mentioned most frequently as titles that our book groups read: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens, EDUCATED: A Memoir by Tara Westover, THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah, THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides, and ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman. Scroll further down the newsletter to see the Top 15.
Téa Obreht’s highly anticipated new novel, INLAND, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. It’s been eight years since the release of Obreht’s award-winning debut, the international bestseller THE TIGER’S WIFE. Now she’s back with a story that subverts and reimagines the myths of the American West. In the lawless, drought-ridden lands of the Arizona Territory in 1893, an unexpected relationship forms between a frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her life and a former outlaw who is haunted by ghosts --- lost souls who want something from him.
Barnes & Noble will be selling a special Exclusive Book Club Edition of INLAND, along with hosting a free Book Club Night to discuss it, in stores across the country on Tuesday, September 10th at 7pm local time. Click here to sign up for the event. You can take a look at the discussion guide here.
We also have added guides for two more of my Bets On picks. The first is THE TURN OF THE KEY, Ruth Ware’s fifth psychological thriller (following last year’s instant New York Times bestseller, THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY). Rowan Caine answers an ad that sounds too good to be true: a position for a live-in nanny with a staggeringly generous salary. When she arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is drawn immediately to this luxurious “smart” home and its picture-perfect family. What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare --- one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder. Click here for our Bookreporter review and here for my Bets On commentary.
The second guide is for THE GIFTED SCHOOL by Bruce Holsinger, a timely novel about an exclusive school for gifted children that opens in the fictional town of Crystal, Colorado, and the impact it has on what had been a tight-knit community. Seen through the lens of four families who have been a part of one another's lives since their kids were born over a decade ago, the story reveals not only the lengths to which some adults are willing to go in order to get ahead, but the effect on their children, sibling relationships, marriages and careers. Be sure to read our Bookreporter review, and click here to find out why I’m betting this book will resonate with many of you.
Over on Bookreporter, our Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest is underway for William Kent Krueger’s aforementioned new novel, THIS TENDER LAND. You may remember we gave away advance copies of the book in a special ReadingGroupGuides contest earlier this year (we will share comments from the contest winners on the site late next week). Perfect for fans of BEFORE WE WERE YOURS, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING and ORPHAN TRAIN, this future Bets On pick is about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, they will journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift --- from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds.
Although it doesn’t release until September 3rd, we’re giving 35 readers the chance to preview the book and give us their feedback on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET. You can even listen to a playlist of music inspired by THIS TENDER LAND on Kent’s website here, which also has a lot of ancillary materials to enhance your reading experience and book group discussions.
I was so excited to hear that this month’s Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick is THE LAST HOUSE GUEST by Megan Miranda, as it was a Bets On selection when it released in June. Here’s what Reese has to say about it: “Picture this: It’s the last night of summer in Littleport, Maine and Avery Greer discovers her best friend is missing. Was she murdered? Was it a suicide? This story will have you guessing until the very end. I can’t wait for y’all to read it so we can discuss all the twists and turns.”
PATSY is Jenna Bush Hager’s #ReadWithJenna book club selection for August. “It’s a story about resilience and there’s some broken-heartedness," Jenna says. "But PATSY is a book that will open a lot of minds." Click here for more of Jenna’s thoughts on Nicole Dennis-Benn's much-talked-about second novel, which we reviewed here on Bookreporter.
As we announced last month, WATCHING YOU by Lisa Jewell (which is now in paperback) is August’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites program. S&S will host a Facebook Live Book Club chat about the book on Tuesday, August 27th at 5pm ET. We encourage you to join the conversation with your comments about the novel and interact with your fellow readers.
Last week, we learned the sad news that Toni Morrison passed away at the age of 88. Morrison was the author of 11 novels, from THE BLUEST EYE (1970) to GOD HELP THE CHILD (2015). She received the National Book Critics Circle Award for SONG OF SOLOMON and the Pulitzer Prize for BELOVED, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. In 2012, President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and four years later she received the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction. I came across a lovely tribute to Morrison and her impressive body of work from Tayari Jones, author of AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE, which you can take a look at here. You can also read her obituary in the New York Times here.
Who went to see The Art of Racing in the Rain? And if you see Where'd You Go, Bernadette, let me know as well. We would love to hear what you think about them!
We will be back with our next update the week of September 9th. Enjoy these fleeting days of summer, everyone. And fingers crossed that mosquitoes do not join our discussion on Monday night!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of THE ONLY WOMAN
IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict --- a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title --- for Your Group
Each month, 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 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. 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.
Our latest prize book is THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict, which is now available in paperback --- a powerful novel based on the incredible true story of Hedy Lamarr, the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Monday, September 9th at noon ET.
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict (Historical Fiction)
She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both?
Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.
But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis...if anyone would listen to her.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter Bets On commentary.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: INLAND by Téa Obreht
August’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection
INLAND by Téa Obreht (Historical Fiction)
In the lawless, drought-ridden lands of the Arizona Territory in 1893, two extraordinary lives collide. Nora is an unflinching frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her life --- her husband, who has gone in search of water for the parched household, and her elder sons, who have vanished after an explosive argument. Nora is biding her time with her youngest son, who is convinced that a mysterious beast is stalking the land around their home.
Lurie is a former outlaw and a man haunted by ghosts. He sees lost souls who want something from him, and he finds reprieve from their longing in an unexpected relationship that inspires a momentous expedition across the West. The way in which Nora’s and Lurie’s stories intertwine is the surprise and suspense of this brilliant novel.
Mythical, lyrical and sweeping in scope, INLAND is grounded in true but little-known history. It showcases all of Téa Obreht’s talents as a writer, as she subverts and reimagines the myths of the American West, making them entirely --- and unforgettably --- her own.
- Visit the Barnes & Noble Book Club page and sign up for their free Book Club Night to discuss INLAND.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane
The Tonight Show Summer Reads Pick
and a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (Fiction)
Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses, the loneliness of Francis’ wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne, sets the stage for the explosive events to come.
ASK AGAIN, YES is a deeply affecting exploration of the lifelong friendship and love that blossoms between Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope, born six months apart. One shocking night their loyalties are divided, and their bond will be tested again and again over the next 40 years. Luminous, heartbreaking and redemptive, ASK AGAIN, YES reveals the way childhood memories change when viewed from the distance of adulthood --- villains lose their menace, and those who appeared innocent seem less so. Kate and Peter’s love story, while haunted by echoes from the past, is marked by tenderness, generosity and grace.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Mary Beth Keane.
- Click here to watch Mary Beth Keane on "The Tonight Show."
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss --- a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten --- by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.
What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare --- one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.
Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unraveling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.
It was everything.
She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty --- at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter Bets On commentary.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Featured Guide:
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson (Thriller)
Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it --- teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited 15-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course, the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night.
Sultry and magnetic, Roux beguiles the group with her feral charm. She keeps the wine flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets. Everyone thinks it’s naughty, harmless fun. Only Amy knows better. Something wicked has come her way --- a she-devil in a pricey red sports car who seems to know the terrible truth about who she is and what she once did.
When they’re alone, Roux tells her that if she doesn’t give her what she asks for, what she deserves, she’s going to make Amy pay for her sins. One way or another.
To protect herself and her family, and save the life she’s built, Amy must beat the devil at her own clever game, matching wits with Roux in an escalating war of hidden pasts and unearthed secrets. Amy knows the consequences if she can’t beat Roux. What terrifies her is everything she could lose if she wins.
A diabolically entertaining tale of betrayal, deception, temptation and love --- filled with dark twists leavened by Joshilyn Jackson’s trademark humor --- NEVER HAVE I EVER explores what happens when the transgressions of our past come back with a vengeance.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read our interview with Joshilyn Jackson.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter Bets On commentary.
Click here for the featured guide.
New Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest
on Bookreporter.com: THIS TENDER LAND
by William Kent Krueger
We have 35 copies of THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger --- a magnificent novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the early years of the Great Depression --- to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on September 3rd, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET.
THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (Historical Fiction)
1932, Minnesota. The Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O’Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.
Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphans will journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, THIS TENDER LAND is an enthralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams and makes us whole.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for August
Our Most Popular Book Group Selections for July’s
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest
New August Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Below are a number of books releasing in August for the first time (which we aren't currently featuring on the site) that we think will be of interest to book groups.
THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO by Christy Lefteri (Fiction)
This unforgettable novel puts human faces on the Syrian war with the immigrant story of a beekeeper, his wife and the triumph of spirit when the world becomes unrecognizable.
THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall (Fiction)
Charles and Lily, James and Nan. They meet in Greenwich Village in 1963 when Charles and James are jointly hired to steward the historic Third Presbyterian Church through turbulent times. Their personal differences, however, threaten to tear them apart.
THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE by Susan Wiggs (Fiction)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author brings us her most ambitious and provocative work yet --- a searing and timely novel that explores the most volatile issue of our time: domestic violence.
THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz (Fiction)
A teacher at a New England prep school ignites a gender war --- with deadly consequences --- in this dark and provocative novel by the bestselling author of THE PASSENGER.
TIDELANDS by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordinary woman, Alinor, who cannot bear to conform to the life that lies before her.
THE WAREHOUSE by Rob Hart (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Set in the confines of a corporate panopticon that’s at once brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, THE WAREHOUSE is a near-future thriller about what happens when Big Brother meets Big Business --- and who will pay the ultimate price.
THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE by Kristin Harmel (Historical Fiction)
The author of the international bestseller THE ROOM ON RUE AMÉLIE returns with a moving story set amid the champagne vineyards of northern France during the darkest days of World War II, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s THE NIGHTINGALE.
THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY by Mary Doria Russell (Historical Fiction)
From the bestselling and award-winning author of THE SPARROW comes an inspiring historical novel about “America’s Joan of Arc,” Annie Clements --- the courageous woman who started a rebellion by leading a strike against the largest copper mining company in the world.
Great Book Club Picks for Fall/Winter 2019
At Book Expo, we had a chance to meet some of our readers at the Speed Dating session that we ran on Friday, May 31st. We know that many of you were not able to join us in New York, and we want to give you the opportunity to see all of the wonderful titles that were presented at the event. To give you an easy way to mark what you want to suggest at your future book group meetings, we are providing a spreadsheet with all the featured titles here, which lists the books both by publisher and by title.
We also have made PDFs of all the titles presented. Due to the large size of the file, we have divided it up by publisher.
Click here to access the PDFs of great book club picks you will want to discuss.
August’s New in Paperback Roundups
on Bookreporter.com
August’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles on Bookreporter.com includes NEVER TELL, an unpredictable thriller from Lisa Gardner that puts fan favorites D. D. Warren and Flora Dane on a stunning new case that begins with a vicious murder and gets darker from there; VIRGIL WANDER, the first novel in 10 years from award-winning, million-copy bestselling author Leif Enger, an enchanting and timeless all-American story that follows the inhabitants of a small Midwestern town in their quest to revive its flagging heart; and FLIGHTS by Olga Tokarczuk, which explores what it means to be a traveler, a wanderer and a body in motion not only through space but also through time.
Among our nonfiction highlights are DOPESICK, a masterful work in which Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of America's 20-plus-year struggle with opioid addiction; SMALL ANIMALS by Kim Brooks, a riveting examination of the ways our culture of competitive, anxious and judgmental parenting has profoundly altered the experiences of parents and children; and MEG, JO, BETH, AMY, Anne Boyd Rioux's fresh and engaging look at the circumstances leading Louisa May Alcott to write LITTLE WOMEN, and why this beloved story of family and community ties set in the Civil War has resonated with audiences across time.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
August 5th, August 12th, August 19th and August 26th.
Recent Bookreporter.com Bets On Selections
THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
I thoroughly enjoyed THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware. When it opens, we know that a young woman is in jail, being held for having caused the death of a child. The story is told in her words as she seeks justice in her case. There is no reason for her to have committed this act, and, in fact, there is every reason for her not to have. And throughout these pages, Ruth will unfold a very solid case as to just what really happened.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE TURN OF THE KEY.
CHANCES ARE... (Audiobook) by Richard Russo (Fiction)
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Richard Russo’s CHANCES ARE..., read by Fred Sanders, via my Bluetooth headphones. This was the perfect thing to do as I worked my way through the endless weeding of our garden, and then later I enjoyed listening in the pool while floating. In it, three men who were college friends in the '60s gather on Martha’s Vineyard. One is now a commercial real estate broker, another a small press publisher, and the third an aging musician. They are reminiscing about life, including the disappearance of a woman on this island back in 1971 right after their graduation. What did happen to Jacy Rockafellow?
- Click here to read a review of the print edition on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on CHANCES ARE...
THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin (Psychological Thriller)
I started listening to THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin on CD while I was running around town doing errands. I came home and plucked a copy of the galley from my shelf (my other choice was to play the CDs over our outdoor speaker system, and I could not see my music-loving husband going for that), and spent a lovely afternoon in the pool reading this fast-paced story. Before I knew it, I was 200 pages in and wrapped up reading it that same night.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE ESCAPE ROOM.
SOMEONE WE KNOW by Shari Lapena (Psychological Thriller)
A few weeks ago, I had a thought that if someone broke into a house, they would not need to take anything physically. If they had access to computers, they could steal a lot. In SOMEONE WE KNOW by Shari Lapena, a teen is breaking into houses in his neighborhood. His mom learns about this and sends some anonymous notes to victims, hoping to keep him out of trouble, but then someone in one of those houses is found dead. And from there, he could be a suspect.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Shari Lapena.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on SOMEONE WE KNOW.
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson (Thriller)
In NEVER HAVE I EVER, Joshilyn Jackson is exploring a new genre, and she clearly shows that she has strong writing chops in the craft of penning suspense/thrillers. The book opens at a neighborhood book club discussion. The usual suspects are there, but in wanders the woman who is staying at the neighborhood rental house. Hmmmm that has not happened before. She’s cooler than the rest of the women who have gathered to talk books. Angelica Roux quickly takes charge of the night and gets everyone involved in a drinking game: “Never Have I Ever.” The game seems tame at first, but then it abruptly takes on a new tone.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read our interview with Joshilyn Jackson.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on NEVER HAVE I EVER.
THE CHELSEA GIRLS by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
Longtime readers know that I have loved all of Fiona Davis’ books. In THE CHELSEA GIRLS, she has ratcheted up her craft to a new level, tackling a thorny topic that few may know about, as well as offering her usual look at an iconic New York building. For those who may not be familiar with it, the Chelsea Hotel is a popular home to actors, singers, artists and musicians. The folks at the Chelsea are artsy, and the vibe of the place is edgy and cool.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Fiona Davis.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE CHELSEA GIRLS.
THE GIFTED SCHOOL by Bruce Holsinger (Fiction)
I took a look at our review of THE GIFTED SCHOOL by Bruce Holsinger, which prompted me to read it. I love when that happens. In this novel, a school for gifted children is opening in the Denver area, and parents are vying to get their kids in. The moms are much like those we saw in BIG LITTLE LIES. They have befriended each other because of the children, but the competition for these slots is pitting them against one another in that oh-so-special way that privileged folks can twist things up.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE GIFTED SCHOOL.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading
Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 23rd, 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 prize books are:
Click here to read all the contest details.
See the prize books that were awarded in May, June and July,
and that will be awarded in August.
Enter Our Ongoing Bookreporter.com Contests:
"Word of Mouth" and "Sounding Off on Audio"
Word of Mouth Contest:
Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from August 9th to August 23rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE LAST WIDOW by Karin Slaughter and OLD BONES by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
Click here to enter the contest.
Please note: A new Word of Mouth contest will be up
on Friday, August 23rd at noon ET.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest:
Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from August 1st to September 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Laura Lippman's LADY IN THE LAKE, read by Susan Bennett, and Daniel Silva's THE NEW GIRL, read by George Guidall.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
Click here to enter the contest.
Please note: A new Sounding Off on Audio contest will be up
on Tuesday, September 3rd at noon ET.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (Fiction)
This year's "Tonight Show" Summer Reads pick, ASK AGAIN, YES is a profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the friendship between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness.
THE CHELSEA GIRLS by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
The bright lights of the theater district, the glamour and danger of 1950s New York, and the wild scene at the iconic Chelsea Hotel come together in a dazzling new novel about a 20-year friendship that will irrevocably change two women's lives.
THE GIFTED SCHOOL by Bruce Holsinger (Fiction)
Smart and juicy, THE GIFTED SCHOOL is a compulsively readable novel about a previously happy group of friends and parents that is nearly destroyed by their own competitiveness when an exclusive school for gifted children opens in the community.
THE GOLDEN HOUR by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
Beatriz Williams, the New York Times bestselling author of THE SUMMER WIVES, is back with another hot summer read: a dazzling epic of World War II in which a beautiful young “society reporter” is sent to the Bahamas, a haven of spies, traitors, and the infamous Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
INLAND by Téa Obreht (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE TIGER'S WIFE returns with a stunning tale of perseverance --- an epic journey across an unforgettable landscape of magic and myth.
THE LAGER QUEEN OF MINNESOTA by J. Ryan Stradal (Fiction)
From the bestselling author of KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST comes a novel of family, Midwestern values, hard work, fate and the secrets of making a world-class beer.
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson (Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson --- "an admired writer who deserves to be a household name" (Kirkus Reviews) --- displays her masterful talent in this dark and deliciously addictive tale of domestic suspense.
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict (Historical Fiction)
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM is a powerful novel based on the incredible true story of Hedy Lamarr, the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication.
SOMEONE WE KNOW by Shari Lapena (Psychological Thriller)
In a quiet, leafy suburb in upstate New York, a teenager has been sneaking into houses --- and into the owners' computers as well --- learning their secrets, and maybe sharing some of them, too. After two anonymous letters are received, whispers start to circulate. And when a woman down the street is found murdered, the tension reaches the breaking point.
THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, THE TURN OF THE KEY is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE LITTLE CLAN by Iris Martin Cohen (Fiction)
With eloquent prose and affecting storytelling, THE LITTLE CLAN is a wickedly fun yet sharply insightful look at friendship, feminism and finding yourself in your 20s.
WATCHING YOU by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
The instant New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of THEN SHE WAS GONE delivers another suspenseful page-turner about a shocking murder in a picturesque and well-to-do English town.
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