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Summertime and Reading is Terrific!
These past days, no matter where you were in the country, it felt like summer...and in some places summer with way too much heat! Luckily, reading requires very little physical movement to heat you up ---- I never exerted myself too much turning pages or clicking screens. There are so many wonderful books to read right now…and we are going to be talking about some of them in this newsletter!
Last Thursday night, we hosted our fifth "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event. Our guest was Julie Clark, whose most recent novel, THE LAST FLIGHT, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now in paperback. As always, it was such fun to catch up with Julie as THE LAST FLIGHT was a favorite among our readers. Julie also shared news about her next book, which is coming in June 2022. I'm not telling you anything else about it. You’ll have to watch or listen to our discussion to learn more. Note: This video/podcast has spoilers; when we do these book group events, we assume that people have read the book, and this is noted up front. There are many spoilers here, so if you have not read the book, please do that first. And if you want to see an interview with Julie sans spoilers, check out our "Bookreporter Talks To" video and podcast from last year where we spilled no secrets.
With so many people traveling for vacations, we too are going to give our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event a two-month break and pick up in late September. We have some authors in mind for fall events, but would love to hear who you would like us to have as guests. Send me an email with the subject line “Fall Book Group Author Guest,” and we will consider these ideas. Ideally the author will have written a book that is either out in paperback and has been widely read, or was such a massive success in hardcover that a number of people have read it already.
Our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event --- Individual Publisher Videos Now Available!
As many of you know, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders back in May. Representatives from 21 publishers (all were terrific) presented more than 75 titles perfect for book groups that are being published between June and November of this year. You can watch the full event here, but for your convenience, we now have broken out the presentations by publisher and included links to their individual videos on this page. Here you also can access various materials from the event, including a PowerPoint and an Excel spreadsheet with all the featured titles.
Readers Comment on THE FOUR WINDS Audiobook
We are excited to share with you the amazing comments about Kristin Hannah’s THE FOUR WINDS that we received from book clubs who won digital copies of the audiobook (narrated by Julia Whelan) in our special contest earlier this year. Many thanks to all who took the time to give us such wonderful feedback on their listening experiences!
In this newsletter, we are featuring the discussion guide for E. J. Levy’s debut novel, THE CAPE DOCTOR, which recounts the story of Jonathan Mirandus Perry’s journey from a penniless Irish girl to one of the most celebrated and accomplished figures of his time. Sarah Blake, who many of you know as the author of THE POSTMISTRESS, has this to say about the book: "THE CAPE DOCTOR is one of those rare wonders of historical fiction: a novel that is so utterly transporting, so fully steeped in its time and place I kept looking up from the page and wondering where I was. And how did E. J. Levy do it? Was she there? The story of its hero Dr. Perry, an Irish woman practicing medicine under cover as a man in nineteenth-century South Africa, raises powerful contemporary questions about the nature of border crossings --- of gender, of class, and ultimately of love." High praise, indeed! Click here for the guide and here for more critical praise.
Last Chance to Enter Our Two Previously Announced Contests
This is your last newsletter reminder to enter our contest and author chat opportunity for THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker, which releases on August 3rd and will be a Bets On pick. Calling to mind a STEPFORD WIVES gender-swap, the novel imagines a world where the burden of the “second shift” is equally shared --- and what it may take to get there. Book club favorite Sally Hepworth raves, “Chandler Baker, queen of the feminist thriller, has delivered once again! THE HUSBANDS is a poignant exploration of what it would take for women to have it all...and it’s as sobering as you might imagine. My head is still spinning. I can already hear the book club discussions!” During our interview last week, Julie Clark mentioned this book as one of her favorites that she recently read.
If you’d like to be one of the 15 groups who will win up to 10 advance copies of the book and share their comments on it, all you have to do is fill out this form by Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET. Of these 15 groups, five will be chosen to chat with Chandler via Zoom!
July 7th at noon ET is also the deadline for our “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest. Three groups will win up to 12 copies of Kate Moore’s THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear. As I said in the last newsletter, Kate did some deep research for this book, and it’s evident throughout the pages of this unputdownable story about Elizabeth Packard, a housewife and mother of six who courageously fought for her own freedom --- and in so doing freed millions more. According to Barbara Bamberger Scott in her Bookreporter review, “Moore has produced a work that merits readership now, especially as so many individuals and groups struggle for the right to be fairly and fully heard.”
Helen from Tewksbury, MA won copies of WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews for her group in March’s “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest. A couple of weeks ago, they celebrated their first in-person meeting in over a year and the retirement of one of their book club members, Debbie. Above you can see a photo of the group members (two are missing), along with books that Helen wrapped as favors (humorously called “Debbie’s Last Homework Assignment”) and an announcement that Helen printed out sharing the big news about WHO IS MAUD DIXON?, which they will discuss at their next meeting. We love seeing photos like this from our readers and look forward to hearing what they think about the book!
Here are four other guides we are featuring in this late-month update:
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MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS: In Joshua Henkin’s latest novel, which is June’s #1 Indie Next pick and a Bets On selection, Pru Steiner falls in love with her Shakespeare professor, Spence Robin. Marrying him means ending her ambition to make a name for herself in New York academia. Decades later, Spence is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and Pru must come to terms with the impact that will have on her life. Layer in a stepson who walks to his own beat and a daughter who is in medical school, and it’s both the story of a marriage and of a family.
In a recent “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, Josh gave a great deal of insight into how each of his characters drive the story and revealed the parallels to his own life. I also talked to him about what it's like to write as a full-time creative writing professor and the ways in which his career motivates his writing work. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
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THE FIANCÉE: They had everything they needed for a perfect family vacation: close-knit relatives, a bucolic setting...and a murderer in their midst? You will want to find out what this intriguing tagline is all about in Kate White’s new stand-alone thriller, which will be a Bets On pick. Kate and I worked together many moons ago when we were at Mademoiselle, and it’s been such fun following her writing career. I can see this one getting lots of beach time for people this summer. We will feature my interview with Kate and my Bets on commentary in the next newsletter.
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THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN: Marie Benedict is back with another historical novel featuring a strong but mostly forgotten and ignored woman. This time, she teams up with acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray to tell the remarkable story of J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, a Black American who passed as white in order to protect her family and legacy. It was announced today that THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN is July's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick. And after our June “Bookaccino Live” preview event, the book was selected as the one that our readers were anticipating the most. I am trying to get a date to interview Marie and Victoria!
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OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW: Beatriz Williams’ new historical novel is a gripping and profoundly human story of Cold War espionage and family devotion. In her Bookreporter review, Rebecca Wasniak found the story to be “informative, suspenseful and engaging” and called the ending “deliciously shocking and oh-so-satisfying.”
Oprah has selected THE SWEETNESS OF WATER by Nathan Harris as her next book club pick. This debut novel is about the unlikely bond between two freedmen who are brothers and the Georgia farmer whose alliance will alter their lives, and his, forever. Oprah said, "As I read this masterful novel I kept thinking --- this young 29-year-old is a first-time author, so how did he do this?" She continued, "As the best writers can do, Nathan takes us back in time, and helps us to feel we are right there with Prentiss and Landry as they get their first taste of freedom. I rooted for them, and feared for them too." Click here for more of her thoughts on the book. Oprah’s conversation with Nathan will stream on Apple TV+ starting July 23rd, and we look forward to featuring our review of the book in the weeks to come on Bookreporter.
Jenna Bush Hager announced yesterday that HELL OF A BOOK by Jason Mott is July's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick. In the book, a Black author sets out on a cross-country publicity tour to promote his bestselling novel. Jenna calls it "original, heartbreaking, poignant and, in moments, hilarious" and goes on to say, "It is a timely exploration into what it means to be a Black man living in America. It’s a beautiful story about family love and dedication to finding out who we are."
Bookreporter.com’s Virtual Vacation Reads Feature is Back!
With so many people unable to travel last summer due to the pandemic, we were inspired to create our Virtual Vacation Reads feature, which allowed readers to pay a virtual visit to various getaway locations with the help of some fabulous books. Thankfully the world is opening up again and travel plans are being made, but it’s always such fun to escape into the pages of a book and feel like you’ve been transported to another time and place. Thus we have decided to make Virtual Vacation Reads an annual feature!
This year, you can virtually travel to Nantucket, Cape Cod, Malibu, the Catskills, Charleston, Palm Beach and so many other idyllic locales. All the titles here are hardcovers and paperbacks that have been published this year, or will be releasing in the weeks to come. Just like last year, we also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit and do some shopping as well! Huge thanks to our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, for pulling together this feature again this year. He deserves to be somewhere sending us a postcard!
Your Reading Retreat Experiences
Speaking of vacations, we heard from two readers whose book groups have gone on reading retreats, and we’re happy to share them with you here.
Sherry of the Queen Bees Book Club from Nashville, TN: “Our Nashville-based group is comprised of 13 members, and while we have only officially been a book club for 18 years, many of us have been friends for more than 35! Although our destination meetings aren't recent, they still hold special memories. When we read WICKED by Gregory Maguire, we traveled to Chicago to attend the theater production. When we read SARAH CHILDRESS POLK: A Biography of a Remarkable First Lady by John Reed Bumgarner, we drove to Columbia, Tennessee, for a private tour of the President James K. Polk Home and Museum.
“When we read THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH by Robert Hicks, we were treated to a tour of the Carnton Mansion in Franklin, Tennessee, hosted by none other than the author himself! We have been fortunate to have many authors, including Michael Bishop, Ken Abraham, Ron York, Lisa Patton, Dr. Mike Tabor and Annette Valentine, attend our meetings to discuss their books! I know I'm a month late, but I thought our book club travels and experiences were worth sharing.”
Sue Lee of the Newcomers Club from Newport Beach, CA: “After my book club read MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL by John Berendt, we made a trip to Savannah. The city was taking advantage of the publicity and had guided tours of the home and garden.”
Recently I chatted with Zakiya Dalila Harris, whose debut novel, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL, is June’s Barnes & Noble and “Good Morning America” book club picks. This edge-of-your seat thriller is about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing. Zakiya spent a few years working in the editorial department at Knopf Doubleday. She left to write this book when the kernel of a story idea came to her, and it was too good to ignore. In our interview, Zakiya shared how her experiences in the publishing industry inspired everything from the microaggressions present in Nella's story, to the loose basis of certain characters, to the premise itself. We also talked about pop culture references, career transitions (especially for those who are assistants), and some of the challenges involved in getting the book to meet Zakiya's vision. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
A reminder that on Tuesday, July 13th at 3pm ET, Zakiya will be discussing the book live on B&N’s Facebook page with Dawnie Walton, the author of THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV.
I also had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Weisberger, the New York Times bestselling author of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Her new novel, WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY, is about sisters, their perfect lives...and their perfect lies. Lauren, who channeled her close relationship with her sister as she wrote the book, talked to me about how far she was in her early draft before realizing that she'd have to start over with a different approach, while hoping for the male characters to be nice guys instead of villains. At the same time, she offered fascinating insight into her female characters and how their agency involves them making their own choices. Lauren is excited about the upcoming stage adaptation of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, which she's been working on with Kevin McCollum and Elton John, the latter of whom is writing all the music. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Please keep in mind that next month’s "Bookaccino Live" afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, July 14th at 2pm ET. I will present titles that are coming out between July 13th and August 3rd, along with a few from September, that I 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.
June’s Book Club Favorites Discussion --- and a Look Ahead to July
Last Wednesday, Rachel Beanland joined two members of the Simon & Schuster team to talk about FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER, June’s pick for S&S’s Book Club Favorites, which is now available in paperback and was a Bets On selection when it released in hardcover last year. Click here for their discussion. ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman is their July pick. Be sure to join the conversation on Thursday, July 29th at 12pm ET. We will share the signup link in the next newsletter.
My group is discussing THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz at our next meeting, which we are holding at my house. We are coordinating things so that Jean can join us via Zoom for our discussion. I am very much looking forward to this; the early feedback from the group is that they are loving the book.
Here's hoping you have a great discussion with your group wherever you are!
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!
Book Groups Comment on
Listening to the Audiobook of THE FOUR WINDS
A “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
and a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
Earlier this year, 30 book groups won the audio version of Kristin Hannah's latest #1 New York Times bestseller, THE FOUR WINDS, which was a "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. They were asked to listen to the audiobook, which is read by Julia Whelan, and answer some questions about their experience. We are happy to share their comments with you here. Many thanks to all who took the time to give us such wonderful feedback!
THE FOUR WINDS Audiobook written by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan (Historical Fiction)
Texas, 1921. The Great War is over, the bounty of the land is plentiful, and America is on the brink of a new and optimistic era. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a woman’s only option, the future seems bleak. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. By 1934, millions are out of work, and drought has devastated the Great Plains. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsa’s tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive. In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa --- like so many of her neighbors --- must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves, or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to listen to an excerpt from the audiobook.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to visit Kristin Hannah's website.
- Click here to see why the book was February's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read comments from our winning groups.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win Up to 10 Advance Copies of THE HUSBANDS for Your Group and Share Your Comments on It,
Plus an Opportunity to Chat with Chandler Baker
From Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of WHISPER NETWORK, comes THE HUSBANDS, a novel that asks: To what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband? We are giving 15 groups the opportunity to win up to 10 advance copies of the book, which releases on August 3rd, and share their comments on it. In addition, five of these winning groups will be selected to chat with Chandler via Zoom. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET.
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
Nora Spangler is a successful attorney, but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too...but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder? When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. As the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having it all. One that’s worth killing for.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to enter the contest.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Copies of
THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE by Kate Moore
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 up to 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 WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear. Kate Moore, the bestselling author of THE RADIUM GIRLS, has written another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET.
THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore (Biography)
1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard is facing her own battle. Her husband of 21 years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened --- by Elizabeth's intellect, independence and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. One summer morning, Theophilus has her committed to an insane asylum. The conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, are horrific, and there are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: they've been committed not because they need medical treatment, but to keep them in line. No one is willing to fight for their freedom, and they cannot possibly fight for themselves. But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Featured Guide: THE CAPE DOCTOR by E. J. Levy
THE CAPE DOCTOR by E. J. Levy (Historical Fiction)
Beginning in Cork, Ireland, THE CAPE DOCTOR recounts Jonathan Mirandus Perry’s journey from daughter to son in order to enter medical school and provide for family, but Perry soon embraced the new-found freedom of living life as a man. From brilliant medical student in Edinburgh and London to eligible bachelor and quick-tempered physician in Cape Town, Dr. Perry thrived. When he befriended the aristocratic Cape Governor, the doctor rose to the pinnacle of society, before the two were publicly accused of a homosexual affair that scandalized the colonies and nearly cost them their lives.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read critical praise.
Click here for the featured guide.
New Guide: MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS by Joshua Henkin
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS by Joshua Henkin (Fiction)
Ohio-born Pru Steiner arrives in New York in 1976. When she falls in love with and marries Spence Robin, her hotshot young Shakespeare professor, her life takes a turn she couldn’t have anticipated. Thirty years later, something is wrong with Spence. With their daughter, Sarah, away at medical school, Pru must struggle on her own to care for him. One day, feeling especially isolated, Pru meets a man, and the possibility of new romance blooms. Meanwhile, Spence’s estranged son from his first marriage has come back into their lives. Arlo, a wealthy entrepreneur who invests in biotech, may be his father’s last, best hope.
- 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 Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Joshua Henkin.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE FIANCÉE by Kate White
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE FIANCÉE by Kate White (Psychological Thriller)
Summer is looking forward to a break from hustling for acting work in Manhattan when she, her husband Gabe, and Gabe’s nine-year-old son arrive at the annual family get-together at her in-laws’ sprawling estate. But this year, Gabe’s brother Nick has invited his new flame Hannah, whom Summer immediately recognizes from a few years before. Oddly, her brother-in-law’s girlfriend claims not to know her. Yet she charms the other family members, and after Nick announces that he’s proposed to Hannah, Summer doesn’t have much choice but to grin and bear it. Then the reunion is rocked by tragedy when a family member is found dead. Though the doctors attribute the loss to natural causes, a grieving Summer fears that the too-good-to-be-true Hannah is involved, even as Gabe dismisses her suspicions.
- 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.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Kate White
and her Bets On commentary in the early July newsletter.
New Guide: THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN
by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
July's "Good Morning America" Book Club Pick
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Historical Fiction)
In her 20s, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white --- her complexion is dark because she is African American.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to see why the book is July's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams
OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams (Historical Thriller)
In the autumn of 1948, Iris Digby vanishes from her London home with her American diplomat husband and their two children. The world is shocked by the family’s sensational disappearance. Were they eliminated by the Soviet intelligence service? Or have the Digbys defected to Moscow with a trove of the West’s most vital secrets? Four years later, Ruth Macallister receives a postcard from the twin sister she hasn’t seen since their catastrophic parting in Rome in the summer of 1940, as war engulfed the continent and Iris fell desperately in love with an enigmatic United States Embassy official named Sasha Digby. Within days, Ruth is on her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of counterintelligence agent Sumner Fox in a precarious plot to extract the Digbys from behind the Iron Curtain.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New June Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Below are a number of books releasing in June 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.
ANIMAL by Lisa Taddeo (Fiction)
Lisa Taddeo illustrates one woman's exhilarating transformation from prey into predator in ANIMAL, a depiction of female rage at its rawest, and a visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society.
THE BRITTANYS by Brittany Ackerman (Fiction)
They're not the most popular freshmen at their Florida prep school, but at least everyone knows their name(s). The Brittanys.
THE DISAPPEARING ACT by Catherine Steadman (Psychological Thriller)
Actress and author Catherine Steadman has written a gripping thriller set in a world close to home that asks the question: In a city where dreams really do come true, how far would you go to make the unreal real?
DREAM GIRL by Laura Lippman (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Following up on her acclaimed and wildly successful New York Times bestseller LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman returns with a dark, complex tale of psychological suspense with echoes of MISERY involving a novelist, incapacitated by injury, who is plagued by mysterious phone calls.
GOLDEN GIRL by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
In this satisfying page-turner from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine), a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl.
THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides (Psychological Thriller)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE SILENT PATIENT comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder and obsession.
PACK UP THE MOON by Kristan Higgins (Fiction)
Every month, a letter. That's what Lauren decides to leave her husband when she finds out she's dying. Each month, she gives Josh a letter containing a task to help him face this first year without her, leading him on a heartrending, beautiful, often humorous journey to find happiness again.
THE SECRET KEEPER OF JAIPUR by Alka Joshi (Historical Fiction)
In New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi’s intriguing new novel, henna artist Lakshmi arranges for her protégé, Malik, to intern at the Jaipur Palace in this tale rich in character, atmosphere and lavish storytelling.
SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO by Lionel Shriver (Fiction)
By turns hilarious and touching, playful and grave, SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO portrays 12 parallel universes, each exploring a possible future for Kay and her husband, Cyril.
SONGS IN URSA MAJOR by Emma Brodie (Fiction)
SONGS IN URSA MAJOR is a transporting love story of music, stardom, heartbreak and a gifted young singer-songwriter who must find her own voice.
THE VIXEN by Francine Prose (Historical Fiction)
Francine Prose returns with a dazzling new novel set in the glamorous world of 1950s New York publishing, the story of a young man tasked with editing a steamy bodice-ripper based on the recent trial and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg --- an assignment that will reveal the true cost of entering that seductive, dangerous new world.
THE WARSAW ORPHAN by Kelly Rimmer (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by the real-life heroine who saved thousands of Jewish children during World War II, THE WARSAW ORPHAN is Kelly Rimmer’s most anticipated novel since her bestselling sensation, THE THINGS WE CANNOT SAY.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 10th Annual
Book Group Speed Dating Event:
Great Books for Book Groups
Individual Publisher Presentations Now Available!
On May 14th, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. More than 75 books that would make great book group selections for Summer/Fall 2021 were presented by 21 publishers.
You can take a look at the video of the entire presentation here, or watch individual publisher presentations by clicking on the links below.
Bloomsbury • Consortium (And Other Stories, Blair, Deep Vellum, Feminist Press, Haymarket Books, World Editions) • Hachette Book Group • Harlequin Trade Publishing Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Ingram (Godine, Keylight Books, Spiegel & Grau, Two Dollar Radio) • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group • Random House Publishing Group
Simon & Schuster • Soho Press • Sourcebooks • William Morrow • W. W. Norton
If you would like to know more about these books, here is a link to a page with the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title. Included in the video is a retrospective of the last 10 years of Speed Dating, where we spotlight 12 books from each year that have been popular with readers over the past decade. A spreadsheet of these titles also can be found here.
Click here to watch our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event.
Bookreporter.com’s 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads:
Books Set in Getaway Locations
Bookreporter has a way for you to virtually travel with our list of books set in vacation locales. Escape to idyllic spots like Nantucket, Cape Cod, Malibu, the Catskills, Charleston and Palm Beach --- along with many others --- in our 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads feature. Pick your book(s) to embark on the summer vacation you've been dreaming of. You’ll only have to figure out how to send postcards!
Please note: For your convenience, we have organized these books both by location and alphabetically by title. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit as well! May we suggest that you buy these books from them?
Click here to see our 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads feature.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
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 the end of August, 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 include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
From left to right: Kate White, Riley Sager, Francine Prose
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.
Wednesday, June 30th at 7pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books presents a virtual event with Lisa Taddeo, author of ANIMAL. Lisa will be in conversation with Elin Hilderbrand, whose latest novel is GOLDEN GIRL.
Wednesday, June 30th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Kristan Higgins (PACK UP THE MOON) and Colleen Oakley (THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND).
Wednesday, June 30th at 7pm ET: Hudson Library & Historical Society: The Hudson Library & Historical Society will host a live virtual streaming event with Kate White, author of THE FIANCÉE.
Wednesday, June 30th at 9pm ET: {pages} a bookstore: {pages} is pleased to present Joshua Henkin, author of MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, for a virtual event. Joshua will be in conversation with Rachel Beanland, author of FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER.
Wednesday, June 30th at 9pm ET: Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Riley Sager will discuss his latest novel, SURVIVE THE NIGHT, with special guest host May Cobb.
Thursday, July 1st at 7pm ET: Avon Free Public Library: Join Kate White for a virtual event celebrating her riveting new stand-alone thriller, THE FIANCÉE.
Thursday, July 1st at 7pm ET: Bookmarks: Let's Talk Historical Fiction is back! Bookmarks will be exploring the popular genre of historical fiction with Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN) and Chanel Cleeton (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN CUBA).
Thursday, July 1st at 7pm ET: Reads & Company: Reads & Company and libraries from across the Chester County Library System have joined forces to host Riley Sager, author of SURVIVE THE NIGHT, for a virtual in-conversation event with Jeffery Deaver.
Thursday, July 1st at 9pm ET: Elliott Bay Book Company: Francine Prose will read from and discuss her new novel, THE VIXEN, with novelist Margot Livesey.
Monday, July 5th at 10pm ET: Changing Hands Bookstore: Former Changing Hands bookseller and local author T. J. Newman will present her debut novel, FALLING. She will be in conversation with Don Winslow. Please note: This also will be an in-person event.
Wednesday, July 7th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will celebrate the launch of Kristin Harmel's new novel, THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS.
Monday, July 12th at 7pm ET: Brookline Brooksmith: Celebrate the release of THE STRANGER IN THE MIRROR with Liv Constantine and moderator Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Tuesday, July 13th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Barnes & Noble will host a Facebook Live discussion for their June book club pick, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL, featuring Zakiya Dalila Harris in conversation with Dawnie Walton.
Wednesday, July 14th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between July 13th and August 3rd, along with a few from September, that she would like to get on your radar.
Thursday, July 15th at 7pm ET: RJ Julia Booksellers: RJ Julia’s presents a virtual event with Lisa Scottoline (ETERNAL) and her daughter, Francesca Serritella (GHOSTS OF HARVARD). These two masterful storytellers will share stories of the hidden strength of women.
"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:
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Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL) Video | Podcast
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Joshua Henkin (MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS) Video | Podcast
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Lauren Weisberger (WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Elizabeth Brundage (THE VANISHING POINT)
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T. J. Newman (FALLING)
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Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
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Scott Shepherd (THE LAST COMMANDMENT: An Austin Grant of Scotland Yard Novel)
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Kate White (THE FIANCÉE)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THE CAPE DOCTOR by E. J. Levy (Historical Fiction)
THE CAPE DOCTOR is the story of one man’s journey from penniless Irish girl to one of most celebrated and accomplished figures of his time.
CHASING SHADOWS by Lynn Austin (Historical Fiction)
For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence.
THE FIANCÉE by Kate White (Psychological Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Kate White returns with a riveting thriller about a captivating but cunning woman who joins a family and threatens to upend their picture-perfect lives.
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
From Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of WHISPER NETWORK, comes THE HUSBANDS, a novel that asks: To what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband?
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of 24 hours, their lives will change forever.
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS by Joshua Henkin (Fiction)
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS is a sweeping and compassionate novel about a marriage surviving hardship. It’s about the love between women and men, and children and parents; about the things we give up in the face of adversity; and about how to survive when life turns out differently from what we thought we signed up for.
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Thriller)
Urgent, propulsive and sharp as a knife, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL is an electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams (Historical Thriller)
The New York Times bestselling author of HER LAST FLIGHT returns with a gripping and profoundly human story of Cold War espionage and family devotion.
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Historical Fiction)
Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray have penned the remarkable story of J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation.
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams (Fiction)
With its keen observations of creative life in America today, as well as the joys and complications of being a mother and a daughter, SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE is a hilarious, romantic and sexy as hell story of two writers discovering their second chance at love.
THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore (Biography)
From the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE RADIUM GIRLS comes another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
BRONTË’S MISTRESS by Finola Austin (Historical Fiction)
The scandalous historical love affair between Lydia Robinson and Branwell Brontë, brother to novelists Charlotte, Emily and Anne, gives voice to the woman who allegedly brought down one of literature’s most famous families.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Finola Austin.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
A BURNING by Megha Majumdar (Literary Thriller)
Taut, symphonic, propulsive and riveting from its opening lines, A BURNING is an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who seek to rise --- to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies --- and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India.
GHOSTS OF HARVARD by Francesca Serritella (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
A Harvard freshman becomes obsessed with her schizophrenic brother’s suicide. Then she starts hearing voices.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Francesca Serritella.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS by Stephanie Scott (Fiction)
A gripping debut set in modern-day Tokyo and inspired by a true crime, for readers of EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU and THE PERFECT NANNY, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS charts a young woman's search for the truth about her mother's life --- and her murder.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Stephanie Scott.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
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