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While some book groups plan a few months or even a year in advance, my book group falls in the month-to-month selection category. Sometime towards the end of our very laid-back meetings, someone chimes in and asks, "What are we going to read next?"
This month we met on Zoom. So as this question came up, I twirled over to my second computer and started flipping through some of our recently reviewed titles and my Bookreporter.com Bets On selections looking for ideas. We just had read two memoirs (GOING THERE and TASTE), so we ruled out doing another. We already had read Fiona Davis and Marie Benedict, though one member would vote for Marie every month!
Life these days seems like it has been a bit wearying, so I suggested something with some spunk: THE MAID by Nita Prose. Since we are not traveling these days, it would be lovely to envision a grand hotel! The main character, Molly, definitely brought a smile to my face as I read it. Scroll further down the newsletter to see why I chose this book as a Bets On title and my interview with Nita.
Melanie, who edits our Word of Mouth feature on Bookreporter, shared this about a book that she had read with her book group this month: "One of our members picked the book A PLAY FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, which I thought was excellent. Very different, converging WWII with India and New York City. I reached out to the author, Jai Chakrabarti, and he attended our Zoom meeting. He was absolutely charming and warm. The next day, the book won the National Jewish Book Award for debut fiction."
Thanks to all of you who shared how your book group has been meeting these past months. A whole lot of Zooming has been going on, though a few of you are gathering in person again, and a group or two are even back at the library. There has been a lot of pivoting from live to Zoom and back.
I have to say, as Melanie noted, Zoom does lend a nice option for an author to join a discussion!
In the last newsletter, we shared the results of our two-month-long contest, where we asked you to let us know your favorite book that you read with your group and outside your group in 2021. As you can see above, THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah --- which was one of my favorite books of the year and a Bets On pick --- was the top selection in both categories. You also can see the nine other titles in each category that made your Top 10 list of faves. Click here for both lists, which include links to each of these books. Many thanks to Amanda, who handles our social media, for the beautiful art she created for this feature!
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter. First up is Nita Prose, whose debut novel, the aforementioned THE MAID, is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick and a Bets On selection. Molly Gray is a socially challenged hotel maid who prides herself on delivering top service to the guests at the Regency Grand Hotel. One day, she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black and finds him dead in his bed. All fingers point to Molly as the killer, so she works to unravel the mystery of what happened to Mr. Black to free herself as a suspect.
Nita explains what inspired her to write THE MAID and how her scribbled notes became the prologue. She also talks about how her day job as the Editorial Director of a Canadian publishing house influenced her, how sometimes pushing your characters into small settings makes them bigger personalities, and the quote at the end of the book, which I already had hanging on my office wall. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
My second interview is with Katherine Faulkner, whose debut novel, GREENWICH PARK, will be a Bets On pick. The plot came to Katherine when she was in a prenatal class. Since all the women were pregnant, there was a feeling that they all should be friends. In the book, Helen attends her first prenatal class and has a strange encounter with Rachel, who has latched on to her. At first, Helen appreciates the companionship. But as time goes on, Rachel becomes more erratic, and Helen begins feeling that she needs to find a way to escape this irrational creature.
Katherine talks about the friends we make early in our lives and the difficulty of making new ones later, which became the perfect start to a thriller. We swap some tales from our own prenatal classes --- ones that still make us laugh. We also discuss Katherine's work as an award-winning journalist and investigative reporter, and the inspiration that comes from interviewing people from all walks of life. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter. In the meantime, we posted the discussion guide for the book, which you can see here.
Last Chance to Enter Our Monthly Contest
Wednesday, February 9th at noon ET is the deadline to enter our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest. Three of you will win up to 12 copies of Lisa Scottoline’s debut historical novel, ETERNAL, for your group. A Bets On pick when it released in hardcover last March, the book will be available in paperback this Tuesday, February 1st. According to our Bookreporter reviewer Jana Siciliano, “The characters are so beautifully fleshed out that you feel as if you are reading someone’s family memoir… Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro share a stage that is swift and ever-changing, which makes ETERNAL a truly outstanding work of historical fiction.” Be sure to check out the guide, our rave review and my Bets On commentary.
Join Us to Talk to Lisa Scottoline about ETERNAL
A reminder that Lisa Scottoline will be talking about ETERNAL during our first “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event of 2022, which will take place on Wednesday, February 23rd at 8pm ET. Click here to sign up. There will be a Q&A session after our discussion; if you have a question that you would like to ask Lisa on camera during the event, please email it to me using the subject line “Question for Lisa Scottoline.” May I suggest you share the signup link with your fellow book group members and others who have the read the book? I am so looking forward to catching up with Lisa and talking to her about this deeply researched, page-turning novel.
Fiona Davis is back with her sixth novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, which centers on steel magnate Henry Clay Frick’s daughter, Helen, and Audrey Munson, who was considered the supermodel of the 1910s. She was inspired to write the book after touring the Frick Collection, an art museum in New York City.
According to Fiona, “Helen Clay Frick and Audrey Munson were two very different women, from very different walks of life, connected by this glorious Fifth Avenue mansion. As I headed home after that first tour, I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What would an encounter between the free-spirited Audrey Munson and the notoriously prickly Helen Clay Frick have been like? The plot for THE MAGNOLIA PALACE quickly unfolded from there.” Click here for the guide and here for our review on Bookreporter.
Once we can travel again, a great book club trip would be to visit the various locations in Fiona's books, which are set all around New York City!
Another fascinating historical novel we’re featuring in this newsletter is Marie Benedict’s HER HIDDEN GENIUS, which revolves around Rosalind Franklin’s discovery of the double-helix of DNA --- an achievement for which she never received credit during her lifetime. This brilliant yet overlooked scientist also contributed to the research that has led to modern vaccines.
Kate Moore, the author of THE RADIUM GIRLS and THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE, has this to say: “What an important book this is. Through Marie Benedict's trademark insight and immersive historical research, Rosalind Franklin and her extraordinary legacy are beautifully restored to public recognition. So brilliantly sketched is this brilliant woman that you will find yourself both infuriated by the misogynistic battles she faces and inspired by the intellectual achievements she manages to secure regardless.” Click here for the guide.
We also have added discussion guides for these four books:
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VIOLETA by Isabel Allende: The bestselling author of A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA and IN THE MIDST OF WINTER (among many others) returns with the epic story of Violeta Del Valle, a woman whose life spans 100 years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the 20th century.
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THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf: True crime writer Wylie Lark is snowed in at an isolated farmhouse where two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace. She finds herself haunted by the secrets contained within its walls --- and by secrets of her own. My interview with Heather will be up on our YouTube channel and podcast page next week, and we will feature it in our next newsletter, along with my Bets On commentary.
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THE GOOD SON by Jacquelyn Mitchard: What do you do when the person you love the most becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow.
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JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang: In her latest novel, the award-winning author of CHEMISTRY touches on matters that feel deeply resonant: being Chinese-American right now; working in medicine at a high-stakes time; finding one’s voice within a dominant culture; being a woman in a male-dominated workplace; and staying independent within a tight-knit family.
This is your last ReadingGroupGuides newsletter reminder to sign up for next month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, February 9th at 2pm ET. I will talk about titles releasing between February 8th and March 1st, in addition to a few from April, that I would like to get on your radar. Click here to register. 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.
THREE Bookreporter Contests You Will Not Want to Miss
We currently have three contests running on Bookreporter that we would like to make you aware of: our special contests for SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham and WHAT’S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster, plus our Valentine’s Day contest, which we have brought back for a 17th year. Scroll further down the newsletter for more details on these exciting giveaways.
Book Club Event Reminders
Enjoy your next book group discussion, and we hope to "see" many of you at our February "Bookaccino Live" events!
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!
New Guide: THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis
THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion, she jumps at the chance. But before she knows it, she is pulled her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels and family drama. Nearly 50 years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into an impressive museum. But then she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum --- messages that will lead her on a hunt that not only could solve Veronica's financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.
- 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: HER HIDDEN GENIUS by Marie Benedict
HER HIDDEN GENIUS by Marie Benedict (Historical Fiction)
Whether working at the laboratory she adored in Paris or toiling at a university in London, Rosalind Franklin feels closest to the science, those unchanging laws of physics and chemistry that guide her experiments. When she is assigned to work on DNA, she believes she can unearth its secrets. Rosalind knows if she just takes one more X-ray picture --- one more after thousands --- she can unlock the building blocks of life. Never again will she have to listen to her colleagues complain about her, especially Maurice Wilkins, who would rather conspire about genetics with James Watson and Francis Crick than work alongside her. Then it finally happens --- the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what unfolds next, Rosalind never could have predicted.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: VIOLETA by Isabel Allende
VIOLETA by Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth. Through her father’s prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. Her family loses everything and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. There, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling. She tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for the discussion guide.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Copies of
ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline 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. 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 ETERNAL, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that releases in paperback on February 1st. Fueled by shocking true events, Lisa Scottoline's first historical novel is the tale of a love triangle that unfolds in the heart of Rome...in the creeping shadow of fascism. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, February 9th at noon ET.
ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro grow up as the best of friends despite their differences. Elisabetta is a feisty beauty who dreams of becoming a novelist; Marco the brash and athletic son in a family of professional cyclists; and Sandro a Jewish mathematics prodigy, kindhearted and thoughtful, the son of a lawyer and a doctor. Their friendship blossoms to love, with both Sandro and Marco hoping to win Elisabetta's heart. But in the autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear --- their families, their homes and their connection to one another --- is tested in ways they never could have imagined.
- 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 read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lisa Scottoline.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Click here to sign up for our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event featuring Lisa Scottoline on Wednesday, February 23rd at 8pm ET.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
Helen’s idyllic life begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class and meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be. Rachel doesn’t seem very maternal, but Helen is still drawn to her. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences and distracts her from her fears. But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen is not the only one who’s noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Katherine Faulkner.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
GREENWICH PARK will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the next newsletter.
New Guide: THE OVERNIGHT GUEST
by Heather Gudenkauf
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf (Psychological Thriller)
True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace. As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls --- haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.
- 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.
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary, along with her "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Heather Gudenkauf, in the next newsletter.
New Guide: THE GOOD SON by Jacquelyn Mitchard
THE GOOD SON by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Fiction)
Thea's son, Stefan, was just 17 when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he’s released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda’s mother, once Thea’s good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter’s memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea's own family turn away. Meanwhile, Thea struggles to understand her son. As his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover --- especially about the night Belinda died?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang
JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang (Fiction)
Joan is a thirtysomething ICU doctor at a busy New York City hospital. The daughter of Chinese parents who came to the United States to secure the American dream for their children, Joan is intensely devoted to her work, happily solitary and successful. Once she and her brother, Fang, were established in their careers, her parents moved back to China, hoping to spend the rest of their lives in their homeland. But when Joan’s father suddenly dies and her mother returns to America to reconnect with her children, a series of events sends Joan spiraling out of her comfort zone just as her hospital, her city and the world are forced to reckon with a health crisis more devastating than anyone could have imagined.
- 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 January Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Below are a number of books releasing in January 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.
ANTHEM by Noah Hawley (Literary Thriller)
In this epic literary thriller, a band of unlikely heroes sets out on a quest to save one innocent life --- and might end up saving us all.
THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS by Eva Jurczyk (Literary Mystery)
ANXIOUS PEOPLE meets the delights of bookish fiction in a stunning debut following a librarian whose quiet life is turned upside down when a priceless manuscript goes missing. Soon she has to ask: What holds more secrets in the library --- the ancient books shelved in the stacks, or the people who preserve them?
ENOUGH ALREADY: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today by Valerie Bertinelli (Memoir)
Beloved actress and New York Times bestselling author Valerie Bertinelli returns with a heartfelt look at turning 60, the futility of finding happiness in numbers on a scale, learning to love herself the way she is today, and tips for a healthier outlook on life.
INVISIBLE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
In this riveting novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a gifted young woman must grapple with the legacy of a troubled childhood in order to pursue her dreams.
THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction)
Julia Kelly returns with a masterful, glittering novel that whisks you to midcentury Britain as it follows three of the last debutantes to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II.
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
A community’s past sins rise to the surface in New York Times bestselling author Diane Chamberlain’s THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET when two women, a generation apart, find themselves bound by tragedy and an unsolved, decades-old mystery.
A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME: How I Found the Calm After the Storm by Ginger Zee (Memoir)
In Ginger Zee's follow-up to her bestselling NATURAL DISASTER, the ABC chief meteorologist takes readers on a much deeper journey of self-discovery.
MUST LOVE BOOKS by Shauna Robinson (Fiction)
THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL meets "Younger" in a heartfelt debut following a young woman who discovers she'll have to ditch the "dream job" and write her own story to find her happy ending.
NO LAND TO LIGHT ON by Yara Zgheib (Fiction)
EXIT WEST meets AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE in this breathtaking and evocative novel about a young Syrian couple in the throes of new love, on the cusp of their bright future...when a travel ban rips them apart on the eve of their son’s birth.
NOTES ON AN EXECUTION by Danya Kukafka (Literary Thriller)
In the tradition of LONG BRIGHT RIVER and THE MARS ROOM, this gripping and atmospheric work of literary suspense deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row, told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life.
REMINDERS OF HIM by Colleen Hoover (Romance)
A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.
RISE: My Story by Lindsey Vonn (Memoir)
The first-ever memoir from the most decorated female skier of all time reveals never-before-told stories of her life in the fast lane, her struggle with depression, and the bold decisions that helped her break down barriers on and off the slopes.
TO PARADISE by Hanya Yanagihara (Fiction)
From the author of the classic A LITTLE LIFE comes a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, about lovers, family, loss and the elusive promise of utopia.
Announcing Bookreporter.com’s Special Contest
for SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham:
Enter to Win One of 25 Advance Copies
Set in 1950s Manhattan, SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham is a captivating novel of a Berlin girl on the run from the guilt of her past and the boy from Brooklyn who loves her. The book doesn't release until April 19th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, February 11th at noon ET.
SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham (Historical Fiction)
1955 in New York City: the city of instant coffee, bagels at Katz's Deli, new-fangled TVs. But in the Perlman's walk-up in Chelsea, the past is as close as the present. Rachel came to Manhattan in a wave of displaced Jews who managed to survive the horrors of war. Her Uncle Fritz fleeing with her, Rachel hoped to find freedom from her pain in New York and in the arms of her new American husband, Aaron. But this child of Berlin and daughter of an artist cannot seem to outrun her guilt in the role of American housewife, not until she can shed the ghosts of her past. And when Uncle Fritz discovers the most shocking portrait that her mother had ever painted, Rachel's memories begin to terrorize her, forcing her to face the choices she made to stay alive --- choices that might be her undoing.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to enter the contest.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's Special Contest
for WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster:
Enter to Win One of Five Paperback Copies
WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS, Naima Coster's instant New York Times bestseller and a "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick, is a sweeping novel of legacy, identity, the American family, and the ways that race affects even our most intimate relationships. We have five copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which is now available in paperback. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, February 4th at noon ET.
WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster (Fiction)
A community in the Piedmont of North Carolina rises in outrage as a county initiative draws students from the largely Black east side of town into predominantly white high schools on the west. For two students, Gee and Noelle, the integration sets off a chain of events that will tie their two families together in unexpected ways over the span of the next 20 years. As love is built and lost, and the past never too far behind, WHAT’S MINE AND YOURS moves between the years, from the foothills of North Carolina, to Atlanta, Los Angeles and Paris. It explores the unique organism that is every family: what breaks them apart and how they come back together.
- 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.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books
for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving five readers the chance to win five love-themed books in our 17th annual Valentine's Day contest. Be sure to enter between now and Thursday, February 17th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we've all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- shortly after the contest ends.
This year's Valentine’s Day prize titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE MAID by Nita Prose, THE LAST HOUSE
ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain, and
OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez
THE MAID by Nita Prose (Mystery)
In Nita Prose’s debut novel, THE MAID, Molly Gray is a socially challenged hotel maid who prides herself on delivering top service to the guests at the Regency Grand Hotel. One day, she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black and finds him dead in his bed. All fingers point to Molly as the killer, so she works to unravel the mystery of what happened to Mr. Black to free herself as a suspect. Molly’s life has been shaped by the words of her Gran, who died a few months ago. She approaches each seemingly insurmountable task by sharing what her Gran would have said to do.
- 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 watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Nita Prose.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE MAID.
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET is the latest book from Diane Chamberlain. While I loved her previous effort, BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN, this one surpasses it as my favorite. The novel takes place in the mid-'60s, during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, and in the year 2010. Some characters overlap, which is not often the case with dual storylines. Here, questions can be answered by folks who are still around, though whether or not they are being totally truthful remains to be seen.
- 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 more of Carol's commentary on
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET.
OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez (Fiction)
As Xochitl Gonzalez’s debut novel, OLGA DIES DREAMING, started, I was thinking that it was going to be a light read. Olga is running a wedding planning business for the elite, and the tone has just the sense of humor you would expect from a really smart rom-com. But quickly I realized it was something more.
- 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 watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Xochitl Gonzalez.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on OLGA DIES DREAMING.
From left to right: Marie Benedict, Charmaine Wilkerson, Fiona Davis
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.
Saturday, January 29th at 6pm ET: The BookMark: Join The BookMark as they present Fiona Davis in conversation with Christina Baker Kline about her latest historical novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE.
Saturday, January 29th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's, in partnership with Books & Books, the Miami Book Fair and independent bookstores across the country, will host Isabel Allende as she discusses her new book, VIOLETA, with Victoria Alonso.
Monday, January 31st at 3pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Jessamine Chan will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS, which is January's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Monday, January 31st at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Fiona Davis will discuss her new work of historical fiction, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions.
Tuesday, February 1st at 7pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books and Miami Book Fair present a virtual event with Julia May Jonas, who will discuss her debut novel, VLADIMIR, with Claire Dederer.
Wednesday, February 2nd at 7pm ET: The Center for Fiction: Presented in partnership with the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival, The Center for Fiction will host a virtual event featuring Charmaine Wilkerson, who will discuss her debut novel, BLACK CAKE, with Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Wednesday, February 2nd 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 Alafair Burke (FIND ME) and Allison Pataki (THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST).
Wednesday, February 2nd at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Nina de Gramont as she discusses her new book, THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR, with Jason Mott.
Wednesday, February 2nd at 9pm ET: Tattered Cover Book Store: Sourcebooks Landmark, in partnership with Boulder Bookstore, Old Firehouse and Tattered Cover, welcomes Marie Benedict in conversation with Nathalia Holt for a special virtual discussion of Marie's new book, HER HIDDEN GENIUS.
Thursday, February 3rd at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Jillian Cantor as she discusses her new book, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS, with Meredith Jaeger.
Thursday, February 3rd at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Eva Jurczyk will be in conversation with William Boyle about her debut novel, THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.
Thursday, February 3rd at 8pm ET: Skylark Bookshop: Skylark’s free-range bookseller-at-large Mary O’Malley and their bookselling friend, Pamela Klinger-Horn, will be in conversation with Marie Benedict about her new historical novel, HER HIDDEN GENIUS.
Friday, February 4th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Jillian Cantor will discuss her latest novel, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS, with special guest host Heather Gudenkauf.
Tuesday, February 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Barnes & Noble will host a virtual discussion for their January Book Club selection, ANTHEM, featuring Noah Hawley.
Wednesday, February 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between February 8th and March 1st, along with a few from April, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Marie Benedict (HER HIDDEN GENIUS) and Fiona Davis (THE MAGNOLIA PALACE).
"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 include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Christopher Golden (ROAD OF BONES)
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Heather Gudenkauf (THE OVERNIGHT GUEST)
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Wendy Corsi Staub (THE OTHER FAMILY)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
#1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline offers a sweeping and shattering epic of historical fiction fueled by shocking true events, the tale of a love triangle that unfolds in the heart of Rome...in the creeping shadow of fascism.
FIONA AND JANE by Jean Chen Ho (Fiction/Short Stories)
FIONA AND JANE is a witty, warm and irreverent book that traces the lives of two young Taiwanese American women as they navigate friendship, sexuality, identity and heartbreak over two decades.
THE GOOD SON by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard comes the gripping, emotionally charged novel of a mother who must help her son after he is convicted of a devastating crime.
GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
As electrifying as THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, this twisty, whip-smart debut thriller is about impending motherhood, unreliable friendship and the high price of keeping secrets.
HER HIDDEN GENIUS by Marie Benedict (Historical Fiction)
Marie Benedict's powerful novel shines a light on a woman who sacrificed her life to discover the nature of our very DNA, a woman whose world-changing contributions were hidden by the men around her but whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind.
HONOR by Thrity Umrigar (Fiction)
In this riveting and immersive novel, bestselling author Thrity Umrigar tells the story of two couples and the sometimes dangerous and heartbreaking challenges of love across a cultural divide.
JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang (Fiction)
From the award-winning author of CHEMISTRY comes a witty, moving, piercingly insightful novel about a marvelously complicated woman who can’t be anyone but herself.
THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
Fiona Davis, the New York Times bestselling author of THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE, returns with a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions.
THE MAID by Nita Prose (Mystery)
A charmingly eccentric hotel maid discovers a guest murdered in his bed. Solving the mystery will turn her once orderly world upside down in this utterly original debut.
OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez (Fiction)
A blazing talent debuts with the tale of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her social ambitions, absent mother and Puerto Rican roots --- all in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf (Psychological Thriller)
A woman receives an unexpected visitor during a deadly snowstorm in this chilling thriller from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf.
THE REDEMPTION OF PHILIP THANE: The Penhallow Dynasty by Lisa Berne (Historical Romance)
How many times can a rake get it wrong...before he becomes Mr. Right? The celebrated Penhallow Dynasty series continues in this deliciously witty and romantic Regency, perfect for readers of Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas and Sarah MacLean.
THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS by Jessamine Chan (Dystopian Fiction)
In this taut and explosive debut novel, one lapse in judgment lands a young mother in a government reform program where custody of her child hangs in the balance.
VIOLETA by Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
This sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA tells the epic story of Violeta Del Valle, a woman whose life spans 100 years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the 20th century.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
BLACK BUCK by Mateo Askaripour (Satire/Dark Humor)
For fans of Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street comes a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone Black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems.
HOUR OF THE WITCH by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Thriller)
A young Puritan woman --- faithful, resourceful, but afraid of the demons that dog her soul --- plots her escape from a violent marriage in this riveting and propulsive novel of historical suspense.
WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster (Fiction)
From the author of HALSEY STREET comes a sweeping novel of legacy, identity, the American family, and the ways that race affects even our most intimate relationships.
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