March 14, 2023
 March 14, 2023 Celebrating the Ides of March with Books!I know that the Ides of March was a rough day for Caesar, but with March 15th just hours away, it gives us the chance to bring you a number of really terrific books and events of interest to book group readers.  It was announced today that HELLO BEAUTIFUL is Oprah’s milestone 100th Book Club pick. Inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, LITTLE WOMEN, Ann Napolitano’s latest novel (following her instant New York Times bestseller DEAR EDWARD, which is now an Apple TV+ series) is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it. Oprah says, “The whole reason I started a book club was to uplift and inspire people. A great book not only enhances your life experience but can also change you. Our 100th selection does just that --- you cannot read it without opening up, forgiving, seeing yourself and the relationships we weave in a new way. You come away more connected to life.” Ann appeared with Oprah on “CBS Mornings” to talk about the book, her writing process and the meaning of the title. Click here to watch the interview. Be sure to join Oprah, Ann and four Oprah's Book Club readers for a special discussion of HELLO BEAUTIFUL on OprahDaily.com, following the reading schedule that is on this page. You also can see the discussion guide here.  On March 1st, we hosted our latest “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which we had to reschedule from February 22nd due to sound issues on Zoom. Happily, everything went smoothly this time as Fiona Davis joined us to discuss her most recent novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, which is now available in paperback. Fiona talked about her decision to set the book at the Frick Museum and shared some terrific photos that gave readers background on her characters and research process. She discussed her other work, including what has drawn her to select particular buildings to feature, and the expert she speaks with before she begins a project and consults with along the way. She also explained how her acting career has inspired her writing. The conversation was lively and included what is next for Fiona, THE SPECTACULAR, which takes place at Radio City Music Hall. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.  I am happy to announce that Allison Pataki will be our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 29th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up for it here. We will be talking about Allison’s novel from last year, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is newly released in paperback. As always during these events, there will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Allison. For the first part, those who are asking a question “on camera” will be featured. This includes spending time with Allison backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email me with the subject line "Marjorie" by noon ET on the 29th. Be sure to include your name, city and state, as well as your question. If you do not want to appear on camera but still would like to ask a question, please note that you want to be off camera, and share your question --- adding your name, city and state.  Our Latest Monthly Contest is Live! In 1934 Texas, millions are out of work, and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance. In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli --- like so many of her neighbors --- must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. Three groups will win up to 12 paperback copies of THE FOUR WINDS. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, April 5th at noon ET. Kristin is doing an extensive tour for this much-anticipated paperback release. Be sure to check out her schedule here on her website. This is a huge month for Kristin as it was announced last week that THE NIGHTINGALE, her #1 bestseller from 2015, is Reese’s Book Club pick for March. According to Reese, “THE NIGHTINGALE is arguably one of the most powerful, most captivating novels about WWII in recent years. This important story illuminates a part of history that’s often overlooked: the women’s war. It’s a harrowing tale of two sisters, survival, love and female resilience throughout Nazi-occupied France.” In our previous “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, here are the five books mentioned most frequently by book groups that they have read: REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt, HORSE by Geraldine Brooks, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus, THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, and OUR MISSING HEARTS by Celeste Ng. Scroll further down the newsletter to see the Top 15.  We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter. First up is Shelley Read, who joined me for a deep-dive conversation about her debut novel, GO AS A RIVER, and the history behind it. This heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a resilient young woman whose life is changed forever by one chance encounter is perfect for book groups and is my latest Bets On selection. I have spent a lot of time in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado that Shelley writes about, so this book felt very personal to me. Shelley, a fifth-generation Coloradan, shares the background on how she came to write the novel --- and why it took until she was in her 50s to finish it. We also talk about her love of the outdoors and how that found its way into so much of her prose. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And don’t miss my Bets On commentary here.  I also had the pleasure of chatting with William Kent Krueger about his novella, THE LEVEE, which is available in audio format only. The bestselling author of ORDINARY GRACE and THIS TENDER LAND tells the powerful, captivating story of a family, a storm, a complicated rescue and the true cost of survival. Kent shares the history of this story, as well as the decision to produce it as an audio original. We also talk about the narrator, JD Jackson, and how his performance really brought the story to life. Kent’s books are known for their strong characters, and he discusses the importance of character development. The audiobook includes an author’s note read by Kent and a preview of his next novel, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER (on sale September 5th), which he mentions in the interview. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. We also are featuring the guide, which you can see here.  PINEAPPLE STREET by debut novelist Jenny Jackson is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. Here’s how “GMA” describes the book: “This glamorous escape takes place on Pineapple Street in Brooklyn Heights, one of New York City's most desirable neighborhoods, and home to the well-connected Stockton family. Follow the family as they learn how to navigate love, family, class and money from three different perspectives: the eldest, the youngest and a newcomer marrying-in.” Click here for the guide. I just finished this one today and loved it so much that it will be a Bets On pick. You can see my commentary in the next newsletter. We also have added guides for these three books:
 THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL is one of two March picks for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites; the other is THE NIGHT TRAVELERS by Armando Lucas Correa. On Tuesday, March 28th at 1pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Julia and Armando about their books. You can RSVP by clicking here.  This month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick is Rajasree Variyar’s debut novel, THE DAUGHTERS OF MADURAI. The book revolves around the fraught family dynamics and desperate choices that face a young mother in India. Spanning 1990s South India and present-day Australia, it follows Janani, a mother who will do anything to save her unborn daughter, and Nila, a young woman who embarks on a life-changing journey of self-discovery. On Tuesday, April 4th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Rajasree to talk about the book. She will be joined in the discussion by Shannon DeVito, the Director of Category Management at B&N, and Miwa Messer, B&N’s Editorial Director. You can sign up by clicking here. For more March selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. A Very Special Contest That You Don't Want to Miss  In addition to our editorial websites, Reading Group Guides and Bookreporter, The Book Report Network builds websites for authors. This division of the company is Authors On The Web. From time to time, we are going to spotlight our Authors On The Web authors who have books coming out in a certain month, alerting you to their social media and newsletters, and giving you the opportunity to follow them on social media and sign up for their newsletters. Plus, we're running a contest! Enter here to win one of five sets of this month’s featured books: THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark, the aforementioned THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda, and LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline. The deadline for your entries is Friday, March 31st at noon ET. We will announce the winners the first week of April.  On Bookreporter, we’re running a contest for Nancy Horan’s upcoming book, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN, which Therese Anne Fowler calls “top-quality literary time-travel, and the trip is well worth taking.” This marks Horan’s first novel in nine years, following her New York Times bestsellers LOVING FRANK and UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY. In anticipation of its June 6th release, we’re awarding an advance copy to 25 readers. To enter, please fill out this form by THIS Friday, March 17th at noon ET.  We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event last Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 32 books releasing between now and April 4th, plus nine from May, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.  Our next “Bookaccino Live” preview event will take place on Wednesday, April 12th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between April 11th and May 2nd, in addition to a few from June, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.  Be sure to join Simon & Schuster and book festivals across the country on Wednesday, March 22nd at 7pm ET for Spring 2023 AuthorFest, an evening with New York Times bestselling authors Laura Dave and Rebecca Serle. Both Dave and Serle are masters of complicated families and love stories, creating characters that have enchanted people across mediums as both of their work has leapt from the page to the screen. In their conversation, which will be moderated by New York Times bestselling author Jessica Knoll, they will discuss adaptations, where they draw inspiration, and how the world around them influences their work. Click here to sign up to attend the event, which will be broadcast via Zoom. Dave’s THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME will be a limited series on Apple TV+ starting April 14th, and the two books in Serle’s Famous in Love YA series became a hit drama series on Freeform. WHEW! March is by no means dull in the book world. Here’s to you all finding some great personal reading this month, as well as to having a fabulous book group discussion! Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])     "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of 
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 THE FOUR WINDS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. This #1 New York Times bestseller by Kristin Hannah is a powerful American epic about love, heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression --- a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, millions were out of work, and even the land seemed to have turned against them. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, April 5th at noon ET.
THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah (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 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 visit Kristin Hannah's website. - Connect with Kristin Hannah on Facebook and Instagram. Click here to enter the contest. New Guide: HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano  HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide. New Guide: PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson  PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide. PINEAPPLE STREET will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. New Guide: WEYWARD by Emilia Hart  WEYWARD by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide. THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah  THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide. New Guide: THE LEVEE by William Kent Krueger,  THE LEVEE: An Audio Original Novella written by William Kent Krueger and read by JD Jackson, with an author's note read by William Kent Krueger (Historical Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide. New Guide: THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL by Julia Kelly  THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction) » THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL and Armando Lucas Correa's THE NIGHT TRAVELERS are this month’s picks for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. On Tuesday, March 28th at 1pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Julia and Armando about their books. Click here to sign up. - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide. New Guide: BLACK CANDLE WOMEN  BLACK CANDLE WOMEN by Diane Marie Brown (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here for the discussion guide.    Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for March Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads, as well as the Target Book Club title and Costco's "Buyer's Pick." We also feature a number of other prominent picks, including Oprah’s Book Club, the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Reese's Book Club, Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, and Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. Below is a preview of March's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here. Indie Next LibraryReads Target Book Club Costco's "Buyer's Pick" Oprah's Book Club Barnes & Noble Book Club Reese's Book Club Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club "Good Morning America" Book Club Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites Our Most Popular Book Group Selections for February’s "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest  In February's “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, here are the 15 books mentioned most frequently by book groups that they have read:
Click here to see all the titles that book groups recently read.  New Special Contest on Bookreporter.com:  Nancy Horan, author of the New York Times bestseller LOVING FRANK, returns with THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN, a sweeping historical novel that tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's ascendance from rumpled lawyer to U.S. president to the Great Emancipator through the eyes of a young asylum-seeker who arrives in Lincoln's home of Springfield from Madeira, Portugal. The book doesn't release until June 6th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, March 17th at noon ET. THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan (Historical Fiction) Along with her African American friend Cal, Ana encounters the presence of the underground railroad in town and experiences personally how slavery is tearing apart her adopted country. Culminating in an eyewitness account of the little-known Springfield race riot of 1908, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN takes readers on a journey through the historic changes that reshaped America and that continue to reverberate today. Click here to enter the contest.  Bookreporter.com Bets On: 
GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read (Fiction)
GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read is set in a place that is very special to me --- the Gunnison Valley of Colorado. I have spent a lot of time there, and it’s where I met my husband, who, like me, hails from New Jersey. In 1948, Torie is a lonely teenage girl caring for her father, uncle and brother following a car accident that killed her mother, favorite aunt and cousin. They live in the town of Iola. School already is behind her, though she normally would be of high school age. With her father and brother, she tends the family’s peach farm when she is not cooking and running the household. And yes, we can stop here for a second, as I never knew that peaches grew in Colorado. In an interview with Shelley, she said that she had not known about Georgia peaches! - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.  Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual Spring is in the air (or will be very soon)! We’ve already caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our 12th annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-April. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here. This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details    From left to right: Jenny Jackson, Stephanie Clifford, Sally Hepworth Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events As many book and author events are still 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. Monday nights at 7:30pm ET: “Lisa Live!”: Join Lisa Scottoline every Monday night through March 20th as she hosts her weekly “Talking LOYALTY” video series and Facebook Live events leading up to the publication of her latest historical novel, LOYALTY, on March 28th. And be sure to enter the LOYALTY Pre-order Sweepstakes by Sunday, March 26th at 11:59pm ET. Wednesday, March 15th 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 Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai and Sarah Penner about their latest novels, Quế Mai's DUST CHILD and Penner's THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY. Friday, March 17th at 2pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance for a live virtual discussion of COLLATERAL DAMAGE as part of the B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Jance will be in conversation with the bestselling author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, Anne Hillerman. Saturday, March 18th at 1pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Stephanie Clifford as she discusses her new book, THE FAREWELL TOUR, with V. V. Ganeshananthan. The author of the New York Times bestseller EVERYBODY RISE tells the story of one unforgettable woman’s rise in country and western music. Wednesday, March 22nd at 3pm ET: Boswell Book Company: Join Boswell Book Company for the March installment of their "Readings from Oconomowaukee" event series, presented in partnership with Books & Company. This month’s event features Jenny Jackson, author of PINEAPPLE STREET (this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick), in conversation with Daniel Goldin, Lisa Baudoin and Lauren Fox. Wednesday, March 22nd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Colleen Oakley and Julie Carrick Dalton about their latest books, Oakley's THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE and Dalton's THE LAST BEEKEEPER. Appearing on the Aftershow will be Stephanie Marie Thornton, whose new novel is HER LOST WORDS. Wednesday, March 22nd at 7pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Spring 2023 AuthorFest: Simon & Schuster partners with the book festival community each season to bring exclusive author programming to readers across the US. Their Spring 2023 AuthorFest event will feature Laura Dave and Rebecca Serle in conversation with fellow New York Times bestselling author Jessica Knoll. Sunday, March 26th at 2pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lisa Scottoline will talk about her new work of historical fiction, LOYALTY, with moderator Hank Phillippi Ryan. Scottoline has penned an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily. Monday, March 27th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Sally Hepworth will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her new book, THE SOULMATE. Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal and the secrets that push us to the edge. Tuesday, March 28th at 1pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Julia Kelly and Armando Lucas Correa will join members of the Simon & Schuster team to discuss their latest novels, Kelly's THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL and Correa's THE NIGHT TRAVELERS, which are March's picks for S&S's Book Club Favorites. Wednesday, March 29th at 7pm ET: Avon Free Public Library: Join Avon Free Public Library for a conversation with Ann Napolitano to celebrate the release of her new novel, HELLO BEAUTIFUL, which is Oprah’s 100th Book Club pick. The discussion will be moderated by Tina Panik, Avon's Reference & Adult Services Manager. Wednesday, March 29th 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 Lisa Scottoline and Robert Dugoni about their latest novels: Scottoline's LOYALTY and Dugoni's HER DEADLY GAME. Wednesday, March 29th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Allison Pataki about her novel, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, which is now in paperback. Allison also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. If you would like to be one of our featured audience guests and ask Allison a question on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Marjorie” by Wednesday the 29th at noon ET. "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:
Click here for a complete list of our    Our Latest GuidesWe currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com: BITTERSWEET: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain (Psychology/Personal Growth) BLACK CANDLE WOMEN by Diane Marie Brown (Fiction) HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano (Fiction) I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai (Fiction) THE LEVEE: An Audio Original Novella written by William Kent Krueger and read by JD Jackson, with an author's note read by William Kent Krueger (Historical Fiction) THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction) THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction) PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson (Fiction) A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (Fiction) WEYWARD by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism) THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE by Lynn Cullen (Historical Fiction) THE WRITING RETREAT by Julia Bartz (Psychological Thriller)
THE CANDY HOUSE by Jennifer Egan (Fiction) FENCING WITH THE KING by Diana Abu-Jaber (Fiction) THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction) THE LAST TO VANISH by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller) THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark (Domestic Thriller) MEMPHIS by Tara M. Stringfellow (Fiction) ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle (Fiction) PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING by Melissa Fu (Historical Fiction) TRUE BIZ by Sara Nović (Fiction) Quick Links to Features on ReadingGroupGuides.com Find a Guide by Title | Find a Guide by Author | Find a Guide by Genre Please visit the other websites in TheBookReportNetwork.com: Bookreporter.com and AuthorsOnTheWeb.com. |
