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April is one of those months when spring breaks are popping up in various weeks. There is not just one week when these breaks happen. Members of my book club are from different towns, and the breaks are taking place on different weeks, which means our meeting was pushed to next week so we all could be together. A late Easter saw many calendared events spinning in new directions.
I did a quick Google search and found these interesting factoids: “In 1818 the Paschal Full Moon fell on Saturday, March 21 (the equinox). Therefore, the following day, March 22 and the 81st day of the year, was Easter. The next Easter that early will be 2285. In 1943, Easter fell on Sunday, April 25, the 115th day of the year. The last ecclesiastical full moon preceding the Paschal did not occur until March 20; prior to March 21, the fixed date to which the vernal equinox is assigned for the purposes of the computus, meaning the Paschal full moon did not happen until Sunday, April 18. Consequently, Easter was the following Sunday, April 25. Easter will next occur as late again in 2038 --- a span of 95 years.”
Now you are all set if someone asks this at your holiday table this weekend. Whether you are enjoying Easter, Passover or other seasonal holidays, we wish you all a lovely spring season. In the northeast, may it please warm up and bring some blue skies.
And now let's get to some great book group news.
This is your last Reading Group Guides newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place on Tuesday, April 29th at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be Marjan Kamali, and she will be talking about her national bestseller, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection when it released last summer. The novel is a sweeping exploration of how profoundly we are shaped by those we meet when we are young, and the way love and courage transforms our lives.
You can register for the event by clicking here. If you have a question for Marjan, please email it to me using the subject line “Marjan” by April 29th at noon ET. Be sure to also include your name, city and state, and indicate if you’d like to be on camera during the event so you can ask Marjan the question yourself, or if you’d prefer me to ask it for you. Those who appear on camera will be able to chat with Marjan in our virtual green room before the program starts.
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Georgia Hunter, whose latest novel, ONE GOOD THING, follows a young woman’s journey through war-torn Italy. We are featuring the discussion guide in this update, along with my Bets On commentary.
Georgia explains why she chose to set the book in Italy and the research trip that she took there with her mother, which was such a special time for her. We discuss what it must be like to live in a world where at any moment someone might be a friend or an enemy, and how a journey without a destination that you thought would be safe turns out to be such a difficult one.
Georgia also shares why she loves talking to students about her work. And yes, there is conversation about “We Were the Lucky Ones” --- the Hulu series adaptation of her New York Times bestseller --- and her presence as that was filmed. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
I also had a wonderful conversation with Katy Hays about her new novel, SALTWATER, which will be a Bets On selection. The book is set on the island of Capri and has the same vibes as “The White Lotus.”
Katy explains the origins of the novel, as well as how the story grew and why she told it from the points of view of multiple characters, alternating between “Then” and “Now.” She also discusses her research on Capri and why it was the perfect place to set the novel.
The audiobook has three narrators, and Katy shares why she feels they worked to best serve the book. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. We also are featuring the guide, along with our Bookreporter review --- and don’t miss my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
This month, we kicked off a special contest for MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER. This first entry in Colleen Cambridge’s mystery series, An American in Paris, is set in mid-century Paris and stars Julia Child’s fictional friend.
Here’s the premise: As postwar Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight is on her own journey of discovery. Thanks to her neighbor and friend, Julia Child, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and her Oncle Rafe. Between tutoring Americans in French, and sampling the results of Julia's studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha's sojourn is thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia's building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha is eager to help the investigation but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha's handwriting, was found in the dead woman's pocket.
Be sure to enter here by Wednesday, May 14th at noon ET for your chance to win one of 25 copies of the book. A FASHIONABLY FRENCH MURDER, the third An American in Paris mystery, releases on Tuesday, April 29th. So for those who haven’t read the series yet, now is the perfect time to get started!
Jennifer Weiner is back with THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS, a deeply moving novel set against the glitz and chaos of early-2000s pop stardom. Equal parts heartfelt family saga and behind-the-scenes look at fame, this is a story about sisters, secrets, and the power of second chances.
According to our Bookreporter reviewer Pamela Kramer, “This novel is one that begs to be a book club choice as there are numerous issues and themes to be explored.... Weiner also beautifully presents the part that music plays in our lives…. In addition to the content of this wonderfully gripping and emotionally satisfying novel, there's the beauty of the physical hardcover book…. THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS will be read and reread, and then passed on to friends to share.” Click here for the full review and here for the guide.
THE MAID’S SECRET is the final installment in Nita Prose’s Molly the Maid series, which kicked off with THE MAID and continued with THE MYSTERY GUEST and the holiday novella THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY. When a daring art heist takes place at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly’s life is threatened. Who’s out to get her, and why? Long-buried secrets will be revealed in this spellbinding whodunit, which will be a Bets On selection.
Here’s an interesting tidbit about the book from Nita: “As you know, there’s always truth buried in fiction, and one of the realities I drew from in this book is the true story of the missing Fabergé eggs. Many Fabergé pieces were taken from the palaces of the Romanovs when the imperial family was overthrown in Russia in 1918. Most of those precious antiquities are now accounted for, but several exquisite eggs remain missing to this day.
“In THE MAID’S SECRET, I imagined how Molly the maid might unwittingly come into possession of an extremely valuable object, one with the potential to change her life forever. But like all the other books in the series, this one isn’t about riches and fortunes. It’s about the value of love and how no wealth in the world compares to it.”
I look forward to hearing much more about the book from Nita when I talk to her on Monday. We will feature my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with her in the next newsletter, along with my Bets On commentary. In the meantime, click here for the guide.
We also have added guides for these four books:
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THE SIRENS: Following the enormous success of her debut, WEYWARD, Emilia Hart has written a novel about sisters separated by centuries but bound together by the sea. The book, which is April’s “Good Morning America” Book Club selection and Top LibraryReads Pick, captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.
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RABBIT MOON: Jennifer Haigh’s latest novel is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. This taut, suspenseful story is about the ties of marriage that no divorce can sever, and the fabled red thread that pulls two sisters together across time and space. On Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Jennifer, which you can sign up for here.
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ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD: Emily Everett’s first novel, which is Reese’s Book Club pick for April, is about a young American woman navigating class, lies and love amid London’s jet-set elite. Reese says that she was “hooked the moment I started the audiobook…. [The book] is about love, ambition and the cost of belonging, and I cannot stop thinking about it.”
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TILT: This month’s #1 Indie Next pick is a propulsive debut of a novel from Emma Pattee about the disappointments and desires we all carry, and what each of us will do for the people we love. In her review on Bookreporter, Norah Piehl calls the book “breathless and pensive, imaginative and shockingly real.”
April’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick is HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige, which takes readers on a gripping journey as a search and rescue team races against time when an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Jenna says, “I picked up this propulsive mystery and was hooked from the first page.... This is a story of survival, hope, and the many ways we find our way back --- to ourselves and to each other. I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down!”
According to Norah Piehl in her Bookreporter review, “Gaige is a writer who excels at blending literary suspense with genuine emotion, a skill that is constantly on display in her latest effort.... Valerie’s fate remains in the balance for almost the entire book. Although that is rarely far from readers’ minds, it is also true that Gaige still manages to weave in moments of reflection and contemplation... HEARTWOOD is a gorgeous novel that I hope will finally bring Gaige the attention and broad readership she deserves.”
For more April selections, including the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
We hosted April’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event last Wednesday. I talked about 36 books releasing between now and May 6th, plus 15 from June, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event will take place on Wednesday, May 14th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between May 13th and June 3rd, in addition to a few from July, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
John Shors Travel was conceptualized and launched as a result of outreach from the readers of John Shors’ bestselling books --- which includes his 2004 debut, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY --- and their desire to visit the settings of his novels. Since 2013, this one-of-a-kind travel company has taken more than a thousand guests on small-group, high-end tours to six continents.
We had the pleasure of talking to John about his company and his partnership with fellow bestselling authors, who travel with their readers to the locations of their books. Click here to read the interview and here to learn much more about John Shors Travel, including this year’s tour dates and destinations.
Here’s to a great month of reading with your book group.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you check out the discussion guides and various features on our site, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
New Guide: THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’
GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner
THE GRIFFIN SISTERS' GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were thrust into the spotlight as The Griffin Sisters, a pop duo that defined the aughts. Together, they skyrocketed to the top, gracing MTV, "SNL" and the cover of Rolling Stone. Cassie, a musical genius who never felt at ease in her own skin, preferred to stay in the shadows. Zoe, full of confidence and craving fame, lived for the stage. But fame has a price, and after one turbulent year, the band abruptly broke up. Now, two decades later, the sisters couldn’t be further apart. Zoe is a suburban mom warning her daughter, Cherry, to avoid the spotlight, while Cassie has disappeared from public life entirely. But when Cherry begins unearthing the truth behind their breathtaking rise and infamous breakup, long-buried secrets surface, forcing all three women to confront their choices, their desires, and their complicated bonds.
- 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: THE MAID’S SECRET by Nita Prose
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose (Mystery)
As the esteemed Head Maid and Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel, two good things are just around the corner for Molly Gray --- a taping of the hit antiquities TV show “Hidden Treasures” and her wedding to Juan Manuel. When Molly brings in some old trinkets to be appraised on the show, one item is revealed to be a rare and coveted artifact worth millions. Molly becomes a rags-to-riches sensation, and a media frenzy swirls as she prepares to sell her priceless treasure. Then, on auction day, the treasure suddenly vanishes, and Molly and her friends find themselves at the center of the boldest art heist in recent memory. But the key to this mystery lies in the past, in a long-forgotten diary written by Molly’s Gran. For the first time ever, Molly learns about her grandmother’s secrets. As fate would have it, Gran’s greatest love was someone Molly knows quite well.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for the discussion guide.
THE MAID'S SECRET will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in the next newsletter,
along with her “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Nita Prose.
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER by Colleen Cambridge
In anticipation of the April 29th release of A FASHIONABLY FRENCH MURDER, the third book in Colleen Cambridge's An American in Paris Mystery series, we are awarding 25 readers a copy of MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER, the opening installment of the series.
From fine Bordeaux and freshly baked baguettes to the friendly chatter of the green market, post-World War II Paris is indulging its appetite for food, and life, once more. Enter Tabitha Knight, a young American woman who makes friends with chef-in-training Julia Child --- and finds herself immersed in a murder most unsavory.
The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, May 14th at noon ET.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER: An American in Paris Mystery by Colleen Cambridge (Historical Mystery)
As postwar Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn't just the City of Light; it's the city of history, romance, stunning architecture...and food. Thanks to her neighbor and friend, Julia Child, another expat who has fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and her Oncle Rafe.
Between tutoring Americans in French, and sampling the results of Julia's studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha's sojourn is thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia's building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim from a party given by Julia's sister, Dort, the night before. The murder weapon is recognizable, too --- a knife from Julia's kitchen.
Tabitha is eager to help the investigation but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha's handwriting, was found in the dead woman's pocket. Now, from the shadows of the Tour Eiffel, to the Childs' tiny kitchen, to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates the city, hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison...or worse.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Colleen Cambridge's bio.
- Click here to visit Colleen Cambridge's website.
- Connect with Colleen Cambridge on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: ONE GOOD THING by Georgia Hunter
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
ONE GOOD THING by Georgia Hunter (Historical Fiction)
1940, Emilia-Romagna. Lili and Esti have been best friends since meeting at the University of Ferrara. There is a war being fought across borders, and in Italy, Mussolini’s Racial Laws have deemed Lili and Esti descendants of an “inferior” Jewish race, but life somehow goes on --- until Germany invades northern Italy, and the friends find themselves in occupied territory. Esti convinces Lili to flee first to a villa in the countryside to help hide a group of young war orphans, then to a convent in Florence, where they pose as nuns and forge false identification papers for the Underground. When disaster strikes at the convent, a critically wounded Esti asks Lili to take a much bigger step: to go on the run with Esti’s son, Theo. Terrified to travel on her own, Lili sets out on an epic journey, doing everything she can to keep Theo safe.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Georgia Hunter.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: SALTWATER by Katy Hays
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
SALTWATER by Katy Hays (Psychological Thriller)
In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Despite suspicions that the old-money Lingates are involved, Sarah’s death is ruled an accident. And every year, the family returns to prove it’s true. But on the 30th anniversary of Sarah’s death, the Lingates arrive at the villa to find a surprise waiting for them --- the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died. Haunted by the specter of that night, the legendary Lingate family unity is pushed to a breaking point, and Helen seizes the opportunity. Enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant, the two plot their escape from Helen’s paranoid, insular family. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah’s death is reopened, Helen has to confront the fact that everyone who was on Capri 30 years ago remains a suspect.
- 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 watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Katy Hays.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
SALTWATER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
New Guide: THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
April’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Selection
and Top LibraryReads Pick
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism)
Lucy awakens from a dream to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. Horrified, she flees to her older sister’s house on the Australian coast, hoping she can help explain the strangely vivid nightmare that preceded the attack. But Jess is nowhere to be found. As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’ strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary. A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, THE SIRENS captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.
- 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 see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh
April’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh (Fiction)
Four years after their bitter divorce, Claire and Aaron Litvak get a phone call no parent is prepared for: their 22-year-old daughter Lindsey, teaching English in China during a college gap year, has been critically injured in a hit-and-run accident. At a Shanghai hospital they wait at her bedside, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. The accident unearths a deeper fissure in the family: the shocking event that ended the Litvaks’ marriage and turned Lindsey against them. Estranged from her parents, she has confided only in her younger sister, Grace, adopted as an infant from China. As Claire and Aaron struggle to get their bearings in bustling, cosmopolitan Shanghai, the newly prosperous “miracle city,” they face troubling questions about Lindsey’s life there, in which nothing is quite as it seems.
» RABBIT MOON is April's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Jennifer Haigh. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett
Reese’s Book Club Pick for April
ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett (Fiction)
Anna first fell in love with London at her hometown library. Its Jane Austen balls were a far cry from her life of food stamps and hand-me-downs. But when she finally arrives after college, the real London is a moldy flat and the same paycheck-to-paycheck grind --- that fairy-tale life still out of reach. Then Anna meets the Wilders, who fly her to Saint-Tropez to tutor their teenage daughter. Swept up by the sphinxlike elder sister, Anna soon finds herself plunged into a heady whirlpool of parties and excess, a place where confidence is a birthright. There she meets two handsome young men --- one who wants to whisk her into his world in a chauffeured car, the other who sees through Anna’s struggle to outrun her past. It’s like she’s stepped into the pages of a glittering new novel. But what will it cost her to play the part?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's Reese's Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: TILT by Emma Pattee
April’s #1 Indie Next Pick
TILT by Emma Pattee (Fiction)
Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, there’s nothing to do but walk. Making her way across the wreckage of Portland, Annie experiences human desperation and kindness: strangers offering help, a riot at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. As she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. If she can just make it home, she’s determined to change her life.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for April
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.
Below is a preview of April's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: TILT by Emma Pattee
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
AUDITION by Katie Kitamura
WILD AND WRANGLED: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage
SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez
LibraryReads
Top Pick: THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker
COLD ETERNITY by S.A. Barnes
A DROP OF CORRUPTION: An Ana and Din Mystery, by Robert Jackson Bennett
MURDER BY CHEESECAKE: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Barnes & Noble Book Club
RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh
"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
PBS Books Readers Club
MISS AUSTEN: A Novel of the Austen Sisters by Gill Hornby
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige
Reese's Book Club
ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett
Target Book Club
THE MATCHMAKER by Aisha Saeed
Click here for April's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual
Spring Reading Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases.
Bookreporter.com's 14th annual Spring Reading 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.
Our final prize book is SHOW, DON'T TELL: A Writer, Her Teacher, and the Power of Sharing Our Stories by Kristine Gasbarre, which releases on Tuesday, April 29th. The deadline for your entries is TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 16th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
From left to right: Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Marjan Kamali, Heather Graham
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are seven upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Wednesday, April 16th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Jeneva Rose about THE PERFECT DIVORCE, the shocking sequel to her multimillion-copy bestselling thriller, THE PERFECT MARRIAGE.
Tuesday, April 22nd at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Marshall Karp will talk about his new thriller, DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DIE. Rich with his deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, the book has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.
Tuesday, April 22nd at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Join the Killer Author Club --- Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda --- as they welcome New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham and her terrifying new technothriller, THE MURDER MACHINE.
Wednesday, April 23rd at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Jasmine Guillory about her new novel, FLIRTING LESSONS, an unputdownable queer romance that gives voice to strong Black characters and celebrates Black love.
Tuesday, April 29th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Rachel Ekstrom Courage for a live virtual discussion of MURDER BY CHEESECAKE: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Rachel will be in conversation with a special guest.
Tuesday, April 29th at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Marjan Kamali about THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, a national bestseller and a 2024 Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Marjan also will answer questions from guests who will be “on stage,” as well as from other members of the audience.
Wednesday, April 30th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Carley Fortune about her new novel, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, a tender nostalgia-tinged love story about starting over, family, and an unforgettable summer.
"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:
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Marie Benedict (THE QUEENS OF CRIME) Video | Podcast
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Fiona Davis (THE STOLEN QUEEN) Video | Podcast
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Joseph Finder (THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER) Video | Podcast
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Lisa Genova (MORE OR LESS MADDY) Video | Podcast
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Clare Leslie Hall (BROKEN COUNTRY) Video | Podcast
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Jeff Hobbs (SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America) Video | Podcast
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Michelle Horton (DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds) Video | Podcast
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Tracey Lange (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?) Video | Podcast
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Scott Turow (PRESUMED GUILTY) Video | Podcast
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Charmaine Wilkerson (GOOD DIRT) Video | Podcast
Upcoming interviews include:
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Brenda Coffee (MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival)
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Nita Prose (THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett (Fiction)
ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD is a taut and lyrical coming-of-age debut about a young American woman navigating class, lies and love amid London’s jet-set elite.
DEEP CUTS by Holly Brickley (Fiction)
Moving from Brooklyn bars to San Francisco dance floors, DEEP CUTS examines the nature of talent, obsession, belonging and, above all, our need to be heard.
THE GRIFFIN SISTERS' GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a glimmering novel set in the world of pop music about sisters, motherhood, young love, and the dreams we chase.
THE LOVE WE FOUND by Jill Santopolo (Fiction)
This long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon THE LIGHT WE LOST is a thrilling love story about the roles that fate and choice play in shaping a life.
LUCKY NIGHT by Eliza Kennedy (Fiction)
Two people, one hotel room, and all the choices and complications that make up a life. This existential page-turner seamlessly shifts between Nick and Jenny’s perspectives as the reality of their situation becomes apparent, and all their secrets, evasions and regrets come spilling out.
THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose (Mystery)
When a daring art heist takes place at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly’s life is threatened. Who’s out to get her, and why? Long-buried secrets will be revealed in this intriguing and heartwarming novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MAID and THE MYSTERY GUEST.
A MAP TO PARADISE by Susan Meissner (Historical Fiction)
Award-winning, agoraphobic screenwriter Elwood Blankenship has seemingly disappeared from his house. But how does a person with agoraphobia go missing? Three women with little in common suddenly find themselves thrust together to cover up a harrowing secret.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER: An American in Paris Mystery by Colleen Cambridge (Historical Mystery)
Set in mid-century Paris and starring Julia Child’s fictional best friend, this magnifique reimagining of the iconic chef’s years at Le Cordon Bleu blends a delicious murder mystery with a unique culinary twist.
ONE GOOD THING by Georgia Hunter (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES comes an unforgettable story of hardship and hope, courage and resilience, that follows one young woman’s journey through war-torn Italy.
THE PARIS EXPRESS by Emma Donoghue (Historical Fiction)
Emma Donoghue, the nationally bestselling author of ROOM, returns with a sweeping historical novel about an infamous 1895 disaster at the Paris Montparnasse train station.
RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of MERCY STREET comes a tense, propulsive drama set in Shanghai about a fractured American family, secret lives, and the unbreakable bond between two sisters.
SALTWATER by Katy Hays (Psychological Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE CLOISTERS comes an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that is shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism)
From the author of the runaway New York Times bestseller WEYWARD comes a spellbinding novel about sisters separated by centuries but bound together by the sea.
THE SNOWBIRDS by Christina Clancy (Fiction)
THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME meets FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE in this page-turning story of a couple who flees winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads.
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by a true literary mystery, the New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.
TILT by Emma Pattee (Fiction)
Set over the course of one day, TILT is a heart-racing debut about a woman facing the unimaginable, determined to find safety.
THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO by Laura Anthony (Historical Fiction)
In 1970s Dublin, all forms of contraception are strictly forbidden, but an intrepid group of women will risk everything to change that in this sweeping, timely novel inspired by a remarkable and little-known true story.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE CEMETERY OF UNTOLD STORIES by Julia Alvarez (Fiction)
Great American novelist Julia Alvarez, the bestselling author of IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES and HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS, returns with a luminescent novel about storytelling that reads like an instant classic.
HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
Two women --- separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom --- reclaim secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of THE SUMMER WIVES.
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus (Historical Fiction/Humor)
Elizabeth Zott is a one-of-a-kind scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show.
MISS MORGAN'S BOOK BRIGADE by Janet Skeslien Charles (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times and internationally bestselling author of THE PARIS LIBRARY returns with a brilliant novel based on the true story of Jessie Carson --- the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France.
A SHORT WALK THROUGH A WIDE WORLD by Douglas Westerbeke (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism)
This dazzlingly epic debut charts the incredible, adventurous life of one woman as she journeys the globe trying to outrun a mysterious curse that will destroy her if she stops moving.
THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza (Mystery)
From bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jo Piazza comes a transporting novel rooted in the author’s own family history about a long-awaited trip to Sicily, a disputed inheritance, and a family secret that some will kill to protect.
TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett (Fiction)
In this beautiful and moving novel about family, love and growing up, Ann Patchett once again proves herself to be one of America’s finest writers.
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