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August Means Different Things to People
August is a month where what’s happening depends on where you live. Some of the country is back in school --- cue cute kids in first-day-of-school outfits with their chalkboard dreams on social media. Others are trudging home from camp with dirty laundry and heading to family summer vacation.
As I live in the New York area, I think of September as the month for a mini-reset. It does not bring the resolutions of January, but there are renewed goals. One might be “never miss book group” or “be sure to read the book.”
I never miss book group as I host! My group is made up of young moms in their 30s and 40s; for them, coming to my house means a real night out. In August, we met outside and had a good discussion about THE DOORMAN. We liked the way that Chris Pavone set up the story and the briskness of it. We discussed the ending where “a lot happened.” Was it too much? Hmmm, it was a thriller.
I shared some background from Chris about his conversations with the doorman of the luxury building he lives in (the Dakota is the inspiration for the Bohemia) and why the book is dedicated to Johnny. I also told them that he signed a book for each person on the building staff --- the people behind the scenes that make a luxury building run. Be sure to watch or listen to an interview that I did with Chris when the book released a few months ago.
For September, we are reading THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman, which will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. The book is set after World War II, which we see little historical fiction about. Sharon’s mother shared stories of her family’s time in Vienna following the war, which gave her the start for the novel. What happened when people went to Vienna after spending time in the camps? Did you know that four countries controlled that city?
Sharon’s love of baking gave her the idea that Chana, one of the heroines in the book, would want to emulate her father’s baking. Chana would remember watching him bake, and now that he is gone, she honors his memory through her baking. The story is told through Chana’s eyes, as well as Zoe Rosenzweig, the granddaughter of Chana’s brother. Her grandfather’s death has her wanting to know more about her family. It is beautifully written.
We have one book group member who loves books about World War II and another who loathes them. I was clear that this book takes place post-war. Sharon will be joining us remotely for our meeting!
We are featuring the discussion guide for THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA in this newsletter, our Bookreporter review, and a downloadable booklet that includes some of Sharon's favorite recipes, many of which stem from her Jewish heritage and her family. In the next newsletter, we will share my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Sharon and my Bets On commentary.
We are thrilled to announce that Amy Neff will be September’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Thursday, September 25th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up here for it. We will talk about her debut novel, THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST, an international bestseller and a Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. This emotional, life-affirming novel asks: What if you could write the final chapter of your own love story?
There will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Amy.
For the first part, those who are asking a question on camera will be featured. This includes spending time with Amy 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 “Amy” by noon ET on September 25th. 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.
Then we will take questions from other members of the audience.
For my latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, I had a wonderful conversation with Francesca Serritella about her newly released second novel, FULL BLOOM, for which we are featuring the guide in this newsletter.
The book’s protagonist is gifted a bespoke perfume, which makes her irresistible. Francesca talks about her fragrance research, which she conducted in Grasse, France, as well as her lifelong love of perfume. She also shares how she views women who are living life on their own terms --- and loving it. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Here is what Norah Piehl says about the book in her review on Bookreporter: “[B]ook clubs will appreciate the engagement with real-world issues, and the addition of a whiff of magical realism makes for a nice spin on what otherwise might be a fairly straightforward novel of self-discovery. Fans of Jodi Picoult and Chris Bohjalian will find much to appreciate and discuss here. And those who love perfume might be inspired to try a new scent and see what happens!”
This month, we kicked off a special contest for award-winning author Suzanne Nelson’s debut novel for adults, THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON. Since its release in February, this captivating historical novel has received praise from such authors as Fiona Davis, Kristin Harmel and Kelly Rimmer.
WWII rages Europe. Lisbon stands alone as a glamorous city on the brink of chaos, harboring spies trading double-edged secrets. Among them are Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan, Boston librarians turned Allied operatives. Officially enlisted to collect banned books, both women are undercover agents tasked with infiltrating the Axis spy network. Soon, they’re caught up in games of deception with two of Lisbon’s most notorious men --- the outcast Portuguese baron, Luca Caldeira, and the lethal spy, code name Gable.
We are giving 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book, so be sure to submit your entries by Wednesday, September 24th at noon ET. You can see the guide here.
We also have added guides for these seven books:
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BRIDGE OF SIGHS: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo’s national bestseller from 2007 is Oprah’s Book Club pick for August. Oprah says, “You all know I love a story that sweeps you up, and this one is not going to disappoint.” She and Richard talked through many thought-provoking questions about the book in front of a live audience at a Starbucks café in Seattle. Click here for their discussion.
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MY OTHER HEART: Emma Nanami Strenner’s debut novel is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick. Jenna says, “I love this book so much. It’s the story of mothers, daughters, friendship. It’s full of heart and full of twists. I could not put it down.” She calls it “a deeply moving book about motherhood, identity and the invisible threads that connect us.” I am listening to this book now.
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THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER: Unfolding against the lush backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Karen White’s latest novel is an unforgettable story about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances. According to Beatriz Williams, “Karen White brings all her magnificent storytelling gifts to this stunner of a novel.”
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KISS HER GOODBYE: Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin looks for those who are missing when people have given up on them because she wants to bring closure to their families. In her latest case, she is called to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan refugee, whose friend suspects she is in grave danger.
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PEOPLE LIKE US: In Jason Mott’s new novel, two Black writers try to achieve peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence. One is on a global book tour; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. As their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure, and dreams endure against all odds.
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THE HARVEY GIRLS: Juliette Fay, whose novels include CITY OF FLICKERING LIGHT and THE TUMBLING TURNER SISTERS, transports readers to 1920s America as of two very different women must learn to trust each other as one tries to save her family and the other to save herself. This book is perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Kristina McMorris.
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IN BERLIN: Eric Silberstein’s second novel, following THE INSECURE MIND OF SERGEI KRAEV, explores both the unpredictable nature by which geopolitics and scientific breakthroughs touch our lives, and the brave, bold and sometimes quiet ways in which people reassert agency in the face of loss.
NOT QUITE DEAD YET, Holly Jackson’s first novel for adults, is this month's “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER, which is now a hit Netflix series, returns with a twisty thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder.
A playwright must grapple with her difficult year and writer's block while falling for the single dad living next door in Ashley Jordan’s debut novel, ONCE UPON A TIME IN DOLLYWOOD, which is Reese’s Book Club pick for August. Reese says, “I read this book in one sitting…. It’s funny and it’s real, and you feel like you’re talking to one of your best friends.”
This month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick is SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S WEDDINGS. Award-winning author David Levithan and acclaimed singer-songwriter Jens Lekman have penned a charming, tender novel about an unlucky-in-love wedding singer trying to find the right words to save his relationship. On Monday, September 8th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with David and Jens, which you can sign up for here.
For more August selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. Please note that THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali, which is newly released in paperback and was a Bets On selection when it published in hardcover last year, is this month’s Target Book Club pick.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My three latest Bets On selections are SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena, THIS HAPPENED TO ME by Kate Price, and WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH by Lisa Ridzén (which is this month’s #1 Indie Next pick). Click on each of the titles for my commentary.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event last Wednesday. I talked about 33 books releasing between now and September 2nd, plus 10 from the first half of October, 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 afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, September 10th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing between September 9th and September 30th, as well as some titles from the second half of October, plus November, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
On Tuesday, September 16th at 8pm ET, we will be hosting a special “Bookaccino Live” Fall Preview evening program. I will be talking about a number of books releasing this fall that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction. Click here to sign up.
Announcing This Year’s Bookreporter Fall Reading Feature
Speaking of fall, our Fall Reading feature on Bookreporter is back for a 15th year! On select days between now and October, we will spotlight a different title and offer a 24-hour contest to win five copies of the book. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce each day's title. If you have not done so already, you can sign up here to receive these dedicated newsletters.
Here are a few upcoming events where I will be in conversation with authors. I hope to see some of you at one or more of these programs:
Saturday, September 13th, 4:30-5:30pm: I will be interviewing Adriana Trigiani at the Milford Readers and Writers Festival in Milford, PA about THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO and much more. Tickets are here.
Monday, October 6th at 6:30pm: I will be interviewing Clare Leslie Hall about BROKEN COUNTRY at Barnes & Noble in Paramus, NJ. You can register for this event here.
Saturday, October 11th: I will be moderating three panels at the Morristown Festival of Books. The day starts at 10am and ends at 4:30pm. You can see the amazing list of authors who will be spending the day with readers here. This event is free!
Have a great discussion 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 Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of
THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON by Suzanne Nelson
As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love.
We are awarding 25 readers a copy of Suzanne Nelson's adult fiction debut, THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON, which is inspired by real historical figures and is perfect for fans of THE NIGHTINGALE. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, September 24th at noon ET.
THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON: A WWII Story of Love and Espionage by Suzanne Nelson (Historical Fiction)
Lisbon 1943. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love. Inspired by real historical figures, award-winning author Suzanne Nelson pens a captivating story of two remarkable women, their bravery and heartache, and a friendship that withstands the ravages of war.
WWII rages Europe. Lisbon stands alone as a glamorous city on the brink of chaos, harboring spies trading double-edged secrets. Among them are Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan, Boston librarians turned Allied operatives. Officially enlisted to collect banned books, both women are undercover agents tasked with infiltrating the Axis spy network.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to visit Suzanne Nelson's website.
- Connect with Suzanne Nelson on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide:
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman (Historical Fiction)
In 2018, Zoe Rosenzweig is reeling after the loss of her beloved grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. She becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to her family during the war. Vienna, 1946: Chana Rosenzweig has endured the horrors of war to find herself, her mother and her younger brother finally free in Vienna. But freedom doesn’t look like they’d imagined it would, as they struggle to make a living and stay safe. Despite the danger, Chana sneaks out most nights to return to the hotel kitchen where she works as a dishwasher, using the quiet nighttime hours to bake her late father’s recipes. Soon, Chana finds herself caught in a dangerous love triangle, torn between the black-market dealer who has offered marriage and protection, and the apprentice baker who shares her passions. How will Chana balance her love of baking against her family’s need for security?
- 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 visit Sharon Kurtzman's website.
- Click here for a downloadable booklet that includes some of Sharon's favorite recipes.
Click here for the discussion guide.
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary and her "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Sharon Kurtzman in the next newsletter.
New Guide: FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella
FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella (Fiction)
Reeling from a breakup and overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected and lonely in crowded New York City. Then a mysterious neighbor, an older Frenchwoman, makes her a gift: a bespoke perfume. One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris feels like a different woman. Suddenly, she is the object of every man’s desire. She can cast off her inhibitions and use her newfound allure to dazzle the high-profile client, attract a man who excites her like no other, and access all the rarefied spaces that once excluded her. Invigorated by the perfume, Iris embodies her maximum power --- a flower fully bloomed. But there is danger in connecting to our primal emotions. Scent awakens buried memories, and nightmares of the childhood house fire Iris barely survived return to haunt her.
- 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 visit Francesca Serritella's website.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Francesca Serritella.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Richard Russo
Oprah’s Book Club Pick for August
BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Richard Russo (Fiction)
Louis Charles Lynch is 60 years old and has spent his entire life in Thomaston, New York, married to the same woman, Sarah, for 40 of them, their son now a grown man. Like his late, beloved father, “Lucy” is an optimist, though he’s had plenty of reasons not to be --- chief among them his mother, still indomitably alive. Yet it was her shrewdness, combined with that Lynch optimism, that had propelled them years ago to the right side of the tracks. Lucy and Sarah are also preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, where his oldest friend, a renowned painter, has exiled himself. Once a rival for Sarah’s affection, Noonan leads a life in Venice far removed from Thomaston. In fact, the exact nature of their friendship is one of the many mysteries Lucy hopes to untangle in the “history” he’s writing of his hometown and 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 to see why the book is this month's Oprah's Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner
August’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club Pick
MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner (Fiction)
In June 1998, Mimi Truang is on her way home to Vietnam when her toddler daughter vanishes in the Philadelphia airport. Seventeen years later, two best friends in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, discuss their summer plans before college. Kit, with the support of her white adoptive parents, will travel to Tokyo to explore her Japanese roots. This dizzying adventure offers her a taste of first love and a new understanding of what it means to belong. Sabrina had hoped to take a similar trip to China, but money is tight. Her disappointment subsides, however, when she meets a bold, uncompromising new mentor who prompts Sabrina to ask questions she’s avoided all her life. Meanwhile, Mimi purchases a plane ticket to Philadelphia. She finally has a lead in her search for her daughter. When Mimi, Kit and Sabrina come face to face, they will confront the people they truly are.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide:
THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER by Karen White
THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER by Karen White (Fiction)
As a child, Phoebe Manigault developed the gift of premonition after she was struck by lightning in the creek near her Charleston home. Plagued throughout her life by mysterious dreams, Phoebe eventually moves to the West Coast. Now, years later, she is summoned back to South Carolina to help her sister, Addie, care for their ailing mother. As Phoebe’s return lures her back into deep-rooted tensions and conflicts, she is drawn to Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Their connection brings comfort to Phoebe, while Celeste’s adult grandson, Liam, resurrects complicated emotions tied to Phoebe’s past. But the longer Phoebe spends in her childhood home, the more her recurring nightmares intensify --- bringing her closer to the shocking truth that irrevocably will change everything.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit Karen White's website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner
KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
Recent Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband, Isaad, seems unconcerned. Sabera's closest friend, however, is convinced Sabera would never willingly leave her three-year-old daughter, Zahra. At her insistence, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search. Just in time for a video of the young mother to surface --- showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder. Frankie quickly realizes there's much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra's life, Frankie realizes that she quickly must crack the code of this family's horrific past.
- 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: PEOPLE LIKE US by Jason Mott
PEOPLE LIKE US by Jason Mott (Fiction)
Two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. As their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds.
- 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 HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Fay
THE HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Fay (Historical Fiction)
Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of the finest Boston society families. Now she’s on the run from a brutal husband. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants in Nebraska. She quit school in the sixth grade to help with her mother’s washing and mending business, but even that isn’t enough to keep the family afloat. Desperate, both women join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they share three things: a room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each has a secret that certainly will get them fired. But when they’re sent to work at the luxurious El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, Billie struggles to hide her young age from would-be suitors, and Charlotte discovers the little-known dark side of the national park’s history.
- 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: IN BERLIN by Eric Silberstein
IN BERLIN by Eric Silberstein (Fiction)
In the course of a 20-minute commute, software engineer Anna Werner goes from worrying vaguely about a sore shoulder to staggering her way into an ambulance. She has suffered a spinal stroke. Over the coming months, her parents join the insurance man in telling her to get ready for life in a group home. The only person who recognizes what Anna is still capable of is Batul al-Jaberi, a recent Syrian immigrant who meets Anna while doing her rounds as a janitor at the hospital. Batul is applying to medical school, where she hopes to regain control of a life hijacked by her family's flight from persecution in the early days of the Arab Spring. At first the friendship is what Anna and Batul each need to regain mobility. But as their relationship deepens, Batul finds that she must choose between her family and Anna.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read critical praise.
- Click here to read an interview with Eric Silberstein.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for August
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 August'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: WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH written by Lisa Ridzén, translated by Alice Menzies
THE HOUNDING by Xenobe Purvis
LUCKY DAY by Chuck Tingle
AUTOMATIC NOODLE by Annalee Newitz
NOT QUITE DEAD YET by Holly Jackson
LibraryReads
Top Pick: AUTOMATIC NOODLE by Annalee Newitz
THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKSHOPS by Poppy Alexander
THE BLONDE WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD by Ally Carter
WHAT HUNGER by Catherine Dang
THE WRONG SISTER by Claire Douglas
Barnes & Noble Book Club
SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS written by David Levithan, with songs by Jens Lekman
"Good Morning America" Book Club
NOT QUITE DEAD YET by Holly Jackson
Oprah's Book Club
BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Richard Russo
PBS Books Readers Club
BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY by Helen Fielding
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner
Reese's Book Club
ONCE UPON A TIME IN DOLLYWOOD by Ashley Jordan
Target Book Club
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali
Click here for August's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
New August Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Here are a number of books releasing in August 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.
THE BREAK-IN by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
After killing an intruder in self-defense, a wealthy London mother must unravel a terrifying mystery filled with twists and turns.
A DOG IN GEORGIA by Lauren Grodstein (Fiction)
In this beautiful story of connection and self-reflection, a missing dog in Georgia sets Amy Webb on an adventure away from her tumultuous marriage and lack-luster personal life and towards a journey of self-discovery and joy.
FOR RICHER FOR POORER by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
A loving mother and successful fashion designer struggles to keep her family together and her business afloat in this gripping novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.
THE HEIR: A Young Queen Victoria Mystery by Darcie Wilde (Historical Mystery)
For fans of "The Crown," The Young Victoria and all things British royalty is a new mystery set in 1830s London and starring none other than the young Princess Victoria --- the future Queen of England --- as a rebellious amateur sleuth.
LAST SEEN by J.T. Ellison (Psychological Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a twisted psychological thriller about the bonds of family and the disconnect between memory and the truth.
THE LOCKED WARD by Sarah Pekkanen (Psychological Thriller)
Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s THE LOCKED WARD, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood --- and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.
A NEW NEW ME by Helen Oyeyemi (Fiction)
From the award-winning, bestselling author who brought us BOY, SNOW, BIRD comes a masterful story that asks: What if the different sides of your personality had trust issues with each other?
SEDUCTION THEORY by Emily Adrian (Fiction)
When two married professors tiptoe toward infidelity, their transgressions are brought to light in a graduate student’s searing thesis project.
SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO: Fictions by Fannie Flagg (Fiction/Short Stories)
This tapestry of joyful and startling interconnected stories celebrates how people from all across America cope with adversity and unexpected changes in a confusing world.
THIS HERE IS LOVE by Princess Joy L. Perry (Historical Fiction)
Three people --- two enslaved, one indentured --- live beside each other, fighting and sometimes failing to be more than their pasts say they should be.
A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews (Memoir)
Internationally bestselling author Miriam Toews' memoir of the will to write is a work of disobedient memory, humor and exquisite craft set against a content-hungry, prose-stuffed society.
THE VIOLET HOUR: A Lowcountry Tale by Victoria Benton Frank (Fiction)
From the author of MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER comes a heartwarming and empowering novel about thriving after tragedy.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena,
THIS HAPPENED TO ME by Kate Price,
and WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH by Lisa Ridzén
SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena (Domestic Thriller)
Bookreporter readers are well aware of how much I love Shari Lapena’s books. She knows how to keep me turning the pages. In fact, I had just a few chapters of SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING left to read one morning, so I downloaded the audiobook narrated by January LaVoy and finished with a listen on the way to the health club. She is that good; I just did not want to wait to see how the book wrapped up.
Let’s look at the setup. Bryden is working at home in her luxury apartment. She fails to pick up her daughter at daycare, which is most unlike her. Her husband, Sam, arrives home to find her laptop on, her car keys still there, her vehicle still in the underground garage, and her cell phone still in the apartment. It’s as if she vanished.
- 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
SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.
THIS HAPPENED TO ME: A Reckoning by Kate Price (Memoir)
At the beginning of the year, I decided that I wanted to spotlight some titles that I would call “issue books” --- nonfiction that looked at topics that I think are worth exploring. THIS HAPPENED TO ME by Kate Price is one of those books.
At a young age, Kate, who grew up in Appalachia, spent lots of time reading books and finding refuge at the children’s department of her local library. There she could “visit” different places and find adventure and warm family stories, which were very different from what she saw at home. Her father was violent, her mother lived in fear of him, and she frequently was pitted against her older sister in abusive ways.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THIS HAPPENED TO ME.
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH written by Lisa Ridzén, translated by Alice Menzies (Fiction)
I am always skeptical when books arrive with tissues and a note that I am going to need them. I wonder when I will have to use them --- the beginning, the middle or the end. Or not at all.
I grabbed WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH by Lisa Ridzén last Sunday and took my usual spot to stand at the side of the pool and read. I know, it’s not your typical way to read a book, but it’s how I’ve been reading these past couple of summers.
Bo is a man who has seen a lot of good years. He’s now living at home with caregivers stopping in around the clock to see to his needs. They write notes about what he has been eating, his mood, and what else they observe as they visit. Bo’s world has become pretty small. His wife is suffering from dementia and is living in a care home. His best friend (being realistic here, the last friend his age who’s alive) lives too far to visit often, though they commiserate on the phone. Bo conjures up memories of their very different worlds, but also the closeness of their lives. When you read it, you will see what I mean.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 15th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. In our Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
From left to right: Sharon Kurtzman, Dan Brown, Sarah McCoy
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are a number of upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, August 25th at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Darcie Wilde will talk about her latest novel, THE HEIR, the first installment in her new mystery series featuring a young Princess Victoria --- the future Queen of England --- as a rebellious amateur sleuth.
Tuesday, August 26th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Sarah Pekkanen about her latest book, THE LOCKED WARD, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood --- and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.
Wednesday, August 27th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt about their new thriller, PLEASE DON'T LIE, in which a young woman heads to the Adirondacks with her new husband for a fresh start --- but the past won’t let her go.
Thursday, August 28th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's presents Sharon Kurtzman as she discusses her debut novel, THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA, with Rachel McMillan. The book shines a light on the courageous spirit of WWII refugees as they battle to survive the overwhelming hardships of a world torn apart.
Wednesday, September 3rd at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Sarah McCoy about her new book, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY?, a spellbinding novel based on a true story: a beautiful young movie star of Hollywood’s Golden Age gives up her bright career to become a nun.
Thursday, September 4th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Randy Wayne White will talk about TOMLINSON'S WAKE, the latest thriller following Doc Ford and his perilous journey into Mesoamerica after a world-shattering earthquake threatens his squad's safety --- and all of their lives.
Monday, September 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome David Levithan and Jens Lekman for a live virtual event to discuss their novel, SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS, which is August's B&N Book Club pick. David and Jens will be in conversation with Mallory Rochester, Store Manager at Barnes & Noble in Calabasas, CA.
Tuesday, September 9th at 6pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble - Union Square in New York City as they welcome New York Times bestselling author Dan Brown to celebrate and discuss THE SECRET OF SECRETS, which marks the long-awaited return of Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon.
Tuesday, September 9th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Elise Hart Kipness about CLOSE CALL, the third installment in her series starring Kate Green. The sports reporter and former Olympian courts danger once again when the famous subject of her next story is kidnapped during the US Open.
Wednesday, September 10th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Afternoon Event: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between September 9th and September 30th, along with a few from the second half of October, plus November, that we would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, September 10th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Mick Herron for a live virtual discussion of CLOWN TOWN, his ninth Slough House thriller, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Mick will be in conversation with the bestselling author of THE SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA, Juliet Grames.
Wednesday, September 10th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, about their novel, THE ACADEMY, which is the irresistible, deliciously scandalous story of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. 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 is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Steve Berry (THE LIST)
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Sharon Kurtzman (THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA)
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Hank Phillippi Ryan (ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Richard Russo (Fiction)
From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author of EMPIRE FALLS comes a novel about small-town America that follows Louis Charles Lynch (“Lucy”) and his wife of 40 years as they prepare to embark on a vacation to Italy.
EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU by Jo Piazza (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
From the bestselling author of THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE and the creator of the "Under the Influence" podcast comes an explosive thriller about two estranged friends, a grisly murder, a sudden disappearance, and the truly shocking revelation that everyone is lying to you about something.
A FLOWER TRAVELED IN MY BLOOD: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children by Haley Cohen Gilliland (History)
A remarkable new talent in narrative nonfiction delivers the epic true story of a group of courageous grandmothers who fought to find their grandchildren who were stolen.
FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella (Fiction)
A woman's life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire from the New York Times bestselling author of GHOSTS OF HARVARD.
THE HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Fay (Historical Fiction)
Juliette Fay transports us to 1920s America with a big-hearted tale of two very different women who must learn to trust each other as one tries to save her family and the other to save herself.
THE HOMEMADE GOD by Rachel Joyce (Fiction)
With sparkling wit and insight, this powerful novel from the bestselling author of THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY reminds us that family is everything, even when it falls apart.
IN BERLIN by Eric Silberstein (Fiction)
IN BERLIN is an entangled story about two women whose lives are upended, one by an achingly rare spinal stroke and the other by political violence.
KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner returns with the fourth installment in her addictive Frankie Elkin series, in which Frankie is called to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan refugee, whose friend suspects she is in grave danger --- before it is too late.
THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON: A WWII Story of Love and Espionage by Suzanne Nelson (Historical Fiction)
Lisbon 1943. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love.
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman (Historical Fiction)
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA is a historical novel inspired by the experiences of the author's own family after the Holocaust, a sweeping saga about survival, loss, love and the reverberating effects of war.
MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner (Fiction)
In 1998, Mimi Truang’s toddler vanishes in the Philadelphia airport, a loss that reverberates across Saigon, Pennsylvania and Tokyo. More than a story of disappearance, MY OTHER HEART is a poignant exploration of friendship, identity, and the bonds between mothers and daughters.
PEOPLE LIKE US by Jason Mott (Fiction)
In this riveting novel by the author of the 2021 National Book Award winner and bestseller HELL OF A BOOK, two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence.
THE SATISFACTION CAFÉ by Kathy Wang (Fiction)
How do we live so that we are satisfied? How can people connect during moments of loneliness? This is the story of Joan Liang, a woman who moves across the world to America and, in trying to answer these questions, builds a wildly original life.
THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER by Karen White (Fiction)
Beloved bestselling author Karen White returns with a captivating Southern drama about sisterhood, secrets, and one woman’s reckoning with the past.
TYPEWRITER BEACH by Meg Waite Clayton (Historical Fiction)
Set in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Hollywood, TYPEWRITER BEACH is an unforgettable story of the unlikely friendship between an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and a young actress hoping to be Alfred Hitchcock's new star.
WAYWARD GIRLS by Susan Wiggs (Historical Fiction)
Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school.
YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller)
Memories fade, but on this campus, legacies are never forgotten --- or forgiven --- in New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda's latest thriller.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jodi Picoult (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling co-author of MAD HONEY comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart --- one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays --- who are both forced to hide behind another name.
COUNTING MIRACLES by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of THE LONGEST RIDE and THE NOTEBOOK comes an emotional, powerful novel about wondering if we can change --- or even make our peace with --- the path we’ve taken.
FAMILIARIS by David Wroblewski (Historical Fiction)
The follow-up to the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling modern classic THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, FAMILIARIS is the stirring origin story of the Sawtelle family and the remarkable dogs that carry the Sawtelle name.
THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
(Gothic Horror/Historical Mystery)
In this elegant gothic horror tale set in post-revolutionary Russia, two formerly aristocratic sisters race to uncover their family’s long-buried secrets in a house haunted by a past that is dangerous --- and deadly --- to remember.
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali (Fiction)
From the nationally bestselling author of THE STATIONERY SHOP comes a heartfelt, epic novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.
THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Historical Fiction)
On the cusp of turning 80, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs, an active senior community, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy --- and the man who broke her heart 60 years earlier.
TELL ME EVERYTHING by Elizabeth Strout (Fiction)
From Pulitzer Prize–winning author Elizabeth Strout comes a hopeful, healing novel about new friendships, old loves, and the very human desire to leave a mark on the world.
THE WILDES: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard (Historical Fiction)
In this singularly powerful novel, bestselling author Louis Bayard brings Oscar Wilde’s wife, Constance, and two sons out from the shadows of history and creates a vivid and poignant story of secrets, loss and love.
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