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Ready for Holiday Book Group Celebrating
My book group had a terrific discussion this week about HEART THE LOVER by Lily King, which is a recent Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, we were happy to have a short book to read this month, as we knew we were meeting early because of the holiday. It was a page-turning read, and we all flew through it. One of the things that we honed in on was how, when we were in college, everything seemed so important and worthy of much discussion, especially relationships. There was lots of reminiscing. Sometimes book group brings out those moments.
In December, we are reading LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton, which also is a Bets On pick. It’s set at the Savoy Hotel in London where the American Bar is an iconic venue. Ada Coleman was a bartender at the Savoy for 23 years, yet her history has been all but buried. Brisa brings her story to the forefront for us, as well as the wonderful contemporary story about two sisters.
I bought a copy of THE SAVOY COCKTAIL BOOK as I was inspired to mix up a few cocktails after reading it. I have some crystal coupe glasses on hand that I have not used in years, so it’s time to dust them off and celebrate. The holidays are a perfect time to try special cocktails and mocktails. And our book group is a lot of fun to toast with.
I recently had the pleasure of talking to Brisa about LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. We also are featuring the discussion guide in this newsletter, along with our review on Bookreporter.
Speaking of celebrating, I hope that you have entered our 25th Anniversary Contest. If not, you have until noon ET on Monday, December 1st (the Monday after the holiday weekend) to do so.
We created a list of some of the most discussed books each year since the site launched in 2000. Among them are THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd (2002), THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein (2008), THE ROUND HOUSE by Louise Erdrich (2012), ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr (2014), EDUCATED by Tara Westover (2018), and LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus (2022).
One lucky reader will win ALL 25 books, while five others will win five of these books.
And be sure to check out our Anniversary Feature if you haven’t already. Here you will find the guides that you have accessed the most over the last couple of years; tips on starting, running and maintaining a book group; and more.
Monday, December 1st at noon ET is also when our Book Group Survey will close. Have you taken a moment to share what your book group does for your meetings? Answer it, and you will be eligible to win a $250 gift card to the bookstore of your choice. Three runners-up will win a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice.
We so appreciate your participation!
Clare Leslie Hall joined us on Wednesday afternoon for our last “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event of the year. We had a wonderful discussion about her New York Times bestseller, BROKEN COUNTRY, a Bets On selection that has received numerous “Best Of 2025” accolades and is one of my favorite books of the year.
Clare talks about her inspiration for the novel, as well as the different paths that she took to writing it. She shares details on the development of her characters and explains how the trial was woven throughout the pages. She also touches on her earlier books, DAYS YOU WERE MINE and PICTURES OF HIM, which released a few months ago in the US as trade paperbacks. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
On November 7th, we hosted our 14 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians, book club leaders and bloggers. Representatives from six publishers presented 30 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between now and next May. You can watch the event here --- and if you would like to hear from a specific publisher, we have included timestamps for each of them.
To learn more about the books, click here to access a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title, along with a sheet to take notes.
As is the case every year around this time, we are thrilled to announce our End-of-the-Year Contest! Once again, we are asking you and your book group to help us compile our own “Best Books of the Year” list.
Click here to share both your favorite book that you read with your group and your favorite book that you read outside your group this year. One Grand Prize winner will receive six outstanding book group titles releasing early next year: DAUGHTER OF EGYPT by Marie Benedict, KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson, KIN by Tayari Jones, SKYLARK by Paula McLain, STRANGERS: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden, and WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW by Terah Shelton Harris.
The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, January 14th at noon ET. We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you shortly after the contest ends.
Earlier this month, I chatted with Alex DeMille about THE TIN MEN, the third installment in the Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor series, which he wrote with his father, Nelson DeMille. Set at a fictional military base in the Mojave Desert, the book explores autonomous weapons and AI in warfare.
Alex explains what drew him to set a thriller in the American Southwest and fills us in on the research trip that he took there. He talks about the themes of humanity versus technology in warfare, which he and Nelson wanted to address. Alex also shares his personal reflections on completing the book while grieving his father's death.
Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. You also can see our Bookreporter review here.
Oprah’s Book Club pick for November is SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE, which is Ann Packer’s first book since 2015’s THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE.
Oprah says, “This novel is going to get you thinking about some things that matter. Who would you like to spend your last days with? What if you developed a terminal illness and decided that you wanted not your husband but your best friends to be with you and to take care of you? What would that do to your relationship with your husband? Your husband’s feelings? Your friends’ feelings? Your children’s feelings? Everybody?
“So this novel centers around this longtime married couple, Eliot and Claire. They’ve had a loving and devoted marriage, and then illness shows up and redefines their situation. Very interesting! I know a lot of you have been through that. And I had some specific thoughts and attitudes about it but will not share my feelings about the characters until you’ve all had a chance to read it. Their story is going to leave you questioning, I think, the obligations of marriage and the differences between male and female friendships.”
SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE inspired a thought-provoking conversation among readers at a Starbucks coffeehouse in New York City. Click here for Oprah’s discussion with Ann. You also can see the guide here and our review on Bookreporter here.
After 40 years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES. In QUEEN ESTHER, Irving revisits the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther --- a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by antisemitism.
Roberta O’Hara reviewed the book for us on Bookreporter and says, “As a self-described John Irving fan, I come to each of his books with not only a positive bias but also an expectation and an anticipation. You might even call it a desire --- a desire to read the recognizable, delight in the ‘aha’ moments, and experience the newness he still manages to bring to the tried-and-true recurring themes of his writing. In this, QUEEN ESTHER fulfills all that I want and need from John Irving.” Click here for the full review and here for the guide.
We also are featuring guides for these three books:
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MONA’S EYES: Thomas Schlesser's American debut is a #1 internationally bestselling novel and Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year. According to the publisher, this heartfelt, enlightening journey across five centuries of Western art history has “the emotional impact of THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG and the readability of THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP.”
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CURSED DAUGHTERS: Oyinkan Braithwaite’s second novel, following MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER, is November’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick. The book asks us what it means to be given a second chance and how to live both wisely and well with what we’ve been given. Jenna says, “It is very funny at moments and extremely poignant at others.”
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LIKE FAMILY: After a near-stranger dies in their small town, a tight-knit group of friends can no longer ignore their long-dormant desires and unfulfilled dreams in Erin O. White’s debut novel, which is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, December 2nd at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Erin, which you can sign up for here.
Reese’s Book Club pick for November is WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy, which is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears. Reese calls it “a breathtaking novel of romance, mystery, and twists that will shock you.” You may remember we featured the guide for the book back in March when it originally released.
For more November selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
Along with LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY, I am sharing my Bets On commentary for BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan. Amazon has named it their top book of 2025, calling it “a true Great American Novel.” Click here for my thoughts on the book and here for our Bookreporter review.
Bookreporter’s Holiday Cheer Feature
’Tis the season! Bookreporter’s Holiday Cheer feature is up and running. This year’s giveaways kick off at noon ET on select days through December, and they run for just 24 hours, so you will have to check the site to see what is being featured. As always, we are sending our Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.
“What to Give, What to Get” on Bookreporter
We also have brought back our “What to Give, What to Get” Guide on Bookreporter. This year, we are spotlighting four books that we think are “reader perfect” suggestions for holiday giving and getting: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V. E. Schwab, GIRL DINNER by Olivie Blake, GIRL LOST by Kate Angelo, and THE SANDS OF SEA BLUE BEACH by Rachel Hauck.
We hosted our final “Bookaccino Live” book preview event of 2025 last week. I talked about 29 books releasing between now and January 6th, plus 15 from February, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
We are so excited to announce our “Bookaccino Live” Best of 2025 event on Wednesday, December 10th at 8pm ET. Join us as some of our Bookreporter reviewers will be talking about their favorite books of the year. You can sign up by clicking here. We always look forward to hearing which titles resonated the most with our reviewers.
Voting is now underway for the 17th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. Two rounds of voting are open to all registered Goodreads members, with the opening round ending TOMORROW, Sunday, November 23rd. Click here to cast your votes in 15 categories, and check out the voting schedule here. The winners will be announced on December 4th.
Mary C. from Plano, TX, who won copies of THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins for her book group in our “What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, wrote me and said that her book group members “will enjoy reading and discussing the books you sent me. They were delighted as they had all read other books by Paula Hawkins, and she’s a favorite! Again, thank you so much!”
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. We give thanks for your readership throughout the year! We will be back in December with our last newsletter of 2025.
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!
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 14 ½ Annual Book Group
Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
New Special Contest: Share Your Favorite Books of 2025
and Enter to Win SIX Outstanding Book Group Titles Releasing in 2026!
This is the time of year when we start seeing “Best Books of the Year” lists. We would like you and your book group to help us compile ours by entering our special End-of-the-Year Contest!
All you have to do is fill out this form, sharing both your favorite book that you discussed with your group and your favorite book that you read outside your group in 2025.
One Grand Prize winner will be awarded SIX fabulous book group titles releasing in 2026:
Please note: Your favorite book that you discussed with your group CAN be the same as your favorite book that you read outside your group. And they don't need to have been published in 2025.
We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you shortly after the contest ends. We cannot wait to see what you select!
Click here to enter the contest by Wednesday, January 14th at noon ET.
Celebrate 25 Years of ReadingGroupGuides.com with Us! Enter to Win 25 of the Most Discussed Books
of the Past Quarter Century --- and Check Out Our
Special Anniversary Feature
In 2000, we founded ReadingGroupGuides.com with the idea that readers would be able to conveniently find discussion guides for many of the books that they wanted, as well as information of interest to book groups.
Join us in celebrating this milestone by entering our 25th Anniversary Contest!
We have selected some of the most-read book group titles of the past 25 years for this contest. It was tough to narrow our choices down to 25, just one from each year. But after lots of discussion, we developed the list on this page.
One winner will receive all 25 books. Five others will win five of these books. If you have read one --- or many --- of these books, our prize will give you the opportunity to share the books with others in your group!
- Click here to see all the prize books and access their discussion guides by clicking on the covers.
Click here to enter the contest by Monday, December 1st at noon ET.
Click here for our special 25th Anniversary Feature, which includes
the Most Requested Guides of 2024 and 2025, tips for books clubs, and more.
New Guide: SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE by Ann Packer
Oprah’s Book Club Pick for November
SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE by Ann Packer (Fiction)
Eliot and his wife, Claire, have been happily married for nearly four decades. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable. Over the years of Claire’s illness, Eliot has shifted into the role of caregiver. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered. What if your partner’s dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he’s been, and with the great unknowns of Claire’s last days.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- 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: QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving
QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving (Historical Fiction)
Esther Nacht is born in Vienna in 1905. Her father dies on board the ship to Portland, Maine. Her mother is murdered by antisemites in Portland. Dr. Larch knows it won’t be easy to find a Jewish family to adopt Esther. In fact, he won’t find any family who’ll adopt her. When Esther is 14, soon to be a ward of the state, Dr. Larch meets the Winslows, a philanthropic New England family with a history of providing foster care for unadopted orphans. The Winslows aren’t Jewish, but they despise antisemitism. Esther’s gratitude for the Winslows is unending. Even as she retraces her roots back to Vienna, she never stops loving and protecting the Winslows. In the final chapter, set in Jerusalem in 1981, Esther Nacht is 76.
- 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: LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton (Historical Fiction)
Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her parents, she's been stuck in place. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister, Rosemary, have always had each other to lean on. But now, with Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever. When Rosie is put on bed rest, Cinnamon flies to her sister's side, where she's temporarily living at The Savoy. She’s immediately swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar. When the late-shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender's vivid stories of Ada's fearlessness and can't understand why Ada's name is nowhere to be found.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Brisa Carleton.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: MONA’S EYES by Thomas Schlesser
Barnes & Noble’s 2025 Book of the Year
MONA'S EYES written by Thomas Schlesser, translated by Hildegarde Serle (Fiction)
While the doctors can find no explanation for Mona's brief episode of blindness, they agree that the threat of permanent vision loss cannot be ruled out. The girl's grandfather, Henry, may not be able to stop his granddaughter from losing her sight, but he can fill the encroaching darkness with beauty. Every Wednesday for a year, the pair abscond together and visit a single masterpiece in one of Paris's renowned museums. From Botticelli to Basquiat, Mona learns how each artist's work shaped the world around them. In turn, the young girl's world is changed forever by the power of their art. Under the kind and careful tutelage of her grandfather, Mona learns the true meaning of generosity, melancholy, love, loss and revolution.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: CURSED DAUGHTERS by Oyinkan Braithwaite
November’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club Pick
CURSED DAUGHTERS by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Fiction)
When Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the day they bury her cousin, Monife, there is no denying the startling resemblance between the child and the dead woman. So begins the belief that Eniiyi is the actual reincarnation of Monife, fated to follow in her footsteps in all ways, including that tragic end. There is also the matter of the family curse: “No man will call your house his home. And if they try, they will not have peace...” which causes three generations of abandoned Falodun women to live under the same roof. But when Eniiyi falls in love with the handsome boy she saves from drowning, she can no longer run from her family’s history. She ill-advisedly seeks answers in older, darker spiritual corners of Lagos. Is she destined to live out the habitual story of love and heartbreak? Or can she break the pattern once and for all?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- 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: LIKE FAMILY by Erin O. White
November’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
LIKE FAMILY by Erin O. White (Fiction)
Ruth and her wife, Wyn, are living with their four children on their small farm in Radclyffe, New York. It’s a sweet life, but there’s a secret at its center, one that not even Ruth’s best friend, Caroline, knows. What Caroline does know is that she loves and depends on Ruth, and on the bond between their families. More than anything, she wants her tenderhearted son not to grow up lonely the way she did. Unfortunately, no one can assure her of that, especially not her husband. He just wants things to be easy and drama-free --- which is impossible, as he has donated his sperm to his cousin, Tobi, and her wife so that they could have kids of their own. Now those children are asking unanswerable questions. After an unexpected death in their community, all three couples are forced to confront the tensions that have long been buried beneath the surfaces of their lives.
» LIKE FAMILY is November's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, December 2nd at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Erin O. White. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for November
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 November'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: WRECK by Catherine Newman
GOOD SPIRITS by B.K. Borison
BRIGANDS & BREADKNIVES by Travis Baldree
THE EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow
GIRL DINNER by Olivie Blake
LibraryReads
Top Pick: I, MEDUSA by Ayana Gray
BLACK-OWNED: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams
CURSED DAUGHTERS by Oyinkan Braithwaite
DADDY ISSUES by Kate Goldbeck
THE FERRYMAN AND HIS WIFE written by Frode Grytten, translated by Alison McCullough
Barnes & Noble Book Club
LIKE FAMILY by Erin O. White
"Good Morning America" Book Club
WRECK by Catherine Newman
Oprah's Book Club
SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE by Ann Packer
PBS Books Readers Club
AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
CURSED DAUGHTERS by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Reese's Book Club
WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy
Target Book Club
THE MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich
Click here for November's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
New November Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Here are a number of books releasing in November 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.
BEST OFFER WINS by Marisa Kashino (Thriller/Dark Humor)
An insanely competitive housing market. A desperate buyer on the edge. In Marisa Kashino’s darkly humorous debut novel, the white picket fence becomes the ultimate symbol of success --- and obsession. How far would you go for the house of your dreams?
BITTER HONEY by Lolá Ákínmádé (Fiction)
Spanning four decades and three continents, BITTER HONEY is a story about a mother and daughter divided by long-buried secrets, struggling to understand each other as they forge their own paths.
THE BURNING LIBRARY by Gilly Macmillan (Psychological Thriller)
From the internationally bestselling author of THE NANNY and WHAT SHE KNEW comes a thrilling dark academic tale of murder, obsession and ruthless ambition, set in remote St. Andrews, Scotland.
THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Christmas classic THE CHRISTMAS BOX and the #1 Netflix movie The Noel Diary comes a powerful and thought-provoking holiday story about love, loss and the mysterious workings of heaven.
THE COLOR OF HOPE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
A beautiful American widow finds new life in France in this tender portrait from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.
EVENSONG by Stewart O'Nan (Fiction)
This intimate, moving novel follows The Humpty Dumpty Club, a group of women of a certain age who band together to help one another and their circle of friends in Pittsburgh as they face the challenges of their golden years.
FALLING APART AND OTHER GIFTS FROM THE UNIVERSE by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
Two disparate people --- lost in their own way --- find an unexpected healing connection in a poignant novel about redemption and chosen family by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
THE LADY ON ESPLANADE: A Royal Street Novel by Karen White (Mystery)
People and secrets from the past threaten to disrupt Nola Trenholm’s new life in New Orleans in the third installment of the Royal Street series by New York Times bestselling author Karen White.
THE LAND IN WINTER by Andrew Miller (Historical Fiction)
An exquisite, page-turning examination of relationships, THE LAND IN WINTER is a master class in storytelling --- proof yet again that Andrew Miller is one of the most dazzling chroniclers of the human heart.
OTHERWISE ENGAGED by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
OTHERWISE ENGAGED is a twisty, tender and wise look at how secrets can transform the powerful --- and sometimes problematic --- bond between mothers and daughters.
THE PERFECT HOSTS by Heather Gudenkauf (Domestic Thriller)
A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly, and everyone is a suspect, in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of THE OVERNIGHT GUEST.
THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi (Fiction)
A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, THEO OF GOLDEN is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.
WHERE HE LEFT ME by Nicole Baart (Psychological Thriller)
From Nicole Baart, the bestselling author of EVERYTHING WE DIDN'T SAY, comes a twisty, atmospheric novel about a newlywed whose husband disappears, leaving her isolated in Washington State’s North Cascades.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan
Amazon’s Top Book of 2025
BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan (Historical Fiction)
I had the pleasure of meeting Patrick Ryan at a publisher lunch where he talked about his debut novel, BUCKEYE. I was intrigued by the storyline and his extensive research in writing the book, which moves from World War II right up until the Vietnam War. I listened to the audiobook; the narrator, Michael Crouch, did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life for me. The characters were so well drawn, and I felt invested in what was happening to each of them.
The book opens against the backdrop of V-E Day, and there is lots of celebrating going on in Bonhomie, Ohio. Cal Jenkins, who has a disability, works in the local hardware store as he has been unable to go to war. He is married to Becky, a spiritualist who can connect people with the dead. She keeps this gift a secret at first, but as time goes on, many trek to her home to get readings. I don’t have a love for anything supernatural like this, but somehow I felt that Becky was truly helping those who needed closure.
- 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 Bets On commentary.
Bookreporter.com's 20th Annual
Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we kick off the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, on select days in November and December, we are spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. You have to visit the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter the 24-hour contest.
As always, we are sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com’s “What to Give, What to Get” Guide: “Reader Perfect” Suggestions
for Holiday Giving and Getting
We at Bookreporter.com know that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind, we are offering a "What to Give, What to Get" Guide with four "Reader Perfect" suggestions.
BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V. E. Schwab (Historical Fantasy)
The bestselling author of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE has written a genre-defying, generations-spanning novel of vampires, sapphism and hunger --- for blood, for life and, above all, for freedom.
GIRL DINNER by Olivie Blake (Horror/Dark Humor)
Good girls deserve a treat. From the New York Times bestselling author of THE ATLAS SIX comes a darkly fun novel about power, lust and eating your fill, as wealthy moms and sorority girls practice a sinister new wellness trend.
GIRL LOST by Kate Angelo (Romantic Suspense)
Officer Luna Rosati and Special Agent Corbin King are at odds over their failed teenage romance, but they reunite on a mission and must put their past aside. When they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies and a murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna keep from one another are only the beginning of the threats they face.
THE SANDS OF SEA BLUE BEACH by Rachel Hauck (Romance)
Can anything rekindle the summer love between former sweethearts facing old wounds and a divided town? This poignant tale of second chances and the enduring power of love includes themes of small-town romance, dual-time storytelling and complex family dynamics.
Click here to see our "What to Give, What to Get" Guide.
From left to right: Kathy Reichs, Gilly Macmillan, Jacquelyn Mitchard
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, November 24th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome singer-songwriter and musician Lionel Richie for a live virtual discussion of his newly released memoir, TRULY. Lionel will be in conversation with actor Blair Underwood.
Monday, November 24th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Mike Lupica will talk about his new book, ROBERT B. PARKER'S SHOWDOWN. In this latest installment of Parker’s beloved series, Spenser may have uncovered an explosive secret that threatens the career of a controversial figure.
Tuesday, November 25th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Gilly Macmillan about THE BURNING LIBRARY. Set in remote St. Andrews, Scotland, Gilly's new novel is a thrilling dark academic tale of murder, obsession and ruthless ambition.
Tuesday, December 2nd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Erin O. White for a live virtual event to discuss their November B&N Book Club pick, LIKE FAMILY. Erin will be in conversation with Mallory Rochester, Store Manager at Barnes & Noble in Calabasas, CA.
Tuesday, December 2nd at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Kathy Reichs will talk about EVIL BONES, her latest thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who finds herself enmeshed in a series of grisly animal killings that escalate into something far more sinister.
Wednesday, December 3rd at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with John Irving about QUEEN ESTHER. This novel is a testament to Irving's enduring ability to weave complex characters and intricate narratives that challenge and captivate.
Wednesday, December 10th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Ace Atkins about his new novel, EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD. In this rollicking comedic thriller set in 1985, a suburban teen suspects that his mom’s new boyfriend is the ultimate bad guy --- a KGB agent.
Wednesday, December 10th at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Reviewer Event: Join us for a special “Bookaccino Live” evening event as some of our Bookreporter reviewers share their favorite books of 2025.
Wednesday, December 17th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Jacquelyn Mitchard about her latest book, THE BIRDWATCHER. This page-turning drama explores the beauty of female friendship; the relationship between money, power and sex; and the very human desire to protect the ones we love most.
"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 are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Vicky Nguyen (BOAT BABY: A Memoir)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THE BLACK WOLF by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Several weeks ago, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it: the Black Wolf. But in a sickening turn of events, Gamache has realized that plot, as horrific as it was, was just the beginning.
CURSED DAUGHTERS by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Fiction)
A young woman must shake off a family curse and the widely held belief that she is the reincarnation of her dead cousin in this wickedly funny, brilliantly perceptive novel about love, female rivalry and superstition.
JOYRIDE: A Memoir by Susan Orlean (Memoir)
From beloved New Yorker writer Susan Orlean, the New York Times bestselling author of THE ORCHID THIEF and THE LIBRARY BOOK, JOYRIDE is a masterful memoir of finding her creative calling and purpose that invites us to approach life with wonder, curiosity and an irrepressible sense of delight.
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton (Historical Fiction)
Set amongst the glittering backdrop of London's iconic Savoy hotel, a young woman is forced to confront her troubled past as she uncovers the story of the hotel’s first female bartender who has been erased from the history books.
LIKE FAMILY by Erin O. White (Fiction)
After a near-stranger dies in their small town, a tight-knit group of friends can no longer ignore their long-dormant desires and unfulfilled dreams in this moving debut about the complicated joys of chosen family.
THE MISSING PAGES by Alyson Richman (Historical Fiction)
A ghost in a library. A story waiting to be told. THE MISSING PAGES is a rich, lyrical novel that reminds us that books are as eternal as the soul.
MONA'S EYES written by Thomas Schlesser, translated by Hildegarde Serle (Fiction)
Ten-year-old Mona and her beloved grandfather have only 52 Wednesdays to visit 52 works of art and commit to memory "all that is beautiful in the world" before Mona loses her sight forever.
QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving (Historical Fiction)
After 40 years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther --- a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by antisemitism.
SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE by Ann Packer (Fiction)
Bestselling, beloved author Ann Packer returns with her first novel in over a decade, an intimate and profoundly moving look at a long marriage and the ways in which a startling request can change a couple’s understanding of who they are, together and apart.
THE TEN YEAR AFFAIR by Erin Somers (Fiction)
THE TEN YEAR AFFAIR is a hilariously acerbic sliding doors novel about a chance meeting between two young parents, both happily married (just not to each other) that sparks a will-they-won’t-they romance.
UNDER THE STARS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
When a daughter and her famous mother return to Winthrop Island to confront their complicated past, they discover a secret trove of paintings that connect them to a mysterious woman who vanished on a luxury steamship two centuries earlier.
WRECK by Catherine Newman (Fiction/Humor)
The acclaimed bestselling author of SANDWICH is back with a wonderful novel, full of laughter and heart, about marriage, family, and what happens when life doesn’t go as planned.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger (Fiction)
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER is an enthralling novel about three generations of strong-willed women, unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past.
RENTAL HOUSE by Weike Wang (Fiction)
From the award-winning author of CHEMISTRY comes a sharp-witted, insightful novel about a marriage as seen through the lens of two family vacations.
A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard comes a page-turning family drama that explores the emotional consequences of loyalty, deception and jealousy.
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