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Sliding Out of July with Lots of Great Reading Done
Well, this month flew by. January always feels like a year, and July feels like a long weekend. We know that many book groups skip a month or two over the summer, but that just means you have plenty of time to read books to suggest at your next book group meeting. I have been on a total reading tear, which has been fun.
Somehow, I allow myself more pleasure reading time during the summer than at any other time of the year. I can stand in the pool and read for hours. I have read so many books that I have enjoyed. It has been one really wonderful summer for reading! Read on to see what I mean.
Starting off, we have FOUR new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Lisa Scottoline, whose new psychological thriller, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
The novel features two best friends, Julia and Courtney, who investigate the murder of Courtney's grandmother in rural Pennsylvania. Lisa describes the book as the “twistiest” she has ever written, with multiple layers of plot and character development. Bennie Rosato, who was in 17 of Lisa's previous novels, adds a third strong female voice and embodies the theme of fighting for justice over mere legal compliance.
Lisa also shares details about the various locations in the book. The historical setting is not decorative but thematically essential, connecting personal history, regional history and national history.
Click here to watch our interview or here to listen to the podcast.
Our BIG Contest for THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
You have until Wednesday, August 19th at noon ET to enter our contest for THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING. We have 10 copies of the book and a book group chat with Lisa to give away. We also are awarding one copy to 10 readers, and four additional book groups will get to talk to Lisa virtually. Click here for all the details.
My next interview is with Ben Reeves. His debut novel, EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT, is an instant New York Times bestseller, a #1 Indie Next pick, and a Bets On selection.
The book reimagines the Grim Reaper as a compassionate, ordinary man named Travis who spends time with people before they die, exploring themes of life, death, grief and regret. It ultimately makes readers question if they are truly living the life they want and focusing on what matters.
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT won the Bath Novel Award in 2024, which launched Ben's publishing journey after 20 years of writing. Ben notes that he is always personally preoccupied with whether or not he is using his time well, and he wanted to unpack that through storytelling --- encouraging readers to “wake up” by contemplating mortality. He also explains why he brought two characters to the forefront of the story: a midwife and her daughter.
Click here to watch our interview or here to listen to the podcast.
I also had the pleasure of talking to Sophie Chen Keller about her latest novel, LITTLE WONDER, an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bets On selection.
Song, a migrant worker, and her 11-year-old piano prodigy son, River, are separated in a massive crowd at a Beijing train station on the busiest travel day of the year. The story follows both characters over the years as they search for each other while building separate lives. Sophie describes LITTLE WONDER as being about motherhood, music, and the love between a mother and a child. Her own experiences as a mother and a pianist deeply informed the novel.
And yes, Sophie explains what she was doing when she got the call from Oprah. The interview that she taped with Oprah was her first real exposure to reader reactions. She found the audience's questions to be surprising and insightful as they made connections she had not anticipated.
Click here to watch the podcast of our interview. Please note that the video should be up on our YouTube channel this weekend.
Last but certainly not least, I loved catching up with Rachel Beanland about her new novel, THE HALF LIFE, which is a Bets On pick. This is the third time that I have interviewed Rachel. Her previous books, FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER and THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, were Bets On titles as well.
THE HALF LIFE follows Eileen O'Malley, a 23-year-old woman from Charleston who marries a naval officer named Paul Archer and moves to La Maddalena, Italy, in 1974. Rachel drew heavily from her own childhood experiences living on La Maddalena as a Navy family member, as well as a 2019 research trip back to the island. She had a clear picture of Eileen from the start and was thinking about her mother, a Navy wife who resisted many of the expected social obligations, as she was shaping the character.
Rachel also discusses the Epilogue, which is very powerful, as well as the choice of the title, which resonates on many levels.
Click here to watch our interview or here to listen to the podcast.
Nadia Hashimi, who many of you know as the internationally bestselling author of THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL, is back with a new novel. CITY OF WIDOWS, which will be a Bets On selection, focuses on the women of Afghanistan in the years since the Taliban regained power.
Here’s what Megan Elliott says about the book in her review on Bookreporter: “In addition to capturing the richness of Afghan women’s lives, Hashimi draws on the country’s rich literary and musical traditions, particularly in scenes involving Hawa, who has chosen to play the rubab, a stringed, lute-like instrument. Hawa’s love of music stands in stark contrast to the Taliban’s strict opposition to music and song and is a reminder of all she stands to lose as they take power.”
Click here for the discussion guide and here for the full review. We will feature my interview with Nadia and my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
The guide is now available for SINGLE GIRLS, a Bets On pick that we featured in the last newsletter when I talked to John Searles about the book. The novel reimagines the iconic Helen Gurley Brown’s early days at the helm of Cosmopolitan and the intrepid women who helped her reinvent the magazine.
According to Lorraine W. Shanley in her Bookreporter review, “By interweaving the scenes of Helen's rise to power as an icon of the New Woman with episodes from her childhood and coming of age in Los Angeles, Searles gives his subject a depth that is by turns poignant and tragic.... Searles makes the ending of SINGLE GIRLS dramatic and --- as it concludes on New Year’s Eve, when the 1970s are about to be ushered in --- circular... It’s a satisfying place to leave not just the novel’s characters, but also the decade that defines them.”
Click here to read more of Lorraine’s thoughts on the book and here for the guide. And if you missed my interview with John, be sure to give it a watch or a listen.
We also have added guides for these four books:
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MEET ME IN PARIS: Kristin Harmel, the New York Times bestselling author of THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES and THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS, returns with a captivating new novel about several intertwined stories of love, loss, courage and redemption set over the course of one magical week in Paris.
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THE PARISIAN HEIST: Jo Piazza’s latest novel is filled with gorgeous European settings, art-world intrigue, steamy scenes, and a heist for the ages. What’s more, it’s rooted in the story of real-life tastemaker Jo Van Gogh, who helped turn her brother-in-law, Vincent, into one of history’s most renowned artists.
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HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB: An aspiring singer-actress driven by her sister's mysterious death finds herself at the epicenter of a thrilling murder investigation. As the spotlight turns her into an alleged killer overnight, the stakes reach an all-time high in Ashley Winstead’s buzzy and bloody new thriller.
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BEGINNING MIDDLE END: How do stories shape our children’s memories and imagination? How do we situate ourselves deeply in the world while accepting our transience in it? How are a family’s memories made, and what happens when they disappear? These are the questions at the heart of Valeria Luiselli’s new novel.
In the last two newsletters, we asked what you were reading with your book group in July. Here are the 15 books that were mentioned most frequently. Each of these titles were submitted by multiple readers.
What's interesting to me here? At least six of these books are recent releases. We have been saying for years that readers are not always waiting for a book to be on sale for a long time before they discuss it with their book group. I love seeing that you continue to prove us right on this.
Bookreporter Summer Reading Contest Update
Please note that we will be giving away five copies of one of these top selections, CULPABILITY, in our upcoming Summer Reading contest on Bookreporter. The giveaway will be up on Tuesday, August 4th at noon ET and will run for just 24 hours, so you will need to act quickly!
On Bookreporter, we are hosting a special contest for THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis, which releases on September 21st and will be a Bets On selection.
Here’s the book’s premise: Spanning a century, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand. Thomas Bauer is a determined detective who obsessively pursues Hitler --- putting his Jewish wife and children in grave danger. Fritz Gerlich is a courageous journalist who writes story after story detailing the murder --- making him a target for Hitler’s Gestapo. Eleanor Robbins is an American professor who picks up the trail of evidence from present-day Neo-Nazis guarding the Führer’s long-held secrets to the death.
We are awarding a copy of the book to 25 readers and giving them the chance to share their comments about it with us. Winning means that you are committed to reading THE MUNICH AFFAIR and giving us your feedback on it by Monday, September 14th. If you can do this, please fill out this form by Monday, August 17th at noon ET.
I started reading an advance copy last Sunday afternoon, and I finished over 200 pages before I looked up. Each night this week, I have tried to log off from working early enough to devour at least a few chapters. I have read a lot of history about World War II and the Nazis. This story is a real page-turner.
This is your last Reading Group Guides newsletter reminder to sign up for August's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event, which will take place on Wednesday, August 12th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between August 11th and September 1st, along with a few from October, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us live will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
Here's to lining up a great reading list for August. May you make your own list of books that you want to share 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, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop/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: CITY OF WIDOWS by Nadia Hashimi
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
CITY OF WIDOWS by Nadia Hashimi (Fiction)
In February 2020, the US began to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of occupation. A whole generation of Afghan women had been born during that time --- women who had grown up in relative peace, gone to school, entered the professions, even served in the army and Parliament. The women of Afghanistan watched as the Taliban filled the streets again. In the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Kabul, women are TV newscasters, shop owners, doctors, teachers, lawyers, even soldiers. They include Marjan, who fought with the Afghan army and will risk everything to keep her daughter safe. Soraya led the army’s all-female combat force over the objections of her upper-class family. She is now a wanted woman whose brother may choose not to shelter her from the Taliban.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
CITY OF WIDOWS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Nadia Hashimi
and her Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
New Guide: SINGLE GIRLS by John Searles
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
SINGLE GIRLS by John Searles (Historical Fiction)
In 1965, Helen Gurley Brown is fresh off the runaway success of her book, SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL. Upon its publication, half the country is outraged, and the other half will follow her anywhere. Moved by the thousands of letters arriving at her doorstep from readers desperate for advice, she marches from one Manhattan magazine conglomerate to another, looking for a perch from which to dispense her unconventional wisdom. At her last stop, she finally gets her shot: just three issues to turn around the flailing magazine Cosmopolitan. SINGLE GIRLS begins at the dawn of Helen’s storied tenure and journeys back to her youth, envisioning the devastations and people who forged her into a controversial legend.
- 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 Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with John Searles.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Special Contest & Author Chat Opportunity:
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
In THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline's latest psychological thriller, a woman risks her life to help her best friend find justice for a tragic crime --- and realizes she has more power than she ever knew. This fast-paced, twisty and shocking new novel of suspense is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
In this very special contest, we are giving one book group the opportunity to win up to 10 copies of THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, along with a virtual book group chat with Lisa in October or November.
Additionally, we are awarding one copy of the book to 10 readers who will agree to read it and give us their feedback on it, share it with their book group, and recommend it for a discussion this fall.
Even if you are not selected to win copies of the book, we are giving four readers and their book groups the chance to chat virtually with Lisa in October or November.
To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Wednesday, August 19th at noon ET.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline (Psychological Thriller)
Julia Pritzker loves her new life as a wife and mother in beautiful Tuscany --- except that she misses her best friend, Courtney, back in the States. One night, Julia calls Courtney and reaches her as she’s arriving at her grandmother’s farm in Pennsylvania. A dreadful premonition overwhelms Julia as Courtney enters the house --- and makes a heartbreaking discovery. Her beloved grandmother has been murdered, and the killer is escaping out the back door.
Rushing to support Courtney, Julia flies home the next morning. The local police believe the murder was a botched burglary, but the women suspect something much more sinister and enlist hotshot Philly lawyer Bennie Rosato to assist. But events take a deadly turn, and Julia becomes the target of a murderous conspiracy.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Lisa Scottoline.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to read Lisa Scottoline's bio.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Connect with Lisa Scottoline on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Special Contest on Bookreporter.com: Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis --- and Share Your Feedback on It!
Based on a true story, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is a suspenseful thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson and David Ellis that spans a century --- set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand.
The book doesn't release until Monday, September 21st, but on Bookreporter.com we have 25 copies to give away to those who would like to read it and give us their feedback on it by Monday, September 14th.
To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Monday, August 17th at noon ET.
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis (Historical Thriller)
Spanning a century, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand. A determined detective, Thomas Bauer, obsessively pursues Hitler --- putting Bauer’s Jewish wife and children in grave danger. A courageous journalist, Fritz Gerlich, writes story after story detailing the murder --- making Gerlich a target for Hitler’s Gestapo. An American professor, Eleanor Robbins, picks up the trail of evidence from present-day Neo-Nazis guarding the Führer’s long-held secrets to the death.
- Click here to read James Patterson's bio.
- Click here to visit James Patterson's website.
- Connect with James Patterson on Facebook, X, Instagram and Threads.
- Click here to read David Ellis' bio.
- Connect with David Ellis on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT
by Ben Reeves, LITTLE WONDER by Sophie Chen Keller, and THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT by Ben Reeves (Fiction)
Ben Reeves’ debut novel, EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT, revolves around a subject that we typically shy away from: death.
Yes, if you want a topic that no one wants to think about, death is high on the list. But here we have a book so packed with thoughts about life (as well as death), and it is written so beautifully, that you will not want to miss it. I see why it is July’s #1 Indie Next pick.
- Click here to read the book description.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Ben Reeves.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT.
LITTLE WONDER by Sophie Chen Keller (Fiction)
There are books that steal a part of your heart. LITTLE WONDER by Sophie Chen Keller is one of them. In it, Song gives birth to a boy who she names River. Because of the availability of work, she is apart from her husband, Blue, who has headed hours away where he can find a job in construction. They eagerly plan to see one another each year at the Spring Festival and mark the time until they will be together again. But they continue to be separated. Sadly, Song gets a cryptic call one day that Blue has been killed in a construction accident, and a settlement will be made.
- Click here to read the book description.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Sophie Chen Keller.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on LITTLE WONDER.
THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
THE HALF LIFE is the third Rachel Beanland book that I have selected as a Bets On title. The previous two were FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER and THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, both of which still are memorable.
In her latest novel, Rachel brings us the story of 23-year-old Eileen O'Malley, who immediately marries a young Navy man she falls for named Paul Archer and accompanies him to La Maddalena, a stunning Mediterranean island off the coast of Sardinia. It's the Atomic Age, and the United States has nuclear submarines stationed there as a precautionary measure in case Italy falls to Communism.
- Click here to read the book description.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Rachel Beanland.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE HALF LIFE.
New Guide: MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel
MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel (Fiction)
Julia Glover has brought her 23-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris. Julia is dying, and as they desperately try to make memories together, the world opens up around them. Rock star Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet. Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades. But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago. He has spent 80 years believing she died, but then a letter arrives telling him the opposite. These intertwining stories --- plus several others --- unfold over a few breathtaking spring days.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE PARISIAN HEIST by Jo Piazza
THE PARISIAN HEIST by Jo Piazza (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
Emma, a struggling American artist in Paris, meets Stella Swanson, the widow of one of the most notorious art dealers in the business. She becomes both a player and a pawn in a family battle to protect their empire and conceal its crimes. In the late 1800s, young widow Jo van Gogh inherits hundreds of paintings from her brother-in-law, Vincent, that the art world deems worthless. Determined to prove their genius, she becomes consumed by Vincent’s legacy. As her devotion deepens, a vanished painting and a thwarted love affair leave her unsure who she can trust and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process. The lives of these two women converge as Emma uncovers the Swanson family’s darkest secrets and agrees to mastermind a daring heist inside the Musée d’Orsay.
- 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: HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB by Ashley Winstead
HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB by Ashley Winstead (Psychological Thriller)
Ten years ago, aspiring singer-actress Scout Sage lost the only thing that mattered: her sister, Georgia. Ever since Georgia’s mysterious death at a Hollywood party, Scout has done her best to honor her memory. But when a slew of targeted murders makes headlines across L.A., all pointing to Scout as the killer, she turns overnight from a mid-tier pop star into the world’s most famous (alleged) murderer. Now everything she’s worked to build --- including the justice she wants for Georgia --- will fall apart unless Scout can prove she’s not guilty. Meanwhile, the young and unusual detective assigned to her case, herself no stranger to tragedy, begins to unearth secrets not even Scout knows, let alone her millions of new fans.
- 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: BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli
BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli (Fiction)
This story begins when a mother and her daughter take off on a trip. It is a summer of rapidly changing winds, volcanic rumbles and sudden tempests. They’ve landed in Sicily, near the ancient ruins where the mother’s grandmother worked long ago on an archaeological dig. The narrator’s marriage has collapsed, her mother is losing her memory, and her daughter is on the threshold of adolescence, starting to ask difficult questions and form complex memories. How do you begin again? the narrator wonders, pondering her family line. How do you begin again if you got the beginning wrong? While the mother tries to figure out how to reconstruct their lives as a duo, her daughter takes the reins of the story, and their journey soon becomes a quest for origins.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New July Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Here are a number of books releasing in July 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.
COOL MACHINE by Colson Whitehead (Historical Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead comes an exuberantly entertaining novel that brings to life 1980s New York in the magnificent final volume of his Harlem Trilogy.
DAD, LOVE, ME: A Memoir by Matthew Quick (Memoir)
Written in the form of a letter to his ailing father, this debut memoir from the bestselling author of THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK explores the complicated burden of caring for an abusive parent who is dying.
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER by Shari Lapena (Psychological Thriller)
What would you do for the perfect New York City apartment? A completely absorbing and original thriller about the corrosive power of greed, GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER contemporizes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to devastating effect.
THE GOOD PARTS by Evann Normandin (Fiction/Magical Realism)
THE GOOD PARTS is an epic, unforgettable love story about a woman who takes a memory-erasing pill and the man she once loved who returns as a stranger, hoping to make her fall for him all over again.
LOVE YOU MORE by Emily Giffin (Fiction)
A woman is newly engaged to a man she adores when she receives a call from her first love with news that shatters her carefully ordered world in this emotionally powerful novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE SUMMER PACT.
MAN OVERBOARD! by Kathleen Rooney (Fiction/Dark Humor)
From the nationally bestselling author of LILLIAN BOXFISH TAKES A WALK comes a funny and moving novel in which a former college swimmer falls off a cruise ship and must keep treading water as memories and regrets wash over him.
THE MORTONS by Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld (Fiction)
Sharp and hypnotic, THE MORTONS is an epic novel of alliances and power, loyalty and kinship, and the consequences of ruthless ambition.
THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer (Gothic/Historical Mystery)
Kelly Rimmer, the bestselling author of THE THINGS WE CANNOT SAY, weaves an intricate and compelling tale, inviting readers into the heart of a family’s deepest secrets with an absorbing book-within-a-book mystery.
THE SUBTLE PLEASURES OF INDISCRETION: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's beloved Isabel Dalhousie series, everyone's favorite moral philosopher and amateur sleuth takes on a new set of delicate disputes.
THREE REASONS FOR REVENGE by Dervla McTiernan
(Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
From the #1 internationally bestselling author of WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA? comes a gripping high-stakes novel of suspense about three seemingly unconnected people, caught in a lethal web of deceit and unhealed wounds.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 15th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
Bookreporter.com's 22nd Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-August, 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: Chris Bohjalian, Raphael Montes, Lisa Gardner
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are a number of virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, August 3rd at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lisa Gardner will talk to special guest host Gregg Hurwitz about her new thriller, YOU'LL BE SORRY. A newlywed couple each with their own secrets. An abandoned lodge with a horrific decades-old mystery. And a small mountain town where everyone believes they know their neighbors.
Monday, August 3rd at 9:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lauren Nossett will talk to special guest hosts J.T. Ellison and Ashley Winstead about her latest novel, INDIE DARLING. In this brilliant, breakout mystery set in Nashville, a Dolly Parton-loving private detective is drawn into the disappearance of an enigmatic pop star.
Tuesday, August 4th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Catherine Ryan Howard will talk about her new book, BUYER BEWARE, a page-turning thriller about two women whose shattered lives come crashing together around a house whose secrets could bury them both.
Tuesday, August 4th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Rhys Bowen will talk about her latest work of fiction, THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN. In this thrilling novel of romance and mystery, a ghostwriter plunges into danger as she unravels the dark secrets of a powerful Scottish family.
Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Jo Piazza about her latest novel, THE PARISIAN HEIST, a propulsive dual-timeline mystery drenched in art-world intrigue and brimming with family secrets, betrayal and the intoxicating lure of power.
Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: George Pelecanos will talk about his latest work of crime fiction, THE BLUE FLAME, a riveting drama about revenge, greed and redemption featuring the return of private investigator Derek Strange.
Thursday, August 6th at 9:15pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Chris Bohjalian will talk about his latest book, THE AMATEUR, which asks the question: What happens when one small moment --- a swing, a ball, a piece of string --- changes the course of an entire life?
Wednesday, August 12th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Afternoon Event: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between August 11th and September 1st, along with a few from October, 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, August 12th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Christina Lauren (the combined pen name of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) about their new collaboration, THE ROMANCE REVIVAL. A fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory --- and a scientific breakthrough gives love one extraordinary do-over.
Wednesday, August 19th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Karin Slaughter about her latest book, THE SECRETS WE HIDE, the next thrilling mystery in her new North Falls series.
Thursday, August 20th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome bestselling Brazilian novelist Raphael Montes for a live virtual discussion of THE SECRET DINNER as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Raphael will be in conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author Jeneva Rose.
Thursday, August 20th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Raphael Montes will talk about THE SECRET DINNER, his internationally acclaimed #1 bestselling thriller that is now in English. Four childhood friends swap rural Brazil for an apartment in Copacabana, Rio. But they have no idea of the fate that awaits them there.
Monday, August 24th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Harlan Coben will talk about his new book, PLOT TWIST, an inspiring, candid memoir filled with indispensable insights and techniques that offers a look behind the curtain at his own writing process.
Wednesday, August 26th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Linwood Barclay will talk about his latest chilling thriller, NOT A WORD, in which a man’s world is upended after he stumbles upon a grisly crime scene in the family home.
"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:
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Rachel Beanland (THE HALF LIFE) Video | Podcast
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Sophie Chen Keller (LITTLE WONDER) Podcast
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Ben Reeves (EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT)
Video | Podcast
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Lisa Scottoline (THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Chris Bohjalian (THE AMATEUR)
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Nadia Hashimi (CITY OF WIDOWS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli (Fiction)
From the beloved, award-winning author of the modern classics LOST CHILDREN ARCHIVE and TELL ME HOW IT ENDS comes her most powerful and page-turning novel yet: the tale of a mother and a daughter starting over, searching for a new story.
CITY OF WIDOWS by Nadia Hashimi (Fiction)
An epic saga of fear, resistance, change and reinvention, CITY OF WIDOWS gives voices to the unforgettable Afghan women at a crossroads of history.
COUNTRY PEOPLE by Daniel Mason (Fiction)
Joyous, absurd and life-affirming, COUNTRY PEOPLE is a luminous exploration of marriage and parenthood, the nature of belief and the power of stories, and the ways in which we find connection in an increasingly fragmented world.
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT by Ben Reeves (Fiction)
For fans of Fredrik Backman and Virginia Evans, this unforgettable and exquisitely moving novel is about finding beauty, hope and meaning in the brevity of life, as narrated by the one who knows it best: Death.
THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
From the author of FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER and THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE comes a novel set on a remote Italian island about a navy wife’s reckoning with power, love and the price of staying silent in the Atomic Age.
HELPLESS by Jessica Knoll (Psychological Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE and BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN comes a smoldering erotic thriller with a singular, mind-bending ending.
HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB by Ashley Winstead (Psychological Thriller)
From nationally bestselling author Ashley Winstead comes a buzzy, bloody new thriller about success, sisterhood, and demanding justice...by any means necessary.
AN INFINITE LOVE STORY by Chanel Cleeton (Historical Romance)
When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race.
THE KINGS OF VEGAS by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman (Thriller)
From bestselling writing duo Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman comes a sexy and suspense-packed thriller about the prodigal daughter of a Las Vegas casino empire who returns to take over her family business --- only to discover that she’s up against the Mob, the Feds and her own brothers.
MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel (Fiction)
Love Actually meets The Notebook in a tale of love, loss and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris.
THE PARISIAN HEIST by Jo Piazza (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
From the bestselling author of THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE and EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU comes a propulsive dual-timeline mystery drenched in art-world intrigue and brimming with family secrets, betrayal and the intoxicating lure of power.
SINGLE GIRLS by John Searles (Historical Fiction)
SINGLE GIRLS is an infectious and utterly charming fictionalization of the iconic Helen Gurley Brown’s early years at the helm of Cosmopolitan and the intrepid group of women she took under her wing to create one of the most talked-about magazines of all time.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline (Psychological Thriller)
In this “riveting, deeply felt and empowering thriller” (Laura Dave) from #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, a woman risks her life to help her best friend find justice for a tragic crime --- and realizes she has more power than she ever knew.
THE TIDE COMES AROUND by Yuliana Kim-Grant (Fiction)
THE TIDE COMES AROUND explores how we are all strangers, uncertain travelers in a world that is never quite what we think or might positively become.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they released in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
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.
MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman (Fiction)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of ANXIOUS PEOPLE returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life 25 years later.
THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach (Fiction/Humor)
By turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s THE WEDDING PEOPLE is a propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.
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