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Connecting with Readers --- Virtually --- in So Many Ways
We have done so many events these past few weeks, which has given us lots of time to connect with readers. In the span of just eight days, we did five events for book lovers and librarians. It was both exciting and exhilarating --- and yes, by the end I was a wee bit cross-eyed from the pace. I saw so much enthusiasm for books out now and those that are coming. We are sharing links to so much this month, which will give you an opportunity to have this same kind of experience...with just the exciting and exhilarating part!
On May 14th, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. Representatives from 21 publishers presented more than 75 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between June and November of this year. You can watch the event in its entirety here. We will be breaking out the presentations by publisher and including links to their individual videos in the early June newsletter.
If you would like to know 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. Included in the video is a retrospective of the last 10 years of Book Group Speed Dating, where we call out 12 books from each year that we know have resonated with readers over the past decade. A spreadsheet of these titles also can be found on this page. Many thanks to our fabulous producer Austin for putting together such an impressive montage --- and for saying “great idea” when I suggested a 10th anniversary retrospective!
As you can see, there are some terrific books releasing this summer and fall that you will want to add to your TBR lists!
Last Thursday night, we hosted our fourth "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event. Our guest was Robert Kolker, the author of HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD: Inside the Mind of an American Family, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Bob gave us a fabulous interview when the book was first published last year. It was wonderful to pick up a conversation with him this year and talk more in-depth about the book, as well as hear some terrific reactions and questions from attendees. Click here to watch the interview and here to listen to the podcast.
I heard from many readers after the event, including Tracy, who said, “Wow, that was a great interview. You asked good questions that kept Kolker talking. I read HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD on a plane out to New Mexico and back. What a read! So glad I signed on to listen.” Jill said, “You did it again! The Kolker interview was great. That was an amazing book.” Thanks to our readers Michelle, Debbie and Lisa who joined us on camera to share their questions.
A reminder that next month's “Bookaccino Live” afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, June 9th at 2pm ET. I will talk about a number of titles coming out between June 8th and July 6th, along with a few from August, that I would like to get on your radar. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
As promised, the video for our May afternoon event is now available on our YouTube channel. Here I presented 30 books releasing from May 11th to June 1st, along with seven July titles, that I thought would appeal to you. Click here to see a list of all these books.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Laura Dave, whose new domestic thriller, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, is Reese’s Book Club pick for May and a Bets On selection. Laura and I rolled from topic to topic. We talked a lot about the writing of this book, which she started back in 2012, though she had conceptualized the main theme earlier than that, and how the story changed along the way. She is adapting the novel into a limited series for Hello Sunshine (it will run on Apple TV+) with her husband, Josh Singer, who wrote the screenplay for Spotlight --- and hearing their plans for that was fun, including their mega-lead star. We then bonded over our mutual love of cooking and how that is a part of her life. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Drum roll for audiobooks... Last month, I moderated a panel as part of the Newburyport Literary Festival featuring three prolific audiobook narrators. Imogen Church has narrated her own writing as well as the work of others, and January LaVoy and Robert Petkoff are two successful actors who have discovered and thrived in an additional career in the audiobook world. We discussed the ins and outs of audiobook work and what the incredible growth in the industry (the audiobook market is predicted to reach $3.5 billion this year) means for how we consume books and how publishers present them to us. Click here for our conversation. Above you can see me with (from left to right) January, freelance writer and editor Leslie Hendrickson (who introduced us), Robert and Imogen. If you’d like to take a look at the festival’s other events, they're all available for viewing on this page. They had some terrific programming.
We have added SEVEN new guides to this late-month update. We’re mentioning them here, but you can read much more about them later in this newsletter.
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THAT SUMMER: Jennifer Weiner follows up last year’s BIG SUMMER (a Bets On pick) with this twisty novel about surviving our pasts, confronting our futures and the sustaining bonds of friendship.
On a personal note, you may have heard the heartbreaking news that Jen’s mom, Fran, passed away on Mother’s Day after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March. Along with being a loving mother, Fran was always great material for Jen and was a frequent attendee at her events. In fact, I remember a hilarious story about Fran being in the audience during a Barnes & Noble Book Club event when Jen’s book was the selection and asking all kinds of questions, but never identifying herself as Jen’s mother. Fran’s obituary is here, and I share it because it is written completely in Jen’s style.
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THE NEWCOMER: In Mary Kay Andrews’ new summer page-turner, the death of her sister Tanya sends a panicked Letty Carnahan and her young niece to The Murmuring Surf Motel, as she is convinced that Tanya’s ex committed the murder.
Last Thursday night, Wade Rouse, who writes as Viola Shipman, was in conversation with Mary Kay Andrews for his weekly show, "Wine & Words with Wade," on the Viola Shipman Facebook page. Wade talked about his latest Viola book, THE CLOVER GIRLS, and MKA discussed THE NEWCOMER. They were terrific, with lots of energy and some shared experiences. You can see it here.
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THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR: Inspired by true events, Pam Jenoff’s latest historical novel --- a Bets On selection --- revolves around the risky friendship between Sadie Gault, a young woman who takes refuge with her pregnant mother in the sewers beneath the Kraków Ghetto as the Nazis begin to ship Jews to the camps during World War II, and Ella, a Polish girl who brings them food and supplies.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Pam recently for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. She talked to me about finding the kernel of this story and how her experiences living in Poland shaped her thoughts on the narrative. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Also, you can see my Bets On commentary here.
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THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB: With the help of books, laughter and the joy of ever-evolving friendships, Wendy Wax’s four female characters find the courage to navigate new and surprising chapters of their lives as they seek their own versions of happily-ever-after. I look forward to interviewing Wendy soon!
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THE PHOTOGRAPHER: An upcoming Bets On selection, Mary Dixie Carter’s debut psychological thriller is about a young woman who photographs the birthday party of a child from a privileged family, and then insinuates herself into their lives. Readers spend a lot of time inside her head, and it’s one place full of dark imagination. You can read my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
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UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS: Mega-bestselling author Francine Rivers has wonderful praise for T. I. Lowe’s latest novel, in which a teenager must hold her family together after her mother dies giving birth to twins: "T. I. writes with amazing grace and beautifully depicts the cost of keeping secrets when help might be available. This story is filled with rich, lovable characters, each rendered with profound compassion. Austin is an admirable young woman --- flawed, but faithful to her family --- and Vance Cumberland is another Michael Hosea, offering unconditional, life-long love.”
Recently I attended an event with Francine and T. I. Lowe (whose real name is Tonya). In conversation with Karen Watson, their editor, they talked about writing --- and life. Francine has a big movie coming based on her bestselling novel, REDEEMING LOVE, and she talked about being on set for that in Africa right before the pandemic hit. Luckily, unlike many other films, shooting was done before the world shut down. Tonya talked about the road to getting published, and she had us all laughing about her various adventures. She definitely has spunk and spirit, and hearing her talk about it made me want to read her book!
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THE FORGER’S FORGERY: Clay G. Small’s second book is historical fiction based on the infamous Dutch forger Han van Meegeren. Henry Lindon --- who Small introduced in his 2017 debut novel, HEELS OVER HEAD --- travels to Amsterdam where he will work as a visiting professor. He soon discovers that van Meegeren, who was born in 1899, is about to play a part in his own personal drama. Click here for a Q&A with Small where he talks more about the book, why he wrote it, and his favorite character and scenes.
Book Club Event News
Oprah delivered the keynote speech at this week’s U.S. Book Show, a three-day virtual trade event sponsored by Publishers Weekly. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Oprah’s Book Club, and Oprah revealed that her next pick will be announced on June 15th. She said, “[L]et me tell you… if anything in the world makes me optimistic, it’s the discovery of an emerging writer, someone whose vision creates a shift in how the reader sees the world. And I know you all share that joy in turning the pages, feeling, ‘Wow, that sentence just blew my mind!’ I love it when that happens. Or ‘hmm...never thought of it that way before.’ Or --- ‘no, please don’t let anything bad happen to that character!’”
This Tuesday, June 1st at 3pm ET, Chris Bohjalian will be discussing his new thriller, HOUR OF THE WITCH --- the Barnes & Noble Book Club pick for May --- live on B&N’s Facebook page with Jodi Picoult. Actress Kaley Cuoco, who stars in the HBO series adaptation of Bohjalian’s novel, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, will also appear for a short chat.
Speaking of TV Book Adaptations...
We found out yesterday that "Firefly Lane", the hit Netflix series based on Kristin Hannah's bestselling novel, is returning for a second season! Its two stars, Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke, announced the renewal via a Zoom video where they also answered questions from fans about the show. You can watch the big announcement here.
Celebrating Father’s Day on Bookreporter
We just launched our Father’s Day contest on Bookreporter, which we have brought back for a 16th year. From now through Friday, June 18th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes all 12 of our featured titles. Click here to read more about the books and enter the giveaway.
Your Reading Retreat Experiences
In the last newsletter, we told you that our reader Denise Neary is thinking of going on a reading retreat with some of her friends next May and would love to hear from those who have done this. Where did you go? How did you choose your destination? What were some of the highlights? Would you have done anything differently? Please let us know your experiences by filling out this form. We will pass along your replies to Denise and share them on the site!
Enjoy your next book group discussion. We will be back to you again the week of June 7th (how can it be June already?).
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 10th Annual
Book Group Speed Dating Event:
Great Books for Book Groups
On May 14th, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. More than 75 books that would make great book group selections for Summer/Fall 2021 were presented by 21 publishers.
You can take a look at the video of the entire presentation here. Individual presentations from these publishers will be available shortly on our YouTube channel:
And Other Stories • Blair • Bloomsbury • Deep Vellum • The Feminist Press • Godine • Hachette Book Group • Harlequin Trade Publishing • Haymarket Books • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Keylight Books • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group • Random House Publishing Group • Simon & Schuster • Soho Press • Sourcebooks • Spiegel & Grau • Two Dollar Radio • William Morrow • World Editions • W. W. Norton
If you would like to know more about these books, here is a link to a page with the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title. Included in the video is a retrospective of the last 10 years of Book Group Speed Dating, where we spotlight 12 books from each year that have been popular with readers over the past decade. A spreadsheet of these titles also can be found here.
Click here to watch our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event.
New Guide: THAT SUMMER by Jennifer Weiner
THAT SUMMER by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
With a thriving cooking business, a full schedule of volunteer work, and a beautiful home, Daisy Shoemaker should be content. But her teenage daughter can be a handful, her husband can be distant, her work can feel trivial, and she has no real friends. While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction, she’s also receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. Diana’s glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy’s simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental.
- 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: THE NEWCOMER by Mary Kay Andrews
THE NEWCOMER by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
After discovering her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain that the culprit is Tanya’s ex: sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. So she grabs Tanya’s Mercedes and hits the road with her four-year-old niece, Maya. Letty sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel, the winter home of a close-knit flock of retirees and snowbirds who regard this odd-duck newcomer with suspicion and downright hostility. As Letty settles into the motel’s former storage room, she tries to heal Maya’s heartache and unravel the key to her sister’s shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner’s dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Mary Kay Andrews' website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark, May’s Target Book Club Pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title, for Your Group
Each month, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win up to 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
Our latest prize book is THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback and is May's Target Book Club pick. This instant New York Times bestseller is the story of two women --- both alone, both scared --- and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, June 9th at noon ET.
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of 10, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems, and she has worked for months on a plan to vanish. A chance meeting in an airport bar brings Claire together with Eva, whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets, believing that the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when one of the flights goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. With the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity --- and, along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.
- 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 Julie Clark.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide:
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
Sadie Gault is 18 and living with her parents in the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous tunnels beneath the city. One day, Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers. Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street and realizes it’s a girl hiding. Ella begins to aid Sadie, and the two become close. But as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds.
- 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 Pam Jenoff.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax
THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax (Fiction)
On paper, Jazmine, Judith, Erin and Sara have little in common --- they’re very different people leading very different lives. And yet at book club meetings in an historic carriage house turned bookstore, they bond over a shared love of reading (and more than a little wine), as well as the growing realization that their lives are not turning out like they expected. Former tennis star Jazmine is a top sports agent balancing a career and single motherhood. Judith is an empty nester questioning her marriage and the supporting role she chose. Erin’s high school sweetheart and fiancé develops a bad case of cold feet, and Sara’s husband takes a job out of town, saddling Sara with a difficult mother-in-law who believes her son could have done better.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Wendy Wax's website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Wendy Wax in the early June newsletter.
New Guide: THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter (Psychological Thriller)
As a photographer, Delta Dawn observes the seemingly perfect lives of New York City’s elite: snapping photos of their children’s birthday parties, transforming images of stiff hugs and tearstained faces into visions of pure joy, and creating moments these parents long for. But when Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s 11th birthday, she finds herself wishing she wasn’t behind the lens but a part of the scene --- in the Straub family’s gorgeous home and elegant life. That’s when Delta puts her plan in place, by babysitting for Natalie; befriending her mother, Amelia; finding chances to listen to her father, Fritz. Soon she’s bathing in the master bathtub and eyeing the beautifully finished garden apartment in their townhouse. It seems she can never get close enough, until she discovers that photos aren’t all she can manipulate.
- 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.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the early June newsletter.
New Guide: UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS by T. I. Lowe
UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS by T. I. Lowe (Fiction)
Magnolia, South Carolina, 1980. Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness. When a few random acts of kindness help to ease the Fosters’ hardships, Austin finds herself relying upon some of Magnolia’s most colorful citizens for friendship and more. But it’s next to impossible to hide the truth about the goings-on at Nolia Farms, and Austin’s desperate attempts to save face all but break her. Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her --- with the son of a wealthy local family who she’s crushed on for years --- her father makes a choice that will crack wide open the family’s secrets and lead to a public reckoning.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE FORGER’S FORGERY by Clay G. Small
THE FORGER'S FORGERY by Clay G. Small (Mystery)
Henry Lindon's plane has just touched down in Amsterdam, where he’s come to work as a visiting professor. He is torn about leaving his troubled wife, Marylou, behind in Dallas, but relieved and excited to start a new chapter in a lively city. The taxi drops him off at an elegant building at Roetersstraat 8-1, where he’s greeted by his university liaison and soon-to-be neighbor, Bernadette Gordon, a lovely and spunky art professor. But Lindon discovers that notorious Dutch art forger Han van Meegeren, born in 1899, is about to play a part in his own personal drama. With evil closing in, Lindon, Bernadette and Marylou find that secrets of the art world may hold the key to settling old scores and putting a predator away for good.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read an interview with Clay G. Small.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New May Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Below are a number of books releasing in May 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 BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES by Jackie Fraser (Fiction)
A woman desperate to turn a new page heads to the Scottish coast and finds herself locked in a battle of wills with an infuriatingly aloof bookseller in this utterly heartwarming debut, perfect for readers of EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER.
THE CLOVER GIRLS by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
Bestselling author Viola Shipman is at her absolute best with THE CLOVER GIRLS. Readers of all ages and backgrounds will love its powerful, redemptive nature and the empowering message at its heart.
FAMILY REUNION by Nancy Thayer (Fiction)
A longtime Nantucket resident is trying to make the best of a lonely summer. Her spirited granddaughter is learning what she wants out of life. Unforgettable surprises await them both in this magical, multigenerational novel from New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.
THE HEART REMEMBERS by Jan-Philipp Sendker (Romance)
This highly anticipated final book in the internationally bestselling The Art of Hearing Heartbeats trilogy is a moving story about love’s power to transcend distances and heal seemingly irreparable wounds.
LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.
PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry (Romantic Comedy)
From the New York Times bestselling author of BEACH READ comes a sparkling new novel that will leave you with the warm, hazy afterglow usually reserved for the best vacations.
THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Psychological Thriller)
Hailed as "breathtakingly suspenseful," Jean Hanff Korelitz’s THE PLOT is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.
THE STEPSISTERS by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery pens a love story of a different sort --- a heartfelt tale of friendship between two women who used to be sisters.
THE SUMMER OF LOST AND FOUND by Mary Alice Monroe (Fiction)
Mary Alice Monroe's Beach House series returns with this tender and compassionate novel following the Rutledge family as they face a summer of upheaval and change with perseverance, unity and a dose of humor, discovering unexpected joys and lessons that will endure long past the season.
THE VANISHING POINT by Elizabeth Brundage (Literary Thriller)
At Rye Adler’s funeral, they didn’t bury his body --- or the rivalry of his closest enemy. In this eerie and evocative novel, Elizabeth Brundage establishes herself as one of the premiere authors of literary fiction at work today.
WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY by Lauren Weisberger (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LULULEMONS comes a highly entertaining, sharply observed novel about sisters, their perfect lives...and their perfect lies.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz
THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Psychological Thriller)
Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising novelist whose first book had some mild success. But his career has slid, and he finds himself teaching at a third-rate MFA program where he meets a student who is full of braggadocio and is completely self-absorbed. Evan Parker knows he has written a bestseller; he’s even figured out his author name. Yes, he has that kind of writerly arrogance. He runs the plot by Jake, who realizes there is something solid there.
So when Jake learns that his former student has died, he comes up with a plan. He will publish that book as his own. And it is a huge bestseller. But then one day he sees something online that can rip his world apart: You are a thief.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our Bookreporter review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Jean Hanff Korelitz in the early June newsletter.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 16th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our 12 featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 18th at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! 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 the end of 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 prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
From left to right: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Mary Dixie Carter
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.
Thursday, May 27th at 8pm ET: MJCCA Book Festival: MJCCA Book Festival in Your Living Room and the National JCC Literary Consortium present "A Very Special Evening with Jennifer Weiner." The author of THAT SUMMER will be in conversation with fellow New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Serle.
Thursday, May 27th at 9pm ET: Book Soup: Mary Dixie Carter will be in conversation with Mo Rocca about her debut psychological thriller, THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
Tuesday, June 1st at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Barnes & Noble will host a Facebook Live discussion for their May book club pick, HOUR OF THE WITCH, featuring Chris Bohjalian in conversation with Jodi Picoult. Actress Kaley Cuoco also will appear for a short chat about Bohjalian’s novel-turned-TV-series, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
Tuesday, June 1st at 7:30pm ET: Greenlight Bookstore: Greenlight is thrilled to host Zakiya Dalila Harris for the launch of her highly anticipated first novel, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL. Brit Bennett, the bestselling author of THE MOTHERS and THE VANISHING HALF, will join Harris to talk about this stellar debut.
Tuesday, June 1st at 8pm ET: Anderson's Bookshops: Join Anderson's Bookshops for a virtual event with Mary Dixie Carter to celebrate the release of her debut novel, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Mary Dixie will be in conversation with fellow author Sally Hepworth (THE GOOD SISTER).
Tuesday, June 1st at 9pm ET: Pages: A Bookstore: {pages} is thrilled to present the launch event for MALIBU RISING, Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel. Taylor will be in conversation with Julia Whelan, who narrates the audio version of the book.
Wednesday, June 2nd at 6pm ET: Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books: Uncle Bobbie's is excited to welcome Zakiya Dalila Harris for an insightful discussion about her upcoming novel, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL. She will be joined in conversation by Raven Leilani, author of the critically acclaimed 2020 release, LUSTER.
Wednesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm ET: FoxTale Book Shoppe: Join FoxTale Book Shoppe as they welcome Mary Dixie Carter in conversation with Rachel Hawkins discussing THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
Wednesday, June 2nd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Mary Bly (LIZZIE & DANTE) and Sonali Dev (INCENSE AND SENSIBILITY).
Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm ET: OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW Online Book Launch: Join Beatriz Williams in conversation with Marie Benedict for a virtual celebration of the launch of Beatriz's new historical novel, OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW, in cooperation with their favorite independent booksellers.
Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Taylor Jenkins Reid as she discusses her new book, MALIBU RISING, in conversation with actor, writer and producer Robinne Lee.
Wednesday, June 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between June 8th and July 6th, along with a few from August, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, June 9th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Susan Wiggs, whose latest novel, THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP, is now in trade paperback.
Wednesday, June 9th at 7pm ET: RJ Julia Booksellers: RJ Julia’s presents a virtual event with Lisa Taddeo, whose debut novel is ANIMAL. She will be in conversation with bestselling memoirist Claire Dederer.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Linwood Barclay (FIND YOU FIRST)
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Elizabeth Brundage (THE VANISHING POINT)
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Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL)
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Jean Hanff Korelitz (THE PLOT)
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Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
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Wendy Wax (THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB)
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 BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax (Fiction)
Breakups, like book clubs, come in many shapes and sizes and can take us on unexpected journeys as four women discover in this funny and heartwarming exploration of friendship from the USA Today bestselling author of TEN BEACH ROAD and MY EX-BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING.
THE FORGER'S FORGERY by Clay G. Small (Mystery)
An international mystery set in Amsterdam threads the history of a notorious Dutch art forger with a modern plot to settle old scores.
GREAT CIRCLE by Maggie Shipstead (Historical Fiction)
An unforgettable story of a daredevil female aviator determined to chart her own course in life, at any cost, GREAT CIRCLE spans Prohibition-era Montana, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, New Zealand, wartime London and modern-day Los Angeles.
HOUR OF THE WITCH by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Thriller)
A young Puritan woman --- faithful and resourceful, but afraid of the demons that dog her soul --- plots her escape from a violent marriage in this riveting and propulsive novel of historical suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
THE LAST GREEN VALLEY by Mark Sullivan (Historical Fiction)
From the author of the #1 bestseller BENEATH A SCARLET SKY comes a new historical novel inspired by one family’s incredible story of daring, survival and triumph.
THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists and evocative family drama, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME is a gripping mystery about a woman who thinks she’s found the love of her life --- until he disappears.
THE NEWCOMER by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Mary Kay Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads, delivers her next page-turner for the summer with THE NEWCOMER.
OLYMPUS, TEXAS by Stacey Swann (Fiction)
OLYMPUS, TEXAS is a bighearted debut with technicolor characters, plenty of Texas swagger, and a powder keg of a plot in which marriages struggle, rivalries flare and secrets explode, all with a clever wink toward classical mythology.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter (Psychological Thriller)
Mary Dixie Carter's THE PHOTOGRAPHER is a slyly observed, suspenseful story of envy and obsession, told in the mesmerizing, irresistible voice of a character who will make you doubt that seeing is ever believing.
THAT SUMMER by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of BIG SUMMER comes another timely and deliciously twisty novel of intrigue, secrets and the transformative power of female friendship.
UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS by T. I. Lowe (Fiction)
T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart...then heal it in the best possible way.
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE LOST GIRL OF PARIS comes a riveting tale of courage and unlikely friendship during World War II.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES by Kristin Harmel (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by an astonishing true story from World War II, a young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel from the international bestselling author of THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE.
THE END OF THE DAY by Bill Clegg (Fiction)
Following his acclaimed New York Times bestseller, DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY, Bill Clegg returns with a deeply moving, emotionally resonant second novel about the complicated bonds and breaking points of friendship, the corrosive forces of secrets, the heartbeat of longing, and the redemption found in forgiveness.
FINDING CHIKA: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom (Memoir)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE comes Mitch Albom’s most personal story to date: an intimate and heartwarming memoir about what it means to be a family and the young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change his heart.
HOMELAND ELEGIES by Ayad Akhtar (Fiction)
A deeply personal work about identity and belonging in a nation coming apart at the seams, HOMELAND ELEGIES blends fact and fiction to tell an epic story of longing and dispossession in the world that 9/11 made.
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
For fans of Lisa Jewell and Liv Constantine, THE LAST FLIGHT is the story of two women --- both alone, both scared --- and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives.
THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
In nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis' latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roils the iconic New York Public Library, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces.
SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin (Psychological Thriller)
Hailed as a “marvel of a book” and “brilliant and unflinching,” Alexis Schaitkin’s stunning debut, SAINT X, is a haunting portrait of grief, obsession and the bond between two sisters never truly given the chance to know one another.
SEX AND VANITY by Kevin Kwan (Fiction)
The author of the New York Times bestselling phenomenon CRAZY RICH ASIANS takes you from Capri to NYC, where Lucie Tang Churchill finds herself torn between two men --- and two very different cultures.
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