Mark Your Calendar: Noteworthy Book Events + News
We’re in the midst of celebrating National Library Week, which is the perfect time to get out and visit your community library! If you’re like me, you’re probably already borrowing books from friends and checking out your local bookstore to pick up your latest read, and that’s great. Sharing is caring, and supporting your local bookstore is about the best thing you can do in the book world. That said, your local library would also love to see you if you don’t already make regular visits. I’m sure many of you are library junkies, but if you aren’t, now is as good a time as any to become one. There’s usually a multitude of great programming to attend, including author talks, book groups and the like, that will be right up your alley, and you might be surprised at what else your library offers. With the weather really warming up across the country, you’ll need more books than ever for weekend park visits and beach/lake/pool dates with friends.
Speaking of bookstores, Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 28th. Independent bookstores across the country will be hosting store parties to draw in devoted and new readers alike. There will be contests, BBQs, readings, conversations, kid events and more, so be sure to check out what your local store(s) are getting into. This year's spokesperson is Celeste Ng, the author of the fabulous LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE.
Just a handful (pun intended) of weeks away is the premiere of the second season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” on Hulu. The award-winning show as adapted from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 book of the same name made a real splash right out of the gate last year. This season will be slightly longer than the first with 13 episodes as opposed to last year’s 10, and praise be! If you forgot how last season ended, now is the time to revisit it and get yourself totally prepared. And if you haven’t read the novel, now is the perfect time --- according to Amazon, it was the most read book and the third most wished for of 2017. So be sure to tune in Wednesday, April 25th.
In other exciting TV news, the first photo of the second season of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” was released. It's another show that won big in the awards circuit, and the second season will now star the biggest star of them all --- Meryl Streep, who will play Perry’s (A. Skars') mother. I was already super pumped about Witherspoon’s and Kidman’s push for a second season, but the addition of Streep really puts the cherry on top. She totally slays every performance, and this photo is some early proof in the pudding. Now, we wait.
Looking ahead to fall, one of my most favorite chefs in the world will be releasing a new cookbook --- SIMPLE by Yotam Ottolenghi --- in October. If you are an avid at-home cook, then you definitely want this book on your radar. While he might not be as “known” here as he is across the pond, his dishes are palate-awakening, daring and delightful. He’s had a couple of bestsellers in the past (think: PLENTY, PLENTY MORE, JERUSALEM, NOPI...to name a few), and the recipes are exceptional --- I’ve made a few to impress my mom! Yet, many of them have set me back four or so hours, plus some looking high and low for special ingredients across NYC. With SIMPLE, the recipes will be much more accessible and guaranteed to take 30 minutes or less. I know many of you, like myself, want fast and straightforward without compromising flavor. Finally, it’s only two seasons away.
You’ll have to wait just a bit longer for Marie Kondo’s new book, which is slated for release in spring 2020. Her world-renowned 2014 debut, THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP, really did change some lives and will continue to do so when it’s adapted into a TV series on Netflix. So, it’s only natural that I’ve got high hopes for her next foray, which will focus on tidying up at work. JOY AT WORK: The Career-Changing Magic of Tidying Up will be co-authored with Scott Sonenshein, a professor at Rice University School of Business. We only have to wait two years, which is nearly as long as we have to wait for the final #GOT season. Time works in interesting ways.
If you’re an audiobook fan or looking to get into audio, look no further. ReadingGroupGuides.com is proud to host a very special audiobook contest for Lisa Scottoline's latest novel, AFTER ANNA. Ten book groups will win six digital copies of the audiobook. Additionally, we'll be giving 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. Enter here by Wednesday, May 2nd at noon ET for you or your group’s chance to win. Scroll down to learn more about the AFTER ANNA audiobook contest.
Need something to read right now? There’s a lot of GREAT books to get your hands on. Here are a few:
THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer is one of the hottest reads for spring. Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at 63, has been a central pillar of the women's movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer --- madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of longing for an ambition that she can't quite place --- feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she'd always imagined.
Note that this book is a Barnes & Noble Book Club selection, and there will be a discussion of it in ALL B&N stores across the country on May 2nd at 6pm. Even if you are not in a book club, you can sign up at your local B&N to attend the discussion!
In TANGERINE by Christine Mangan, Lucy Mason was the last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends haven’t spoken in over a year. But there Lucy was, trying to make things right. Alice has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country. But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice --- she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice’s husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind.
Luke Allnutt tells the story of Rob Coates, who feels like he’s won the lottery of life in WE OWN THE SKY. There is Anna, his incredible wife, their London town house and, most precious of all, Jack, their son, who makes every day an extraordinary adventure. But when a devastating illness befalls his family, Rob’s world begins to unravel. Suddenly finding himself alone, Rob seeks solace in photographing the skyscrapers and clifftops he and Jack used to visit. And just when it seems that all hope is lost, Rob embarks on the most unforgettable of journeys to find his way back to life, and forgiveness.
Happy reading!
5 Things To Obsess About This Very Moment, in no particular order:
1. Hugh Laurie + George Clooney will be in Hulu’s "Catch-22"
2. Black Panther will be the first movie shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years
3. The thought of a little Cardi B walking the earth
4. Daniel Craig is on for the next Bond
5. This piece on Hollywood darling (and personal fave!) Busy Philipps, whose memoir will hit shelves this coming fall
--- Nicole Sherman
ReadingGroupGuides.com Special Contest: Enter to Win the Audiobook Edition of Lisa Scottoline's AFTER ANNA
ReadingGroupGuides.com is proud to host a very special audiobook contest for Lisa Scottoline's latest novel, AFTER ANNA. Ten book groups will win six digital copies of the audiobook. Additionally, we'll be giving 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. Enter by Wednesday, May 2nd at noon ET for your chance to win.
In order to qualify as a winning group, your group must be able to commit to listening to and discussing AFTER ANNA, and sharing your group's feedback with us, by Friday, July 13th. We strongly encourage all winners to share their experiences on social media, including reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookreporter.com’s “Sounding Off on Audio” feature.
AFTER ANNA Audiobook written by Lisa Scottoline, read by Mozhan Marno and Jeremy Bobb (Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline comes a fast-paced, thrilling new audiobook.
Nobody cuts deeper than family...
Dr. Noah Alderman, a widower and single father, has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie Ippolitti, and for the first time in a long time, he and his young son are happy. Despite her longing for the daughter she hasn’t seen since she was a baby, Maggie is happy too, and she’s even more overjoyed when she unexpectedly gets another chance to be a mother to the child she thought she'd lost forever, her only daughter Anna.
Maggie and Noah know that having Anna around will change their lives, but they would never have guessed that everything would go wrong, and so quickly. Anna turns out to be a gorgeous 17-year-old who balks at living under their rules, though Maggie, ecstatic to have her daughter back, ignores the red flags that hint at the trouble brewing in a once-perfect marriage and home.
Events take a heartbreaking turn when Anna is murdered, and Noah is accused and tried for the heinous crime. Maggie must face not only the devastation of losing her daughter, but the realization that Anna's murder may have been at the hands of a husband she loves. In the wake of this tragedy, new information drives Maggie to search for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she ever could have imagined.
Riveting and disquieting, AFTER ANNA is a groundbreaking domestic thriller, as well as an audiobook of emotional justice and legal intrigue. And New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline will keep listeners hooked until the final shocking seconds.
- Click here to listen to a clip from the audiobook.
THE AFFLICTION by Beth Gutcheon (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
Chairing a team to evaluate the faltering Rye Manor School for girls, Maggie Detweiler will determine if the school has a future at all. At a reception for the faculty and trustees to "welcome" Maggie’s team, no one seems more keen for all to go well than Florence Meagher. But when Maggie arrives to observe her teaching, Florence is missing. Florence’s husband, Ray, seems more annoyed than alarmed at her disappearance. But Florence’s sister is distraught. There have been tensions in the marriage, and at their last visit, Florence had warned, "If anything happens to me, don’t assume it’s an accident." Two days later, Florence’s body is found in the campus swimming pool. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES by Peter Swanson (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Days before Harry Ackerson’s college graduation, his stepmother Alice calls with shocking news: his father is dead, and the police think it’s suicide. A devastated Harry returns to his father’s home in Maine, and shortly after his arrival meets a mysterious young woman named Grace McGowan. Though she claims to be new to the area, Harry begins to suspect that Grace may not be a complete stranger to his family. But she isn’t the only attractive woman taking an interest in Harry. The sensual Alice is also growing closer, coming on to him in an enticing, clearly sexual way. Harry becomes disoriented by a growing fear that both women are hiding dangerous --- even deadly --- secrets…and that neither one is telling the truth. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
BLUFF by Michael Kardos (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
At 27, magician Natalie Webb is already a has-been. A card-trick prodigy, she took first place at the World of Magic competition at 18 and has never again reached such heights. Shunned by the magic world after a disastrous liaison with an older magician, she now lives alone in a New Jersey apartment. In a desperate ploy for extra cash, she follows up on an old offer to write for a glossy magazine and pitches the editor a seductive topic: the art of cheating at cards. But when Natalie meets the perfect subject for her piece --- a poker cheat who dazzles at sleight of hand --- what begins as a journalistic gamble soon becomes a test of everything she thinks she knows about her talent, and herself. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE DISAPPEARED: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by David Chandler
A prominent female British executive never came home from the high-end guest ranch she was visiting, and the British Embassy is pressing hard. Joe Pickett knows that happens sometimes. But no sign of her months after she vanished? That suggests something else. At the same time, Joe's friend Nate Romanowski has asked him to intervene with the feds on behalf of falconers who can no longer hunt with eagles, even though their permits are in order. Who is blocking the falconers and why? The more Joe investigates both cases, the more someone wants him to go away. Is it because of the missing woman or because he's become Nate's advocate? Or are they somehow connected? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Lowman
Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at 63, has been a central pillar of the women's movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer --- madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of longing for an ambition that she can't quite place --- feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she'd always imagined. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
HARRY: Life, Loss, and Love by Katie Nicholl (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Charlotte Parry
Britain's leading expert on the young royals offers an in-depth look at the wayward prince turned national treasure. Katie Nicholl sheds new light on growing up royal, Harry's relationship with his mother, his troubled youth and early adulthood, and how his military service in Afghanistan inspired him to create his legacy, the Invictus Games. HARRY features interviews with friends, those who have worked with the prince, and former Palace aides. Nicholl explores Harry's relationship with his family, in particular the Queen, his father, stepmother and brother, and reveals his secret "second family" in Botswana. Reviewed by Carole Turner.
THE HOUSE OF BROKEN ANGELS by Luis Alberto Urrea (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Luis Alberto Urrea
In his final days, beloved and ailing patriarch Miguel Angel de La Cruz, affectionately called Big Angel, has summoned his entire clan for one last legendary birthday party. But as the party approaches, his mother, nearly 100, passes away, leading to a farewell doubleheader in a single weekend. Among the guests is Big Angel's half brother, known as Little Angel, who must reckon with the truth that although he shares a father with his siblings, he has not, as a half gringo, shared a life. Across two bittersweet days, the revelers mingle among the palm trees and cacti, celebrating the lives of Big Angel and his mother, and recounting the many inspiring tales that have passed into family lore. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
HOW TO BE SAFE by Tom McAllister (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Amy Landon
Recently suspended for a so-called outburst, high school English teacher Anna Crawford is stewing over the injustice at home when she is shocked to see herself named on television as a suspect in a shooting at the school where she works. Though she is quickly exonerated, and the actual teenage murderer identified, her life is nevertheless held up for relentless scrutiny and judgment as this quiet town descends into media mania. Gun sales skyrocket, victims are transformed into martyrs, and the rules of public mourning are ruthlessly enforced. Anna decides to wholeheartedly reject the culpability she’s somehow been assigned, and the rampant sexism that comes with it, both in person and online. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
I'LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY by Marisa de los Santos (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Dawe and Erin Bennett
On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron. During the course of a single conversation, Edith gives Clare the courage to break off her engagement to her overly possessive fiancé. Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died and has given her another gift: Blue Sky House. Though the former guest house has been empty for years, Clare feels a deep connection to Edith inside its walls. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice and incredible courage. She also makes startling discoveries about herself: where she’s come from, where she’s going, and what --- and who --- she loves. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
JACKRABBIT SMILE: A Hap and Leonard Novel by Joe R. Lansdale (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christopher Ryan Grant
Hap is celebrating his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Brett (who is also Hap and Leonard's boss), when their backyard barbecue is interrupted by a couple of Pentecostal white supremacists. Judith Mulhaney's daughter, Jackrabbit, has been missing for five years. Well, she's been missing from them for five years, but she's been missing from everybody, including the local no-goods who ran with her, for a few months. Despite their misgivings about Judith and her son, Hap and Leonard take the case. It isn't long until they find themselves mixed up in a revivalist cult that believes Jesus will return flanked by an army of lizard-men --- solving a murder to boot. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
LAWN BOY by Jonathan Evison (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by P.J. Ochlan
For Mike Muñoz, a young Chicano living in Washington State, life has been a whole lot of waiting for something to happen. Not too many years out of high school and still doing menial work --- and just fired from his latest gig as a lawn boy on a landscaping crew --- he knows that he has to be the one to shake things up if he’s ever going to change his life. But how? In LAWN BOY, bestselling author Jonathan Evison takes the reader into the heart and mind of a young man on a journey to discover himself, a search to find the secret to achieving the American dream of happiness and prosperity. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
THE OTHER MOTHER by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Nicol Zanzarella
When Daphne Marist and her infant daughter, Chloe, pull up the gravel drive to the home of Daphne’s new employer, it feels like they’ve entered a whole new world. Daphne secured the live-in position using an assumed name and fake credentials, telling no one that she’s on the run from a controlling husband who has threatened to take her daughter away. When Daphne is diagnosed with Post Partum Mood Disorder, her downward spiral feels unstoppable --- until she meets Laurel Hobbes, who also has a daughter named Chloe. They immediately form an intense friendship, revealing secrets to one another they thought they’d never share. But Daphne realizes only too late that being friends with Laurel will come at a very shocking price. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
RED ALERT: An NYPD Red Mystery by James Patterson and Marshall Karp (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
The richest of New York's rich gather at the Pierre's Cotillion Room to raise money for those less fortunate. The mayor --- with Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald of the elite NYPD Red task force providing security --- is on hand to applaud the Silver Bullet Foundation's new plan for public housing. A fatal blast rocks the room, stirring up horrifying memories of 9/11. Is the explosion an act of terrorism --- or a homicide? A big-name female filmmaker is the next to die, in a desolate corner of New York City. The crimes keep escalating, and the perpetrators may be among the A-list New Yorkers NYPD Red was formed to protect. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
TANGERINE by Christine Mangan (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik and Erin Mallon
The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends haven’t spoken in over a year. But there Lucy was, trying to make things right. Alice has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country. But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice --- she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice’s husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THEY ALL FALL DOWN by Tammy Cohen (Psychological Thriller)
Hannah had a perfect life in London until she did something shocking that landed her in a high-risk psychiatric unit. Since Hannah has been admitted, two women have died, including Charlie, one of her closest friends in the institution. She is convinced there’s a serial killer picking off the patients one by one, passing their deaths off as suicides. But why? And who will believe her? At first, Hannah’s mother Corinne assumes her outlandish claims about a killer in the unit are just another manifestation of her psychological condition, but as she starts to uncover strange inconsistencies surrounding the unit's charismatic director, Dr. Roberts, she begins to wonder if her daughter might have stumbled upon the truth. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE by Olivia Kiernan (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Brona C. Titley
In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope. Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan would be more than happy to declare it a suicide. Four months ago, Frankie's pursuit of a killer almost ended her life and she isn't keen on investigating another homicide. But the autopsy reveals poorly healed bones and old stab wounds, absent from medical records. A new cut is carefully, deliberately covered in paint. Eleanor's husband, Peter, is missing. With the suspect pool growing and mysterious calls to Frankie's phone implying that the killer is closer than anyone would like, all Frankie knows is that Eleanor guarded her secrets as closely in life as she does in death. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
WE OWN THE SKY by Luke Allnutt (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Will M. Watt
Rob Coates feels like he’s won the lottery of life. There is Anna, his incredible wife, their London town house and, most precious of all, Jack, their son, who makes every day an extraordinary adventure. But when a devastating illness befalls his family, Rob’s world begins to unravel. Suddenly finding himself alone, Rob seeks solace in photographing the skyscrapers and clifftops he and Jack used to visit. And just when it seems that all hope is lost, Rob embarks on the most unforgettable of journeys to find his way back to life, and forgiveness. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
EAT THE SKY, DRINK THE OCEAN edited by Kirsty Murray, Payal Dhar and Anita Roy (Anthology/Short Stories)
A post-apocalyptic Little Red Riding Hood. Girls and boys turning the tables on creepy old cat-callers. Female pirates rescuing abused women. A futuristic cooking show. These are just a few of the stories told in EAT THE SKY, DRINK THE OCEAN, a feminist speculative fiction collection, born of a collaboration between Australian and Indian writers. Finding themselves inspired to action after crimes against women dominated national conversations, the editors of this collection paired writers and illustrators from India and Australia together to write stories, graphic novels and even a play that reimagine what girls can be and see themselves as. Reviewed by Rebecca D., Teen Board Member.
FAILING UP: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning by Leslie Odom, Jr. (Autobiography/Self-Help)
Audiobook available, narrated by Leslie Odom, Jr.
With personal stories from his life, Odom asks the questions that will help you unlock your true potential and achieve your goals even when they seem impossible. What work did you put in today that will help you improve tomorrow? How do you surround yourself with people who will care about your dreams as much as you do? How do you know when to play it safe and when to risk it all for something bigger and better? These stories will inspire you, motivate you, and empower you for the greatness that lies ahead, whether you’re graduating from college, starting a new job or just looking to live each day to the fullest. Reviewed by Gabby B., Teen Board Member.
FINDING FELICITY by Stacey Kade (Contemporary Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Lauren Ezzo
Caroline has never been particularly good at making friends. So out of desperation and a desire to please her mother, Caroline invented a life for herself using characters from the show "Felicity." But now it’s time for Caroline to go off to college and she's ready to build something real. But when her mother discovers the truth, she gives Caroline an ultimatum: Prove in this first semester that she can make friends and thrive, or it’s back to living at home --- and a lot of therapy. Caroline accepts the challenge, but she soon realizes that the real world is rarely as simple as television makes it out to be. Caroline may have to abandon her script and take the risk of being herself. Reviewed by Breck G., Teen Board Member.
FRAT GIRL by Kiley Roache (Contemporary Fiction)
With one shot at a scholarship to the school of her dreams, Cassie pitches an unusual research project --- to pledge Delta Tau Chi, a frat house on the verge of being banned from school for their offensive behavior, take on the boys’ club and provide proof of their misogynistic behavior. It’s different, but it’s not against the rules, and she’s pretty sure she knows exactly what to expect once she gets there. But Cassie soon realizes things aren’t as simple as they appeared. With her academic future on the line, and her heart all tangled in a web of her own making, Cassie will ultimately have to define for herself what the F-word is all about. Reviewed by Juliette G., Teen Board Member.
QUEENS OF FENNBIRN (Three Dark Crowns) by Kendare Blake (Fantasy)
Together in print for the first time in this paperback bind-up, the dazzling prequels to the Three Dark Crowns series are finally available for fans to have and to (literally) hold. Uncover the sisters’ origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen and reveal layers of Fennbirn’s past, hidden until now. Reviewed by Danielle F., Teen Board Member.
THE RADICAL ELEMENT: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes & Other Dauntless Girls Edited by Jessica Spotswood (Anthology/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, narrated by Bahni Turpin
To respect yourself, to love yourself, should not have to be a radical decision. And yet it remains as challenging for an American girl to make today as it was in 1927 on the steps of the Supreme Court. It’s a decision that must be faced when you’re balancing on the tightrope of neurodivergence, finding your way as a second-generation immigrant, or facing down American racism. In THE RADICAL ELEMENT, 12 of the most talented writers working in young adult literature today tell the stories of girls of all colors and creeds standing up for themselves and their beliefs — and they’re asking you to join them. Reviewed by Ilona K., Teen Board Member.
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