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Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Stephanie Scott,
whose debut novel, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS, is a Bets On pick.
Click on the image above for the video and here for the podcast.
Carol is figuring out what to make from FALASTIN, a cookbook from Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley,
who have been cooking with Yotam Ottolenghi for years. Find out what she decides next week!
2020 has felt like a decade, especially from March to June. Phew! Remember when masks were just worn on Halloween and Mardi Gras? When indoor dining was what you did when it rained? When the word “unprecedented” was not used every day? When you had no idea exactly how long six feet was? And socially distanced was not part of the lexicon? And how about quarantine (which the last time I dealt with was when I had scarlet fever when I was six)? All this came to pass since early March, a mere four months ago. Seriously, I think we all need a three-day weekend. Actually, I think this year it should be Fourth of July WEEK!
I hope you are able to step out of your “work from home” mode, or however else you have hunkered down at the hacienda, these past four months and enjoy the weekend. I noticed during this week there were more “away” messages cropping up, as people clearly are ready to step away from the keyboard.
I have some books that I crave time with, some paint samples that I want to paint with, some knitting that can use some rows added...and, most of all, nothing scheduled, which is something of a dream. But before I head to "me time," we have a whole lot of sharing to do.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Stephanie Scott, whose debut novel, WHAT’S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Set in modern-day Tokyo, the book charts a young woman's search for the truth about her mother's life --- and her murder. I talked to Stephanie about her intense research into the cultural nuances and legal system of Japan, and she explained how her education in literature evolved into her desire to tell this story, which has its roots in a real-life crime. She explores a culture that many Americans may be unfamiliar with and takes a deeper look at the lives of her characters, making this is an interview --- and a book --- that you don't want to miss. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. And my Bets On commentary can be found here.
I also am making THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS by Megan Miranda and THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark Bets On selections for this week. Click on each of the titles for my commentary. And if you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” segments with Megan or Julie, you can find links to the videos and podcasts of these interviews, along with many others, on our “Bookreporter Talks To” Videos & Podcasts page.
Kevin’s Kwan’s highly anticipated new novel, SEX AND VANITY, is July’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. It’s about a young woman who finds herself torn between two men: the WASPy fiancé of her family's dreams and George Zao, the man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with. According to our reviewer Cindy Burnett, “The highlight of the book is Kwan’s signature tongue-in-cheek humor and snark… Houstonians will appreciate the references to two private high schools in the area and a prominent River Oaks street (as this reviewer did). Overall, SEX AND VANITY will appeal to those who enjoyed the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and is the perfect entertainment for these uncertain times.”
In Riley Sager’s latest thriller, HOME BEFORE DARK, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound --- and dangerous --- secrets hidden within its walls? Kate Ayers has our review and says, “You might believe in ghosts; you might not. But a story with a ghost inhabiting a creaky old house and haunting its new residents is simply irresistible. At least in the right hands, and Riley Sager’s definitely are the right hands. From the shadowy figures in the woods to the sounds that go bump in the night, HOME BEFORE DARK is certain to creep you out.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE DILEMMA, the much-talked-about new novel from B. A. Paris, in which a woman’s 40th birthday party takes a dark turn; Beatriz Williams’ HER LAST FLIGHT, the story of a lost pilot and a wartime photographer that, according to the publisher, “will leave its mark on your soul” (our reviewer Rebecca Wasniak says, “As always, Beatriz Williams’ signature writing style paired with strong, independent, vibrant female characters drew me into the story and didn’t let go until the surprising and satisfying conclusion”); and THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS by Karen Robards, which has a tagline that should hook many readers, especially those who enjoy historical fiction: “A world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.”
We gave away HER LAST FLIGHT in this week’s Summer Reading contest. Next week’s prizes will be THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP by Susan Wiggs and ONE YEAR OF UGLY by Caroline Mackenzie. The first giveaway of the week will go live on Tuesday, July 7th at noon ET.
It was announced this week that Jenna Bush Hager has selected FRIENDS AND STRANGERS by J. Courtney Sullivan as her “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick for this month. We will feature our review of the book and a discussion guide in next week’s newsletter.
We have posted our Books on Screen feature for July. This month’s roundup includes the season one releases of "The Baby-Sitters Club" on Netflix and "Brave New World" on NBC's new streaming service, Peacock; the season two premiere of TNT's "The Alienist: Angel of Darkness"; a number of films available on demand, including The Outpost, Greyhound, The Sunlit Night and The Informer; and the continuation of the HBO series "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" and "Perry Mason" (more on these two in the "News & Pop Culture" section below).
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, July 17th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win THE ORDER, Daniel Silva’s 20th Gabriel Allon thriller, and THE COLOR OF AIR, Gail Tsukiyama’s first novel in eight years.
Also up this week is July’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, where the prizes are the audio versions of Brad Thor's NEAR DARK, read by Armand Schultz, and Kristin Harmel's THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES, read by Madeleine Maby. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to by Monday, August 3rd at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win both these audio titles.
Many of my Bets On picks from last year and earlier this year are now coming out in paperback, so we thought it would be fun to find out how many of these books you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know in our latest poll.
In our previous poll, we wanted to know if you attend virtual book and author events. Here’s the breakdown of what you virtually attend: Author events (36%), Bookstore events (20%), Publisher-sponsored events (19%), Library events (17%), Book festivals (13%). We also asked what platforms you use to attend these events. Here are your top four preferences: Zoom (36%), Facebook Live (25%), YouTube Live (12%), Crowdcast (10%). Click here for all the results.
Special Note: We would like to schedule a live event for our readers during the week of July 13th where I would share Summer Reading titles with you, including books coming out through Labor Day, September 7th. To schedule this to share with the maximum number of readers, we would like to see what day of the week and time would work best for you to attend this virtual event via Zoom. Let us know by filling out this form. And if there is anything that you would like to see, let me know. It would be fun to “see” many of you.
While we’re on the subject of virtual events, a reminder that this Tuesday, July 7th at 7pm ET, Barnes & Noble will host a Facebook Live discussion for their June book club pick, THE VANISHING HALF. It will feature author Brit Bennett in conversation with Kiley Reid, whose debut novel, SUCH A FUN AGE, was an instant New York Times bestseller.
Two days later, on Thursday, July 9th at 7pm ET, Celadon Books will hold their very first book club discussion live on their Instagram page. They will be talking about SAINT X, a Bets On pick from earlier this year, with author Alexis Schaitkin.
There are many more virtual events coming up in the next week or so that we want to get on your radar. Scroll further down the newsletter for a listing of some that we think will be of interest to you.
To the winners of the Father’s Day contest, we have not forgotten about you! We are waiting for some books to arrive here at my house so I can send them out. I will send as soon as they arrive. One of the boxes has been on a journey to me since June 4th!
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Vickie wrote, “I was doing a happy dance all morning when I got your email that I won THE LAST FLIGHT. I am really looking forward to reading it when it gets here. You guys are the best at keeping the book news and contests coming during this whole quarantine period! I look forward to your newsletter each week and keep a list of the books that you recommend that I should read. Thank you, Carol, for being such a great book guru!” I loved the book and hope you do too!
Debbie wrote this about my event with Wade Rouse last week: “Such a wonderful hour you gifted us today! Going back to the beginning with Bookaccino, I remember being able to sign on for delightful conversations. My goodness, we have grown together. As my husband got his morning coffee, I said, 'Come see Carol. It’s her fault I spend so much on books’! Thank you ever so very much!” I will take the blame!
Laura wrote about winning ASK AGAIN, YES in a Summer Reading contest: “Thank you so much! I look forward to reading this book!”
Susi wrote, “I just love the Virtual Author Listings, and really hope that when all this virus stuff is over, venues continue to offer virtual Meet the Author events. It has always been so sad that just because I live on the west coast of Florida, where few authors ever really appear live, we can't 'attend' some of these events.” We are hatching another idea with this listing, so stay tuned!
THE VANISHING HALF: HBO won the film rights in a 17-way bidding war for Brit Bennett's aforementioned novel and plans to adapt it into a limited series.
"I’ll Be Gone in the Dark" on HBO: I watched the first episode, and it was terrific. And the next day it was announced that the Golden State Killer pled guilty. Who says that television is not powerful?
"Perry Mason" on HBO: I am looking forward to exploring this reboot this weekend; I already am two episodes behind.
"Never Have I Ever" on Netflix: This is definitely much lighter fare about a young Indian teen finding her way at Sherman Oaks High School. There are many funny moments here.
Book-Themed Masks: Penguin Random House's merchandise company Out of Print will release seven book-themed facial masks on July 6th. You can see them here. They created the line in response to a request from the American Booksellers Association, and a portion of each sale is being donated to Book Industry Charitable Foundation.
Lee Child Talks About His Original Plan to Kill Off Jack Reacher…and More: You can read about it here.
"The Magic School Bus": I soooo remember this show from when my boys were young. I read that it is being developed into a live-action hybrid movie. I know many parents are longing for the school bus to arrive the next school term.
I have been perusing the FALASTIN cookbook trying to decide what to make from it. Tune in next week to find out. Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley have been cooking with Yotam Ottolenghi for years, and this is their first book together. I have been enjoying reading both the recipes and the commentary about Palestine, which is giving me new insight into this part of the world.
Last year, I made a patriotic pie with cherries and blueberries to celebrate the 4th. I have to figure out what to make this year.
Just as I was finishing this newsletter, I got word that my favorite college professor passed away at the age of 86. When I was at Fordham, Father Ray Schroth taught journalism. I loved all of his classes, but especially the ones that were held weekly where we would read a book, write a paper about it and discuss it. One semester the curriculum was “Books That Changed America,” and another focused on books about the ‘60s (I cannot remember the title of the actual course). I loved the opportunity to read widely, and then write about the books and discuss them.
Probably there was no better training than that class for what I am doing today. I also loathed sitting in a classroom, as much as I do now sitting in long, boring corporate meetings, so the seeds of what I do were sewn very early. Class once a week with intense reading and writing outside of it was perfect to me. It had the vibe of an intellectual book club. Fr. Schroth loved hearing about how we started The Book Report Network. I wish I had spent time with him in recent years. He left a lasting impression on me and so many others.
And now, I am stepping away from the keyboard. But before I do, I want to give an extra shout-out to our team. Tom Donadio, Greg Fitzgerald, Jennifer Lai and Austin Ruh cranked up their game since we left the office in mid-March. We’ve been far-flung, but I feel like we never have been as closely aligned on our mission to bring you books and authors every week as we are now. I am so very grateful for all of them! Wishing them and you a wonderful 4th of July!
Read on, and have a great week and a day.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: SEX AND VANITY by Kevin Kwan
July’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
SEX AND VANITY by Kevin Kwan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lydia Look
On her very first morning on the jewel-like island of Capri, Lucie Churchill sets eyes on George Zao. The daughter of an American-born Chinese mother and a blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always sublimated the Asian side of herself in favor of the white side, and she adamantly denies having feelings for George. But several years later, when George unexpectedly appears in East Hampton, where Lucie is weekending with her new fiancé, Lucie finds herself drawn to George again. Soon, Lucie is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment building, and ultimately herself as she tries mightily to deny George entry into her world --- and her heart. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager
HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager (Supernatural Thriller/Gothic Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom
Twenty-five years ago, Maggie Holt and her parents moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father's book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father's death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. However, after experiencing strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE DILEMMA by B. A. Paris
THE DILEMMA by B. A. Paris (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Eyre and Peter Noble
It’s Livia’s 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But Livia is secretly glad Marnie won’t be there. Livia has recently uncovered a secret about their daughter that, if revealed, will shake the foundation of their family to its core. She needs to tell Adam, but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together. Adam, meanwhile, has his own surprise for Livia: he’s arranged for Marnie to secretly fly back for the party. But before Marnie arrives, Adam hears some terrible news. Now he too is faced with a dilemma: Does he share what he's learned with his wife? Is hiding the truth the same as telling a lie? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HER LAST FLIGHT by Beatriz Williams
HER LAST FLIGHT by Beatriz Williams (Historical Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
In 1947, photographer and war correspondent Janey Everett arrives at a remote surfing village on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to research a planned biography of forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who joined the loyalist forces in the Spanish Civil War and never returned. Obsessed with Sam’s fate, Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline, who she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries. At first, the flinty Mrs. Lindquist denies any connection to Foster. But Janey informs her that the wreck of Sam Mallory’s airplane has recently been discovered in a Spanish desert, and piece by piece, the details of Foster’s extraordinary life emerge. Reviewed by Rebecca Wasniak.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS
by Karen Robards
THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS by Karen Robards (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nancy Peterson
Paris, 1944. Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance. When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary --- including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected --- and in time to save Lillian’s life. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS by Megan Miranda,
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark,
and WHAT’S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS by Stephanie Scott
THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS by Megan Miranda is a brisk suspense/thriller. In it, Arden Maynor was six years old when she sleepwalked away from her house, fell into a river and was swept away in a rainstorm. Days later, she was found alive and became a celebrity for it. But that celebrity was too much for her. She has changed her name and tried to move on from her unwanted “fame.”
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Megan Miranda's website.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Megan Miranda.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary
on THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS.
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
THE LAST FLIGHT is a tautly plotted thriller that I wanted to read from the moment I heard Julie Clark tell me about it back in January at a publisher preview event. And it completely delivered. A chance meeting at an airport bar brings Claire, who desperately wants to leave her abusive marriage, into contact with Eva, who also wants to run from something in her life. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets --- Claire taking Eva's flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- 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 read more of Carol's commentary on THE LAST FLIGHT.
WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS by Stephanie Scott (Fiction)
WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS by Stephanie Scott is a brilliant debut novel set in modern-day Japan. It revolves around the tradition of “wakaresaseya,” where one person is hired by another to seduce a spouse and break up a marriage, with a goal that this will bring a better settlement in a divorce. Here, a young woman is searching for the truth about her mother’s death. For years, Sumiko had been told that her mother, Rina, died in a car accident. As she is taking the final steps to becoming a lawyer, she gets a call that shatters that idea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to visit Stephanie Scott's website.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Stephanie Scott.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary
on WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS.
July’s Books on Screen Feature
Bookreporter.com's 16th 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 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.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, July 7th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
Bookreporter.com’s Virtual Vacation Reads:
Books Set in Getaway Locations
Do the current stay-at-home measures have you craving a summer getaway? Bookreporter has a way for you to virtually travel with our list of books set in vacation locales. Escape to idyllic spots like Cape Cod, Nantucket, Montauk, Charleston and Pasadena --- along with many others --- with our "Virtual Vacation Reads" feature. Pick your book(s) to embark on the summer vacation you've been dreaming of. You’ll only have to figure out how to send postcards!
Please note: For your convenience, we have organized these books both by location and alphabetically by title. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit as well! May we suggest that you buy these books from them?
Click here to see our "Virtual Vacation Reads" feature.
Upcoming Virtual Author Events
As so many 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.
Monday, July 6th at 7pm ET: Magic City Books Virtual Event: Colson Whitehead will be joined in conversation by Ben Montgomery, a reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. It was Montgomery's investigative journalism that sparked the idea for THE NICKEL BOYS.
Tuesday, July 7th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble Virtual Book Club Event: Barnes & Noble will host a Facebook Live discussion for their June book club pick, THE VANISHING HALF, featuring author Brit Bennett and Kiley Reid, whose debut novel is SUCH A FUN AGE.
Wednesday, July 8th at 6pm ET: Virtual Happy Hour with Cara Wall: Join Square Books for a Virtual Happy Hour with Cara Wall for a discussion of her novel, THE DEARLY BELOVED.
Wednesday, July 8th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Every Wednesday, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe talk books and writing on their "Friends and Fiction" Facebook group page.
Wednesday, July 8th at 8pm ET: Blue Willow Bookshop Virtual Event: Megan Miranda will discuss her latest novel, THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS. This event will take place on Blue Willow's Facebook Live stream.
Thursday, July 9th at 12pm ET: Lunch & Learn with Megan Miranda: Join Browseabout Books for a live virtual event with Megan Miranda, who will talk about THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS.
Thursday, July 9th at 1pm ET: Celadon Book Club Live on Instagram: The very first Celadon Book Club discussion will be about SAINT X, with author Alexis Schaitkin, live on Instagram.
Friday, July 10th at 12pm ET: Forensic Anthropologist Kathy Reichs: A Novel Approach to Crime Fiction: Smithsonian Associates presents novelist Karin Slaughter in conversation with Kathy Reichs, author of the bestselling Temperance Brennan series, including the most recent installment, A CONSPIRACY OF BONES.
"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 is our latest interview:
-
Stephanie Scott (WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
-
Bruce Holsinger (THE GIFTED SCHOOL)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Gothic Horror/Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Frankie Corzo
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She is not sure what she will find --- her cousin’s husband is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but also might be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. Their once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper, she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
PARTY OF TWO by Jasmine Guillory (Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Janina Edwards
Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe’s mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell. Olivia is surprised to find that Max is sweet, funny and noble --- not just some privileged white politician she assumed him to be. Because of Max’s high-profile job, they start seeing each other secretly, which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises. But when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job. Olivia knows that what she has with Max is something special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
BLUE TICKET by Sophie Mackintosh (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Freya Mavor
Calla knows how the lottery works. On the day of your first bleed, you report to the station to learn what kind of woman you will be. A white ticket grants you marriage and children. A blue ticket grants you a career and freedom. You are relieved of the terrible burden of choice. And once you've taken your ticket, there is no going back. But what if the life you're given is the wrong one? When Calla, a blue ticket woman, begins to question her fate, she must go on the run. But her survival will be dependent on the very qualities the lottery has taught her to question in herself and on the other women the system has pitted against her. Pregnant and desperate, Calla must contend with whether or not the lottery knows her better than she knows herself and what that might mean for her child. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
THE SWAP by Robyn Harding (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Amanda Dolan, George Newbern, Joy Osmanski and Pete Simonelli
Low Morrison is not your average teen. She just doesn’t fit in --- and neither does Freya, a once-famous social media influencer who now owns the local pottery studio. After signing up for a class, Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell. And Freya is compelled to share her darkest secrets and deepest desires. Finally, both feel a sense of belonging...that is, until Jamie walks through the studio door. Desperate for a baby, she and her husband have moved to the island hoping that the healthy environment will result in a pregnancy. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low alone once again. Then one night, after a boozy dinner party, Freya suggests swapping partners. It should have been a harmless fling between consenting adults, but instead it upends their lives. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
THE REQUEST by David Bell (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tristan Morris
Ryan Francis has it all --- great job, wonderful wife, beautiful child --- and he loves posting photos of his perfect life on social media. Until the night his friend Blake asks him to break into a woman’s home to retrieve incriminating items that implicate Blake in an affair. Ryan refuses to help, but when Blake threatens to reveal Ryan’s darkest secret --- which could jeopardize everything in Ryan’s life --- Ryan has no choice but to honor Blake’s request. When he arrives at the woman's home, Ryan is shocked to find her dead --- and just as shocked to realize he knows her. Then his phone chimes, revealing a Facebook friend request from the woman. With police sirens rapidly approaching, Ryan flees, wondering why his friend was setting him up for murder. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
STRANGER IN THE LAKE by Kimberly Belle (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Xe Sands
When Charlotte married the wealthy widower Paul, it caused a ripple of gossip in their small lakeside town. They have a charmed life together, despite the cruel whispers about her humble past and his first marriage. But everything starts to unravel when she discovers a young woman’s body floating in the exact same spot where Paul’s first wife tragically drowned. At first, it seems like a horrific coincidence, but the stranger in the lake is no stranger. Charlotte saw Paul talking to her the day before, even though Paul tells the police he’s never met the woman. His lie exposes cracks in their fragile new marriage, cracks Charlotte is determined to keep from breaking them in two. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
NOTHING CAN HURT YOU by Nicola Maye Goldberg (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Kate Handford, Lance C Fuller, Jennifer Woodward, Laurence Bouvard, Pat Rodrigues, Deborah McBride, Lexie McDougall and Madeleine Rose
On a cold day in 1997, student Sara Morgan was killed in the woods surrounding her liberal arts college in upstate New York. Her boyfriend, Blake Campbell, confessed, his plea of temporary insanity raising more questions than it answered. In the wake of his acquittal, the case comes to haunt a strange and surprising network of community members, from the young woman who discovers Sara's body to the junior reporter who senses its connection to convicted local serial killer John Logan. Others are looking for retribution or explanation: Sara's half-sister, stifled by her family's bereft silence about Blake, poses as a babysitter and seeks out her own form of justice, while the teenager Sara used to babysit starts writing to Logan in prison. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
LOVE & OTHER CRIMES: Stories by Sara Paretsky (Mystery/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Ericksen
Sara Paretsky’s LOVE & OTHER CRIMES is comprised of 14 short stories, including one new V.I. Warshawski story and seven other classics featuring the indomitable detective. In “Miss Bianca,” a young girl becomes involved in espionage when she befriends a mouse in a laboratory that is conducting dark experiments. Ten-year-old V.I. Warshawski appears in “Wildcat,” embarking on her very first investigation to save her father. A hardboiled New York detective and elderly British aristocrat team up to reveal a murderer in Chicago during the World’s Fair in “Murder at the Century of Progress.” In the new title story, “Love & Other Crimes,” V.I. treads the line between justice and vengeance when the wrongful firing of a family friend makes him a murder suspect. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
THIN GIRLS by Diana Clarke (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jayme Mattler
Rose and Lily Winters are twins. Like most young women, they’ve struggled with their bodies and food since childhood, and high school finds them turning to food --- or not --- to battle the waves of insecurity and the yearning for popularity. Within a few years, Rose is about to mark her one-year anniversary in a rehabilitation facility for anorexics. Lily is also struggling. A kindergarten teacher, she dates abusive men, including a student’s married father, in search of the close yet complicated companionship she lost when she became separated from Rose. When Lily joins a cult diet group led by a social media faux feminist, whose eating plan consists of consuming questionable non-caloric foods, Rose senses that Lily needs her help. Reviewed by Catherine Rubino.
THE FINDERS by Jeffrey B. Burton (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Matt Godfrey
Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid is coming off a taxing year --- mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel, as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past --- a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is. Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
TOUCH THE NIGHT by Max Booth III (Supernatural Thriller)
Something sinister is hiding in the small town of Percy, Indiana, and 12-year-old Joshua Washington and Alonzo Jones are about to find themselves up close and personal with it. After a harmless night of petty property damage leads to the unthinkable, the red and blue lights of a cop car are the last things these boys want to see. Especially a cop car driven by something not quite human. Enter Mary Washington and Ottessa Jones. Their sons have been best friends for years, and now Josh and Alonzo have been abducted in the dead of night. Worst of all, the local sheriff refuses to believe they're missing, leaving it up to Mary and Ottessa to take the law into their own hands before a family of ungodly lunatics can complete a ritual decades in the making. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on July 7th
Below are some notable titles releasing on July 7th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of July 6th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
A BEAUTIFULLY FOOLISH ENDEAVOR by Hank Green (Science Fiction/Humor)
A BEAUTIFULLY FOOLISH ENDEAVOR is the bold and brilliant follow-up to AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING. It is a fast-paced adventure that is also a biting social commentary, asking hard, urgent questions about the way we live, our freedoms, our future and how we handle the unknown.
BEYOND THE MASK: How My Tragedy Sparked an Incredible Life: Lessons I Might Never Have Learned by Brian P. Walsh (Autobiography)
As a 17-year-old volunteer firefighter, Brian Walsh suffered third-degree burns to his face. But he chose not to let that tragedy destroy him, and instead used it to create a magnificent life --- both personally and professionally.
BRIGHT PRECIOUS THING: A Memoir by Gail Caldwell (Memoir)
From the New York Times bestselling author of LET’S TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME comes a moving memoir about how the women’s movement revolutionized and saved her life, from the 1960s to the #MeToo era.
THE COLOR OF AIR by Gail Tsukiyama (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of WOMEN OF THE SILK and THE SAMURAI'S GARDEN comes a gorgeous and evocative historical novel about a Japanese-American family set against the backdrop of Hawaii's sugar plantations.
FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
Over the course of one summer that begins with a shocking tragedy, three generations of the Adler family grapple with heartbreak, romance and the weight of family secrets in this stunning debut novel that’s perfect for fans of MANHATTAN BEACH and THE DOLLHOUSE.
THE GOLDEN CAGE written by Camilla Läckberg, translated by Neil Smith (Psychological Thriller)
THE GOLDEN CAGE is a sexy, over-the-top psychological thriller that tells the story of the scorned wife of a billionaire and her delicious plot to get her revenge and bring him to his knees.
THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP by Susan Wiggs (Fiction)
In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"
MUZZLED: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
In David Rosenfelt's latest Andy Carpenter mystery, MUZZLED, Andy and his beloved golden retriever, Tara, are back on the case as a favor to a friend.
OF MUTTS AND MEN: A Chet & Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (Mystery)
Spencer Quinn's OF MUTTS AND MEN is the latest in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series that the Los Angeles Times called “nothing short of masterful.”
OUTSIDER by Linda Castillo (Mystery/Thriller)
Linda Castillo follows her instant New York Times bestseller, SHAMED, with this electrifying thriller about a woman on the run hiding among the Amish.
THE SHADOWS by Alex North (Supernatural Thriller)
“Stranger Things" meets Stephen King’s THE OUTSIDER as Alex North returns for another poignant and terrifying supernatural thriller about the sacrifices parents make for --- and keep from --- their children.
SURVIVOR SONG by Paul Tremblay (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Paul Tremblay once again demonstrates his mastery in this chilling and all-too-plausible novel that will leave readers racing through the pages...and shake them to their core.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Which of Carol’s Bets On Selections
That Are Now or Soon to Be in Paperback
Have You Read or Will You Read?
We have listed 20 of Carol’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks that are now in paperback or will be this month. Which of these have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane
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THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO by Christy Lefteri
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CHANCES ARE… by Richard Russo
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THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall
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THE DESERTER by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille
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THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin
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THE GIFTED SCHOOL by Bruce Holsinger
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THE GOLDEN HOUR by Beatriz Williams
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THE GUEST BOOK by Sarah Blake
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THE ISLANDERS by Meg Mitchell Moore
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LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict
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THE LAST BOOK PARTY by Karen Dukess
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MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin
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A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY by M.T. Edvardsson
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SAVE ME THE PLUMS: My Gourmet Memoir, by Ruth Reichl
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SOMEONE WE KNOW by Shari Lapena
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THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger
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THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware
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THE WHISPER MAN by Alex North
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WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, July 17th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from July 2nd to July 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE ORDER by Daniel Silva and THE COLOR OF AIR by Gail Tsukiyama.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from July 1st to August 3rd at noon ET, one lucky reader will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Brad Thor's NEAR DARK, read by Armand Schultz, and Kristin Harmel's THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES, read by Madeleine Maby.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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