|
Never Miss a Contest or a Promotion!
Follow and Like Us on Social Media
A Very Bookish Week…and Happy Mother’s Day!
Wow, what a week! I was at author programs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, two of which were in New York City, and there was a celebration of Jesse Kornbluth’s life (also in the city) on Thursday night.
Monday night kicked things off with a fun event at NeueHouse Madison Square in the city, where I was joined by Tom and Francesca, along with my friends Beverley and Annmarie. The publisher Zando hosted “An Evening with Gillian Flynn & Friends” in celebration of their Gillian Flynn Books imprint. Yes, the Gillian Flynn, who wrote GONE GIRL.
The program opened with Stacy Horn and Margot Douaihy raising a glass to Gillian. Stacy wrote THE KILLING FIELDS OF EAST NEW YORK, which we reviewed earlier this year and is the imprint’s first nonfiction title. Later, there was a cover reveal for the third book in Margot’s Sister Holiday crime novel series, DIVINE RUIN, which releases next January. You can see that cover below.
Next, Ashley Flowers and Danie Shokoohi joined Gillian to discuss their new novels: Ashley’s THE MISSING HALF (which she co-authored with Alex Kiester; we’re reviewing it this week) and Danie’s GLASS GIRLS, which publishes on June 24th. They also covered such topics as the weight of family secrets and psychological resilience in fiction.
Ashley hosts a true crime podcast called “Crime Junkie” with her best friend, Brit Prawat. I love true crime, so I gave it a listen today. It is so well done.
Gillian then had a lively conversation with Megan Abbott, Laura Lippman and Erin E. Adams about their upcoming books --- Megan’s EL DORADO DRIVE (on sale June 24th), Laura’s MURDER TAKES A VACATION (on sale June 17th), and Erin’s ONE OF YOU (on sale next April) --- and explored how crime and thriller narratives are shaped.
We had plenty of time to mingle before and after these panels and chat with some of our publisher friends. Right before we left, we talked to two Bookreporter readers who Annmarie had met at another event. I love moments like this!
Please note: The above photos are courtesy of Casey Kelbaugh/CKA.
On Tuesday night, I went back into the city for an event at one of my favorite children’s bookstores, Books of Wonder, for Jerry Craft and Kwame Alexander, whose new novel for children is J vs. K. It was a WONDERFUL evening. These two Newbery winners shared how this book came together --- and soooo much more. The banter between them was such fun. They were teasing each other and kept the jokes flowing while also telling the book's terrific backstory.
Jerry had been encouraging Kwame to work on this project for a couple of years. Finally, one night, Jerry read Kwame what he saw as the opener to the book. Kwame liked what he heard enough that he asked Jerry to text him what he had written, and from there, the story evolved in words and drawings. I have not spent much time in the kids’ space since we shut down our Kidsreads site, but seeing them in action reminded me of the pure wonder on kids’ faces when they interact with an author or two.
I loved the van where they are going to be riding around the country over the next few weeks, complete with a QR code for ordering on the side. I joked with the van’s driver as I left the store and asked if they were behaving. He commented, “They usually just sit in the back and work away.” I am 99% sure that they also tease each other, raising the stakes with each back and forth. The tour is still young.
Continuing my week of bookish adventures on Wednesday night, I was off to Williams-Sonoma in Short Hills, NJ, to meet Meredith Hayden, author of THE WISHBONE KITCHEN COOKBOOK. I have been following Meredith for years, starting from when she worked as a private chef in the Hamptons, where I loved her posts.
The last time I waited on a signing line as long as hers was for a Harry Potter book. There was one long line to get a book and another to get it signed. But I was never served a small cup of pasta while waiting at one of Harry’s signings!
I loved talking to the two young women in front of me on the line. They were FIT students doing a class project designing a restaurant that Meredith would run. Meredith greeted me, and everyone, like we were the ONLY person on that line! It was so lovely. I already am earmarking recipes for the weekend. They are calling Meredith “the Martha Stewart of Gen Z.” Looking at the women on the line, that seems appropriate. I was on hand to rep the Baby Boomers!
Last night, family and friends of my fellow Bookreporter founder, Jesse Kornbluth, gathered to celebrate his life with a very special memorial service. And what a celebration it was! There are times when all the notes are hit as we share memories of a life well-lived, and last night was one of them.
I was privileged to be one of the eight speakers, and the formal part of the evening wrapped up with Josh Ritter, one of Jesse’s favorite musicians, playing a song. We mingled and talked for a couple of hours after that, and there was a lot of trading stories and reminiscing. The common theme was how Jesse truly cared for people, took an interest in their lives and showed up for them. There was one story after another about his acts of kindness and how he had inspired people.
I knew Jesse for three decades, and I know he would have loved this night. All too often we measure success in monetary terms. Instead, the measure here was something completely different; it was about the impact he had on people. It was one very inspiring (rather than sad) evening. We left smiling about what he had meant to all of us.
For the closing post on his website, HeadButler.com, this quote was shared --- “How Lucky I Am to Have Something That Makes Saying Goodbye So Hard” (A. A. Milne) --- as we know how much Jesse loved creating pieces for that site. Last night, I think for many of us, the quote could have been reframed to say, “How Lucky Was I to Have Known Jesse Kornbluth, Who Enriched My Life So Much.”
I am happy to announce that Beatriz Williams will be this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 28th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up here for it. We will talk about her novel, HUSBANDS & LOVERS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. In it, two women --- separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom --- reclaim secrets and lost loves.
There will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Beatriz.
For the first part, those who are asking a question on camera will be featured. This includes spending time with Beatriz backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email me with the subject line "Beatriz" by noon ET on May 28th. Be sure to include your name, city and state, as well as your question. If you do not want to appear on camera but still would like to ask a question, please note that you want to be off camera, and share your question --- adding your name, city and state.
Then we will take questions from other members of the audience.
I talked to Beatriz last July when HUSBANDS & LOVERS came out in hardcover, so I look forward to having more conversation with her about the book and hearing from those who have read it.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, May 14th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between May 13th and June 3rd, in addition to a few from July, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us live will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
MY FRIENDS, Fredrik Backman’s latest novel, is May’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection and #1 Indie Next pick. It revolves around four teenagers whose friendship is forged over one remarkable summer, creating a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger's life 25 years later.
Pamela Kramer has our review and says, “There are twists and unexpected outcomes. Yet Backman's brilliance is in presenting us with characters we may not be able to relate to, but whose understanding of the world is as bright and filled with knowledge as the sea that is depicted in the artist's famous painting. Our hearts break over and over again as we journey with Louisa and Ted and hear their stories, but we also emerge --- as they do --- stronger because of that trip.”
On Friday, May 23rd at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will host a live virtual event with Fredrik Backman, which you can sign up for here. He will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, B&N’s Category Manager for Fiction, and Brenda Allison, a Frontlist Buyer at B&N.
In Isabel Allende’s new work of historical fiction, MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE, a young writer embarks on a life-changing voyage from San Francisco to Chile to cover a brewing civil war. There, she falls in love, uncovers the truth about her estranged father, and finds herself in the literal trenches of war and political danger.
According to Jana Siciliano in her review, “There are few authors who combine historical fact and romantic fiction better than Allende. The sweeping scope of her stories and the very personal way they’re told put her novels in a class all by themselves. Emilia and her adventurous spirit bring a compelling taste of romance and drama on top of the historical lessons we learn… MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE is one more successful notch on her writing belt and is sure to be a hit with fans and newcomers alike.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
Your Last Chance to Enter Our Mother's Day Contest
Be sure to enter our Mother’s Day contest if you haven’t already; the deadline is THIS Monday, May 12th at noon ET. We’re giving five readers the opportunity to win all 10 of our mom-friendly titles, which include THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali, THE PAGE TURNER by Viola Shipman, and THE RIVER KNOWS YOUR NAME by Kelly Mustian.
Don’t Miss Our Mother’s Day Author Blogs
We wrapped up our Mother’s Day Author Blog series this week. Five authors wrote lovely essays about reading with their moms and with their own children, and how their moms inspired them to become readers and writers. Many thanks to Colleen Cambridge, Mary Dixie Carter, Sharon Kurtzman, Nita Prose and Anna Snoekstra for sharing these special memories with us. You also can find these blogs on our Facebook and Instagram pages if you’d like to share them with others.
Summer Reading Contest Update
We kicked off our 2025 Summer Reading contests this week by giving away BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall and SKIN & BONES by Renée Watson. Next week’s prize will be WHISTLE, Linwood Barclay’s first foray into what is called the chiller genre. The contest for it will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, May 13th, one week before its release.
May’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for May are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as Abraham Verghese (THE COVENANT OF WATER), Kevin Kwan (LIES AND WEDDINGS), Katherine Center (THE ROM-COMMERS), Riley Sager (MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT), the aforementioned Linwood Barclay (I WILL RUIN YOU), and Lucy Foley (THE MIDNIGHT FEAST); nonfiction titles, including THE YEAR OF LIVING CONSTITUTIONALLY: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning by A.J. Jacobs and LONG HAUL: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers by Frank Figliuzzi; and paperback originals like A DEAD DRAW by Robert Dugoni and MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival by Brenda Coffee.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Ann Hood
Out in paperback this week is THE STOLEN CHILD, a Bets On pick, in which an unlikely duo ventures through France and Italy to solve the mystery of a child’s fate. I talked to Ann Hood about the book last May when it released in hardcover. So if you missed the discussion or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, May 23rd at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE DOORMAN by Chris Pavone and SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins, both of which will be Bets On picks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 30 paperback titles releasing in May you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, May 23rd at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 35 fiction titles that are being published this month for the first time and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
THE ORIGINAL DAUGHTER by debut novelist Jemimah Wei is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick.
Living with her parents and grandmother in a single-room flat in working-class Bedok, Genevieve Yang is saddled with an unexpected sibling when Arin appears. As the two girls grow closer, they must navigate the intensity of life in a place where the urgent insistence on achievement demands constant sacrifice. When a stinging betrayal violently estranges Genevieve and Arin, Genevieve must weigh the value of ambition versus familial love, home versus the outside world, and allegiance to herself versus allegiance to the people who made her who she is.
For more May selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
The 109th annual Pulitzer Prizes were announced this week. The winners include JAMES by Percival Everett (Fiction), EVERY LIVING THING: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life, by Jason Roberts (Biography), FEEDING GHOSTS: A Graphic Memoir, by Tessa Hulls (Memoir or Autobiography), and TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR HOPELESS CAUSE: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement, by Benjamin Nathans (General Nonfiction). Click here for the complete list of winners and nominees in the Journalism, Books, Drama and Music categories.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Chris wrote a very funny note after we sent our Summer Reading Preview newsletter on Monday: “Ok folks, cancel the Summer Reading contests and send all the books to me! There are 2-3 that aren’t exactly my first choices, but a book is a book! I’ll read them.” That gave me a laugh. May Chris be one of our random winners.
Carol wrote, “It was so great to see that THE PUZZLE BOX won the Los Angeles Times Prize for Mystery/Thriller book. Daniele Trussoni is a great writer, and her books are always underrated! They are well written, unique, engaging, fantastical and so much fun to read. I hope this win will bring more people to her books. You’re missing out if you haven’t read her books!”
“Bosch: Legacy” on Prime Video: Husband Tom and I finished the “Bosch: Legacy” series and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s disappointing to see that Prime Video does not plan to continue the series, or pick up the Renée Ballard series that was planned. High production and cast costs were cited. Yes, it’s a show with a big landscape and talent whose star has risen with the show, but it really was so well done!
“The Four Seasons” on Netflix: I binged this series and enjoyed it. Was it perfect? No. But it was fun, and it made me want to go back and watch the original movie.
I read that Harlan Coben will be hosting a new true crime series on CBS starting in January. I am looking forward to that!
I was waiting to see what Jeanine Cummins would do to follow up on her #1 New York Times bestseller, AMERICAN DIRT. Her latest, the aforementioned SPEAK TO ME OF HOME, is excellent. Here, she tells the story of three generations of women whose roots are in Puerto Rico. There is an honesty to these women as they work to define themselves --- and their roles with each other --- and what that means when they look at their heritage. You will want to take a look at the family tree at the front of the book to keep the characters straight for a while, but once settled in, you clearly will see who is who. As I mentioned earlier, it will be a Bets On selection, and I will be interviewing Jeanine once her book tour is over. The book is out on Tuesday.
I am listening to an advance copy of THE PARISIAN CHAPTER by Janet Skeslien Charles, an audio original that will be available on May 27th. I was a huge fan of Janet's first book, THE PARIS LIBRARY. This new work is set in Paris in 1995. Lily Jacobsen and her best friend, Mary Louise, have been living in Paris for five years, having left their small town in Froid, Montana. Lily, who strives to become a published author, takes a job as the programs manager at the American Library in Paris, following in the footsteps of her French neighbor, Odile, who readers will remember from THE PARIS LIBRARY. I loved seeing these characters woven together. At the same time, there are references to Janet’s second novel, MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE. The narration has 12 different voices; besides Lily and Mary Louise, we have the director of the library, trustees, co-workers and many more. I am loving the production and the quality of the performances.
Next up is the aforementioned WHISTLE by Linwood Barclay, which will be in stores on May 20th. It is being called a chiller, which is more chilling than his usual thrillers. Linwood loves model trains, and trains gone awry are at the heart of the story here. I am looking forward to seeing what he has done with this one, as his books are such favorites of mine. He takes ordinary people and messes with their lives; here it is a mother and her son, who are in a new town.
Around my house we all have been busy, and pulled in multiple directions, so we have not made any concrete plans for Mother’s Day. And I am okay with that. I am so much better at celebrating others than I am at being celebrated. I could do some wandering around a plant nursery, or just as happily plunk myself down in a chair and read for the day. I would like to get the pool opened, but the rainy weather here has not been sparking the joy of pool opening!
Yoga with Tom is on tap. For humor, we had a substitute teacher last week. The usual teacher does a brilliant shavasana, where he plays a drum. About 45 minutes into the 70-minute class, Tom said, “I am ready for the drum!” Back to drumming tomorrow.
For those of you who are celebrating Mother's Day, enjoy every moment. For those of you for whom this day does not bring joy, or for whom this may be a time when you just miss your mom --- perhaps for the first time --- my thoughts are with you.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman
May’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection
and #1 Indie Next Pick
MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland
Most people don’t even notice them --- three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise. Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that unexpectedly will be placed into 18-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
» MY FRIENDS is May's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Friday, May 23rd at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Fredrik Backman. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE by Isabel Allende
MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE by Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Coral Peña and Johnathan McClain
In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman. At the age of 17, she begins to publish pulp fiction using a man’s pen name. When these fictional worlds can no longer satisfy her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. There she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan. As Emilia proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. While there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SOUTH OF NOWHERE by Jeffery Deaver
SOUTH OF NOWHERE: A Colter Shaw Novel by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kaleo Griffith
When a levee collapses in Hinowah, a small town in Northern California, Colter Shaw is brought on by his sister, Dorion, a disaster response specialist, to help locate a family swept away by the raging water, with mere hours to survive. But after a surprise attack along the river obstructs Colter's urgent search, the siblings are forced to consider a new reality: Is the levee at risk of failing from natural causes, or is someone sabotaging it? Colter and Dorion must race against a ticking clock to uncover the truth and save the citizens before the village washes out completely, destroying everything and everyone in its path. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com’s 20th Annual
Mother’s Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 20th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 12th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 10 great titles that we think moms will love.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com’s 16th Annual
Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for a 16th year! We are excited to be sharing pieces from five authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
As always, we appreciate all the authors who took the time to participate in this annual feature.
Click here to read Bookreporter.com's 2025 Mother's Day Author Blogs.
Featured Review: THE MISSING HALF
by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester
May's Top LibraryReads Pick
THE MISSING HALF by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
At 24, Nicole “Nic” Monroe lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years --- since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both cases eventually went cold. Nic wants nothing more than to move on from her sister’s disappearance and the state in which it has left her. But then one day, Jules’ sister, Jenna Connor, walks into Nic’s life and offers her something she hasn’t felt in a long time: hope. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE NAMES by Florence Knapp
May’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club Pick
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Dervla Kirwan
In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she'd like to call the child, Cora hesitates. Spanning 35 years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora's and her young son's lives, shaped by her choice of name. THE NAMES explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE END IS THE BEGINNING by Jill Bialosky
THE END IS THE BEGINNING: A Personal History of My Mother by Jill Bialosky (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Jill Bialosky
When Iris Yvonne Bialosky died in an assisted care facility on March 29, 2020, it unleashed a torrent of emotions in her daughter, Jill Bialosky. Grief, of course, but also guilt, confusion and doubt, all of which were compounded by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it impossible for Jill to be with her mother as she was dying and to attend her mother’s funeral. Starting with her mother’s end and the physical/cognitive decline that led her to a care home, THE END IS THE BEGINNING explores Iris’ battle with depression, the tragedy of a daughter’s suicide, a failed second marriage, the death of her beloved first husband only five years into their young marriage, her joyful teenage years, and the trauma of losing her own mother at just eight years old. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 21st 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 mid-August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, May 13th at noon ET. The prize book will be WHISTLE by Linwood Barclay, which releases on May 20th. In this supernatural chiller, a woman and her young son move to a small town looking for a fresh start, only to be haunted by disturbing events and strange visions when they find a mysterious train set in a storage shed.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for May
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.
Below is a preview of May's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp
THE LILAC PEOPLE by Milo Todd
THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS by Annie Hartnett
THE PRETENDER by Jo Harkin
LibraryReads
Top Pick: THE MISSING HALF by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester
THE DEVILS by Joe Abercrombie
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune
SILVER ELITE by Dani Francis
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp
Barnes & Noble Book Club
MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman
"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE ORIGINAL DAUGHTER by Jemimah Wei
PBS Books Readers Club
WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp
Reese's Book Club
GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry
Target Book Club
THE MANOR OF DREAMS by Christina Li
Click here for May's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
May’s New in Paperback Roundups
May's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes THE COVENANT OF WATER, a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith and medicine from Abraham Verghese that follows three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret; LIES AND WEDDINGS by Kevin Kwan, an outrageous comedy of manners about a forbidden affair that erupts volcanically amid a decadent tropical wedding; Lucy Foley's THE MIDNIGHT FEAST, a deliciously twisty locked-room mystery set at a luxe coastal retreat; I WILL RUIN YOU, an intriguing psychological thriller from Linwood Barclay, in which a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer; and Ann Hood's THE STOLEN CHILD, a moving, page-turning novel about an unlikely duo venturing through France and Italy to solve the mystery of a child’s fate.
Among our nonfiction highlights are THE YEAR OF LIVING CONSTITUTIONALLY, which chronicles A.J. Jacobs' hilarious adventures in attempting to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, as he searches for answers to one of the most pressing issues of our time: How should we interpret America’s foundational document?; Frank Figliuzzi's LONG HAUL, a shocking journey to the dark side of America’s highways, revealing the FBI Highway Serial Killings Initiative’s hunt for the long-haul truckers behind an astonishing 850 murders --- and counting; and THE WIDE WIDE SEA by Hampton Sides, an epic account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, which culminated in Captain James Cook’s death in Hawaii and left a complex and controversial legacy still debated to this day.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
May 5th, May 12th, May 19th and May 26th.
THE TENANT by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron and Christine Helen Lakin
Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone he shares with his fiancée, he's desperate to make ends meet. Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake is looking for. Or is she? Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears that someone knows his darkest secrets. Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE CHILDREN OF EVE: A Charlie Parker Novel by John Connolly (Supernatural Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jeff Harding
Wyatt Riggins, the boyfriend of rising Maine artist Zetta Nadeau, has gone missing, leaving behind a cell phone containing a single-word message: RUN. Private investigator Charlie Parker is hired to find out why Riggins has fled, and from whom. Parker discovers that Riggins, an ex-soldier, has been involved in the abduction of four children from Mexico, all belonging to the cartel boss Blas Urrea --- except Urrea’s family is safe and well in Mexico, which means the abductees cannot be his children. Yet whoever they are, Urrea wants them back and has dispatched his agents to secure them, even if it means butchering everyone who stands in their way. Every child has a mother. Now Parker will face one unlike any other and learn the terrifying truth about the Children of Eve. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
MICHAEL WITHOUT APOLOGY by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch
Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma. When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society. As he collects their stories --- and finally tells his own --- Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more obstacle: his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE MURDER MACHINE by Heather Graham (Technothriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tim Paige
This state-of-the-art smart home has everything: a next-generation entertainment system, an ultramodern kitchen where every appliance is online, and even a personal AI to control it all. Standing above its owner's lifeless body, FBI agent Jude Mackenzie is faced with the daunting task of discovering how the woman was killed by her own home. How do you catch a murderer that doesn't leave any fingerprints? Enter Special Agent Victoria Tennant, whose familiarity with cybercrime reveals the stark truth: a machine can only do what it's been directed to do. As the number of grisly "accidents" begins to rise, the pair must race to uncover the perpetrator, even as they find themselves caught in their digital crosshairs. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Yu-Li Alice Shen
Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe Van Huusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated. When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied. However, she soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but. Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THIS IS YOUR MOTHER: A Memoir by Erika J. Simpson (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Erika J. Simpson
When Erika Simpson was growing up, her mother loomed large, almost biblical in her life. A daughter of sharecroppers and the middle child of 10, her origin story served as a Genesis. Her departure from home and a cheating husband, pursuing higher education along the way, a kind of Exodus. Her rules for survival, often repeated like the Ten Commandments, guided Erika’s own journey into adulthood. And the most important rule? Throughout her life, Sallie Carol preached the power of a testimony --- which often proved useful in talking her way out of a bind with bill collectors. But where does a mother’s story end and a daughter’s begin? In THIS IS YOUR MOTHER, Erika offers a joint recollection of their lives as they navigate the realities of destitution often left undiscussed. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
ALL THE MOTHERS by Domenica Ruta (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Patricia Santomasso
Sandy thought she was making her greatest mistake yet when she got unexpectedly pregnant in her mid-30s by a dating-app flop. Now, her baby Rosie is the love of her life. But trying to co-parent with her daughter’s dad, a wannabe rock star, is a challenge --- and seems to be veering into catastrophe territory when Sandy finds out through social media that her daughter has a half-sibling Sandy doesn’t know anything about. Enter her ex’s ex, Stephanie, the other mother. When the two women meet, they are shocked to learn how much they have in common. Now Sandy needs to figure out what her and Rosie’s family looks like with all these new additions. Could life in a “mommune” be the answer to her prayers, or just a new brand of chaos? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SHOW, DON'T TELL: A Writer, Her Teacher, and the Power of Sharing Our Stories by Kristine Gasbarre (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Kristine Gasbarre
Mrs. Korthaus has always been ahead of her time --- an educator who inspired her students to dream bigger, think deeper, and live boldly. For decades, she led an English classroom with caring and conviction, but it’s not until she’s retired, and then fighting cancer, that she begins to share her story: long ago marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., building a corporate career, and overcoming heartbreak before “accidentally” becoming a teacher and forever shaping the lives of countless young adults --- including bestselling author Kristine Gasbarre. In SHOW, DON'T TELL, Kristine reflects on her 30-year friendship with this extraordinary teacher who shaped her life so significantly. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 12th and 13th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 12th and 13th 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 May 12th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
May 12th
THE #1 DAD BOOK: Be the Best Dad You Can Be in 1 Hour by James Patterson (Parenting/Self-Help)
I did the homework, so you don’t have to do as much. I talked to lots of experts, and lots of dads, and lots of experts who are also dads. I read everything I could. Then I wrote and rewrote this book, filled with steps you can take to become a better dad.
May 13th
ANIMA RISING by Christopher Moore (Historical Fantasy/Humor)
From New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore comes a hilariously deranged tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter, and an undead woman’s electrifying journey of self-discovery.
CLASS CLOWN: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up by Dave Barry (Memoir/Humor)
America’s most beloved wiseass finally tells his life story with all the humor you’d expect from a man who made a career out of making fun of pretty much everything.
THE DARK MAESTRO by Brendan Slocumb (Mystery/Thriller)
A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty and the indomitable human spirit, THE DARK MAESTRO is Brendan Slocumb at the height of his powers.
THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS by Ocean Vuong (Fiction)
Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
FEVER BEACH by Carl Hiaasen (Mystery/Humor)
FEVER BEACH is another instant classic from Carl Hiaasen --- laugh-out-loud funny, tackling the current chaotic and polarized American culture (following in the path of SQUEEZE ME), with two wonderful Hiaasen heroes.
LIFE AND ART: Essays by Richard Russo (Essays)
Life and Art. These are the twin subjects considered in Richard Russo’s 12 masterful new essays --- how they inform each other and how the stories we tell shape our understanding of the world around us.
THE MAN MADE OF SMOKE by Alex North (Thriller)
With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us THE MAN MADE OF SMOKE. By turns emotional, introspective and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.
MARBLE HALL MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz (Mystery)
Murder links past and present once again in this mind-boggling metafictional mystery from Anthony Horowitz featuring detective Atticus Pünd and editor Susan Ryeland, stars of the New York Times bestsellers MAGPIE MURDERS and MOONFLOWER MURDERS.
MARK TWAIN by Ron Chernow (Biography)
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow illuminates the full, fascinating and complex life of the writer long celebrated as the father of American literature, Mark Twain.
RUN FOR THE HILLS by Kevin Wilson (Fiction)
An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together in this raucous and moving new novel from the bestselling author of NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS by J.D. Barker (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding.
SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins (Fiction)
SPEAK TO ME OF HOME is ultimately a story of mothers and daughters that asks: How can three women who share geography and genetics have such wildly different ideas of where they come from? And, more important, can they discover a common language to find their way back home?
THE WARRIOR: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay by Christopher Clarey (Sports/Biography)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE MASTER comes an intimate biography of tennis’s enduring champion, Rafael Nadal.
WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE by Mary Alice Monroe (Historical Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe comes her highly anticipated WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE, the first of two epic and triumphant novels celebrating one intrepid woman's life across multiple generations in the American South.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Ruth Reichl, Andrea Bartz, Anthony Horowitz
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are seven upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, May 12th at 3pm ET: Murder By The Book: Anthony Horowitz will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about his new novel, MARBLE HALL MURDERS, a mind-boggling metafictional mystery that features the return of detective Atticus Pünd and editor Susan Ryeland.
Monday, May 12th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Andrea Bartz will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her latest twisty thriller, THE LAST FERRY OUT. On a trip to the tropical paradise where her fiancée died, a young woman begins to suspect that his death was no accident --- and that the killer is still on the island.
Monday, May 12th at 7:30pm ET: “Lisa Live”: Join Lisa Scottoline on Facebook every Monday night through July 7th as she reveals her inspirations behind her upcoming novel, THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, and shows videos from her research trip to Tuscany. Then, on July 14th, join “Lisa Live” for her Virtual Publication Celebration.
And be sure to enter the Pre-Order Sweepstakes for THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, where you have a chance to win prizes such as an iPad mini or the Grand Prize of a Gucci Mini Bag. Lisa will be giving away an exciting prize each week during her “Lisa Live” events, leading up to the book’s publication on July 15th.
Tuesday, May 13th at 7pm ET: Buzz Books Editors & Authors Fiction Panel: Leigh Haber will host the Buzz Books Editors & Authors Fiction Panel, a virtual event sponsored by Publishers Lunch and the American Booksellers Association. Five authors will chat with their editors about their forthcoming titles.
Wednesday, May 14th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between May 13th and June 3rd, along with a few from July, that we would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Ruth Reichl about her book, THE PARIS NOVEL. This dazzling, heartfelt adventure through the food, art and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris is now available in paperback.
Monday, May 19th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Michael McGarrity will talk about his latest novel, NIGHT IN THE CITY, in which Korean War veteran Sam Monroe, who is accused of the murder of his former lover, is forced to abandon his job as an assistant district attorney and fight to clear his name.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
-
Nita Prose (THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
-
Marie Benedict (THE QUEENS OF CRIME) Video | Podcast
-
Joseph Finder (THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER) Video | Podcast
-
Clare Leslie Hall (BROKEN COUNTRY) Video | Podcast
-
Katy Hays (SALTWATER) Video | Podcast
-
Jeff Hobbs (SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America) Video | Podcast
-
Michelle Horton (DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds) Video | Podcast
-
Georgia Hunter (ONE GOOD THING) Video | Podcast
-
Tracey Lange (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?) Video | Podcast
-
Scott Turow (PRESUMED GUILTY) Video | Podcast
-
Charmaine Wilkerson (GOOD DIRT) Video | Podcast
Upcoming interviews include:
-
Julie Clark (THE GHOSTWRITER)
-
Brenda Coffee (MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival)
-
Victoria Christopher Murray (HARLEM RHAPSODY)
-
Chris Pavone (THE DOORMAN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in May have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
-
ALL FOURS by Miranda July
-
THE BLACK BIRD ORACLE by Deborah Harkness
-
CLETE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel, by James Lee Burke
-
THE COVENANT OF WATER by Abraham Verghese
-
DON’T LET THE DEVIL RIDE by Ace Atkins
-
FIRST FROST: A Longmire Mystery, by Craig Johnson
-
THE GENIUS OF JUDY: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us, by Rachelle Bergstein
-
HARD TO KILL: A Jane Smith Thriller, by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
-
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Joyce Maynard
-
I WILL RUIN YOU by Linwood Barclay
-
THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS by John Connolly
-
LIES AND WEDDINGS by Kevin Kwan
-
LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera
-
LONG HAUL: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers, by Frank Figliuzzi
-
LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
-
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Riley Sager
-
THE MIDNIGHT FEAST by Lucy Foley
-
MIND GAMES by Nora Roberts
-
THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine
-
ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE SHADOW by Brian Freeman
-
THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center
-
THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
-
SKIN & BONES by Renée Watson
-
THE STOLEN CHILD by Ann Hood
-
STUART WOODS’ GOLDEN HOUR: A Teddy Fay Novel Featuring Stone Barrington, by Brett Battles
-
THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY by Claire Messud
-
WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman
-
WESTPORT by James Comey
-
WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion, by Julie Satow
-
THE YEAR OF LIVING CONSTITUTIONALLY: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning, by A.J. Jacobs
-
None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 23rd at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from May 9th to May 23rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE DOORMAN by Chris Pavone and SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins.
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.
|
