Weekly Update

February 7, 2025

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Not a Seasonal Trend

There were a lot fewer cars in the parking lot at the health club the other morning. As I signed in, I quipped that the New Year’s resolutions to work out have slipped by the wayside, along with Dry January. Luckily, we do not ascribe to these trends with reading!

This week, Tom (Editorial Director Tom as opposed to Husband Tom) and I attended a couple of excellent publisher previews. Hearing authors talk about their books brings a new dimension to their work. We left both sessions talking about ideas for sharing them with you. I have been lining up the advance copies of 2025 books as we plan our “Bookaccino Live” events and review coverage. When we see your feedback --- as you answer our polls, share your reviews on Word of Mouth or your book club picks on “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” or send emails --- we love seeing what has resonated with you.

At one event, the conversation drifted to THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien. I recalled that when we were launching The Book Report, we brought this book to the people at AOL (yes, we originally were on AOL with them as our partners) as we wanted to share a book that had touched us all. There are moments when I look at my bookshelves and think about how many seminal books like that have been part of our history. Now think about books to buy your valentines!

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, February 12th at 2pm ET.

The focus will be on titles releasing between February 11th and March 4th, in addition to a few from April, that we would like to tell you about. Click here to register. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.

Reese’s Book Club pick for February is ISOLA by Allegra Goodman, which finds a 16th-century orphaned French noblewoman and her lover marooned on an island. Reese raves, “I can’t stop talking about it! Based on a true story, ISOLA has it all: love, resilience, defiance... I mean, she even fights a bear! This is easily one of my favorite historical fiction reads yet.”

Jana Siciliano has our review and calls ISOLA “a stunning achievement that rivals Alexandre Dumas' and Victor Hugo's classic tales of adventure, survival and political intrigue. Allegra Goodman stands toe to toe with them with this gorgeous book about a woman who discovers her boldness and strength as the natural world around her reveals its most stinging and beautiful secrets. It is a story of woman vs. nature that will have readers riveted until the very last page.”

In MEMORIAL DAYS, Geraldine Brooks opens up to readers about the sudden loss of her husband, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tony Horwitz, who collapsed and died on a Washington, D.C. sidewalk on Memorial Day 2019. Nearly four years later, she booked a flight to a remote island off the coast of Australia with the intention of finally giving herself the time to mourn and trying to figure out how to rebuild her life without Tony in it.

Harvey Freedenberg has this to say in his review: “Brooks mentions Joan Didion’s THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING in passing, and the parallels between her experience and Didion’s are inescapable. But as she makes clear, every experience of grief is singular, and when it’s described with the emotional intelligence and eloquence of a writer like Brooks, it’s well worth adding to the sizable pile of books on this universal subject. Most people will find it easy to read MEMORIAL DAYS in a single sitting. The hard-earned lessons it imparts will endure for a lifetime.” I want to read this!

ONYX STORM, the third installment in Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean fantasy series, is an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. So were FOURTH WING and IRON FLAME, the previous two entries, when they released in 2023. But what’s even more impressive is that ONYX STORM sold more than 2.7 million copies in its first week --- making it the fastest-selling adult novel in the last 20 years.

According to Curtis Edmonds in his review, “IRON FLAME ended on a clarion note, with a shocking act of betrayal countered by heroic self-sacrifice. ONYX STORM is not nearly as neat-and-clean, with a violent, climactic battle followed by a puzzling, ambiguous ending that rearranges the various plot strands into a messy heap.... The result is a complex and satisfying creation, finely calculated to stoke enthusiasm for the next volume in the series.”

The fervor for these books, especially among twenty-somethings, is reminiscent of the days of Harry Potter releases.

We also are featuring reviews of these two books:

• LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS: A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of Pam Jenoff’s novel of love and survival, where nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever.
   
• A FORTY YEAR KISS: Nickolas Butler, the critically acclaimed author of SHOTGUN LOVESONGS, has penned a small-town story about one couple's hard-won second chance at love, 40 years after their divorce. The publisher calls the book “a literary valentine that promises to be a love story for the ages.”

We’re Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bookreporter.com Bets On picks are PRESUMED GUILTY by Scott Turow and DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds by Michelle Horton. Click on each of the titles for my Bets On commentary. If you missed last week’s “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews with Scott and Michelle, be sure to check out the videos or podcasts using the links below.

• Scott Turow (PRESUMED GUILTY) Video | Podcast
• Michelle Horton (DEAR SISTER) Video | Podcast

February’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for February are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as Colm Tóibín (LONG ISLAND), David Baldacci (A CALAMITY OF SOULS), Daniel Silva (A DEATH IN CORNWALL), Jacqueline Winspear (THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS), Anna Quindlen (AFTER ANNIE), Tommy Orange (WANDERING STARS), and Lisa Wingate (SHELTERWOOD); nonfiction titles, including GRIEF IS FOR PEOPLE by Sloane Crosley and THE MANY LIVES OF MAMA LOVE: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin; and paperback originals like THE DRESSMAKERS OF LONDON by Julia Kelly and LOOKING FOR YOU: A Perfect Passion Company Novel by Alexander McCall Smith.

This Month’s Books on Screen Offerings
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. February’s roundup includes the season premieres of Prime Video's "Reacher" and Netflix's "Sweet Magnolias"; the season finale of "Dexter: Original Sin" on Paramount+; the films Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy on Peacock and Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery on Hallmark Mystery, along with The Monkey and The Unbreakable Boy in theaters; the continuation of CBS's "Tracker" and "Watson" (both return February 16th), in addition to ABC's "Will Trent" and Hallmark Channel's "When Calls the Heart"; the series premiere of "Apple Cider Vinegar" on Netflix; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of Wicked; The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim; Oh, Canada; and Across the River and Into the Trees.

Winter Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Winter Reading contests, we gave away the aforementioned A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler and ISOLA by Allegra Goodman. Next week’s prize will be THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict, a thrilling story of Agatha Christie’s legendary rival, Dorothy Sayers, and the race to solve a murder. The contest will be up at noon ET on the day of the book’s release, Tuesday, February 11th.

Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
You also will have a chance to win THE QUEENS OF CRIME in our Word of Mouth contest, along with THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, February 14th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles.

Remember to Vote in Our Poll
With the Oscars just a month away, our current poll asks which of the films based on books that have been nominated for an Academy Award (in any category) you have seen or are planning to see. Be sure to let us know by Friday, February 14th at noon ET.

THIS IS A LOVE STORY by Jessica Soffer is February’s Barnes & Noble and “Read with Jenna” book club picks. Jenna says, “In this beautiful book, we meet Abe and Jane who, upon the end of their life, are recounting their love story as a way to keep their memories alive. We find out both the beautiful things that tied them together, but also the more difficult ones that threaten to tear them apart.” On Tuesday, March 4th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Jessica, which you can sign up for here.

This month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick is JUNIE. In Erin Crosby Eckstine’s debut novel, a young girl named Junie must face a life-altering decision after awakening her sister’s ghost, navigating truths about love, friendship and power as the Civil War looms. As Junie grapples with an increasingly unfamiliar world in which she has little control, she is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?

For more February selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail: Christina (pictured above) won WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS? and the aforementioned PRESUMED GUILTY in our Word of Mouth contest. She wrote, “Thank you so much, Carol and Francesca! Both books have arrived.”

“The Night Agent” on Netflix: We liked it but did not love it.

“The Agency” on Paramount+: We are finding the plot lines to be rather confusing. At one point, I actually asked Tom, “Do you have any idea what is going on?” We have one more episode to watch. 

“Apple Cider Vinegar” on Netflix: This series is a dramatization of the real-life story of Belle Gibson, the Australian wellness influencer who built an empire while pretending she had a brain tumor. It truly makes you wonder what makes some people tick. And I cannot tell you how much I loathe influencers who mislead people like this. Here is an article from The Independent that talks about what is real and what is not from Gibson's story. And here is a piece from Time covering her story as well.

Friends are coming over for dinner on Saturday night. I so enjoy nights like this. We’ve been reworking the menu all week. I love that I am married to someone who thinks about food as much as I do. Every weekend, we go to the grocery store and plot out dinners for the week. Then each night Tom asks what I want for dinner, and we act like we had no plan for this. It is pretty humorous!

I am rooting for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. As a Giants fan (yes, I sheepishly am admitting that), I cannot root for the Eagles. I have said that I like watching Patrick Mahomes play. We have mini hot dogs in the freezer, and I will work more on game day food. Tom and I are planning to watch the game alone; it is easier that way. And yes, we are looking forward to the commercials, though they were pretty lacking last year. Look for the Hellmann’s mayonnaise commercial with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. It’s amusing knowing the iconic movie scene on which it's based.

Featured Review: ISOLA by Allegra Goodman
Reese’s Book Club Pick for February

ISOLA by Allegra Goodman (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Fiona Hardingham
Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian --- an enigmatic and volatile man --- spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes an unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island. Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's Reese's Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: MEMORIAL DAYS by Geraldine Brooks

MEMORIAL DAYS: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Geraldine Brooks
Many cultural and religious traditions expect those who are grieving to step away from the world. In contemporary life, we are more often met with red tape and to-do lists. This is exactly what happened to Geraldine Brooks when her partner of more than three decades, Tony Horwitz, collapsed and died on a Washington, D.C. sidewalk. After spending their early years together in conflict zones as foreign correspondents, Geraldine and Tony settled down to raise two boys on Martha’s Vineyard. But their happy life ended abruptly when, on Memorial Day 2019, Geraldine received the phone call we all dread. Nearly four years later, she booked a flight to a remote island off the coast of Australia with the intention of finally giving herself the time to mourn. There, she pondered the various ways in which cultures grieve and what rituals of her own might help to rebuild a life around the void of Tony’s death. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: ONYX STORM by Rebecca Yarros

ONYX STORM by Rebecca Yarros (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available; read by Rebecca Soler, with Teddy Hamilton, Justis Bolding and Jasmin Walker
After nearly 18 months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust. Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves --- her dragons, her family, her home and him. Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find --- the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com Bets On:
PRESUMED GUILTY by Scott Turow
and DEAR SISTER by Michelle Horton

PRESUMED GUILTY by Scott Turow (Legal Thriller)
PRESUMED GUILTY is Scott Turow’s third book featuring Rusty Sabich as his protagonist. Many of us remember reading PRESUMED INNOCENT and INNOCENT, so I was happy to catch up with this iconic character again.

Rusty is now 77, living in a quiet town and working his way towards retirement. He’s in a relationship with a woman he wants to marry, and life is looking good. Bea has a son, Aaron, who she adopted as a baby. Aaron has been through some tough times, but he’s getting his life in gear and on the right track. Until he’s charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Mae, the daughter of the local prosecutor. Aaron is a Black man being brought up in an all-white community --- and prejudice will rear its head here.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Scott Turow.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on PRESUMED GUILTY.
 

DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds by Michelle Horton (Memoir)
I read DEAR SISTER last fall as I prepared for an interview at the Morristown Festival of Books with its author, Michelle Horton. I always thought that if a person killed someone in self-defense, he or she would be acquitted. I was so far off the mark.

Michelle writes about her sister, Nikki, who was in an abusive relationship for nine years. When her partner went to shoot Nikki and himself, which would make their children orphans, Nikki grabbed the gun and shot him. She had hidden the abuse from her family, masking it with long sleeves and excuses for her various wounds. But she confided in friends who were there to support her.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Michelle Horton.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on DEAR SISTER.

Featured Review: LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS by Pam Jenoff

LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Thérèse Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld
London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe --- and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend, Franny, during the war. Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss, Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. She races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler

A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Richard Poe
Charlie and Vivian parted ways after just four years of marriage. Too many problems, too many struggles, even though the love didn't quite die. When Charlie returns to Wisconsin 40 years later, he's not sure what he'll find. He is sure of one thing --- he must try to reconnect with Vivian to pick up the broken pieces of their past. But 40 years is a long time. It's 40 years of other relationships, 40 years of building new lives, and 40 years of long-held regrets, mistakes and painful secrets. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com's 10th Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature

Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for February

February’s New in Paperback Roundups

February’s Books on Screen Feature

More Reviews This Week

GRAVE DANGER: A Jack Swyteck Novel by James Grippando (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Davis
Jack Swyteck’s new client fled Iran to Miami with her daughter and has been accused of kidnapping by her husband. To stop the father from taking the girl back to Tehran, Jack must build a case under international law and prove that returning the child would put her at risk. Everything in this case isn’t what it seems, though, and Jack quickly learns that his client is really the child’s aunt and that the biological mother may have been killed by Iran’s morality police. But what role did the father play in his wife’s death, and why is Jack’s wife, FBI Agent Andie Henning, being pressured by her bosses to persuade Jack to drop the case? Plunging into an investigation unlike any other, Jack must discover who is behind the legal maneuvering and what their interest is. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

WE ARE WATCHING by Alison Gaylin (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jennifer Pickens
Meg Russo and her husband, Justin, were driving their daughter, Lily, to Ithaca College. Then a car swerved up beside them, and Meg lost control of her vehicle. Justin didn’t survive the accident. Four months later, Meg works to distract herself from her grief and guilt, reopening her small local bookstore. But soon after she returns to work, bizarre messages and visitors begin to arrive, with strangers threatening Meg and Lily. They are obsessed with a young adult novel titled The Prophesy. An online group of believers are convinced that it heralds the apocalypse, and social media posts link the book --- and Meg’s reclusive musician father --- to Satanism. These conspiracy theorists vow to seek revenge on The Prophesy’s author: Meg. As the threats turn violent, Meg begins to suspect that Justin’s death may not have been an accident. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

HEAD CASES by John McMahon (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron
FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, a blindness that sometimes even includes people in his own life, like his beloved seven-year-old daughter, Camila. Gardner and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve. When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer long presumed dead, the team springs into action. A second victim establishes a pattern, and the murderer begins leaving a trail of clues and riddles especially for Gardner. And while the PAR team is usually relegated to working cold cases from behind a desk, the investigation puts them on the road and into the public eye, following in the footsteps of a killer. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

BIBLIOPHOBIA: A Memoir by Sarah Chihaya (Memoir/Literary Criticism)
Audiobook available, read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama
Books can seduce you. They can, Sarah Chihaya believes, annihilate, reveal and provoke you. And anyone incurably obsessed with books understands this kind of unsettling literary encounter. Sarah calls books that have this effect “Life Ruiners.” Her Life Ruiner, Toni Morrison’s THE BLUEST EYE, became a talisman for her in high school when its electrifying treatment of race exposed Sarah’s deepest feelings about being Japanese American in a predominantly white suburb of Cleveland. But Sarah had always lived through her books, seeking escape, self-definition and rules for living. She built her life around reading, wrote criticism, and taught literature at an Ivy League University. Then she was hospitalized for a nervous breakdown, and the world became an unreadable blank page. In the aftermath, she was faced with a question. Could we ever truly rewrite the stories that govern our lives? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

A LONG TIME GONE by Joshua Moehling (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Linda Jones
Ben Packard was just a boy when his older brother disappeared. Decades later, Deputy Packard finds himself with too much time on his hands. A shooting has him on leave and under investigation. For the first time in years, new information about his brother has surfaced that may lead them to the location of a body. The midwinter ground is frozen solid. Worse, Packard is cut off from department resources. As he strikes out to finally uncover the truth behind his brother's disappearance, he stumbles on a separate, suspicious death. A tenuous connection exists between the two cases, and as Packard starts to dig, he meets fierce resistance from friends and foes alike who want him to stand down. The winter is long and cold. By the end of it, Packard will risk everything to catch a killer and reveal the shocking truth about his brother. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

WILD WEST VILLAGE: Not a Memoir (Unless I Win an Oscar, Die Tragically, or Score a Country #1) by Lola Kirke (Memoir/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Lola Kirke
The youngest daughter of a rock star father and clothing designer mother, Lola Kirke and her siblings (including actress Jemima and celebrity doula Domino) spent their childhoods freshly plucked from their English heritage in an eclectic West Village brownstone, hosting everyone from Cuban exiles to Courtney Love. But behind the enviable exterior of worldly coolness was a home in disarray. In WILD WEST VILLAGE, Kirke chronicles a search for self amidst the chaos of the affairs, addictions and afflictions surrounding her, detailing misadventures in everything from masturbation to marijuana, Cadbury’s to country music, and a dream of salvation on the silver screen. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

MUTUAL INTEREST by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Laurel Lefkow
When Vivian Lesperance meets Oscar Schmidt, a middle manager at a soap company, at the turn of the 20th century, she finds a partner she can guide to build the life she wants --- not least because, more interested in men himself, Oscar will leave Vivian to tend to her own romances with women. But Vivian's plans require capital, so the two pair up with Squire Clancey, scion of an old American fortune. Together they found Clancey & Schmidt, a preeminent manufacturer of soap, perfume and candles. When Oscar and Squire fall in love, the trio form a new kind of partnership. Vivian reaches the pinnacle of her power, building Clancey & Schmidt into an empire of personal care products while operating behind the image of both men. But exposure threatens, and all three partners are made aware of how much they have to lose. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE DEPARTMENT by Jacqueline Faber (Psychological Thriller)
Philosophy professor Neil Weber can't think of one good reason to get up in the morning. His wife has left him, his academic research has sputtered, and the prospect of tenure is more remote than ever. Until Lucia Vanotti disappears. A college student at Neil’s Southern university, Lucia has a secret of her own --- one that haunts her relationships and leads to reckless, destructive behavior. When Neil is drawn into the mystery of her disappearance, he finds new energy, purpose and relevance. But at what cost? Each clue pulls him deeper into Lucia' s dark past, but also into the hidden lives of his closest friends and colleagues. What has driven Lucia to risk everything? And why does Neil, a professor who hardly knew her, care so deeply about finding her? Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

OUR WINTER MONSTER by Dennis Mahoney (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Morgan Hallett
For the last year, Holly and Brian have been out of sync. Neither can forget what happened that one winter evening; neither can forgive what’s happened since. Tonight, Holly and Brian race toward Pinebuck, New York, trying to outrun a blizzard on their way to the ski village getaway they hope will save their relationship. But soon they lose control of the car --- and then of themselves. Now Sheriff Kendra Book is getting calls about a couple in trouble --- along with reports of a brutal and mysterious creature rampaging through town, leaving a trail of crushed cars, wrecked buildings and mangled bodies in the snow. To Kendra, who lost another couple to the snow just seven weeks ago, the danger feels personal. But not as personal as it feels to Holly and Brian, who are starting to see the past, the present and themselves in a monstrous new light. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 10th and 11th

Below are some notable titles releasing on February 10th and 11th 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 February 10th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

February 10th

PARANOIA: A Michael Bennett Thriller by James Patterson and James O. Born (Psychological Thriller)
NYPD Detective Michael Bennett will stop at nothing to protect his family --- and his fellow officers --- in James Patterson and James O. Born's new psychological thriller.

February 11th

THE AMERICAN NO: Stories by Rupert Everett (Fiction/Short Stories)
In his first, glorious collection of stories, Rupert Everett takes us on exhilarating journeys with a cast of extraordinary characters.

BLOOD TIES written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson (Noir Thriller)
From the modern master of Nordic suspense comes an explosive novel about a community in crisis and two brothers on the verge of losing everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve.

EVERY TOM, DICK & HARRY by Elinor Lipman (Romantic Comedy)
From the author of MS. DEMEANOR --- one of the most beloved comedic writers of our time --- comes a charming, laugh-out-loud tale of love and criminality, a pitch-perfect romantic comedy.

FIRST-TIME CALLER by B.K. Borison (Romantic Comedy)
A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

LOOKING FOR YOU: A Perfect Passion Company Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Romance/Humor)
In this latest installment of The Perfect Passion Company, our favorite matchmaker, Katie Donald, continues her unwavering endeavor to help the lonely hearts of Edinburgh find love.

THE MEDICI RETURN: A Cotton Malone Novel by Steve Berry (Thriller)
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest installment in his wildly popular Cotton Malone series. THE MEDICI RETURN takes Cotton to Italy to solve a 500-year-old mystery.

NEMESIS: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Gregg Hurwitz's explosive new Orphan X thriller is flipping the acclaimed New York Times bestselling series on its head.

THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict (Historical Mystery)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE MYSTERY OF MRS. CHRISTIE returns with a thrilling story of Agatha Christie’s legendary rival, Dorothy Sayers; the race to solve a murder; and the power of friendship among women.

THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler (Fiction)
In this new Anne Tyler novel, which is destined to be an instant classic, a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding.

WAITING FOR THE LONG NIGHT MOON: Stories by Amanda Peters (Fiction/Short Stories)
In her debut collection of short fiction, Amanda Peters describes the Indigenous experience from an astonishingly wide spectrum in time and place --- from contact with the first European settlers, to the forced removal of Indigenous children, to the present-day fight for the right to clean water.

WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes (Fiction)
 #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, whose books so many love, brings us a fresh, contemporary story of a woman and her unruly blended family.

WE WOULD NEVER by Tova Mirvis (Fiction)
Inspired by a true story, WE WOULD NEVER is a gripping mystery, an intimate family drama, and a provocative exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred line between protecting and forsaking the ones we love most.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

From left to right: Marie Benedict, Steve Berry, Christina Clancy

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

Here are eight upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.

Monday, February 10th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Walter Mosley for a live virtual discussion of the latest entry in his King Oliver series, BEEN WRONG SO LONG IT FEELS LIKE RIGHT, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Walter will be in conversation with the bestselling author of ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S.A. Cosby.

Tuesday, February 11th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Steve Berry will talk about the latest installment in his wildly popular Cotton Malone series, THE MEDICI RETURN, an adventure that takes Cotton to Italy to solve a 500-year-old mystery.

Tuesday, February 11th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Join the Killer Author Club --- Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda --- as they welcome back New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger to talk about her heart-pounding new thriller, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10.

Wednesday, February 12th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between February 11th and March 4th, along with a few from April, 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, February 12th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Dolly Alderton for a live virtual discussion of her novel, GOOD MATERIAL, which is now in paperback. Dolly will be in conversation with PINEAPPLE STREET author Jenny Jackson, the Vice President and Executive Editor at Alfred A. Knopf.

Wednesday, February 12th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Christina Clancy about THE SNOWBIRDS, the page-turning story of a couple who flees winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads.

Thursday, February 13th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Carter Wilson for a live virtual discussion of TELL ME WHAT YOU DID as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Carter will be in conversation with the debut author of NIGHTWATCHING, Tracy Sierra.

Thursday, February 13th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Marie Benedict will talk about her latest novel, THE QUEENS OF CRIME, which tells the thrilling story of Agatha Christie’s legendary rival, Dorothy Sayers; the race to solve a murder; and the power of friendship among women.

 "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts

“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)

Here are our latest interviews:

• Michelle Horton (DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds) Video | Podcast
• Scott Turow (PRESUMED GUILTY) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Laura Dave (THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM) Video | Podcast
• Fiona Davis (THE STOLEN QUEEN) Video | Podcast
• Lisa Genova (MORE OR LESS MADDY) Video | Podcast
• Paula Hawkins (THE BLUE HOUR) Video | Podcast
• Jean Hanff Korelitz (THE SEQUEL) Video | Podcast
• Tracey Lange (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?) Video | Podcast
• T.J. Newman (WORST CASE SCENARIO) Video | Podcast
• Susan Rieger (LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER) Video | Podcast
• Sharon Virts (THE GRAYS OF TRUTH) Video | Podcast
• Chris Whitaker (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Marie Benedict (THE QUEENS OF CRIME)
• Joseph Finder (THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER)
• Charmaine Wilkerson (GOOD DIRT)

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

Our Latest Poll: This Year’s
Oscar-Nominated Films Based on Books

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 14th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!

Click here to enter the contest.

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