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Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Mikel Jollett,
whose debut memoir, HOLLYWOOD PARK, is now available and will be a Bets On pick.
Click on the image above for the video and here for the podcast.
THIS TENDER LAND, a Bets On pick, is now available in paperback, so we thought it would be fun
to revisit Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with William Kent Krueger from earlier this year.
Click on the photo above for the video and here for the podcast.
Carol read and enjoyed THE END OF HER by Shari Lapena (which will be a Bets On pick)
and is looking forward to finishing A STAR IS BORED by Byron Lane. Both novels release on July 28th.
Carol found these lantern flowers at the garden center,
which is one of the more unusual plants she has ever seen.
Typically, Carol is in New York City every year for BookExpo this week and misses seeing
these flowers in full bloom. Seeing them is a pandemic bonus. Silver linings!
Reading the Weekend Away…Such a Treat!
Last weekend, as planned, I did a lot of gardening. It was lovely to get dirt under my nails again. Among the plants I bought was the lovely lantern plant that you can see above. I love those flowers. For the last two years, the squirrels have eaten our hibiscus plants, so this year I steered away from those. When I saw this plant on another woman’s cart at the nursery, I immediately added one to mine --- and got the last one. Ten people asked me where I got it as I continued shopping through the store. I was not able to get the plumbago plants that I have gotten in the past. They decided not to grow them when the pandemic hit. It’s interesting to see what has been impacted by this series of events.
I also relaxed last weekend. Imagine that! I read two books and started a third. First up was André Leon Talley’s THE CHIFFON TRENCHES, and it was every bit as much fun as I hoped it would be. André is a fashion legend and a very, very big personality. He also has a bit of “a legend in his own mind” attitude, and I found myself doing many eye rolls as I read it, but I also was smiling. He does a wonderful job of capturing not only the fashion media scene, but also the world of fashion. He uses a lot of hyperbole when he discusses his life. Here’s an example as he talks about his Louis Vuitton cases in a recent interview. He has “more than 50 pieces of Vuitton hand luggage, currently residing unused in his second home in North Carolina, ‘because there’s no one at the airports to carry them now’.” André provides a snapshot into a world that feels alien today, but it’s also very dishy and such fun.
On Monday, I decided to start Shari Lapena’s upcoming thriller, THE END OF HER, which will be out on July 28th. As always with one of Shari’s novels, this means I did little else all day; her books are ones that I literally inhale. The writing is addictive, and I found myself flopped on an outdoor couch reading for hours. I could tell you about the story, but with her books it’s not just about the plot; it’s about the way the book is crafted. THE END OF HER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. I had the pleasure of interviewing Shari last summer, and I loved her down-to-earth style. She truly loves to plot and write.
I then started A STAR IS BORED by Byron Lane, which also is coming on July 28th, and it’s brilliant fun! Byron was a personal assistant to celebrities for years, including Carrie Fisher. It’s a great romp of a read as his character Charlie Besson assists the mega-star Kathi Kannon, a “star of stage and screen and People magazine’s worst dressed list. She needs an assistant. He needs a hero.” It’s brisk and fun as Charlie gets caught up in Kathi’s world while trying not to lose a sense of himself. I look forward to reading more!
This week has been hectic as we presented our first-ever Virtual Book Group Speed Dating event this afternoon. It’s the 9th annual event, and we were determined that “the show must go on” after the BookExpo events at the Javits Center were canceled. Austin Ruh, our amazing producer, worked with me on the video portion of this event that included presentations from 25(!) publishers, as well as a PowerPoint presentation and leave-behinds. Our designer Jenni Lai pulled together some stunning graphics, and Tom Donadio proofed all the copy with his usual laser eye. We will be sharing much more about this next week. It was a huge challenge to rethink this event, and I thank the team for all their hard work to help it come together.
For my latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mikel Jollett, whose debut memoir, HOLLYWOOD PARK, will be a Bets On pick. Raised in the dangerous Synanon cult in California, Mikel recounts his childhood escape and the tumultuous struggle he had to face to fit himself into our world. Our conversation was equally provocative and profound. Mikel explained his writing process, including the freedoms he placed on himself to change the memoir’s tone and narrative voice as his character ages. With an admiration for rich, lyrical prose, he pointed out other memoirs he loves and authors he respects. Mikel is also the front man for a band he founded, The Airborne Toxic Event; he talked about the band’s new release, a companion album to HOLLYWOOD PARK, and its relationship to the memoir. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Our reviewer Sarah Rachel Egelman calls HOLLYWOOD PARK "a moving portrait of surviving trauma, as well as an honest and personal tale of family and self, loss and growth, frustration and creativity." Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. I absolutely loved this book, and I am so happy to finally be able to share it with our readers. Please note that the audiobook is narrated by Mikel, and it also has music woven into the story.
Our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight is back! This time, we’re featuring THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark, which I enjoyed reading earlier this year. Claire Cook seems to have a perfect life, but appearances can be very deceiving, and she has worked for months on a plan to disappear. At an airport bar, Claire crosses paths with Eva, whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a split-second decision to switch tickets, believing that the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when one of the flights goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. With the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity --- and, along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.
We’re giving 25 readers the chance to win a copy of THE LAST FLIGHT, which releases on June 23rd, and share their feedback on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 11th at noon ET. I’m looking forward to chatting with Julie soon for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. This is one really sharp thriller, and it will be a Bets On selection!
The hero of THE POET and THE SCARECROW is back in Michael Connelly’s latest thriller, FAIR WARNING, which marks the long-awaited return of Jack McEvoy, the journalist who never backs down. This time, the veteran reporter tracks a serial killer who has been operating completely under the radar --- until now. Joe Hartlaub has our review and says, "McEvoy is realistic, so much so that when one reads the passages where he is front and center, it seems as if we are in the room with him. Given that Connelly leaves the reader, and his protagonist, hanging on a secondary issue at the end of the book, I hope that we see him back again in another full-length novel…and much sooner than later."
We’re awarding the audio versions of FAIR WARNING (read by Peter Giles and Zach Villa) and Scott Turow's THE LAST TRIAL (read by John Bedford Lloyd) to the winners of this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Let us know by Monday, June 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles.
You also have the opportunity to win a hardcover copy of THE LAST TRIAL in this year’s Father’s Day contest, in addition to five other great titles that we know dads will enjoy --- including THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger, which released in paperback this week. To enter to be one of our five lucky winners, please fill out this form by Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
If you missed my interviews with Scott Turow and William Kent Krueger, be sure to check them out (along with many others) on our “Videos & Podcasts” page.
A family ranch in Big Sur country and a legacy of Hollywood royalty set the stage for Nora Roberts’ emotional new suspense novel, HIDEAWAY. According to our reviewer Jennifer McCord, the book "delivers a story of family love and endurance in the face of trauma, tragedy and life’s unexpected turns. Through the loss of innocence and betrayal, a heroine emerges, one with the strength and skill to rescue herself. This tale of individual resilience and hope despite difficult circumstances is especially powerful in today’s uncertain times."
Last week, we featured my Bets On commentary for THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman. This week, we’re happy to share our review of the book courtesy of Pauline Finch, who says, “Shipman navigates real and substantial issues of grief, pain and healing through a lively and engaging story that exquisitely balances those deep and serious themes with the ever-emerging beauty that gardeners may know best, but is freely shared with all who care to stop, look, smell and listen with an open heart.” If you missed my interview with Viola Shipman (the pen name for award-winning memoirist Wade Rouse), you can watch the video here and listen to the podcast here.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include BEACH READ by Emily Henry, in which a romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that just may upend everything they believe about happily ever afters; Jamie Brenner's SUMMER LONGING, in which an unlikely group of women risks all they hold dear to harbor and protect a baby who is left on the doorstep of a Cape Cod beach house; and BOYS OF ALABAMA, Genevieve Hudson's debut novel that finds a sensitive teen, newly arrived in Alabama, falling in love, questioning his faith and navigating a strange power.
We gave away the aforementioned HIDEAWAY and HOLLYWOOD PARK, along with THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY by Natalie Jenner, in this week’s Summer Reading contests. Next week’s prizes will be THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS by Karen Robards, EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER by Linda Holmes (which releases in paperback on Tuesday), THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley, and THE LIES THAT BIND by Emily Giffin (which we will review next week). The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, June 1st at noon ET.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read for a chance to win DANCE AWAY WITH ME by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and MRS. LINCOLN’S SISTERS by Jennifer Chiaverini. The deadline for your entries is Friday, June 12th at noon ET.
For our new poll, we’re curious to know which genres best describe the book that you most recently read or listened to. Click here to cast your votes!
Our previous poll asked which of 22 titles releasing in paperback this month you have read or are planning to read. Here are your top five picks: THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (52%), THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware (50%), ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (46%), THE GUEST BOOK by Sarah Blake (41%), and MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin (31%). Click here for all the results.
News & Pop Culture:
"Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" on Netflix: This is lined up for weekend viewing. It’s based on the book by James Patterson and John Connolly. Patterson had Epstein as a neighbor in Palm Beach.
"Defending Jacob" on Apple TV+: The final episode airs tonight. For those of you who like to wait until all episodes are available to watch a series, the time to watch is now. Seventeen-year-old Jaeden Martell, who plays Jacob, talked about the role and much more in this interview.
Pandemic Thought #2023 from Me: "I wish my kids were still little" is said by no parent of older kids during the pandemic.
Last weekend brought us lots of time for cooking. Willie Mae's Mac & Cheese recipe from the Scotch House in Treme is fabulous. It's a zillion calories, but it’s so rich and good. And twice this week, Tom made these potatoes from Emily Blunt that will be in Ina Garten’s next cookbook, MODERN COMFORT FOOD. They really are spectacular.
This weekend, we are going to the beach to help my dad move some furniture as their beach house sold; it’s the end of an era for them at the beach. The pool is open at the house. I have MANY more zinnia seeds to plant. MANY. And I am hoping to grab some downtime after a very, very hectic short week.
Read on, and have a great week.
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: FAIR WARNING by Michael Connelly
FAIR WARNING by Michael Connelly (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Peter Giles and Zach Villa
Veteran reporter Jack McEvoy has taken down killers before, but when a woman he had a one-night stand with is murdered in a particularly brutal way, McEvoy realizes he might be facing a criminal mind unlike any he's ever encountered. Jack investigates --- against the warnings of the police and his own editor --- and makes a shocking discovery that connects the crime to other mysterious deaths across the country. Undetected by law enforcement, a vicious killer has been hunting women, using genetic data to select and stalk his targets. Uncovering the murkiest corners of the dark web, Jack races to find and protect the last source who can lead him to his quarry. But the killer has already chosen his next target, and he's ready to strike. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HIDEAWAY by Nora Roberts
HIDEAWAY by Nora Roberts (Romantic Suspense)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Caitlyn Sullivan had come from a long line of Hollywood royalty. At nine, she was already a star --- yet still an innocent child who loved to play hide and seek with her cousins. It was during one of those games that she disappeared. Some may have considered her a pampered princess, but Cate was a smart, scrappy fighter who managed to escape her abductors. Her ordeal, though, was far from over. First came the discovery of a shocking betrayal that would send someone she’d trusted to prison. Then there were years spent away in western Ireland. Finally, she would return to Los Angeles, gathering the courage to act again. What she didn’t yet know was that two seeds had been planted that long-ago night --- one of a great love, and one of a terrible vengeance. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HOLLYWOOD PARK by Mikel Jollett
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
HOLLYWOOD PARK: A Memoir by Mikel Jollett (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Mikel Jollett
Mikel Jollett was born into the Church of Synanon, one of the country’s most infamous and dangerous cults. Per the leader’s mandate, all children were separated from their parents when they were six months old, and handed over to the cult’s “School.” After spending years in what was essentially an orphanage, Mikel escaped the cult one morning with his mother and older brother. Raised by a clinically depressed mother, tormented by his angry brother, subjected to the unpredictability of troubled stepfathers and longing for contact with his father, a former heroin addict and ex-con, Jollett slowly, often painfully, builds a life that leads him to Stanford University and, eventually, to finding his voice as a writer and musician. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Mikel Jollett.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
HOLLYWOOD PARK will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
New Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight & Contest:
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
For fans of Lisa Jewell and Liv Constantine, THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark is the story of two women --- both alone, both scared --- and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives. We have 25 copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on June 23rd and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 11th at noon ET.
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of 10, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he's not above using his staff to track Claire's every move, making sure she's living up to his impossible standards. But what he doesn't know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish.
A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. 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. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. Cut off, out of options, with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity and, along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Julie Clark's bio.
- Click here to visit Julie Clark's website.
- Connect with Julie Clark on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight
and enter the contest.
Featured Review:
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nan McNamara and Lauren Ezzo
Iris Maynard lost her husband in World War II, her daughter to illness and, finally, her reason to live. Walled off from the world for decades behind the towering fence surrounding her home, Iris has built a new family…of flowers. Iris propagates her own daylilies and roses while tending to a garden filled with the heirloom starts that keep the memories of her loved ones alive. When Abby Peterson moves next door with her family --- a husband traumatized by his service in the Iraq War and a young daughter searching for stability --- Iris is reluctantly yet inevitably drawn into her boisterous neighbor’s life, where, united by loss and a love of flowers, she and Abby tentatively unearth their secrets, and help each other discover how much life they have yet to live. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Viola Shipman.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Viola Shipman's website.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BEACH READ by Emily Henry
BEACH READ by Emily Henry (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They're polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke and bogged down with writer's block. Until, one hazy evening, they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book, and no one will fall in love. Really. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 15th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 15th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our six featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through the end of August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, June 1st 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 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:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Julie Clark (THE LAST FLIGHT)
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Megan Miranda (THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS)
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Stephanie Scott (WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
SUMMER LONGING by Jamie Brenner (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Molly Parker Myers
Ruth Cooperman arrives in beautiful beachside Provincetown for her retirement. After years of hard work and making peace with life's compromises, she is looking forward to a carefree summer of solitude. But when she finds a baby girl abandoned on her doorstep, Ruth turns to her new neighbors for help and is drawn into the drama of the close-knit community. She even reaches out to her own estranged daughter, Olivia, hoping for a reconciliation. As summer unfolds and friends and family care for the infant, alliances are made, relationships are tested and secrets are uncovered. But the unconditional love for a child in need just might bring Ruth and the women of Provincetown exactly what they have been longing for themselves. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
BOYS OF ALABAMA by Genevieve Hudson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Charlie Thurston
Newly arrived in Alabama, teenager Max already expects some of the raucous behavior of his new, American friends, but he doesn’t anticipate the comradery --- or how quickly he would be welcomed into their world of basement beer drinking. In his new canvas pants and thickening muscles, Max feels like he’s “playing dress-up.” That is until he meets Pan, the school “witch,” in Physics class. Suddenly, Max feels seen, and the pair embarks on a consuming relationship: Max tells Pan about his supernatural powers, and Pan tells Max about the snake poison initiations of the local church. The boys, however, aren’t sure whose past is darker, and what is more frightening --- their true selves, or staying true in Alabama. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
FAIREST: A Memoir by Meredith Talusan (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Meredith Talusan
FAIREST is a memoir about a precocious boy with albinism, a "sun child" from a rural Philippine village, who would grow up to become a woman in America. Coping with the strain of parental neglect and the elusive promise of U.S. citizenship, Meredith Talusan found childhood comfort from her devoted grandmother. As an immigrant to the United States, Talusan came to be perceived as white. An academic scholarship to Harvard provided access to elite circles of privilege but required Talusan to navigate through the complex spheres of race, class, sexuality and her place within the gay community. She emerged as an artist and an activist questioning the boundaries of gender. Talusan realized she did not want to be confined to a prescribed role as a man, and transitioned to become a woman, despite the risk of losing a man she deeply loved. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
ME & PATSY KICKIN' UP DUST: My Friendship with Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Patsy Lynn Russell
Loretta Lynn and the late Patsy Cline are legends --- country icons and sisters of the heart. For the first time ever, Loretta tells their story: a celebration of their music and their relationship up until Patsy's tragic and untimely death. Full of laughter and tears, this eye-opening, heartwarming memoir paints a picture of two stubborn, spirited country gals who'd be damned if they'd let men or convention tell them how to be. Set in the heady streets of the 1960s South, this nostalgia ride shows how Nashville blossomed into the city of music it is today. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: THE MURDER OF TWELVE by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Laural Merlington
Still staying at the Hill House hotel while her beloved home is being rebuilt, Jessica Fletcher finds herself sharing the space for a weekend with a dozen members of a wedding party who have gathered there for a rehearsal dinner. The families of the bride and groom can't stand each other but have agreed to put aside years of long-simmering tension to celebrate the nuptials. Unfortunately, weather forecasters underestimated the severity of a storm that turns into a historic blizzard that dumps nearly five feet of snow on Cabot Cove, leaving everyone stranded. But the hotel guests have bigger things to worry about than bad weather conditions, because a murderer has shown up uninvited --- one who has vowed to take them down one by one. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE INDEX OF SELF-DESTRUCTIVE ACTS by Christopher Beha (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jim Frangione
On the day Sam Waxworth arrives in New York to write for the Interviewer, a street-corner preacher declares that the world is coming to an end. A data journalist and recent media celebrity --- he correctly forecast every outcome of the 2008 election --- Sam knows a few things about predicting the future. His first assignment for the Interviewer is a profile of disgraced political columnist Frank Doyle, known to Sam for the sentimental works of baseball lore that first sparked his love of the game. When Sam meets Frank at Citi Field for the Mets’ home opener, he finds himself unexpectedly ushered into Doyle’s crumbling family empire. While their lives seem inextricable, none of them know how close they are to losing everything, including each other. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE IMPERFECTS by Amy Meyerson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Estranged siblings Beck, Ashley and Jake find themselves under one roof for the first time in years, forced to confront old resentments and betrayals, when their mysterious, eccentric matriarch, Helen, passes away. But their lives are about to change when they find a secret inheritance hidden among her possessions --- the Florentine Diamond, a 137-carat yellow gemstone that went missing from the Austrian Empire a century ago. Desperate to learn how one of the world’s most elusive diamonds ended up in Helen’s bedroom, they begin investigating her past only to realize how little they know about their brave, resilient grandmother. Reviewed by Alison Lee.
THE FIRST ACTRESS: A Novel of Sarah Bernhardt by C. W. Gortner (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Gabrielle De Cuir
From her beginnings as the daughter of a courtesan to her extraordinary transformation into the most celebrated actress of her era, Sarah Bernhardt is brought to life by an internationally bestselling author praised for his historical novels featuring famous women. C. W. Gortner’s THE FIRST ACTRESS is a fascinating, intimate account of a woman whose unrivaled talent and indomitable spirit has enshrined her in history as the Divine Sarah. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
WHAT LIES BETWEEN US by John Marrs (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Knowelden
They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past. Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price. But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn’t know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way --- even if it kills her. Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 2nd
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 2nd 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 June 1st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
CREDIBLE THREAT: An Ali Reynolds Mystery by J.A. Jance (Mystery/Thriller)
Ali Reynolds and her team at High Noon Enterprises must race against the clock to save an archbishop who faces mysterious death threats.
THE DRAGONS, THE GIANT, THE WOMEN: A Memoir by Wayétu Moore (Memoir)
THE DRAGONS, THE GIANT, THE WOMEN is an engrossing memoir of escaping the First Liberian Civil War and building a life in the United States.
THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie.
HUSH by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Thriller)
Top cop, devoted sister and now Inmate 3329. Even prison bars won't stop Harriet Blue from seeking justice for the murder of her brother.
THE LIES THAT BIND by Emily Giffin (Fiction)
In this irresistible new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of ALL WE EVER WANTED and SOMETHING BORROWED, a young woman falls hard for an impossibly perfect man before he disappears without a trace.
MRS. LINCOLN'S SISTERS by Jennifer Chiaverini (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling author of MRS. LINCOLN’S DRESSMAKER returns to her most famous heroine, Mary Todd Lincoln, in this compelling story of love, loss and sisterhood rich with history and suspense.
NIGHT OF THE ASSASSINS: The Untold Story of Hitler's Plot to Kill FDR, Churchill, and Stalin by Howard Blum (History)
New York Times bestselling author Howard Blum returns with a tale as riveting and suspenseful as any thriller: the true story of the Nazi plot to kill the leaders of the United States, Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. during World War II.
THE PERSUASION by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
When she becomes a madman's target, Eve Duncan's daughter Jane must team up with longtime love interest Seth Caleb in this suspense novel from the #1 bestselling author of SMOKESCREEN.
THE SECOND HOME by Christina Clancy (Fiction)
Tender and compassionate, incisive and heartbreaking, Christina Clancy's THE SECOND HOME is the story of a family you'll quickly fall in love with, and won't soon forget.
THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE MOTHERS comes a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: The Genre(s) of Your Latest Read
Which of the following genres best describes the book that you most recently read or listened to? (If you have read or listened to more than one book, pick one to reply about.) Please check all that apply.
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Autobiography/Memoir
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Biography
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Current Events/Politics
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Fantasy
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Fiction
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Historical Fiction
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History
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Horror
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Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
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Nonfiction
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Romance
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Science Fiction
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True Crime
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Women’s Fiction
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Other (Please specify)
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 12th 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 May 29th to June 12th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DANCE AWAY WITH ME by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and MRS. LINCOLN'S SISTERS by Jennifer Chiaverini.
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 May 1st to June 1st at noon ET, one lucky reader will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Michael Connelly's FAIR WARNING, read by Peter Giles and Zach Villa, and Scott Turow's THE LAST TRIAL, read by John Bedford Lloyd.
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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