July 10, 2020
 July 10, 2020Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com Reviews | Features | Bookreporter.com Bets On | Upcoming Bets On  Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign Thank you to those of you who have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. So far, with online and snail mail donations, we have raised $34,190 of our $50,000 goal. Thank you again for your consideration and your donation.  We are so excited to be hosting our first LIVE virtual reader event.    Carol read three books last weekend while relaxing by the pool, in the hammock and on the patio:  As a 17-year-old volunteer firefighter, Brian Walsh suffered third-degree burns to his face.  Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Bruce Holsinger,  THE DEARLY BELOVED, a Bets On title, is now in paperback, so we thought  We also revisit Carol's interview with Marie Benedict, whose novel,  Last weekend, Carol made the salad that you see above; it had a terrific light lemony dressing. Our First Live Virtual Event is Scheduled Thanks to all of you who answered our question about the best timing for our first live virtual reader event. I am excited to announce that "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books" will be held on Wednesday, July 15th at 2pm ET. We plan to introduce some of the staff, and then I will give a presentation on a number of great books for summer reading --- and a quick sneak peek into fall. Sign up here for the link to attend via Zoom. Prior to the event, you will be sent a login and password to give you access. I am looking forward to “seeing” many of you there! I am going to have fun selecting books to share with you! Last weekend was all about reading. I headed to the pool, the hammock and the patio with books. First up was GIRLS OF SUMMER by Nancy Thayer. Set on Nantucket, it’s a complete beach read. It made me want to travel to the island, so I was happy to be able to do it even virtually. It’s light and fun with three blossoming romances. Next up was NOTES ON A SILENCING by Lacy Crawford. I had enjoyed Lacy’s novel, EARLY DECISION, which came out in 2013. Her latest work is a memoir about her years at St. Paul’s in New Hampshire where she went to high school. One evening, she was sexually assaulted by two male students. It left her with lasting physical and emotional scars. Her case --- and others --- were buried by the school. Lacy and other women were silenced again and again. This book looks at what this silencing meant to her. It’s gut-wrenching and thought-provoking about how many have been silent. I then switched to something lighter again with THE SWEENEY SISTERS by Lian Dolan. Maggie, Eliza and Tricia Sweeney are the daughters of a literary lion, Bill Sweeney. When Bill dies unexpectedly, they return to their childhood home of Southport, Connecticut, to honor him. After a lively wake and funeral, they gather with their family attorney for a reading of his will. And then they learn some big news --- Bill fathered a fourth daughter with a woman who had been a neighbor. Now what happens to his estate? And what about the house where they all grew up? And is there another manuscript somewhere in this house? I am still reading --- and enjoying --- it. Just out in hardcover this week is BEYOND THE MASK by Brian Walsh. I read this book in an early manuscript last summer --- and the story has stayed with me. When Brian was 17 years old, he was a volunteer junior firefighter in his town. One night, he was called out to a fire. Against all protocols for a junior firefighter, he was sent in to fight the fire. A freak flashover happened, and he suffered burns that were so severe that even his fellow firefighters did not recognize him. He survived, though for days things were touch and go. He wore a mask as his facial burns healed. But the fire was just part of Brian's story, and what made this book special to me was what happened after the fire. He went on to have a very successful life with a warm family surrounding him and a brilliant career. I found myself folding down pages again and again. He shares a lot of life lessons, but they are not prescriptive. They did make me think. As we all have been locked down for these past few months, I have been thinking about many things that Brian said. And how he wore a mask for a long period of time, and now we all are. Just as his days with the therapeutic mask ended, so will ours. Who we are when we take off our mask is what will matter. It’s a terrific and inspiring read. We will have our review later this month. My latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Bruce Holsinger, whose novel, THE GIFTED SCHOOL, is now in paperback. This Bookreporter.com Bets On pick from last year follows a close-knit community of friends and their parents as applications open for entry into a school for gifted students. What happens to those families is at the heart of the story. With more and more university scandals known as “Operation Varsity Blues” reverberating, it is very timely (the book came out just after that scandal unfolded). It’s also something to ponder as parents do remote learning. Is it tougher to teach a gifted and talented curriculum? Bruce and I explored the wider problems that lead to parents pushing their children, students dealing with the overwhelming pressure of proving themselves, and how this stressful approach to school combined with modern technology of phones affects learning. I also talked about what my book group discussed after reading THE GIFTED SCHOOL. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Today, I joined members of the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor Book Club for a discussion of AMERICAN DIRT, where they had Jeanine Cummins as their guest. It was a brilliant conversation. One of the group members opened the discussion talking about a passage on page 92 that had moved her. It was so interesting as she had grasped onto one of the core themes of the book --- grief and loss. I loved hearing what had resonated with these readers. Jeanine has organized a fundraiser to protect migrants in the borderlands. The group members were asked to donate. She will be matching donations up to $100,000. As we mentioned in last week’s newsletter, FRIENDS AND STRANGERS is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. This latest novel from J. Courtney Sullivan is about a complicated friendship between two women who are at two very different stages in life. Jenna Bush Hager calls it “a compellingly readable book that feels a little bit like a beach read, but at the same time tackles themes of acceptance of others and also of yourself." And according to our reviewer Rebecca Munro, "FRIENDS AND STRANGERS is a masterful exploration of privilege and the ways that each of us benefit from an unequal system, even if we know there is somebody just one rung above us on the ladder to success and happiness." Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com. Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP, a new novel from Susan Wiggs, who explores the meaning of happiness, trust and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?" (click here for the discussion guide); THE SHADOWS by Alex North, a thriller about the sacrifices parents make for --- and keep from --- their children (Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name; you may remember that his 2019 book, THE WHISPER MAN, was a Bets On pick); and MUZZLED, David Rosenfelt’s latest Andy Carpenter mystery, which finds the New Jersey lawyer and his beloved golden retriever, Tara, back on the case as a favor to a friend. We gave away THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP, along with ONE YEAR OF UGLY, a debut novel by Caroline Mackenzie, in this week’s Summer Reading contests. Next week’s prize will be A WALK ALONG THE BEACH by Debbie Macomber, and the contest for that will kick off on Wednesday, July 15th at noon ET. ONE YEAR OF UGLY is also the latest title we’re featuring in our New Release Spotlight. After fleeing crumbling, volatile Venezuela, Yola Palacio wants nothing more than to settle into a peaceful new life in Trinidad with her family. But when Yola’s Aunt Celia dies, family members once again find their lives turned upside down. Celia had been keeping a very big secret --- she owed a LOT of money to a local criminal called Ugly. And without the funds to pay him off, Ugly has the entire family do his bidding until Celia’s debt is settled. To say that the year that follows is tumultuous for the Palacios is an understatement. But in the midst of the turmoil appears Roman, Ugly’s distractingly gorgeous right-hand man. And although she knows it’s terrible and quite possibly dangerous, Yola just can’t help but give in to the attraction. Where, though, do Roman’s loyalties lie? And could this wildly inappropriate romance just be the antidote to a terrible year of Ugly? Our new Paperback Spotlight title is THE WEDDING THIEF by Mary Simses, which is this month’s Pennie’s Pick for Costco. The novel revolves around two sisters who are in love with the same man --- one engaged to him and the other about to sabotage the wedding --- as they struggle to reconcile. According to James Patterson, “If you're attracted to the title The Wedding Thief, you'll absolutely love this book. It delivers a great sister vs. sister story that overflows with warmth and especially humor. Mary Simses is one of our best new storytellers." And Dave Barry has this to say: “If you've ever wanted to sabotage a wedding --- and who hasn't? --- you should definitely read this book. In fact you should read it anyway, because it's funny, smart and highly entertaining." I am looking forward to this one; I need some humor these days! THE WEDDING THIEF is just one of the many books we’re featuring in this month’s New in Paperback roundups. We also have paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as J. D. Robb (GOLDEN IN DEATH), Lisa Gardner (WHEN YOU SEE ME) and Karin Slaughter (THE LAST WIDOW), along with four Bets On picks --- WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker, THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall, CHANCES ARE… by Richard Russo, and LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict (the latter is our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month” contest title on ReadingGroupGuides); nonfiction titles, including THREE WOMEN by Lisa Taddeo (we have a HUGE contest going up for this book on ReadingGroupGuides next week; we will tell you all about it in next Friday’s newsletter) and FULL COUNT: The Education of a Pitcher by David Cone and Jack Curry (just in time for the start of the shortened MLB season); and paperback originals like UNTIL IT’S OVER by Nicci French and THE WOMAN BEFORE WALLIS: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal by Bryn Turnbull, the latter of which we are giving away in an upcoming Summer Reading contest. The paperbacks of THE DEARLY BELOVED and LADY CLEMENTINE released this week. A few months back, I had the pleasure of chatting with the authors of these books --- Cara Wall and Marie Benedict --- so we thought now would be a perfect time to revisit their "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews. Above you can find the video and podcast links for each segment. For these and many more interviews, please check out our “Videos & Podcasts” page here. Our poll continues to ask which of my Bets On picks that are now in paperback or will be this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE ORDER by Daniel Silva and THE COLOR OF AIR by Gail Tsukiyama in our Word of Mouth contest. Be sure to enter by Friday, July 17th at noon ET. We will post our reviews of both novels over the next couple of weeks. This month’s Sounding Off on Audio prizes are the audio versions of Brad Thor's NEAR DARK, read by Armand Schultz, and Kristin Harmel's THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES, read by Madeleine Maby. Let us know by Monday, August 3rd at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles. It was announced this week that FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER, a much-talked-about debut novel, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, August 4th at 7pm ET, B&N will host a Facebook Live discussion featuring the book’s author, Rachel Beanland, in conversation with Ann Hood, whose latest memoir, KITCHEN YARNS: Notes on Life, Love, and Food, released in paperback last year. We will have our review of FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER next week. For more July selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: Cherry wrote, “Carol, I've been silent for a while, even before COVID. But in all the busyness of life, I continue to look forward to Friday and hearing what you are doing and reading. I think we all thought life would be slower while quarantining at home. Ha! In the beginning I reveled in Zoom and Facebook meetings. Now? I want to read and read and read as I did as a child and teenager. You give us options, and often I read books I wouldn't have known without Bookreporter. I was lucky to receive HOLLYWOOD PARK and found it heartbreaking, yet honest in the retelling of a life filled with poverty, pain and confusion. I was connected to Mikel Jollett's narrative in much the same way I was with EDUCATED. We were lucky to be from 'normal' families. Normal is relative as we all face difficulties, but books like these put our problems into perspective and make us more observant of those around us. Our family fosters, and the lives our various kids face are heartbreaking. Hopefully, they will come out of the darkness and triumph in happiness as the author did. Many thanks for sending HOLLYWOOD PARK to me as I most likely wouldn't have bought it. Now I can pass it along to multiple friends.” I am so glad that we are connecting with readers like this. Selma wrote, “I just finished THE HAMILTON AFFAIR, which was very informative. Tonight I watched 'Hamilton' and understood it because I read the book. I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys history. I look forward to reading your newsletter on Friday and have read several of your book picks." I am going to get Disney+ just to watch "Hamilton." Helen wrote this about winning TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE in a Summer Reading contest: “Thank you, I am thrilled. I lead two book clubs. My library club has not met since February. My other group has met using Zoom, but it isn’t the same. I am always looking for new books to recommend.” "Lenox Hill" on Netflix: Last weekend, I watched this series that was shot at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. They followed four dedicated doctors as they navigated work and their personal lives.The filmmakers, Ruthie Shatz and Adi Barash, finished filming eight episodes of their documentary last November and were turned into Netflix in February. They made a decision to shoot an additional episode at the hospital as COVID-19 started to become known, and the filming began on March 9th. The way the hospital pivoted when this crisis happened shows how the virus completely turned things upside down. Here’s a piece on how they shot this special episode, and here is what the featured doctors are doing now. “Outcry” on Showtime: This is a five-part documentary series examining the gripping story of high school football star Greg Kelley, who was arrested, convicted and jailed for the sexual assault of a four-year-old boy, and his supporters' quest for truth and justice. Very interesting about the case and the Texas legal system. I binge-watched it. Cacio e Pepe Salad: I made a terrific salad last weekend with a wonderful light lemony dressing. Here’s the recipe. “Dead to Me” on Netflix: For those who enjoyed the first two seasons, note that it was renewed for a third and final season. I spent time during this week perusing the FALASTIN cookbook. Here’s a list of at least a half-dozen recipes that I would love to try: Charred Eggplant with Tahini and Herbs, Buttery Rice with Toasted Vermicelli, Chilled Cucumber and Tahini Soup with Spicy Pumpkin Seeds, Lemon Chicken with Za'atar, Chocolate and Qahwa Flour-free Torte, Shortbread Cookies, and I may try to make pita bread. We made Ina Garten’s Roasted Eggplant Parmesan on Monday night. I used regular bread crumbs, not the Country Bread ones that she recommends. I clearly should have used less! But we will make it again with this modification. I went to a farmer’s market with Cory and his girlfriend, Sam, last weekend, which was fun. I bought some pea shoot ravioli, and we made it with a lemon parmesan sauce. Here’s the sauce. Yes, a whole lot of cooking has been going on. But note that there was one night with hot dogs, baked beans and sauerkraut. Yes, we are not always gourmet, though I did doctor up the beans. Another quiet weekend is on tap. I want to get a lot more from the house to the dumpster. I also think that since the boys are 25 and 30, we can toss the slide, the sandbox and the three-foot-high basketball hoop. I also have a stack of books that are calling my name. Stay safe. Read on, and have a great week! Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)    Featured Review: FRIENDS AND STRANGERS  FRIENDS AND STRANGERS by J. Courtney Sullivan (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review:  THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP by Susan Wiggs (Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: THE SHADOWS by Alex North  THE SHADOWS by Alex North (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review.  New Paperback Spotlight:  THE WEDDING THIEF by Mary Simses (Fiction) When Mariel asks Sara to stand in for a bridesmaid who has to cancel at the last minute, Sara realizes it's the perfect cover to unravel the nuptials and win Carter back. Sara begins to slowly sabotage Mariel's picture-perfect wedding, but when she crosses paths with David Cole, he challenges her self-image as the jilted second-fiddle to her spotlight-stealing sister. Will Sara realize what a bridesmaid-zilla she's become in time to fix the damage before Mariel's big day? Funny, soulful and as sweet as buttercream, THE WEDDING THIEF is the perfect summer read. - Click here to read an excerpt. Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.  New Release Spotlight: ONE YEAR OF UGLY  ONE YEAR OF UGLY by Caroline Mackenzie (Fiction/Humor) What follows is a year that turns the Palacios’ lives upside down. But in the midst of the turmoil strolls Roman --- Ugly’s distractingly gorgeous right-hand man. And although she knows it’s a terrible idea and a dangerous betrayal of her family’s predicament, Yola just can’t help herself. Where, though, does Roman’s loyalty lie? And could this wildly inappropriate romance turn out to be the saving grace of a terrible year of Ugly? ONE YEAR OF UGLY is a delightfully fun, enormously fresh debut about dysfunctional families and messy romance, exploring cross-cultural struggles from a unique immigrant perspective. It brings the vivacious spark of Junot Diaz, the captivating wit of Maria Semple, and through Yola, our feisty, young narrator, we’re introduced to an exciting new voice in contemporary fiction. - Click here to read an excerpt. Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.    July’s New in Paperback Roundups July's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes GOLDEN IN DEATH, the 50th(!) book in J. D. Robb's series featuring homicide detective Eve Dallas, who investigates a murder with a mysterious motive --- and a terrifying weapon; Chandler Baker's adult debut, WHISPER NETWORK, an instant New York Times bestseller that, according to Reese Witherspoon and her book club, is "a workplace murder mystery that happens in today’s #MeToo era. It’s honest, timely and completely thrilling --- I was so surprised to find out who the murderer was!"; THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall, a gorgeous, wise and provocative novel that traces two married couples whose lives become entangled when the husbands become co-pastors at a famed New York city congregation in the 1960s; and LADY CLEMENTINE, an incredible novel from Marie Benedict that focuses on one of the people who had the most influence during World War I and World War II: Clementine Churchill. Among our nonfiction highlights are THREE WOMEN, a riveting true story about the sex lives of three real American women, based on nearly a decade of reporting from Lisa Taddeo; THE LIBERATION OF PARIS, prize-winning historian Jean Edward Smith's dramatic account of the liberation of Paris during World War II --- a triumph achieved only through the remarkable efforts of Americans, French and Germans, racing to save the city from destruction; FULL COUNT, in which Met and Yankee All-Star pitcher David Cone shares lessons from the World Series and beyond in this essential memoir for baseball fans everywhere; and COVENTRY, a selection of Rachel Cusk's nonfiction writings that both offers new insights on the themes at the heart of her fiction and forges a startling critical voice on some of our most urgent personal, social and artistic questions. Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual  Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through the end of August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here. Our next prize book will be announced on Wednesday, July 15th at noon ET. This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books. Bookreporter.com’s Virtual Vacation Reads:  Do the current stay-at-home measures have you craving a summer getaway? Bookreporter has a way for you to virtually travel with our list of books set in vacation locales. Escape to idyllic spots like Cape Cod, Nantucket, Montauk, Charleston and Pasadena --- along with many others --- with our "Virtual Vacation Reads" feature. Pick your book(s) to embark on the summer vacation you've been dreaming of. You’ll only have to figure out how to send postcards! Please note: For your convenience, we have organized these books both by location and alphabetically by title. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit as well! May we suggest that you buy these books from them? Click here to see our "Virtual Vacation Reads" feature.    Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register. Monday, July 13th at 7pm ET: Kitchener Public Library – Confessions of a Thriller Writer: Join bestselling thriller writers Megan Miranda, Roz Nay and Amy Stuart as they discuss their latest books and the thriller genre. The panel will be moderated by author Samantha Bailey. Monday, July 13th at 8pm ET: Authors in Quarantine: Community Book Talks with Julie Barer: Join literary agent Julie Barer as she talks with Lily King about her newest work, WRITERS & LOVERS, and with CIRCE author Madeline Miller. They will discuss how hard times affect creativity. Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30pm ET: Kristin Harmel & Fiona Davis: A Virtual Conversation: Join authors Kristin Harmel (THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES) and Fiona Davis (THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE) as they talk about their upcoming titles, ancient books, libraries and the iconic cities they write about. Tuesday, July 14th at 7pm ET: Decatur Book Festival Virtual Event: Join New York Times bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson for a live author conversation with Mary Kay Andrews and Mary Alice Monroe about their books, HELLO, SUMMER and ON OCEAN BOULEVARD, respectively. Wednesday, July 15th at 2pm ET: The Book Report Network Presents: Bookaccino Live – A Lively Talk About Books: Carol Fitzgerald will give a presentation on some great books for summer reading --- and a quick sneak peek into fall. You also will "meet" some of the staffers. Wednesday, July 15th at 6:30pm ET: Buttonwood Books & Toys Virtual Event: Christina Clancy and Lily King will talk about their newly released novels, THE SECOND HOME and WRITERS & LOVERS, respectively. Wednesday, July 15th at 7pm ET: BookTowne and The Brielle Public Library Virtual Event: Join BookTowne and The Brielle Public Library on Zoom with Megan Miranda and her new novel, THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS. Wednesday, July 15th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Every Wednesday, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe talk books and writing on their "Friends and Fiction" Facebook group page. Thursday, July 16th at 7pm ET: Porter Square Books Virtual Event: Porter Square Books is delighted to welcome J. Courtney Sullivan, author of FRIENDS AND STRANGERS, to your computer screens for a virtual book talk and reading, in conversation with author Joanna Rakoff.   "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:
Click here for a complete list of our    More Reviews This WeekMUZZLED: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery) THE HEIR AFFAIR by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (Romantic Comedy) ONE TO WATCH by Kate Stayman-London (Romance) SURVIVOR SONG by Paul Tremblay (Psychological Thriller/Horror) NEVER LOOK BACK by Mary Burton (Romantic Suspense/Mystery) THE PATIENT by Jasper DeWitt (Psychological Thriller/Supernatural Horror) RIVIERA GOLD: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King (Historical Mystery) YOU EXIST TOO MUCH by Zaina Arafat (Fiction) MOTHER DAUGHTER WIDOW WIFE by Robin Wasserman (Fiction) RED SKY OVER HAWAII by Sara Ackerman (Historical Fiction) DANCING IN THE NARROWS: A Mother-Daughter Odyssey Through Chronic Illness by Anna Penenberg (Memoir) THE BONES OF WOLFE: A Border Noir by James Carlos Blake (Noir Thriller) .jpg)  
Next Week’s Notables:
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