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If Typing Was a Sport, My Medal Would Be Gold!
I had a week where if typing was a sport, I would have won a medal. A gold one! I was juggling multiple projects, and the most exercise I got was when I moved my desk from a sitting to a standing position. I attended a couple of publisher previews and came up with a great idea. When watching those, I should ride the exercise bike in my office, but instead I was taking notes on one computer while watching on another. If only words typed equaled steps.
There have been a lot of projects that had been shuffled to the back burner that simmered and got done this week. Austin created a really fabulous new opener for the “Bookreporter Talks To” series. He had started doing a “cold open” on these a couple of months ago, where he would pull a really salient part of the interview before the opening theme. Now he has created a gem of an opener that follows the cold open. And he also put together a new outro that you can see on the latest “Bookaccino Live” video. We spent a day shooting the books for that segment back in January and just got time to edit it now. I love the way both of them came together. I hope you like them too.
On Monday, I had so much fun catching up with Lisa Scottoline for my latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. We talked about her first work of historical fiction, ETERNAL, a New York Times bestseller that we featured in our last newsletter. She shared her inspiration for the book, which was four decades in the making. The seeds of it were sown during a class she took at the University of Pennsylvania that was taught by Philip Roth, and the fictional work of Primo Levi were part of the curriculum. She was drawn to write about the rise of Fascism and Mussolini in Italy and how the invasion of the Nazis put the lives of Italian Jews in jeopardy.
Told through the eyes of three childhood friends --- Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro --- ETERNAL makes their story of heartbreak, betrayal and loss a personal one. In the interview, Lisa also discussed her research for the novel, including a trip to Italy where she created the videos that she has shared with readers on her website. It’s a riveting conversation about the book she feels she was destined to write. Click here to watch the video (with our new intro!) and here to listen to the podcast.
On Wednesday afternoon, we hosted our latest “Bookaccino Live” event. I presented 29 titles releasing between April 13th and May 4th, along with seven from June, that I wanted to get on your radar. Click here or on the image above to watch the presentation (with our new outro!) and here to see a list of the featured titles.
Our next afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, May 12th at 2pm ET. Join me as I talk about a number of books coming out from May 11th to June 1st, plus a few from July, that I think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Remember, 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 prizes.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our third “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place next Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm ET. Kim Michele Richardson will be our special guest, and I will talk to her about THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, which has been a book club favorite for the past two years. She also will be answering questions from those in attendance, including a select few who will join us “on stage.” Click here to register. If you have a question for Kim Michele that you would like to ask on camera, please send me an email with the subject line “Question for Kim Michele.”
Our Interview with Kelly Mustian
Continuing this week is our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight for THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE, which we reviewed in last Friday’s newsletter. Our reviewer Bronwyn Miller had the opportunity to ask Kelly Mustian some questions about her first novel, including her inspiration for it, why her choice of setting was so special to her, how much research she conducted, and what she’s working on next. Click here to read the interview.
Paula McLain, who many of you know for her historical novels (THE PARIS WIFE, CIRCLING THE SUN, LOVE AND RUIN), now delves into crime fiction for her latest work, WHEN THE STARS GO DARK. Here’s how the publisher describes this heart-wrenching literary thriller: “A detective hiding away from the world. A series of disappearances that reach into her past. Can solving them help her heal?” According to our reviewer Sarah Rachel Egelman, “McLain has taken a familiar formula and done some great things with it. The writing is top notch, and Anna is a complex and nuanced character. Her backstory is compelling, traumatic and deftly handled…. With a great pace, fascinating characters, thrills, beauty, peril, violence and forgiveness, WHEN THE STARS GO DARK has much to offer readers.”
A couple of months ago, I raved about Sally Hepworth’s new novel, THE GOOD SISTER, and knew at the time it would be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. I’m happy to say that it’s now in stores, and I can’t wait to hear what you all think about it! Here, we are introduced to twin sisters Fern and Rose. Fern faces a number of challenges, and Rose has always been there for her. Rose wants to have a baby, but she cannot get pregnant. What will Fern do for Rose? As the story unfolds, we must ask ourselves: Who is really doing what to whom?
Ray Palen has our review and says, “There are a lot of juicy occurrences here that will make you question everything that has happened and what we have read in Rose’s journal entries. The finale is a wild one with plenty of unexpected plot twists along the way. What Hepworth does best is create fully realized, complex characters to whom you can easily become addicted.” Find out why I loved this book as much as Ray did in next week’s newsletter.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
A BIG Contest for Moms!
Our Mother's Day contest is back for a 16th year! Once again, we’re featuring a number of fiction and nonfiction titles that we think moms will love. Readers will have the chance to win one of our five prize packages, which includes all 15 books to treat yourself or your mom. Among them are HIEROGLYPHICS by Jill McCorkle (which releases in paperback on May 4th), THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn, THE WINDSOR KNOT by SJ Bennett, and the three books in Jan-Philipp Sendker’s Art of Hearing Heartbeats series: THE ART OF HEARING HEARTBEATS, A WELL-TEMPERED HEART and THE HEART REMEMBERS. The deadline for your entries is Friday, May 7th at noon ET. Click here to take a look at all of our featured titles and enter the contest.
Spring Preview Update --- Last Week of Contests Coming Up!
In this week’s Spring Preview contests, we gave away the aforementioned THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth, along with THE DROWNING KIND by Jennifer McMahon and LADY BE GOOD: The Life and Times of Dorothy Hale by Pamela Hamilton. This year’s contests wrap up next week with our final four giveaways: THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax, OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams, RUBY FALLS by Deborah Goodrich Royce, and UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY by Kristy Woodson Harvey. The first contest of the week will be up on Monday, April 19th at noon ET.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is YOU BELONG HERE NOW, Dianna Rostad’s impressive debut novel, which we reviewed in last week’s newsletter. Click here for my commentary. We also are featuring the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com as there are so many issues addressed here that book groups will want to talk about.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, April 30th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win A GAMBLING MAN by David Baldacci and SOOLEY by John Grisham. We will feature reviews of both over the next couple of weeks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 22 paperbacks releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know.
In our previous poll, we were curious to know where you get your e-books (if you do in fact read them). Your top three preferences are Amazon (61%), Library via OverDrive (36%), and Library via Libby (35%). We also allowed you to “write in” your own answer to the question if none of our qualifiers matched what you do. Here are some of your responses: Audible, BookBrowse, BookBub, Edelweiss, Library via CloudLibrary, Library via Hoopla, NetGalley. Click here for all the results.
As you may know, there has been a huge rise in audiobook listening. Next Saturday, April 24th from 11am ET-12pm ET, I am looking forward to moderating a panel at the Newburyport Literary Festival about audiobooks, featuring three prominent narrators. Below is more about my panel, and here is more information about the festival and their schedule of events.
Listen Up! Audiobooks Turn Up the Volume for the Publishing Industry
The audiobook market, predicted to reach $3.5 billion this year, has turned the publishing industry on, well, its ear. Join Carol Fitzgerald of Bookreporter.com as she talks with three prolific audiobook narrators. Imogen Church has narrated her own writing as well as the work of others, and January LaVoy and Robert Petkoff are two successful actors who have discovered and thrived in an additional career in the audiobook world. They’ll discuss the ins and outs of audiobook work and what the incredible growth in the industry means for how we consume books and how publishers present them to us.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: During the chat on our "Bookaccino Live" event the other day, Rose had a great tip for readers. She said that “each day she checks the Contests page on Bookreporter to see what new contests are there.” That is a smart reader!
Kristin Hannah on "Weekend Today": Well, clearly Kristin was a hit with the folks at the "Today" show back in February --- so much so that they shot a segment at her home that aired last Saturday. You can watch it here.
Brad Meltzer Wowed an Eight-Year-Old on "NBC Nightly News": I confess to tearing up watching this.
"Elizabeth and Margaret: Love and Loyalty" on Netflix: I watched this last weekend as the media was covering the death of Prince Philip. It gave me a really good backstory on the two sisters --- things I did not already learn watching "The Crown."
"Shtisel" on Netflix: I finished season three on Wednesday night. I enjoyed it, but I still do not know any Hebrew. I read subtitles well.
"Younger" on Paramount+: The seventh and final season kicked off last night on Paramount+. I now need to see how to watch this premium channel. These add-on channels take way too much to keep up with. And WHAT IS the Hulu password? No one seems to remember.
"Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" on Amazon Prime: I am surprised that we missed watching this series earlier since Tom is a huge Clancy fan. We blasted through season one and now are into season two.
My friend, Keri, did a great job of finishing the Bradley Triple Twist Cowl that I knit with the nine mini skeins of Koigu. I liked eight of the nine colors, so I skipped one and made up the pattern for part of this project. I love the way it came out. Views of two of the four blended treatments are above. For the Nature’s Palette Blanket from Purl Soho, I am on the first section. This will be a very long project, but I love the colors. Barbara, one of our readers, wrote, “I just finished casting on for my Purl Soho color palette blanket! I just love the texture of this yarn. I’ve also got the 'To the Point' blanket from the new Noro on the needles, as well as the Campside Cardigan. Too many knitting projects and too many books to read. I love being a retired OB RN, though I do miss teaching new parents and, of course, the newborns.” Trust me, Barbara will be done before me!
My husband Tom’s birthday is today, so I was up early baking him a birthday cake. Well, I went to make him a cake and then realized that I needed four eggs for the cake and there were three left, as he had eaten two for breakfast So he went to the store to buy more. Not sure if that was very birthday-like of me! We are celebrating with the boys tonight, and then I am I trying to come up with plans to keep the celebrating going all weekend. This is his second COVID birthday. Pre-pandemic celebrating was a lot more fun! Erring on the side of caution requires a lot of overthinking. He will be playing “birthday golf” this weekend, which I am not sure is much different from regular golf, but I guess it has a nice sound to it.
I am juggling two terrific books: THE LAST GREEN VALLEY by Mark Sullivan and SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly. Each has written a compelling story with wonderful characters and vivid prose. It’s lovely to be able to enjoy reading like this. There are soooooo many books on my shelves that I am excited about. It truly is a great year for reading. I hope you are finding it to be the same.
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: WHEN THE STARS GO DARK
by Paula McLain
WHEN THE STARS GO DARK by Paula McLain (Literary Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland
Anna Hart is a seasoned missing persons detective in San Francisco with far too much knowledge of the darkest side of human nature. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Yet the day she arrives, she learns that a local teenage girl has gone missing. The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna’s childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever. As past and present collide, Anna realizes that she has been led to this moment. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister, Rose, three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life, and disrupting her routine can be...dangerous. When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple. Fern's mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
THE GOOD SISTER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Our Interview with Kelly Mustian,
Author of THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE
A Historical Fiction Author Spotlight Title
THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE weaves a beautiful and harrowing story of two teenage girls cast in an unlikely partnership through murder. In this interview conducted by Bookreporter.com reviewer Bronwyn Miller, Kelly Mustian talks about the inspiration for her debut novel, why she decided to set it in 1920s Mississippi on the Natchez Trace, her virtual book tour and how much it means to her to be able to talk to readers from all over the world about the book, her amazing experience volunteering at the Mooresville Public Library in North Carolina before the pandemic hit, and her next novel in the works, which is set mostly in Depression-era Mississippi.
THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE by Kelly Mustian (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Johanna Parker
Ada promised herself she would never go back to the Trace, to her hard life on the swamp and her harsh father. But now, after running away to Baton Rouge and briefly knowing a different kind of life, she finds herself with nowhere to go but back home. Matilda, daughter of a sharecropper, is from the other side of the Trace. Doing what she can to protect her family from the whims and demands of some particularly callous locals is an ongoing struggle. She forms a plan to go north, to pack up the secrets she's holding about her life in the South and hang them on the line for all to see in Ohio. As the two girls are drawn deeper into a dangerous world of bootleggers and moral corruption, they must come to terms with the complexities of their tenuous bond and a hidden past that links them in ways that could cost them their lives.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Kelly Mustian's bio.
- Click here to visit Kelly Mustian's website.
- Connect with Kelly Mustian on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
Click here to read our interview.
Announcing Bookreporter.com’s 16th Annual
Mother’s Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 16th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Friday, May 7th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 15 great fiction and nonfiction titles we think moms will love.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: OCEAN PREY by John Sandford
OCEAN PREY: A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel by John Sandford (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Richard Ferrone
An off-duty Coast Guardsman is fishing with his family when he calls in some suspicious behavior from a nearby boat. It’s a snazzy craft, slick and outfitted with extra horsepower, and it’s zipping along until it slows to pick up a surfaced diver…a diver who was apparently alone, without his own boat, in the middle of the ocean. None of it makes sense unless there's something hinky going on, and his hunch is proved right when all three Guardsmen who come out to investigate are shot and killed. When the FBI's investigation stalls out, they call in Lucas Davenport. And when his case turns lethal, Davenport will need to bring in every asset he can claim, including a detective with a fundamentally criminal mind: Virgil Flowers. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MOTHER MAY I by Joshilyn Jackson
MOTHER MAY I by Joshilyn Jackson (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joshilyn Jackson
Marrying into a family with wealth, power and connections, Bree Cabbat has all a woman could ever dream: a loving lawyer husband, two talented young teenage daughters, a new baby boy, a gorgeous home, and every opportunity in the world. Until the day Bree awakens and sees a witch peering into her bedroom window, an old gray-haired woman all dressed in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. Later that day, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daughters’ private school...just minutes before Bree’s baby son vanishes. To get him back, Bree must complete one small --- but critical --- task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price, making her complicit in a tangled web of tragedy and shocking secrets that will destroy everything she loves. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
YOU BELONG HERE NOW by Dianna Rostad
YOU BELONG HERE NOW by Dianna Rostad (Historical Fiction)
Set in Montana in 1925, YOU BELONG HERE NOW by Dianna Rostad is a beautifully written debut novel. Three orphans are traveling westward from New York City, looking for new homes. At each whistle stop along the journey, they and the other orphans are paraded before families willing to adopt them. The families are often in search of laborers to help farm their land, and their goals are less altruistic than one might think. But at station after station, there are children who are not selected; for them, life ahead is one great unknown.
As the train lurches its way westward, one of the orphans notes that there are few stops left --- and unwilling to feel the sting of rejection, he is taking off on his own. Two others join him, another boy and a young girl. For the moment, hope replaces uncertainty for them with this action.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Bookreporter.com's 10th Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our 10th annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 23rd at noon ET. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, April 19th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
From left to right: David Baldacci, Karen White, Patrick Radden Keefe
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.
Sunday, April 18th at 6pm ET: Adventures by the Book: An Exclusive Fireside Chat Adventure: Karen White will celebrate the VIP pre-launch of her much-heralded WWII historical novel, THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON. Join Adventures by the Book for their exclusive inaugural Fireside Chat, where you can chat live with Karen to discuss her new book, ask questions and converse with her “on stage.”
Monday, April 19th at 8pm ET: Dallas Museum of Art: Gabriela Garcia and Kaitlyn Greenidge will talk about their highly anticipated new novels, OF WOMEN AND SALT (this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick) and LIBERTIE (this month's #1 Indie Next pick), with author Mira Jacob.
Tuesday, April 20th at 6:30pm ET: FoxTale Book Shoppe: Karen White will join FoxTale Book Shoppe for a discussion of her latest novel, THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON, the first stop on her virtual book tour.
Tuesday, April 20th at 7pm ET: Bards Alley: For the first stop on his event circuit for A GAMBLING MAN, David Baldacci will be joined by Angie Kim, author of MIRACLE CREEK, for an in-conversation event that is sure to inform and entertain.
Tuesday, April 20th at 7pm ET: Porter Square Books: Porter Square Books is pleased to present a virtual talk with bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe (SAY NOTHING) for his latest book, EMPIRE OF PAIN: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty. He will be joined in conversation by award-winning reporter Pamela Colloff.
Tuesday, April 20th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: This Couch Surfing Book Tour event will feature Kristy Woodson Harvey as she discusses her new book, UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY, in conversation with Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.
Tuesday, April 20th at 8pm ET: Powell's Books: Paula McLain will talk about her new novel, WHEN THE STARS GO DARK, with fellow bestselling author Sue Monk Kidd.
Tuesday, April 20th at 9pm ET: Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Robert Dugoni will discuss his new Tracy Crosswhite novel, IN HER TRACKS, with special guest host Luanne Rice.
Wednesday, April 21st at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will throw a launch party for Kristy's new book, UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY.
Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Event: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Kim Michele Richardson about THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK. Kim Michele also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. Click here to register. If you would like to be one of our featured audience guests and ask Kim Michele a question on camera, please send Carol Fitzgerald an email with the subject line “Question for Kim Michele.”
Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm ET: Powell's Books: Patrick Radden Keefe will talk about his new book, EMPIRE OF PAIN, with journalist Lydia Polgreen, the head of content for Gimlet Media.
Thursday, April 22nd at 9pm ET: Poisoned Pen Bookstore: D.J. Palmer will discuss his new thriller, THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, with special guest host Lee Child.
"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:
-
Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
STARGAZER: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel by Anne Hillerman (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Darrell Dennis
What begins as a typical day for Officer Bernadette Manuelito takes an unexpected twist when she’s called to help find an old friend. Years ago, Bernie and Maya were roommates, but time and Maya’s struggles with addiction drove them apart. Now Maya’s brother asks Bernie to find out what happened to his sister. Tracing Maya’s whereabouts, Bernie learns that her old friend had confessed to the murder of her estranged husband, a prominent astronomer. But the details don’t align. Suspicious, Bernie takes a closer look at the case only to find that nothing is as it seems. Uncovering new information about the astronomer’s work leads Bernie to a remote spot on the Navajo Nation and a calculating killer. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
SECOND FIRST IMPRESSIONS by Sally Thorne (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Jennifer Jill Araya
Position Vacant: Two ancient old women residing at Providence Retirement Villa seek male assistant for casual exploitation and good-natured humiliation. The salary is generous and the employers are 90 years old, so how hard could the job be? Ruthie Midona will work in Providence’s front office, and be at the beck and call of the wealthy and eccentric Parloni Sisters, forever. Teddy Prescott devotes his life to sleeping, tattooing and avoiding seriousness. When Teddy needs a place to crash, he makes a deal with his developer dad. Teddy can stay in one of Providence’s on-site maintenance cottages but only if he works there and starts to grow up. An unimpressed Ruthie knows how this sweetly selfish rich boy can earn his keep --- and be out of her hair in under a week. After all, there is a position vacant. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
EARLY MORNING RISER by Katherine Heiny (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Rudd
Jane falls in love with Duncan easily. Unfortunately, he has slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City, Michigan, and she sees his old girlfriends everywhere. His ex-wife, Aggie, still has Duncan mow her lawn. His coworker, Jimmy, comes and goes from his apartment at the most inopportune times. Sometimes Jane wonders if a relationship can even work with three people in it --- never mind four. Five if you count Aggie's eccentric husband, Gary. But any notion Jane had of love and marriage changes with one terrible car crash. Soon her life is permanently intertwined with Duncan's, Aggie's and Jimmy's, and she knows she will never have Duncan to herself. But could it be possible that a deeper kind of happiness is right in front of Jane's eyes? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
WHAT COMES AFTER by JoAnne Tompkins (Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Mark Deakins, Kristen DiMercurio and Kirby Heyborne
Isaac lives alone with his dog, grieving the recent death of his teenage son. Next door, Lorrie, a working single mother, struggles with a heinous act committed by her own teenage son. The two parents are emotionally stranded, isolated by their great losses --- until an unfamiliar 16-year-old girl shows up, bridges the gap and changes everything. Evangeline’s arrival at first feels like a blessing, but she is also clearly hiding something. When Isaac, who has retreated into his Quaker faith, isn’t equipped to handle her alone, Lorrie forges her own relationship with the girl. Soon all three characters are forced to examine what really happened in their overlapping pasts, and what it all possibly means for a shared future. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
BEESWING: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967-1975 by Richard Thompson with Scott Timberg (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Richard Thompson
Known for his brilliant songwriting, his extraordinary guitar playing and his haunting voice, Richard Thompson is considered one of the top 20 guitarists of all time, in the songwriting pantheon alongside Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Randy Newman. Now, in his long-awaited memoir, the British folk musician takes us back to the late 1960s, a period of great change and creativity --- both for him and for the world at large. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
ANTIQUITIES by Cynthia Ozick (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
Lloyd Wilkinson Petrie, one of the seven elderly trustees of the now-defunct (for 34 years) Temple Academy for Boys, is preparing a memoir of his days at the school, intertwined with the troubling distractions of present events. As he navigates, with faltering recall, between the subtle anti-Semitism that pervaded the school's ethos and his fascination with his own family's heritage --- in particular, his illustrious cousin, the renowned archaeologist Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie --- he reconstructs the passions of a childhood encounter with the oddly named Ben-Zion Elefantin, a mystifying older pupil who claims descent from Egypt's Elephantine Island. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
LITTLE PIECES OF ME by Alison Hammer (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Naughton and Piper Goodeve
When Paige Meyer gets an email from a DNA testing website announcing that her father is a man she never met, she is convinced there must be a mistake. But as she digs deeper into her mother’s past, Paige begins to question everything she thought she knew. Back in 1975, Betsy Kaplan, Paige’s mom, is a sophomore at the University of Kansas. When her boyfriend disappoints her, Betsy decides she wants more out of life. Enter Andy Abrams, the golden boy on campus with a potentially devastating secret. After their night together has unexpected consequences, Betsy is determined to bury the truth and rebuild a stable life for her unborn child, whatever the cost. When Paige can’t get answers from her mother, she goes looking for the only other person who was there that night. Reviewed by Rebecca Wasniak.
ONE GOT AWAY by S.A. Lelchuk (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Nikki Griffin, a private investigator when she isn’t running her small bookstore, is on a case. The matriarch of one of the wealthiest San Francisco families has been defrauded by a con-man, and her furious son enlists Nikki to find the money and the con-man. Nikki’s secret mission, born of revenge and trauma, is to do everything she can to remove women from dangerous situations --- and to punish the men responsible. As Nikki follows the trail toward the con-man, she realizes that no one involved is telling her the whole truth. When the case overlaps with her attempt to protect a woman in trouble, and Nikki’s own life is put in danger, Nikki has to make terrible choices about who to save --- and how to keep herself alive. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE PERFECT MARRIAGE by Adam Mitzner (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Davis
James and Jessica Sommers are celebrating their first blissful year together, an unexpected second chance at true love. Unfortunately, their newfound shot at happiness is not without collateral damage. There’s Jessica’s ex-husband. He pretends for all the world that he’s resilient and strong. If only for the sake of their teenage son, profoundly vulnerable in his own way. James’ ex has taken a different road. Bitter, vengeful and threatening, she wants only the worst for the happy couple. Are they truly as in love as they seem? When James enters into an extraordinarily profitable, if shady, transaction with a beautiful art dealer, Jessica and James’ seemingly perfect marriage takes a dark and tragic turn. Reviewed Ray Palen.
- Click here to read our interview with Adam Mitzner.
SWEETSHOP OF DREAMS: A Novel in Recipes by Jenny Colgan (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Beverley A. Crick
Rosie Hopkins has gotten used to busy London life. Although she might like a more rewarding career, and her boyfriend is not exactly the king of romance, she’s not complaining. And when she visits her Aunt Lilian's small country village to help sort out her sweetshop, she expects it to be dull at best. When Rosie arrives to help her aunt with the shop, the last thing Lillian wants is to slow down and wrestle with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully colored sweets. But as Rosie gets Lilian back on her feet, breathes new life into the candy shop, and gets to know the mysterious and solitary Stephen, she starts to think that settling for what's comfortable might not be so great after all. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
OUT OF PLACE by Milree Latimer (Historical Fiction)
In 1913, 15-year-old Martha is sent from an orphanage in Dublin to relatives she has never met in Canada --- her cousin, Anna, a kindred spirit, and her aunt, who loathes her. Here Martha uncovers a tragic family history. When World War I occurs, Anna voyages to France to care for the wounded soldiers and loses herself in shell shock. Martha leaves the emptiness of her adopted family and becomes a wartime farmerette. Her life is as a farmer, mother and wife to Charlie coming home from war, broken. In 1938, Simon Lansky, a German Jewish professor, asks for help to save his daughters from a dreadful fate. Martha and Anna, hardened to war and its torments, travel to Europe to rescue the girls. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE MOONSHINER POPCORN SUTTON by Neal Hutcheson (Biography)
Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton was raised in a Southern Appalachian community steeped in tradition. He learned to make moonshine at an early age and continued to pursue the perfection of the craft throughout his life. At the same time, he honed a natural talent for performance and came to fill not only the role but the appearance of the master moonshiners he had known as a child. Ultimately appearing in documentaries, television shows and heritage events, he brought the traditional craft of a secret brotherhood into the light. Now remembered as a folk hero who would literally live free or die, THE MOONSHINER POPCORN SUTTON captures the true story of the man behind the myth in a celebration of craft, heritage and irrepressible character. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 20th
Below are some notable titles releasing on April 20th 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 April 19th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
A GAMBLING MAN by David Baldacci (Historical Thriller)
Aloysius Archer, the straight-talking World War II veteran fresh out of prison, returns in this riveting new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.
THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD by Alena Dillon (Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of MERCY HOUSE comes a gripping new novel about a young woman’s dreams of Olympic gymnastic gold --- and what it takes to reach the top.
IN HER TRACKS by Robert Dugoni (Mystery/Thriller)
What family secrets are behind two disappearances? Seattle detective Tracy Crosswhite is determined to uncover the truth in this latest installment of New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s heart-stopping series.
THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON by Karen White (Historical Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author Karen White weaves a captivating story of friendship, love and betrayal that moves between war-torn London during the Blitz and the present day.
MIRRORLAND by Carole Johnstone (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
With the startling twists of GONE GIRL and the haunting emotional power of ROOM, MIRRORLAND is a thrilling work of psychological suspense about twin sisters, the man they both love, and the dark childhood they can’t leave behind.
MY RIDE OR DIE by Leslie Cohen (Fiction/Humor)
This timely and hilarious millennial women’s fiction novel is about two friends who decide to give up their search for a perfect man and devote their lives to each other --- but their careful plan soon begins to unravel with unexpected consequences.
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D.J. Palmer (Psychological Thriller)
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is a thriller that explores the truth or lies behind a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder.
THE SON OF MR. SULEMAN by Eric Jerome Dickey (Romance)
In his final work, Eric Jerome Dickey takes readers on a powerful journey exploring racism, colorism, life as a mixed-race person, sexual assault, microaggressions, truth and lies, cultural differences, politics, family legacies, perceptions, the impact of enslavement and Jim Crow, code-switching, the power of death and the weight of love.
UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Fiction)
Two childhood friends discover that love --- and family --- can be found in unconventional ways in this timely, moving novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Peachtree Bluff series.
WHEN A STRANGER COMES TO TOWN edited by Michael Koryta (Mystery/Short Stories)
In the newest collection of stories by the Mystery Writers of America, each author weaves a fresh tale surrounding the eerie feeling that comes when a stranger enters our midst, featuring stories by prolific mystery writers such as Michael Connelly, Dean Koontz and Joe Hill.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: April Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following books releasing in paperback in April have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AFTERLIFE by Julia Alvarez
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ALL ADULTS HERE by Emma Straub
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BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT by Anonymous
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BIG SUMMER by Jennifer Weiner
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THE CHIFFON TRENCHES: A Memoir, by André Leon Talley
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CHOPPY WATER: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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FRIENDS AND STRANGERS by J. Courtney Sullivan
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HELLO, SUMMER by Mary Kay Andrews
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THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi
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HID FROM OUR EYES: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery, by Julia Spencer-Fleming
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JACK by Marilynne Robinson
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THE LAW OF INNOCENCE: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel, by Michael Connelly
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A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende
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LOST by James Patterson and James O. Born
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NEAR DARK by Brad Thor
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ONE FATAL FLAW: A Daniel Pitt Novel, by Anne Perry
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PERFECT LITTLE CHILDREN by Sophie Hannah
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THE SENTINEL: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child and Andrew Child
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THE SILENT WIFE by Karin Slaughter
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SIMON THE FIDDLER by Paulette Jiles
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SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid
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WARHOL by Adam Gopnik
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, April 30th 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 April 16th to April 30th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of A GAMBLING MAN by David Baldacci and SOOLEY by John Grisham.
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.
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