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Spring is definitely fighting winter here in the northeast. Yesterday, temps were in the 20s. But hey, we did not get the snow that our colleague Jenni saw in Ohio! But the lettuce plants will be harbored in the kitchen for a little while longer. It is supposed to be 83 degrees next week; it is a very mixed-up time of year! I am more than ready to be out and about.
Last night, we hosted our third "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event with Kim Michele Richardson, the author of THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, as our guest. It also was nice to have four of our readers participating live with their questions. We heard from so many readers about this program, and I wanted to share some of their comments.
Nancy: "What a wonderful discussion tonight with the author. One of my book clubs read it this winter. It was a fabulous story and enjoyed by all. The questions tonight were very interesting. So glad that I 'tuned' in. I continue to recommend it to everyone."
Cindy: "Thank you so much for the talk with Kim tonight. It is so nice to have these authors share about writing their book and all the background on it. I learned so much about the area of Kentucky and the book women from her book. Our book club had read it, and all enjoyed the history and her writing. Looking forward to more Bookaccino events."
Barbara: "This was my first 'Bookaccino Live,' and I absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for bringing us these fabulous events. Kim Michele Richardson was a fantastic guest. Even though she was an orphan and lived in poverty, she still seems to love her Kentucky roots. I loved her book and look forward to her next one. I’m also looking forward to the next 'Bookaccino Live' in May. I absolutely loved HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. I bought the book after watching 'Bookreporter Talks To,' sped through the book and passed it around to all of my friends and relatives. Thanks so much for all you do for us avid readers."
Joanne: "I am so glad my plans changed, and I was able to join Zoom tonight. What a wonderful presentation. Thanks so much!"
Carol: "I loved this 'Bookaccino Live' event and can’t wait for more.”
Sonnia: "Wow! What a fantastic evening! Thank you."
Susan: "A fabulous hour with Kim Michele Richardson. Thank you!"
Please note that a video/podcast of this event will be posted next week. We will send a note to all who registered for the program and will include the link in next week’s newsletter.
On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of talking to Sally Hepworth about her new book, THE GOOD SISTER, which we reviewed last week and is my latest Bets On pick. I interviewed her just hours after she learned that she had hit the New York Times bestseller list for the first time!
In THE GOOD SISTER, we are introduced to twin sisters Fern and Rose. Fern has behavior issues that allude to being on the autism spectrum and always has relied on Rose. When she discovers that Rose cannot get pregnant, Fern decides to pay Rose back by bearing her a child. This means finding the right man, one who won't disrupt her calculated routine. In her well-meaning attempts, Fern stirs up things in the past that may have been better left hidden.
Sally and I talked about her inspiration for this page-turning domestic thriller, its lovely dedication, and her adventures with her own family during lockdown in Melbourne, many of which were hilariously documented on Instagram. My husband and I adore her younger daughter, Clementine! Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Also, don’t miss my Bets On commentary here.
David Baldacci’s new thriller, A GAMBLING MAN, is now in stores and marks the return of Aloysius Archer, the straight-talking World War II veteran fresh out of prison. Ray Palen has our review and calls the book "delicious crime noir with fascinating historical data thrown in to keep the story interesting. I absolutely loved the opportunity to step back in time to this era with David Baldacci as my guide. Archer is one of today’s standout fictional characters, and you are missing out if you don’t jump into this terrific series at the beginning."
Two Big Books for Our Word of Mouth Winners!
A GAMBLING MAN is one of the prizes in our current Word of Mouth contest; the other is SOOLEY by John Grisham, which we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these highly anticipated novels. Be sure to enter by Friday, April 30th at noon ET.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
Books Mom Will Love…and Can Win!
There’s still plenty of time to enter our 16th annual Mother’s Day contest. We’re giving five readers the opportunity to win 15 fabulous fiction and nonfiction titles for themselves or their mom. Among them are FINDING FREEDOM: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch by Erin French, THE GLORIOUS GUINNESS GIRLS by Emily Hourican, THE SIREN by Katherine St. John, and THE TRUTH AND OTHER HIDDEN THINGS by Lea Geller. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, May 7th at noon ET. Click here to take a look at all of this year’s Mother’s Day prize books.
Wrapping Up Spring Preview --- and a Look Ahead to Summer Reading
Our Spring Preview contests came to a close this 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 the aforementioned UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Congratulations to the winners of our 23 contests, and many thanks to all who entered!
Our next series of 24-hour giveaways will be our always-popular Summer Reading contests. The feature will go live next Friday, and our first giveaway will kick off on May 4th. If you would like to receive a newsletter announcing each day’s Summer Reading title, click here to sign up for these contest alerts.
Which April Paperbacks Are You Excited About?
Our poll continues to ask which of 22 paperbacks releasing this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes!
Tomorrow is Independent Bookstore Day, a great time for you to visit your local independent bookstore and support them! We love that these booksellers are knowledgeable about recommendations. This year, as many of us are able to once again venture out to do shopping, it’s a great time to see what’s new on their shelves and front tables. And who does not love a great shelf talker? As we know from their site about these celebrations, “Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different. But in addition to authors, live music, cupcakes, scavenger hunts, kids events, art tables, readings, barbecues, contests, and other fun stuff, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can only get on that day. Not before. Not after. Nowhere else.”
Report back if you have a story to share about your local indie celebration! Here’s a link to find out more about Independent Bookstore Day.
A Big Awards Update
We have three major book award announcements to tell you about this week.
Also announced this week was the shortlist for the 2021 International Booker Prize. The six finalists are AT NIGHT ALL BLOOD IS BLACK by David Diop, translated by Anna Mocschovakis; THE DANGERS OF SMOKING IN BED by Mariana Enríquez, translated by Megan McDowell; WHEN WE CEASE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD by Benjamín Labatut, translated by Adrian Nathan West; THE EMPLOYEES by Olga Ravn, translated by Martin Aitken; IN MEMORY OF MEMORY by Maria Stepanova, translated by Sasha Dugdale; and THE WAR OF THE POOR by Éric Vuillard, translated by Mark Polizzotti. The winner will be announced on June 2nd.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Cherie wrote this about winning a Spring Preview contest: “Thank you so much. I received the book THE HENNA ARTIST. I can’t wait to read it. Bookreporter does so much for readers. Thank you."
The Oscars: The ceremony is on Sunday night. Netflix has been streaming a number of the nominated films, including some in the "Documentary Short Subject" category. I am looking forward to watching more. So far I have seen A Love Song for Latasha and If Anything Happens, I Love You.
"Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan": I finished season two and enjoyed it.
I spent part of today pulling together my interview questions for tomorrow’s panel about audiobooks at the Newburyport Literary Festival, which will be taking place from 11am ET to 12pm ET. I will be talking to Imogen Church, January LaVoy and Robert Petkoff. You can sign up for this virtual event by clicking here. I hope you can join us for what should be a really fun discussion. I have sooooo many questions about the role of an audiobook narrator. By the way, this is a role that I never could have. I talk WAY WAY too fast!
I am heading to my mother-in-law's house for dinner on Saturday night with Tom and the boys. She is making rouladen and spaetzle, which we all love. Beyond that, there will be more garden planning and reading. I have three books that I want to juggle into this two-day weekend; I know, I am trying to overachieve.
We have a new garden area that is very well shaded where all the hosta has been moved. Usually by summer's end, it was burned in the other location. I ordered some blue hosta, which you can see above and will be added to what we already have. From left to right are the Colossal Blue hosta, the June hosta and the Blue Mouse Ears hosta. Many of the bulbs I ordered are coming in now. I am trying to decide what to plant in all the places where the hosta was. I am determined to make a plan so something is blooming each week through the fall.
My book group is meeting on Monday night to discuss SUNFLOWER SISTERS. Martha Hall Kelly is such a good writer; I love meeting her characters.
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: A GAMBLING MAN by David Baldacci
A GAMBLING MAN by David Baldacci (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini and Brittany Pressley
In dire need of a fresh start, Aloysius Archer arrives in Bay Town, California. His first stop is a P.I. office where he is hoping to apprentice with a legendary private eye and former FBI agent named Willie Dash. He lands the job and immediately finds himself in the thick of a potential scandal: a blackmail case involving a wealthy well-connected politician running for mayor that soon spins into something even more sinister. As bodies begin falling, Archer and Dash must infiltrate the world of brothels, gambling dens, drug operations and long-hidden secrets, descending into the rotten bones of a corrupt town that is selling itself as the promised land --- but might actually be the road to perdition, and Archer’s final resting place. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY
by Kristy Woodson Harvey
UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell, Michael Crouch, Rebekkah Ross and Karissa Vacker
When journalist Amelia Buxton discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker --- and dredging up old wounds in the process. Parker has been unable to move forward since the loss of his beloved wife three years ago. He has all but forgotten about the frozen embryos. But once Amelia reveals her discovery, he knows that if he ever wants to get a part of Greer back, he’ll need to accept his fate as a single father and find a surrogate. Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Buxton Beach. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth
THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth (Psychological Thriller)
Sally Hepworth is an author whose thrillers I always enjoy, so it was such fun to read THE GOOD SISTER. The story features twin sisters Fern and Rose. Fern has challenges, and Rose has always been there for her. Rose wants to have a baby but has been unable to get pregnant. What will Fern do for Rose? As the story unfolds, who is really doing what to whom?
The kernel of the story came to Sally when she saw her two daughters squabbling one day. The younger one had misbehaved, and when Sally was reprimanding her, the older one came to her defense. Sally thought this was so lovely until the older one said something to the effect of “No worries, I will get her back later.” And that got the wheels turning in motion for the plot.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Sally Hepworth.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
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:
BROKEN (in the best possible way)
by Jenny Lawson
BROKEN (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Jenny Lawson
As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In BROKEN, she brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way. With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to “Shark Tank” to the reason why she can never go back to the post office, BROKEN leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And, of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor --- the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball --- is present throughout. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: IN HER TRACKS by Robert Dugoni
IN HER TRACKS by Robert Dugoni (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Sutton-Smith
Detective Tracy Crosswhite has been reassigned to the Seattle PD’s cold case unit and is immediately drawn to her first file: the abduction of a five-year-old girl whose parents, embattled in a poisonous divorce, were once prime suspects. While reconstructing the days leading up to the girl’s disappearance, Tracy is brought into an active investigation with former partner Kinsington Rowe. A young woman has vanished on an isolated jogging trail in North Seattle. To find two missing persons, Tracy will have to follow more than clues, which are both long cold and unsettlingly fresh. Given her own traumatic past, Tracy also must follow her instincts --- to whatever dark and dangerous places they may lead. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D.J. Palmer
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D.J. Palmer (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Dan Bittner and January LaVoy
Sixteen-year-old Penny Francone is a murderer. Will she be found not guilty by reason of insanity? Or will she get a life sentence in a maximum-security prison? Already reeling after the sudden passing of her beloved husband, Grace is grateful that Massachusetts doesn't allow the death penalty. As Penny awaits trial in a state mental hospital, she is treated by Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist battling demons of his own. Grace’s determination to understand the why behind her daughter’s terrible crime fuels Mitch’s resolve to help the Francone family. Together, they set out in search of the truth about Penny, but discover instead a shocking hidden history of secrets, lies and betrayals that threatens to consume them all. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have three contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Special Contest: Win Up to 12 Copies of Gabriela Garcia's OF WOMEN AND SALT for Your Group
OF WOMEN AND SALT, Gabriela Garcia's instant New York Times bestselling debut novel, is about a daughter's fateful choice, a mother motivated by her own past, and a family legacy that begins in Cuba before either of them were born. We are giving five groups the chance to win up to 12 copies of the book, which is April's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Enter here by Wednesday, May 5th at noon ET.
Special Contest: Win Up to 12 Copies of MASQUE OF HONOR for Your Group and the Opportunity to Chat with Author Sharon Virts
In MASQUE OF HONOR, a coming-of-age tale set in early 19th-century America, two sons of the Virginia aristocracy risk it all to defend their dreams and determine their own destinies. We are giving three groups the chance to win up to 12 copies of this Bookreporter.com Bets On pick, plus the opportunity to chat with its author, Sharon Virts, via Zoom. Enter here by Thursday, May 20th at noon ET.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Win 12 Copies of WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Our latest prize book is WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker, a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. An instant New York Times bestseller, this genre-defying novel is about people who deserve so much more than life serves them. At times devastating, with flashes of humor and hope throughout, it is ultimately an inspiring tale of how the human spirit prevails and how, in the end, love --- in all its different guises --- wins. Enter here by Wednesday, May 5th at noon ET.
Here are our latest featured guides:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
From left to right: John Grisham, Lorenzo Carcaterra, Malcolm Gladwell
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.
Saturday, April 24th at 10:30am ET: Buxton Books: Buxton Books is excited to host New York Times bestselling author Karen White on Independent Bookstore Day about her latest novel, THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON.
Sunday, April 25th at 6pm ET: Live Talks Los Angeles: Malcolm Gladwell will be in conversation with Walter Isaacson discussing his latest book, THE BOMBER MAFIA: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War.
Sunday, April 25th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": For this special bonus episode, the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, whose international bestseller THE MOUNTAINS SING is now in paperback.
Monday, April 26th at 1pm ET: Square Books: Preorder a signed first edition of SOOLEY to guarantee a courtside seat to this one-on-one exhibition talk featuring John Grisham and ESPN's Wright Thompson and a chance to win a basketball autographed by John.
Monday, April 26th at 2pm ET: Lemuria Bookstore: John Grisham will talk to John Evans, the owner of Lemuria Bookstore, about his new book, SOOLEY, via Facebook Live.
Monday, April 26th at 7pm ET: RJ Julia Booksellers: Join RJ Julia Booksellers for a night of love and betrayal in the London Blitz and the present day, as Karen White will be in conversation with Beatriz Williams about her new novel, THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON.
Tuesday, April 27th at 12pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Jennifer Weiner will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about BIG SUMMER, which is April's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Tuesday, April 27th at 5pm ET: The Strand Book Store: Join The Strand for a virtual event with Lorenzo Carcaterra for the launch of his new book, THREE DREAMERS: A Memoir of Family. He will be in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani.
Tuesday, April 27th at 7pm ET: Freeport Memorial Library: Carol Fitzgerald has her pulse on amazing books and authors. Come hear her recommendations for what to read in 2021!
Wednesday, April 28th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Chris Bohjalian about his new novel, HOUR OF THE WITCH.
Wednesday, April 28th at 8pm ET: Powell's Books: In SOOLEY, his first basketball novel, John Grisham takes you to a different kind of court. He will be joined in conversation with thriller writer J.T. Ellison, the Emmy Award-winning co-host of the literary show "A Word on Words."
Thursday, April 29th at 12pm ET: [words] Bookstore: John Grisham will discuss his new book, SOOLEY, with fellow bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Thursday, April 29th at 7pm ET: Bookmarks: Bookmarks' "Murder and Margaritas" series celebrating mystery/thriller authors and their books returns this month with two stellar writers: Joshilyn Jackson (MOTHER MAY I) and Jennifer McMahon (THE DROWNING KIND).
Thursday, April 29th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: This Couch Surfing Book Tour event will feature Karen White as she discusses her new book, THE LAST NIGHT IN LONDON, in conversation with Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.
"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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Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
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Mark Sullivan (THE LAST GREEN VALLEY)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
BLOOD AND TREASURE: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America's First Frontier by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by George Newbern
It is the mid-18th century, and in the 13 colonies founded by Great Britain, anxious colonists desperate to conquer and settle North America’s “First Frontier” beyond the Appalachian Mountains commence a series of bloody battles. These violent conflicts are waged against the Native American tribes whose lands they covet, the French, and finally against the mother country itself in an American Revolution destined to reverberate around the world. This is the setting of BLOOD AND TREASURE, and the guide to this epic narrative is America’s first and arguably greatest pathfinder, Daniel Boone --- the Revolutionary War hero whose explorations into the forested frontier beyond the great mountains would become the stuff of legend. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
THE DEVIL'S HAND by Jack Carr (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ray Porter
It’s been 20 years since 9/11. Two decades since the United States was attacked on home soil and embarked on 20 years of war. The enemy has been patient, learning and adapting….and is ready to strike again. A new president offers hope to a country weary of conflict. He’s a young, popular, self-made visionary…but he’s also a man with a secret. Halfway across the globe, a regional superpower struggles with sanctions imposed by the Great Satan and her European allies, a country whose ancient religion spawned a group of ruthless assassins. Faced with internal dissent and extrajudicial targeted killings by the United States and Israel, the Supreme Leader puts a plan in motion to defeat the most powerful nation on earth. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
THE TWELVE LIVES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense by Edward White (Biography)
In THE TWELVE LIVES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK, Edward White explores the Hitchcock phenomenon --- what defines it, how it was invented, what it reveals about the man at its core, and how its legacy continues to shape our cultural world. The book’s 12 chapters illuminate different aspects of Hitchcock’s life and work: “The Boy Who Couldn’t Grow Up”; “The Murderer”; “The Auteur”; “The Womanizer”; “The Fat Man”; “The Dandy”; “The Family Man”; “The Voyeur”; “The Entertainer”; “The Pioneer”; “The Londoner”; “The Man of God.” Each of these angles reveals something fundamental about the man he was and the mythological creature he has become, presenting not just the life Hitchcock lived but also the various versions of himself that he projected, and those projected on his behalf. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS by Pip Williams (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Pippa Bennett-Warner
Esme spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. One day, a slip of paper containing the word bondmaid flutters beneath their sorting table. Esme rescues the slip, and when she learns that the word means “slave girl,” she begins to collect other words that have been discarded or neglected by the dictionary men. As she grows up, Esme realizes that words and meanings relating to women’s and common folks’ experiences often go unrecorded. And so she begins in earnest to search out words for her own dictionary: the Dictionary of Lost Words. To do so, she must venture out to meet the people whose words will fill those pages. Reviewed by Margaret Rothfus.
MIRRORLAND by Carole Johnstone (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Katie Leung
Cat lives in Los Angeles, far away from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As girls, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs full of pirates, witches and clowns. These days Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband, Ross. But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which has scarcely changed in 20 years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE NINE LIVES OF ROSE NAPOLITANO by Donna Freitas (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kristen Sieh
Rose Napolitano is fighting with her husband, Luke, about prenatal vitamins. She promised she'd take them, but didn't. Their marriage has come to rest on this one question: Can Rose find it in herself to become a mother? Rose is a successful professor and academic. She's never wanted to have a child. The fight ends, and with it their marriage. But then Rose has a fight with Luke about the vitamins --- again. This time the fight goes slightly differently, and so does Rose's future as she grapples with whether she can indeed give up the one thing she thought she knew about herself. Can she reimagine her life in a completely new way? That reimagining plays out again and again in each of Rose's nine lives, just as it does for each of us as we grow into adulthood. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
I AM A GIRL FROM AFRICA: A Memoir by Elizabeth Nyamayaro (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Nyamayaro
When a severe drought hit her village in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth, then eight, had no idea that this moment of utter devastation would come to define her life purpose. Unable to move from hunger, she encountered a United Nations aid worker who gave her a bowl of warm porridge and saved her life. This transformative moment inspired Elizabeth to become a humanitarian, and she vowed to dedicate her life to giving back to her community, her continent and the world. Grounded by the African concept of ubuntu --- “I am because we are” --- I AM A GIRL FROM AFRICA charts Elizabeth’s quest in pursuit of her dream from the small village of Goromonzi to Harare, London, New York and beyond. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
MY RIDE OR DIE by Leslie Cohen (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Rachel Jacobs and Katie Koster
Fall in love. Get married. Turn to your female friends to be truly understood. Amanda and Sophie decide it’s time to flip the script. Why not spend their lives with each other and keep men on the side for fun, sex and occasionally fixing things around the house? They will rely on each other and give men the secondary role that they deserve. And much to their surprise, it actually works. They fix up a run-down brownstone and create the home they’ve always wanted. Soon, they have love and emotional support, as well as a wide variety of male “crushes” on the side. But when one of their crushes becomes something more, Amanda and Sophie must reconsider the life they’ve begun to build and how far they’re willing to go to keep it. Reviewed by Alison Lee.
WHEN A STRANGER COMES TO TOWN edited by Michael Koryta (Mystery/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Cindy Kay, Janina Edwards, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Charles Constant, Sam Dewhurst-Phillips, Caroline McLaughlin and Chris Andrew Ciulla
It’s been said that all great literature boils down to one of two stories --- a man takes a journey, or a stranger comes to town. While mystery writers have been successfully using both approaches for generations, there’s something undeniably alluring in the nature of a stranger: the uninvited guest, the unacquainted neighbor, the fish out of water. No matter how or where they appear, strangers are walking mysteries, complete unknowns in once-familiar territories who disrupt our lives with unease and wonder. 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. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD by Alena Dillon (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Frankie Corzo and Mikhalia Aaseng
For Sera Wheeler, the Olympics is the reason for everything. It’s why she trains 30 hours a week and starves herself to under 100 pounds. For her mother, Charlene --- hungry for glory she never had --- it’s why she rises before dawn to drive Sera to practice in a different state. It’s why, when Sera’s best friend reports the gymnastics doctor to the authority who selects the Olympic Team, Sera denies what she knows about his treatments, thus preserving favor. Their friendship shatters. Sera doubles down, taping broken toes, numbing torn muscles and pouring her family’s resources into the sport. Soon she isn’t training for the love of gymnastics. She’s training to make her disloyalty worthwhile. No matter the cost. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
TOWER OF BABEL by Michael Sears (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Richard Poe
Ted Molloy was once a high-powered Manhattan lawyer, but after a spectacular fall from grace, he has found himself back on his home turf in Queens, scraping by as a foreclosure profiteer. It’s a grubby business, but a safe one --- until Ted’s case sourcer, a mostly reformed small-time conman named Richie Rubiano, turns up murdered shortly after tipping Ted off to an improbably lucrative lead. With Richie’s widow on his back and shadows of the past popping up at every turn, Ted realizes he has gotten himself embroiled in a murder investigation. His quest for the truth will take him all over Queens, plunging him into the machinations of greedy developers, mobsters, enraged activists, old litigator foes and old-school New York City operators. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
ANYWHERE FOR YOU by Abbie Greaves (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Julie Teal
Mary O’Connor appears at Ealing Broadway station every day and holds out a sign bearing a heartrending message: Come Home Jim. While others pass her by without a thought, Alice, a junior reporter at the Ealing Bugle, asks Mary to tell her story. Many years ago, Mary met the charming and romantic Jim Whitnell. She was certain she’d found her other half, until one day he vanished without any explanation. But Mary believes that Jim truly loved her and will return --- especially because she’s recently received grainy phone calls from him saying he misses her. Alice quietly begins her own investigation into Jim’s disappearance, unraveling a decade-long story filled with desire, heartbreak and hope. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 27th
Below are some notable titles releasing on April 27th 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 26th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE BOMBER MAFIA: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War by Malcolm Gladwell (History)
In THE BOMBER MAFIA, Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history.
FINDING ASHLEY by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
In this blockbuster novel from Danielle Steel, two estranged sisters get the chance to connect again and right the wrongs of the past.
REUNION BEACH: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank by Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, Patti Callahan, Mary Alice Monroe, and more (Fiction/Short Stories)
In this warm and moving anthology, a group of bestselling authors and writers pay tribute to legendary, larger-than-life New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy.
SHOOTOUT AT SUGAR CREEK: A Caleb York Western by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins (Western)
Legendary crime writer Mickey Spillane's celebrated tin-star hero Caleb York returns in the explosive Western saga by New York Times bestselling author Max Allan Collins. This time, Sheriff York will have to keep his wits about him as he goes toe-to-toe with a powerful cattle baroness who is manipulative, clever and out for revenge.
SOOLEY by John Grisham (Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author John Grisham takes you to a different kind of court in his first basketball novel. Samuel “Sooley” Sooleymon is a raw, young talent with big hoop dreams…and even bigger challenges off the court.
THREE DREAMERS: A Memoir of Family by Lorenzo Carcaterra (Memoir)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of SLEEPERS offers a heartfelt homage to the women who taught him courage, kindness and the power of storytelling: his mother, his grandmother and his late wife.
WHEREABOUTS by Jhumpa Lahiri (Fiction)
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE LOWLAND and INTERPRETER OF MALADIES has written her first novel in nearly a decade. Exuberance and dread, attachment and estrangement: in WHEREABOUTS, Jhumpa Lahiri stretches her themes to the limit.
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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