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Loooong Weekend Ahead; Line Up the Books!
The peonies are in bloom, as well as the irises, and we had a great soaking rain last night that ensured that all the herbs and flowers that I planted last weekend were watered well, as well as the ones that I have not planted. There is still much more to do, but I am loving seeing some progress outside.
The weather here looks like many versions of wet, so we filled this newsletter for those of you who also see soggy days ahead with much to explore!
Last Saturday, I read FALLING by T.J. Newman, which releases on July 6th. I had seen T.J. present this book twice at publisher previews, and both times I could not wait to read it. The promo copy is so spot on that I am going to share it here: “You just boarded a flight to New York. There are 143 other passengers onboard. What you don’t know is that 30 minutes before the flight, your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight.” It’s so well done and written at a super brisk pace. T.J. is a former flight attendant, and she knows her stuff. It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection --- and I will be interviewing her.
When I saw that Joshua Henkin had a new book coming out, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, I was excited. That was last year; it was held because of the pandemic, and I kept it on my shelf to read it closer to its release. And I am so glad I did since I wanted to be sure that the details in it were fresh come publication time, which is now June 15th.
It's 1976 when the book opens. Pru Steiner is taking a class with Spence Robin, a young Shakespeare professor who is quickly making a name for himself. Their relationship moves from professional to personal in no time, and eventually they marry. It’s all quick but feels perfect. Spence is the pride of the university; he is renowned and beloved. Three decades pass when Pru begins to notice that something is off with Spence. He lacks the intellectual energy that she has known him to have. It’s something cognitive, and slowly Spence is slipping away, though he is still in his 50s. Pru is lonely, and at that moment a man comes along who she feels something for --- something outside her marriage. And she is conflicted.
Also layered into the story is their daughter, Sarah, who is now in medical school in San Francisco, and Spence’s son from his first marriage, who has a tricky relationship with his father and stepmother. I was drawn in immediately; it, too, will be a Bets On selection, and I will be interviewing Joshua the week of June 14th.
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you this week. First up is Jean Hanff Korelitz, whose latest psychological thriller, THE PLOT, is a Bets On pick that has been getting so much attention lately...and deservedly so. Jean and I touched on a number of subjects, including who owns ideas, plagiarism, and how she created her story within the story. We also discussed the various adaptations of her books --- YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, which aired last year on HBO as "The Undoing", a miniseries starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant; and ADMISSION, which was adapted as a 2013 film with Tina Fey, Paul Rudd and Lily Tomlin --- as well as her very successful BOOKTHEWRITER pop-up book group program. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
My second interview is with Laura Dave, whose new domestic thriller, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, is Reese’s Book Club pick for May and a Bets On selection. Laura and I rolled from topic to topic. We talked a lot about the writing of this book, which she started back in 2012, though she had conceptualized the main theme earlier than that, and how the story changed along the way. She is adapting the novel as a limited series for Hello Sunshine (it will run on Apple TV+) with her husband, Josh Singer, who wrote the screenplay for Spotlight --- and hearing their plans for that was fun, including their mega-lead star. We then bonded over our mutual love of cooking and how that is a major part of her life. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Drum roll for audiobooks... Last month, I moderated a panel as part of the Newburyport Literary Festival featuring 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. We discussed the ins and outs of audiobook work and what the incredible growth in the industry (the audiobook market is predicted to reach $3.5 billion this year) means for how we consume books and how publishers present them to us. Click here for our conversation. Above you can see me with (from left to right) January, freelance writer and editor Leslie Hendrickson (who introduced us), Robert and Imogen. If you’d like to take a look at the festival’s other events, they're all available for viewing on this page. They had some terrific programming.
On May 14th, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. Representatives from 21 publishers presented more than 75 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between June and November of this year. You can watch the event in its entirety here. We will be breaking out the presentations by publisher and sharing their individual videos on our YouTube channel over the next couple of weeks.
If you would like to know more about the books, click here to access a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title. Included in the video is a retrospective of the last 10 years of Book Group Speed Dating, where we call out 12 books from each year that we know have resonated with readers over the past decade. A spreadsheet of these titles also can be found on this page. Many thanks to our fabulous producer Austin for putting together such an impressive montage --- and for saying “great idea” when I suggested a 10th anniversary retrospective!
As you can see, there are some terrific books releasing this summer and fall that you will want to add to your TBR lists!
This week’s reviews include the following:
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LEGACY: Nora Roberts’ new novel is about a mother and a daughter, ambition and romance, and a traumatic past reawakened by a terrifying threat.
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PROJECT HAIL MARY: A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in Andy Weir’s new science-based thriller and his latest New York Times bestseller. Note: we have TWO reviews of the book as our reviewers Ray Palen and Curtis Edmonds were so excited about its release --- and neither came away disappointed.
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THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED: This instant #1 bestseller is YA author John Green’s first work of nonfiction --- an essay collection adapted and expanded from his podcast of the same name, in which he reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale.
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THE PHOTOGRAPHER: An upcoming Bets On selection, Mary Dixie Carter’s debut psychological thriller is about a young woman who photographs the birthday party of a child from a privileged family, and then insinuates herself into their lives. Readers spend a lot of time inside her head, and it’s one place full of dark imagination. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR, Pam Jenoff’s new historical novel, which we reviewed last week. Click here for my commentary. If you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Pam, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here.
Books Dad Will Want to Read…and Can Win!
There’s still plenty of time to enter our 16th annual Father’s Day contest. We’re giving five readers the opportunity to win 12 outstanding fiction and nonfiction titles for themselves or their dad. Among them are BUBBLEBALL: Inside the NBA's Fight to Save a Season by Ben Golliver, FIND YOU FIRST by Linwood Barclay, and THE HERO CODE: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived by Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired). To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 18th at noon ET.
Summer Reading Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away HOMELAND ELEGIES by Ayad Akhtar, THE LIES THAT BIND by Emily Giffin, and THE STEPSISTERS by Susan Mallery. Next week’s prizes will be THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP by Susan Wiggs and THE WARSAW ORPHAN by Kelly Rimmer. The first contest of the week will go live on Tuesday, June 1st at noon ET.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, June 11th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win GOLDEN GIRL by Elin Hilderbrand and MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Both release on Tuesday, and we will feature our reviews of them in next week’s newsletter.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Now that the world is opening up again, many authors are beginning to resume in-person events. We’re curious to find out if you’re planning to attend live author events, and if so, when you would feel comfortable doing so. That’s the subject of our latest poll; let us know by clicking here.
In our previous poll, we listed 25 fiction titles that are releasing in paperback this month and asked which of them, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Here are your top five picks: THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Fiona Davis (53%), THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES by Kristin Harmel (53%), THE GIVER OF STARS by Jojo Moyes (51%), THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides (49%), and THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (45%). Click here for all the results.
Book Club Event News
Oprah delivered the keynote speech at this week’s U.S. Book Show, a three-day virtual trade event sponsored by Publishers Weekly. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Oprah’s Book Club, and Oprah revealed that her next pick will be announced on June 15th. She said, “[L]et me tell you… if anything in the world makes me optimistic, it’s the discovery of an emerging writer, someone whose vision creates a shift in how the reader sees the world. And I know you all share that joy in turning the pages, feeling, ‘Wow, that sentence just blew my mind!’ I love it when that happens. Or ‘hmm...never thought of it that way before.’ Or --- ‘no, please don’t let anything bad happen to that character!’”
This Tuesday, June 1st at 3pm ET, Chris Bohjalian will be discussing his new thriller, HOUR OF THE WITCH --- the Barnes & Noble Book Club pick for May --- live on B&N’s Facebook page with Jodi Picoult. Actress Kaley Cuoco, who stars in the HBO series adaptation of Bohjalian’s novel, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, will also appear for a short chat.
Speaking of TV Book Adaptations...
We found out yesterday that "Firefly Lane", the hit Netflix series based on Kristin Hannah's bestselling novel, is returning for a second season! Its two stars, Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke, announced the renewal via a Zoom video where they also answered questions from fans about the show. You can watch the big announcement here.
Sad news came in on Wednesday with the passing of not one, but two legends in children’s book publishing.
Eric Carle, the award-winning author and illustrator of more than 70 books for children --- including his most well-known title, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR --- passed away Sunday at the age of 91 from kidney failure. He received many distinguished awards and honors for his work, including, in 2003, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his lifetime contribution to children's literature and illustration. With his wife, Barbara, he cofounded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 2002. Click here to see readers’ tributes to Carle as they share what his work meant to them. And here’s a wonderful piece from 2019 where he talked about THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR on its 50th anniversary. I am now sitting here thinking about BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? and POLAR BEAR, POLAR BEAR, WHAT DO YOU HEAR? I want to visit that museum in Amherst!
We also mourn the loss of children’s book author and illustrator Lois Ehlert, who died Tuesday at the age of 86 from natural causes. Best known for her cut-and-paste shapes that made her work so distinctive, Ehlert’s numerous books include CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, HOLEY MOLEY, TEN LITTLE CATERPILLARS, BOO TO YOU!, PLANTING A RAINBOW, GROWING VEGETABLE SOUP and COLOR ZOO, the latter of which received a Caldecott Honor. Click here to read more about her life and career. How many of us read CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM to children more than once? I know I did.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Loretta wrote this about THE LAST FLIGHT. “I was fortunate to win that book, and the book is a winner too!”
WATERLOG: A Swimmer’s Journey Through Britain by Roger Deakin: Pete Mulvihill, the co-owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco, was crazy about this book, and he worked for years to get it published in the United States. Craig Popelars, the publisher at Tin House Books, is an avid open water swimmer, and when he read it, he knew he had to publish it. Deal done. They went on an amazing open water adventure to celebrate the book's publication (it released on Tuesday). I found myself jealous of so many of the beautiful locations where they swam, sharing their story on Instagram. Here’s a piece about it.
Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir on Netflix: This is a terrific piece about Amy and her work --- and life. It's something I tripped over and enjoyed.
The Last Days, a 1998 documentary executive produced by Steven Spielberg, on Netflix: This is another piece I found in a random feed. It looks at a group of survivors from the Holocaust in Hungary.
"The Kominsky Method" on Netflix: We missed season two, and since season three kicks off this weekend, we have been playing catch-up.
The Dry: Based on the book by Jane Harper, this movie is playing in select theaters and also will be available to purchase via streaming. It originally just aired in Australia.
"Mare of Easttown" on HBO: The finale is coming up on Sunday; it’s so well done.
"The Chi" on Showtime: The new season begins on Sunday. I have not had time to preview any episodes. In the past, it could be tough watching, but I think it's so well done.
Mercury goes retrograde tomorrow and will be there until June 22nd. I am bracing myself for all that has the potential to go out of whack!
Here’s to a much-needed loooong weekend. Greg is in Alaska on a charter cruise through the Inland Passage photographing lighthouses; he shared a terrific photo from there last night. Note: he did not take FALLING to read on the plane, but when I was chatting with T.J. I learned that she flew for Alaska Airlines. Cory is headed to the beach for the weekend, though there is a very soggy forecast on tap here. I have some wonderful books to read (I keep playing with “what to read next”)...and in between the rain, there is lots more to plant. I also need to find the gazillion zinnia seeds that I have left over from last year that I put somewhere safe. If only I could remember where that might be.
Read on, and have a great week....enjoying the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. As you move through the day, keep in mind that we are commemorating those who died while serving. Often this can slip through the cracks...or the sand.
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: LEGACY by Nora Roberts
LEGACY by Nora Roberts (Romantic Suspense)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Adrian Rizzo was seven when she met her father for the first time. That was the day he nearly killed her --- before her mother, Lina, stepped in. Soon after, Adrian was dropped off at her grandparents’ house in Maryland. A decade later, Adrian has created her own line of yoga and workout videos. While Lina dismisses the death threats that Adrian starts getting as a routine part of her daughter’s growing celebrity, Adrian can’t help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling. They continue after she returns to Maryland and becomes reacquainted with Raylan, her childhood crush. Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Reviews: PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir
PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ray Porter
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission --- and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. But he can’t remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery --- and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he has to do it all alone. Or does he? Reviewed by Ray Palen and Curtis Edmonds.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Read reviews by Ray Palen and Curtis Edmonds.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
On May 14th, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. More than 75 books that would make great book group selections for Summer/Fall 2021 were presented by 21 publishers.
You can take a look at the video of the entire presentation here. Individual presentations from these publishers will be available shortly on our YouTube channel:
And Other Stories • Blair • Bloomsbury • Deep Vellum • The Feminist Press • Godine • Hachette Book Group • Harlequin Trade Publishing • Haymarket Books • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Keylight Books • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group • Random House Publishing Group • Simon & Schuster • Soho Press • Sourcebooks • Spiegel & Grau • Two Dollar Radio • William Morrow • World Editions • W. W. Norton
If you would like to know more about these books, here is a link to a page with the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title. Included in the video is a retrospective of the last 10 years of Book Group Speed Dating, where we spotlight 12 books from each year that have been popular with readers over the past decade. A spreadsheet of these titles also can be found here.
Click here to watch our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by true events, THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff tells the story of Sadie Gault, a young woman who takes refuge with her pregnant mother in the sewers beneath the Kraków Ghetto as the Nazis begin to ship Polish Jews to the camps in the middle of World War II. One day, Ella Stepanek, a well-to-do Polish girl, spies Sadie through a grate, and they strike up a cautious conversation.
Horrified by their situation, Ella offers to bring Sadie and her mother food and supplies, putting herself in potential danger. As the war worsens, so does the risk --- and each day there are challenges for both young women.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Pam Jenoff.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 16th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our 12 featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 18th at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED
by John Green
THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by John Green
The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale --- from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar. Funny, complex and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mary Dixie Carter
As a photographer, Delta Dawn observes the seemingly perfect lives of New York City’s elite: snapping photos of their children’s birthday parties, transforming images of stiff hugs and tearstained faces into visions of pure joy, and creating moments these parents long for. But when Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s 11th birthday, she finds herself wishing she wasn’t behind the lens but a part of the scene --- in the Straub family’s gorgeous home and elegant life. That’s when Delta puts her plan in place, by babysitting for Natalie; befriending her mother, Amelia; finding chances to listen to her father, Fritz. Soon she’s bathing in the master bathtub and eyeing the beautifully finished garden apartment in their townhouse. It seems she can never get close enough, until she discovers that photos aren’t all she can manipulate. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through the end of August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, June 1st at noon ET.
This year’s featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
From left to right: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Beatriz Williams
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.
Tuesday, June 1st at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Barnes & Noble will host a Facebook Live discussion for their May book club pick, HOUR OF THE WITCH, featuring Chris Bohjalian in conversation with Jodi Picoult. Actress Kaley Cuoco will also appear for a short chat about Bohjalian’s novel-turned-TV-series, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
Tuesday, June 1st at 7:30pm ET: Greenlight Bookstore: Greenlight is thrilled to host Zakiya Dalila Harris for the launch of her highly anticipated first novel, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL. Brit Bennett, the bestselling author of THE MOTHERS and THE VANISHING HALF, joins Harris in conversation for the launch of this stellar debut.
Tuesday, June 1st at 8pm ET: Anderson's Bookshops: Join Anderson's Bookshops for a virtual event with Mary Dixie Carter to celebrate the release of her debut novel, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Mary Dixie will be in conversation with fellow author Sally Hepworth (THE GOOD SISTER).
Tuesday, June 1st at 9pm ET: Pages: A Bookstore: {pages} is thrilled to present the launch event for MALIBU RISING, Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel. Taylor will be in conversation with Julia Whelan, who narrates the audio version of the book.
Wednesday, June 2nd at 6pm ET: Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books: Uncle Bobbie's is excited to welcome Zakiya Dalila Harris for an insightful discussion about her upcoming novel, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL. She will be joined in conversation by Raven Leilani, author of the critically acclaimed 2020 release, LUSTER.
Wednesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm ET: FoxTale Book Shoppe: Join FoxTale Book Shoppe as they welcome Mary Dixie Carter in conversation with Rachel Hawkins discussing THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
Wednesday, June 2nd 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 talk to Mary Bly (LIZZIE & DANTE) and Sonali Dev (INCENSE AND SENSIBILITY).
Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm ET: OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW Online Book Launch: Join Beatriz Williams in conversation with Marie Benedict for a virtual celebration of the launch of Beatriz's new historical novel, OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW, in cooperation with their favorite independent booksellers.
Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Taylor Jenkins Reid as she discusses her new book, MALIBU RISING, in conversation with actor, writer and producer Robinne Lee.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Linwood Barclay (FIND YOU FIRST)
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Elizabeth Brundage (THE VANISHING POINT)
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Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL)
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Joshua Henkin (MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS)
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T. J. Newman (FALLING)
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Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
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Wendy Wax (THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Brittany Pressley, Jennifer Jill Araya, Gary Tiedemann and Jesse Vilinsky
Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold. Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they'll find. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
WAR ON THE BORDER: Villa, Pershing, the Texas Rangers, and an American Invasion by Jeff Guinn (History)
Audiobook available, read by Timothy Andrés Pabon
Jeff Guinn, chronicler of the Southwestern US and of American undesirables, tells the riveting story of Pancho Villa’s bloody raid on a small US border town that sparked a violent conflict with the US. The “Punitive Expedition” was launched in retaliation under Pershing’s command and brought together the Army, National Guard and Texas Rangers --- who were little more than organized vigilantes with a profound dislike of Mexicans on both sides of the border. Opposing this motley military brigade was Villa, a guerrilla fighter who commanded an ever-changing force of conscripts in northern Mexico. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read an interview with Jeff Guinn.
THE SOULMATE EQUATION by Christina Lauren (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Patti Murin
Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. But then she hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that is predicted to change dating forever. Her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly’s founder, Dr. River Peña. This stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. However, she slowly begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist --- and the science behind a soulmate --- than she thought. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
PHASE SIX by Jim Shepard (Apocalyptic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Marno
In a tiny settlement on the west coast of Greenland, 11-year-old Aleq and his best friend, frequent trespassers at a mining site exposed to mountains of long-buried and thawing permafrost, carry what they pick up back into their village. PHASE SIX follows Aleq, one of the few survivors of the initial outbreak, through his identification and radical isolation as the likely index patient. While he shoulders both a crushing guilt for what he may have done and the hopes of a world looking for answers, we also meet two Epidemic Intelligence Service investigators dispatched from the CDC --- Jeannine, an epidemiologist and daughter of Algerian immigrants, and Danice, an M.D. and lab wonk. As they attempt to head off the cataclysm, Jeannine does what she can to sustain Aleq. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
LAST SUMMER AT THE GOLDEN HOTEL by Elyssa Friedland (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
In its heyday, The Golden Hotel was the crown jewel of the hotter-than-hot Catskills vacation scene. For more than 60 years, the Goldman and Weingold families have presided over this glamorous resort that served as a second home for well-heeled guests and celebrities. But the Catskills are not what they used to be --- and neither is the relationship between the Goldmans and the Weingolds. As the facilities and management begin to fall apart, a tempting offer to sell forces the two families together again to make a heart-wrenching decision. Can they save their beloved Golden, or is it too late? Long-buried secrets emerge, new dramas and financial scandal erupt, and everyone from the traditional grandparents to the millennial grandchildren wants a say in the hotel’s future. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE HUMMINGBIRDS' GIFT: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings by Sy Montgomery (Nature)
Audiobook available, read by Sy Montgomery
As one of the most beautiful and intriguing birds found in nature, hummingbirds fascinate people around the world. The lightest birds in the sky, hummingbirds are capable of incredible feats, such as flying backwards, diving at speeds of 61 MPH, and beating their wings more than 60 times a second. Miraculous creatures, they are also incredibly vulnerable when they first emerge from their eggs. With tenderness and patience, Brenda Sherburn rescues abandoned hummingbirds and nurses them back to health until they can fly away and live in the wild. In THE HUMMINGBIRDS' GIFT, the extraordinary care that Brenda provides her peanut-sized patients is revealed and, in the process, shows us just how truly amazing hummingbirds are. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE LIVING SEA OF WAKING DREAMS by Richard Flanagan (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Essie Davis
In a world of perennial fire and growing extinctions, Anna's aged mother is dying --- if her three children would just allow it. Condemned by their pity to living, subjected to increasingly desperate medical interventions, she instead turns her focus to her hospital window, through which she escapes into visions of horror and delight. When Anna's finger vanishes and a few months later her knee disappears, Anna too feels the pull of the window. She begins to see that all around her others are similarly vanishing, yet no one else notices. All Anna can do is keep her mother alive. But the window keeps opening wider, taking Anna and the reader ever deeper into an eerily beautiful story of grief and possibility, of loss and love and orange-bellied parrots. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
HANG THE MOON by Alexandria Bellefleur (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Sweet
Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. When his sister's best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Getting involved would be a terrible idea --- her stay is temporary and he wants forever --- but when Brendon learns that Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE ROOFTOP PARTY by Ellen Meister (Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Stacey Glemboski
Dana Barry, the Shopping Channel’s star host, stops by the company’s rooftop party to pitch the new CEO her brilliant idea that just might save the flagging business, her job and possibly her love life. As she chats with the smarmy executive, he backs her into a dark corner. She escapes his lecherous grasp and blacks out on the dance floor. When she comes to, the CEO is dead, fallen from the roof. Or was he pushed? And if so, by whom? It’s hard to know, but one thing is certain: Dana was close enough to be a suspect, yet she can’t remember much about those minutes. Now she has to use all her skills to prove her innocence to everyone, including her police detective boyfriend --- and herself. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
PURRFECTLY DEAD: A Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot Mystery by Dixie Lyle (Cozy Mystery)
When zillionairess Zelda Zoransky throws a party, she means business. Assistant extraordinaire Deidre “Foxtrot” Lancaster knows she’s in for a night when anything can --- and will --- happen. The evening’s festivities include a high-stakes game between two escape artists locked in a bitter rivalry. The magic turns tragic when one of the escape artists ends up dead. This is no disappearing act --- it’s murder. The suspects include a scientist with a 3D printer, a psychedelically impaired rock star, and a serpent-tongued ghost with ties to the Garden of Eden. Now it’s up to Foxtrot, Tango and Whiskey to figure out which guest committed the crime before they reach the end of this deadly game of Clue. Reviewed by Carly Silver.
ANIMALS by Will Staples (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Dion Graham
When rhino poachers kill two of his fellow rangers in Kruger Park, South African Defense Force veteran Cobus Venter reaches his breaking point. Quitting his job, he embarks on a vigilante mission to take down the animal-trafficking syndicate from the inside. Meanwhile, in Florida, insurance investigator Randall Knight is called to a private roadside zoo, where a new tiger cub of suspect lineage brought a virus that wiped out all the zoo's tigers. The disease is just one species jump away from erupting into a deadly global human pandemic. What starts as a simple insurance claim leads Knight to discover a shocking new evolution in the business of illicit animal trafficking. Both men must stay alive long enough to stop a vicious international triad from ending wildlife as we know it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 1st
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 1st 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 May 31st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BARCELONA DREAMING by Rupert Thomson (Fiction)
Set on the eve of the financial crash of 2008, this evocative novel is made up of three stories linked by time and place, and also by the moving, unexpected interactions of a rich cast of characters.
THE EAGLE'S CLAW: A Novel of the Battle of Midway by Jeff Shaara (Historical Fiction)
In a riveting tale that picks up where TO WAKE THE GIANT left off, New York Times bestselling author Jeff Shaara transports us to the Battle of Midway in another masterpiece of military historical fiction.
GOLDEN GIRL by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
In this satisfying page-turner from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine), a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl.
JACKPOT: A Teddy Fay Novel Featuring Stone Barrington by Stuart Woods and Bryon Quertermous (Thriller/Adventure)
When Peter Barrington and Ben Bachetti come under threat while working at a film festival abroad, Teddy Fay is lured to the glittering city of Macau to resolve the problem.
THE KOBALT DOSSIER: An Evan Ryder Novel by Eric Van Lustbader (Thriller/Adventure)
After thwarting the violent, international, fascist syndicate known as Nemesis, Evan Ryder returns to Washington, D.C., to find her secret division of the DOD shut down and her deceased sister’s children missing.
LIZZIE & DANTE by Mary Bly (Romance)
LIZZIE & DANTE is the insightful, audacious and deeply romantic story of a woman whose life turns upside down after she meets an enigmatic chef on vacation in Italy.
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of 24 hours, their lives will change forever.
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Thriller)
Urgent, propulsive and sharp as a knife, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL is an electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams (Historical Thriller)
The New York Times bestselling author of HER LAST FLIGHT returns with a gripping and profoundly human story of Cold War espionage and family devotion.
THE RIDE OF HER LIFE: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts (Biography)
THE RIDE OF HER LIFE is the triumphant true story of a woman who rode her horse across America in the 1950s, fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: An Ali Reynolds Mystery by J.A. Jance (Mystery/Thriller)
Ali Reynolds’ personal life is thrown into turmoil just as two men show up on the scene --- a former employee of her husband’s who has just been released from prison and a serial killer who sets his sights a little too close to home.
THE WARSAW ORPHAN by Kelly Rimmer (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by the real-life heroine who saved thousands of Jewish children during World War II, THE WARSAW ORPHAN is Kelly Rimmer’s most anticipated novel since her bestselling sensation, THE THINGS WE CANNOT SAY.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Attending Author Events in Person
As the world is opening up, more authors are beginning to do in-person events again. How do you feel about attending in-person author events? Please check all that apply.
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I would like to do this as soon as possible. I am ready now!
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I do not feel comfortable doing this now, but I hope to be ready this summer.
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I do not feel comfortable doing this now, but I hope to be ready this fall.
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I do not feel comfortable doing this now, but I hope to be ready this winter.
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I do not feel comfortable doing this now, and I am not sure when I will be ready.
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I have never attended an in-person author event, but I would be interested in doing this.
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I have never attended an in-person author event, and I have no interest in doing this.
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I wish there were author events that occurred close enough to my home for me to be considering this.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 11th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from May 28th to June 11th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of GOLDEN GIRL by Elin Hilderbrand and MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
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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