August 6, 2021
 August 6, 2021Ah, August! Last night, as we sat on the deck after dinner with the night bugs calling one another all around us, I found myself vowing to treasure the rest of the summer. There is a month until Labor Day.  I actually started working on this goal last weekend by plucking not just one but two books from my shelves to enjoy. You can see them oh-so-artfully displayed above. WE ARE THE BRENNANS by Tracey Lange is a large family story with loads of secrets, some going back a generation. Sunday Brennan left home for California five years ago, leaving lots undone behind her. Now she is back in Westchester County, New York, after being convicted of a drunk driving charge. Back in her childhood room. Back dealing with her brothers and her widowed father. And back where her former fiancée still lives. But in just one plot twist here, he married someone else while she was finding and losing herself on the coast. There are so many family secrets that threaten this already fractured group. I enjoyed it; it is fast-paced and laced with believable characters and action. CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara was one of the books that readers who attended July's "Bookaccino Live" event were most looking forward to reading --- and their anticipation is well founded. It is set in Chicago in the early '40s as a Japanese family is resettled there after spending time in an internment camp in California. The title refers to the two streets at the crossroads in the city where this family lives. Told through the eyes of Aki Ito, readers get a strong sense of place, as well as story. Aki and her parents arrive in Chicago to learn that her sister, Rose, died in a subway accident. Was it truly an accident, was she pushed, or was it a suicide, the latter of which seems unfathomable to Aki? She takes it upon herself to defend her sister’s honor and learn what happened, all while juggling her parents' readjustment issues with life in Chicago. I never knew that those who were in internment camps were moved around the country. Aki’s family had a modest but successful way of life before Pearl Harbor upended all that they knew. Now they are in the Midwest without any of their personal belongings or the lives that they have held dear and loved. CLARK AND DIVISION will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, and I am planning to interview Naomi. She did copious amounts of research, and I look forward to hearing more about it.  We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter. First up is Megan Abbott, whose latest thriller, THE TURNOUT, is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. Sisters Dara and Marie Durant, whose parents ran the prestigious Durant School of Dance, have trained in ballet since they were children. Following the sudden deaths of their parents, the girls begin running the dance school together. Working with them is Charlie, a ballet student who was injured early in his career. He was like a son to the family and is now married to Dara. At the height of one of the most important events of the year, the annual performance of "The Nutcracker," a suspicious accident occurs that throws this troika and the entire studio into a tailspin. My conversation with Megan was fast-paced as we talked plot, characters and what a "turnout” is, as well as how tension is built in her writing. We also touched on her work in the entertainment industry, both on HBO’s “The Deuce” and her role as the creator, executive producer and showrunner of USA’s “Dare Me”, which is based on her book of the same name. Megan will be adapting THE TURNOUT for film as well, and we talked about the differences between writing a book and writing for the screen. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Our reviewer Katherine Weissman, who is passionate about ballet and thus immediately gravitated towards the book, has this to say: “From the beginning of THE TURNOUT, [Abbott] establishes a mood of conflict, tension and illicit desire, creating disquieting parallels between ballet and a girl’s emerging sexuality…. It is atmospheric and suspenseful and full of marvelously juicy behind-the-scenes details.” Our reviewers select the books that they would like to review, and I was so happy to see that Katherine picked this one. Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest  My second interview is with Chandler Baker, whose new novel, THE HUSBANDS, is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick and an upcoming Bets On selection. Nora Spangler is an attorney with more than her career on her plate. She’s up for partnership at her law firm, but at home she’s juggling everything when it comes to taking care of the kids and doing the chores. Her husband works hard at the office, but on the home front his task list is a lot lighter, and he is much more relaxed. When they plan to move to a new neighborhood, Nora finds the women there less challenged by their household tasks, as their husbands are helping out a lot more around the house. What’s happening there? I talked to Chandler about “the second shift” and what it means for women, especially those with young children --- as well as the nod that THE HUSBANDS gives to THE STEPFORD WIVES. She mentions the book that her friends were reading and discussing that inspired the story. We zeroed in on the characters and related their choices to our own lives, all while doing our best not to give anything away. And she talked about writing the screenplay for the book. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Rebecca Munro has our review of the book. Here's a preview: "Campy, devious and unfailingly relatable, THE HUSBANDS is yet another brilliant feminist thriller from a woman who I hope is nowhere near done poking holes in the patriarchy’s hold over women. Baker is a remarkably cunning writer, and I cannot wait to see which aspect of society she sinks her teeth into next." Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.  The legendary Stephen King is back with a new thriller, BILLY SUMMERS, which introduces readers to a killer for hire who now wants to get out of the business. But before he does, there is one last hit that this decorated Iraq war vet must handle. Billy is a Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done. So what could possibly go wrong? How about everything. Ray Palen has our review and calls it "a complex read, but the beauty of the book is in the retelling of Billy’s final job and his burgeoning relationship with Alice. King always throws in references for his loyal readers, and there is a nice one here about the Overlook, the hotel where THE SHINING was set." Announcing a New Bookreporter Feature!  We are kicking off this feature with two books by Lisa Unger: CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (“In Case You Missed It”) and LAST GIRL GHOSTED (“A Look Ahead”). CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 released in paperback in July and was a Bets On pick when it came out in hardcover last year. In it, a chance encounter unravels a stunning web of lies. I had a blast chatting with Lisa last year for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. You can watch it here and listen to the podcast here. Lisa’s next book, LAST GIRL GHOSTED, will be in stores on October 5th. Secrets, obsession and vengeance converge in a riveting psychological thriller about an online dating match turned deadly cat-and-mouse game. I am intrigued by the book’s tagline, Think twice before you swipe, and look forward to checking it out soon.  We are featuring two New Release Spotlights in this newsletter. First up is ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES by Charlotte McConaghy, which is this month's #1 Indie Next pick and was a prize in a Summer Reading contest this week. Inti Flynn is in Scotland to lead a team of biologists tasked with reintroducing 14 gray wolves into the remote Highlands. Her goal is to heal both the dying landscape and her twin sister, Aggie, who has been severely impacted by the terrible secrets that drove them out of Alaska. When a farmer is found dead, Inti believes that the town will place the blame squarely on the wolves, so she makes a reckless decision to protect them. Rebecca Munro, who recently reviewed McConaghy's debut novel for us, MIGRATIONS, says, "Whether you’re in for an exquisite study of wolves, a murder-mystery straddled across viewpoints and experiences, or even a hard-fought love story, ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES has it all. McConaghy will enrapture any reader with her gorgeous, vivid descriptions of nature, life and death, and the universal truths hidden between them both. Like MIGRATIONS, this book will change the way you think about the world and your place in it."  Our second New Release Spotlight title is THE READING LIST by debut novelist Sara Nisha Adams. Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. An intrigued Aleisha impulsively decides to read every book on the list. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport her from the painful realities she’s facing at home. Meanwhile, Mukesh lives a quiet life after the death of his beloved wife. When he arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list to him. Could this be the lifeline he so desperately needs? We will feature our review of THE READING LIST in next week’s newsletter. Please also note that this was the #1 selection for most eagerly anticipated books among those who attended July's "Bookaccino Live" event. Quick Takes on Regular Features We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. August's roundup includes the debut of Hulu's "Nine Perfect Strangers"; the five-episode miniseries "Gone for Good" on Netflix; the season five premiere of Hallmark Channel's "Chesapeake Shores"; the season one finale of "The Mysterious Benedict Society" on Disney+; and the DVD releases of Those Who Wish Me Dead, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and 12 Mighty Orphans.   It was announced this week that WE WERE NEVER HERE by Andrea Bartz is this month’s Reese’s Book Club pick, and THE GUILT TRIP by Sandie Jones is the Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. Be on the lookout for our reviews of both titles over the next few weeks. On Tuesday, Miranda Cowley Heller talked to Mackenzie Newcomb about THE PAPER PALACE, which was July’s B&N selection. If you missed their conversation, you can watch it here. I am excited to interview Miranda later this month as the book is a Bets On pick and one of my favorites of the year! For more August selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. The LibraryReads Top Pick is IF THE SHOE FITS, YA author Julie Murphy's reimagining of Cinderella for an adult audience, which we review this week. It's the first book in her Meant to Be series, which brings Disney princesses into the modern age, and it's also the latest "GMA" Buzz Pick. Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll In our previous poll, we wanted to know the format of the book(s) that you’re currently reading. Here are the results: Hardcover (55%), E-book (47%), Trade paperback (31%), Digital audiobook (19%), Mass market paperback (11%), Audiobook on disc (4%).  This is your last weekly newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” afternoon event, which will take place this Wednesday, August 11th at 2pm ET. I will present a number of titles releasing between August 10th and September 7th, along with a few from October, that I would like to get on your radar. Please keep in mind that attendees of the live event will be invited to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading. Those who do will be eligible to win a prize! Be sure to register here by 1pm ET on Wednesday, and we will send you a list of the featured titles before the event. News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: Betsy wrote, “I love to bake! I, too, have never mastered the pie crust. I have tried every one in the market. This one is by far the best.” I also love this pie crust; it’s this or the one from Trader Joe’s. Mary wrote with two peach recipes --- one for "an excellent fruit salad I’ve made for many years," as well as a hot curried fruit salad. I love that she shared these with me. The Olympics: While I watched swimming and gymnastics, this week I found myself enjoying some more random sports like shot put. It always amazes me at the range of sports to which people will devote themselves, knowing the hours, months and years it takes to compete on a level to be in the Olympics. I saw a very small portion of the coverage but enjoyed what I saw. I definitely was not as fixated on the coverage as in previous years, but I also did not watch anything else. I wrote most of this newsletter opener on my phone on the deck. It felt so nice not to be sitting on the couch with my laptop. I confess that I type with one finger on my phone, so it is not exactly a quick process, but changing things up is pretty liberating. I am having such fun reading THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I am interviewing Taylor on Tuesday, which I very much am looking forward to. Her latest, MALIBU RISING, is one of my favorite reads of the summer. Next up is LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger and the aforementioned THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer. I will be interviewing Kent and Jonathan as well. I am huge fans of both of their work, so this will be fun. We made spur-of-the-moment dinner plans tonight with our neighbors. Homemade pizza is on the menu, and I made peach ice cream from this recipe. I will report back on the latter next week. My parents are celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary on Saturday; I am so happy for them! Tom's sister and her family, along with his mom, are coming on Sunday, and shockingly both Greg and Cory are free to join us as well. Mark it down. We still have a lot of peaches, though we already have frozen many. Fruit Fresh before freezing is my new best product tip. I made a fabulous Peach Cobbler the other night, which I happily would remake, but our peaches are so sweet that I would cut the sugar. We also slathered peach barbecue sauce onto chicken. This weekend will include more peach salsa. Tom assures me that there still are plenty of peaches in the downstairs fridge. Fingers crossed that I can keep my mission to enjoy summer going. Read on, and have a great week. Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)    Featured Review: BILLY SUMMERS by Stephen King  BILLY SUMMERS by Stephen King (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott  THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker  THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. THE HUSBANDS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.  New Spotlight Feature:   Sometimes you hear about a book and just do not have time to read it. Other times, you have missed hearing about a book, and we would like to tell you about it. We do not want you to miss books that we think you will enjoy! In our new feature, "In Case You Missed It...and a Look Ahead", we are sharing a book that you might not have read, and we also are getting the author’s next book on your radar. So then you never will need to say, “I missed it!” We are kicking off the feature with two books by Lisa Unger: CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45, which released in paperback in July and was a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick when it came out in hardcover last year, and LAST GIRL GHOSTED, which will be in stores on October 5th. CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 by Lisa Unger (Psychological Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. LAST GIRL GHOSTED by Lisa Unger (Psychological Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read more in our  New Release Spotlight:  ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES by Charlotte McConaghy (Fiction) Inti is not the woman she once was, either, changed by the harm she’s witnessed --- inflicted by humans on both the wild and each other. Yet as the wolves surprise everyone by thriving, Inti begins to let her guard down, even opening herself up to the possibility of love. But when a farmer is found dead, Inti knows where the town will lay blame. Unable to accept that her wolves could be responsible, Inti makes a reckless decision to protect them. But if the wolves didn’t make the kill, then who did? And what will Inti do when the man she is falling for seems to be the prime suspect? Propulsive and spellbinding, Charlotte McConaghy's ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES is the unforgettable story of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves --- if she isn’t consumed by a wild that was once her refuge. - Click here to read an excerpt. Click here to read our review. Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.  New Release Spotlight:  THE READING LIST by Sara Nisha Adams (Fiction) Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home. When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list...hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again. - Click here to read an excerpt. Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.    August’s New in Paperback Roundups August's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes THE RETURN by Nicholas Sparks, in which an injured Navy doctor meets two extremely important women whose secrets will change the course of his life; Riley Sager's HOME BEFORE DARK, the story of a house with long-buried secrets and a woman’s quest to uncover them --- even if the truth is far more terrifying than any haunting; THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley, a deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie about a wedding celebration that turns dark and deadly; ELI'S PROMISE, a masterful work of historical fiction from Ronald H. Balson that spans three eras --- Nazi-occupied Poland, the American Zone of post-war Germany, and Chicago at the height of the Vietnam War; and Liese O’Halloran Schwarz's WHAT COULD BE SAVED, in which a woman must confront her family’s closely guarded secrets when a mysterious man claims to be her long-missing brother. Among our nonfiction highlights are AFTERSHOCKS, a deeply felt memoir from Whiting Award winner Nadia Owusu about the push and pull of belonging, the seismic emotional toll of family secrets, and the heart it takes to pull through; SHOW THEM YOU'RE GOOD by Jeff Hobbs, a brilliant and transcendent work that closely follows four Los Angeles high school boys as they apply to college; THE SOCRATES EXPRESS, which finds Eric Weiner embarking on a rollicking intellectual journey, following in the footsteps of history’s greatest thinkers and showing us how each --- from Epicurus to Gandhi, Thoreau to Beauvoir --- offers practical and spiritual lessons for today’s unsettled times; and THE MYSTERY OF CHARLES DICKENS by A. N. Wilson, a lively and insightful biographical celebration of the imaginative genius of Charles Dickens, published in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of his death. Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of    August’s Books on Screen Feature Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of August's offerings, please click here.
The Suicide Squad Flag Day
"Gone for Good" (5-episode miniseries) "Nine Perfect Strangers" (8-episode miniseries) Season Premiere "Chesapeake Shores" On DVD Those Who Wish Me Dead 12 Mighty Orphans Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual  Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days throughout the summer, 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. Please note: We do not have any contests scheduled at this time. This year’s featured titles include:
Click here to learn more about our featured titles. Bookreporter.com’s 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads:  Bookreporter has a way for you to virtually travel with our list of books set in vacation locales. Escape to idyllic spots like Nantucket, Cape Cod, Malibu, the Catskills, Charleston and Palm Beach --- along with many others --- in our 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads feature. Pick your book(s) to embark on the summer vacation you've been dreaming of. You’ll only have to figure out how to send postcards! Please note: For your convenience, we have organized these books both by location and alphabetically by title. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit as well! May we suggest that you buy these books from them? Click here to see our 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads feature.    From left to right: Andrea Bartz, Christy Lefteri, Naomi Hirahara Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register. Monday, August 9th at 8pm ET: Blue Willow Bookshop: Chandler Baker and Miranda Beverly-Whittemore will appear in conversation with their editor, Christine Kopprasch, to celebrate the release of their new books, THE HUSBANDS (this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick) and FIERCE LITTLE THING. Monday, August 9th at 8pm ET: Boswell Books and Elm Grove Library: In conjunction with Boswell Books, the Elm Grove Library proudly welcomes Andrea Bartz, celebrating the release of her latest twisty thriller, WE WERE NEVER HERE (this month's Reese's Book Club pick). She will be in conversation with Jennifer Hillier, author of LITTLE SECRETS and JAR OF HEARTS. Tuesday, August 10th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Edgar Award-winning author Naomi Hirahara will be in conversation with Cara Black about her new mystery, CLARK AND DIVISION. Tuesday, August 10th at 8pm ET: The Novel Neighbor: Join Allison Larkin, author of THE PEOPLE WE KEEP, in conversation with Therese Anne Fowler. Tuesday, August 10th at 9pm ET: Skylight Books: Megan Abbott will discuss her new novel, THE TURNOUT (this month's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick), with Ivy Pochoda, the critically acclaimed author of WONDER VALLEY, VISITATION STREET and THESE WOMEN. Wednesday, August 11th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between August 10th and September 7th, along with a few from October, that she would like to get on your radar. Wednesday, August 11th 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 Taylor Jenkins Reid, whose latest novel is MALIBU RISING. Thursday, August 12th at 3pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Christy Lefteri as she discusses her new book, SONGBIRDS, with Jeniffer Thompson. Thursday, August 12th at 8pm ET: Highland Park Public Library: Join Highland Park Public Library for an evening with Megan Miranda and Shari Lapena as they discuss their new books, SUCH A QUIET PLACE and NOT A HAPPY FAMILY. They will be joined in conversation with Mary Kubica, the bestselling author of suspense novels. "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:
Click here for a complete list of our    More Reviews This WeekIF THE SHOE FITS: A Meant to Be Novel by Julie Murphy (Romantic Comedy) THE GIRLS WHO STEPPED OUT OF LINE: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II by Major General Mari K. Eder (U.S. Army, Retired) (History) GHOSTS by Dolly Alderton (Romantic Comedy) DOWN RANGE: A Garrett Kohl Novel by Taylor Moore (Thriller/Adventure) GODSPEED by Nickolas Butler (Literary Thriller) ROVERS by Richard Lange (Supernatural Thriller) THE STORYTELLERS: Straight Talk from the World's Most Acclaimed Suspense & Thriller Authors edited by Mark Rubinstein (Essays) BAD SCENE: A Colleen Hayes Mystery by Max Tomlinson (Mystery) BAD MOON RISING: A Bad Axe County Novel by John Galligan (Mystery/Thriller) THE MAN BAN by Nicola Marsh (Romantic Comedy) THE SHADOW PEOPLE by Joe Clifford (Noir Psychological Thriller/Horror) AMERICANALAND: Where Country & Western Met Rock 'n' Roll by John Milward and Margie Greve (Music/History)   
Next Week's Notables:
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