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Last Sunday, I had an occasion to do book math. It was 10am, and I was reading NOT A HAPPY FAMILY by Shari Lapena. Typically one of Shari’s books is a one-sit read for me, meaning that I start reading and do not stop until I am finished. On Sunday morning, I started reading and was on page 129. I did not want to put it down. Tom’s sister and her family were coming at 3:00, along with his mother. I had four things to make for dinner, one that could be done last minute. I also had scheduled a massage.
Like a word math problem, I was trying to figure out how many pages I could read and get everything for entertaining done. I ended up reading about a dozen pages more as I was blow drying my hair, and then picking the book back up as soon as everyone left, reading well into the night. And on Monday morning, I did not get to my desk until 10:30 so I could finish it.
Shari’s plotting is brilliant. No matter how long I have been reading her books, there are always moments when her artful laying down of the clues slays me. Wait, what just happened there? Whoa! It’s one of the reasons that I read these books so quickly; I am compelled to try to see what comes next. It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Trust me, start reading and you will see why.
Last night, I attended a terrific virtual event where Mary Kubica interviewed both Shari and Megan Miranda. Just for the record, I watched/listened to it on my phone while working out walking in the pool. This was some really great multitasking. My husband came out at one point and was trying to figure out what I was doing. It's nice that after 36 years of marriage, I still can find a way to perplex him!
We hosted this month's “Bookaccino Live” event on Wednesday afternoon. We presented 24 books releasing between now and September 7th, along with nine from October, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch it here and see a list of the featured titles here.
We love these monthly programs both for the opportunity to share new titles and to connect with our readers. And we got some lovely notes following the event.
Liz wrote, “Thanks for adding to my TBR list...not certain how you read the number of books you do devour, but you made me feel good when you commented you were a bit behind!”
Nancy wrote, “Just when the pile on my bedside table was getting too small for the cats to knock off, I now have lots of new books to add.”
A different Nancy wrote, "Look forward to it every month. Helps me decide future reads. Just finished RADAR GIRLS and enjoyed it.”
Janet wrote, “Thank you again for another great time today. I attend every month and plan my schedule around it so I don't miss it. Can't wait to read some of the books you discussed today, and again, thank you. There could not be enough gratitude for all the work you and your team do and continue to do. I miss seeing you in person, but I am sure you like this better.”
Next month’s "Bookaccino Live" event will take place on Wednesday, September 15th at 2pm ET. We will talk about titles releasing between September 14th and October 5th, along with a few from November, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Taylor Jenkins Reid, whose new novel, the New York Times bestseller MALIBU RISING, is a Bets On pick and one of my favorite books of the summer. It follows four siblings over the course of 24 hours in August 1983, the day of their annual party, which is legendary. All the “right” people are there. But by the end of the night, their lives will be changed, secrets will be revealed --- and the house where the party is taking place will be burned down. The Rivas are connected to fame. Two are beloved surfers, one is a renowned photographer, and all four are the children of singer Mick Riva, who is estranged from them.
Taylor shared her thoughts on the book’s appealing setting (1980s Malibu) and why Malibu originally became a mecca for stars. We also covered her earlier books, THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO and DAISY JONES & THE SIX, which took place in the 1960s and 1970s, respectively. She filled us in on the decade in which her next novel will be set, which will pull these books together in a quartet. In addition, we talked about fame and how it impacts people’s lives. And there’s an update on the film adaptation of DAISY JONES & THE SIX! Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
We have 17 reviews to share with you this week. Among them are:
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BLIND TIGER: The year 1920 comes in with a roar in Sandra Brown’s new historical thriller. Thatcher Hutton, a war-weary soldier on the way back to his cowboy life, jumps from a moving freight train to avoid trouble...and lands in more than he bargained for. On the day he arrives in Foley, Texas, a local woman goes missing. Thatcher, the only stranger in town, is suspected of her abduction, and worse.
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WE WERE NEVER HERE: Andrea Bartz’s latest novel is this month’s Reese’s Book Club pick. Here’s what Reese has to say about it: “As a rule of thumb, coverups are good for the beach, but horrible if we’re talking about a dead backpacker on your hotel room floor. As you might have guessed, our latest Pick is less floral sarong, and more girl friendship gone terribly wrong. Wrapped up? Just wait until things start to close in and reveal secrets that will make you want to call your BFF to say: Read this right now!”
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THE READING LIST: In Sara Nisha Adams’ debut novel, which is our current New Release Spotlight title, a chance encounter with a list of library books helps forge an unlikely friendship between two very different people in a London suburb.
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MRS. MARCH: Virginia Feito, another first-time novelist, has penned a psychological thriller about author George March’s dutiful wife. But a comment by the shopkeeper of her favorite patisserie has Mrs. March questioning everything about her husband, their marriage --- and his possible involvement in a woman's disappearance.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker and CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara are my latest Bets On picks. Click on each of the titles for my commentary. If you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Chandler, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here. I will be scheduling an interview with Naomi!
“In Case You Missed” Our New Feature…
We are continuing to spotlight our brand new feature, “In Case You Missed It…and a Look Ahead”. Here we are sharing a book that you might not have read, and we also are getting the author’s next book on your radar. Our first two featured titles are CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (“In Case You Missed It”) and LAST GIRL GHOSTED (“A Look Ahead”) by Lisa Unger. Scroll further down the newsletter for more information about these books and links that should be of interest to you.
Word of Mouth Reminder
Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, August 20th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win our two Word of Mouth prizes: ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN by James Lee Burke (which we will review next week) and THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott (which we reviewed last week). If you missed my interview with Megan, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll!
Our poll continues to ask which of 27 books releasing this month you are looking forward to reading. Be sure to cast your votes here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Janice wrote, “Yesterday I finished reading THE BOOK OF LOST FRIENDS. I was so immersed in this story and wanted to learn more. This morning I listened to your interview with Lisa Wingate, and you did such an amazing job of focusing on so many of the important aspects of this story. You asked questions that gave me answers to most of my questions about the research and historical basis for much of the book. I have been a longtime reader of Bookreporter, and I so appreciate it. Now I also appreciate your interview skills and that you make these interviews available to all of us. Thanks so much for all your hard work, and for all you share.”
Gretchen wrote, “Just finished listening to DARK ROADS by Chevy Stevens. It is one that made me not want to stop listening. I'll be interested in what you think of it. I still like holding a hardcover in my hands more than listening, but I am getting more knitting done!”
Jean Hanff Korelitz on "The Tonight Show": This week, Jean joined Jimmy Fallon to talk about her latest book, THE PLOT, which is this year's "Tonight Show" Summer Reads pick and a Bets On selection. You can watch the segment here. I loved when Jean pulled the list out from under her sleeve!
"Grace and Frankie" on Netflix: The first four episodes of the final season dropped today. I am looking forward to catching up this weekend!
"100 Foot Wave" on HBO: I finally finished all four episodes, and I am happy it is being renewed for season two.
I would not mind an outdoor television. I am woefully behind on so much TV watching. I have been enjoying being outside in the evening.
Last weekend I made homemade peach cobbler with homemade peach ice cream. Both were a huge success. I am now moving along to Jersey peaches instead of Georgia ones. I love going to our local farm stand for produce.
We have no weekend plans, which is a good thing as I have two books to read for interviews next week. I am reading LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger and loving both the characters and the setting. And I am looking forward to THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer, which we will review next week.
It’s Friday the 13th. Be careful out there. 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: BLIND TIGER by Sandra Brown
BLIND TIGER by Sandra Brown (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jason Culp
On the day that Thatcher Hutton, a war-weary soldier, arrives in Foley, Texas, a local woman goes missing. Thatcher, the only stranger in town, is suspected of her abduction, and worse. Standing between him and exoneration are a corrupt mayor, a crooked sheriff, a notorious cathouse madam, a sly bootlegger, feuding moonshiners…and a young widow whose soft features conceal an iron will. What was supposed to be a fresh start for Laurel Plummer turns to tragedy. Left destitute but determined to dictate her own future, Laurel plunges into the lucrative regional industry, much to the dislike of the good ol’ boys, who have ruled supreme. Her success quickly makes her a target for cutthroat competitors, whose only code of law is reprisal. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
WE WERE NEVER HERE by Andrea Bartz
Reese’s Book Club Pick for August
WE WERE NEVER HERE by Andrea Bartz (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Becca Tobin
Emily is in the mountains of Chile with her best friend, Kristen, on their annual reunion trip, and the women are feeling closer than ever. But on the last night of the trip, Emily enters their hotel suite to find blood and broken glass on the floor. Kristen says the cute backpacker she brought back to their room attacked her, and she had no choice but to kill him in self-defense. The scene is horrifyingly similar to last year’s trip, when another backpacker wound up dead. Back home in Wisconsin, Emily struggles to bury her trauma. But when Kristen shows up for a surprise visit, Emily is forced to confront their violent past. The more Kristen tries to keep Emily close, the more Emily questions her motives. As Emily feels the walls closing in on their cover-ups, she must reckon with the truth about her closest friend. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker
and CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
I enjoyed Chandler Baker’s WHISPER NETWORK, so I was looking forward to her new novel, THE HUSBANDS. There’s a lot of talk in this country about “the second shift,” the way that women typically take on more of the management and running of the household than men do, even when they have incredibly busy jobs. This book tackles that subject head on in a very interesting way.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Chandler Baker.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to see why the book is August's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE HUSBANDS.
CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara (Historical Mystery)
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. The book is told through the eyes of Aki Ito, and readers get a strong sense of place as well as story.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on CLARK AND DIVISION.
New Spotlight Feature:
"In Case You Missed It…and a Look Ahead"
Our First Featured Titles: CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45
and LAST GIRL GHOSTED by Lisa Unger
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)
Now Available in Paperback
Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha and soon confesses that she has been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again. Then the nanny disappears. As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder who Martha really was. But she is hardly prepared for what she will discover.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lisa Unger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
LAST GIRL GHOSTED by Lisa Unger (Psychological Thriller)
On Sale October 5th
She met him through a dating app. An intriguing picture on a screen, a date at a downtown bar. What she thought might be just a quick hookup quickly became much more. She fell for him --- hard. It happens sometimes, a powerful connection with a perfect stranger takes you by surprise. Could it be love? But then, just as things were getting real, he stood her up. Then he disappeared --- profiles deleted, phone disconnected. She was ghosted. Maybe it was her fault. She shared too much, too fast. Soon she learns there were others. Girls who thought they were in love. Girls who later went missing. Chasing a digital trail into his dark past --- and hers --- she finds herself on a dangerous hunt. And she's not sure whether she's the predator --- or the prey.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more in our
"In Case You Missed It...and a Look Ahead" feature.
New Release Spotlight:
THE READING LIST by Sara Nisha Adams
THE READING LIST by Sara Nisha Adams (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Tara Divina, Sagar Arya and Paul Panting
Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in Wembley, in West London after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.
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 Sara Nisha Adams' bio.
- Connect with Sara Nisha Adams on Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Featured Review: CLASS ACT by Stuart Woods
CLASS ACT: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Tony Roberts
After a rocky jaunt in Maine, Stone Barrington is settling back in New York City when an old client reaches out for help with a delicate matter. A feud they thought was put to rest long ago has reemerged with a vengeance, and reputations --- and money --- are now on the line. As Stone sets out to unravel a tangled web of crime and secrets, his mission becomes even more complicated when he makes an irresistible new acquaintance. In both the underbelly and upper echelons of New York, everyone has something to hide --- and if Stone has learned anything, it’s that history has a way of repeating itself. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MRS. MARCH by Virginia Feito
MRS. MARCH by Virginia Feito (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
George March’s new novel is a smash. No one could be prouder than his dutiful wife, Mrs. March, who revels in his accolades. But one morning, the shopkeeper of her favorite patisserie suggests that her husband’s latest protagonist --- a detestable character named Johanna --- is based on Mrs. March herself. What could have merited this humiliation? That one casual remark robs Mrs. March of the belief that she knew everything about her husband --- and herself --- thus sending her on an increasingly paranoid journey. While snooping in George’s office, Mrs. March finds a newspaper clipping about a missing woman. Did George have anything to do with her disappearance? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE PERFECT FAMILY by Robyn Harding
THE PERFECT FAMILY by Robyn Harding (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Ali Andre Ali, Cassandra Campbell, Michael Crouch, Amanda Dolan and Pete Simonelli
Thomas and Viv Adler are the envy of their neighbors. Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. Thomas insists it’s a prank. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret --- not just from the outside world, but from each other. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
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:
Books Set in Getaway Locations
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: James Lee Burke, Preston & Child, Jonathan Santlofer
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 16th at 3pm ET: Murder By The Book: Sandie Jones will talk to Sara DiVello (a yoga teacher by day and mystery writer by night) about her new thriller, THE GUILT TRIP, which is this month's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick.
Monday, August 16th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Join Jonathan Santlofer for the virtual launch of his latest novel, THE LAST MONA LISA, which explores the Mona Lisa's very real theft in 1911 and the present underbelly of the art world.
Tuesday, August 17th at 7pm ET: Tombolo Books: Naomi Hirahara, author of CLARK AND DIVISION, will be in conversation with Michael Connelly, who calls the book "[a] telling and touching story that echoes across the decades."
Tuesday, August 17th at 7pm ET: Watermark Books & Café: Watermark Books & Café invites you to attend a virtual event with James Lee Burke, who will talk to John Grisham about ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN, the newest book in his Holland Family Saga.
Tuesday, August 17th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child will discuss their new book, BLOODLESS, which finds Agent Pendergast facing his most unexpected challenge yet when bloodless bodies begin to appear in Savannah, GA.
Wednesday, August 18th 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 celebrate debut authors with Lou Diamond Phillips (THE TINDERBOX) and Gervais Hagerty (IN POLITE COMPANY).
Wednesday, August 18th at 7pm ET: Once Upon A Crime: Naomi Hirahara will join Once Upon A Crime to discuss her latest book, CLARK AND DIVISION, with Sara Paretsky.
Wednesday, August 18th at 10pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Ash Davidson will discuss her new novel, DAMNATION SPRING, the deeply human story of a Pacific Northwest logging town wrenched in two by a mystery that threatens to derail its way of life.
Thursday, August 19th at 7pm ET: Books & Books: James Lee Burke will be in conversation with Michael Connelly about his new thriller, ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN, a captivating tale of justice, love, brutality and mysticism set in the turbulent 1960s.
Thursday, August 19th at 7pm ET: Main Street Books: Main Street Books and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation present a virtual evening with Ash Davidson, author of DAMNATION SPRING, who will be in conversation with Kelly Mustian.
Friday, August 20th at 1pm ET: Women & Children First: Join Women & Children First for a virtual lunch date with the New York Times bestselling author of WHISPER NETWORK, Chandler Baker, and the one and only Samantha Irby for the release of THE HUSBANDS, which is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
"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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Ash Davidson (DAMNATION SPRING)
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Miranda Cowley Heller (THE PAPER PALACE)
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William Kent Krueger (LIGHTNING STRIKE)
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Jonathan Santlofer (THE LAST MONA LISA)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
ISLAND QUEEN by Vanessa Riley (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Adjoa Andoh
Born into slavery on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, Doll bought her freedom --- and that of her sister and her mother --- from her Irish planter father and built a legacy of wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier and planter that extended from the marketplaces and sugar plantations of Dominica and Barbados to a glittering luxury hotel in Demerara on the South American continent. Vanessa Riley’s novel brings Doll to vivid life as she rises above the harsh realities of slavery and colonialism by working the system and leveraging the competing attentions of the men in her life: a restless shipping merchant, Joseph Thomas; a wealthy planter hiding a secret, John Coseveldt Cells; and a roguish naval captain who will later become King William IV of England. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
NEW TEETH: Stories by Simon Rich (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Fred Berman
Called a “comedic Godsend” by Conan O’Brien and “the Stephen King of comedy writing” by John Mulaney, Simon Rich is back with NEW TEETH, his funniest and most personal collection yet. Two murderous pirates find a child stowaway on board and attempt to balance pillaging with co-parenting. A woman raised by wolves prepares for her parents’ annual Thanksgiving visit. An aging mutant superhero is forced to learn humility when the mayor kicks him upstairs to a desk job. And in the hard-boiled caper “The Big Nap,” a weary two-year-old detective struggles to make sense of “a world gone mad.” Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SWAN DIVE: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina by Georgina Pazcoguin (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Georgina Pazcoguin
In this love letter to the art of dance and the sport that has been her livelihood, the New York City Ballet’s first Asian American female soloist, Georgina Pazcoguin, lays bare her unfiltered story of leaving small-town Pennsylvania for New York City and training amid the unique demands of being a hybrid professional athlete/artist, all before finishing high school. She pitches us into the fascinating, whirling shoes of dancers in one of the most revered ballet companies in the world with an unapologetic sense of humor about the cutthroat, survival-of-the-fittest mentality at NYCB. Some swan dives are literal: even in the ballet, there are plenty of face-plants, backstage fights, late-night parties and raucous company bonding sessions. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
A SONG EVERLASTING by Ha Jin (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Feodor Chin
At the end of a U.S. tour with his state-supported choir, popular singer Yao Tian takes a private gig in New York to pick up some extra cash for his daughter’s tuition fund, but the consequences of his choice spiral out of control. On his return to China, Tian is informed that the sponsors of the event were supporters of Taiwan’s secession, and that he must deliver a formal self-criticism. When he is asked to forfeit his passport to his employer, Tian impulsively decides instead to return to New York to protest the government’s threat to his artistic integrity. With the help of his old friend Yabin, Tian’s career begins to flourish in the United States. But he is soon placed on a Chinese government blacklist and thwarted by the state at every turn. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE KING OF INFINITE SPACE by Lyndsay Faye (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available; read by Michael Crouch, Raj Ghatak and Imani Jade Powers
Ben Dane’s Broadway theater baron father is dead --- but by purpose or by accident? Unable to face alone his mother's ghastly remarriage to his uncle, he turns to his dearest friend, Horatio Patel, whom he hasn't seen since their relationship changed forever from platonic to something...other. Horatio is on the first flight to NYC when he finds himself next to a sly tailor who portends inevitable disaster and seems ominously like an architect of mayhem himself. Meanwhile, Ben's ex-fiancé Lia has been drawn into the fold of three florists from New Orleans --- seemingly ageless sisters who teach her the language of flowers, and whose magical bouquets hold both curses and cures. For a price. On one explosive night these kinetic forces will collide, and the only possible outcome is death. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE LIGHT OF LUNA PARK by Addison Armstrong (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rachel L. Jacobs and Karissa Vacker
New York City, 1926. Nurse Althea Anderson's heart is near breaking when she witnesses another premature baby die at Bellevue Hospital. So when she reads an article detailing the amazing survival rates of babies treated in incubators in an exhibit at Luna Park, Coney Island, it feels like the miracle she has been searching for. But the doctors at Bellevue dismiss Althea and this unconventional medicine, forcing her to make a choice between a baby's life and the doctors' wishes that will change everything. Twenty-five years later, Stella Wright is falling apart. Her mother has just passed, she quit a job she loves, and her marriage is struggling. Then she discovers a letter that brings into question everything she knew about her mother, and everything she knows about herself. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
HOLDOUT by Jeffrey Kluger (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jeffrey Kluger
Walli Beckwith is a model astronaut. She graduated at the top of her class from the Naval Academy, had a successful career flying fighter jets, and has spent more than 300 days in space. So when she refuses to leave her post aboard the International Space Station following an accident that forces her fellow astronauts to evacuate, her American and Russian colleagues are mystified. For Walli, the matter at hand feels all too clear and terrifying for her to be worried about ruining her career. She is stuck in a race against time to save a part of the world that seems to have been forgotten, and also the life of the person she loves the most. She will go to any length necessary, using the only tool she has, to accomplish what she knows is right. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ISLAND OF THIEVES by Glen Erik Hamilton (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Stephen Mendel
Van Shaw is hired to evaluate the safeguards for the art collection of eccentric business magnate Sebastien Rohner. Then Rohner reveals to Van the real reason he’s been recruited: to prevent another professional burglar from stealing the art. While questioning the bizarre nature of the job, Van accepts the lucrative offer and arrives at the island estate during an international summit that Rohner is hosting. Shortly after beginning his surveillance of Rohner’s highly secure gallery wing, he stumbles across the murdered body of one of the honored guests. Van knows that the homicide detectives on the case think he’s the prime suspect. To clear his name, he will have to uncover the hidden motive of corporate espionage at a global level, even with a band of killers on his tail. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
AMERICAN ESTRANGEMENT: Stories by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by David Bendena, Pete Cross, Mark Owen, Qarie Marshall, Stephen Prechtl and Lynch Travis
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh has been hailed by Philip Gourevitch as "a masterful storyteller working from deep in the American grain." His new collection of stories --- some of which have appeared in The New Yorker, the Paris Review and the Best American Short Stories --- is set in a contemporary America full of the kind of emotionally bruised characters familiar to readers of Denis Johnson and George Saunders. These are people contending with internal struggles --- a son’s fractured relationship with his father, the death of a mother, the loss of a job, drug addiction --- even as they are battered by larger, often invisible, economic, political and racial forces of American society. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE OPHELIA GIRLS by Jane Healey (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Alix Dunmore
In the summer of 1973, Ruth and her four friends were obsessed with pre-Raphaelite paintings. Drawn to the cold depths of the river by Ruth’s house, the girls pretend to be the drowning Ophelia, with increasingly elaborate tableaus. But by the end of that fateful summer, real tragedy finds them along the banks. Twenty-four years later, Ruth returns to the suffocating, once grand house she grew up in, the mother of young twins and 17-year-old Maeve. Joining the family in the country is Stuart, Ruth’s childhood friend, who is quietly insinuating himself into their lives and gives Maeve the attention she longs for. She is recently in remission, unsure of her place in the world now that she is cancer-free. Her parents just want her to be an ordinary teenage girl. But what teenage girl is ordinary? Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
AGATHA CHRISTIE: First Lady of Crime edited by H. R. F. Keating (Essays)
Agatha Christie was not only the most successful author of detective stories the world has ever known, she was also a mystery in herself, giving only the rarest interviews --- declining absolutely to become any sort of public figure --- and a mystery, too, in the manner in which she achieved her astonishing success. Distinguished crime novelist (and acclaimed critic) H. R. F. Keating brings together a dozen noted writers from both sides of the Atlantic to throw light on the ever-intriguing Dame Agatha. Some essays analyze Christie’s art itself; others explain the reasons for her success --- not just the books, but also in film and theater. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 16th and 17th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 16th and 17th 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 August 16th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
August 16th
THE NOISE by James Patterson and J. D. Barker (Psychological Thriller)
In the shadow of Mount Hood, 16-year-old Tennant is checking rabbit traps with her eight-year-old sister, Sophie, when the girls are suddenly overcome by a strange vibration rising out of the forest, building in intensity until it sounds like a deafening crescendo of screams. From out of nowhere, their father sweeps them up and drops them through a trapdoor into a storm cellar. But the sound only gets worse.
August 17th
ALL IN: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King, with Johnette Howard and Maryanne Vollers (Autobiography)
ALL IN is an inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.
ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN by James Lee Burke (Historical Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke brings readers a captivating tale of justice, love, brutality and mysticism set in the turbulent 1960s.
BLOODLESS: A Pendergast Novel by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Thriller)
Agent Pendergast faces his most unexpected challenge yet when bloodless bodies begin to appear in Savannah, GA.
COMPLICATIONS by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
Scandal and tragedy erupt against the backdrop of an exclusive Paris hotel in Danielle Steel’s riveting new novel.
THE ISLAND by Ben Coes (Political Thriller)
CIA operative Dewey Andreas is America's last line of defense when terrorists take over Manhattan, targeting the U.N. and the President himself.
THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer (Thriller)
From award-winning crime writer and celebrated artist Jonathan Santlofer comes an enthralling tale about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, the forgeries that appeared in its wake, and the present-day underbelly of the art world.
NIGHT MUSIC by Jojo Moyes (Fiction)
Now published in the United States for the first time, NIGHT MUSIC is an early novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE GIVER OF STARS.
VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Noir Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC comes a noir thriller about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.
VIRAL by Robin Cook (Medical Thriller)
A family’s exposure to a rare yet deadly virus ensnares them in a growing danger to mankind --- and pulls back the curtain on a healthcare system powered by profit and greed.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: August Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in August are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN by James Lee Burke
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BILLY SUMMERS by Stephen King
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BLIND TIGER by Sandra Brown
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BLOODLESS by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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BREATHE by Joyce Carol Oates
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CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara
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CLASS ACT: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson
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DARK ROADS by Chevy Stevens
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THE GUILT TRIP by Sandie Jones
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THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker
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IF THE SHOE FITS: A Meant to Be Novel, by Julie Murphy
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THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer
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LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger
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THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny
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MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW by Stephen Graham Jones
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THE NOISE by James Patterson and J. D. Barker
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ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES by Charlotte McConaghy
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THE PEOPLE WE KEEP by Allison Larkin
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THE PERFECT FAMILY by Robyn Harding
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THE READING LIST by Sara Nisha Adams
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A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins
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SONGBIRDS by Christy Lefteri
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THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott
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VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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WE ARE THE BRENNANS by Tracey Lange
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WE WERE NEVER HERE by Andrea Bartz
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 20th 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 August 6th to August 20th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN by James Lee Burke and THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott.
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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