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Rocking the Downloads and the Views!
This has been a week of wild weather throughout the country. I keep looking at friends’ pictures of snow in their towns, even in some of the most unexpected places. Last Saturday when it snowed here, I spent the day curled up with a book that I was reading to prep for an interview. I should have headed to the family room and had a fire roaring in the fireplace, but it was a lazy winter day, and not moving felt just fine. January is always such a busy month for us with both boys’ birthdays, and trying to get life back on track after the holidays.
We hit a new high of downloads on our “Bookreporter Talks To” podcast last month. What is interesting is that our listeners are not only listening to our newly released podcasts; the backlist ones are doing amazing numbers as well. And we now have 2,080 subscribers to our YouTube channel. Can we get to 2,100 this weekend? I think so! How about 2,200? Austin and I have been working on our booking chart for interviews right through May at this point. I just need to read fast enough to keep up with our recording schedule. Producing these interviews takes a lot of time, but I am so happy with the selection of authors we are bringing to you. One conversation has been more fun than the next.
Speaking of which…
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Heather Gudenkauf, whose new thriller, THE OVERNIGHT GUEST, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. The book has a chilling setting, literally and figuratively. Wylie Lark, a true crime writer, is snowed in while writing her new book in a house where, decades earlier, two people were murdered and a young girl disappeared. As a blizzard swirls outside, she finds a child in the snow --- and realizes that the story she is writing may not end up the way she thinks.
Heather shares the wild story of how the idea for the novel came to her and the challenges of writing dual timelines, especially when it is so key to the backstory to get it right. She also walks us through how she begins with handwritten copy and then works with her editor to hone the writing. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Also, don’t miss my Bets On commentary here.
I’m Also Betting You’ll Love…
My other Bets On pick this week is GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner. Find out why I’m betting you’ll love it here. If you missed my interview with Katherine, which we featured in last week’s newsletter, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here.
Charmaine Wilkerson’s highly anticipated debut novel, BLACK CAKE, is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. In it, two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother’s death and her hidden past --- a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake. According to Jenna Bush Hager, “There is something almost mysterious about it. I was on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know what was going to happen and who these characters were.”
Rebecca Munro has our review and says, "[M]uch like the recipe at the heart of the story, BLACK CAKE is deep, rich and best savored as a special treat. Though the premise of a dying wish and a secret sibling may sound familiar, Wilkerson proves that even the most recognizable plots can become something wildly unique when they are given ample room to grow and populated by distinctive, deeply human characters who contain multitudes." I am going to interview Charmaine in a couple of weeks, and it will be a Bets On selection. What a wonderful story, and very cleverly told!
Isabel Allende’s new novel, VIOLETA, tells the epic story of Violeta Del Valle, a woman whose life spans 100 years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the 20th century. She tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. I interviewed Isabel a few years ago, and she talked about her habit of writing her mother a letter every day. It made me think why a letter format here would work so well for her.
According to our reviewer Jana Siciliano, “This is a perfect book for being homebound or restricted in what you do now. Reading it takes you to so many different places and gives you a heady sense of being able to dream well beyond our constrictions at this time. It is life-affirming, and when you fall in love with the title character, there is little that you wouldn’t do to be worthy of her love and respect.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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QUICKSILVER: Dean Koontz takes a surprising and exhilarating road trip with a man in pursuit of his strange past --- mile by frightening mile.
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NOTES ON AN EXECUTION: In her new literary thriller, Danya Kukafka deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row, told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life. I have this one on my shelf and have been dying (no pun intended) to read it.
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RECKLESS GIRLS: Rachel Hawkins follows up her adult debut, THE WIFE UPSTAIRS, with a gothic suspense novel set on an isolated Pacific island with a dark history.
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A GAME OF FEAR: In Charles Todd’s 24th Ian Rutledge novel, completed before the passing of Caroline Todd last August, the Scotland Yard inspector is faced with his most perplexing case yet: a murder with no body, and a killer who can only be a ghost.
THREE Bookreporter Contests to Keep in Mind
There’s still time to enter our contest for SHADOWS OF BERLIN that we announced last week. From the cafés of war-torn Germany to the frantic drumbeat of 1950s Manhattan, David R. Gillham's upcoming novel dramatically explores survival, redemption, and the way we learn to love and forgive across impossible divides. We’re awarding 25 readers an advance copy of the book, which will be in stores on April 19th. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, February 11th at noon ET.
Deadline Extension! We’re keeping our contest for WHAT’S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster up through the weekend. Five readers will win a paperback copy of this multigenerational novel of motherhood, race and the American family --- which was a New York Times bestseller and a "Read with Jenna" pick when it released in hardcover last year. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, February 7th at noon ET.
And of course, our Valentine’s Day contest is still up and running. This year’s prizes are AND THE BRIDGE IS LOVE by David Biro, ELECTRIC IDOL by Katee Robert, A NOVEL OBSESSION by Caitlin Barasch, WEATHER GIRL by Rachel Lynn Solomon, and YERBA BUENA by Nina LaCour. If you’d like to win these books for yourself or that special someone in your life, all you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, February 17th at noon ET.
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups are now available for February. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Jeanine Cummins (AMERICAN DIRT), Lisa Scottoline (ETERNAL), John Grisham (SOOLEY), Daniel Silva (THE CELLIST), and Brit Bennett (THE VANISHING HALF); nonfiction titles, including EDUCATED: A Memoir by Tara Westover, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson, and THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: The Shocking Story of a Woman Who Dared to Fight Back by Kate Moore; and paperback originals like THE OTHER FAMILY by Wendy Corsi Staub (we will feature my interview with Wendy in next week’s newsletter) and BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS by Jillian Cantor.
Books on Screen Offerings for February
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. February’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Reacher" on Amazon Prime Video, "The Girl Before" on HBO Max, and "Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber" on Showtime; the films Death on the Nile, No Exit, Through My Window and The Sky Is Everywhere; the season premieres of "My Brilliant Friend" on HBO, and "Sweet Magnolias" and "Young Wallander" on Netflix; the season finales of "Around the World in 80 Days" and "All Creatures Great and Small" on PBS "Masterpiece"; and the DVD releases of Eternals, Clifford the Big Red Dog, House of Gucci, The Hating Game and The King's Man.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, February 18th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win DARK HORSE: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz and THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST by Allison Pataki. We will feature our reviews of both over the next couple of weeks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 12 of my Bets On picks that recently released or will be releasing this month in paperback. How many of these titles have you read or are you planning to read? Let us know here.
In our previous poll, we listed 30 fiction titles that published in January and asked you which ones you have read or are looking forward to reading. Here are your top five picks: THE MAID by Nita Prose (64%), THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis (45%), THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain (40%), HER HIDDEN GENIUS by Marie Benedict (33%), and OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez (28%). Click here for all the results.
It was announced this week that THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR by Nina de Gramont is Reese’s Book Club pick for February. Here’s what Reese has to say about the book: “This novel covers the 11 days in 1926 when famed novelist Agatha Christie went missing. That's right, an unexpected mix of historical fiction and romance, heartbreak and revenge based on true happenings. But here's the twist, it's told through the perspective of her husband's mistress! I found myself binging this book in one sitting.”
THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. According to “GMA,” “Slocumb's debut novel is a riveting page-turner about a Black classical musician's desperate quest to recover his lost violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.” Slocumb told “GMA,” "You'll learn a lot about a world you might not have known anything about: classical music. [And] stories like Ray's happen all the time but rarely have an opportunity to be heard. Now people seem to be more receptive to listen and empathize and gain a new perspective on what it's like for young artists --- especially what Black artists have to go through."
This month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick is THE FAMILY CHAO by Lan Samantha Chang. Brimming with heartbreak, comedy and suspense, this reimagining of THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV offers a kaleidoscopic, highly entertaining portrait of a Chinese American family grappling with the dark undercurrents of a seemingly pleasant small town. On Tuesday, March 8th at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will welcome Chang for a live virtual event to discuss the book. Click here to sign up.
For more February selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
This is your last Bookreporter newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, February 9th at 2pm ET. I will talk about titles releasing between February 8th and March 1st, in addition to a few from April, that I would like to get on your radar. Click here to register. 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. Tom and I have been pulling together books to include in this presentation, which always is a lot of fun for us.
The Audie Awards, “the premier awards program recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment,” have announced their 2022 finalists. They include THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan; THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland and Dion Graham; and A PROMISED LAND written and read by Barack Obama. The winners will be presented during a virtual ceremony on Friday, March 4th at 9pm ET, which will be open to all.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Bobbie wrote, “My daughter-in-law took my husband to a cancer fundraiser today. He took my copy of THE LAST GREEN VALLEY that I won and had it autographed by Mark Sullivan!” I loved seeing Mark with Bobbie’s husband! (see the photo above)
Lisa wrote, "I just finished GREENWICH PARK, and it was a real page turner! I love a few twists and turns. I read this book based on your feedback, and it did not disappoint." Lisa, thanks for that feedback. Glad you enjoyed it, and what an ending!
If Nancy B. is reading this, I answered you last week, but my reply email bounced --- twice!
"Reacher" on Amazon Prime Video: I am a Tom Cruise fan, but he never felt like Reacher. I am looking forward to seeing Alan Ritchson in the role. The series premieres tonight with eight episodes.
"Sweet Magnolias" on Netflix: I am so ready for season two kicking off today! The Magnolias will battle Reacher for TV time this weekend.
"And Just Like That..." on HBO Max: I seriously wonder what the actors and producers were thinking here. It was one more over-the-top thing each week. There is a podcast from the writers' room that I may have to listen to just to understand how they could write something this absurd. But yes, I watched every episode, with incredulous eyes.
"The Gilded Age" vs. "1883": Okay, these shows both take place in about the same time period. What is interesting is two contrasting stories of America at the time --- gilded in New York and struggling to go west in 1883. I love "1883." I have now watched two episodes of "The Gilded Age" and am trying to figure out a few things: 1) Who thought either Christine Baranski or Cynthia Nixon, who have had iconic roles on other shows, would work here? 2) Why do I feel like they are practicing elocution as they recite their lines? Yes, recite, not perform. 3) The character in “the BIG house across the street” keeps talking, sometimes like she is practicing elocution and other times like it’s 2022, and she is going to fire up a jet and escape to Palm Beach if they do not like her enough in New York. We watch to see things like the dirt streets in New York. How many times a day do these people change their clothes? And how much maintenance did the clothes take, let alone the house?
"I Am Not Proof of the American Dream": Here's a terrific piece from Tara Westover, the author of the aforementioned EDUCATED, which is out in paperback on Tuesday.
A Young Child’s Handwritten Book Gets Checked Out: A few weeks ago, I was joking with one of our author clients who had written a piece about how we need more good news. I riffed that "NBC Nightly News" always has a feel-good segment at the end of the broadcast after mostly talking about what is wrong in the world. He said that each night usually ends with a piece about someone old, or pets, or something from an amazingly smart kid. Each night we now yell “Smart kid” or “Old person” or “Pet piece” when the segment comes on. The other night, it was about a little boy from Idaho who handwrote a book and sneaked it onto the library shelves. And there is a wait list to check it out. Read this fun piece here. Another one for the smart kid!
Wordle: This daily word game, which a guy created during the pandemic to amuse his girlfriend, was sold this week to the New York Times for a seven-figure sum. I bet he is glad that so many people embraced the game!
And… The Olympics: Here we go with another pandemic Olympics, though this time I feel like they are in a prison camp. I am not sure how I would have felt getting off the plane and being greeted with folks clothed in HAZMAT-looking suits. There were times when it looked more like they arrived on the moon than in China. But yes, I am looking forward to the skiing and the skating, and I know Greg is primed to watch curling.
Our friend Cathy is in town, and we are doing dinner with her and our friends Bob and Stacy on Saturday night. They are responsible for the apps and dessert. We are doing the main course. Just like old times, we are dropping back into our rhythm of hanging in the kitchen and chatting it up!
I have no other big weekend plans, so the rest of the time will be spent with either a book or the television remote in my hand.
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: BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson
February’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lynnette R. Freeman and Simone Mcintyre
Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage, and themselves. Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever? 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 see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
BLACK CAKE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary and her "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Charmaine Wilkerson later this month.
Featured Review: VIOLETA by Isabel Allende
VIOLETA by Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Yareli Arizmendi
Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth. Through her father’s prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. Her family loses everything and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. There, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling. She tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Featured Review: QUICKSILVER by Dean Koontz
QUICKSILVER by Dean Koontz (Supernatural Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Todd Haberkorn
Raised in an orphanage, Quinn Quicksilver had a happy if unexceptional life. Until the day of “strange magnetism.” It compelled him to drive out to the middle of nowhere. It helped him find a coin worth a lot of money. And it practically saved his life when two government agents showed up in the diner in pursuit of him. Now Quinn is on the run from those agents, fleeing for his life. During a shoot-out at a forlorn dude ranch, he finally meets his destined companions: Bridget Rainking, a beauty as gifted in foresight as she is with firearms, and her grandpa Sparky, a romance novelist with an unusual past. Barreling through the Sonoran Desert, the formidable trio is impelled by that same inexplicable magnetism toward the inevitable. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win an Advance Copy of SHADOWS OF BERLIN
by David R. Gillham, Releasing April 19th
Set in 1950s Manhattan, SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham is a captivating novel of a Berlin girl on the run from the guilt of her past and the boy from Brooklyn who loves her. The book doesn't release until April 19th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, February 11th at noon ET.
SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham (Historical Fiction)
1955 in New York City: the city of instant coffee, bagels at Katz's Deli, new-fangled TVs. But in the Perlman's walk-up in Chelsea, the past is as close as the present. Rachel came to Manhattan in a wave of displaced Jews who managed to survive the horrors of war. Her Uncle Fritz fleeing with her, Rachel hoped to find freedom from her pain in New York and in the arms of her new American husband, Aaron.
But this child of Berlin and daughter of an artist cannot seem to outrun her guilt in the role of American housewife, not until she can shed the ghosts of her past. And when Uncle Fritz discovers, in a dreary midtown pawn shop, the most shocking portrait that her mother had ever painted, Rachel's memories begin to terrorize her, forcing her to face the choices she made to stay alive --- choices that might be her undoing.
From the cafés of war-torn Germany to the frantic drumbeat of 1950s Manhattan, SHADOWS OF BERLIN dramatically explores survival, redemption, and the way we learn to love and forgive across impossible divides.
- Click here to read David R. Gillham's bio.
- Click here to visit David R. Gillham's website.
- Connect with David R. Gillham on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win a Paperback Copy of
WHAT’S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster
Contest Deadline Extended to Monday, February 7th!
WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS, Naima Coster's instant New York Times bestseller and a "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick, is a sweeping novel of legacy, identity, the American family, and the ways that race affects even our most intimate relationships. We have five copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which is now available in paperback. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, February 7th at noon ET.
WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster (Fiction)
A community in the Piedmont of North Carolina rises in outrage as a county initiative draws students from the largely Black east side of town into predominantly white high schools on the west. For two students, Gee and Noelle, the integration sets off a chain of events that will tie their two families together in unexpected ways over the span of the next 20 years.
On one side of the integration debate is Jade, Gee's steely, ambitious mother. In the aftermath of a harrowing loss, she is determined to give her son the tools he'll need to survive in America as a sensitive, anxious, young Black man. On the other side is Noelle's headstrong mother, Lacey May, a white woman who refuses to see her half-Latina daughters as anything but white. She strives to protect them as she couldn't protect herself from the influence of their charming but unreliable father, Robbie.
When Gee and Noelle join the school play meant to bridge the divide between new and old students, their paths collide, and their two seemingly disconnected families begin to form deeply knotted, messy ties that will shape the trajectory of their adult lives. And their mothers --- each determined to see her child inherit a better life --- will make choices that will haunt them for decades to come.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Naima Coster's bio.
- Click here to visit Naima Coster's website.
- Connect with Naima Coster on Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books
for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving five readers the chance to win five love-themed books in our 17th annual Valentine's Day contest. Be sure to enter between now and Thursday, February 17th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we've all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- shortly after the contest ends.
This year's Valentine’s Day prize titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf
and GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf (Psychological Thriller)
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf has a chilling setting, literally and figuratively. Wylie Lark, a true crime writer, is snowed in while finishing her new book in a house where, decades earlier, two people were murdered and a young girl disappeared. As a blizzard swirls outside, she finds a child in the snow --- which begins her reckoning that the story she is writing may not end up the way she thinks. There are so many genuinely thrilling moments in this book. You can feel the tension as doors are jiggled open and slammed shut.
- 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 Heather Gudenkauf.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE OVERNIGHT GUEST.
GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
GREENWICH PARK is such a strong debut novel. The plot came to Katherine Faulkner when she was in a prenatal class. Since all the women were pregnant, there was a feeling that they all should be friends. In the book, Helen attends her first prenatal class and has a strange encounter with Rachel, who is also pregnant and immediately attaches herself to Helen in what feels like a smothering kind of friendship. At first, Helen appreciates the companionship. But as time goes on, Rachel becomes more erratic, and Helen begins feeling like she needs to find a way to escape this irrational creature.
- 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 Katherine Faulkner.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on GREENWICH PARK.
February’s New in Paperback Roundups
February's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes Jeanine Cummins' AMERICAN DIRT, a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope; Lisa Scottoline's first work of historical fiction, ETERNAL, the tale of a love triangle that unfolds in the heart of Rome...in the creeping shadow of fascism; SOOLEY, John Grisham's first basketball novel, in which readers are introduced to Samuel “Sooley” Sooleymon, a raw, young talent with big hoop dreams --- and even bigger challenges off the court; Daniel Silva's THE CELLIST, a timely and explosive thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon, which explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today --- the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia; and THE VANISHING HALF, Brit Bennett's stunning novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds --- one Black and one white.
Among our nonfiction highlights are Tara Westover's EDUCATED, an unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University; THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE by Erik Larson, an intimate chronicle of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz --- an inspiring portrait of courage and leadership in a time of unprecedented crisis; THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE by Kate Moore, a dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today; and WHEN HARRY MET MINNIE, "CBS Sunday Morning News" correspondent and Emmy Award winner Martha Teichner's memoir of love and loss, being in the right place at the right time, and the mysterious ways that a beloved pet can bring people together.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
January 31st, February 7th, February 14th and February 21st.
February’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 February's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Death on the Nile
Release Date: February 11th in theaters (wide release)
Based on: DEATH ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie
The Sky Is Everywhere
Release Date: February 11th in theaters (limited release) and on Apple TV+
Based on: THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson
No Exit
Release Date: February 25th on Hulu
Based on: NO EXIT by Taylor Adams
Series Premieres
"Reacher"
Release Date: February 4th on Amazon Prime Video (Season One)
Based on: KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child
"The Girl Before" (4-episode limited series)
Release Date: February 10th on HBO Max
Based on: THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney
"Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber"
Air Dates: Sundays at 10pm ET/PT on Showtime; Series Premiere on February 27th
Based on: SUPER PUMPED: The Battle for Uber, by Mike Isaac
Season Premieres
"Sweet Magnolias"
Release Date: February 4th on Netflix (Season Two)
Based on: The Sweet Magnolias books by Sherryl Woods
"Young Wallander"
Release Date: February 17th on Netflix (Season Two)
Based on: Henning Mankell's character, Inspector Kurt Wallander
"My Brilliant Friend"
Air Dates: Mondays at 10pm ET/PT on HBO; Season Three Premiere on February 28th
Based on: THOSE WHO LEAVE AND THOSE WHO STAY by Elena Ferrante
On DVD
The Hating Game
DVD Release Date: February 8th
Based on: THE HATING GAME by Sally Thorne
House of Gucci
DVD Release Date: February 22nd
Based on: THE HOUSE OF GUCCI: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed, by Sara Gay Forden
NOTES ON AN EXECUTION by Danya Kukafka (Literary Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Marno and Jim Meskimen
Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in 12 hours. He knows what he’s done and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls years ago. But Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood. Through a kaleidoscope of women, we learn the story of Ansel’s life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a 17-year-old girl pushed to desperation; Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife, forced to watch helplessly as her sister’s relationship threatens to devour them all; and Saffy, the detective hot on his trail, who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
RECKLESS GIRLS by Rachel Hawkins (Gothic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
Beautiful, wild and strange, Meroe Island is a desolate spot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism and even rumors of murder. Six stunning twentysomethings are about to embark on a blissful, free-spirited journey --- one filled with sun-drenched days and intoxicating nights. But as it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in, sending them on a dangerous spiral of discovery. When one person goes missing and another turns up dead, the remaining friends wonder what dark currents lie beneath this impenetrable paradise --- and who else will be swept under its secluded chaos. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
A GAME OF FEAR: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Simon Vance
Scotland Yard sends Inspector Ian Rutledge to Benton Abbey, a grand manor with a storied past. The lady of the house claims she saw a violent murder --- but there is no body, no blood. She also insists she recognized the killer: Captain Nelson. Only it could not have been Nelson because he died during the war. Everyone in the village believes that Lady Benton’s losses have turned her mind --- she is, after all, a grieving widow and mother --- but the woman Rutledge interviews is rational and self-possessed. And then there is Captain Nelson: what really happened to him in the war? The more Rutledge delves into this baffling case, the more suspicious tragedies he uncovers. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read Ray Palen's tribute to Caroline Todd.
THANK YOU, MR. NIXON: Stories by Gish Jen (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Justin Chien, Catherine Ho, Annie Q and Eunice Wong
Beginning with a cheery letter penned by a Chinese girl in heaven to “poor Mr. Nixon” in hell, Gish Jen embarks on a fictional journey through U.S.-China relations, capturing the excitement of a world on the brink of tectonic change. Opal Chen reunites with her Chinese sisters after 40 years; newly cosmopolitan Lulu Koo wonders why Americans “like to walk around in the woods with the mosquitoes”; Hong Kong parents go to extreme lengths to reestablish contact with their “number-one daughter” in New York; and Betty Koo, brought up on “no politics, just make money,” finds she must reassess her mother’s philosophy. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
I CAME ALL THIS WAY TO MEET YOU: Writing Myself Home by Jami Attenberg (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Xe Sands
As the daughter of a traveling salesman in the Midwest, Jami Attenberg was drawn to a life on the road. Frustrated by quotidian jobs and hungry for inspiration and fresh experiences, her wanderlust led her across the country and eventually on travels around the globe. Through it all, she grapples with questions of mortality, otherworldliness and what we leave behind. It is during these adventures that she begins to reflect on the experiences of her youth. Driving across America on self-funded book tours, sometimes crashing on couches when she was broke, she keeps writing. In researching articles for magazines, jotting down ideas for novels and refining her craft, she grows as an artist and increasingly learns to trust her gut and, ultimately, herself. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
GOLIATH by Tochi Onyebuchi (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Adam Lazarre-White, JD Jackson, Juliana Vélez, Kevin R. Free, Nidra Sous La Terre and Shayna Small
In the 2050s, Earth has begun to empty. Those with the means and the privilege have departed the great cities of the United States for the more comfortable confines of space colonies. Those left behind salvage what they can from the collapsing infrastructure. As they eke out an existence, their neighborhoods are being cannibalized. Brick by brick, their houses are sent to the colonies, what was once a home now a quaint reminder for the colonists of the world that they wrecked. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
A PREVIOUS LIFE by Edmund White (Fiction/Humor)
Sicilian aristocrat and musician Ruggero and his younger American wife, Constance, agree to break their marital silence and write their Confessions. Until now they had a ban on speaking about the past, since transparency had wrecked their previous marriages. As the two alternate reading the memoirs they've written about their lives, Constance reveals her multiple marriages to older men, and Ruggero details the affairs he's had with men and women across his lifetime --- most importantly his passionate affair with the author Edmund White. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE APPEAL by Janice Hallett (Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Daniel Philpott, Aysha Kala, Rachel Adedeji and Sid Sagar
The Fairway Players, a local theater group, is in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward and his wife Helen, the play’s star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their fellow castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival. But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy --- nor of the good intentions of those involved. As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material with a growing suspicion that a killer may be hiding in plain sight. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE URSULINA by Brian Freeman (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
The mythical beast goes by many names. Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Yeti. In Black Wolf County, he's called the Ursulina. But to Deputy Rebecca Colder, the beast is no myth. A serial killer has taken on the identity of the monster --- and with each body left behind, there's a chilling message written in blood: I am the Ursulina. In this follow-up to THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW, Brian Freeman takes us on Rebecca's dark journey to reveal the truth about the Ursulina --- a journey that ultimately leads to an excruciating choice that will change her life forever. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
LAST SEEN ALIVE by Joanna Schaffhausen (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Seth Podowitz and Danielle Gensler
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition --- Reed must bring him Ellery. But Ellery is the one living person who has seen the monster behind the mask, and she doesn’t believe he can be redeemed. Not after everything he’s done. Not after what she’s been through. And certainly not after a fresh body turns up with Coben’s signature all over it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
TIDES by Sara Freeman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Amy Rutherford
After a sudden, devastating loss, Mara flees her family and ends up adrift in a wealthy seaside town with a dead cell phone and barely any money. Mired in her grief, Mara detaches from the outside world and spends her days of self-imposed exile scrounging for food and swimming in the night ocean. In her state of emotional extremis, the sea at the town's edge is rendered bleak, luminous and implacable. As her money runs out and tourist season comes to a close, Mara finds a job at the local wine store. There, she meets Simon, the shop's soft-spoken, lonely owner. Confronted with the possibility of connection with Simon and the slow return of her desires and appetites, the reasons for her flight begin to emerge. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 8th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 8th 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 February 7th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ABANDONED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance.
CITY OF THE DEAD: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller)
The past comes back to haunt psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis when they investigate a grisly double homicide and uncover an even more unspeakable motive.
DARK HORSE: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Gregg Hurwitz's New York Times bestselling series returns when Orphan X faces his most challenging mission ever in DARK HORSE.
HOME/LAND: A Memoir of Departure and Return by Rebecca Mead (Memoir)
HOME/LAND is a moving reflection on the complicated nature of home and homeland, and the heartache and adventure of leaving an adopted country in order to return to your native land.
THE LADY'S MINE by Francine Rivers (Historical Romance)
Francine Rivers returns to the California frontier in this sweeping, romantic tale of a displaced New England suffragette, a former Union soldier disinherited by his Southern family and the town they join forces to save.
THE NINETIES: A Book by Chuck Klosterman (Social Science/Popular Culture)
THE NINETIES is a wise and funny reckoning with the decade that gave us slacker/grunge irony about the sin of trying too hard, during the greatest shift in human consciousness of any decade in American history.
THE OTHER FAMILY by Wendy Corsi Staub (Psychological Thriller)
A family making a fresh start moves into a house that was the site of an unsolved triple homicide --- and are watched by an unknown person.
STEAL by James Patterson and Howard Roughan (Thriller)
Art galleries and casinos, mansions and brothels, billionaires and thieves --- only James Patterson could create a triple-cross this decadent and suspenseful.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Lan Samantha Chang, Gregg Hurwitz, Julia May Jonas
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, February 7th at 6pm ET: Northshire Bookstore: Julia May Jonas will celebrate the release of her debut novel, VLADIMIR, in conversation with Adelle Waldman, author of the national bestseller THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P.
Monday, February 7th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Gregg Hurwitz will discuss his latest Orphan X thriller, DARK HORSE, in which Evan Smoak faces his most challenging mission ever.
Tuesday, February 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Barnes & Noble will host a virtual discussion for their January Book Club selection, ANTHEM, featuring Noah Hawley.
Tuesday, February 8th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Jonathan Kellerman will discuss CITY OF THE DEAD, the latest riveting thriller in his series featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis.
Tuesday, February 8th at 9pm ET: Vroman's Bookstore: "Vroman's Live!" presents Lisa Lutz, in conversation with Chris Pavone about her latest novel, THE ACCOMPLICE.
Wednesday, February 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between February 8th and March 1st, along with a few from April, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, February 9th at 6pm ET: Politics & Prose: Brendan Slocumb will be in conversation with author, podcaster, publisher, CEO and mother of four Zibby Owens about his debut novel, THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY, which is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Marie Benedict (HER HIDDEN GENIUS) and Fiona Davis (THE MAGNOLIA PALACE).
Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm ET: Harvard Book Store: Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes playwright, professor and novelist Julia May Jonas for a discussion of her debut novel, VLADIMIR. She will be joined in conversation by Joanna Rakoff, the bestselling author of MY SALINGER YEAR and A FORTUNATE AGE.
Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm ET: Milwaukee Public Library: Join the Milwaukee Public Library as they welcome bestselling author Nick Petrie, in conversation about the latest installment in his Peter Ash series, THE RUNAWAY.
Wednesday, February 9th at 7:30pm ET: Free Library of Philadelphia: Two award-winning writers present their new works of fiction: Lan Samanthan Chang, whose debut novel, THE FAMILY CHAO, is this month's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick; and Elizabeth McCracken, whose short story collection, THE SOUVENIR MUSEUM, is now available in paperback.
Thursday, February 10th at 7pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books and Miami Book Fair present a virtual event with Lan Samantha Chang, who will be in conversation with Curtis Sittenfeld about her debut novel, THE FAMILY CHAO.
Thursday, February 10th at 7pm ET: Orinda Books: Nina de Gramont will be in conversation with GIRLS IN THE WALL author A. J. Gnuse about her latest novel, THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR, which is this month's Reese's 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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Wendy Corsi Staub (THE OTHER FAMILY)
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Charmaine Wilkerson (BLACK CAKE)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Which of Carol’s Bets On Selections
That Are Now or Soon to Be in Paperback
Have You Read or Will You Read?
We have listed 12 of Carol’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks that are now in paperback or will be this month. Which of these have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins
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THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD by Melanie Benjamin
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DON'T LOOK FOR ME by Wendy Walker
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EDUCATED: A Memoir, by Tara Westover
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ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline
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OF WOMEN AND SALT by Gabriela Garcia
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THE POWER COUPLE by Alex Berenson
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THE PUSH by Ashley Audrain
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SPARKS LIKE STARS by Nadia Hashimi
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THE SURVIVORS by Jane Harper
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THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett
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YELLOW WIFE by Sadeqa Johnson
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 18th 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 February 4th to February 18th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DARK HORSE: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz and THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST by Allison Pataki.
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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