May 13, 2022

May 13, 2022

What an Event-Filled Week!

I love watching “The Kitchen” on Food Network. If I am doing cooking or baking for the week, I try to time it for their 1:00-2:00 airing on Sunday afternoon. A couple of weeks ago, they did a segment about great spring menus. Included were lemon meringue cupcakes. My mom loves lemon, so we made these for Mother’s Day. Before you ask, here is the recipe. Now I did not read the recipe before I made these as I recalled what they had done. That is the reason that Tom and I ate the tops of the cupcakes that he scooped out, instead of placing them back on top of the lemon curd. We highly recommend these. Next time I would pipe the meringue in some more interesting designs.

They also made a vase out of a cabbage on the show. I know it sounds crazy, and as I was making it, Tom, the boys and my parents looked at me like I was a bit daft, but it was fun. I should have used a small vase inside for water. Next time. And I want to use more colorful flowers. But my “vase” is still in good shape, so there is definitely going to be time for another arrangement.

My weekend also had some great moments of reading. I was a huge fan of Julie Clark’s THE LAST FLIGHT, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Her latest novel, THE LIES I TELL (on sale June 21st), is just as strong. In it, we see a woman who has used a few names: Meg Williams, Maggie Littleton, Melody Wilde. She is a con artist and can insinuate her way into your life for reasons you may not understand. Where did you meet her? It could be anywhere. But she knows what she is after. Bring on Kat Roberts, who has been on the hunt for the woman who threw her life up in the air. As the two circle each other, with their own motives, you see the real game here. Or so you think. As you read on, you learn more about what these woman are looking for --- to right the wrongs done against them. And it’s terrific right to the very last page. It will be a Bets On pick, and I am looking forward to interviewing Julie.

Another book I have been reading is SIT UP STRAIGHT, which is now in stores. I spend a lot of hours at my desk, usually sitting more than standing, so I eagerly joined an event that Vinh Pham’s publisher invited me to where he demonstrated a number of exercises that can be done even while seated to “Futureproof Your Body Against Chronic Pain with 12 Simple Movements.” I have been working through these, and it is amazing how doing them has made a difference in my posture and how I feel. Following his simple movements have me feeling a lot less tight. I also realize how much I typically only do a move one way to stretch with no countermove, which is just as important. I have been coupling this with an hour on a recumbent bike each morning as I read my morning news and email. I answer a lot of mail this way first thing in the morning, too. The bike is in my office, so sometimes I will jump on it as I return calls or watch webinars. Or I use that time to try some of Vinh’s exercises at my desk.

This was a really busy week as we not only had our “Bookaccino Live” preview event (more on that in a moment), we also hosted our semi-annual Book Group Speed Dating program for the trade this afternoon, which we will be sharing with you in the weeks to come. I want to thank Tom and Austin for being such terrific team players on these projects. There are so many details involved in each of these programs, and they only come together with the three of us working in sync. I so appreciate them. We have a couple of new ideas that we are noodling around for later this year. We use Slack to chat during the day, and in between all else, we have been sharing notes for these ideas, so stay tuned.

During Wednesday afternoon's “Bookaccino Live” preview event, I talked about 32 books releasing between now and June 7th, along with eight from July, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch it here and see a list of the featured titles here.

Next month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event will take place on Wednesday, June 15th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between June 14th and July 5th, along with a few from August, 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 Sarah McCoy, whose new novel, MUSTIQUE ISLAND, will be a Bets On pick. The setting is the early 1970s, when Mustique --- one of the tiniest islands in the Caribbean --- was owned by British playboy Colin Tennant. As the book opens, a beauty queen sails to Mustique looking for a place to reassess her life and meets Tennant's famous friends, whose days are spent partying. This is as much a mother/daughter/sister story as it is a story about extravagant island life.

In the interview, Sarah explains how a book about Colin Tennant got her imagination whirling. She planned a trip to Mustique Island on March 30, 2020, and you can guess how that went. After the discussion, you will see why you want to pack a copy of MUSTIQUE ISLAND for your vacation reading this summer. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.

Rebecca Munro has this to say in her review: “With a compelling, poignant blend of fact, fiction and history, MUSTIQUE ISLAND is an excellent book club, buddy or summer read. If you can’t visit the Caribbean islands yourself this summer (and McCoy provides some very real reasons why you should do so mindfully if you can), this is the perfect escape --- and an unforgettable reminder that wherever you go, you bring your past with you.” Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.

Jennifer Weiner’s latest beach read is the newly released THE SUMMER PLACE. This is her love letter to the Outer Cape and the power of home, the way our lives are enriched by the people we call family, and the endless ways love can surprise us.

Pamela Kramer has our review and says, “Over the course of THE SUMMER PLACE, all the main characters face life-changing circumstances or realizations that end up bringing them all together…. THE SUMMER PLACE will generate many fabulous discussions for book clubs. And, of course, it is the perfect book to bring on a beach vacation so that one can enjoy the salty sea air while reading about something that might be taking place just down the coast.”

Along with being one of May’s Indie Next picks, THE SUMMER PLACE is this month’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. On Thursday, May 26th at 12pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Jennifer about the book. You can RSVP by clicking here.

A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage in Chris Bohjalian’s latest historical thriller, THE LIONESS, which is already in development for a television series. Of course, Chris is no stranger to TV adaptations of his work; “The Flight Attendant”, which is based on his 2018 thriller of the same name, wraps up its second season May 26th on HBO Max.

Our reviewer Ray Palen warns that THE LIONESS “is not for the faint of heart and is one of the most brutal novels Bohjalian has ever penned.” He goes on to say that the book “provides much to thrill over and a lot to unpack from a political and social perspective, which makes it yet another triumph for one of my favorite authors.” I can't wait to get my hands on this one!

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• 22 SECONDS: SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind in James Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s aptly named 22nd installment of the Women’s Murder Club. There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home.
   
• THE CHANGE: YA author Kirsten Miller’s debut novel for adults, which is May’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick, is about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers --- putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town.
   
• FLY GIRL: Ann Hood’s latest memoir details her adventurous years as a TWA flight attendant in the ’70s. As the airline industry changed around her, Hood began to write --- even drafting snatches of her first novel from the jump-seat. She reveals how the job empowered her, despite its roots in sexist standards. I have this one on my shelf, and knowing Ann I really look forward to reading it!

Enter to Win an Advance Copy of a Shocking True-Crime Book
You have until Friday, May 20th at noon ET to enter our contest for Casey Sherman’s HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod and be one of our 25 winners. Releasing on July 12th, the book transports readers back to the turbulent late 1960s, reveals the secrets of a notorious serial killer, and unspools the threads connecting the killer, Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before. Hank Phillippi Ryan calls it “an immaculately researched and rivetingly propulsive chronicle illustrating a pivotal part of our history. Brilliantly weaving together true crime, a grotesque criminal, the political landscape, and the brilliant minds who wrote about it --- Casey Sherman is a master at bringing history alive.”

The Bestselling Author of THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK is Back!
We continue to feature Kim Michele Richardson’s latest novel, THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER, in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight. This instant New York Times bestseller follows Honey Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, Cussy Mary Carter, as she fights for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free. William Kent Krueger calls the book “a brilliant and compelling narrative --- a powerful portrait of the courageous women who fought against ignorance, misogyny, and racial prejudice.” Click here to read our review and here for the discussion guide. I look forward to interviewing Kim Michele soon!

Summer Reading Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away the aforementioned THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner, along with ALL’S FAIR AND OTHER CALIFORNIA STORIES by Linda Feyder. Next week’s prizes will be BEACH HOUSE SUMMER by Sarah Morgan and FALLING by T. J. Newman. The first contest of the week will be up on Tuesday, May 17th at noon ET.

Announcing Our Mother’s Day Contest Winners --- and Looking Ahead to Father’s Day
Congratulations to the winners of our Mother’s Day contest! Five lucky readers --- Connie H. from Shabbona, IL; Kathryn R. from Lawrenceville, GA; Kathy T. from Bogota, NJ; Marilyn F. from Lakewood, NJ; and Rita C. from Hoopeston, IL --- will receive all eight of our featured titles. We will kick off our 17th annual Father’s Day contest next Friday, May 20th, so please be on the lookout for that.

Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, May 27th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY by Linwood Barclay and THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub, both of which we will review next week.

Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 25 paperbacks releasing in May you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes.

In our previous poll, we listed 30 fiction titles that are being published this month for the first time and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Here are your top five picks: THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson (44%), THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian (35%), THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews (35%), THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP by Susan Mallery (30%), and THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner (30%). Click here for all the results.

The 106th annual Pulitzer Prizes were announced this week. Among the winners are THE NETANYAHUS: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family, by Joshua Cohen (Fiction), CHASING ME TO MY GRAVE: An Artist's Memoir of the Jim Crow South, by Winfred Rembert as told to Erin I. Kelly (Biography), and INVISIBLE CHILD: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City, by Andrea Elliott (General Nonfiction). Click here for the complete list of winners and nominees in the Journalism, Books, Drama and Music categories.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

There was a lot of mail this week. Here is some of it:

Debra wrote, “I am a reader, and I just wanted to let you know what an amazing newsletter you have. I truly enjoy it. Great job!” Thank you. I am so glad that you enjoy it.

Linda wrote about winning one of our Spring Preview contests: “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS arrived, and I was so happy to see that it had been signed by the author. Many thanks to Lisa Scottoline and everyone at Bookreporter.com. I plan to read the book and post comments soon.”

Vicky wrote after Wednesday’s “Bookaccino Live” event: “Thank you and all who contribute to the ‘Bookaccino Live’ presentations. Not only is the information about the books valuable, your commentary about the authors and how the books enlighten us on the world is equally important. Your efforts are appreciated by all of us who read! Bookreporter.com is my first reference when I want to be ‘in the know’!”

From the publisher of THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER: “To celebrate today’s release of THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by New York Times bestselling author Kim Michele Richardson, Sourcebooks has donated one children’s book in your honor to the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Kentucky, the home state of the author and the Pack Horse librarians who inspired this novel.” I really loved seeing this.

Diane wrote, “Thank you for keeping me abreast with the books. I really enjoy having you as my reading guide. When I answered the survey, I said I was reading MUSTIQUE ISLAND. Yes, I just got it and read three pages. I just finished TAKE MY HAND, which was wonderful; it's the new TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I also finished EMPIRE OF PAIN, which was very interesting.”

E. Glover wrote a while back and said, “I enjoy reading the Bookreporter newsletter and have discovered so many new books and authors. Thank you. Is there any consideration to release a newsletter for nonfiction books?” We would not start a new newsletter for nonfiction titles alone. I did ask what categories of nonfiction titles that were of interest. I am asking you as well. Shoot me a note.

Lisa wrote this about winning ALL'S FAIR AND OTHER CALIFORNIA STORIES in our Summer Reading contest: “This email made my day! I love winning books, especially from Bookreporter.com. I will happily share my thoughts on Facebook and Goodreads as well. THE OVERNIGHT GUEST, GREENWICH PARK and THE PARIS LIBRARY were fantastic, and I added them to my list because of your newsletter.”

“This Is Us” on NBC: There are just two more episodes left. I am going to miss this show so much. I think the ultimate present for viewers would be if some sponsor would underwrite the final episode so we could see it commercial free. I typically record it, and then I start watching about 18 minutes in so I can zip through the commercials.

“Ozark” on Netflix: I finished watching the series this week. The last season was as crazy as the rest of them.

“The First Lady” on Showtime: I am still enjoying this. It's fun to see the White House from another view.

Tom and I are headed to the beach tonight. My friend Beverley’s daughter is getting married tomorrow. We are looking forward to a weekend of celebrating. I have not seen Beverley since we were together at an event for Marjan Kamali in February 2020. We have been friends for more than 40 years, and I think this is the longest that we have gone without seeing each other. I last packed a suitcase back in January 2020, you know, “in before times.” We are driving so I can overpack as usual.

It’s time to get the cover off the pool! I am so ready for floating and reading, and getting some gardening done. My friend Danielle shared that plant prices have shot up. I am hoping to get some seeds in the ground soon, since it looks like the weather has taken a turn for the warmer!

Mercury went retrograde on May 10th, so let’s all hold on until June 3rd.

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:
THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner
Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites Pick for May

THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sutton Foster
When her 22-year-old stepdaughter announces her engagement to her pandemic boyfriend, Sarah Danhauser is shocked. Headstrong Ruby has already set a date and spoken to her beloved safta, Sarah’s mother Veronica, about having the wedding at the family’s beach house in Cape Cod. Veronica is thrilled to be bringing the family together one last time before putting the big house on the market. But when the wedding day arrives, lovers are revealed as their true selves, misunderstandings take on a life of their own, and secrets come to light. There are confrontations and revelations that will touch each member of the extended family, ensuring that nothing will ever be the same. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

» THE SUMMER PLACE is this month’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. On Thursday, May 26th at 12pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Jennifer Weiner about the book. Click here to RSVP.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian

THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by January LaVoy with Grace Experience and Gabrielle De Cuir
Tanzania, 1964. When A-list actress Katie Barstow and her new husband, David Hill, decide to bring their Hollywood friends to the Serengeti for their honeymoon, they envision paradise. Their glamorous guests expect civilized adventure: fresh ice from the kerosene-powered ice maker, dinners of cooked gazelle meat, and plenty of stories to tell over lunch back on Rodeo Drive. What Katie and her glittering entourage do not expect is this: a kidnapping gone wrong, their guides bleeding out in the dirt, and a team of Russian mercenaries herding their hostages into Land Rovers, guns to their heads. As the powerful sun gives way to night, the gunmen shove them into abandoned huts, and Katie prays for a simple thing: to see the sun rise one more time. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: MUSTIQUE ISLAND by Sarah McCoy
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

MUSTIQUE ISLAND by Sarah McCoy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Tucked into the southernmost curve of the Caribbean, Mustique is a private island that has become a haven for the wealthy and privileged. Its owner is the eccentric British playboy Colin Tennant, who is determined to turn this speck of white sand into a luxurious neo-colonial retreat for his rich friends and into a royal court in exile for the Queen’s rebellious sister, Princess Margaret. Willy May Michael, a former beauty queen from Texas, seeks out Mustique for its peaceful isolation. Determined to rebuild her life and her relationships with her two daughters, she constructs a fanciful white beach house across the island from Princess Margaret. But when Willy May’s daughters arrive, they discover that beneath its veneer of decadence, Mustique has a dark side. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Sarah McCoy.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Sarah McCoy's website.

Click here to read our review.

MUSTIQUE ISLAND will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.

Special Contest:
Enter to Win an Advance Copy of HELLTOWN
by Casey Sherman, Releasing July 12th

HELLTOWN by Casey Sherman transports us back to the turbulent late 1960s, revealing the secrets of notorious serial killer Tony Costa --- the most dangerous man on Cape Cod --- and unspooling the threads connecting Costa, Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before. The book doesn't release until July 12th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, May 20th at noon ET.

HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod by Casey Sherman (True Crime)
1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Long-haired teenagers roam the streets, strumming guitars and preaching about peace and love...and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten young women, he is known as Sire --- the leader of their counter-culture movement, the charming man who speaks eloquently and hands out hallucinogenic drugs like candy. But beneath his benign persona lies a twisted and uncontrollable rage that threatens to break loose at any moment. Tony Costa is the most dangerous man on Cape Cod, and no one who crosses his path is safe.

When young women begin to disappear, Costa's natural charisma and good looks initially protect him from suspicion. But as the bodies are discovered, the police close in on him as the key suspect. Meanwhile, local writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer are locked in a desperate race to secure their legacies as great literary icons --- and they both set their sights on Tony Costa and the drug-soaked hippie culture that he embodies as their next promising subject, launching independent investigations that stoke the competitive fires between two of the greatest American writers.

- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Casey Sherman's bio.
- Click here to connect with Casey Sherman on Twitter.

Click here to enter the contest.

Historical Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER
by Kim Michele Richardson

THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Katie Schorr
In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.

Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.

If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.

- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Kim Michele Richardson's bio.
- Click here to visit Kim Michele Richardson's website.
- Connect with Kim Michele Richardson on Facebook and Instagram.
- Watch our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event with Kim Michele Richardson and listen to the podcast.

Click here to read our review.

Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.

Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with
Kim Michele Richardson in the weeks to come.

Featured Review: 22 SECONDS
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

22 SECONDS by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind. There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home. Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies: You talk, you die. Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE CHANGE by Kirsten Miller
May’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick

Featured Review: FLY GIRL by Ann Hood

FLY GIRL: A Memoir by Ann Hood (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Ann Hood
In 1978, in the tailwind of the golden age of air travel, flight attendants were the epitome of glamour and sophistication. Fresh out of college and hungry to experience the world, Ann Hood joined their ranks. After a grueling job search, Hood survived TWA’s rigorous Breech Training Academy and learned to evacuate seven kinds of aircraft, deliver a baby, mix proper cocktails, administer oxygen, and stay calm no matter what the situation. In the air, Hood found both the adventure she’d dreamt of and the unexpected realities of life on the job. As the airline industry changed around her, she began to write --- even drafting snatches of her first novel from the jump-seat. She reveals how the job empowered her, despite its roots in sexist standards. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com's 18th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature

Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through the end of August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 17th at noon ET.

This year’s prize books include:

• ALL'S FAIR AND OTHER CALIFORNIA STORIES by Linda Feyder
• BEACH HOUSE SUMMER by Sarah Morgan
• BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney
• THE BEST IS YET TO COME by Debbie Macomber
• THE BOOK WOMAN'S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson
• A CARIBBEAN HEIRESS IN PARIS by Adriana Herrera
• FALLING by T. J. Newman
• A FAMILY AFFAIR by Robyn Carr
• THE HONEYMOON COTTAGE by Lori Foster
• THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark
• MEANT TO BE by Emily Giffin
• SUGAR AND SALT by Susan Wiggs
• SUMMER ON THE ISLAND by Brenda Novak
• THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner
• TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone
• WIDOWLAND by C. J. Carey

Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.

More Reviews This Week

I'LL SHOW MYSELF OUT: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood by Jessi Klein (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Jessi Klein
In New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Jessi Klein’s second collection, she hilariously explodes the cultural myths and impossible expectations around motherhood and explores the humiliations, poignancies and possibilities of midlife. In interconnected essays like “Listening to Beyoncé in the Parking Lot of Party City,” “Your Husband Will Remarry Five Minutes After You Die,” “Eulogy for My Feet” and “An Open Love Letter to Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent,” Klein explores this stage of life in all its cruel ironies, joyous moments and bittersweetness. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE RAVAGED by Norman Reedus with Frank Bill (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Norman Reedus
Jack spent his life amassing wealth, but after losing his family, he has no one to share it with. Alone with his demons and a backpack, he heads to South America, where people with nothing teach him what matters. After thrashing his dog-abusing boss, Hunter learns of his father's death in a mysterious fire. Biker buddies Nugget and Itch ride with him from North Carolina to California. Stories from his father's life help ease the struggles of small-town Americans. Hunter discovers a secret past. Seventeen-year-old Anne flees Tennessee after her older brother attacks her. She whacks him with a skillet and hops a freight to Alabama with her best friend. Living hand to mouth, they build friendships, uncovering something they never had: family. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE HAWK'S WAY: Encounters with Fierce Beauty by Sy Montgomery (Nature/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Sy Montgomery
When Sy Montgomery went to spend a day at falconer Nancy Cowan’s farm, home to a dozen magnificent birds of prey, it was the start of a deep love affair. Nancy allowed her to work with Jazz, a feisty, four-year-old, female Harris’s hawk with a wingspan of more than four feet. Not a pet, Jazz was a fierce predator with talons that could pierce skin and bone, yet she was willing to work with a human to hunt. From the first moment Jazz swept down from a tree and landed on her leather gloved fist, Sy fell under the hawk’s magnetic spell. Over the next few years, she spent more time with these magnificent creatures, getting to know their extraordinary abilities and instincts. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

SO HELP ME GOLF: Why We Love the Game by Rick Reilly (Sports)
Audiobook available, read by Rick Reilly
This is the book Rick Reilly has been writing in the back of his head since he fell in love with the game of golf at 11 years old. He unpacks and explores all of the wonderful, maddening, heart-melting, heartbreaking, cool and captivating things about golf that make the game so utterly addictive. We meet the PGA Tour player who robbed banks by night to pay his motel bills, the golf club maker who takes weekly psychedelic trips, and the caddy who kept his loop even after an 11-year prison stint. We learn how a man on his third heart nearly won the U.S. Open, how a Vietnam POW saved his life playing 18 holes a day in his tiny cell, and about the course that's absolutely free. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

DECIMATE by Christopher Rice (Supernatural Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Peakes
Claire Huntley and her brother, Poe, were on a midnight hike in Montana when the woods went wild. A blinding, devouring light and a rumbling pulse that blasted them off their feet left both kids with little memory of what happened. Fourteen years later, Claire, who has battled anxiety attacks since that fateful hike, wants to heal her relationship with her brother, which has been damaged by his years of addiction. But only hours before their reunion, Poe’s crowded passenger plane plunges into the Colorado mountains. No one survives the fiery crash. In the midst of her grief, Claire accepts her estranged father’s request to join him in Montana, where her anxiety attacks take on a new dimension. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

COMPANION PIECE by Ali Smith (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Natalie Simpson
Following her astonishing Seasonal Quartet, award-winning author Ali Smith again lights a way for us through the nightmarish now with a provocative novel grounded both in the contemporary era and in the uncannily familiar era of the Black Plague. This is a vital celebration of companionship in all its timeless and present, legendary and unpindownable, spellbinding and shapeshifting forms. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

THE HACIENDA by Isabel Cañas (Supernatural/Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Victoria Villarreal and Lee Osorio
During the overthrow of the Mexican government, Beatriz’s father was executed and her home destroyed. When handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes, Beatriz ignores the rumors surrounding his first wife’s sudden demise, choosing instead to seize the security that his estate in the countryside provides. But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined. When Rodolfo returns to work in the capital, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. The weight of invisible eyes follows her every move. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears. But why does she refuse to enter the house at night? Why does the cook burn copal incense at the edge of the kitchen and mark the doorway with strange symbols? What really happened to the first Doña Solórzano? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

STORM RISING: A Hayley Chill Thriller by Chris Hauty (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Flanagan
Former White House intern turned intelligence operative Hayley Chill is filling her time by training as an MMA fighter. When she’s convinced to pursue the truth about her father’s mysterious fate, she stumbles upon a ciphered document under the floorboards of her father’s house. With permission from her handler to probe deeper, she is led into a terrifying subculture of white supremacy within the United States military. As her investigation intensifies, she uncovers an expansive conspiracy to bring about the secession of several states from the country. It’s up to Hayley to stop a second Civil War before it starts, while also confronting the ultimate truth about her own father’s role in this harrowing chapter of American history. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.

THE NIGHT THEY VANISHED by Vanessa Savage (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lowri Walton
Hanna has barely spoken to her family since the tragedy that rocked their lives 14 years ago. The tragedy for which they held Hanna responsible. Then she sees her family home listed as the scene of a horrific crime. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. Frantic, Hanna tries to contact her family, only to find they have disappeared. To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago. And the person determined to make her pay for it. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 17th

Below are some notable titles releasing on May 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 May 16th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

BEACH HOUSE SUMMER by Sarah Morgan (Fiction)
USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with the ultimate beach read, as one woman forges the most unlikely friendship of all and embarks on a summer of confronting her past in order to build the future she wants.

IN THE BLOOD by Jack Carr (Political Thriller)
The #1 New York Times bestselling Terminal List series continues as James Reece embarks on a global journey of vengeance.

THE LOST SUMMERS OF NEWPORT by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (Historical Mystery)
From the New York Times bestselling team of Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White comes a novel of money and secrets set among the famous summer mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, spanning over a century from the Gilded Age to the present day.

METROPOLIS by B. A. Shapiro (Psychological Thriller)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE ART FORGER delivers a spellbinding and moving novel about what we hang on to, what we might need to let go, and how unexpected events can lead us to deeper truths.

MOTHER NOISE: A Memoir by Cindy House (Memoir)
This poignant and beautiful memoir is told in essays and graphic shorts about what life looks like 20 years after recovery from addiction --- and how to live with the past as a parent, writer and sober person --- from a regular opener for David Sedaris, Cindy House.

MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLER ON THE COURT by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran (Mystery)
Jessica Fletcher’s sunny beach vacation with her nephew’s family takes a dark turn in this new installment in the USA Today bestselling series.

MY SUMMER DARLINGS by May Cobb (Psychological Thriller)
Three lifelong friends plus a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town add up to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession and murder, from the acclaimed author of THE HUNTING WIVES.

RAZZMATAZZ by Christopher Moore (Historical Fiction/Satire)
Repeat New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore returns to the mean streets of San Francisco in this outrageous follow-up to his madcap novel NOIR.

RIVER OF THE GODS: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard (History)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE RIVER OF DOUBT and DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC comes the harrowing story of one of the great feats of exploration of all time and its complicated legacy.

SOMETHING WILDER by Christina Lauren (Romantic Comedy)
The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of THE SOULMATE EQUATION and THE UNHONEYMOONERS present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure and, of course, love.

TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY by Linwood Barclay (Psychological Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of FIND YOU FIRST and ELEVATOR PITCH comes a gripping psychological thriller about a formerly missing woman who has suddenly returned under mysterious circumstances.

THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub (Fiction)
With her celebrated humor, insight and heart, beloved New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub offers her own twist on traditional time travel tropes, and a different kind of love story.

THRILL OF THE HUNT by Rita Mae Brown (Mystery)
A blackmailer targeting wealthy members of “Sister” Jane Arnold’s club has turned the hunters into the hunted in this thrilling mystery from New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown.

YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN 10A: Stories by Maggie Shipstead (Fiction/Short Stories)
From the Booker Prize nominee and New York Times bestselling author of GREAT CIRCLE comes a piercing, irresistible first collection of short stories exquisite in their craft and audacious in their range.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

From left to right: Maggie Shipstead, Linwood Barclay, B. A. Shapiro

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.

Saturday, May 14th at 5pm ET: Adventures by the Book: Join Sarah McCoy, in conversation with fellow New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn, as they discuss Sarah’s glamorous and scandalous new novel, MUSTIQUE ISLAND.

Monday, May 16th at 3pm ET: Murder By The Book: Lorenzo Carcaterra will talk about his new mystery, NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE. He will be in conversation with Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello.

Monday, May 16th at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Linwood Barclay will discuss his new novel, TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY, a gripping psychological thriller about a formerly missing woman who has suddenly returned under mysterious circumstances.

Monday, May 16th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: B. A. Shapiro will talk about her latest book, METROPOLIS, a spellbinding and moving novel about what we hang on to, what we might need to let go, and how unexpected events can lead us to deeper truths. She will be in conversation with Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello.

Monday, May 16th at 8pm ET: Politics and Prose: Politics and Prose, in partnership with Books & Books and Harvard Book Store, will welcome Maggie Shipstead for a virtual event to celebrate her first collection of short stories, YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN 10A.

Tuesday, May 17th at 4pm ET: New York Public Library: Join K.D. Edwards as he celebrates the release of THE HOURGLASS THRONE, the climax of the first trilogy in his nine-book urban fantasy series, The Tarot Sequence.

Tuesday, May 17th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host a Virtual Beach Party as Sarah McCoy discusses her new book, MUSTIQUE ISLAND, with Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.

Wednesday, May 18th 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 Laura Dave, whose most recent novel is THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME. Nancy Thayer, author of SUMMER LOVE, will appear on the Aftershow.

Thursday, May 19th at 6:30pm ET: "Wine & Words with Wade": On his popular Facebook show, Wade Rouse will talk to Sarah McCoy about her latest book, MUSTIQUE ISLAND, which is set in the 1970s on the world’s most exclusive private island.

 "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:

• Sarah McCoy (MUSTIQUE ISLAND) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Kimberly Belle (MY DARLING HUSBAND) Video | Podcast
• Katherine Faulkner (GREENWICH PARK) Video | Podcast
• Christopher Golden (ROAD OF BONES) Video | Podcast
• Jane Green (SISTER STARDUST) Video | Podcast
• Heather Gudenkauf (THE OVERNIGHT GUEST) Video | Podcast
• Bonnie Kistler (THE CAGE) Video | Podcast
• Gilly Macmillan (THE LONG WEEKEND) Video | Podcast
• Jacquelyn Mitchard (THE GOOD SON) Video | Podcast
• Allison Pataki (THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST) Video | Podcast
• Nita Prose (THE MAID) Video | Podcast
• John Searles (HER LAST AFFAIR) Video | Podcast
• Brendan Slocumb (THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY) Video | Podcast
• Wendy Corsi Staub (THE OTHER FAMILY) Video | Podcast
• Amanda Eyre Ward (THE LIFEGUARDS) Video | Podcast
• Charmaine Wilkerson (BLACK CAKE) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Kimberly Brock (THE LOST BOOK OF ELEANOR DARE)
• Julie Clark (THE LIES I TELL)
• David R. Gillham (SHADOWS OF BERLIN)
• Kim Michele Richardson (THE BOOK WOMAN'S DAUGHTER)

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

Our Latest Poll: May Paperback Releases to Anticipate

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 27th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!

Click here to enter the contest.

Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com

Reviews | Features | Bookreporter.com Bets On | Upcoming Bets On
Contests | Poll | Word of Mouth | Coming Soon
  On Sale This Week | New in Paperback | Books on Screen
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts | "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books"
  Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks | Carol's Event Schedule | Book Festivals

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