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A couple of years ago, I met two authors at the American Library Association Convention in Philadelphia. I was at the end of a very busy week-long trip; I had been at the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute in Baltimore. I was in Philly just for a day; there were a few panels I wanted to attend, and a few authors and publishers I wanted to see. But my plan was not to pick up any more books.
Then I went to a panel and heard Alli Frank and Asha Youmans talk about their debut novel, TINY IMPERFECTIONS. Their description of the book, which had to do with the kindergarten admissions process at a tony private school, had me laughing so hard that I went up to them afterwards and asked if they had a copy. They handed me their last one. I went home and read it first, and laughed at their well-paced humor. They stopped by the office the next week to have a quick chat; in fact, the photo on the front page of their website is of the two of them in my office. I loved the book and selected it as a Bookreporter.com Bets On title. TINY IMPERFECTIONS came out in May 2020 when the world was shut down, and I feel like a lot of people missed out on getting to see or hear them.
Flash forward, and in June they kindly sent me an advance copy of their latest novel, NEVER MEANT TO MEET YOU, which just released. I had a crazy summer and have been behind on reading, trying to catch up. The other night, remembering how funny their last book was and in need of a laugh, I started reading it. And from chapter one I found myself laughing.
In the book, Marjette Lewis is a kindergarten teacher in a tony private school. Right before the school year starts, Marjette's next-door neighbor, Noa Abrams, loses her husband, and Marjette is not quite sure what to do. The woman is sitting shiva, and Marjette knows that food would be a great thing to bring. So she fries up some chicken and brings it next door in what may be the first time fried chicken made its way to shiva. Marjette’s school year is going to be tough; the only other Black woman at the school, Judy, has retired. She also has an ex-husband who makes her crazy, as well as a high school-aged son who is in that oh-so-critical junior year and is sporting a girlfriend she does not trust. But I did not even get to the student in her class who seems a bit lost, or the girl’s uncle who makes the class moms bat their eyes.
What I love is not just the action, but also the inner dialogue that we play through in Marjette’s head. It’s all real, self-deprecating and sharp. I laughed out loud reading it. One night this week, I had dreams that were so funny that I woke up twice laughing in my sleep. Seriously, folks. Laughing in my sleep.
At a time when everything seems and feels heavy and serious, to read a book that looks at race, religion and life in a way that is smart and quick may be just what we all need. Humor. There are times when we can use it bottled up. Here it’s in the pages of a book. I am going to track down Alli and Asha and interview them.
Bookreporter Mention in the New York Times
I got an email Monday from my good friend, Beverley, noting that Bookreporter was mentioned in an Opinion column in the New York Times. Sure enough, Margaret Renkl had written an article entitled “The Joy of Finding People Who Love the Same Books You Do.” In a reference to book festivals across the country, she cited our Book Festivals list that Tom Donadio meticulously curates. Here’s the piece. And yes, I reached out to thank her for the mention.
This Month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group Event
Last night, we hosted a “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, who talked about their novel, THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. This instant New York Times bestseller, “Good Morning America” Book Club pick and Bets On selection is now available in paperback. Five of our readers appeared on camera to ask Marie and Victoria questions about the book, and then we opened up the Q&A to our attendees, which generated even more lively discussion.
I had a wonderful time reconnecting with Marie and Victoria (I first interviewed them about the book last summer), and we look forward to sharing the event with you next week. On Tuesday, the video will be up on our YouTube channel, and the podcast will appear on our Videos & Podcasts page here.
I am thrilled to announce that Joyce Maynard will be our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Thursday, October 27th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up for it here. We will be talking about Joyce’s most recent novel, COUNT THE WAYS, which is the mesmerizing story of a family --- from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce and the costly aftermath that ripples through all their lives. The hardcover released last year, and the paperback is now available. If you have not read it, pick it up now to prep for the event!
Just as we did last night, there will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Joyce. For the first part, those who are asking a question “on camera” will be featured. This includes spending time with Joyce backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email it to me using the subject line “Joyce.” For those who are camera shy, there will be a traditional Q&A segment as well.
After a brief hiatus, our “Bookreporter Talks To” series is back…and we have two new interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Lynda Cohen Loigman, whose latest novel is THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT. Lynda was writing something else when Lynda’s daughter brought her roommate home when their college classes shut down during the pandemic. The three of them ended up watching “Indian Matchmaking” on Netflix, and the roommate piped up and said that her grandmother had been a matchmaker. This sparked an idea for Lynda. Suddenly she found herself casting aside the book that she was writing to tell the story of a Jewish matchmaker who had been born in 1910, along with that of the matchmaker’s granddaughter, a divorce lawyer in 1994.
THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT is laced with lots of historical details about matchmaking and Rabbinical courts, and is peppered with Yiddish expressions. Lynda talks about how she nails her storytelling --- and shares wonderful details about how she approached her research. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
I also had the pleasure of chatting with Sally Koslow about her new novel, THE REAL MRS. TOBIAS, a Bets On pick that explores three generations of a family living in New York City. It revolves around three very different women, and their interactions with each other make for strong storytelling. Aside from their own stories, they are contending with the possible backlash of a traffic incident that the grandson, son and husband drove away from without exploring its consequences.
I met Sally decades ago when we both worked at Mademoiselle magazine. We talk about Sally's career as a novelist and nonfiction writer since then, and we also reminisce about what magazines used to be. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Fredrik Backman has wrapped up his Beartown trilogy with the release of THE WINNERS, an emotion-packed novel that asks us to reconsider what it means to win, what it means to lose, and what it means to forgive. Although this concluding volume could be read as a stand-alone as Backman sufficiently explains much of the backstory, we strongly suggest that you read the first two installments, BEARTOWN and US AGAINST YOU, if you haven’t already so you can experience the full impact of this much-lauded series.
According to our reviewer Pamela Kramer, “Backman's writing is lyrical as we hear the narrative through a plural entity that is like a voice for the town. And he doesn't pull any punches. This is not a story with twists and turns; he flat out tells us what the future will bring…. THE WINNERS is a complicated conclusion to this trilogy, filled with enough action for three books, but it all works together effectively and movingly. You will feel better for having read it and for having contemplated and been inspired by the messages that Backman offers in these many pages.”
In SUSPECT, his new legal thriller, Scott Turow brings back Clarice “Pinky” Granum, celebrated defense attorney Sandy Stern’s tattooed, pink-haired, septum-pierced, 33-year-old granddaughter. Now, for the first time, Pinky has a P.I. license and her own story to tell. Guided by her gut instinct and razor-sharp investigative skills, she dives headfirst into a twisted scandal that will draw her into the deepest recesses of the city’s criminal networks, as well as the human mind.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “SUSPECT is full of plot twists and surprises, but make no mistake that this is Pinky’s novel, and she is an extremely likable and unique protagonist. Still, as a young person, she may not have the experience to handle the deep, dark secrets she uncovers about those who may pose more of a threat to her than she can imagine. Hopefully, Turow has more storylines with Pinky at the center for us to enjoy in the not-too-distant future.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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SHRINES OF GAIETY: Kate Atkinson, the award-winning author of LIFE AFTER LIFE, transports readers to a restless London in the wake of the Great War --- a city fizzing with money, glamour and corruption.
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THE BULLET THAT MISSED: A new mystery is afoot in this third installment of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series. It is an ordinary Thursday, and things finally should be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club is concerned.
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LESS IS LOST: Andrew Sean Greer follows up his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel LESS with this eagerly awaited sequel. From his estranged father and strained relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Arthur Less eventually must face his personal demons.
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THE SHADOW MURDERS: In this penultimate installment of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q thriller series, the team must hunt for a nefarious criminal who has slipped under the radar for decades.
Word of Mouth Reminder
We’re awarding MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan and OUR MISSING HEARTS by Celeste Ng to the winners of our Word of Mouth contest. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, October 7th at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 titles releasing in paperback in September you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know.
Simon & Schuster is excited to announce the lineup for the third edition of AuthorFest, a series of virtual author events that, through a network of book festivals, literary venues and author lecture series, provide live author programming to communities and readers in the U.S. and Canada.
The Fall 2022 AuthorFest event is scheduled for Thursday, October 13th at 7pm ET and will feature John Irving and Jason Reynolds. These New York Times bestselling authors are famous for crafting thought-provoking stories about the expression of self-identity through explorations of race, class and sexuality. Their conversation will be moderated by Simon & Schuster’s CEO, Jonathan Karp. Jonathan is also John Irving’s editor, and he is excited about THE LAST CHAIRLIFT, Irving’s first book in seven years, which releases on October 18th. Click here to register.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: We got lots of nice mail last night right after our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event ended. Here are some of them:
Myra wrote, “I enjoyed the webinar tonight as much as I enjoyed Marie's and Victoria’s book, THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. Thank you so much for hosting these wonderful interviews with authors whose books we love.”
Patricia wrote, “This evening was so very enjoyable. Thank you for presenting it. Our Palm Beach Gardens Library Book Club read it a few months ago, and Marie and Victoria brought it to life again. Thank you!
Melanie, our Word of Mouth editor, wrote, “That was a great “Bookaccino Live” Book Group! I think five people from my book group were there.” I love that so many from her group attended. And there was a woman who posed a question during the event who is reading THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN with four book groups!
Audiobooks: I saw a great line about audiobooks the other day. When people criticize them, think about this: It was a gift to be read to as a child...so why not as an adult?
Blonde on Netflix: Longtime readers know I rarely pan anything, but I watched this film the other night waiting for something good to happen...and wow, it really did not. The blonde is Norma Jean, otherwise known as Marilyn Monroe. The storyline lurches from one depressing, joyless scene to another. Monroe is depicted as completely vacuous and clueless. Seriously, skip!
“Dahmer” on Netflix: Okay, okay. I know...WHO needs to see another show about Jeffrey Dahmer? To me, the real star of this one is Glenda Cleveland, his neighbor who tried to stop him from abducting one of his victims. Unlike what we see in the show, she did not live next door, but rather down the street. But she did continuously try to draw police attention to him. I had wondered what happened to her, so I looked that up. It ends up she died in 2011, alone in her apartment. She was discovered by the police when they went to make a welfare check.
I rarely look at our traffic reports (they track what readers look at) on Bookreporter, but the other day I clicked through to them and saw that an interview that we had done with Derf Backderf was getting a lot of traffic. He had written a graphic novel called MY FRIEND DAHMER, which was about growing up with Dahmer when he was in high school. I know that there has been a lot of outrage --- and rightly so --- about bringing Dahmer's story back up to haunt the families of victims. I do agree with that. But instead I found myself focusing on Glenda and what she was so ardently trying to do, and failing. It became a story about race and class as much as about the brutal murders.
“Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives” on Netflix: Okay, okay. I needed some levity, and the Bollywood Wives gave it to me. Their lives are over the top…and they are funny. And hey, I traveled vicariously with them to Dubai. Armchair travel, take me away.
My husband has been away all week, and I was so busy that I only did ONE night of pizza on English muffins. I cooked one night, and another night I ate Trader Joe’s Green Chile Mac and Cheese when Greg was out. Last night, it was peanut butter on leftover pasta from the night I made Eggplant Fra Diavolo. Greg told me that the next time Tom travels, he should make me meal kits before he goes. Greg found my lack of cooking to be exasperating! I just had too much to do to spend a lot of time cooking. And I DO love to cook.
Greg is off to Ontario and then Michigan tomorrow on a combo “work from away” and photography trip. Note that a lot of this time will be spent camping, which makes me laugh since I am sure he will not be eating anything gourmet on the road. He did note my “salad in a bag” lunches this week and approved of those. So my food choices can be good.
I have reading and prep to do for the Morristown Festival of Books. And yes, I still am writing thank you notes…and still trying to get my office cleaned up. When the weather is great, I have zero desire to be inside, but rain this weekend may drive me inside if I am not hidden in the Cleopatra tent! I so do not want to take that down.
Mercury retrograde ends on Sunday. Let us rejoice.
We are thinking of all of our readers who were in Ian’s path this week. Our hearts go out to you. The path of destruction has been chilling. In a news broadcast tonight, they were helicoptering people out of a hospital, sending the neonatal patients and critical patients first. They said it will take five days to get everyone out. It reminded me of watching “Five Days at Memorial” on Apple TV+, but this felt so much more hopeful as the helicopter plan was in place. But still the images were so scary.
And to those observing Yom Kippur, I wish you a good fast.
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 WINNERS by Fredrik Backman
THE WINNERS by Fredrik Backman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland
Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich, two young people who left in search of a life far from the forest town, come home and joyfully reunite with their closest childhood friends. They can see how much Beartown has changed. There is a sense of optimism and purpose in the town, embodied in the impressive new ice rink that has been built down by the lake. Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The destruction caused by a ferocious late-summer storm reignites the old rivalry between Beartown and the neighboring town of Hed, a rivalry that has always been fought through their ice hockey teams. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SUSPECT by Scott Turow
SUSPECT by Scott Turow (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Helen Laser
For as long as Lucia Gomez has been the police chief in the city of Highland Isle, near Kindle County, she has known that any woman in law enforcement must walk a precarious line between authority and camaraderie to gain respect. She has maintained a spotless reputation --- until now. Three male police officers have accused her of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions to higher ranks. With few people left who she can trust, Chief Gomez turns to an old friend, Rik Dudek, to act as her attorney in the federal grand jury investigation, insisting to Rik that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign designed to destroy her career and empower her enemies --- both outside the police force and within. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson
SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jason Watkins
It’s 1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time. The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho’s gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost. 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: THE BULLET THAT MISSED
by Richard Osman
THE BULLET THAT MISSED: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Fiona Shaw and Steph McGovern
It is an ordinary Thursday, and things finally should be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club is concerned. A decade-old cold case --- their favorite kind --- leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers. Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill or be killed. Suddenly the cold case has become red hot. While Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim chase down the clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: LESS IS LOST by Andrew Sean Greer
LESS IS LOST by Andrew Sean Greer (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
Arthur Less is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US. Less roves across the “Mild Mild West,” through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo --- a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. We cannot, however, escape ourselves. From his estranged father and strained relationship with Freddy, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Less must eventually face his personal demons. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE SHADOW MURDERS
by Jussi Adler-Olsen
THE SHADOW MURDERS: A Department Q Novel written by Jussi Adler-Olsen, translated by William Frost (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Graeme Malcolm
On her 60th birthday, a woman takes her own life. When the case lands on Detective Carl Mørck’s desk, he can’t imagine what this has to do with Department Q, Copenhagen’s cold cases division, since the cause of death seems apparent. However, his superior, Marcus Jacobsen, is convinced that this is related to an unsolved case that has been plaguing him since 1988. At Marcus' behest, Carl and the Department Q gang reluctantly begin to investigate. And they quickly discover that Marcus is onto something: Every two years for the past three decades, there have been unusual, impeccably timed deaths with connections between them that cannot be ignored. As the investigation goes deeper, it emerges that these "accidents" are in fact part of a sinister murder scheme. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Join Carol Fitzgerald for Three Special Author Events
at the Morristown Festival of Books on October 8th!
Created by and for people who love books, the Morristown Festival of Books in Morristown, New Jersey, has become a destination event for authors and readers. Since its inception, the festival has established itself among the top book festivals nationwide, drawing thousands of annual attendees.
This year's festival will kick off on Friday, October 7th at 7:30pm with the Keynote Event, featuring longtime New York Times columnist Frank Bruni as their Keynote Speaker. Bruni will discuss his lauded memoir, THE BEAUTY OF DUSK: On Vision Lost and Found, in an on-stage conversation with MSNBC news anchor Katy Tur. You can purchase your tickets by clicking here.
The Main Festival is free and will get underway on Saturday, October 8th starting at 10am with in-person author talks, Q&As and signings. Carol Fitzgerald will be moderating three events that day, and we want to make sure they are on your radar.
The festival will wrap up on Saturday with a very special Closing Event at 5:15pm. Carol will interview James Patterson, the world’s best-selling author, who has sold over 300 million books worldwide. Click here to purchase your tickets. Please note that each ticket includes a signed copy of Patterson's new hardcover thriller, BLOWBACK.
Also taking place on Saturday during the festival is KidFest, where kids and teens can meet their favorite authors and illustrators and partake in interactive presentations and book readings.
Click here for more information about the Morristown Festival of Books.
Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual Fall Preview Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. While our series of 24-hour Fall Preview contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles. These are just some of the outstanding books that we know people will be talking about over the next few months.
This year's featured titles are:
» Click here to see the winners of this year's Fall Preview contests.
Click here to read more about our featured titles.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
KILLING THE LEGENDS: The Lethal Danger of Celebrity by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Muhammad Ali. These three icons changed not only the worlds of music, film and sports, but the world itself. Their faces were known everywhere, in every nation, across every culture. And their stories became larger than life --- until their lives spun out of control at the hands of those they most trusted. In KILLING THE LEGENDS, Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard explore the lives, legacies and tragic deaths of three of the most famous people of the 20th century. Each experienced immense success, then failures that forced them to change; each faced the challenge of growing old in fields that privilege youth; and finally, each became isolated, cocooned by wealth but vulnerable to the demands of those in their innermost circles. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
A TRUTH TO LIE FOR: An Elena Standish Novel by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Lyons
It is the summer of 1934, and Hitler is nearing the summit of supreme power in Germany. When Britain’s MI6 gets word that a pair of German scientists have made breakthroughs in germ warfare, they send Elena Standish on a dangerous mission to get one of them out of Germany before he’s forced to share his knowledge and its devastating power with Hitler’s elite. But the new head of Germany’s germ warfare division is an old enemy of Elena’s grandfather Lucas, the former head of MI6. And he’s bent on using any means at his disposal to avenge his defeat at Lucas’ hands 20 years before. What starts as an effort to save Europe from the devastation of disease soon becomes an intensely personal fight. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ABOMINATIONS: Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-Destruction by Lionel Shriver (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Lionel Shriver
Novelist, cultural observer and social satirist Lionel Shriver is among the sharpest talents of our age. A writer who embraces “under-expressed, unpopular or downright dangerous” points of view, she filets cherished shibboleths and the conformity of thought and attitude that has overtaken us. Bringing together 35 works curated from her many columns, features, essays and op-eds, along with some unpublished pieces, ABOMINATIONS reveals Shriver at her most iconoclastic and personal. Relentlessly skeptical, cutting and contrarian, this collection showcases Shriver’s piquant opinions on a wide range of topics --- including religion, politics, illness, mortality, family and friends, tennis, gender, immigration, consumerism, health care and taxes. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
LARK ASCENDING by Silas House (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Charlie Thurston
As fires devastate most of the United States, Lark and his family secure a place on a refugee boat headed to Ireland, the last country not yet overrun by extremists and rumored to be accepting American refugees. But Lark is the only one to survive the trip, and once ashore, he doesn’t find the safe haven he’d hoped for. As he runs for his life, Lark finds an abandoned dog who becomes his closest companion, and then a woman in search of her lost son. Together they form a makeshift family and attempt to reach Glendalough, a place they believe will offer protection. But can any community provide the safety that they seek? Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
SWEET, SOFT, PLENTY RHYTHM by Laura Warrell (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nicole Lewis
It’s 2013, and Circus Palmer, a 40-year-old Boston-based trumpet player and old-school ladies’ man, lives for his music and refuses to be tied down. Before a gig in Miami, he learns that the woman who is secretly closest to his heart, the free-spirited drummer Maggie, is pregnant by him. Instead of facing the necessary conversation, Circus flees, setting off a chain of interlocking revelations from the various women in his life. Most notable among them is his teenage daughter, Koko, who idolizes him and is awakening to her own sexuality even as her mentally fragile mother struggles to overcome her rejection by Circus. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
WE SPREAD by Iain Reid (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Robin Miles
Penny, an artist, has lived in the same apartment for decades. She is resigned to the mundane rituals of old age, until things begin to slip. Before her longtime partner passed away years earlier, provisions were made for a room in a unique long-term care residence, where Penny finds herself after one too many “incidents.” Initially, surrounded by peers, conversing, eating, sleeping and looking out at the beautiful woods that surround the house, all is well. She even begins to paint again. But as the days start to blur together, Penny begins to lose her grip on the passage of time and on her place in the world. Is she succumbing to the subtly destructive effects of aging, or is she an unknowing participant in something more unsettling? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE MARSH QUEEN by Virginia Hartman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
When Loni Murrow receives a call from her younger brother summoning her back home to help their obstinate mother recover after an accident, her neat, contained life in Washington, DC, is thrown into chaos. Going through her mother’s things, Loni uncovers scraps and snippets of a time in her life she would prefer to forget --- a childhood marked by her father Boyd’s death by drowning and her mother Ruth’s persistent bad mood. When Loni comes across a single, cryptic note from a stranger --- “There are some things I have to tell you about Boyd’s death”--- she begins a dangerous quest to discover the truth, all the while struggling to reconnect with her mother and reconcile with her brother and his wife, who seem to thwart her at every turn. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE VICIOUS CIRCLE by Katherine St. John (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christine Lakin
On a river deep in the Mexican jungle stands the colossal villa Xanadu, a wellness center that’s home to an ardent spiritual group devoted to self-help guru Paul Bentzen and his enigmatic wife, Kali. But when Paul mysteriously dies, his entire estate --- including Xanadu --- is left not to Kali, but to his estranged niece, Sveta. Shocked and confused, Sveta travels from New York City to Mexico to pay her respects. At first, Xanadu seems like a secluded paradise with its tumbling gardens, beautiful people and transcendent vibe. But soon the mystical façade wears thin, revealing a group of brainwashed members drunk on promises of an impossible utopia, guided by a disturbing belief system and a charismatic, dangerously capable leader. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT: Leopold & Loeb and the Truth Behind the Murder That Rocked 1920s America by Greg King and Penny Wilson (True Crime/History)
Audiobook available, read by Armando Riesco
Nearly a hundred years ago, two wealthy and privileged teenagers --- Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb --- were convicted of murdering 14-year-old Bobby Franks. The trial was made even more sensational by the revelation of a love affair between the defendants and by defense attorney Clarence Darrow, who delivered one of the most famous defense summations of all time to save the boys from the death penalty. The story of their mad folie à deux, with Loeb portrayed as the psychopathic mastermind and Leopold as his infatuated disciple, has been accepted by history as fact. But none of it is true. Using 21st-century investigative tools, forensics and a modern understanding of the psychology of these infamous killers, NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT turns history on its head. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 3rd and 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 3rd and 4th 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 October 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
October 3rd
THE TWELVE TOPSY-TURVY, VERY MESSY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by James Patterson and Tad Safran (Fiction)
At Christmastime, a family of three are missing someone dear to them. Until unexpected guests begin to arrive at their empty house, filling it with Christmas memories in the making.
October 4th
ACROSS THE SAND by Hugh Howey (Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic Thriller)
The first original novel from author Hugh Howey in six years, ACROSS THE SAND takes us back to the world of Sand, to a far future many generations after a disaster has destroyed civilization as we know it, where four siblings struggle to build their futures amid the harsh wastes of endless desert.
BOLDLY GO: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder by William Shatner with Joshua Brandon (Memoir/Essays)
The beloved star of "Star Trek," recent space traveler and living legend William Shatner reflects on the interconnectivity of all things, our fragile bond with nature and the joy that comes from exploration in this inspiring, revelatory and exhilarating collection of essays.
DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS by Terry Brooks (Fantasy)
This thrilling second novel of an all-new fantasy series from the legendary author behind the Shannara saga is about a human girl adapting to her place in a magical world she’s only recently discovered.
ENDLESS SUMMER: Stories by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction/Short Stories)
Elin Hilderbrand presents a newly assembled collection of nine captivating stories --- prequels, sequels and bonus chapters from her beloved books --- some of which have never been published, until now.
THE HERO OF THIS BOOK by Elizabeth McCracken (Fiction)
This taut, groundbreaking new novel from bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth McCracken is about a writer’s relationship with her larger-than-life mother --- and about the very nature of writing, memory and art.
HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese (Historical Fiction)
HESTER is a vivid reimagining of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne, the tragic heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne's THE SCARLET LETTER, and a journey into the enduring legacy of New England's witchcraft trials.
HOME SWEET CHRISTMAS by Susan Mallery (Romance)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes a witty and heartfelt story of two friends who unexpectedly find the person --- and the place in which --- they belong this Christmas.
MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (Fiction)
MAD HONEY is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.
NEVER MEANT TO MEET YOU by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (Romantic Comedy)
From the authors of TINY IMPERFECTIONS comes a riotously funny, emotionally real look at race and religion, love and heartache, and the realities of parenting through it all.
THE NIGHT SHIP by Jess Kidd (Historical Fiction)
Based on a real-life event, this epic historical novel from the award-winning author of THINGS IN JARS illuminates the lives of two characters: a girl shipwrecked on an island off Western Australia and, 300 years later, a boy finding a home with his grandfather on the very same island.
OUR MISSING HEARTS by Celeste Ng (Fiction)
From the #1 bestselling author of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE comes one of the most highly anticipated books of the year --- the inspiring new novel about a mother’s unbreakable love in a world consumed by fear.
RIGHTEOUS PREY: A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel by John Sandford (Mystery/Thriller)
Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are up against a powerful vigilante group with an eye on vengeance in this stunning new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.
SECRETS OF THE NILE: A Lady Emily Mystery by Tasha Alexander (Historical Mystery)
In a brilliant homage to Agatha Christie, critically acclaimed author Tasha Alexander sends Lady Emily to Egypt during British colonial rule to investigate a crime that leads back to the era of the Pharaohs.
THE WHALEBONE THEATRE by Joanna Quinn (Historical Fiction)
This transporting, irresistible debut novel takes its heroine, Cristabel Seagrave, from the gargantuan cavity of a beached whale into undercover operations during World War II --- a story of love, bravery, lost innocence and self-transformation.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Jodi Picoult, William Shatner, Joanna Quinn
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As many book and author events are still 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, October 3rd at 8pm ET: Random House Studio Sessions: Random House Studio Sessions is Random House's new event series featuring live conversations with the biggest names on your bookshelf, filmed in their studio and broadcast virtually to wherever you are. Join Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan as they discuss their new novel, MAD HONEY, with moderator Anna Quindlen.
Tuesday, October 4th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Sarah Addison Allen for a live book club event to discuss OTHER BIRDS, September's B&N Book Club pick. She will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, the Director of Category Management at B&N, and Miwa Messer, B&N’s Editorial Director.
Tuesday, October 4th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Ian Rankin will discuss his new Inspector Rebus novel, A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES. John Rebus stands accused: on trial for a crime that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. Although it's not the first time the legendary detective has taken the law into his own hands, it might be the last.
Tuesday, October 4th at 5pm ET: Print: A Bookstore: Joanna Quinn will be in conversation with Maggie Shipstead about her debut novel, THE WHALEBONE THEATRE, a story of love, bravery, lost innocence and self-transformation.
Tuesday, October 4th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Laurie Lico Albanese as she discusses her new book, HESTER, in conversation with Sarah Penner. Albanese has published fiction, poetry, journalism, travel writing, creative nonfiction and a memoir.
Tuesday, October 4th at 9pm ET: Book Soup: William Shatner, in conversation with coauthor Joshua Brandon, will discuss his new memoir, BOLDLY GO: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder. The beloved star of "Star Trek" and recent space traveler reflects on the interconnectivity of all things, our fragile bond with nature, and the joy that comes from exploration in this inspiring, revelatory and exhilarating collection of essays.
Wednesday, October 5th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Join the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- for a special "Just Us" episode featuring the Fab Four themselves.
Thursday, October 6th at 7pm ET: Warwicks: Warwick's will host Lynda Cohen Loigman as she discusses her new book, THE MATCHMAKER'S GIFT, with Rachel McMillan. Loigman is also the author of THE WARTIME SISTERS and THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Scott Shepherd (SHOULD I FALL)
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Thrity Umrigar (HONOR)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
September Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in September have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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APRIL IN SPAIN by John Banville
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BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood, by Qian Julie Wang
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THE BOYS: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, by Ron Howard and Clint Howard
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THE BRIDES OF MARACOOR by Gregory Maguire
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BROTHERS AND WIVES: Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan, by Christopher Andersen
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CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr
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CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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A DARKER REALITY: An Elena Standish Novel, by Anne Perry
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DEAR SANTA by Debbie Macomber
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E.R. NURSES: Walk My Rounds with Me: True Stories from America's Greatest Unsung Heroes, by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, with Chris Mooney
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THE FAMILY CHAO by Lan Samantha Chang
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FEAR NO EVIL: An Alex Cross Thriller, by James Patterson
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FEMLANDIA by Christina Dalcher
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FLYING ANGELS by Danielle Steel
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GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE by Diana Gabaldon
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THE JEALOUSY MAN AND OTHER STORIES written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson
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KILLING THE MOB: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America, by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
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THE KING OF INFINITE SPACE by Lyndsay Faye
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LAST GIRL GHOSTED by Lisa Unger
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THE LIGHTNING ROD: A Zig & Nola Novel, by Brad Meltzer
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THE MAGICIAN by Colm Tóibín
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MATRIX by Lauren Groff
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OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS by Gary Shteyngart
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THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich
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SMILE: A Memoir, by Sarah Ruhl
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THREE SISTERS by Heather Morris
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UNREQUITED INFATUATIONS: A Memoir, by Stevie Van Zandt
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VANDERBILT: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe
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WHERE THEY WAIT by Scott Carson
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THE WOMEN OF TROY by Pat Barker
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 7th 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 September 23rd to October 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan and OUR MISSING HEARTS by Celeste Ng.
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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