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These days, there are moments when I find myself wondering what time of year it is. Maybe it is because we had a milder winter than usual. Or maybe it is because the pace seems to be on some über speed these past couple of years without natural ebbs and flows, so the months are squishing together more.
The NFL announced their schedule for the 2023-24 season yesterday. Hearing that there are three games on Thanksgiving Day, three on Christmas and one on Black Friday had me thinking, Wait, are we skipping summer?
The plants and flowers here are a few weeks ahead of schedule. The peonies grew so quickly that we had to wrestle them into the metal containers that we use to be sure that they remain upright when they bloom. It was one of those moments when I was really happy that I married an engineer! Tom came up with a way to strap the stalks together before we wrestled the forms around them. It still was pretty humorous, and there is one stalk that escaped us. I can hear the garden centers calling my name. I think the last frost is behind us, and it is time to plant. I know exactly where my trowel, gloves and seeds are, which is just one more thing that is out of the norm!
This has been a busy week with both our “Bookaccino Live” program on Wednesday and our Book Group Speed Dating event today. We will have more on the latter for you next week! We love doing virtual programs, and connecting with readers and publishing professionals from around the country.
Another joy of mine is connecting with authors, and the interview we are sharing this week was such a joy.
For our latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, Kate Morton joined me from Australia to talk about her New York Times bestseller, HOMECOMING, which we featured last month as a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
During the early days of the pandemic, Kate headed to Australia with her family for what was to be an Easter visit. As they realized that their time there was going to be longer than planned, Kate put aside a manuscript that she was working on. Inspired by the Australian landscape and the idea of her own homecoming, she began this book. In this interview, Kate shares how the story evolved. Beautiful homes, places and landscapes draw her eye (as witnessed on her Instagram page). From there, the characters and plot take shape.
There is also a book within the book here --- a true crime book that sparks the characters to learn more. In our conversation, I forgot to ask Kate if she wrote this true crime story first, so I circled back to her about it in email.
Kate replied: “I made notes for Daniel Miller’s book in its entirety and knew from the start that it would have two basic parts: the Turner family’s activities on the last day of their lives, and the investigation afterwards. In concept, I thought the second part would be longer than it was. But as I progressed, I realized that I didn’t need to show the investigation via Daniel Miller, because Jess’ research provided so much of the necessary information. I wrote the first part, covering the Turner family’s final day, in one fell swoop; the rest I wrote as it appears in the book.”
We cover a lot of ground here! HOMECOMING is worth the five-year wait since Kate’s last book, THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And if you missed it the first time, be sure to take a look at our rave review and my Bets On commentary.
As I mentioned earlier, we hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 33 books releasing between now and June 6th, plus nine from July, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event will take place on Wednesday, June 14th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between June 13th and July 4th, in addition to 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.
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro have teamed up again for the latest entry in their Women’s Murder Club series. In THE 23rd MIDNIGHT, an attention-seeking copycat is recreating murders by a famous killer from the Women’s Murder Club’s past --- with devastating new twists.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “As the title indicates, this is the 23rd installment in the Women’s Murder Club series, which shows not only the persistence of the authors but also their uncanny ability to keep churning out interesting stories featuring these dynamic characters…. Those who have read any of the prior entries in this series will be in for a treat as they get to spend more quality time with these leading ladies, all of whom are in fine form here.”
New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry returns with SWAMP STORY, a Florida caper full of oddballs and more twists and turns than a snake slithering away from a gator.
According to Ray Palen, “Barry’s story is completely ridiculous. As a transplanted Floridian by way of New York City, I can honestly say that he has his finger on the pulse of all the craziness that has put Florida Man and the Skunk Ape on any map featuring the Sunshine State.... All stories will converge in a hilarious and unexpected climax that only the warped brain of Dave Barry could conceive.” We also have a Q&A with Dave, courtesy of Michael Barson, who was one of his publicists at G.P. Putnam’s Sons from 1996 to 2014.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
Summer Reading Update
We kicked off our Summer Reading contests this week by giving away PIECES OF BLUE, along with two other books that released on Tuesday: THE HOUSE ON PRYTANIA, the second entry in Karen White’s Royal Street series, and THE QUANTUM SOLUTION, the fourth installment in Eric Van Lustbader’s series starring Evan Ryder. Next week’s prize book will be Linwood Barclay’s new thriller, THE LIE MAKER. The contest for it will be up at noon ET on the day of its release, Tuesday, May 16th. It is worth noting that Eric has put together a fun playlist on Spotify for THE QUANTUM SOLUTION. Be sure to take a listen to it here on his website.
Don’t Miss Our Mother’s Day Author Blogs
We wrapped up our 14th Annual Mother’s Day Author Blog series this week. Six authors contributed lovely pieces about reading with their mothers and their own children, and how their mothers inspired them to become readers and writers. Many thanks to Megan Abbott, Fiona Davis, JJ Elliott, Joshilyn Jackson, Joanne Leedom-Ackerman and Brendan Slocumb for sharing these special bookish memories with us. Some of these pieces will make you smile, others may bring a tear to your eye, but all are worth reading. One piece truly is better than the next! We shared these on Facebook and Instagram in case you want to get them out to friends as well.
And a big thank you to everyone who entered our Mother’s Day contest! We will announce the five winners of our 12 prize books in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, click here for some last-minute Mother’s Day gift suggestions.
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 26th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE SENATOR’S WIFE by Liv Constantine and YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang, both of which we will review over the next couple of weeks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 35 paperbacks releasing in May you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes. There are so many paperbacks coming out this month that we couldn’t narrow down the list any further than 35!
In our previous poll, we asked if there is an independent bookstore near your home. 67% of you have one in your area, while 31% do not and 1% are not sure about this.
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re giving away copies of TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin in our latest “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest. This award-winning instant New York Times bestseller examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play and, above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Three readers will win 12 copies of the book for their book group. To enter, all you have to do is fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, June 14th at noon ET.
The 107th annual Pulitzer Prizes were announced this week. DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver and TRUST by Hernan Diaz were the first-ever joint winners in the Fiction category. We can just imagine those deliberations! Other winners included G-MAN: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, by Beverly Gage (Biography); STAY TRUE by Hua Hsu (Memoir or Autobiography); and HIS NAME IS GEORGE FLOYD: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice, by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa (General Nonfiction). Click here for the complete list of winners and nominees in the Journalism, Books, Drama and Music categories.
I love Santa Fe, so I wanted to make sure you knew about the Santa Fe International Literary Festival, which will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center next Friday to Sunday, May 19-21. The festival will kick off next Friday evening with Colum McCann, followed by an entire weekend of programming, including big-stage presentations, intimate conversations, and walking tours with literary heroes from near and far. The stellar author lineup includes John Irving, Jennifer Egan, Gillian Flynn, Diana Gabaldon, Beth Macy, Jon Krakauer, Luis Alberto Urrea, and so many more. Click here for all the details and here to purchase your tickets.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Virginia wrote this after reading the “On Sale This Week” newsletter: “Thanks, Carol and Bookreporter crew! I ordered the new Arkady Renko book for my Kindle directly from your newsletter. It’s been many years since I’ve read any Arkady book, and I’m glad to have the reminder. Love you!”
Jennifer wrote, “In the event it might be helpful, I compose a grocery list in the Reminders app (iOS) that can be shared (by tapping the icon top left) --- and completed items on it checkmarked.” I am an Android kind of girl. She came back with this recommendation: “Check out the Google Keep app for that shopping list, though the Google Shopping List feature migrated to Google Home.” I am going to try that out!
These days, not much can be held secret for long. I was amused yesterday when Elon Musk announced that he had hired a CEO and he was not going to announce her name yet. Within hours, I got six emails that it was Linda Yaccarino from NBCUniversal. NBC announced that she was unavailable for comment as she was working on the upfronts, where the brand presents their upcoming programming to advertisers. By this morning, she had resigned and he announced that she was the new CEO.
Then this week, there was lots of secrecy about a 544-page memoir (including 40 full-color photographs) coming from Flatiron Books that was going to be announced on June 13th and come out on July 9th, which is an unusual date because it is a Sunday. Immediately, with no real intel on this except reading into her tweets and that her lucky number is 13, fans decided it was Taylor Swift. So this unnamed and untitled book, with no known subject matter, was getting loads of pre-orders for a $45 book. Well, that secret lasted mere days when it was announced that it actually is about BTS, the ultra-popular Korean boy band. There goes that June 13th announcement, folks!
Lots coming on streaming today:
“The Last Thing He Told Me” on Apple TV+: The next-to-last episode releases today.
“City on Fire” on Apple TV+: This new series based on the book by Garth Risk Hallberg starts today.
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie on Apple TV+: I talked about him last week, and this film premieres today. Here we get a look back at his earlier career when he was in his 20s, his Parkinson's diagnosis at 29, and how he's doing today.
A Man Called Otto: This movie is now airing on Netflix; I plan to watch it this week.
“Jewish Matchmaking” on Netflix: I watched “Indian Matchmaking”, so why not watch another culture? Yes, I know this is all reality TV, and you would never catch me watching a “Housewives” show. But here I found myself learning what people were looking for in a mate based on their religious culture. It was very interesting.
Are you like me, and you can’t remember that one movie scene? This website will help you find audio and video clips by word or phrase.
Here is a terrific piece by T. J. Newman. The author of FALLING and DROWNING (the latter releases on May 30th) talks about why those who dream of being published want to pursue their dreams, even when they face a lot of rejection.
The Writers Guild of America strike has pretty much shut down production in the movie and television world. Each day the trade press brings another story about a set being closed down, as well as picket line news. With issues like the role of AI and streaming residuals on the table, I fear this will be a long strike as this is truly foreign territory.
I am reading the aforementioned THE LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay. I started it about 12:30 last night, and I still was reading at 3am. Only knowing that I had a busy day in front of me kept me from reading more! I am highly recommending this one; as you see above, we have a contest for it on Tuesday. Can’t wait to see if you win? Order it now!
Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there, and to those celebrating their moms. Last year, both my husband, Tom, and I had our moms on Mother's Day. We celebrated with his mom on the Saturday night before Mother’s Day; the following morning, he and his sister, Kate, went to visit her. That following Thursday, she passed away. My mom came to dinner on Mother’s Day last year, but by August she had passed away.
For all the time that I have been a mom, this is the first year that I will be celebrated alone. It has been very strange seeing signs in stores saying “Don't forget your Mother's Day cards” or not planning which hanging baskets to buy them.
So an extra hug to all of you out there who are missing your moms, or perhaps had a troubled relationship with your mom. And to those of you lucky enough to spend the day with your mom, or to be able to make that call, treasure it.
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!
Quick Tech Note: Bookreporter is protected from spam bots and other ridiculous things that try to hack websites by something called Imperva. If you go to the site and see a message that asks you to click "I am not a robot," just know that this is the software being extra cautious. Yes, it's mind-numbing to have to do this, and at least it doesn't happen all the time. But we know you are not robots, so if you could click to tell the software this, that would be great.
Featured Review: THE 23rd MIDNIGHT
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
THE 23rd MIDNIGHT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke in jail. Reporter Cindy Thomas wrote a book that put him on the bestseller list. An obsessed maniac has turned Burke’s true-crime story into a playbook. And is embellishing it with gruesome touches all his own. Now Lindsay is tracking an elusive suspect, and the entire Murder Club is facing destruction. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review and Interview:
SWAMP STORY by Dave Barry
Dave Barry is the author of more bestsellers than you can count on two hands, including LESSONS FROM LUCY, DAVE BARRY'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO GUYS, DAVE BARRY TURNS 40 and DAVE BARRY IS NOT MAKING THIS UP. SWAMP STORY, his latest Florida caper, is full of oddballs and more twists and turns than a snake slithering away from a gator. Michael Barson, Senior Publicity Executive at Melville House, was one of Barry’s publicists at G.P. Putnam’s Sons from 1996 to 2014, so he was thrilled to have an opportunity to catch up with him. In this interview, Barry explains why Florida has been the subject of so many comic novels over the past three decades, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of collaborating with other authors, and gives his two cents on the current state of the book industry.
SWAMP STORY by Dave Barry (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Dave Barry
Jesse Braddock is trapped in a tiny cabin deep in the Everglades with her infant daughter and ex-boyfriend, a wannabe reality TV star. She stumbles across a long-lost treasure that could solve all her problems. But some very bad men are also looking for the treasure, and they know Jesse has it. Meanwhile, Ken Bortle of Bortle Brothers Bait and Beer has hatched a scheme to lure tourists to his failing store by making viral videos of the “Everglades Melon Monster.” Incredibly, this plan actually works, inspiring a horde of TikTokers to swarm into the swamp in search of the monster at the same time villains are on the hunt for Jesse’s treasure. Amid this mayhem, a presidential hopeful arrives in the Everglades to start his campaign. Needless to say, it does not go as planned. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Read our review and the interview.
Featured Review: CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS
by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
May’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Dystopian Fiction/Satire)
Audiobook available; read by Shayna Small, Aaron Goodson, Michael Crouch and Lee Osorio
Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE --- or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment --- a highly popular, highly controversial, profit-raising program in America’s increasingly dominant private prison industry. It’s the return of the gladiators, and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom. In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, she considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- 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.
Featured Review:
NO TWO PERSONS by Erica Bauermeister
NO TWO PERSONS by Erica Bauermeister (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by a full cast
Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached, until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel. Her words find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness, to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, a widower rent by grief. Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective, and presents new pathways forward for their lives. Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
PIECES OF BLUE by Holly Goldberg Sloan
PIECES OF BLUE by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
When Paul Hill drowns in a surfing accident, his broken-hearted wife, Lindsey, and their three children are left in huge financial trouble. Once Paul’s life insurance finally comes through, Lindsey impulsively uses the money to buy a charmingly ramshackle motel in Hawaii. Teenage Olivia quickly develops a crush on a handsome but monosyllabic skateboarder. Twelve-year-old Carlos reinvents himself as a popular kid named Carl. And Sena, the youngest, will do whatever it takes to protect her beloved motel chickens. But while the kids adjust, Lindsey is flailing. Then a handsome stranger rolls into the motel parking lot, and she’s surprised to feel a long-dormant part of herself stirring. She accepts his offer to help, unaware that he may have secrets of his own. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com’s 14th Annual
Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for a 14th year! We are excited to be sharing pieces from six authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
As always, we appreciate all the authors who took the time to participate in this annual feature.
Click here to read this year's Mother's Day Author Blogs.
Bookreporter.com's 19th 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 mid-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 16th at noon ET.
This year’s featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Enter to Win 12 Copies of TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" feature, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
Our latest prize book is TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin --- an instant New York Times bestseller, a Fallon Book Club selection, and the winner of both the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction and the Book of the Month Club’s Book of the Year. This novel steeped in nostalgia and innovation follows three friends as they come of age in the world of video games, creating stories and worlds that enhance, redefine and preserve their rich bonds while attempting to defy the limits of mortality. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, June 14th at noon ET.
TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin (Fiction)
On a bitter cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money and beg favors --- and before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even 25 years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Gabrielle Zevin's bio.
- Click here to visit Gabrielle Zevin's website.
- Click here to connect with Gabrielle Zevin on Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
FIXIT: An IQ Novel by Joe Ide (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Zeno Robinson
Danger has always followed Isaiah Quintabe, a reality he’s keenly aware of as he’s laid up in a hospital bed, recovering from injuries sustained in his last case. So he’s unaware that Grace, the love of his life, has been abducted by his sworn enemy, the professional hitman Skip Hanson. Now, Isaiah and his sometimes partner, ex-hustler Juanell Dodson, must track scant clues through L.A.’s perilous landscape as Grace’s predicament grows more uncertain. A complication arises in the form of Winnie Hando, a homicide detective with something to prove. Stubborn and effective, Winnie sees his efforts as an obstruction to the investigation. As the desperate hunt winds on, Isaiah fears that even if he can bring Grace home alive, things between them will never be the same. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
JUST A REGULAR BOY by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch and Kate Rudd
Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, Remy Blake is days shy of his eighth birthday when his survivalist father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization. He is found --- near feral, silent and terrified --- in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE LEAVING SEASON: A Memoir in Essays by Kelly McMasters (Memoir/Essays)
Kelly McMasters found herself in her mid-30s living her fantasy: she’d moved with her husband from New York City to rural Pennsylvania, where their children roamed idyllic acres. The pastoral landscape and the bookshop they opened were restorative at first, for her and her marriage. But soon she was quietly plotting her escape. In THE LEAVING SEASON, McMasters chronicles the heady rush of falling in love and carving out a life in the city, the slow dissolution of her relationship in an isolated farmhouse, and the complexities of making a new home for herself and her children as a single parent. She delves into the tricky and often devastating balance between seeing and being seen; loss and longing; desire and doubt; and the paradox of leaving what you love in order to survive. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE by Ashley Winstead (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Ann Marie Gideon
Alexis Stone, a shy school librarian, meets Logan at a hotel bar. Audacious and filterless, Logan is Alexis’ opposite. Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm. In their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Alexis is bewildered until suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. It turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career --- and jeopardize Alexis’ job --- until a solution is proposed: he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until Election Day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE SALT GROWS HEAVY by Cassandra Khaw (Fantasy/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Dalian
You may think you know how the fairy tale goes: a mermaid comes to shore and weds the prince. But what the fables forget is that mermaids have teeth. And now her daughters have devoured the kingdom and burned it to ashes. On the run, the mermaid is joined by a mysterious plague doctor with a darkness of their own. Deep in the eerie, snow-crusted forest, the pair stumble upon a village of ageless children who thirst for blood and the three “saints” who control them. The mermaid and her doctor must embrace the cruelest parts of their true nature if they hope to survive. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE OTHER FAMILY DOCTOR: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us About Love, Life, and Mortality by Karen Fine, DVM (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Fine, DVM
Karen Fine always knew that she wanted to be a vet and wasn't going to let anything stop her: not her allergy to cats, and not the fact that in the '80s veterinary medicine was still a mostly male profession. Inspired by her grandfather, a compassionate doctor who paid house calls to all his (human) patients, Dr. Fine persevered and brought her Oupa's principles into her own practice, which emphasizes the need to understand her patients’ stories to provide the best possible care. And in THE OTHER FAMILY DOCTOR, Dr. Fine shares all these touching, joyful, heartbreaking and life-affirming tales that make up her career as a vet. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
PAPER NAMES by Susie Luo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Austin Ku
Set in New York and China over three decades, PAPER NAMES explores what it means to be American from three different perspectives. There’s Tony, a Chinese-born engineer turned Manhattan doorman, who immigrated to the United States to give his family a better life. His daughter, Tammy, who we meet at age nine and follow through adulthood, grapples with the expectations of a first-generation American and her own personal desires. Finally, there’s Oliver, a handsome white lawyer with a dark family secret who lives in the building where Tony works. A violent attack causes their lives to intertwine in ways that will change them forever. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
CARMEN AND GRACE by Melissa Coss Aquino (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Almarie Guerra and Melanie Mendez
Carmen and Grace have been inseparable since they were little girls --- more like sisters than cousins, survivors of a childhood marked by neglect and addiction and a system that never valued them. For too long, all they had was each other. That is, until Doña Durka swept into their lives and changed everything, taking Grace into her home, providing stability and support, and playing an outsize role in Carmen’s upbringing. Durka is more than a beneficent force in their Bronx neighborhood, though. She’s also the leader of an underground drug empire, a larger-than-life matriarch who understands the vital importance of taking what power she can in a world too often ruled by violent men. So, when Durka dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances, Carmen and Grace’s lives are thrown into chaos. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 16th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 16th 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 15th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS by Kate White (Psychological Thriller)
A woman receives a bewildering inheritance that may have something to do with her past in this twisty and addictive psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Entertainment Weekly calls “impossible to outwit.”
BLUE SKIES by T.C. Boyle (Thriller/Satire)
From bestselling novelist T.C. Boyle comes a satirical yet ultimately moving send-up of contemporary American life in the glare of climate change.
FRACTAL NOISE: A Fractalverse Novel by Christopher Paolini (Science Fiction/Space Opera)
This new blockbuster science fiction adventure from world-wide phenomenon and #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Paolini is set in the world of TO SLEEP IN A SEA OF STARS.
THE GUEST by Emma Cline (Psychological Thriller)
A young woman pretends to be someone she isn’t in this stunning novel by the New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRLS.
KING: A Life by Jonathan Eig (Biography)
The first full biography in decades, KING mixes revelatory and exhaustive new research with brisk and accessible storytelling to forge the definitive life for our times.
THE LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay (Thriller)
In this twisty, fast-paced thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of FIND YOU FIRST and TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY, a man desperately tries to track down his father --- who was taken into witness protection years ago --- before his enemies can get to him.
LIFE B: Overcoming Double Depression by Bethanne Patrick (Memoir)
LIFE B is an intimate portrait we haven’t yet seen --- of a lifelong struggle with depression, of midlife diagnosis and newly found strength. Most important, it’s a life-affirming blueprint of how to accept and transcend the limitations of mental illness.
MEET ME TONIGHT IN ATLANTIC CITY: A Memoir by Jane Wong (Memoir)
This incandescent, exquisitely written memoir is about family, food, girlhood, resistance and growing up in a Chinese American restaurant on the Jersey shore.
THE OLD LION: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt by Jeff Shaara (Historical Fiction)
Acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Jeff Shaara accomplishes what only the finest historical fiction can do --- he brings to life one of the most consequential figures in U.S. history, Theodore Roosevelt, peeling back the many-layered history of the man and the country he personified.
THE POSTCARD written by Anne Berest, translated by Tina Kover (Historical Fiction)
Winner of the Choix Goncourt Prize, Anne Berest’s THE POSTCARD is a vivid portrait of 20th-century Parisian intellectual and artistic life, an enthralling investigation into family secrets, and a poignant tale of a Jewish family devastated by the Holocaust and partly restored through the power of storytelling.
THERE ARE NO RULES FOR THIS by JJ Elliott (Fiction)
In her debut novel, JJ Elliott draws readers into a deeply affecting story of friendship, loss, guilt, healing and forgiveness. Told from the perspective of Ali, the story starts with her close friend Feeney’s suicide and progresses through its aftershocks, while continually flashing back to memorable incidents over the course of the women’s friendship.
THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren (Romantic Comedy)
Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level --- but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.
YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang (Fiction)
White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences. Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Marc Cameron, J. Ryan Stradal, Linwood Barclay
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are six upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, May 15th at 7pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books is thrilled to present an evening with J. Ryan Stradal and Katie Taylor discussing Stradal's SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LAKESIDE SUPPER CLUB, a story of a couple from two very different restaurant families in rustic Minnesota.
Monday, May 15th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Marc Cameron will talk about his fifth Arliss Cutter adventure, BREAKNECK, in which a train ride through the austere beauty of Alaska’s icy wilderness becomes a harrowing fight for survival at the Gateway to the Arctic.
Tuesday, May 16th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Helena Fox, Kathleen Glasgow, Jennifer Niven and Nic Stone for a live virtual event for Mental Health Awareness Month with a panel discussion of all things mental health, where the writers will discuss their personal experiences and how it influences their writing --- both past and present. The panel will be moderated by Andrea Beatriz Arango, the Newbery Honor winner for IVELIZ EXPLAINS IT ALL.
Wednesday, May 17th at 7pm ET: American Booksellers Association/Publishers Lunch: Publishers Lunch founder Michael Cader will host the Buzz Books Editors Panel, a virtual event sponsored by Publishers Lunch and the American Booksellers Association. Five debut authors will chat with their editors about their forthcoming titles.
Wednesday, May 17th 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 Abby Jimenez and R. F. Kuang about their latest novels: Jimenez's YOURS TRULY and Kuang's YELLOWFACE.
Wednesday, May 17th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Linwood Barclay will talk about his new novel, THE LIE MAKER, a twisty, fast-paced thriller in which a man desperately tries to track down his father --- who was taken into witness protection years ago --- before his enemies can get to him.
"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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Alice Elliott Dark (FELLOWSHIP POINT)
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Nancy Horan (THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in May have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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BLACK DOG: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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BULLY MARKET: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs, by Jamie Fiore Higgins
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ENDLESS SUMMER: Stories from Days That Last Forever, by Elin Hilderbrand
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EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD by James Lee Burke
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FELLOWSHIP POINT by Alice Elliott Dark
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FOX CREEK by William Kent Krueger
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HAPPY-GO-LUCKY by David Sedaris
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HAVEN by Emma Donoghue
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HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod, by Casey Sherman
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THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews
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IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS by Therese Anne Fowler
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JAMES PATTERSON BY JAMES PATTERSON: The Stories of My Life, by James Patterson
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THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian
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LIVID: A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell
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THE LOST SUMMERS OF NEWPORT by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
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THE MANY DAUGHTERS OF AFONG MOY by Jamie Ford
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THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
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MUSTIQUE ISLAND by Sarah McCoy
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NIGHTWORK by Nora Roberts
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OUT OF THE CORNER: A Memoir, by Jennifer Grey
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OVERBOARD: A V.I. Warshawski Novel, by Sara Paretsky
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PROPERTIES OF THIRST by Marianne Wiggins
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RACING THE LIGHT: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, by Robert Crais
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THE SHORE by Katie Runde
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SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson
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SISTER STARDUST by Jane Green
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SUGAR AND SALT by Susan Wiggs
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THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK by Jennifer Hillier
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THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub
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TREASURE STATE: A Cassie Dewell Novel, by C. J. Box
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TRUST by Hernan Diaz
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TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone
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VACATIONLAND by Meg Mitchell Moore
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WITH A MIND TO KILL: A James Bond Novel, by Anthony Horowitz
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WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 26th 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 read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from May 12th to May 26th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE SENATOR'S WIFE by Liv Constantine and YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang.
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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