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On Wednesday night, Tom Donadio and I walked the smoke-filled streets of New York (fanned by forest fires in Canada) to attend a fabulous soiree at Cipriani on 42nd Street in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publisher, W. W. Norton. After years of no gatherings, this was a complete throwback to the parties of old.
There was a swing band playing music from a century ago while people danced. And no, Tom and I did not step onto the dance floor. But it was such fun to watch folks who clearly had taken dance lessons at some point.
Speakers who shared celebratory greetings included Michael Lewis, Neil Gaiman, Rita Dove, Joy Harjo and Richard Powers. Each spoke about his or her seminal work with the house, and Gaiman expounded on the company's independence. W. W. Norton is entirely employee-owned, which in itself is an achievement in these days of mergers and big brands. We loved catching up with old friends, many of whom we had not seen in more than three years.
The evening was not without a moment of whimsy as we were given the stuffed seagull that you see above as a souvenir, which is miming their logo.
And for a moment, as we walked away, I took a look back at the room. I am not sure if publishing will ever have a party like that again.
On Sunday, four members of my book group (life got in the way for a couple of others) headed to Bethlehem, Connecticut, to see Martha Hall Kelly speak about her work and to tour the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden. Sadly, the lilacs that the property is known for were past bloom, but there were some stunning peonies and roses.
We all thoroughly enjoyed Martha’s presentation, which was both warm and wonderful. While I had met her years ago at a Random House event, the rest of the group loved this chance to meet her in person. She had Skyped with our group years ago. During that very long call, she discussed the plot of SUNFLOWER SISTERS and swore us to secrecy about the title. So seeing her in person was a real treat. And yes, she signed lots of books.
This was a lovely road trip. Her next book is set on Martha’s Vineyard, and we already are planning our next road trip. We will be checking ferry schedules before she finishes her final draft!
I am excited that Lisa See’s long-awaited new novel, LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN, is now available. It’s an Indie Next pick for June, a Book of the Month selection, this month’s Costco’s “Buyer’s Pick” and Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites pick, and an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. I think it is her best book!
Perfect for fans of Lisa’s SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN and THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN, her latest work of historical fiction is inspired by the true story of a female physician from 15th-century China. Along with being a captivating story of women helping other women, it’s a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
Our reviewer Roberta O’Hara raves about the book in her review: “Lisa See never disappoints. And in the footsteps of her other great novels…LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN is a dazzling mix of historical research, fleshed-out female friendships, realistic portrayals of familial bonds, and the ultimate heroine story --- an individual’s struggle to become what they were intended for…. Rich in tradition and the nuances of ancient medicine, LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN is a tribute to women supporting women and following one’s heart. Needless to say, See doesn't disappoint.”
I had a great time catching up with Lisa earlier today for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. Don’t miss our conversation, along with my Bets On commentary, in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, visit Lisa’s website for much more about the book, including a discussion guide full of activities. And be sure to check out her extensive book tour schedule, which has plenty of in-person events and a few virtual ones. I am planning to attend her New York City event on June 21st at Bryant Park.
THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN is the latest book we're featuring in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight. It's Nancy Horan's first novel in nine years, following her New York Times bestsellers LOVING FRANK and UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY, and it will be a Bets On pick.
This sweeping work tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s ascendance from rumpled lawyer to U.S. President to the Great Emancipator through the eyes of a young asylum-seeker who arrives in Lincoln’s home of Springfield, Illinois, from Madeira, Portugal, by way of Trinidad. THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN deftly addresses the roots of racism, colorism and classism in America culminating in an eyewitness account of the Springfield race riot of 1908.
Rebecca Munro has our review and says, “What makes the book succeed is not its fictionalized retellings of great moments in Lincoln’s life (although those are here too), but rather Ana’s views of a changing America, particularly Springfield. It is through these portraits, as well as those of other supporting characters --- grounded by the easy-to-follow story of Lincoln’s rise to fame --- that Horan paints a fully realized, wholly imagined picture of life in a 'middle' state during one of our country’s tensest moments.” Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter, along with my interview with Nancy. I so enjoyed talking to her.
Intertwining past and present, THE WIND KNOWS MY NAME is the powerful and moving new novel from Isabel Allende, whose countless bestsellers include A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA and VIOLETA. Her latest traces the ripple effects of war and immigration on one child in Europe in 1938 and another in the United States in 2019.
According to Rebecca Munro, “Allende pens a powerful tale of interconnectivity, highlighting not just the similarities between Nazi Germany and contemporary America, but the unthinkable and horrifying damage caused by each cruel, state-sanctioned act of violence.... It is Allende’s bravery in not only confronting but connecting these painful historical moments that makes her writing so iconic and unforgettable.” I need to get my hands on this one!
Ashley Audrain's debut novel, THE PUSH, was a New York Times bestseller, a "Good Morning America" Book Club pick, and a Bets On selection. Now in stores is her second book, THE WHISPERS, which is about four suburban families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens --- and what is lost when good people make unconscionable choices.
Ray Palen has this to say in his review: “Audrain pulls back the layers of this novel piece by piece, leaving readers suspended and helpless, knowing that the truth of what happened the night Xavier fell won’t be revealed until the very end of the book. THE WHISPERS is an eye-opening and tightly wound thriller involving characters so real that they could exist in your own neighborhood.” I want to read this one. Let me just say that after reading THE PUSH, I never will think about little pink mittens the same way. If you read it, you know what I mean.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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CROW MARY: Kathleen Grissom, who has written the book club classics THE KITCHEN HOUSE and GLORY OVER EVERYTHING, returns with a sweeping saga inspired by the true story of Crow Mary --- an indigenous woman torn between two worlds in 19th-century North America.
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THE PARIS DAUGHTER: Kristin Harmel, the author of such bestsellers as THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS, THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES and THE ROOM ON RUE AMÉLIE, has written a gripping historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of the Nazi occupation.
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CASSANDRA IN REVERSE: This morning, Cassie's boyfriend dumped her. By lunchtime, she has been fired from her PR job for not being a "People Person." Then her local café runs out of her favorite muffins. But now, something unexpected has happened: Cassie discovers that she has the ability to travel back in time and change the past. That’s the unique premise of Holly Smale’s debut novel, which is Reese’s Book Club pick for June.
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THE CELEBRANTS: Described as a Big Chill for our times, Steven Rowley’s latest novel is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. This moving tale is about the false invincibility of youth and the beautiful ways in which friendship helps us celebrate our lives, even amid the deepest challenges of living.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My two latest Bets On selections are DROWNING by T. J. Newman and BEWARE THE WOMAN by Megan Abbott, both of which we reviewed last week. Click on each of the titles to see why I’m betting you’ll love these books.
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for June are now up. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Stephen King (FAIRY TALE), John Grisham (THE BOYS FROM BILOXI), David Baldacci (THE 6:20 MAN), Nelson DeMille (THE MAZE), Louise Penny (A WORLD OF CURIOSITIES), Taylor Jenkins Reid (CARRIE SOTO IS BACK), and Tom Perrotta (TRACY FLICK CAN’T WIN); nonfiction titles, including BITTERSWEET: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain (an Oprah’s Book Club selection) and THE CHURCH OF BASEBALL: The Making of Bull Durham by Ron Shelton; and paperback originals like FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman and THE HAPPINESS PLAN by Susan Mallery.
Summer Reading Update
We gave away FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN in a Summer Reading contest this week, along with THE GIRLS OF SUMMER by Katie Bishop and WHAT REMAINS by Wendy Walker (we will review the latter next week). There won’t be any Summer Reading contests these next two weeks, but please check back on Monday, June 26th at noon ET for the next one.
Your Last Chance to Enter Our “Best Books for Dad” Contest!
Be sure to enter our Father’s Day contest if you haven’t already; the deadline is next Friday, June 16th at noon ET. We’re giving five readers the opportunity to win all six of our dad-friendly titles: I WILL FIND YOU by Harlan Coben, KING: A Life by Jonathan Eig, LAWS OF WRATH: A Martyr Maker Novel by Eriq La Salle, THE LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay, THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, and SIMPLY LIES by David Baldacci.
While we’re on the subject, Linwood Barclay was kind enough to write a blog post for us about his father, who helped fuel his love of reading at a young age and never turned him down whenever he asked for a book or any kind of reading material. You can take a look at his humorous and heartwarming piece here.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, June 23rd at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand and THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis, both of which we plan to review next week.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 35 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know.
Our previous poll asked if you listen to digital audiobooks. 25% of you do this all the time, 26% listen some of the time, 2% prefer physical audiobooks, 4% don’t but would be interested in exploring this, and 43% don’t listen to any audiobooks.
Luis Alberto Urrea is back with his first novel in five years, GOOD NIGHT, IRENE, which is June’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. Taking as inspiration his mother’s own Red Cross service, the Pulitzer Prize finalist has delivered an overlooked story of women’s heroism in World War II. In 1943, Irene Woodward enlists with the Red Cross and makes fast friends in training with Dorothy Dunford. Together they are part of an elite group of women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, who provide donuts and coffee (along with camaraderie and a taste of home) to soldiers who are heading into battle. We will feature our review in next week’s newsletter.
On Tuesday, July 11th at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will host a live virtual event with Luis Alberto Urrea. He will be joined in the discussion by Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, B&N’s Editorial Director. Click here to sign up.
INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE by debut novelist Emma Törzs is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. Here’s how “GMA” describes the book: “This mystery-filled novel builds a deep world of generational secrets that have haunted one family tasked with guarding a collection of ancient and rare books. Follow the Kalotay family as estranged half-sisters Joanna and Esther reunite to guard their family's library of magical books and work together to unravel a deadly web of familial loyalty, betrayal and the pursuit of power.” Be on the lookout for our review later this month.
For more June selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place THIS Wednesday, June 14th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between June 13th and July 4th, in addition to a few from August, that we would like to get on your radar. Click here to register. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
The winners of the 2023 Thriller Awards were announced at a banquet in New York City last Saturday night, which officially wrapped up this year’s ThrillerFest. Among the winners were SUNDIAL by Catriona Ward (Best Hardcover Novel), THE RESEMBLANCE by Lauren Nossett (Best First Novel), and THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK by Jennifer Hillier, narrated by Carla Vega (Best Audiobook). Click here for all the winners.
The International Thriller Writers honored this year’s ThrillerMasters, Charlaine Harris and Walter Mosley, at the banquet. Also receiving special recognition were Spotlight Guests Jack Carr and Oyinkan Braithwaite, and the Silver Bullet Award was given to Michael Connelly in recognition of his legendary career and outstanding contributions to the thriller genre.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: A reader wrote sharing that Netflix used to have a way for you to chart what you had watched, but not anymore. Now THAT is something I would pay for!
Being Mary Tyler Moore on HBO: I was a huge fan of hers, and this documentary reminds me why. I can hear her saying “Oh Rob!” in my head!
“House of Hammer” on Max: This miniseries is deeply disturbing. Though charges against Armie Hammer were dropped, I cannot picture his career getting another turn at stardom.
Construction in the back of the house is finished, so I finally can think about where the patio furniture and flowers can go. You can imagine how much my husband is looking forward to this! There has been a lot of discussion about where my turquoise tent goes. Next week’s plan is a new front walk. Ours is brick, and I never have been a fan of it. Maybe if the bricks were yellow! (Pun intended.) I am hoping that there will be little cutting of stone for this part of the project. There is a fine layer of dust on everything in the back right now. I am watering the flowers as a form of dusting them.
We have friends coming for dinner tomorrow night who we have not seen in a while. We still are thinking about the menu, which is one of our favorite things!
I am behind on reading here and playing a furious game of catching up. I am juggling two books: the aforementioned GOOD NIGHT, IRENE by Luis Alberto Urrea and WHAT REMAINS by Wendy Walker. There is so much coming out that I want to read. And I have missed a number of books that still are calling my name. I feel like the pace has picked up this last year, but maybe that is because there are a number of authors with their second books out --- and I loved their first ones. So now there are established authors I want to read, as well as debuts and second-timers...and, okay, third-timers. Yes, it is an embarrassment of riches, but I do have that feeling of being behind on my homework...and it’s not a pleasant one!
And with that noted…
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
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Featured Review:
LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jennifer Lim and Justin Chien
According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine. Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom. But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife --- embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to visit Lisa See's website.
- Click here for Lisa See's book tour schedule.
Click here to read our review.
LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter,
along with her interview with Lisa See.
Featured Review:
THE WINDS KNOWS MY NAME
by Isabel Allende
THE WIND KNOWS MY NAME by Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Edoardo Ballerini, with Maria Liatis
Vienna, 1938. Samuel Adler is five years old when his father disappears during Kristallnacht --- the night his family loses everything. As her child’s safety becomes ever harder to guarantee, Samuel’s mother secures a spot for him on a Kindertransport train out of Nazi-occupied Austria to England. Arizona, 2019. Eight decades later, Anita Díaz and her mother flee looming danger in El Salvador and seek refuge in the United States. But their arrival coincides with the new family separation policy, and seven-year-old Anita finds herself alone at a camp in Nogales. She escapes her tenuous reality through her trips to Azabahar, a magical world of the imagination. Meanwhile, Selena Durán, a young social worker, enlists the help of a successful lawyer in hopes of tracking down Anita’s mother. 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: THE WHISPERS by Ashley Audrain
THE WHISPERS by Ashley Audrain (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jill Winternitz
The Loverlys’ young son is in a coma after falling from his bedroom window in the middle of the night. His mother, Whitney, will not speak to anyone. Back home, their friends and neighbors are left in shock, each confronting their own role in the events that led up to what happened that terrible night: the Parks, the Loverlys' best friends; the Goldsmiths, who are struggling to start a family of their own; and the Portuguese couple who care for their adult son with a developmental disability and watch their neighbors go about their busy lives. The story spins out over the course of one week, in the alternating voices of the women in each family as they are forced to face the secrets within the walls of their own homes, and the uncomfortable truths that connect them all to one another. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
New Historical Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Welborn
Rich with historical detail, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN is an insightful account of Abraham Lincoln's transformative vision for democracy as observed through the eyes of a young immigrant who arrives in Lincoln's home of Springfield, Illinois, from Madeira, Portugal.
Showing intelligence beyond society's expectations, 14-year-old Ana Ferreira is offered a job in the Lincoln household assisting Mary Lincoln with their boys and with the hosting duties borne by the wife of a rising political star. Ana bears witness to the evolution of Lincoln's views on equality and the Union, and observes in full complexity the psyche and pain of his bold, polarizing wife, Mary. Yet, alongside her dearest friend in the Black community, Ana confronts the racial prejudice her friend encounters daily as she watches the inner workings of the Underground Railroad, and directly experiences how slavery contradicts the promise of freedom in her adopted country.
Culminating in an account of the little-known Springfield race riot of 1908, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN takes readers on a journey through the historic changes that reshaped America and continue to reverberate today.
- Click here to read Nancy Horan's bio.
- Click here to visit Nancy Horan's website.
Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter,
along with her interview with Nancy Horan.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
DROWNING by T. J. Newman
and BEWARE THE WOMAN by Megan Abbott
DROWNING: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T. J. Newman (Thriller)
T. J. Newman wrote a terrific debut novel, FALLING, a couple of years ago. She knows her stuff about airplanes and flying as she was a flight attendant for a number of years. Her new thriller, DROWNING, has a very similar cover, which I have not seen done before. But this time, the plane is not in danger of crashing. Instead Flight 1421 crashes very early in the book. Forget the drinks and the snacks. The flight crew here is in full crisis mode as the plane headed to San Francisco from Hawaii goes down a mere six minutes into the trip, and suddenly passengers have a view of the Pacific Ocean from below. The plane has been ditched.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on DROWNING.
BEWARE THE WOMAN by Megan Abbott (Psychological Thriller)
Megan Abbott is a very sunny person. I want to share this as she writes books that often have such dark personalities in them. BEWARE THE WOMAN sees Jacy and her husband, Jed, on a trip to his father’s house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which sounds quite idyllic. Jed is not like the other men she has dated. Kind and caring, he’s a neon artist, and her description of his work has me longing to explore it more. Jed’s father is a retired doctor, and he clearly is not enamored with his son's art. At first, Jacy has been told that Jed’s mother passed away when Jed was young. But she learns another story as the trip goes on. Oh, and to this cast of characters, add Mrs. Brandt, the house manager who lives at the cottage year round.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on BEWARE THE WOMAN.
Bookreporter.com's 18th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
LAST WEEK TO ENTER TO CELEBRATE DADS!
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 18th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our six featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 16th at noon ET.
This year's terrific prize books are:
Featured Review: CROW MARY by Kathleen Grissom
CROW MARY by Kathleen Grissom (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Carolina Hoyos
In 1872, 16-year-old Goes First, a Crow Native woman, marries Abe Farwell, a white fur trader. He gives her the name Mary, and they set off on the long trip to his trading post in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, Canada. Along the way, she finds a fast friend; makes a lifelong enemy; and, despite learning a dark secret of Farwell’s past, falls in love with her husband. Then, on the eve of their return to Montana, a group of drunken whiskey traders slaughters 40 Nakota. Mary sees the murderers take five Nakota women back to their fort. She begs Farwell to save them, and when he refuses, she takes two guns, creeps into the fort and saves the women from certain death. Thus, she sets off a whirlwind of colliding cultures that pushes the love between Farwell and Crow Mary to the breaking point. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel
THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Madeleine Maby
Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change. When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life --- her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves. When a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it. More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble --- and Juliette nowhere to be found. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
CASSANDRA IN REVERSE by Holly Smale
Reese's Book Club Pick for June
CASSANDRA IN REVERSE by Holly Smale (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kristin Atherton
Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now. She's just been dumped. She's just been fired. Her local café has run out of banana muffins. Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated. But soon she'll discover she's trying to fix all the wrong things. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE CELEBRANTS by Steven Rowley
June's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club Pick
THE CELEBRANTS by Steven Rowley (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Steven Rowley
It’s been five years since Jordan Vargas last saw his college friends. Now Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig and Marielle find themselves at the brink of a new decade, with all the responsibilities of adulthood, yet no closer to having their lives figured out. Though not for a lack of trying. Over the years they’ve reunited in Big Sur to honor a decades-old pact to throw each other living “funerals,” celebrations to remind themselves that life is worth living --- that their lives mean something, to one another if not to themselves. But this reunion is different. They’re not gathered as they were to bolster Marielle as her marriage crumbled, to lift Naomi after her parents died, or to intervene when Craig pleaded guilty to art fraud. This time, Jordan is sitting on a secret that will upend their pact. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 19th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer (officially) 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 Monday, June 26th at noon ET.
This year’s featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
June’s New in Paperback Roundups
June's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes FAIRY TALE by Stephen King, a spellbinding thriller about a 17-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher --- for that world or ours; John Grisham's THE BOYS FROM BILOXI, a riveting story of two sons of immigrant families who grow up as friends, but ultimately find themselves on opposite sides of the law; THE MAZE, Nelson DeMille's long-awaited new thriller featuring former NYPD homicide detective John Corey, who is called out of retirement to investigate a string of grisly murders much too close to home; CARRIE SOTO IS BACK, a powerful novel about the cost of greatness from Taylor Jenkins Reid, in which a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime; and TRACY FLICK CAN'T WIN by Tom Perrotta, a sharp, darkly comic and pitch-perfect chronicle of the second act of one of the most memorable characters of our time.
Among our nonfiction highlights are BITTERSWEET by Susan Cain, an Oprah's Book Club pick that explores the power of the bittersweet personality, revealing a misunderstood side of mental health and creativity while offering a roadmap to facing grief in order to live life to the fullest; LIKE A ROLLING STONE, the deeply personal memoir of Rolling Stone founder, co-editor and publisher Jann Wenner, who vividly describes and brings readers inside the music, the politics and the lifestyle of a generation; Ron Shelton's THE CHURCH OF BASEBALL, the extremely entertaining behind-the-scenes story of the making of the cult classic Bull Durham --- courtesy of the award-winning screenwriter and director of the film --- and an insightful primer on the art and business of moviemaking; and SOLITO, a moving, page-turning memoir from poet Javier Zamora, who tells the unforgettable story of his harrowing migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
June 5th, June 12th, June 19th and June 26th.
CROSS DOWN: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by William Stephens, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Mela Lee, Inger Tudor, Zeno Robinson, Wayne Carr and Peter Giles
The brilliant crime-solving duo of Washington, DC’s Metro PD and the FBI has a proven MO: Detective Alex Cross makes his own rules. Detective John Sampson enforces them. When military-style attacks erupt, brutally sidelining Cross, Sampson is sent reeling. The patterns are too random --- Sampson’s friend, his partner, his brother --- have told him. Don’t trust anyone. As a shadow force advances on the nation’s capital, Sampson alone must protect the Cross family, his own young daughter and every American, including the president. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
IDENTITY by Nora Roberts (Romantic Suspense)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate, Nina, helps her make the mortgage payments, as does her job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party --- attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy --- her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor. A horrific truth soon emerges: "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder. It turns out that Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SPIES AND THE EXQUISITE ART OF GETTING EVEN: Stories of Espionage and Revenge by Alexander McCall Smith (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by David Rintoul
In this dual collection of short stories, Alexander McCall Smith brings his trademark humor and warmth to inventive tales of spying and vengeance. In one story, a spy dropped deep into enemy territory manages to disguise himself --- quite convincingly --- as a nun. In another, an invitation to join the Vatican Secret Service sends a prospective operative down a rabbit hole of controversy and confusion. A third story finds an author, on the brink of public ruin, seeing the error of his ways after an act of kindness saves the day. A keen observer of humanity imbued with a sparkling imagination, Smith illustrates throughout that transparency is paramount and forgiveness is restorative. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT: A Taylor Jackson Novel by J.T. Ellison (Thriller)
While the high-profile murder of a young country singer turns Nashville inside out, danger lurks in the woods beyond the city's border. There was a witness to the terrible crime, a college student who stumbled onto the scene. When the girl goes missing, the police don't know if she's run for cover or been taken...or if something more sinister is happening. The truth will shatter Taylor Jackson's career and bring her face to face with a deadly assassin who wants nothing more than to finish what they started. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
EMMA OF 83rd STREET by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton
Emma Woodhouse has lived 23 years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage --- and subsequent move downtown. Now, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor, George Knightley, would get out of her way. The only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. But despite his gripes, Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can’t get out of his head. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE ENDLESS VESSEL by Charles Soule (Dystopian Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
A few years from now, in a world similar to ours, there exists a sort of “depression plague” that people refer to simply as “The Grey.” No one can predict whom it will afflict, or how, but once infected, there’s no coming back. A young Hong Kong-based scientist, Lily Barnes, is trying to maintain her inner light in an increasingly dark world. The human race is dwindling, and people fighting to push forward are increasingly rare. One day, Lily comes across something that seems to be addressing her directly, calling to her, asking her to follow a path to whatever lies at its end. Is this the Endless Vessel to happiness? She leaves her life behind and sets out through time and space to find out. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 13th
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 13th 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 June 12th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BE MINE: A Frank Bascombe Novel by Richard Ford (Fiction)
From Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Ford comes the final novel in the world of Frank Bascombe, one of the most indelible characters in American literature.
THE DROWNING WOMAN by Robyn Harding (Psychological Thriller)
From the bestselling author of THE PARTY comes a "dark and wild ride of redemption, betrayal, and friendship" (Ashley Audrain, author of THE PUSH) following a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past --- and the wealthy society wife she saves from drowning.
FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
Bursting with memorable characters and small-town lore, this enchanting new novel from the bestselling author of THE CLOVER GIRLS is a magical story about the family you’re born with, and the one you choose.
THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
After tragedy strikes, food blogger Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket.
THE LONG WAY BACK by Nicole Baart (Domestic Thriller)
When an Instagram-famous teenager mysteriously disappears, her mother grapples with the revelation of dark secrets in this twisty, atmospheric thriller.
NEVER GIVE UP: A Prairie Family's Story by Tom Brokaw (Memoir)
In this moving story, the New York Times bestselling author of THE GREATEST GENERATION chronicles the values and lessons he absorbed from his parents and other people who worked hard to build lives on the prairie during the first half of the 20th century.
PRIVATE MOSCOW by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy (Thriller)
In this action-packed thriller, an invitation from an old friend draws Private investigative agency founder Jack Morgan into a deadly conspiracy.
ROBERT B. PARKER'S BAD INFLUENCE: A Sunny Randall Novel by Alison Gaylin (Mystery)
Boston PI Sunny Randall investigates the dark side of social media in this exciting new thriller in the bestselling series.
THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE MAGNOLIA PALACE comes a thrilling story about love, sacrifice and the pursuit of dreams, set amidst the glamour and glitz of Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday.
TRIAL by Richard North Patterson (Legal Thriller)
In a propulsive narrative that culminates in a nationally televised murder case, TRIAL explores America’s most incendiary flashpoints of race.
WHAT REMAINS by Wendy Walker (Thriller)
When Detective Elise Sutton walks into a department store one afternoon, she is forced to make a terrible choice: to save one life, she will have to take another. This sets off a terrifying game of cat and mouse that threatens Elise and the people she loves most.
YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (Fiction)
This moving and provocative novel is about a Black woman who finds an abandoned white baby, sending her on a collision course with her past, her family and a birth mother who doesn’t want to be found.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Kristan Higgins, Fiona Davis, Robyn Harding
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are five upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, June 12th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Fiona Davis will talk about her latest novel, THE SPECTACULAR. Set amidst the glamour and glitz of Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday, this thrilling story is about love, sacrifice and the pursuit of dreams.
Monday, June 12th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Robyn Harding will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her new psychological thriller, THE DROWNING WOMAN, which follows a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past --- and the wealthy society wife she saves from drowning.
Tuesday, June 13th at 5pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Kristan Higgins will talk about her latest novel, A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE. Here's the premise: A kid walks into your bookstore and... Guess what? He’s your son. The one you put up for adoption 18 years ago. The one you never told anyone about. Surprise!
Wednesday, June 14th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between June 13th and July 4th, along with a few from August, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, June 14th 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 Fiona Davis and Heather Webb about their latest works of historical fiction: Fiona's THE SPECTACULAR and Heather's STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT: A Novel of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. Appearing on the Aftershow will be Victoria Benton Frank, whose debut novel is MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER.
"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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Nancy Horan (THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN)
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Lisa See (LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: June Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in June are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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THE 9th MAN by Steve Berry, with Grant Blackwood
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ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S. A. Cosby
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BANYAN MOON by Thao Thai
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BE MINE: A Frank Bascombe Novel, by Richard Ford
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THE BEACH AT SUMMERLY by Beatriz Williams
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THE BRIGHTEST STAR by Gail Tsukiyama
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CASSANDRA IN REVERSE by Holly Smale
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CROSS DOWN: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller, by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
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CROW MARY by Kathleen Grissom
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EVERYTHING'S FINE by Cecilia Rabess
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FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman
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THE FIRST LADIES by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
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THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand
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THE GIRLS OF SUMMER by Katie Bishop
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THE HAPPINESS PLAN by Susan Mallery
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THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan
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INSIDE THREAT by Matthew Quirk
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LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See
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LITTLE MONSTERS by Adrienne Brodeur
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MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER by Victoria Benton Frank
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NEAR MISS: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods and Brett Battles
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THE ONLY ONE LEFT by Riley Sager
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THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel
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THE QUIET TENANT by Clémence Michallon
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S BAD INFLUENCE: A Sunny Randall Novel, by Alison Gaylin
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THE SPARE ROOM by Andrea Bartz
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THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis
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SUCH KINDNESS by Andre Dubus III
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THE SURVIVOR: An Eve Duncan Novel, by Iris Johansen
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WATCH US SHINE by Marisa de los Santos
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WELCOME TO BEACH TOWN by Susan Wiggs
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WHAT REMAINS by Wendy Walker
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THE WHISPERS by Ashley Audrain
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THE WIND KNOWS MY NAME by Isabel Allende
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ZERO DAYS by Ruth Ware
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 23rd 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 June 9th to June 23rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand and THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis.
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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