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One for Two, and Trading Turquoise for Pink
Last weekend, I went one for two, and I am not talking about sports scores. I finished reading THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN and enjoyed it as I did Tracey Lange's last book, WE ARE THE BRENNANS. It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection; it’s great reading for those who love family sagas where you drop in and out of their day-to-day lives. I loved the character of Tara, who is heading home after a prison sentence with her eyes on rebuilding her life. I am looking forward to interviewing Tracey about the book in the next couple of weeks. And we will be featuring our review in next week's newsletter.
The second book was EVERGREEN, the follow-up to Naomi Hirahara’s wonderful novel CLARK AND DIVISION, which was a Bets On pick --- as this one will be. Here we follow Aki Ito as her family returns to California after being sent to Chicago, along with other Japanese families, during World War II. They arrive home, but the places that they loved and lived in are very different. They need to start over again --- as they did in Chicago --- to rebuild their lives. Once again there is a mystery involved. Naomi is noting EVERGREEN as part of her Japantown Mystery series. I look forward to hearing more from her about this book; we are trying to schedule a date for an interview.
Do remember that on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we have a contest where those in book groups can enter to win 12 copies of EVERGREEN for sharing what their groups are reading in July and August. The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, September 13th at noon ET.
So how did I go one for two? Well, I dropped EVERGREEN in the water as I was reading it and then delicately turned each water-logged page to finish it. I do have a pristine hardcover here as well, but that is not going close to the pool. I am looking forward to reading CALIFORNIA GOLDEN by Melanie Benjamin, which releases on Tuesday. Again, I requested an advance copy since I will be close to water as I read, and I already have proven that I can get a book wet! This book has surfing as a theme; I can pretend to surf as I use my kickboard. I have an interview scheduled with Melanie in a couple of weeks.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Liz Nugent, whose new thriller, STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND, will be a Bets On pick. Liz reminded me that we spoke back in 2017 about her debut, UNRAVELING OLIVER. It was her first interview! She explains how she developed the character of Sally. I was astonished to learn that this latest novel was not plotted, but rather written stream-of-consciousness.
Liz also talks about letters that were shared with Sally and why they worked with the copy. She notes that while there are a lot of dark things insinuated in the book, they are not written on the page. Those visuals are what come to play in the readers’ minds. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
TOM LAKE, Ann Patchett’s first novel in four years, is this month’s Reese’s Book Club pick and Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. In this eagerly awaited new book, three sisters shelter on the family cherry farm during the pandemic and urge their mother to share details of an early romance with a now-famous actor.
Harvey Freedenberg has our review and says, “[Patchett’s] understated prose mirrors one of the most engaging features of the novel --- its artless simplicity --- and the kinship of its sensibility to that of ‘Our Town’ is anything but accidental…. With each addition to her already impressive and diverse body of work, Ann Patchett only burnishes her well-deserved standing as one of America’s most admired novelists. Her sensitivity and skill guarantee that Tom Lake is a place anyone will delight in visiting and regret having to leave.”
On Tuesday, September 12th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Ann Patchett. She will be joined in the discussion by Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, the Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast. Click here to sign up.
Word of Mouth Reminder
TOM LAKE is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell, which we will be reviewing soon. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, August 11th at noon ET.
Prolific author Sandra Brown is back with her latest fast-paced, emotional thriller. In OUT OF NOWHERE, the lives of a young mother and a high-rolling consultant collide under devastating circumstances --- culminating in a desperate manhunt that will change their futures forever.
Pamela Kramer has this to say in her review: “If combining a mass shooting with a romance seems to be an unlikely pairing, rest assured that Sandra Brown is quite capable of making this work wonderfully well… Brown excels at keeping the tension high and the emotions (romance) strong…. [She] manage[s] to impart the horror and senselessness of the incident, and the cowardice, callousness and depravity of the perpetrator, as well as the depths of despair of those who escape with their lives.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
THE BLOCK PARTY by Jamie Day is my latest Bets On selection. Click here to see why I think you’ll love this book as much as I did. As Jamie Day is a pseudonym, I was not able to interview the author for “Bookreporter Talks To”. But I was happy to do an email interview with Jamie, which we featured in last week’s newsletter. If you missed it, be sure to check it out here.
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for August are now up. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Nicholas Sparks (DREAMLAND), Celeste Ng (OUR MISSING HEARTS), David Baldacci (LONG SHADOWS: A Memory Man Thriller), Lisa Unger (SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX), and Kevin Wilson (NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PANIC); nonfiction titles, including WAGING A GOOD WAR: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968 by Thomas E. Ricks and BLOOD ORANGE NIGHT: A Memoir of Insomnia, Motherhood, and Benzos by Melissa Bond; and paperback originals like SPIN A BLACK YARN: Novellas by Josh Malerman and END CREDITS: How I Broke Up with Hollywood by Patty Lin.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Hank Phillippi Ryan
Out in paperback this week is THE HOUSE GUEST by Hank Phillippi Ryan, a diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller that will have readers asking which character is the cat and which is the mouse. I talked to Hank about the book (which is a Bets On pick) in February when it released in hardcover, so if you missed the interview or would like to revisit it, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Books on Screen Offerings for August
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. August’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Harlan Coben’s Shelter" on Amazon Prime Video, "Painkiller" on Netflix, and "The Winter King" on MGM+; the resumption of season two of Netflix's "The Lincoln Lawyer"; the season seven midseason finale of "Outlander" on Starz; the continuation of AMC's "Dark Winds" and Hallmark Channel's "When Calls the Heart"; the films Red, White & Royal Blue on Amazon Prime Video and Landscape with Invisible Hand in theaters; and the DVD releases of The Flash, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and BlackBerry.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask about the format of the book you’re currently reading. Is it a hardcover, paperback, audiobook or e-book? We realize you may be juggling more than one book at the same time, so you’ll be able to select multiple formats when answering the question. Click here to let us know by Friday, August 11th at noon ET. We love seeing poll results!
In honor of the book’s 25th anniversary, Jenna Bush Hager has selected SUMMER SISTERS --- Judy Blume's adult debut --- as this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. This classic novel of reminiscence and awakening is about two women, two families and the friendships that shape a lifetime. According to Jenna, “It's about that time in your life where you're trying to figure out who you're going to be. It is the perfect, perfect beach read but that doesn't mean that it's an easy read. It's a beautiful read and it will make you think about growing up and that friend of yours who you adored, but maybe didn't know if they were good for you.”
For more August 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 next Wednesday, August 9th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between August 8th and September 5th, in addition to a few from October, that we would like to tell you about. 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 longlist for this year’s Booker Prize has been announced. Among the 13 books, referred to as the “Booker Dozen,” are THE BEE STING by Paul Murray, THIS OTHER EDEN by Paul Harding, IF I SURVIVE YOU by Jonathan Escoffery, and A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. Click here for the complete list. The shortlist of six books will be revealed on September 21st, followed by the announcement of the winner on November 26th.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Nancy wrote about being one of the winners in our Word of Mouth contest: “Thanks for letting me know I'm a winner. I've been captivated by Colson Whitehead's other books, so I am looking forward to reading CROOK MANIFESTO. EVERYONE HERE IS LYING will be my next TBR. I have to admit this isn't quite as exciting as winning tonight's Mega Millions big bucks drawing would be, but it’s a great way to start the weekend.”
Christine wrote this about the wrap-up newsletter that we did for our Summer Reading feature: “Thanks for this and for so many excellent reading suggestions. They are a treat.”
WOW to Danielle Steel: Her publisher noted this earlier this week: “One of the most prolific writers of all time, Danielle Steel is celebrating a milestone moment: 1 billion copies sold worldwide!” That is a whole lot of reading!
Trailer for Joyce Carol Oates: A Body in the Service of Mind: I caught a trailer for this film this week. It will be in theaters, and on Amazon and Apple TV+, on September 8th. You can give it a watch here.
“Hijack” on Apple TV+: I confess that I liked the earlier episodes better than the final one, but even that had some great moments.
80 for Brady on Amazon Prime Video: This film stars Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field. I loved being back in Brady football land with these really crazy fun ladies as they try to crash the Super Bowl. Their superstitious routines when they watch from home start the movie off with a humorous kickoff of its own.
“Quarterback” on Netflix: This series follows three quarterbacks --- Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings, and Marcus Mariota (formerly) of the Atlanta Falcons --- as they make their way through the football season. It brings you into their lives on and off the field. It's very well done!
“The Lincoln Lawyer” on Netflix: This weekend, we are going to pick up with the second half of season two.
I read a quote this week from Graydon Carter, who was the Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair and now runs a newsletter called “Air Mail”: “You don’t know you’re in a golden age when you’re in a golden age. But to be in the magazine business in New York from 1978 to 2008 was a 30-year period we will never see again.”
I walked into the magazine business in 1978 and pivoted out in 1995. I have to say that those were golden years for me. I disagree with him that the golden time went on until 2008. I think it was at least a few years earlier when content online really ramped up. I will also say that if those were my golden years, then the years that I have spent at The Book Report Network have been diamond ones. The interaction with readers, authors and publishing professionals --- and the brilliant team I work with --- is so special. The immediacy of what we do (often minutes ahead instead of three-month magazine lead times), coupled with the enthusiasm of those who read us, is a magical combination.
Last Saturday, when my niece was here, she mentioned that she had not seen Barbie yet, and a number of her friends were going that night. I jumped online and bought tickets so she would not be the friend who missed out. Glynis and I loved it. It’s pure fun, as well as being wickedly smart. And yes, I donned pink instead of turquoise to celebrate Barbie!
Then, during the week, Tom and I went to see Oppenheimer, which also was well done. There was no way that he was going to see Barbie!
Though I have a big stack of books on my “to be read” pile, I am plucking one that is not coming out until February 6th for my weekend reading: Kristin Hannah’s THE WOMEN. May I PLEASE keep it dry. There’s a beautiful forecast on tap for the weekend. The turquoise “Cleopatra” tent is where I will be hanging out with THE WOMEN. I hope that you find your own special spot to read this weekend.
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 that appear on our site 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!
Featured Review: TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett
Reese’s Book Club Pick and the
Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection for August
TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Meryl Streep
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and they are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
» TOM LAKE is August's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, September 12th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Ann Patchett. She will be joined in the discussion by Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, the Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast. Click here to sign up.
- 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: OUT OF NOWHERE by Sandra Brown
OUT OF NOWHERE by Sandra Brown (Romantic Suspense)
Audiobook available, read by Kyf Brewer
At a Texas county fair, children’s book author Elle Portman is enjoying a rare night out with her two-year-old son, Charlie. Just as they’re about to head home, a shooter opens fire into the crowd. Also caught in the melee is corporate consultant Calder Hudson. He’s frustrated and confused when he wakes up in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery on his arm. The doctor tells him that he was lucky, but others weren’t, which instills in Calder a furious determination to get justice…a goal shared by Elle. Their chance encounter at the police station leads to a surprising and inexplicable gravitation to one another. But Elle and Calder can’t help but wonder if the unimaginable tragedy that brought them together is too painful and too complicated to sustain --- especially while the shooter remains at large. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BONE HACKER by Kathy Reichs
THE BONE HACKER: A Temperance Brennan Novel by Kathy Reichs (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Linda Emond
Young men --- tourists --- have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos. Seven years earlier, the first victim was found in a strange location with his left hand hacked off; subsequently, two other visitors vanished without a trace. But recently, tantalizing leads have emerged, and only Temperance Brennan can unravel them. Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common --- other than the odd places where their bodies turn up, and the fact that none seems likely to have been involved in criminal activity. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. Disturbingly, she discovers evidence that what’s at stake may actually have global significance. Then Tempe herself becomes a target. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE BLOCK PARTY by Jamie Day
THE BLOCK PARTY by Jamie Day (Domestic Thriller)
How well do you really know your neighbors? You will be thinking about that as you read about the affluent Alton Road neighborhood where THE BLOCK PARTY is set.
When the book opens, it’s the day in May when the annual summer block party happens. Yes, people are gathering for fun, but immediately tensions start riding high. And then, just as a shot is fired and things start to get out of control, author Jamie Day shifts the action to a year earlier on Alton Road.
And poof! Whatever happened that day of the block party is well into the future. Whew! But then we start to see where these tensions may have come from.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to read our interview with Jamie Day.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Featured Review: GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen
GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Mara
Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home and begin a new career. And Ruth will do anything to prevent that from happening. Ruth thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception. 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 read our review.
Featured Review: FAMILY LORE by Elizabeth Acevedo
August’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
FAMILY LORE by Elizabeth Acevedo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sixta Morel and Danyeli Rodriguez del Orbe
Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides she wants a living wake --- a party to bring her family and community together to celebrate the long life she’s led --- her sisters are surprised. Has Flor foreseen her own death, or someone else’s? Does she have other motives? She refuses to tell her sisters: Matilde, Pastora and Camila. But Flor isn’t the only person with secrets: her sisters are hiding things, too. And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own. Spanning the three days prior to the wake, FAMILY LORE traces the lives of each of the Marte women, weaving together past and present, Santo Domingo and New York City. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
SILVER NITRATE by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
SILVER NITRATE by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Gisela Chipe
Montserrat is a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend, Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star. Then Tristán discovers that his new neighbor is the cult horror director Abel Urueta, and the legendary auteur claims he can change their lives --- even if his tale of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed. Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse. But Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her, and Tristán begins seeing the ghost of his ex-girlfriend. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
August’s New in Paperback Roundups
August's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes DREAMLAND by Nicholas Sparks, a powerful novel about risking everything for a dream --- and whether or not it’s possible to leave the past behind; OUR MISSING HEARTS, an inspiring novel from Celeste Ng about a mother’s unshakeable love; LONG SHADOWS, the seventh thriller in David Baldacci's series starring “Memory Man” Amos Decker --- an FBI consultant with perfect recall --- who delves into a bewildering double homicide; SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX, a chilling locked-room thriller from Lisa Unger featuring three couples who rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for; and NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PANIC by Kevin Wilson, an exuberant, big-hearted novel about two teenage misfits who spectacularly collide one fateful summer, and the art they make that changes their lives forever.
Among our nonfiction highlights are WAGING A GOOD WAR, an indispensable addition to the literature of racial justice and social change from Thomas E. Ricks, who offers a new take on the Civil Rights Movement, stressing its unexpected use of military strategy and its lessons for nonviolent resistance around the world; Melissa Bond's BLOOD ORANGE NIGHT, a visceral, propulsive memoir detailing a woman’s accidental descent into prescription benzodiazepine dependence and the life-threatening impacts of the drugs’ long-term use; SAVING FREUD by Andrew Nagorski, the dramatic true story of Sigmund Freud’s last-minute escape to London following the German annexation of Austria and the group of friends who made it possible; and A PLACE IN THE WORLD, a lyrical and evocative collection of personal stories from Frances Mayes, in which the queen of wanderlust reflects on the comforts of home.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
July 31st, August 7th, August 14th, August 21st and August 28th.
August’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of August's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Red, White & Royal Blue
Release Date: August 11th on Amazon Prime Video
Based on: RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston
Landscape with Invisible Hand
Release Date: August 18th (limited release in theaters)
Based on: LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND by M.T. Anderson
Series Premieres
"Painkiller" (6-episode limited series)
Release Date: August 10th on Netflix (all episodes will be available)
Based on: Patrick Radden Keefe's New Yorker article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" and PAIN KILLER: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic, by Barry Meier
"Harlan Coben’s Shelter"
Release Dates: Fridays on Amazon Prime Video; Series Premiere on August 18th (the first three episodes will be available)
Based on: SHELTER: A Mickey Bolitar Novel by Harlan Coben
Season Premieres
"The Lincoln Lawyer"
Release Date: Now available on Netflix (Season Two, Volume Two)
Based on: The Lincoln Lawyer series by Michael Connelly
"Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO; Season Two Premiere on August 6th
Based on: SHOWTIME: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, by Jeff Pearlman
Season Finales
"Outlander"
Air Dates: Fridays at 8pm ET/PT on Starz; Season Seven Midseason Finale on August 11th
Based on: AN ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon
"The Summer I Turned Pretty"
Release Dates: Fridays on Amazon Prime Video; Season Two Finale on August 18th
Based on: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han
On DVD
BlackBerry
DVD Release Date: August 29th
Based on: LOSING THE SIGNAL: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry, by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff
Bookreporter.com's 19th Annual
Summer Reading Feature
All summer long, we at Bookreporter.com have been sharing some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Feature. While our series of 24-hour contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles for some sizzling summer reading ideas.
This year’s featured titles are:
- Click here to see the winners of this year's Summer Reading contests.
Click here to learn more about our featured titles.
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE DEFIANCE by Brian Freeman (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
From the glacial waters of Alaska to a sexy nightclub in the Bahamas, Treadstone agents are being hunted down and murdered. Someone high up in the U.S. government will stop at nothing to cover up a secret Treadstone mission from the past known as Defiance. With a team of killers hot on his trail, Jason Bourne chases the mystery of Defiance around the world. But as he closes in on the shocking truth, Bourne realizes that one man holds the key --- his archenemy, the assassin known as Lennon. The Russian hitman has been at the heart of Defiance from the very beginning, and his next target will put Bourne --- and the woman he loves --- in the crosshairs. As Bourne races to stop the ruthless conspiracy behind Defiance, he must come face to face with Lennon one last time. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
AN HONEST MAN by Michael Koryta (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
After discovering seven men murdered aboard their yacht --- including two Senate rivals --- Israel Pike is regarded as a prime suspect. A troubled man infamous on Salvation Point Island for killing his own father a decade before, Israel has few options, no friends and a life-threatening secret. Elsewhere on the island, 12-year-old Lyman Rankin seeks shelter from his alcoholic father in an abandoned house only to discover that he is not alone. A mysterious woman greets him with a hatchet and a promise: “Make a sound and I’ll kill you.” As the investigation barrels forward, Lyman, Israel and the fate of the case collide in immutable ways. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE BOOKBINDER by Pip Williams (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Annabelle Tudor
It is 1914, and as the war draws the young men of Britain away to fight, women must keep the nation running. Two of those women are Peggy and Maude, twin sisters who live on a narrow boat in Oxford and work in the bindery at the university press. Peggy has been told for most of her life that her job is to bind the books, not read them. But as she folds and gathers pages, her mind wanders to the opposite side of Walton Street, where the female students of Oxford’s Somerville College have a whole library at their fingertips. Maude, meanwhile, wants nothing more than what she has: to spend her days folding the pages of books in the company of the other bindery girls. Then refugees arrive from the war-torn cities of Belgium, sending ripples through the Oxford community and the sisters’ lives. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
WHAT NEVER HAPPENED by Rachel Howzell Hall (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kristen Ariza
Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion 20 years ago. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep her busy, considering the number of elderly folks who are dying on the island. But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then she receives her own obituary in the mail. As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD by Alicia Thompson (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Lindsey Dorcus
Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that's always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Her coworker, Asa Williamson, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World. When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day. If Asa thought Lauren didn't know how to enjoy herself, he's surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn't serious about anything, she's surprised by how seriously he seems to take her. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE TRAP by Catherine Ryan Howard (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by John Keating and Alana Kerr Collins
One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, left to meet friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a waking nightmare. So she’s going to take matters into her own hands. Angela works as a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but wants nothing more than to be a fully fledged member of An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. With the official investigation into the missing women stalled, she begins pulling on a thread that could break the case wide open --- and destroy her chances of ever joining the force. A nameless man drives through the night, his latest victim in the back seat. He’s going to tell her everything, from the beginning. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
TIME'S MOUTH by Edan Lepucki (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Alyssa Bresnahan
Ursa can travel through memory and revisit her past. After she flees her hometown for the counterculture glory of 1950s California, the intoxicating potential of her unique ability eventually draws a group of women into her orbit and into a ramshackle Victorian mansion. Soon this cultish community of sisterhood takes an ominous turn, prompting Ursa’s son, Ray, and his pregnant lover, Cherry, to flee their home and reinvent themselves far from her insidious influence. But a series of mysterious events forces Cherry to abandon their baby, leaving Ray to raise Opal alone. Now a teenager and still heartbroken over the abandonment of the mother she never knew, Opal must journey into her own past to reveal the generations of secrets that gave rise to the shimmering source of her family's painful legacy. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THREE FIRES by Denise Mina (Historical Thriller)
Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar living in Florence at the end of the 15th century. An anti-corruption campaigner, his hellfire preaching increasingly spilled over into tirades against all luxuries that tempted his followers toward sin. These sermons led to the infamous "Bonfire of the Vanities” --- a series of fires lit throughout Florence for the incineration of everything from books, extravagant clothing, musical instruments, make-up and mirrors to paintings, tapestries and sculptures. Railing against the vice and avarice of the ruling Medici family, he was instrumental in their removal from power. Denise Mina brings a modern take to this fascinating historical story, drawing parallels between the febrile atmosphere of medieval Florence and the culture wars of the present day. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
HER DANGEROUS JOURNEY HOME: No Man is Her Master, Vol. III by Lee Swanson (Historical Fiction)
1310, Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. Edward II knights Frederick Kohl for his bravery fighting the Scots. But Sir Frederick is not the man the king believes him to be; instead, it is his sister, Christina, who assumes her dead brother's identity. Still posing as Frederick, Christina escorts Lady Cecily, a young noblewoman joining Queen Isabella's court at Westminster Palace, to London. Unexpectedly, Christina and Cecily fall in love. But the wife of one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the city is Christina's bitter enemy. Katharine Volker, whose lascivious advances Christina rejects, goads her into voyaging from her London home to the Baltic waters of her birthplace. Christina journeys not to engage in trade. She sails for a far deadlier purpose --- to exact revenge on the pirates who killed her father and brother. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 8th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 8th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of August 7th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN by Melanie Benjamin (Historical Fiction)
Two sisters navigate the thrilling, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and the tangled ties between mothers and daughters from the New York Times bestselling author of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE.
CANARY GIRLS by Jennifer Chiaverini (Historical Fiction)
Rosie the Riveter meets A League of Their Own in New York Times bestselling novelist Jennifer Chiaverini’s lively and illuminating novel about the “munitionettes” who built bombs in Britain’s arsenals during World War I, risking their lives for the war effort and discovering camaraderie and courage on the soccer pitch.
A DAY OF FIRE: A Novel of Pompeii by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot and Vicky Alvear (Historical Fiction)
From six bestselling authors, including New York Times bestseller Kate Quinn, comes a vividly imagined novel following the lives of those in ancient Pompeii on the fateful day Mount Vesuvius erupts.
THE HANDYMAN METHOD: A Story of Terror by Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan (Domestic Thriller/Supernatural Horror)
When a young family moves into an unfinished development community, cracks begin to emerge in both their new residence and their lives, as a mysterious online DIY instructor delivers dark subliminal suggestions about how to handle any problem around the house.
HAPPINESS by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel comes an uplifting novel about an author who --- to her surprise --- inherits a grand estate near London.
THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride (Historical Fiction)
From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick DEACON KING KONG and the National Book Award–winning THE GOOD LORD BIRD, comes a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.
MRS. PORTER CALLING by AJ Pearce (Historical Fiction)
From the author of the bestselling DEAR MRS. BIRD comes a charming and irresistible novel featuring journalist Emmy Lake as she fights for her readers, her friends and her found family in London during World War II.
NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her “superb pacing, twisted characters and captivating prose” (BuzzFeed), Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.
NORTH OF NOWHERE by Allison Brennan (Mystery/Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s latest stand-alone is an unputdownable race to the dramatic finish.
THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT by Rhys Bowen (Historical Fiction)
A courageous wife, mother and resister confronts the devastation of World War II in a heartbreaking and hopeful novel by the bestselling author of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK and THE TUSCAN CHILD.
SHARK HEART: A Love Story by Emily Habeck (Fiction/Magical Realism)
A gorgeous debut novel of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis and letting go, this intergenerational love story begins with newlyweds Wren and her husband, Lewis --- a man who, over the course of nine months, transforms into a great white shark.
TANGLED VINES: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders by John Glatt (True Crime)
In TANGLED VINES, bestselling true crime author John Glatt reconstructs the rise of the prestigious Murdaugh family and the shocking double murder that led to the downfall of its patriarch, Alex Murdaugh.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Adrienne Brodeur, Shari Lapena, Catherine Ryan Howard
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.
Tuesday, August 8th at 4pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Adrienne Brodeur for a live book club event to discuss LITTLE MONSTERS, July's B&N Book Club pick. She will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, the Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.
Wednesday, August 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between August 8th and September 5th, along with a few from October, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, August 9th at 7pm ET: Joseph-Beth Booksellers: Shari Lapena will be in conversation with Sarah Pearse about her latest book, EVERYONE HERE IS LYING, another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR.
Wednesday, August 9th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Kathy Reichs will talk about her latest novel, THE BONE HACKER, her 22nd high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who enters a sinister labyrinth in which a new technology may wreak worldwide havoc.
Thursday, August 10th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Catherine Ryan Howard will talk about her latest thriller, THE TRAP, an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the '90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.
"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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Melanie Benjamin (CALIFORNIA GOLDEN)
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Tracey Lange (THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN)
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Shari Lapena (EVERYONE HERE IS LYING)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Book Formats
What is the format of the book you are currently reading? Please check all that apply, as we know many of you may be reading more than one book.
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Hardcover
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Trade paperback
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Mass market paperback
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E-book
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Digital audiobook
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Audiobook on disc
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I am not reading any books right now.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 11th 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 July 28th to August 11th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell and TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett.
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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