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And we’re back! I confess that I feel like the break was a little shorter than I would have liked. There were lots of books that I had hoped to read, though I did read two that I enjoyed that I will get to in a minute. And I think just a wee bit more relaxing could have happened. But just before the staff headed out to celebrate with our families, we met as a team to work on some plans for 2024, and those have us very excited.
I also did a surprise mailing to 16 readers who have been to “Bookaccino Live” events, sharing some books that I had on hand to bring some unexpected holiday cheer. It was fun to slip notes into those books and send them off; I felt like the book elf. Whether the recipients read them or shared them, I loved sending them out.
I have three big shelves of books coming out in the first few months of the year ---- and my biggest challenge is prioritizing what to read first, which is a great problem to have. We already are working on programming to bring these books and authors to you. I found a bookshelf that I love here, and now I just need to find the perfect place to put it. I am trying to figure out how many books might fit on that! Many of you may remember the spinner racks of books from years past. This feels like an updated version of that.
Now let's get to what I read and enjoyed.
First up is a book that is not coming out until the end of July: THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff. It’s a lovely story about a couple, their long marriage, and their love for each other and their family. For anyone who has been married for a while, if you are honest, every day is not perfect. There are bumps and warts, as well as joys and special moments. Amy beautifully captures it all. As she opens the book, the couple shares a big --- and controversial --- plan with their children. Amy is in her early 30s and is married with two young children. What amazed me as I read the book was her deep understanding of life and marriage far beyond her years. There is so much emotion and just looking at life that she nailed. It's a beautifully written story. Yes, this will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, and you are hearing about it very early.
Next, I am just about finished reading THE FURY by Alex Michaelides, which also will be a Bets On pick. I read the other day that 7 ½ million copies of Alex's debut novel, THE SILENT PATIENT, have been sold. Wow! Here we are on a Greek island with a stunning actress and a group of close friends. It’s narrated by Elliot Chase, and does he have a juicy story to tell! He knows all “the players” in this group on the island well. And from there, we spy as we read. At a time when I wanted to be on a beach, I was there vicariously. And now I am very close to figuring out who the killer should or will be!
Please note that this is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our first “Bookaccino Live” book preview event of 2024, which will take place on Wednesday, January 10th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between now and February 6th, in addition to a few from March, 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. Yes, I still have more books to give away.
Our first “Bookreporter Talks To” interview of 2024 is with Katherine Faulkner. Her latest domestic thriller, THE OTHER MOTHERS, is a Bets On pick (as was her previous book, GREENWICH PARK). We talk about her protagonist Tash, who, like Katherine, was a full-time journalist; she is on the prowl for a great story to jump-start her freelance career.
Tash learns about the unsolved murder of a nanny, whose charge was the daughter of one of the cool and sophisticated group of mothers who Tash has met at her son Finn's school. Katherine shares how she wrote this book and what works for her as she develops a story. And we allude to the many twists that make THE OTHER MOTHERS such a compulsive read. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Ashley Elston, who has written six young adult novels, makes her adult debut with FIRST LIE WINS. Along with being Reese’s Book Club pick for January, it’s an Indie Next selection, a LibraryReads pick, a Book of the Month selection and an upcoming Bets On title. Here’s what Reese has to say about it: “This story follows Evie Porter who is seemingly living the perfect life…until we realize Evie Porter doesn’t actually exist!! This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through. I did NOT expect that ending!”
Our reviewer Ray Palen agrees, calling the book “a huge success from start to finish” and goes on to say, “FIRST LIE WINS is extremely clever and throws one twist after another at you in a narrative that will consume you straight through to the dynamic finale…. [The book] is unpredictable in every sense of the word and wraps everything up with a completely satisfying ending that will reward all readers who follow along with Evie on her journey. I hope this is not the last we see of this character and am looking forward to what Elston does for an encore.”
This is one of the most inventive thrillers that I have read. Find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book in next week’s newsletter. I also will be interviewing Ashley in two weeks.
This month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick is THE STORM WE MADE. Vanessa Chan’s debut novel is about a Malayan mother who becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese forces during WWII --- and the shocking consequences that rain upon her community and family.
According to our reviewer Rebecca Munro, “In writing THE STORM WE MADE, Vanessa Chan has accomplished many things, one even more laudable than the next: a spellbinding, epic work of historical fiction, and a call to action for readers to expand their World War II reading to other countries and cultures, where the effects of war were no less felt but never truly acknowledged. More from this author is a must!”
I am both reading and listening to this book, and I agree with all the praise that it is getting. Once again, I am learning about a part of the world that I knew little about.
FIRST LIE WINS and THE STORM WE MADE are just two of the prizes in our End-of-the-Year Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com. We’re giving readers the opportunity to share their favorite book that they read with their group and their favorite book that they read outside their group in 2023.
One Grand Prize winner will be awarded FIRST LIE WINS and THE STORM WE MADE, along with four other books releasing in the first quarter of the year that we think will make for terrific book group discussions: FINDING MARGARET FULLER by Allison Pataki, SLOW NOODLES: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon with Kim Green, WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA? by Dervla McTiernan, and THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah. This is a great group of books to read --- and discuss!
To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, January 10th at noon ET. We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you in next week’s ReadingGroupGuides newsletter.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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A HITCH IN TIME: Anthologized here for the first time and featuring an introduction by journalist James Wolcott, this new collection is a choice selection of the late Christopher Hitchens’ finest reviews, diary entries and essays --- along with a smattering of ferocious letters.
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THE LOST VAN GOGH: In this stand-alone sequel to 2021’s THE LAST MONA LISA, Jonathan Santlofer spins a riveting tale based on rumors that Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait before his death, one that has since been lost to time --- or the black market. I loved THE LAST MONA LISA and look forward to this new book!
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MERCURY: A roofing family’s bonds of loyalty are tested when they uncover a long-hidden secret at the heart of their blue-collar town. Amy Jo Burns’ new novel is January’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, February 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Amy Jo, which you can sign up for here.
Last Chance to Enter our BIG Bets On Contest
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to enter our 13th Annual End-of-the-Year Contest, where one Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 44(!) of my Bets On picks from 2023, while 11 other winners will receive four of these titles.
Some of the books you may win include BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN by Jessica Knoll, EXILES by Jane Harper, HAPPINESS FALLS by Angie Kim, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok, THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda, THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis, and THE WHISPERS by Ashley Audrain. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 12th at noon ET.
If you would like to know more about these books, be sure to check out this video and podcast where I talk about each of my picks and why they resonated with me so much. Right now, I have 44x3 books in boxes in my office, and I am looking forward to shipping out 44x2 of them; one set always stays on my shelves. Which reminds me that I need to order boxes for mailing out these prizes. (I am leaving the math on this up to you.)
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
In case you missed my final four Bets On picks of 2023, we’re featuring them in this newsletter. Click on each of the titles for my commentaries on THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters, ABSOLUTION by Alice McDermott, the aforementioned THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner, and CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land.
Yes, we are planning some BIG programs this year; this was part of our brainstorming session. With that in mind, we are thrilled to announce that Lisa See will be our first “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest of 2024. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 24th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up for it here. We will be talking about LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN, a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Bets On selection when it released last June.
There will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Lisa. For the first part, those who are asking a question on camera will be featured. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email me with the subject line "Lisa" by noon ET on January 24th. Be sure to include your name, city and state, as well as your question. If you do not want to appear on camera but still would like to ask a question, please note that you want to be off camera, and share your question --- adding your name, city and state.
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for January are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as Lisa Scottoline (LOYALTY), Geraldine Brooks (HORSE), Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS), Salman Rushdie (VICTORY CITY), and Elle Cosimano (FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN); nonfiction titles, including THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch and CHILDREN OF THE STATE: Stories of Survival and Hope in the Juvenile Justice System by Jeff Hobbs; and paperback originals like NONFICTION by Julie Myerson (which we’re reviewing this week) and MOCKINGBIRD SUMMER by Lynda Rutledge.
Books on Screen Offerings for January
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. January’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Fool Me Once" on Netflix (more on this later), "Expats" on Prime Video, and "Masters of the Air" on Apple TV+; the season premiere of "All Creatures Great and Small" on PBS "Masterpiece"; the season finales of Prime Video's "Reacher," Disney+'s "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," and The CW's "Son of a Critch"; the films Origin, The End We Start From and Which Brings Me to You in theaters, along with Killers of the Flower Moon on Apple TV+ and Foe on Prime Video; and the DVD release of Eileen.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, January 19th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win our current Word of Mouth prizes: ANNA O by Matthew Blake and the aforementioned THE FURY by Alex Michaelides, both of which we’ll be reviewing over the next couple of weeks. ANNA O is next on my list.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our first poll of the year, we’ve listed 30 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know
In our previous poll, we were curious about how many books you read in 2023. 17% of you read more than 100 print books; in fact, 43% of you read 51 print books or more. 65% of you read e-books, while 43% listened to audiobooks (17 of you listened to more than 100 audiobooks, and 25 would like to start listening to audiobooks this year). Click here for the full results.
This month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick is THE WATERS, Bonnie Jo Campbell’s first novel in 13 years. Jenna calls the book “beautiful” and goes on to say, “It is about a matriarch and healer and what happens when one of her three daughters brings home a baby. You will fall in love with the girl she grows up to be. She’s one of the most funny, interesting characters of all time. It’s about mothers and daughters. A book for anyone who loves nature, land and where we find beauty and magic. I promise you’ll pick up this book and fall in love.”
For more January selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Janie wrote, “I replied to your survey on how many books I read this year. Since two of my favorites were THE COVENANT OF WATER and THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, I should have upped my count! I read for quality, not quantity. I love your newsletter! Have a happy holiday.” That is a really good point, as both of those books are very long. Hmmmm, maybe we challenge readers to keep track of page counts this year. Joking!
Mary wrote, “I wanted to thank you for the two books I won recently in your Word of Mouth contest. After a rough year with health issues, it was great to have a bright spot of two new books to read! I enjoy the newsletter every week. Happy Holidays.” Thank you. And we are wishing you a healthy 2024!
Barbara wrote with a suggestion: “Under the website tab for ‘Bookreporter Talks To’, I suggest a search bar that allows people to type in the name of a book and/or an author's name to find out if you did an interview with him/her. Thanks for considering this.” Hmmmm, a search bar for this section would be tough, but we do post the authors alphabetically with the book that I am discussing with them here. We also have this page, where you can scroll and see the authors, as well as the books. But we will keep thinking about this.
Karen wrote, “Thanks, Carol, for the many, many hours of reading pleasure your website has brought me. Happy Holidays.” And the same to you, Karen!
Beth received one of the 16 books that I mailed out at random. She wrote to our Editorial Director Tom and me: “What a lovely early Christmas surprise to receive one of the 16 books you mailed out to lucky 'Bookaccino Live' attendees! Thank you so much. And as the year draws to a close, I wanted to say thank you for all the great programs, information, interviews and contests that you have provided. It is always such a pleasure to 'see' you both and hear your enthusiasm about upcoming titles. I hope that one day soon we will actually get to meet in person. Until then, I look forward to seeing you at the next Bookaccino presentation. Best wishes for a happy holiday season, and a healthy and peaceful New Year. P.S. I loved the turquoise note paper, Carol’s signature color!” I am glad you enjoyed that surprise...and, oh, that is a reminder that I need to buy more of that paper!
Here is a terrific piece in The Guardian about Bonnie Garmus and LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. She comments on the Apple TV+ adaptation, as well as how much she does not like the US cover.
I watched a lot of television over the break. Now let me try to recall some of it.
“Black Cake” on Hulu: I loved this adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s book. It was faithful but still had its own fresh take. I finally had time to finish it over the break.
“Fool Me Once” on Netflix: Tom and I are three episodes in, and there are cliffhangers at the end of each episode so far. It’s based on the book by Harlan Coben, and you can see him talk about it here on “CBS Mornings.” Note his snazzy suit.
Past Lives on Amazon Prime Video: A very interesting premise that opens with a young girl and boy living in Korea. Her family heads to the States and his stays behind. He later finds her and visits her in the States. We see how they talk of home and the past --- but also how their lives have changed. It has a clever opening, and there is a lot to think about in the story.
Ferrari: Adam Driver is terrific as Enzo Ferrari, and Penélope Cruz is great as his wife. The film has a few dull spots, but my car-loving guys thought it was a great way to hit the theater on Christmas Eve. For humor, we planned to grab Mexican food at a restaurant near the theater as we had done the traditional Seven Fishes on the 23rd so Cory’s girlfriend could join us. I called in advance and was assured that they were open. They were not. Neither was any other Mexican restaurant, including Chipotle. We ended up at a place where we did Friday night dinners a lot when the boys were growing up. Cory ordered mozzarella sticks just like when he was a kid.
The Boys in the Boat: My husband and I both enjoyed the book, and the movie was very well done. I probably would have ended it a bit differently, but then again that typically happens when I see a film. Many end so abruptly, and I think what else I might have done. The montage of the actual boatmen is terrific as the credits roll.
“Fellow Travelers” on Showtime: I have watched this series twice, and so has Lisa, our Contest Coordinator. I found it to be some of the best storytelling, acting and directing that I have seen in a while. I picked up the book that it was based on and was disappointed to see that it just covered the '50s. But that made me give more admiration to the directors on where they took the story. Note that it does have graphic sex.
Our house is still fully decorated for Christmas; my husband dreads bringing the boxes downstairs for me to pack it all up and then bring it upstairs again. I may volunteer to bring down the empty boxes; I know, how heroic of me! He is talking about putting a dumbwaiter in where we now have a coat closet. He seems to have given this a lot of thought over the past month. If he starts measuring, I will worry!
I have amaryllis plants blooming all over the house, and they are looking spectacular. Yes, I went a wee bit overboard on buying them, but they make the long dark hours of this month a lot cheerier.
The local weather team is calling for either a big snowstorm or lots of rain this weekend. The meteorologists are talking about the American and European mapping on this the same way that they do with hurricanes, with that excitement in their voices that tends to be comical. I hope it does not snow as friends are coming to dinner tomorrow night. They are Jewish, and she is marveling --- and, I think, amused --- over the fact that I have Christmas cocktail, water and wine glasses. Here’s to one last toast with those glasses.
The Golden Globes on Sunday night and the College Football National Championship on Monday night mean there will be a couple of late nights. There will be lots of shows and actors to root for on Sunday night. And Monday night we are “Go Blue” in this house.
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: FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston
Reese’s Book Club Pick for January
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes --- especially after what happened last time. Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to --- her real identity --- just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to visit Ashley Elston's website.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.
Click here to read our review.
FIRST LIE WINS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review:
THE STORM WE MADE by Vanessa Chan
January’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
THE STORM WE MADE by Vanessa Chan (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Samantha Tan
Malaya, 1945. Cecily Alcantara’s 15-year-old son, Abel, has disappeared, and her youngest daughter, Jasmin, is confined in a basement to prevent being pressed into service at the comfort stations. Her eldest daughter Jujube, who works at a tea house frequented by drunk Japanese soldiers, becomes angrier by the day. A decade prior, Cecily had been desperate to be more than a housewife to a low-level bureaucrat in British-colonized Malaya. A chance meeting with the charismatic General Fuijwara lured her into a life of espionage, pursuing dreams of an “Asia for Asians.” Instead, Cecily helped usher in an even more brutal occupation by the Japanese. Ten years later, as the war reaches its apex, her actions have caught up with her. Now her family is on the brink of destruction --- and she will do anything to save them. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win Our End-of-the-Year Celebration,
Featuring All 44 "Bets On" Titles from 2023
We are thrilled to announce our End-of-the-Year Contest featuring Carol Fitzgerald’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2023. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 44 books, while 11 other readers will receive four of these titles.
To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 12th at noon ET.
Here are 2023's Bets On selections:
In this video and podcast, Carol talks about all 44 of 2023's Bets On selections and
why these books resonated with her so much.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
A HITCH IN TIME by Christopher Hitchens
A HITCH IN TIME: Reflections Ready for Reconsideration by Christopher Hitchens (Political Science/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Hannibal Hills and James Wolcott
Anthologized here for the first time, A HITCH IN TIME is a choice selection of Christopher Hitchens’ finest reviews, diary entries and essays --- along with a smattering of ferocious letters. Familiar bêtes noires --- Kennedy, Nixon, Kissinger and Clinton --- rub shoulders with lesser-known preoccupations: P.G. Wodehouse, Princess Margaret and, magisterially, Isaiah Berlin. Here is a banquet of entertaining stories ranging from his thoughts on Salman Rushdie to being spanked by Margaret Thatcher in The House of Lords and the night he took his son to the Oscars. The broad scope and high caliber of Hitchens’ essays allows his work to transcend the occasion for which it was written and continues to be essential reading. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE LOST VAN GOGH by Jonathan Santlofer
THE LOST VAN GOGH by Jonathan Santlofer (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. Curators and art historians have savored this rumor, hoping it could illuminate some of the troubled artist's many secrets, but even they have to concede that the missing painting is likely lost forever. But when Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzle. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist's last days but draw them into one of history's darkest eras. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.
- 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: MERCURY by Amy Jo Burns
January’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
MERCURY by Amy Jo Burns (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Maria Liatis
It’s 1990, and 17-year-old Marley West is blazing into the river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. A perpetual loner, she seeks a place at someone’s table and a family of her own. The first thing she sees when she arrives in town is three men standing on a rooftop. The Joseph brothers become Marley’s whole world before she can blink. Soon, she is young wife to one, The One Who Got Away to another, and adopted mother to them all. As their own mother fades away and their roofing business crumbles under the weight of their unwieldy father’s inflated ego, Marley steps in to shepherd these unruly men. Years later, an eerie discovery in the church attic causes old wounds to resurface, and suddenly the family’s survival hangs in the balance. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
» MERCURY is January's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, February 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Amy Jo Burns. Click here to sign up.
- 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.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters,
ABSOLUTION by Alice McDermott,
THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner,
and CLASS by Stephanie Land
THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters (Fiction)
I had heard such great things about THE BERRY PICKERS by debut novelist Amanda Peters that I was curious to read it. Clearly, I was not alone as it was tough to get my hands on a copy. It was sold out in so many places. I had read the pitch for it, and when we shared it at our November “Bookaccino Live” book preview program, it was the book that our attendees most wanted to read.
- 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 THE BERRY PICKERS.
ABSOLUTION by Alice McDermott (Historical Fiction)
When we think about Vietnam, what comes to mind are soldiers, battles, napalm and a war that no one wants to talk about. With ABSOLUTION, Alice McDermott delivers a book with beautiful prose that I just inhaled, and it gave me a different perspective on the place before it really erupted. But first, the setup. The story takes place before we formally entered the war in 1965. Trouble is brewing, but the US is not deeply involved. We are there more as advisors to the South Vietnamese. Alice explores these days through the story of the wives of those who accompanied their husbands to Vietnam in 1963.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on ABSOLUTION.
THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
I loved Katherine Faulkner's debut novel, GREENWICH PARK, and I am happy to share that THE OTHER MOTHERS is even better. A young nanny has been found dead, and the mothers in the neighborhood are curious as to what happened. A new mom in their midst, Tash, has been looking for the right story to jump-start her career as a journalist. She spotted these other mothers at her son’s playgroup. They are sleek, sophisticated and way out of her league socially. They live in houses that are stately, very unlike her basement apartment. She budgets; they spend. But quickly she is a part of their circle, sipping lattes and enjoying spa treatments she cannot afford.
- 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 watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Katherine Faulkner.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE OTHER MOTHERS.
CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land (Memoir)
Only one memoir is on my 2023 Bets On list: CLASS by Stephanie Land. I had the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie twice in 2018 before her New York Times bestseller MAID came out in early 2019. That was before Zoom and video were readily available, so those interviews do not exist. I loved that the book enjoyed instant success, and it was fun to see it made into a hugely popular Netflix series. I wanted to read CLASS to see what happened next.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on CLASS.
January’s New in Paperback Roundups
January's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes Lisa Scottoline's LOYALTY, an emotional, action-packed novel of love and justice set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily; HORSE by Geraldine Brooks, a sweeping story of spirit, obsession and injustice across American history that revolves around a discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history; CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's explosive debut novel about two top women gladiators who fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far removed from America’s own; and FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN, the hilarious and heart-pounding third installment in Elle Cosimano's beloved Finlay Donovan series.
Among our nonfiction highlights are THE NAZI CONSPIRACY by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, which recounts the little-known true story of a Nazi plot to kill FDR, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill at the height of World War II; CHILDREN OF THE STATE, Jeff Hobbs' timely, insightful and groundbreaking look at the school-to-prison pipeline and life in the juvenile “justice” system; Michael Cecchi-Azzolina's YOUR TABLE IS READY, a front-of-the-house KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL from a career maître d’hotel who manned the front of the room in New York City's hottest and most in-demand restaurants; and HOW FAR THE LIGHT REACHES, Sabrina Imbler's fascinating tour of creatures that invite us to envision wilder, grander and more abundant possibilities for the way we live.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
January 1st, January 8th, January 15th, January 22nd and January 29th.
January’s Books on Screen Feature
THE ASCENT by Adam Plantinga (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Charles Halford and Christine Lakin
Kurt Argento is an ex-Detroit street cop who can’t let injustice go. If he sees a young girl being dragged into an alley, he's going to rescue her and cause some damage. When he does just that in a small corrupt Missouri town, he’s brutally beaten and thrown into a maximum-security prison. Julie Wakefield, a grad student who happens to be the governor's daughter, is about to take a tour of the prison. But when a malfunction in the security system releases a horde of prisoners, a fierce struggle for survival ensues. Argento must help a small band of staff and civilians, including Julie and her two state trooper handlers, make their way from the bottom floor to the roof to safety. All that stands in their way are six floors of the most dangerous convicts in Missouri. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE WEEKEND RETREAT by Tara Laskowski (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Emily Ellet, Karissa Vacker, Lisa Flanagan and Gail Shalan
Every year, the illustrious Van Ness siblings, heirs to a copper fortune, gather at their secluded winery estate for a joint birthday celebration. It's a tradition they've followed nearly all their lives, and now they are back with their significant others for a much-needed weekend of rest and relaxation. The trip should be the perfect escape, but it soon becomes clear that even a remote idyllic getaway can’t keep out the problems simmering in each of their lives. As old tensions are reignited, the three couples are pushed to the edge. Will their secrets destroy them, or will they destroy each other first? And who’s been watching them from beyond the vineyard gates? When a torrential rainstorm hits, plunging them into darkness, the answers prove all too deadly. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
MIDNIGHT by Amy McCulloch (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cathleen McCarron
Olivia Campbell has always dreamed of spending a sunlit night on the frigid Antarctic continent, but she never imagined she would have the chance. So when her boyfriend --- a high-powered art dealer --- decides to stage an ostentatious, career-making auction on a luxury liner to Antarctica, Olivia is thrilled. In addition to the scores of wealthy patrons and potential buyers, they'll also be traveling alongside a small group of beleaguered employees of Pioneer Adventures --- the company responsible for managing the ship --- and their charismatic, divisive CEO. When the first bodies are discovered, Olivia writes it off as a terrible accident. But as the situation heats up and the temperatures continue to plummet, she begins to wonder if she might have booked a one-way ticket to her own demise. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
NONFICTION by Julie Myerson (Fiction)
Two parents stand by powerlessly as their only child seems intent on destroying herself. As the mother --- a novelist --- attempts to understand her daughter, she finds herself revisiting her own uneasy, unresolved relationship with her mother. Weaving between childhoods past and present, laced with temptation and betrayal, NONFICTION is an unflinching account of a mother, daughter, wife and author reckoning with the world around her. But can a writer ever be trusted with the truth of her own story? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
HERE IN AVALON by Tara Isabella Burton (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Devon Sorvari
Raised --- and often neglected --- by a wayward mother, Rose finally has built the life she’s always wanted. Her sister Cecilia, on the other hand, has spent her life in pursuit of fairy-tale narratives of transcendence and true love. When Cecilia declares she’s come home for good, following the ending of a whirlwind marriage, Rose hopes Cecilia finally might be ready to face adulthood. But then Cecilia gets involved with the Avalon, a cultish-sounding cabaret troupe, and soon vanishes --- one of a growing number of suspicious disappearances among the city’s lost and loneliest souls. The only way Rose can find Cecilia is by tracking down the Avalon herself. But as Rose gets closer to solving the mystery of what happened to her sister, the Avalon works its magic on her, too. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
DAUGHTER OF ASHES: A Teresa Battaglia Novel written by Ilaria Tuti, translated by Ekin Oklap (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Moore
Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a trailblazing criminal detective on the Italian police force, is on sick leave, recovering from her recent brush with death in pursuit of a killer. But none of her colleagues, not even her partner, know that her Alzheimer’s is getting worse, and that she is unsure she will ever return to work. Teresa’s plans for retirement are shelved, however, when she is urgently summoned to meet with menacing serial killer Giacomo Mainardi. Refusing to speak with anyone but Teresa, whose investigative work 27 years prior landed him in maximum security prison, Mainardi has disconcerting news: somebody is after him, and only Teresa holds the key to keeping everyone, including herself, safe. To solve the case, Teresa must come face to face with a history she thought she’d buried. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
DISSOLVED by Sara Blaedel and Mads Peder Nordbo (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lila Newman
Everything is peaceful in Tommerup, Denmark, until a young mother disappears in the middle of an idyllic summer day. There’s no trace of the missing woman when Chief Superintendent Liam Stark and Superintendent Dea Torp are called to investigate. When another person goes missing, and Liam and Dea find a strange note linking the second missing person to the first crime, they suspect the disappearances may be the work of a serial killer. As the investigation continues, dark secrets about the victims from the past are revealed. Is someone targeting them because of this? As more people vanish, it’s a race against time for Liam and Dea, who find themselves face to face with horrifying footage that reveals what is happening to the victims --- and what will happen to future targets if they can’t stop the killer. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
LEOPOLD AND LOEB: The Crime of the Century (Centenary Edition) by Hal Higdon (True Crime/History)
The 1924 murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb shocked the nation. One hundred years later, the killing and its aftermath still reverberate through popular culture and the history of American crime. Hal Higdon’s true crime classic offers an unprecedented examination of the case. Beginning with a new author Preface, Higdon details Leopold and Loeb’s journey from privilege and promise to the planning and execution of their monstrous vision of the perfect crime. Drawing on secret testimony, Higdon follows the police investigation through the pair’s confessions of guilt and recreates the sensational hearing where Clarence Darrow, the nation’s most famous attorney, saved the pair from the death penalty. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on January 8th and 9th
Below are some notable titles releasing on January 8th and 9th 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 January 8th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
January 8th
HOLMES, MARPLE & POE: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (Thriller)
In New York City, three intriguing, smart and stylish private investigators open Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. Who are these detectives with famous names and mysterious, untraceable pasts?
January 9th
COLD VICTORY by Karl Marlantes (Historical Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Karl Marlantes comes a propulsive and sweeping novel in which loyalty, friendship and love are put to the ultimate test.
GOODBYE GIRL: A Jack Swyteck Novel by James Grippando (Legal Thriller)
A contentious intellectual piracy case leads to an unsolved murder, and Jack Swyteck’s client --- a pop music icon --- is the accused killer.
THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins (Gothic Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins returns with a twisted new gothic suspense about an infamous heiress and the complicated inheritance she left behind.
HOLIDAY COUNTRY by İnci Atrek (Fiction)
This seductive and lyrical debut follows a young woman’s dangerous summer romance during an idyllic vacation on the Aegean coast.
NAOMI OSAKA: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice by Ben Rothenberg (Biography)
This deeply reported, revealing biography of tennis phenomenon and activist Naomi Osaka tells the untold story behind her Grand Slam-winning career, her headline-making advocacy for racial justice and mental health, and the challenges of a life in the international spotlight.
THE NIGHT ISLAND by Jayne Ann Krentz (Romantic Suspense)
The disappearance of a mysterious informant leads two people desperate for answers to an island of deadly deception in this new novel in the Lost Night Files trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.
OLD CRIMES: And Other Stories by Jill McCorkle (Fiction/Short Stories)
Beloved author Jill McCorkle delivers a collection of masterful stories that are as complex as novels --- deeply perceptive, funny and tragic in equal measure --- about crimes large and small.
THE WATERS by Bonnie Jo Campbell (Fiction)
A master of rural noir returns with a fierce, mesmerizing novel about exceptional women and the soul of a small town.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Rachel Hawkins, James Patterson, Kate Brody
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are eight upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, January 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of THE VILLA, and Stacy Willingham, the New York Times bestselling author of A FLICKER IN THE DARK, for a live virtual discussion of Rachel's THE HEIRESS and Stacy's ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY. Rachel and Stacy will be in conversation with a special guest.
Monday, January 8th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: James Patterson will talk about his latest thriller, HOLMES, MARPLE & POE, which he wrote with Brian Sitts. In New York City, three intriguing, smart and stylish private investigators open Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. Who are these detectives with famous names and mysterious, untraceable pasts?
Tuesday, January 9th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Jayne Ann Krentz will talk to special guest host J.T. Ellison about the second installment in her Lost Night Files trilogy, THE NIGHT ISLAND, in which the disappearance of a mysterious informant leads two people desperate for answers to an island of deadly deception.
Wednesday, January 10th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between January 2nd and February 6th, along with a few from March, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, January 10th at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Kate Brody will talk about her first novel, RABBIT HOLE, a twisty, sexy debut that explores the dark side of true crime fandom and the blurry lines of female friendship.
Wednesday, January 10th 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 Grady Hendrix, whose most recent novel, HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE, is now available in paperback.
Thursday, January 11th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick’s will host James Patterson as he discusses his new book, HOLMES, MARPLE & POE: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century, which he wrote with Brian Sitts. Patterson will be in conversation with Matt Coyle, the bestselling author of the Rick Cahill PI crime series.
Thursday, January 11th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Amy Pease will talk about her first novel, NORTHWOODS, an unputdownable and thrilling debut in which the dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town is revealed in the aftermath of a murder with ties to America’s opioid epidemic.
"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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Ashley Elston (FIRST LIE WINS)
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Amanda Peters (THE BERRY PICKERS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: January Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in January are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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ANNA O by Matthew Blake
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THE BOOK OF FIRE by Christy Lefteri
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COLD VICTORY by Karl Marlantes
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COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid
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DIVA by Daisy Goodwin
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FAMILY FAMILY by Laurie Frankel
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FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston
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THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB by Robyn Carr
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THE FURY by Alex Michaelides
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GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton
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GOODBYE GIRL: A Jack Swyteck Novel, by James Grippando
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HARBOR LIGHTS: Stories, by James Lee Burke
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THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins
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HOLIDAY COUNTRY by İnci Atrek
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HOLMES, MARPLE & POE: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century, by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
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HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW by Sarah J. Maas
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THE LOST VAN GOGH by Jonathan Santlofer
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MERCURY by Amy Jo Burns
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MISSING PERSONS: A Private Novel, by James Patterson, with Adam Hamdy
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THE MISSING WITNESS: A Quinn & Costa Novel, by Allison Brennan
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THE NIGHT ISLAND by Jayne Ann Krentz
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OLD CRIMES: And Other Stories, by Jill McCorkle
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ONE HOUR OF FERVOR written by Muriel Barbery, translated by Alison Anderson
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ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY by Stacy Willingham
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RABBIT HOLE by Kate Brody
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RANDOM IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
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THE SILENCE IN HER EYES by Armando Lucas Correa
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THE STORM WE MADE by Vanessa Chan
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UPSIDE DOWN by Danielle Steel
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THE WATERS by Bonnie Jo Campbell
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, January 19th 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 January 5th to January 19th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ANNA O by Matthew Blake and THE FURY by Alex Michaelides.
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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