April 19, 2024

April 19, 2024

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How We Readers Connect with Authors

Through the years, I have met hundreds of authors in person, and others via their social media or virtual events. I have seen more speak in front of audiences at award shows or festivals. For some, I know lots about their lives --- their children, their spouses, their pets. For others, much less. For every author who I have read, there is a connection to them via the printed page.

Recently, two authors shared peeks inside their lives with unsettling information about their health.

This week, Sophie Kinsella (her real name is Madeleine Wickham) --- whose Shopaholic books made me laugh out loud --- disclosed that she has been battling glioblastoma since the end of 2022. In her note, she mentioned how reader reaction to her most recent book, THE BURNOUT, had lifted her spirits.

And a couple of weeks ago, Greg Iles --- who is best known for his Natchez Burning trilogy and whose new book, SOUTHERN MAN, releases on May 28th --- shared that he is in treatment for multiple myeloma.

I know Sophie and Greg only through their work, which I have respected for many years. I wish them all the best, with huge appreciation for the joy that they have brought to me.

This was an event-free week for me, with no interviews or programs. I planned it like that as the weeks to come have a lot going on.

We kick it off with Kate Morton, who will be joining us from Australia next week. And we want to give her a big warm welcome.

This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place next Wednesday, April 24th at 8pm ET.

Kate Morton will be talking about her novel, HOMECOMING, which is now available in paperback. A New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick when it first released last year, this sweeping novel begins with a shocking crime, the effects of which echo across continents and generations.

You can register for the event by clicking here. If you would like to ask Kate a question about the book on camera during the event, please email me with your question using the subject line “Kate” by April 24th at noon ET. 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.

David Baldacci’s latest thriller, A CALAMITY OF SOULS, is set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia. In it, a racially charged murder case sets a duo of white and Black lawyers against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully accused Black defendant.

Ray Palen has our review and says, “David Baldacci has done such an outstanding job plotting this lengthy tale that there is not much I can say about this intense case without giving away something juicy. There are so many twists in this unpredictable thriller, with some serious instances of human depravity sprinkled in for good measure, that it reads like a literary classic. A CALAMITY OF SOULS is indeed an important novel, one that Baldacci was born to write and a story to which only he could do justice.”

In last week’s newsletter, we featured my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Megan Miranda about her new psychological thriller, DAUGHTER OF MINE, which will be a Bets On selection. When Hazel unexpectedly inherits her family home, she’s drawn back to the place --- and people --- she left behind years earlier. But as the lake level behind the house continues to fall, long-buried secrets suddenly begin to emerge, including evidence that may finally explain the mystery at the heart of her family.

We have our review this week from Rebecca Munro, who has this to say: “It’s no secret that Megan Miranda can wrangle a mystery --- and all of its red herrings and curveballs --- like a skilled lion tamer. But here she pays equal attention and care to the emotional plotlines, digging deep into a dysfunctional, tightly wound family, as well as the brotherhood of the police force that has sustained it…. Intimately written, fast-paced and twisty, DAUGHTER OF MINE is easily one of Miranda’s best novels.” Find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book in next week’s newsletter.

Last week, we also shared my interview with Simone Gorrindo about her book, THE WIVES, which will be a Bets On pick as well. In this profoundly intimate look at marriage, friendship and today’s America, this captivating memoir tells the story of Simone’s experience of joining a community of army wives after leaving her New York City job when her new husband joins an elite Army unit.

According to Rebecca Munro, “The uniqueness of Gorrindo’s position would make THE WIVES an unforgettable memoir on its own, but what elevates the book and sets it apart is her breathtakingly beautiful and lucid prose.... Whether you’re an Army brat yourself or a staunch pacifist, or if your politics are grayer and murkier, THE WIVES is more than worth the read. Galvanizing, discomforting and surprisingly celebratory, it’s a powerful, candid achievement that should be required reading for all citizens.” Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.

Another upcoming Bets On title is Genevieve Kingston’s first book, DID I EVER TELL YOU?, which is based on her “Modern Love” essay, “She Put Her Unspent Love in a Cardboard Box,” in the New York Times. This life-affirming memoir chronicles a mother’s extraordinary last gifts to her daughter, and the love, wisdom and guidance she extended to her from beyond this mortal life.

Norah Piehl has our review and calls the book “a sad and sometimes painful memoir to read, but it also offers solace and an empathetic voice for readers who have contended with their own experiences of grief and loss. It is a powerful testament to a mother’s legacy and the importance of living a full and meaningful life, however long it may last.” I will share my Bets On commentary in the next couple of weeks.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• SHE’S NOT SORRY: An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this latest psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, whose debut novel, THE GOOD GIRL, released 10 years ago.
   
• TOXIC PREY: In John Sandford’s new thriller, Lucas Davenport and his daughter, Letty, team up to track down a dangerous scientist whose latest project could endanger the entire world.
   
• CLOSE TO DEATH: In Anthony Horowitz’s fifth literary whodunit in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series, Detective Hawthorne is once again called upon to solve an unsolvable case --- a gruesome murder in an idyllic gated community in which suspects abound.

A BIG Contest for Moms!
Our Mother's Day contest is back for a 19th year! Once again, we’re featuring a number of fiction and nonfiction titles that we think moms will love. Readers will have the opportunity to win one of our five prize packages, which includes all six books to treat yourself or your mom. Among them are DEAR MOM: A Letter About Family, Memory, and the America We Once Knew by Patti Davis and THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo (our current Fantasy Author Spotlight title). The deadline for your entries is Monday, May 13th at noon ET. Click here to enter the contest and see all of this year’s prize books.

Featured Review:
A CALAMITY OF SOULS by David Baldacci

A CALAMITY OF SOULS by David Baldacci (Historical/Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by MacLeod Andrews, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Kiiri Sandy and Cary Hite
Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: DAUGHTER OF MINE by Megan Miranda
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

DAUGHTER OF MINE by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Inés del Castillo
When Hazel Sharp, the daughter of Mirror Lake’s longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town --- and people --- she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel is not the only relic of the past to return. A drought has descended on the region. And as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. 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 watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Megan Miranda.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Megan Miranda's website.

Click here to read our review.

DAUGHTER OF MINE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review: THE WIVES by Simone Gorrindo
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE WIVES: A Memoir by Simone Gorrindo (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Simone Gorrindo
When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, Simone Gorrindo is uprooted from New York City and dropped into Columbus, Georgia --- a town so foreign she might as well have landed on the moon. With her husband frequently deployed, she is left to find her place in this new world, alone --- until she meets the wives. Gorrindo gives us an intimate look into the inner lives of a remarkable group of women and a tender, unflinching portrait of a marriage. 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 watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Simone Gorrindo.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.

Click here to read our review.

THE WIVES will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review: DID I EVER TELL YOU?
by Genevieve Kingston
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir by Genevieve Kingston (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Genevieve Kingston
Genevieve (Gwen) Kingston was just 11 years old when her mother passed away, leaving behind a chest filled with gifts and letters to celebrate the milestones of Gwen’s life and each of her birthdays until age 30. When DID I EVER TELL YOU? opens, just three packages remain: engagement, marriage and first baby. Tracing Gwen’s coming-of-age, the book reveals a treasure hunt, with each gift and letter unveiling more about her mother, her family and --- ultimately --- herself. Like CRYING IN H MART by Michelle Zauner and THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch, DID I EVER TELL YOU? is a riveting book filled with unexpected twists and powerful life lessons. Through her mother’s fierce and courageous love, Gwen was granted the tools not only to move through grief but to cherish life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

DID I EVER TELL YOU? will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in an upcoming newsletter.

Announcing Bookreporter.com’s 19th Annual
Mother’s Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love

Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 19th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 13th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes six great titles that we think moms will love.

This year's prize books are:

• DEAR MOM AND DAD: A Letter About Family, Memory, and the America We Once Knew by Patti Davis
• EVE: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon
• THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo
• LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER by Kimberly McCreight
• A SHORT WALK THROUGH A WIDE WORLD by Douglas Westerbeke
• WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP written by Hwang Bo-reum, translated by Shanna Tan

Click here to enter the contest.

Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Advance Copies of
THE STOLEN CHILD by Ann Hood, an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title Releasing May 7th

Fantasy Author Spotlight:
THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo

THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo (Historical Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Fortgang
In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to improve the family's social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen --- and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the lines between magic, science and fraud are never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive --- even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santángel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read Leigh Bardugo's bio.
- Click here to visit Leigh Bardugo's website.
- Click here to connect with Leigh Bardugo on Instagram.

Click here to read more in our Fantasy Author Spotlight.

Featured Review: SHE’S NOT SORRY by Mary Kubica

SHE'S NOT SORRY by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Andi Arndt
Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom and working full time as an ICU nurse when a patient named Caitlin arrives in her ward with a traumatic brain injury. They say she jumped from a bridge and plunged over 20 feet to the train tracks below. When a witness comes forward with new details about Caitlin’s fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin actually pushed? And if so, by whom and why? Meghan lets herself get close to Caitlin until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: TOXIC PREY by John Sandford

TOXIC PREY: A Lucas and Letty Davenport Novel by John Sandford (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
Gaia is dying. That, at least, is what Dr. Lionel Scott believes. A renowned expert in tropical and infectious diseases, Scott has witnessed the devastating impact of illness and turmoil at critical scale. Society as it exists is untenable and is the direct link to Earth’s death spiral; population levels are out of control, and people have allowed disarray and disorder to run rampant. While most are concerned about deadly disease, Scott knows that it is truly humanity itself that will destroy Gaia. When he disappears without a trace, Letty Davenport is tasked with tracking down any and all leads. As the web around Scott becomes more tangled, Letty calls in her father, Lucas, to help her lead a group of specialists to find Scott as soon as possible. It quickly becomes a race to find him before the virus he created becomes the perfect weapon. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: CLOSE TO DEATH by Anthony Horowitz

CLOSE TO DEATH by Anthony Horowitz (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Rory Kinnear
Riverside Close is a picture-perfect community. The six exclusive and attractive houses are tucked far away from the noise and grime of city life, allowing the residents to enjoy beautiful gardens, pleasant birdsong and tranquility from behind the security of a locked gate. It is the perfect idyll, until the Kentworthy family arrives, with their four giant, gas-guzzling cars, gaggle of shrieking children, and plans for a garish swimming pool in the backyard. The Kentworthys do not belong in Riverside Close and quickly offend every last one of the neighbors. When Giles Kentworthy is found dead on his own doorstep, a crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest, Detective Hawthorne is the only investigator they can call to solve the case. Because how do you solve a murder when everyone is a suspect? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

More Reviews This Week

MY BELOVED MONSTER: Masha, the Half-wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me by Caleb Carr (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by James Lurie
Caleb Carr has had special relationships with cats since he was a young boy in a turbulent household, where his steadiest companions were the adopted cats that lived with him in both the city and the country. As an adult, he has had many close feline companions, with relationships that have outlasted most of his human ones. But only after building a three-story home in rural, upstate New York did he enter into the most extraordinary of all of his cat pairings: Masha, a Siberian Forest cat who had been abandoned as a kitten and was languishing in a shelter when Caleb met her. She had hissed and fought off all previous carers and potential adopters, but somehow she chose Caleb as her savior. For the 17 years that followed, Caleb and Masha were inseparable. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

INDIAN BURIAL GROUND by Nick Medina (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Gary Farmer and Erin Tripp
All Noemi Broussard wanted was a fresh start. With a new boyfriend who actually treats her right and a plan to move from the reservation she grew up on --- just like her beloved Uncle Louie before her --- things are finally looking up for Noemi. Until the news of her boyfriend’s apparent suicide brings her world crumbling down. But the facts about Roddy’s death just don’t add up, and Noemi isn’t the only one who suspects that something menacing might be lurking within their tribal lands. After over a decade away, Uncle Louie has returned to the reservation, bringing with him a past full of secrets, horror and what might be the key to determining Roddy’s true cause of death. Together, Noemi and Louie set out to find answers. But as they get closer to the truth, Noemi begins to wonder if it might be best for some secrets to remain buried. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

NEVER SAY YOU'VE HAD A LUCKY LIFE: Especially If You've Had a Lucky Life by Joseph Epstein (Autobiography)
Audiobook available, read by Fred Sanders
An autobiography usually requires a justification. The great autobiographies --- those by Benvenuto Cellini, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Brooks Adams --- were justified by their authors living in interesting times, harboring radically new ideas or participating in great events. Joseph Epstein qualifies on none of these counts. His life has been quiet, lucky in numerous ways and far from dramatic. But it also has been emblematic of the great changes in our country since World War II. NEVER SAY YOU'VE HAD A LUCKY LIFE is an intimate look at one life steeped in radical change: from a traditionally moral culture to a therapeutic one, from an era when the extended family was strong to its current diminished status, from print to digital life featuring the war of pixel on print, and on. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

THE NEW YORK GAME: Baseball and the Rise of a New City by Kevin Baker
(Sports/History)
Audiobook available, read by L.J. Ganser
Baseball is “the New York game” because New York is where the diamond was first laid out, where the bunt and the curveball were invented, and where the home run was hit. It’s where the game’s first stars were born, and where everyone came to play or watch the game. With nuance and depth, historian Kevin Baker brings this all vividly back to life: the still-controversial, indelible moments. Did the Babe call his shot? Was Merkle out? Did they fix the 1919 World Series? In Baker's hands, the city and the game emerge from the murk of 19th-century American life --- driven by visionaries and fixers, heroes and gangsters. He details how New York and its favorite sport came to mirror one another, expanding, bumbling through catastrophe and corruption, and rising out of these trials stronger than ever. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).

THE MARRIAGE SABBATICAL by Lian Dolan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Stacey Glemboski
After 23 years of building careers and raising kids together, Jason and Nicole Elswick are ready for a break from their daily lives. Jason has spent years planning his dream sabbatical --- ditching work for a nine-month-long motorcycle trip through South America. But that’s Jason’s dream, not Nicole’s. After years working retail and parenting in Portland, Nicole craves the sun of the Southwest and the artistic community in Santa Fe, where she wants to learn jewelry design. A chance encounter at a dinner party presents a surprising --- and intriguing --- way out of their dilemma. Over a little too much wine, Jason and Nicole’s married neighbors sing the praises of the 500 Mile Rule: their policy of enjoying themselves however they wish --- and with whomever they wish --- when they’re temporarily far apart. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

NEGATIVE SPACE by Gillian Linden (Fiction)
NEGATIVE SPACE follows a week in the life of an English teacher at a New York private school. At home, her two increasingly restless children ask constant questions about mortality and find hidden wisdom in the cartoons they watch on television. Her husband tends to his plants and offers occasional counsel between Zoom calls to Hong Kong and Australia. And at school, as she navigates the currents between wealthy, increasingly disconnected students and bewildered faculty, she accidentally witnesses an ambiguous, possibly inappropriate interaction between a teacher and a student. She feels compelled to say something, but how can she be sure of what she saw? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

MAX’S WAR by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Derek Shetterly
As the Nazis sweep across Europe, Jewish teen Max and his parents flee persecution in Germany for Holland. But when Hitler invades in 1940, Max must escape to Chicago, leaving his parents and friends behind. When he learns of his parents' deportation and murder, Max immediately enlists in the US Army. After basic training, he is sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland, where he is trained in interrogation and counterintelligence. Deployed to the OSS as well, Max carries out dangerous missions in occupied countries. Post-war, he works for the Americans in the German denazification program, bringing him back to his Bavarian childhood home of Regensburg. Though the city avoided large-scale destruction, the Jewish community has been decimated. While there, he reunites with someone from his past. Can they rebuild their lives…together? Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

BEGIN AGAIN by Helly Acton (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Sidi
Frankie McKenzie dies in a freak kebab-related accident after what she sees as yet another dud of a first date. But life isn’t over for Frankie. Instead, she is miraculously offered a second chance: Frankie can revisit key moments from her past to see if different choices will lead her to the fulfilling life she’s always dreamt of. Should she decide to languidly lounge by warm Mexican waters with sexy Raphael? Or say yes to the proposal of earnestly reliable university-sweetheart Toby? Perhaps a worry-free gilded cage with Callum is the solution! Or what about that high-powered media career she thought she wanted? Soon, Frankie will see what her life would have been if only she’d caught that one-way flight, accepted the marriage proposal, or attended the intimidating job interview. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 23rd

Below are some notable titles releasing on April 23rd 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 April 22nd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES written and illustrated by Amy Tan
(Nature/Memoir)
Written and illustrated by the bestselling author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB, THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES is a gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight.

CIRCLE IN THE WATER: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller (Mystery)
In this twisting mystery in Marcia Muller's New York Times bestselling series, pranks escalate into a deadly scheme that Private Investigator Sharon McCone must unravel --- ​before they claim her life.

DARLING GIRLS by Sally Hepworth (Domestic Thriller)
DARLING GIRLS is a thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

DAYS OF WONDER by Caroline Leavitt (Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author Caroline Leavitt returns with a tantalizing, courageous story about mothers and daughters, guilt and innocence, and the lengths we go for love.

EXTINCTION by Douglas Preston (Technothriller)
With EXTINCTION, #1 New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston has written a page-turning thriller in the Michael Crichton mode that explores the possible and unintended dangers of the very real efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct animals.

FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry (Romantic Comedy)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry comes a shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

A GAME OF LIES by Clare Mackintosh (Psychological Thriller)
They say the camera never lies. But on this show, you can't trust anything you see. Clare Mackintosh's addictive new thriller is about a reality TV show that turns into a deadly game when one of the contestants goes missing.

LUCKY by Jane Smiley (Historical Fiction)
From bestselling, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Jane Smiley comes a soaring, soulful novel about a folk musician who rises to fame across our changing times.

THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of SAVE ME THE PLUMS and DELICIOUS! comes a dazzling, heartfelt adventure through the food, art and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris.

THE RULEBREAKER: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters by Susan Page (Biography)
THE RULEBREAKER is the definitive biography of the most successful female broadcaster of all time --- Barbara Walters --- a woman whose personal demons fueled an ambition that broke all the rules and finally gave women a permanent place on the air.

THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER by Nancy Thayer (Fiction)
Two sisters reconnect and pursue their dreams on the beautiful island of Nantucket, overcoming life’s challenges and finding new love, in this heartwarming and hopeful novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

From left to right: Kate Morton, Anthony Horowitz, Emily Henry

 Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.

Monday, April 22nd at 3pm ET: Murder By The Book: Anthony Horowitz will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about CLOSE TO DEATH, the ingenious fifth literary whodunit in his Hawthorne and Horowitz series, in which Detective Hawthorne is once again called upon to solve an unsolvable case.

Wednesday, April 24th 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 Sally Hepworth about her latest book, DARLING GIRLS, a thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love and murder.

Wednesday, April 24th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Kate Morton about her novel, HOMECOMING, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Kate also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. If you would like to be one of our featured audience guests and ask Kate a question on camera, please email Carol with the subject line “Kate” by April 24th at noon ET.

Thursday, April 25th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Emily Henry for a live virtual discussion to celebrate the release of FUNNY STORY, a shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common. Emily will be in conversation with Yulin Kuang, a screenwriter and director, and the author of HOW TO END A LOVE STORY.

 "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts

“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)

Here are our latest interviews:

• Simone Gorrindo (THE WIVES: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
• Megan Miranda (DAUGHTER OF MINE) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Douglas Brunt (THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I) Video | Podcast
• Fiona Davis (THE SPECTACULAR) Video | Podcast
• Ashley Elston (FIRST LIE WINS) Video | Podcast
• Katherine Faulkner (THE OTHER MOTHERS) Video | Podcast
• Tess Gerritsen (THE SPY COAST) Video | Podcast
• Tamron Hall (WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE: A Jordan Manning Novel) Video | Podcast
• Kristin Hannah (THE WOMEN) Video | Podcast
• Jessica Knoll (BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN) Video | Podcast
• William Kent Krueger (THE RIVER WE REMEMBER) Video | Podcast
• Gilly Macmillan (THE MANOR HOUSE) Video | Podcast
• Amanda Peters (THE BERRY PICKERS) Video | Podcast
• Nita Prose (THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel) Video | Podcast
• Anna Quindlen (AFTER ANNIE) Video | Podcast
• Hank Phillippi Ryan (ONE WRONG WORD) Video | Podcast
• Sharon Virts (VEIL OF DOUBT) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Ann Hood (THE STOLEN CHILD)

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

Our Latest Poll: April Nonfiction Releases to Anticipate

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, April 26th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!

Click here to enter the contest.

Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com

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"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts | "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books"
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