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I am trying to remember how I juggled multiple assignments when I was in college. I have a number of books to read that are May and June releases --- and many authors who I would like to interview. I am going to resort to my shelving system that is not by color or genre, but by release date. And I will read in order, which reminds me of a class I took where we read a book a week, discussed it and wrote a paper about it. I will follow my shelves like the syllabus for that class.
Just as it was in that class, it’s a joy to read these books, but I have to stay on schedule to be sure that everything gets done. Book publicists tempt me to “read ahead” as I see something publishing later in the year and advance copies come to the house, or a press release catches my attention. But no...this time I am focusing.
Right now, I am enjoying Linwood Barclay’s I WILL RUIN YOU, which comes out Tuesday. He has a voice and a writing style that I really love. I feel like I am hearing from a friend when I read his books; “tell me a story.” Next up is LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE by Terah Shelton Harris, which releases on May 14th. I heard Terah speak about her book twice, and last weekend I read the foreword and a few chapters. I have to set up an interview with her to share more about this book with you.
So that’s my focused reading for the weekend! I hope that you are enjoying whatever is on your nightstand, or your shelf, or wherever you have the books that you cannot wait to dive into.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, May 8th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between May 7th and June 4th, in addition to a few from July, 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.
In THE DEMON OF UNREST: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War, #1 New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson brings to life the pivotal five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the start of the Civil War --- a simmering crisis that finally tore a deeply divided nation in two. Drawing on diaries, secret communiques, slave ledgers and plantation records, Larson gives us a political horror story that captures the forces that led America to the brink --- a dark reminder that we often don’t see a cataclysm coming until it’s too late.
According to our reviewer Stuart Shiffman, “Erik Larson recreates history skillfully. Reading his vivid portrayals, you sometimes forget that he is presenting facts and actual events. THE DEMON OF UNREST is more than history. It is a cautionary tale reminding readers how fragile and frail democracy is and how it must be vigilantly protected.” This will be a perfect gift for my husband.
FUNNY STORY is Emily Henry’s much-talked-about new novel. After being dumped days before her wedding and with nowhere to go, Daphne is rooming with fellow dumpee Miles, whose girlfriend ran off with Daphne’s fiancé. Scruffy and fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants, Miles is the exact opposite of buttoned-up Daphne, and they mostly avoid each other until they form a tenuous friendship one night. And when they get an invite to their exes’ wedding, they hatch a plan to act like they are dating too. But in an unexpected twist of fate, they may have more in common than their failed relationships.
Rebecca Munro has our review and says, “Come for the romance, the high stakes, the humor and the sweet, hilarious vibes, but stay for Henry’s characters. They deserve the most magical, transformative romance possible, but they use that love to discover something even more meaningful: a love for and pride in themselves.” I read FUNNY STORY last weekend and enjoyed it, but I also was glad I am not a twentysomething or a thirtysomething!
Janet Skeslien Charles, the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of THE PARIS LIBRARY, returns with a new novel based on the true story of Jessie Carson --- the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France. Based on the extraordinary little-known history of the women who received the Croix de Guerre medal for courage under fire, MISS MORGAN'S BOOK BRIGADE is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, the power of literature, and ultimately the courage it takes to make a change.
Our reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski calls the book “a wonderful novel that will keep you absorbed for an entire weekend. It also might make you want to pull a few classics off your shelf to reread, which for me is always the sign of a good book.” Janet is lovely, and if you have the opportunity to hear her talk about this book, do it!
Our Mother's Day Author Blog Series is Back!
Janet Skeslien Charles kicks off our Mother’s Day Author Blog series, which we have brought back for a 15th consecutive year. Once again, we’re sharing pieces from authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers. Click here to read Janet’s heartwarming remembrance of her mother.
Next week, we will hear from Patricia Walsh Chadwick (BREAKING GLASS: Tales from the Witch of Wall Street), Eve J. Chung (DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG), Holly Gramazio (THE HUSBANDS), Ann Hood (THE STOLEN CHILD), and Simone Gorrindo (THE WIVES: A Memoir). We are so grateful to these authors who took the time to share these pieces with us.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE RULEBREAKER: Susan Page, the award-winning Washington Bureau chief of USA Today, has penned 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.
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LUCKY: Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Jane Smiley’s latest novel is about a folk musician who rises to fame across our changing times. Our reviewer Eileen Zimmerman Nicol teases: “Towards the end of the novel, Jane Smiley pulls a Jane Smiley on us. That’s all I’m going to say, because I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
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DAYS OF WONDER: Fans of Miranda Cowley Heller’s THE PAPER PALACE and Allegra Goodman’s SAM will want to read this gripping, high-drama page-turner from Caroline Leavitt --- a tantalizing, courageous story about the elusive nature of redemption and the profound reach of love.
Our "Books Mom Will Love" Contest
Our Mother’s Day contest just keeps getting bigger! We added two more prizes this week --- THE FELLOWSHIP OF PUZZLEMAKERS by Samuel Burr and THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon --- which means you now can win 11 fabulous titles for yourself or your mom. You have until Monday, May 13th at noon ET to enter the giveaway, which also includes EVE: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon and WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP by Hwang Bo-reum.
I have many of these prizes in-house, and they each look terrific. I also need to get bigger boxes for sending them out to the winners!
Summer Reading Update
We kicked off our Summer Reading contests this week by giving away THE FAR SIDE OF THE DESERT by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman and WITHIN ARM’S REACH by Ann Napolitano (our current Paperback Spotlight title). Next week’s prizes will be THE HAZELBOURNE LADIES MOTORCYCLE AND FLYING CLUB by Helen Simonson and SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews (an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On pick). The first contest will go live on Tuesday, May 7th at noon ET. I talked to Mary Kay this week, and we’ll share my interview with her in next week’s newsletter.
Books on Screen Offerings for May
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. May’s roundup includes the series premieres of Peacock's "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and Apple TV+'s "Dark Matter"; the season premieres of "Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire" on AMC and "Bridgerton" on Netflix; the conclusion of Paramount+'s "A Gentleman in Moscow," Hulu's "We Were the Lucky Ones," and HBO's "The Sympathizer"; the season finales of "Tracker" on CBS and "Will Trent" on ABC; the films Force of Nature: The Dry 2 and The Image of You in theaters, as well as Turtles All the Way Down on Max; and the DVD releases of Dune: Part Two, The Bricklayer and The Taste of Things.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
Our current Word of Mouth prizes are the aforementioned THE DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson and MISS MORGAN'S BOOK BRIGADE by Janet Skeslien Charles. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, May 10th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask if there is an independent bookstore near you. Let us know by clicking here.
On Tuesday night, the news broke that bestselling author and screenwriter Paul Auster passed away at the age of 77 due to complications from lung cancer. His numerous works include BAUMGARTNER, BLOODBATH NATION, 4 3 2 1, SUNSET PARK, THE BOOK OF ILLUSIONS, MOON PALACE and the New York Trilogy (CITY OF GLASS, GHOSTS and THE LOCKED ROOM). In 2006, he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature. His other honors include the Prix Médicis étranger for LEVIATHAN, the Independent Spirit Award for the screenplay of SMOKE, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for BURNING BOY, and the Carlos Fuentes Prize for his body of work.
On Wednesday night, Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of this year’s Edgar Awards, which honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2023. Among the recipients are FLAGS ON THE BAYOU by James Lee Burke (Best Novel), VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Best Paperback Original), CROOKED: The Roaring ’20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the American Political Scandal, by Nathan Masters (Best Fact Crime), and LOVE ME FIERCE IN DANGER: The Life of James Ellroy, by Steven Powell (Best Critical/Biographical). You can see all the winners here.
It was announced this week that Publishers Lunch and the American Booksellers Association will be hosting their next Buzz Books Editors and Authors Panel on Thursday, May 16th at 7pm ET. During this free virtual event for booksellers, librarians, media and other tastemakers, five authors will be chatting with their editors about their buzz-worthy forthcoming titles: Cebo Campbell (SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS), Juhea Kim (CITY OF NIGHT BIRDS), Kristin Koval (PENITENCE), John Larison (THE ANCIENTS), and Dava Sobel (THE ELEMENTS OF MARIE CURIE). Click here to register. I love these events and will plan to watch this one.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
We got a couple of emails about last Wednesday night's event with Kate Morton.
Katy wrote, “Thank YOU and everyone at Bookreporter for a great event. I agree; Kate was wonderful, and it was an honor to be a part of it all. I am thankful and grateful that technology allows us to gather around the world from our own homes and share our love of books. What a gift!”
Barbara shared, “Carol, this was one of the very best interviews I've had the pleasure of watching! Thank you so much for making it possible. Unfortunately I just acquired HOMECOMING yesterday, but I read about 100 pages because I couldn't stop (and it was worth it to hear too much for the pleasure of hearing Kate Morton speak). It's an enormous pleasure to keep my brain functioning by reading your suggested books and then listening to the interviews without having to leave my living room. This is a wonderful service you supply.”
We got a few notes about Independent Bookstore Day last Saturday.
Jean wrote, “Today I went to the grand opening of The Lynx, a new independent bookstore in Gainesville, FL owned by author Lauren Groff and her husband, Clay Kallman. The event was so popular that they had to limit the number of people inside to comply with fire regulations. One reason for opening the store was to offer banned books, which is becoming an increasing problem here in FL. There was a nice selection of books well displayed, along with readings by authors and music. Several future events are already scheduled. Over the past 10 years, most of the local independent bookstores have disappeared. It is exciting to see this new store add to the cultural life of our community.”
Kathryn wrote, “There was an article in the Tampa Bay Times today about Lauren Groff and her husband opening a new bookstore in Gainesville. They felt the time was right because of the book bans in our state, and they needed to fight back against the 'authoritarianism' that is creeping across Florida. They named the bookstore The Lynx as it reflects the many environmental issues in the state. And that is shown in the exterior and the interior of the building as well. Clever! I always look forward to ALL your newsletters, midweek and on Saturday morning. I now have three yellow tablets full of TBR titles, and I just...read, read, read!”
My cousin, Maryann, texted me and said, “After reading this week’s newsletter, I visited an indie bookstore in Verona on Saturday, The Collective Bookstore. It’s such a cute little shop. I ended up knowing one of the part-time employees. I may join their monthly book group.” I loved hearing this from her!
Nancy wrote about our review of THE SECRET LIVES OF BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS: “You are right on the mark. I read it in two days; it was a sheer delight to sit down with a cup of tea and listen to the comments. A true must-read for book lovers. I am now reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s latest, AN UNFINISHED LOVE STORY. It is excellent, and I hope to hear her next week. I live in Boston. I am waiting for Erik Larson’s new book to arrive at the Boston Public Library. Thanks to YOU, I tend to get all the new books immediately. I always am first on the preorder list. Keep up the good work.”
Jeanne wrote, “I am thrilled to have won a copy of THE STOLEN CHILD and can’t wait to read it. Thank you so much! I will be sure to write back with my comments after I read it.”
Nickel Boys: The film adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name is slated to be released in theaters on October 25th.
“We Were the Lucky Ones” on Hulu: We are watching the conclusion tonight. The series has been terrific, but Tom and I are not sure how it wraps this fast considering where the family was last week.
Paramount+: The great thing about paying for Paramount+ is that I can watch CBS programs with no commercials. For example, it is so much faster to watch an episode of “Tracker” sans commercials.
“Baby Reindeer” on Netflix: I like Stephen King, and he raved about this show. But, yowser, I did not like it and would say “hard skip” on this one. I am pulling this description from Wikipedia since I am hard-pressed to describe it: It’s “a British black comedy drama-thriller created by and starring Richard Gadd. An adaptation of Gadd's autobiographical one-man show of the same name, the series is based on Gadd's real life experience of being stalked and sexually assaulted in his twenties.”
I have no real weekend plans except trying to get the outside readied for summer. The outdoor furniture still has a tarp on it, and the pool still has a cover on it. I am hoping that the water in the latter is clear, though of course the temperatures are now dropping after having some really sunny days. It's also time to start sketching where flowers will be going. The plan is to do an early morning planting run one day next week, so we avoid the weekend crowds.
Tomorrow is the Kentucky Derby, and Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, which makes this a double-themed holiday weekend. I must think about fun menus for both days: a recipe for mint julep, but which Mexican dishes should we do?
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: THE DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson
THE DEMON OF UNREST: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson (History)
Audiobook available, read by Will Patton and Erik Larson
On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln became the fluky victor in a tight race for president. Southern extremists were moving ever closer to destroying the Union, with one state after another seceding and Lincoln powerless to stop them. Slavery fueled the conflict, but somehow the passions of North and South came to focus on a lonely federal fortress in Charleston Harbor: Fort Sumter. Erik Larson offers a gripping account of the chaotic months between Lincoln’s election and the Confederacy’s shelling of Sumter --- a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, inflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals. Lincoln himself wrote that the trials of these five months were “so great that, could I have anticipated them, I would not have believed it possible to survive them.” Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry
FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met, fell in love and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he actually was in love with his childhood best friend, Petra. Daphne is now stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, with a dream job as a children’s librarian and proposes to be roommates with Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak. The roommates mainly avoid one another until one day they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them? But it’s all just for show, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex. Right? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE
by Janet Skeslien Charles
MISS MORGAN'S BOOK BRIGADE by Janet Skeslien Charles (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Marin Ireland and Sarah Gadon, with Jackie Sanders and Cassandra Campbell
1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France. This group of international women help rebuild destroyed French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen --- children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Then she disappears. 1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. Eventually she discovers that they have more in common than their work at New York’s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Janet Skeslien Charles' Mother's Day blog post.
Click here to read our review.
Paperback Spotlight:
WITHIN ARM’S REACH by Ann Napolitano
WITHIN ARM’S REACH by Ann Napolitano (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Ray Porter, Marin Ireland, Gilli Messer, Kimberly Farr, Cassandra Campbell and Brittany Pressley
This tender and perceptive debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL, which released 20 years ago, is about three generations of a large Catholic family jarred into crisis by an unexpected pregnancy.
No one in my mother’s family ever talks about anything that can be categorized as unpleasant or as having to do with emotions...
This spellbinding novel by bestselling author Ann Napolitano --- which is available in a new paperback edition --- is a poignant reminder of how connected we are to those we love, even when we cannot find the words to say it. The unforgettable story of three generations of an Irish American family, WITHIN ARM'S REACH is another rich and deeply satisfying novel from the author who captured the many dimensions of grief in DEAR EDWARD and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood in HELLO BEAUTIFUL.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Ann Napolitano's bio.
- Click here to visit Ann Napolitano's website.
- Connect with Ann Napolitano on Twitter and Instagram.
- Click here to sign up for our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Ann Napolitano on Wednesday, May 29th at 8pm ET.
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Featured Review: THE RULEBREAKER by Susan Page
THE RULEBREAKER: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters by Susan Page (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Page
Barbara Walters was a force from the time TV was exploding on the American scene in the 1960s to its waning dominance in a new world of competition from streaming services and social media half a century later. In THE RULEBREAKER, Susan Page conducts 150 interviews and extensive archival research to discover that Walters was driven to keep herself and her family afloat after her mercurial and famous impresario father attempted suicide. But she never lost the fear of an impending catastrophe, which is what led her to ask for things no woman had ever asked for before, to ignore the rules of misogynistic culture, to outcompete her most ferocious competitors, and to protect her complicated marriages and love life from scrutiny. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: LUCKY by Jane Smiley
LUCKY by Jane Smiley (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Stina Nielsen
Before Jodie Rattler became a star, she was a girl growing up in St. Louis. One day in 1955, when she was just six years old, her uncle Drew took her to the racetrack, where she got lucky --- and that roll of two-dollar bills she won has never since left her side. Jodie thrived in the warmth of her extended family, and then --- through a combination of hard work and serendipity --- she started a singing career, which catapulted her from St. Louis to New York City, from the English countryside to the tropical beaches of St. Thomas, from Cleveland to Los Angeles, and back again. Jodie comes of age in recording studios, backstage and on tour, and she tries to hold her own in the wake of Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell. Yet it feels like something is missing. Could it be true love? Or is that not actually what Jodie is looking for? Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DAYS OF WONDER by Caroline Leavitt
DAYS OF WONDER by Caroline Leavitt (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Xe Sands, Stephanie Willing and Steve Quinn
As a teenager, Ella Fitchburg found love that consumed both her and her boyfriend, Jude, as they wandered the streets of New York City together. But her glorious life was pulled out from beneath her after she was accused of trying to murder Jude’s father, an imperious superior court judge. When she learns she’s pregnant shortly after receiving a long prison sentence, she reluctantly decides to give up the child. Ella is released from prison after serving only six years and is desperate to turn the page on a new life, but she can’t seem to let go of her past. With only an address as a possible lead, she moves to Ann Arbor, Michigan, determined to get her daughter back. Yet a central mystery endures: neither Jude nor Ella can remember the events leading up to the attempted murder --- that fateful night that led to Ella’s conviction. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com’s 15th Annual
Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for a 15th year! Once again, we are excited to be sharing pieces from authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
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 11 great titles that we think moms will love.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 20th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through early August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 7th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
May’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 May's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Turtles All the Way Down
Release Date: May 2nd on Max
Based on: TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN by John Green
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Release Date: May 10th (limited release in theaters)
Based on: FORCE OF NATURE by Jane Harper
The Image of You
Release Date: May 10th (limited release in theaters)
Based on: THE IMAGE OF YOU by Adele Parks
Series Premieres
"The Tattooist of Auschwitz" (6-episode limited series)
Release Date: May 2nd on Peacock (all episodes will be available)
Based on: THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ by Heather Morris
"Dark Matter"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Apple TV+; Series Premiere on May 8th (the first two episodes will be available)
Based on: DARK MATTER by Blake Crouch
Season Premieres
"Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on AMC; Season Two Premiere on May 12th
Based on: INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice
"Bridgerton"
Release Date: May 16th on Netflix (Season Three, Part One)
Based on: ROMANCING MR. BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn
Series Finales
"A Gentleman in Moscow" (8-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Fridays on Paramount+ (for those subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan); Series Finale on May 17th
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on Paramount+ with Showtime; Series Finale on May 19th
Based on: A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by Amor Towles
"The Sympathizer" (7-episode limited series)
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO; Series Finale on May 26th
Based on: THE SYMPATHIZER by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Season Finales
"Tracker"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on CBS; Season One Finale on May 19th
Based on: THE NEVER GAME by Jeffery Deaver
"Will Trent"
Air Dates: Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on ABC; Season Two Finale on May 21st
Based on: The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter
On DVD
Dune: Part Two
DVD Release Date: May 14th
Based on: DUNE by Frank Herbert
EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES by Catherine Mack
(Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Evans
All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next installment of her Vacation Mysteries series. Is that too much to ask? Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life --- the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with 10 years ago and now can't get out of her life --- Eleanor is enlisted to help solve the case. Contending with literary competitors, rabid fans, a stalker --- and even her ex, Oliver, who turns up unexpectedly --- theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder? Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
THE LAST WORD by Elly Griffiths (Literary Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Nina Wadia
Natalka and Edwin are perfect, if improbable, partners in a detective agency. Eighty-four-year-old Edwin is a master at surveillance, deploying his age as a cloak of invisibility. Natalka, more than 50 years his junior, is a math whiz who takes any cases concerning fraud or deception. She loves a murder, but none have come the agency’s way. That is until local writer Melody Chambers dies. Melody’s daughters are convinced that their mother was murdered. Edwin thinks that Melody’s death is linked to that of an obituary writer who predeceased many of his subjects. Edwin and Benedict go undercover to investigate and are on a creative writing weekend at isolated Battle House when another murder occurs. Are the cases linked, and what is the role of a distinctly sinister book group attended by many of writers involved? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ONE BY ONE by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Alyson Krawchuk
Claire Matchett needs this trip. It will be a break from work and raising children. A chance to repair her damaged marriage. A week of hiking and hot tubbing with friends at a luxurious hotel in the woods, disconnected from the pressures of real life. Then, on a lonely dirt road, Claire's minivan breaks down. With no cell reception, the group has no choice but to walk the rest of the way to their remote accommodation. But the forest is dark and difficult to navigate; hours later, they are lost. Hopelessly lost. As they venture deeper into the woods, the members of their party are struck down mysteriously, one by one. Are they being hunted? And by what --- or who? As Claire's dream vacation descends into a nightmare, something becomes clear: only one of them will return home alive. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
FI: A Memoir of My Son by Alexandra Fuller (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Alexandra Fuller
It’s midsummer in Wyoming, and Alexandra Fuller is barely hanging on. Grieving her father and pining for her home country of Zimbabwe, reeling from a midlife breakup, freshly sober, and piecing her way uncertainly through a volatile new relationship with a younger woman, Alexandra vows to get herself back on even keel. And then, her 21-year-old son, Fi, dies suddenly in his sleep. Alexandra is painfully aware that she cannot succumb and abandon her two surviving daughters as her mother before her had done. From a sheep wagon deep in the mountains of Wyoming to a grief sanctuary in New Mexico to a silent meditation retreat in Alberta, Canada, Alexandra journeys up and down the spine of the Rocky Mountains in an attempt to find how to grieve herself whole. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
COLTON GENTRY'S THIRD ACT by Jeff Zentner (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Charlie Thurston
Colton Gentry’s first hit in nearly a decade has caught fire, he’s opening for country megastar Brant Lucas, and he’s married to one of the hottest acts in the country. But he’s hurting. Only a few weeks earlier, his best friend, Duane, was murdered onstage by a mass shooter at a country music festival. One night, Colton stands before a sold-out arena crowd of country music fans and offers his unfiltered opinion on guns. It goes over poorly. Immediately, his career and marriage implode. Left with few choices or funds, he retreats to his rural Kentucky hometown. He’s resigned himself to has-been-dom, until a chance encounter at his town’s new farm-to-table restaurant gives him a second shot at life: a job working in the kitchen with Luann, his first love, who has undergone her own reinvention. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
NOTHING BUT THE BONES by Brian Panowich (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Brian Troxell
In McFalls County, local crime boss Gareth Burroughs runs everything on the mountain. And Nelson “Nails” McKenna has been his enforcer since he was a teenager, though his heart is not really in the dirty work. Then one night in a local roadhouse, Nails goes too far, defending a woman, and even Burroughs’ reach can’t get him out of this one. With a dead body and countless witnesses, Nails and the woman become fugitives on the run, and unlikely partners. But on the road to Jacksonville, where a possible escape awaits, there’s more than one interested party on the pair’s trail, and the glimpse they had of getting away scot-free suddenly seems elusive. In the end, Nails must make one final stand for his freedom --- or pay with both of their lives. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
ORACLE by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Nathaniel Priestley
On a foggy winter morning, high school kids Luca and Emma discover the impossible: the wreck of an 18th-century ship stranded in a flower field. Emma enters the hatch on the deck and is never seen again. And she isn’t the last to disappear. Soon a government agency begins to investigate, determined to uncover the ship’s secrets before a media storm erupts. They enlist Robert Grim, a retired specialist of the occult, to unravel the mystery, and he soon realizes the ship could be a harbinger of an ancient doom awakened under the sea. In a maelstrom of international intrigue and pure terror, Grim and Luca must race against time as they come face-to-face with an open doorway to the apocalypse. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
CHRISTA COMES OUT OF HER SHELL by Abbi Waxman (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Jesse Vilinsky and Jonathan Todd Ross
After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father --- long thought dead after a plane crash --- turns out to be alive, well and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on…if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
NOT YOUR CHINA DOLL: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong by Katie Gee Salisbury (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Caroline McLaughlin
In her time, Anna May Wong was a legendary beauty, witty conversationalist and fashion icon. Plucked from her family’s laundry business in Los Angeles, she rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks’ blockbuster, The Thief of Bagdad. Fans and the press clamored to see more of this unlikely actress, but when Hollywood repeatedly cast her in stereotypical roles, she headed abroad in protest. Anna May starred in acclaimed films in Berlin, Paris and London. She dazzled royalty and heads of state across several nations, leaving trails of suitors in her wake. She returned to challenge Hollywood at its own game by speaking out about the industry’s blatant racism. She used her new stature to move away from her typecasting as the China doll or dragon lady, and worked to reshape Asian American representation in film. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 6th and 7th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 6th and 7th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of May 6th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
May 6th
THE 24th HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Thriller)
Lindsay Boxer leads the Women’s Murder Club in the high-profile murder investigation of a billionaire San Francisco couple. As enemies lurk in the shadows, will Cindy, Claire, Yuki and Lindsay still be standing when the clock strikes midnight?
May 7th
ALL THE GLIMMERING STARS by Mark Sullivan (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by a true story, two teens kidnapped by an African warlord find salvation through love in a powerful and healing historical novel from the #1 bestselling author of BENEATH A SCARLET SKY and THE LAST GREEN VALLEY.
CLIVE CUSSLER THE HEIST: An Isaac Bell Adventure by Jack Du Brul (Historical Thriller/Adventure)
Detective Isaac Bell faces an attack on the Federal Reserve in this all-new adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Clive Cussler.
DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG by Eve J. Chung (Historical Fiction)
Based on Eve J. Chung's family story, this propulsive, extraordinary debut novel is about a mother and her daughters’ harrowing escape to Taiwan as the Communist revolution sweeps through China.
DISTURBING THE DEAD: A Rip Through Time Novel by Kelley Armstrong (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
DISTURBING THE DEAD is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1860s and the other in the present day. The Rip Through Time crime novels are a genre-blending, atmospheric romp from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.
THE HAZELBOURNE LADIES MOTORCYCLE AND FLYING CLUB by Helen Simonson (Historical Fiction)
This timeless comedy of manners --- refreshing as a summer breeze and bracing as the British seaside --- is about a generation of young women facing the seismic changes brought on by war and dreaming of the boundless possibilities of their future.
I WILL RUIN YOU by Linwood Barclay (Psychological Thriller)
In this latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS by John Connolly (Supernatural Thriller)
From the international and instant New York Times bestselling author John Connolly, the beloved and brilliant Charlie Parker series returns with a heart-wrenching crime only one man can solve.
LONG ISLAND by Colm Tóibín (Historical Fiction)
From beloved, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Colm Tóibín comes a spectacularly moving and intense novel of secrecy, misunderstanding and love. LONG ISLAND is the story of Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of BROOKLYN --- Tóibín’s most popular work --- 20 years later.
THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley (Science Fiction/Romance)
A time-travel romance, a spy thriller, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to THE MINISTRY OF TIME, Kaliane Bradley's exhilarating debut novel.
RED SIDE STORY: A Shades of Grey Novel by Jasper Fforde
(Dystopian Fantasy/Humor)
RED SIDE STORY is the long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestselling SHADES OF GREY --- in an exclusive edition for North American readers, complete with a never-before-published short story.
THE STOLEN CHILD by Ann Hood (Historical Fiction)
An unlikely duo ventures through France and Italy to solve the mystery of a child’s fate in this moving, page-turning novel from “gifted storyteller” (People) Ann Hood.
SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper.
THE YEAR OF LIVING CONSTITUTIONALLY: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning by A.J. Jacobs (Memoir)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY chronicles his hilarious adventures in attempting to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, as he searches for answers to one of the most pressing issues of our time: How should we interpret America’s foundational document?
YOU NEVER KNOW: A Memoir by Tom Selleck with Ellis Henican (Memoir)
Frank, funny and open-hearted, YOU NEVER KNOW is an intimate memoir from one of the most beloved actors of our time, the highly personal story of a remarkable life and thoroughly accidental career.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Mark Sullivan, Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay
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, May 6th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Mark Sullivan will discuss his latest book, ALL THE GLIMMERING STARS, with special guest host Gregg Hurwitz. In this powerful and healing new historical novel, inspired by a true story, two teens kidnapped by an African warlord find salvation through love.
Tuesday, May 7th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Tommy Orange as he discusses his new book, WANDERING STARS, with Jeniffer Thompson. The Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of the breakout bestseller THERE THERE delivers a masterful follow-up to his already classic first novel.
Wednesday, May 8th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between May 7th and June 4th, along with a few from July, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, May 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Leif Enger for a live virtual event to discuss I CHEERFULLY REFUSE, April's B&N Book Club pick. Leif will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, the host and Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.
Wednesday, May 8th 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 Ruth Ware about her latest high-tension thriller, ONE PERFECT COUPLE.
Thursday, May 9th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Mona Awad for a live virtual discussion of ROUGE, which is soon to be released in paperback, as part of their Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Mona will be in conversation with the international bestselling author of THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET, Catriona Ward.
Thursday, May 9th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Harlan Coben will discuss his latest book featuring Myron Bolitar, THINK TWICE, a thriller of secrets, lies and dangerous conspiracies that threaten to cover up the truth when a man presumed dead is suddenly wanted for murder.
Thursday, May 9th at 9:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Linwood Barclay will discuss his latest thriller, I WILL RUIN YOU, in which a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
"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:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Mary Kay Andrews (SUMMERS AT THE SAINT)
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Ann Hood (THE STOLEN CHILD)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Independent Bookstores
Is there an independent bookstore near your home?
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 10th at noon ET.
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