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As planned last weekend, I did a lot of garden work. On Sunday, I spent seven hours in the garden mostly doing container planting. But somehow, I also managed to get poison ivy on the inside of two fingers on my right hand when I touched something in one of the gardens. It is cross-eyed painful and has made typing pretty challenging. I will do a product shout-out here. Zanfel really works; I should have remembered this and bought it as soon as I was infected. Actually, I should just buy it at the start of every season since I am so allergic!
Since I love to multitask, I listened to LONG ISLAND by Colm Tóibín as I gardened, shopped for plants and kicked in the pool. I had listened to BROOKLYN a few months ago (and yes, I want to see the movie), and it was a pleasure to pick up with these characters again. LONG ISLAND is narrated by Jessie Buckley, who is an amazing voice actress. I honestly thought this was a multi-cast production. If you listen, be sure to catch the interview with her at the end where she talks about how this is such a multi-character, dialogue-heavy work, which was challenging. But wow, she delivers.
I bought new swimming headphones that are touted to work well with Bluetooth and also can store 2,500 songs. I am looking forward to trying them out this weekend. I have an older pair, but they are not Bluetooth and do not have the same capacity. I like bone conduction headphones as I can still hear when I swim, and the sound is very clear. I am hoping that these work out. Like MANY readers these days, audio is rapidly becoming a huge part of my reading experience. I had moved away from this when I stopped commuting in and out of New York City, but I definitely am seeing how to work it into my daily routines.
I had wanted to read SWIFT RIVER since I heard Essie Chambers talk about it at a preview event. It releases on Tuesday and is June's “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. I was able to listen to about a third of it yesterday via an early press link while doing paperwork and driving in and out of the city.
I also have been enjoying MAD LOVE, an Audible original by Wendy Walker, which has an incredible cast. Now I just need to be sure my family understands that I may not hear them on their first try to talk to me as I am listening to this book.
On the print front, I am reading SHELTERWOOD, which releases on Tuesday and is an upcoming Summer Reading prize book (more on that later in this newsletter). I had heard Lisa Wingate talk about the book at a preview --- and the history behind it in Oklahoma really intrigued me.
It has been one very busy four-day week! Last night, I went with Tom (“Editorial Director Tom” as opposed to “Husband Tom”) to the Opening Reception for ThrillerFest, which was held at the Sheraton Times Square in New York City. In advance, I made a spreadsheet of people who we wanted to see there (I know, a completely funny move). It’s one of those parties where a few ballrooms are put together to make one HUGE event room, and from there it's one loud cocktail party. We caught up with a number of authors, agents, publicists and publishers, saw others from afar, did a lot of waving, managed to only have one drink each, and, as the party was winding down, finally snagged a few snacks.
Right after I got in the room, I was interviewed by Kaira Rouda and Kimberly Belle for a Killer Author Club segment, which appeared on Instagram Live. They asked who I would murder at the conference, how I would do it and when. I could think of no one to kill, but I decided I would have the bellhop --- no, the maid --- bring a knife or a gun to my room so I would not have bought it, and I would do the deed after the Thriller Awards Banquet on Saturday night when everyone would have had many cocktails and no one would remember anything. They told me it was like a version of Clue. It was a completely fun night!
On Wednesday evening, we hosted May’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Ann Napolitano as our special guest.
Ann joined us to discuss her New York Times bestseller from last year, HELLO BEAUTIFUL, which Oprah selected as her 100th Book Club pick. We also talked about her 2004 debut novel, WITHIN ARM’S REACH, which recently released in a new paperback edition. She gave us a peek inside her writing process, which includes nine months of musing before putting pen to paper, and shared a hint of what her next book will be about.
I enjoyed our conversation, and as always, we had fabulous questions from our attendees. We even touched on Ann’s novel, DEAR EDWARD, which was a “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick when it released in 2020. Click here to watch the event or here to listen to the podcast.
I am so excited to announce that William Kent Krueger will be our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Tuesday, June 25th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up here for it. We will talk about his 2023 New York Times bestseller, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick and an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel that is now in paperback. In this spellbinding stand-alone novel set in 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, pouring fresh fuel on old grievances.
Just as we did on Wednesday night, there will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Kent. For the first part, those who are asking a question on camera will be featured. This includes spending time with Kent backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email me with the subject line "Kent" by noon ET on June 25th. 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.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Genevieve (Gwen) Kingston, whose memoir, DID I EVER TELL YOU?, is a Bets On title. When Gwen was three years old, her mother, Kristina, was diagnosed with breast cancer; she passed away when Gwen was 11. When Kristina realized that her cancer was terminal, she created a box filled with individual presents for each year through Gwen’s 30th birthday, as well as special occasion notes for events like engagement, marriage and first baby. With just those last three to open, Gwen explored what these treasures had meant to her along the way.
Life lessons and gifts were shared that showed what Kristina wanted her daughter to know, a guiding light of sorts for when she was not around. It was as much about the note that accompanied each present as it was about what was inside. Gwen talks about taking this box with her from place to place as she moved across the country. Trained as a playwright, she explains the difference between writing for the stage and penning a memoir. She points out that she showed the book to her brother and some close family friends before publication to be sure she had the facts right and that their memories aligned.
Gwen also narrated the audiobook and notes what she learned from that experience. And she reveals what is next for her. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
John Grisham takes readers back to Camino Island in his latest thriller, CAMINO GHOSTS. In this third installment of the series, popular bookseller Bruce Cable tells Mercer Mann an irresistible tale that might be her next novel.
Stuart Shiffman has this to say in his review: “The bad guys have big plans, while the good guys hope to stop them. Along the way, Grisham shows his talent for poking fun at the foibles of publishing, as well as the legal system. It’s a gentle poking since both of these enterprises have provided him with a permanent and deserved position on bestseller lists. CAMINO GHOSTS is a joyful adventure. The characters are well-known to Grisham fans, and the story will keep you turning the pages until the conclusion. It’s a great summer read from a gifted writer.”
CAMINO GHOSTS is Grisham's 50th book! It also is worth noting that the audiobook is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. Grisham appeared on “CBS Mornings” this week to talk about the book, and he shares his love for indie bookstores. Click here to watch the segment.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
CAMINO GHOSTS is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is ERUPTION by Michael Crichton and James Patterson, which we plan to review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win these much-talked-about thrillers.
Greg Iles returns after a five-year hiatus with SOUTHERN MAN, the hugely anticipated new Penn Cage novel that captures the political unrest of a nation dangling between a chaotic past and an unpredictable future.
According to our reviewer Ray Palen, the book is “destined to be a modern-day classic.” He goes on to say, “SOUTHERN MAN is a mammoth achievement in both size and scope. It is an epic novel of ideas and issues, with racial divide, political hate, faith and justice merely being the tip of the iceberg. Iles recently disclosed that he nearly died while writing this book and admitted, "This might be the last thing I ever do." If that's the case, he can be proud of an enormous legacy of work he has left behind that will include SOUTHERN MAN as the cornerstone of his impressive bibliography.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE HAZELBOURNE LADIES MOTORCYCLE AND FLYING CLUB: This timeless comedy of manners from Helen Simonson --- which is as 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.
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THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY: Over seven decades, from 1940 to 2010, the pieds-noirs Cassars live in an itinerant state --- separated in the chaos of World War II, running from a complicated colonial homeland, and, after Algerian independence, without a homeland at all. Claire Messud’s latest novel is, above all, a family story.
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ALL FOURS: In Miranda July’s new novel, a semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from Los Angeles to New York. Thirty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, checks into a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in an entirely different journey.
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YOU ARE HERE: David Nicholls, the internationally bestselling and Booker Prize-longlisted author of ONE DAY, is back with an uplifting and unputdownable love story about second chances. It was announced this week that the book is June’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, July 2nd at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with David Nicholls. Click here to sign up.
We also are sharing our reviews of two big books that released in April: KNIFE: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, Salman Rushdie’s gripping and intimate memoir in which he speaks out for the first time about the traumatic events of August 12, 2022; and IT HAD TO BE YOU, the latest thrilling entry in Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke’s Under Suspicion series featuring television producer Laurie Moran.
Continuing this week is our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight of Stuart Turton’s new novel, THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD, which is May’s Top LibraryReads Pick and an Indie Next selection for June. We are featuring an interview with Turton, where he talks about his inspiration for the book, the challenges he faced while writing it, his favorite character, and more. If you missed our review from Sarah Rachel Egelman last week, you can check it out here.
A. J. Finn calls the book "[a] mind-bending, genre-blending, boy-that-ending mystery unlike any I've ever read...as though Agatha Christie and Stephen King had jointly rebooted ‘Lost.’” And Benjamin Stevenson says, "Stuart Turton’s literary pyrotechnics are on full display in this magnificently sly novel. Part Holmesian deduction, part Shyamalan-level twists --- Turton somehow manages to reinvent both himself and the mystery genre with every book. An absolute blast."
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE by Terah Shelton Harris, which is our current Fiction Author Spotlight title. Click here for my commentary. And if you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Terah, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Our "Best Books for Dad" Contest
You have until Friday, June 14th at noon ET to enter our Father's Day contest, where five readers will win seven fabulous fiction and nonfiction titles for themselves or the dad in their lives. They include I LIVED TO TELL THE WORLD: Stories from Survivors of Holocaust, Genocide, and the Atrocities of War by Elizabeth Mehren and I WILL RUIN YOU by Linwood Barclay, the latter of which is a Bets On pick.
Summer Reading Contest Update
We also gave away I WILL RUIN YOU in this week’s Summer Reading contest. Next week’s prizes will be THE PECAN CHILDREN by Quinn Connor and the aforementioned SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate. The first giveaway will be up on Tuesday, June 4th at noon ET.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 fiction titles releasing in June you are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, June 7th at noon ET.
LAST REMINDER: Please keep in mind that we will be hosting our 13th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event next Friday, June 7th at 1pm ET.
If you are a librarian, bookseller or book club leader of three or more groups, and would be interested in attending this event, please email me and tell me a bit about yourself using the subject line “Speed Dating.” Although this is a “trade only” event, we plan to share the publisher videos, PowerPoint slides and other materials with you in the June 14th newsletter.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Susan wrote about the flowers in last week’s newsletter: “Beautiful peonies!! They’re my favorite flower!” I want to get some other varieties that do not fall apart in the vase hours after I cut them.
We got two notes about THE STOLEN CHILD. Cynthia wrote, “Thank you so very much for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel! I absolutely loved the characters, their touching stories, and the interwoven themes of love, loss, forgiveness and seeking one’s purpose. I watched your interview with Ann Hood, which truly added to my appreciation of her inspiration and the writing of this novel. I have posted reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, as well as your Word of Mouth feature. Thank you as well for all the energy you put into making Bookreporter.com such a great resource!”
Jeanne wrote, “Thank you and Bookreporter so much for sending me a copy of THE STOLEN CHILD by Ann Hood through one of your contests. I just finished reading it cover to cover. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to read such a wonderful and well-written historical novel with such a meaningful storyline.
Marian wrote, “I always enjoy your newsletter. It is a much better source for finding good books to read than just looking at the New York Times bestseller list.” This made our day! We appreciate it as we really work hard to bring readers a wide variety of book content.
Linda wrote, “I just received THE MANOR HOUSE from you after winning the 'Bookaccino Live' contest. Thank you so much. I look forward to reading, although it may be a while due to my growing TBR pile. I appreciate your emails and virtual events.”
60 Bikinis: Yep, that is how many bikinis Elin Hilderbrand owns. She talks about them, along with her last Nantucket novel, SWAN SONG (releasing on June 11th), and a lot more in this article in the Wall Street Journal.
This is not a question from me, but I saw a reader write about it on a Facebook page: “I'm in desperate need of opinions. My grandma's birthday is coming up, and I want to send her a copy of THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah. It's about a nurse during the Vietnam War, which my grandma was. I considered buying her a blank copy, but I had an idea to annotate it for her. I annotate by underlining the sentence with colors corresponding to how I felt while reading it. I was just wondering if this would be a good idea for a gift, or if it's too self-centered.” I personally thought this was a really lovely idea --- a way for her to share her thoughts with her grandma in writing.
Celebrating 50 Years: I loved WORKING: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, by Studs Terkel. The book celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, which makes me want to reread it.
“Under the Bridge” on Hulu: I watched the finale; I still cannot believe what these teens wrought with the murder of Reena. If you do watch, stay for the ending; they talk about where people are today.
“Buying London” on Netflix: Okay, this program is just as vacuous as the other real estate shows where there is a lot of crazy fashion and turmoil in the office, but there also is some great London real estate.
Tennis from The French Open: As we guessed, Rafael Nadal did not win his first round match, but there has been lots of great tennis, and it will continue through next weekend. Now I know where the Tennis Channel is located on Optimum!
I have been banned from watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. The other night, I walked in the room and the Florida Panthers scored two goals on the New York Rangers. So Tom (Husband Tom) is blaming me, not the Rangers goalie.
Given my proclivity to not identify poison ivy, I have enlisted my friend, Karyn, to help me plan and plant a garden on a rock wall and three others in shaded areas. She has done a terrific job with two already, and I am excited about the big project. Years ago, we purchased a plant called Spiderwort, and it has been a nightmare. It's invasive, and it looks terrible most of the season after it blooms. Right now, it is in its brilliant phase.
As for reading, I have my selections lined up. Now I have to decide whether I read poolside or IN the pool.
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: CAMINO GHOSTS by John Grisham
CAMINO GHOSTS by John Grisham (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Whoopi Goldberg, with a note read by John Grisham
In John Grisham’s third thriller set on Camino Island, popular bookseller Bruce Cable tells Mercer Mann an irresistible tale that might be her next novel. A giant resort developer is using its political muscle and deep pockets to claim ownership of a deserted island between Florida and Georgia. Only the last living inhabitant of the island, Lovely Jackson, stands in its way. What the developer doesn’t know is that the island has a remarkable history, and locals believe it is cursed…and the past is never the past. 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: SOUTHERN MAN by Greg Iles
SOUTHERN MAN by Greg Iles (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Fifteen years after the events of the Natchez Burning trilogy, Penn Cage carries a mortal secret that separates him from the world. But his exile comes to an end when a brawl at a Mississippi rap festival triggers a bloody mass shooting that nearly takes the life of his daughter. Antebellum plantation homes continue to burn, and the deadly attacks are claimed by a Black radical group as historic acts of justice. Panic sweeps through the tourist communities, driving them inexorably toward a race war. But what might have been only a regional sideshow of the 2024 Presidential election explodes into national prominence, thanks to the stunning ascent of Robert E. Lee White, a Southern war hero who seizes the public’s imagination as a third-party candidate. To triumph over the national party machines, Bobby evolves a plan of unimaginable daring. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE HAZELBOURNE LADIES MOTORCYCLE AND FLYING CLUB by Helen Simonson
THE HAZELBOURNE LADIES MOTORCYCLE AND FLYING CLUB by Helen Simonson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Fiona Hardingham
It is the summer of 1919. Now that all the men have returned from the front, Constance Haverhill has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped run during the war. She is sent as a lady’s companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea after rescuing the local baronet’s daughter, Poppy, from a social faux pas. Poppy runs a ladies’ motorcycle club, to which she plans to add flying lessons. She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. As the country prepares to celebrate its hard-won peace, Constance and the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- 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.
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight & Featured Interview:
THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD
by Stuart Turton
Stuart Turton, the bestselling author of THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE and THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER, is back with an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop and an audacious solution. In this interview, Turton talks about his inspiration for THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD, why isolated settings appeal to him so much, his favorite character in the book, and what he has in mind for his fourth thriller.
THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Stuart Turton (Dystopian Mystery/Thriller)
Outside the island, there is nothing. The world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island, it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists are living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island --- and everyone on it.
But the security system also has wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer --- and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read Stuart Turton's bio.
- Click here to visit Stuart Turton's website.
- Connect with Stuart Turton on Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read the interview.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com's 19th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 19th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our seven featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 14th at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE
by Terah Shelton Harris
LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE by Terah Shelton Harris (Fiction)
I was not familiar with heir property before I heard Terah Shelton Harris talk about it at a book preview event as she discussed her new novel, LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE. I found myself intrigued by this idea of land that was bought by Black people during the time of Reconstruction. These properties often were held by entire families and passed from generation to generation, but without much in the way of printed documents. Many times, the land was in areas that were swampy or near water, which was not considered desirable as people wanted property that could be farmed. As a result of the scant paperwork, there have been lots of ways for developers to try to lay claim to this land.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Terah Shelton Harris.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Featured Review:
THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY
by Claire Messud
THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY by Claire Messud (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Over seven decades, from 1940 to 2010, the pieds-noirs Cassars live in an itinerant state --- separated in the chaos of World War II, running from a complicated colonial homeland, and, after Algerian independence, without a homeland at all. THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY is above all a family story: of patriarch Gaston and his wife, Lucienne, whose myth of perfect love sustains them and stifles their children; of François and Denise, devoted siblings connected by their family’s strangeness; of François’ union with Barbara, a woman so culturally different they can barely comprehend one another; and of Chloe, the result of that union, who believes that telling these buried stories will bring them all peace. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ALL FOURS by Miranda July
ALL FOURS by Miranda July (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Miranda July
A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from Los Angeles to New York. Thirty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, checks into a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in an entirely different journey. With Miranda July’s wry voice, perfect comic timing, unabashed curiosity about human intimacy, and palpable delight in pushing boundaries, ALL FOURS tells the story of one woman’s quest for a new kind of freedom. Part absurd entertainment, part tender reinvention of the sexual, romantic and domestic life of a 45-year-old female artist, the book transcends expectation while excavating our beliefs about life lived as a woman. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls
June’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls (Romance/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Lee Ingleby and Lydia Leonard
Michael is coming undone. Adrift after his wife's departure, he has begun taking himself on long, solitary walks across the English countryside. Becoming ever more reclusive, he’ll do anything to avoid his empty house. Marnie, on the other hand, is stuck. Hiding alone in her London flat, she avoids old friends and any reminders of her rotten, selfish ex-husband. Curled up with a good book, she’s battling the long afternoons of a life that feels like it’s passing her by. When a persistent mutual friend and some very unpredictable weather conspire to toss Michael and Marnie together on the most epic of 10-day hikes, neither of them can think of anything worse. Until, of course, they discover exactly what they’ve been looking for. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
» YOU ARE HERE is June's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, July 2nd at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with David Nicholls. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
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, June 4th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
KNIFE: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Salman Rushdie
Speaking out for the first time, and in unforgettable detail, about the traumatic events of August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie answers violence with art and reminds us of the power of words to make sense of the unthinkable. KNIFE is a gripping, intimate and ultimately life-affirming meditation on life, loss, love, art --- and finding the strength to stand up again. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
IT HAD TO BE YOU: An Under Suspicion Novel by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
The two identical brothers seemed perfect in every way --- handsome, intelligent, popular --- until a shocking summer night when one brother killed his parents in cold blood while the other brother had an iron-clad alibi. But which twin was where during the murders? And is it possible the two of them planned the perfect crime together? Years later, the twins are long estranged, each of them claiming to be convinced that the other is responsible for the death of their parents. Married now with children of their own, they may finally be ready to clear one name at the expense of the other and turn to Laurie Moran and her team to reinvestigate their parents’ murder. But as the Under Suspicion crew gets closer to the truth, the danger that was assumed to be left in the past finds its way into the present. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
WESTPORT by James Comey (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
It’s been two years since Nora Carleton left the job she loved at the US Attorney’s Office to become lead counsel at Saugatuck Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. The career change also meant a change of scenery, relocating her to Westport, Connecticut, 50 miles north of New York City. But it was worth it to get her daughter, Sophie, away from the city. Plus, she likes the people she works with. Especially Helen, who recruited Nora because of her skills as an investigator. Then Nora's new life falls apart when a coworker is murdered and she becomes the lead suspect. Nora calls in her old colleagues from the US Attorney’s Office, Mafia investigator Benny Dugan and attorney Carmen Garcia. To clear Nora’s name, Benny and Carmen hunt for the true killer's motive, but it seems nearly everyone at Saugatuck has secrets worth killing for. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ON HER WATCH by Melinda Leigh (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Traister
A pair of hikers find a tarp-wrapped body in a clearing in the woods. When a search in the surrounding area yields two more, Sheriff Bree Taggert knows they’ve stumbled onto a serial killer’s dumping ground. With the help of investigator Matt Flynn, Bree works the case. They go to interview Jana, the best friend of one of the victims. But when they arrive at her apartment, it’s been ransacked and set on fire. And Jana is missing. It’s clear the killer is escalating. To make matters worse, he threatens Bree’s family and a young mother vanishes. Will Bree and Matt uncover the link between the victims before more women die? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
WHALE FALL by Elizabeth O'Connor (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Dyfrig Morris, Gabrielle Glaister, Gwyneth Keyworth, Jot Davies and Nick Griffiths
In 1938, a dead whale washes up on the shores of remote Welsh island. For Manod, who has spent her whole life on the island, it feels like both a portent of doom and a symbol of what may lie beyond the island's shores. A young woman living with her father and her sister (to whom she has reluctantly but devotedly become a mother following the death of their own mother years prior), Manod can't shake her welling desire to explore life beyond the beautiful yet blisteringly harsh islands that her hardscrabble family has called home for generations. So the arrival of two English ethnographers who hope to study the island culture feels like a boon to her. The longer the ethnographers stay, the more she feels herself pulled towards them, reckoning with a sensual awakening inside herself, despite her misgivings that her community is being misconstrued and exoticized. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
CINNAMON GIRL: A Pacific Coast Highway Mystery by Daniel Weizmann (Neo-Noir Mystery)
Adam Zantz is still driving for Lyft, struggling to make ends meet, when his beloved former piano teacher makes a deathbed request: He wants Zantz to prove his son’s innocence in a decades-earlier murder case. There doesn’t seem to be much hope of solving such a cold case --- until Zantz stumbles onto a test pressing of a never-released vinyl LP. The recording is of a high school garage band lost to the tides of the Paisley Underground, the acid-fueled early ’80s music scene that spawned the Bangles and the Three O'Clock. Down the psychedelic rabbit hole Adam falls, tracing the band's journey from the middle-class garage to the precipice of fame --- a twisted tale marked by crooked DJs, elder-scammers, wellness hucksters, a teen cult, and the woman who held the key to the band’s triumph and ruin. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read an interview with Daniel Weizmann.
LOVE IS A BURNING THING: A Memoir by Nina St. Pierre (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Nina St. Pierre
Ten years before Nina was born, her mother lit herself on fire in a dual suicide attempt. During her recovery in the burn-unit, a nurse initiated her into Transcendental Meditation. From that day on, her mother's pain became intertwined with the pursuit of enlightenment. Growing up, Nina longed for a normal life; instead, she and her brother were at the whims of their mother, who chased ascension up and down the state of California, swapping out spiritual practices as often as apartments. When they finally settled at the foot of a mountain --- reputed to be cosmic --- in Northern California, Nina hoped life would stabilize. But after another fire, and a tragic fallout, she was forced to confront the shadow side of her mother's mystical narratives. With obsessive dedication, Nina began to knit together the truth that eventually would release her. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE MAN ON THE TRAIN by Debbie Babitt (Psychological Thriller)
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Haley has no idea that her husband has been living a secret life. Now Guy is the prime suspect in a brutal murder that could derail Linda’s high-powered career and may be connected to a cold case. And Guy has disappeared. With a warrant out for her husband’s arrest, Linda sets out to prove his innocence accompanied by an ex-cop who harbors a secret affection for her. Together, they travel to the scene of a 40-year-old unsolved murder and a night of violence that shattered the serenity of a small fishing hamlet just past the Hamptons. But as the manhunt intensifies and she begins to uncover the shocking truth --- and the past Guy has buried deep --- Linda must decide if the stranger she married is innocent or guilty. And if he truly deserves to be saved. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 3rd and 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 3rd and 4th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of June 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
June 3rd
ERUPTION by Michael Crichton and James Patterson (Thriller)
A history-making eruption is about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii. But a secret held for decades by the US military is far more terrifying than any volcano.
June 4th
THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Historical Mystery)
Psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs unravels a profound mystery from her past in a war-torn nation grappling with its future. THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS completes Jacqueline Winspear’s groundbreaking and internationally bestselling series.
THE FALL OF ROE: The Rise of a New America by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer (Politics)
From two top New York Times journalists comes the breathtaking untold story of the plan to overturn Roe v. Wade and the consequences for women, abortion and the future of America.
FAREWELL, AMETHYSTINE: An Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosley (Mystery)
Detective Easy Rawlins’ latest client sends him down a warren of memory and nostalgia --- blinding him to reason and risk.
FIRE EXIT by Morgan Talty (Fiction)
From the award-winning author of NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ, Morgan Talty’s debut novel is a masterful and unforgettable story of family, legacy, bloodlines, culture and inheritance, and what, if anything, we owe one another.
FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters and finding friendship with the unlikeliest person.
MALAS by Marcela Fuentes (Fiction)
This memorable debut, a story full of passion and revenge, follows one family living on the Texas Mexico border and a curse that reverberates across generations.
THE PECAN CHILDREN by Quinn Connor (Gothic Horror/Magical Realism)
For fans of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY and DEMON COPPERHEAD comes a breathtaking story of magical realism about two sisters, deeply tied to their small Southern town, fighting to break free of the darkness swallowing the land --- and its endless cycle of pecan harvests --- whole.
SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate (Historical Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of BEFORE WE WERE YOURS comes a sweeping novel inspired by the untold history of women pioneers who fought to protect children caught in the storm of land barons hungry for power and oil wealth.
STUART WOODS' SMOLDER: A Stone Barrington Novel by Brett Battles
(Thriller/Adventure)
In this latest adrenaline-fueled adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Stone Barrington faces his most vindictive threat yet.
SWIFT RIVER by Essie Chambers (Historical Fiction)
This sweeping family saga is about the complicated bond between mothers and daughters, the disappearance of a father, and the long-hidden history of a declining New England mill town.
TIANANMEN SQUARE by Lai Wen (Historical Fiction)
For readers of THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO and THE NIGHT TIGER comes an epic, deeply moving coming-of-age novel about young love and lasting friendships forged in the years leading up to the Tiananmen Square student protests.
WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE: An Oral History of D-Day by Garrett M. Graff (Oral History)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY and the Pulitzer Prize finalist for WATERGATE comes the most up-to-date and complete account of D-Day --- the largest seaborne invasion in history and the moment that secured the Allied victory in World War II.
WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow (History)
From the award-winning author of THE PLAZA comes a glittering portrait of the golden age of American department stores and of three visionary women who led them.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Annabel Monaghan, Ivy Pochoda, Rachel Khong
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are three upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, June 4th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Rachel Khong for a live virtual event to discuss REAL AMERICANS, May's B&N Book Club pick. Rachel 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, June 5th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Ivy Pochoda for a live virtual discussion of her thriller, SING HER DOWN (which is now available in paperback), as part of their Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Ivy will be in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Danielle Trussoni.
Wednesday, June 5th 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 Annabel Monaghan about her latest novel, SUMMER ROMANCE. It's the romantic and hilarious story of a professional organizer whose life is a mess, and the summer she gets unstuck with the help of someone unexpected from her past.
"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:
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Genevieve Kingston (DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed this year include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Ruth Reichl (THE PARIS NOVEL)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: June Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in June are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker
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CLETE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel, by James Lee Burke
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THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear
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ERUPTION by Michael Crichton and James Patterson
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FAREWELL, AMETHYSTINE: An Easy Rawlins Mystery, by Walter Mosley
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FIRE EXIT by Morgan Talty
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FLASHBACK by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
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FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery
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THE GLASSMAKER by Tracy Chevalier
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A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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HONEY by Isabel Banta
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HORROR MOVIE by Paul Tremblay
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THE HOUSEMAID IS WATCHING by Freida McFadden
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HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Joyce Maynard
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HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams
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INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE by Josh Malerman
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MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Riley Sager
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THE MIDNIGHT FEAST by Lucy Foley
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THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine
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THE PARIS WIDOW by Kimberly Belle
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THE PECAN CHILDREN by Quinn Connor
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RED STAR FALLING: A Luke Daniels Thriller, by Steve Berry with Grant Blackwood
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THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center
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SAME AS IT EVER WAS by Claire Lombardo
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SANDWICH by Catherine Newman
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SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate
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SOME MURDERS IN BERLIN by Karen Robards
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SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand
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SWIFT RIVER by Essie Chambers
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TIANANMEN SQUARE by Lai Wen
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 7th 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 May 24th to June 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of CAMINO GHOSTS by John Grisham and ERUPTION by Michael Crichton and James Patterson.
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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