April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

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Honoring Jesse Kornbluth

Early last evening, I received the very sad news that Jesse Kornbluth, who co-founded The Book Report/Bookreporter with me, had passed away. He had been ill for a while, but nonetheless the finality of it put me sideways.

We had been friends for more than three decades. It all started when we made documentaries together, along with Murray Bruce, while I was at Mademoiselle magazine. When we met, I was very much a corporate girl guided by the norms of a 9-5 work life. When I left Condé Nast in 1995 after my second son was born, I was completely unsure of what I wanted to do next.

One day, Jesse called to ask me if I wanted to work with Murray and him on a project to develop author videos for Barnes & Noble bookstores. They had shot a reel with three or four author videos, and I set up an appointment to present the concept reel to B&N. During the meeting, we were asked what color the TVs would be and who would fix the tape if it broke. The conversation about the authors we would select never came up, and we begrudgingly agreed amongst ourselves that this concept would not fly.

Luckily, at the same time, Jesse learned that AOL was putting companies into business with their Greenhouse program. We presented to them a few times, and we became their book site. That is the basic backstory.

But what is missing from there is how I found myself moving beyond the corporate constraints that had guided --- and wrapped up --- my life up until that point. For me, it was a time of stretching out of my comfort zone. Murray left the project soon after we launched on AOL as it was clear that broadband was years away. Looking back, it was far longer than we had imagined.

Jesse and I soldiered into a brand-new world, learning tech together (I have many funny stories about that) but, more than that, cementing a friendship that was one of the most important in my life. Jesse was curious, kind, funny and brilliant. He made my writing better; he liked “snappy copy.” He could shape copy in a nanosecond. He had a Rolodex of contacts that included some of the sharpest and most sought-after names in the business. 

People knew him and loved him. He knew everyone’s name, from the cleaning lady to the people who ran the office building, and he addressed them as such. 

He was a Pied Piper of sorts who collected people throughout his career and put them together whenever it would work. His knowledge was vast. I am not sure if I ever talked to him without hearing a quote from a piece of literature or a person of note. “As ______ would say” was a key phrase from him. The blank would be a noted philosopher, author or pundit. The way he would pluck one of them out would always amaze me.

The last time I saw him was on his birthday, back in January, when Greg and I visited him together. I had a moment to share with him what he meant to me. His reaction was something to the tune that I was exaggerating his contribution. I was not. He had a way of turning a phrase better. But more than that, he had a way of being a person I knew I could count on.

Jesse was the older brother I never had. He was a great listener, as much as he was a storyteller. He would cut right into what you were feeling and unpack it with you. He would celebrate a win as much as he would mourn with you. There are so many snapshots of our time together that are running like a movie for me. Everything from our designing the site in the early days to him briskly editing copy, hunting and pecking over a keyboard (he always noted what was left out with parentheses so you could see how he had sharpened the prose), to seeing him in one of the front pews leaning forward when I delivered a eulogy for my mom in 2022.

We actually only worked together at The Book Report Network for about a year before he left to become the Editorial Director at AOL. But until he became ill, we usually were in touch at least a few times a week --- often daily, usually in email or with a quick call. Everything with Jesse was brisk. Over the last months as his condition slid, and he became mostly nonverbal and was not writing, I would catch myself as I would start to bang out a note to him with something funny or poignant that I had heard or seen. I missed that dialogue so much. It was like prep for the finality of yesterday.

Last night, I reached out to our early staffers to pass along the news, and I ticked down a list of people to be sure to inform. Even with months to prepare, I had not made a list of people to contact.

Some of you knew this site during “the Jesse time.” Some of our reviewers were first edited by him. People have commented that he brought them to the site and later to HeadButler.com, where four times a week he shared culture and great ideas with his readers.

We were better for having known him. My thoughts are with his wife, Karen, who ensured that his every need was handled brilliantly over this last year, as well as with his daughter, Helen. As he talked about Helen, a bright light would go on inside him. He treasured their time together and sharing her world. To him, it was about the simple things of just being together as much as it was the milestone moments.

The ... that you often see in my copy was a Jesse signature punctuation. Two extra periods for emphasis.

Wherever you are when you read this newsletter or visit this site, know that so much of the groundwork for what you see here today was laid in those early days. We built on that. After Jesse left the company, he would send me a note most Saturday mornings with something that had struck a chord when he read it. Notes like that peppered my inbox all the time.

It's been one very long goodbye. But that did not make yesterday any easier.

And now, because it would be what he expected, onward to this week's update.

My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Georgia Hunter, whose new novel, ONE GOOD THING, follows a young woman’s journey through war-torn Italy.

Georgia explains why she chose to set the book in Italy and the research trip that she took there with her mother, which was such a special time for her. We discuss what it must be like to live in a world where at any moment someone might be a friend or an enemy, and how a journey without a destination that you thought would be safe turns out to be such a difficult one.

Georgia also shares why she loves talking to students about her work. And yes, there is conversation about “We Were the Lucky Ones” --- the Hulu series adaptation of her New York Times bestseller --- and her presence as that was filmed. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.

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, April 9th at 2pm ET.

The focus will be on titles releasing between April 8th and May 6th, in addition to a few from June, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who attend live 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.

April’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick is HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige, which takes readers on a gripping journey as a search and rescue team races against time when an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.

Jenna says, “I picked up this propulsive mystery and was hooked from the first page.... This is a story of survival, hope, and the many ways we find our way back --- to ourselves and to each other. I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down!”

According to Norah Piehl in her review, “Gaige is a writer who excels at blending literary suspense with genuine emotion, a skill that is constantly on display in her latest effort.... Valerie’s fate remains in the balance for almost the entire book. Although that is rarely far from readers’ minds, it is also true that Gaige still manages to weave in moments of reflection and contemplation... HEARTWOOD is a gorgeous novel that I hope will finally bring Gaige the attention and broad readership she deserves.”

Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
HEARTWOOD is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes, along with THE MAID’S SECRET, the latest installment in Nita Prose’s mystery series featuring Molly the Maid. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, April 11th at noon ET.

Emilia Hart, author of the runaway New York Times bestseller WEYWARD, is back with a new book. THE SIRENS, which is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club selection and Top LibraryReads Pick, is about sisters separated by centuries but bound together by the sea.

Rebecca Munro has our review and says, “Haunting, immersive and deeply alive, THE SIRENS feels as storied and ancient as the myths it explores, a true classic-in-the-making work of feminist fire and fury. I can’t say for sure if you’ll want to race to the nearest coast or avoid it at all costs after finishing this bewitching novel, but you certainly will never look at a stormy sea the same way again. Emilia Hart is a truly gifted, spellbinding author, and I cannot wait to see where she turns her prowess next.”

Spring Reading Contest Update
We gave away THE SIRENS in this week’s Spring Reading contest. Our next prize book will be THE PAGE TURNER by Viola Shipman, which is about a young romance writer who makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos. The contest will go live at noon ET on the day of its release, Tuesday, April 8th.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• THE TELL: Amy Griffin’s astonishing memoir, which is Oprah’s latest Book Club pick, explores how far we will go to protect ourselves, and the healing made possible when we face our secrets and begin to share our stories.
   
• THE FOURTH GIRL: On the anniversary of a teen’s disappearance, three friends face a deadly hometown reunion in Wendy Corsi Staub’s twisty new suspense novel, which is the opening installment in her Haven Cliff series.
   
• HARLEM RHAPSODY: Victoria Christopher Murray’s first solo historical novel profiles Jessie Redmon Fauset, the “literary midwife” who discovered and nurtured literary giants like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston --- all while having an affair and a love story with her boss, civil rights legend W. E. B. Du Bois.

April’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for April are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as Shelby Van Pelt (REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES), Lee Child and Andrew Child (IN TOO DEEP), Don Winslow (CITY IN RUINS), Elin Hilderbrand (SWAN SONG), Mitch Albom (THE LITTLE LIAR), Ann Patchett (TOM LAKE), and Ruth Reichl (THE PARIS NOVEL); nonfiction titles, including KNIFE: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie and DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir by Genevieve Kingston; and paperback originals like THE RIVER KNOWS YOUR NAME by Kelly Mustian and HIDDEN IN SMOKE by Lee Goldberg.

Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Bonnie Garmus
Out in paperback this week is the #1 global bestseller LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick and the inspiration for the hit Apple TV+ series. I talked to Bonnie Garmus about the book in 2022 when it released in hardcover. So if you missed the discussion or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.

This Month’s Books on Screen Offerings
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. April’s roundup includes the series finales of "Bosch: Legacy" on Prime Video and "Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light" on PBS "Masterpiece"; the season premieres of Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale" and Netflix's "You"; the season finales of "The Wheel of Time" on Prime Video and "Dark Winds" on AMC; the series premieres of The CW's "Sherlock & Daughter" and Netflix's "Ransom Canyon"; the films The Amateur, The King of Kings, That They May Face the Rising Sun and On Swift Horses; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of A Complete Unknown, The Unbreakable Boy, Dog Man and Paddington in Peru.

Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask if you typically pre-order books online or from bookstores. Click here to let us know by Friday, April 11th at noon ET.

Reese’s Book Club pick for April is ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett, a coming-of-age debut novel about a young American woman navigating class, lies and love amid London’s jet-set elite. Reese says that she was “hooked the moment I started the audiobook…. [The book] is about love, ambition and the cost of belonging, and I cannot stop thinking about it.”

Jennifer Haigh’s latest novel, RABBIT MOON, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. The publisher describes the book as “a taut, suspenseful story about the ties of marriage that no divorce can sever, and the fabled red thread that pulls two sisters together across time and space.” On Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Jennifer, which you can sign up for here.

For more April selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.

John Shors Travel was conceptualized and launched as a result of outreach from the readers of John Shors’ bestselling books --- which includes his 2004 debut, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY --- and their desire to visit the settings of his novels. Since 2013, this one-of-a-kind travel company has taken more than a thousand guests on small-group, high-end tours to six continents.

We had the pleasure of talking to John about his company and his partnership with fellow bestselling authors, who travel with their readers to the locations of their books. Click here to read the interview and here to learn much more about John Shors Travel, including this year’s tour dates and destinations.

Ken Bruen, the critically acclaimed author of the Jack Taylor novels and The White Trilogy, passed away last Saturday at the age of 74. Bruen was the recipient of two Barry Awards and two Shamus Awards, and twice was a finalist for the Edgar Award. His final book, GALWAY’S EDGE, released last month, and we reviewed it just a couple of weeks ago.

Otto Penzler, the proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop and the founder of Penzler Publishers, had this to say about his friend of more than 30 years: “In addition to being one of the most talented and original writers I've ever read, he was also one of the best people I've been privileged to know. Unfailingly kind and generous, he had a heart as big as the universe.”

Over the years, Ken always had a ready smile and a warm word when I would see him at conferences.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Thank you to all the readers who wrote to share anniversary wishes with my husband and me last weekend. I know that I still have to respond to some of you. We had a lovely time celebrating!

Ina was a winner in Bookreporter's recent Word of Mouth contest where we gave away BROKEN COUNTRY and THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND. She wrote, “Thank you! BROKEN COUNTRY is on the top of my 'to read' list, but I’m on a long wait list at the library. I will forward pictures once the books are received. I love Bookreporter!!!”

Terry wrote after winning a “Bookaccino Live” prize: “As my husband was bringing in the mail, I noticed what appeared to be a book shipping envelope. As I wasn't expecting anything, I asked him to open it and let me know the title. After the drum roll and him saying 'THE FLOAT TEST,' I hollered 'YES'! This book has been on my radar for quite a while, and I'm thrilled to receive a copy from Bookreporter. Thank you so much for this and for all you do to keep us readers informed and excited about reading.”     

Paula noted that she loves receiving books in the mail and shared photos of her Word of Mouth prizes: THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS and BLOOD MOON.

GOODNIGHT MOON Postage Stamps: We got word that the US Postal Service will unveil GOODNIGHT MOON postage stamps at The Rabbit hOle Museum in North Kansas City, MO, on May 2nd. This leads up to Children’s Book Week, which will be celebrated from May 5th to 11th.

For years, my sons loved my line about whether March came in like a lion or a lamb. I want to go on record that it came in here like a lion with crazy winds, and it exited the same way.

Tonight and tomorrow night, Tom and I are going to the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival at Princeton University. We have been doing this for a while. They typically present seven or eight films of varying lengths involving adventure travel. There is a great Mexican restaurant in town where we go for dinner before this annual pilgrimage. Tomorrow, Tom and I also are going to a yoga class. He has found that he enjoys this enough that he bought his own mat and carrying case. I love that we have something new to enjoy together. Namaste!

I have a lot of reading staring me down. The forecast is for rain, which I hope means a fire in the fireplace and reading. Oh, and basketball. We barely watched this year, but heading into the Final Four, it’s all about Auburn for me. Charles Barkley is an Auburn alum, and we love his commentary, which is the real reason I watch. There are four #1 seeds in the Final Four; it's been a long time since that happened.

Mercury is moving out of retrograde, I can feel it. It ends on Sunday!

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: HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige
April’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club Pick

HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige (Literary Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite and Helen Laser
In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is 42-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to her mother as she battles the elements and struggles to keep hoping. At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, the determined Maine State Game Warden tasked with finding Valerie, who leads the search on the ground. Meanwhile, Lena, a 76-year-old birdwatcher in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective. Roving between these compelling narratives, a puzzle emerges, intensifying the frantic search, as Valerie’s disappearance may not be accidental. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
April’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Selection
and Top LibraryReads Pick

THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
Lucy awakens from a dream to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. Horrified, she flees to her older sister’s house on the Australian coast, hoping she can help explain the strangely vivid nightmare that preceded the attack. But Jess is nowhere to be found. As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’ strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary. A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, THE SIRENS captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea. 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 see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE TELL by Amy Griffin
Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick

THE TELL: A Memoir by Amy Griffin (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Amy Griffin
For decades, Amy Griffin ran. Through the dirt roads of Amarillo, Texas, where she grew up; to the campus of the University of Virginia, as a student athlete; on the streets of New York, where she built her adult life; through marriage, motherhood and a thriving career. To outsiders, it all looked, in many ways, perfect. But Amy was running from something --- a secret she was keeping not only from her family and friends, but unconsciously from herself. “You’re here, but you’re not here,” her daughter said to her one night. “Where are you, Mom?” So began Amy’s quest to solve a mystery trapped in the deep recesses of her own memory --- a journey that would take her into the burgeoning field of psychedelic therapy, to the limits of the judicial system, and, ultimately, home to the Texas panhandle, where her story began. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.

- 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 see why the book is Oprah's latest Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
THE FOURTH GIRL by Wendy Corsi Staub

THE FOURTH GIRL by Wendy Corsi Staub (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Alex Picard
On prom night, Caroline Winterfield walked away from the ruins of an abandoned mansion called Haven Cliff and into the woods…never to be seen again. Only her three best friends know what really happened. On the 25th anniversary of that night, Midge, Kelly and Talia reunite at Haven Cliff, now a gleaming architectural jewel. But they aren’t alone. Someone is watching. Someone who knows what really happened to Caroline --- and to the man who now lies dead a stone’s throw from where she was last seen. Police detective Midge knows she’s dealing with a murder the moment she sees the item clutched in his lifeless hand. Only three other people in the world would grasp its significance. That means Kelly and Talia are either involved or in danger, because Caroline is long gone. Or is she? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: HARLEM RHAPSODY
by Victoria Christopher Murray

HARLEM RHAPSODY by Victoria Christopher Murray (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Robin Miles
In 1919, high school teacher Jessie Redmon Fauset has been named the literary editor of The Crisis. The first Black woman to hold this position at a preeminent Negro magazine, Jessie is poised to achieve literary greatness. But she holds a secret that jeopardizes it all. W. E. B. Du Bois, the founder of The Crisis, is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife nor their 14-year age difference can keep the two apart. Amidst rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. She attacks the challenge of discovering young writers with fervor. Under her leadership, The Crisis thrives. When her first novel is released to great acclaim, it’s clear that Jessie is at the heart of a renaissance in Black music, theater and the arts. But as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com’s 14th Annual
Spring Reading Contests and Feature

Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases.

Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.

Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for April

Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.

Below is a preview of April's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.

Indie Next
#1 Pick: TILT by Emma Pattee
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
AUDITION by Katie Kitamura
WILD AND WRANGLED: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage
SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez

LibraryReads
Top Pick: THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker
COLD ETERNITY by S.A. Barnes
A DROP OF CORRUPTION: An Ana and Din Mystery, by Robert Jackson Bennett
MURDER BY CHEESECAKE: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

Barnes & Noble Book Club
RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh

"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart

PBS Books Readers Club
MISS AUSTEN: A Novel of the Austen Sisters by Gill Hornby

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige

Reese's Book Club
ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett

Target Book Club
THE MATCHMAKER by Aisha Saeed

Click here for April's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.

April’s New in Paperback Roundups

April's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes the #1 global bestseller and inspiration for the hit Apple TV+ series of the same name, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus, which introduces readers to Elizabeth Zott, a one-of-a-kind scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show; Shelby Van Pelt's REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus; SWAN SONG, a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart --- and the last of Elin Hilderbrand's Nantucket novels; and THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl, a dazzling, heartfelt adventure through the food, art and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris.

Among our nonfiction highlights are KNIFE, Salman Rushdie's searing, deeply personal account of enduring --- and surviving --- an attempt on his life 30 years after the fatwa that was ordered against him; THE RULEBREAKER by Susan Page, the definitive biography of the most successful female broadcaster of all time --- Barbara Walters --- whose personal demons fueled an ambition that broke all the rules and finally gave women a permanent place on the air; Genevieve Kingston's DID I EVER TELL YOU?, the most extraordinary, life-affirming memoir you will ever read about the power of love; and WE LOVED IT ALL, a lucent anti-memoir from celebrated novelist Lydia Millet that explores the pain and joy of being a parent, child and human at a moment when the richness of the planet’s life is deeply threatened.

Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
March 31st, April 7th, April 14th, April 21st and April 28th.

April’s Books on Screen Feature

Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs/Blu-rays that are based on books. For a complete list of April's offerings, please click here.
 

Film Releases

The Amateur
Release Date: Friday, April 11th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: THE AMATEUR by Robert Littell

On Swift Horses
Release Date: Friday, April 25th (limited release in theaters)
Based on: ON SWIFT HORSES by Shannon Pufahl
 

Series Premieres

"Ransom Canyon"
Release Date: Thursday, April 17th on Netflix (all episodes of Season 1 will be available)
Based on: The Ransom Canyon series by Jodi Thomas

"Carême" (8-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Apple TV+; Series Premiere on April 30th (the first two episodes will be available)
Based on: COOKING FOR KINGS: The Life of Antonin Carême, the First Celebrity Chef, by Ian Kelly
 

Season Premieres

"The Handmaid's Tale"
Release Dates: Tuesdays on Hulu; Season 6 Premiere on April 8th (the first three episodes will be available)
Based on: THE HANDMAID'S TALE by Margaret Atwood

"You"
Release Date: Thursday, April 24th on Netflix (all episodes of Season 5 will be available)
Based on: The You series by Caroline Kepnes
 

Series Finales

"Bosch: Legacy"
Release Dates: Thursdays on Prime Video; Series Finale on April 17th
Based on: DESERT STAR: A Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel and THE BLACK ICE: A Bosch Novel, by Michael Connelly

"Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light"
Release Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on PBS "Masterpiece"; Series Finale on April 27th
Based on: THE MIRROR & THE LIGHT by Hilary Mantel
 

Season Finales

"The Wheel of Time"
Release Dates: Thursdays on Prime Video; Season 3 Finale on April 17th
Based on: The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

"Dark Winds"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on AMC; Season 3 Finale on April 27th
Based on: The Leaphorn & Chee series by Tony Hillerman
 

On DVD and Blu-ray

A Complete Unknown
Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, April 1st
Based on: DYLAN GOES ELECTRIC!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties, by Elijah Wald

The Unbreakable Boy
DVD Release Date: Tuesday, April 29th
Based on: THE UNBREAKABLE BOY: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love by Scott LeRette with Susy Flory
 

Click here to see our Books on Screen feature for April.

More Reviews This Week

CARE AND FEEDING: A Memoir by Laurie Woolever (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Laurie Woolever
In CARE AND FEEDING, Laurie Woolever traces her path from a small-town childhood to working at revered restaurants and food publications, alternately bolstered and overshadowed by two of the most powerful men in the business. But there’s more to the story than the two bold-faced names on her resume: Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. Behind the scenes, Laurie’s life is frequently chaotic, an often pleasurable buffet of bad decisions at which she frequently overstays her welcome. As the food world careens toward an overdue reckoning and Laurie’s mentors face their own high-profile descents, she is confronted with the questions of where she belongs and how to hold on to the parts of her life’s work that she truly values: care and feeding. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE by John Scalzi (Science Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Wil Wheaton
The moon has turned into cheese. Now humanity has to deal with it. For some it’s an opportunity. For others it’s a moment to question their faith: in God, in science, in everything. Still others try to keep the world running in the face of absurdity and uncertainty. And then there are the billions looking to the sky and wondering how a thing that was always just there is now...something absolutely impossible. Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and terminal patients at the end of their lives --- over the length of an entire lunar cycle, each get their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to pray, to laugh and to grieve. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.

FIRST WIFE’S SHADOW by Adele Parks (Psychological/Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kristin Atherton
When Emma meets Matthew, a kind, handsome widower, he seems to be just what she needs. Yet as their relationship moves fast, Emma’s friends worry that she might be exploited. She’s a rich woman after all. Emma doesn’t care that Matthew has no money. But as the memory of his perfect first wife hangs over them, Emma does have one tiny doubt. If Matthew’s wife hadn’t died, he wouldn’t be with her. And Emma wonders if she’s second best. Can she ever fill the dead woman’s shoes? As jealousy and suspicion blossom between Emma and Matthew, events take a darker, dangerous turn. Suddenly Emma doesn’t know who she can trust. Her friends? Her husband? Or even herself? Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

WHEN SHE WAS GONE by Sara Foster (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sophie Loughran
Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australia --- and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care --- Rose is asked to help bring Lou home. This is the final case in DSS Mal Blackwood's illustrious career, and there's a lot riding on it. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and while their multimillionaire grandfather is breathing down Blackwood's neck, the media storm is intensifying. Faced with a deluge of evidence and accusations, Blackwood doesn't know who he can trust. Rose arrives in Australia intent on proving her daughter's innocence. Meanwhile, as Blackwood begins to expose the Fishers' secrets, the investigation takes a dark turn. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE OTHER PEOPLE by C.B. Everett (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Heather Long and Kaffe Keating
Ten strangers wake up inside an old, locked house. They have no recollection of how they got there. In order to escape, they have to solve the disappearance of a young woman. But a killer also stalks the halls of the house, and soon the body count starts to rise. Who are these strangers? Why were they chosen? Why would someone want to kill them? And who --- or what --- lurks in the cellar? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE UNLUCKY ONES: A Black Harbor Novel by Hannah Morrissey (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira
Black Harbor is a tinderbox. Temperatures and violent crime have both risen to all-time highs, a new drug razes the city, and the scene to which Sergeant Nikolai Kole responds is anything but a rote homicide. In the back of a clubhouse lies a body wrapped in garbage bags and doused in bleach. Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Kole’s former lover, Hazel, has been shot several times and left for dead. What’s more, the killer left what appears to be a calling card. Elsewhere, Hazel is haunted by her memories of Black Harbor. Lured there after eight years, she returns to find out who killed Tommy and why. Now back in Kole’s orbit, their love affair can hardly pick up where it left off. As they work together to solve this murder, not only will they unearth Black Harbor’s deepest, darkest secrets, they each will have to face their own. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

GIRL FALLING by Hayley Scrivenor (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sophie Loughran
Torn between her girlfriend, Magdu, and her best friend, Daphne, Finn is looking forward to a day of rock climbing and bonding for the three women on the soaring cliffs near their Australian town. But nothing goes as she planned, and in a horrific accident, Magdu falls to her death. Rocked by grief, Finn tries to pinpoint where it all went wrong. Did Magdu die because of Finn’s friendship with overbearing Daphne, who has never wanted Finn to change or leave her? Can Finn trace it all the way back to the tragic childhood loss of her sister? What about Magdu’s family, who never would have accepted their relationship? When the police suspect foul play in Magdu’s death, Finn begins to search for the shocking truth about her relationships and what has been in front of her all along. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

10 MARCHFIELD SQUARE by Nicola Whyte (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Nneka Okoye
When a minor criminal is murdered in the smallest residential square in London, elderly heiress and landlady Celeste van Duren recruits two of her tenants to investigate. Her cleaner, Audrey, knows everyone and is liked by all, while failed writer Lewis is known by no one. He hates his job and his life, and he’s not that fond of Audrey either --- but Celeste is persuasive. As they hunt for clues in and around the Square, they discover everyone has something to hide, including their fellow residents. Audrey and Lewis must find a way to work together if they’re to find the killer in their midst. Assuming, of course, there’s just the one. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 8th

Below are some notable titles releasing on April 8th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of April 7th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

THE 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road by E.A. Hanks (Memoir)
E.A. Hanks' beautifully written, deeply felt memoir recounts the solo, cross-country journey she made along the Ten across the American southwest: a mission to uncover both what harrowing violence may or may not have happened to her late mother, but also to look within and discover who she herself is --- where her mother ends and she begins.

BLOOD IN THE WATER: The Untold Story of a Family Tragedy by Casey Sherman (True Crime)
From New York Times bestselling author Casey Sherman comes a gripping contemporary true crime narrative for everyone who was fascinated by the Murdaugh murders, and for anyone compelled by the intersection between money, power and family.

THE FLOAT TEST by Lynn Steger Strong (Fiction)
From Lynn Steger Strong, the critically acclaimed author of FLIGHT, comes a sophisticated and layered novel about sisters, betrayal, love and climate change for readers of THE DUTCH HOUSE and THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD.

THE GRIFFIN SISTERS' GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a deeply moving novel set against the glitz and chaos of early-2000s pop stardom. Equal parts heartfelt family saga and behind-the-scenes look at fame, this is a story about sisters, secrets, and the power of second chances.

HAPPY LAND by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Historical Fiction)
A woman learns the incredible story of a real-life American Kingdom --- and her family’s ties to it --- in this enthralling new novel from the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author of TAKE MY HAND.

THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose (Mystery)
When a daring art heist takes place at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly’s life is threatened. Who’s out to get her, and why? Long-buried secrets will be revealed in this intriguing and heartwarming novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MAID and THE MYSTERY GUEST.

MURDER AT GULLS NEST by Jess Kidd (Historical Mystery)
From Jess Kidd, the bestselling author of THINGS IN JAR, comes the first in a cozy mystery series about a former nun who searches for answers in a small seaside town after her pen pal mysteriously disappears.

THE PAGE TURNER by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
A young romance writer makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos in this sharp, witty and entirely delightful family drama for fans of Elinor Lipman and Jennifer Weiner.

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

From left to right: Katy Hays, Jennifer Haigh, Kristen Perrin

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

Here are six 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 7th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome New York Times bestselling author Kristen Perrin for a live virtual discussion of HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Kristen will be in conversation with internationally bestselling author Karma Brown.

Tuesday, April 8th at 4pm ET: "Crime Time": Hank Phillippi Ryan is pleased to welcome Katy Hays for this edition of her "Crime Time" series brought to you by A Mighty Blaze. Katy will be talking about her latest novel, SALTWATER, an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that’s shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.

Tuesday, April 8th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: It’s a fabulous day in the club house when the killers --- Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda --- get to talk to Emily Carpenter about her chilling, highly anticipated new novel, GOTHICTOWN.

Wednesday, April 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between April 8th and May 6th, along with a few from June, that we would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.

Wednesday, April 9th at 7pm ET: "Friends & Fiction": Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Dolen Perkins-Valdez about her enthralling new novel, HAPPY LAND, in which a woman learns the incredible story of a real-life American Kingdom --- and her family’s ties to it.

Friday, April 11th at 4pm ET: A Mighty Blaze: Jennifer Haigh will be in conversation with Jenna Blum about her latest novel, RABBIT MOON, a tense, propulsive drama set in Shanghai about a fractured American family, secret lives, and the unbreakable bond between two sisters.

 "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts

“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. 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:

• Georgia Hunter (ONE GOOD THING) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Marie Benedict (THE QUEENS OF CRIME) Video | Podcast
• Fiona Davis (THE STOLEN QUEEN) Video | Podcast
• Joseph Finder (THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER) Video | Podcast
• Lisa Genova (MORE OR LESS MADDY) Video | Podcast
• Clare Leslie Hall (BROKEN COUNTRY) Video | Podcast
• Jeff Hobbs (SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America) Video | Podcast
• Michelle Horton (DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds) Video | Podcast
• Tracey Lange (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?) Video | Podcast
• Scott Turow (PRESUMED GUILTY) Video | Podcast
• Charmaine Wilkerson (GOOD DIRT) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Brenda Coffee (MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival)
• Katy Hays (SALTWATER)

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

Our Latest Poll: Pre-ordering Books

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, April 11th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- 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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