June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

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Next Up: 4th of July Week! 

The scorching heat here in the tri-state area disappeared on Thursday with just a few drops of rain ushering in temps back in the 60s and 70s. It's lovely timing since we all were wilting earlier in the week.

Next week, we will not be doing our weekly Friday update or newsletter so the staff can enjoy a long --- and much-needed --- holiday weekend. We have been working like crazy, and we can use some time to plan for the rest of the year. We also will kick it back a big notch, and read and relax.

For next week, we are not scheduling anything except sending our Reading Group Guides newsletter on Monday and our “On Sale This Week” newsletter on Tuesday. If you are not signed up for either of those newsletters, and are interested in getting them, you can do that here.

June has been a month of go-go-go for us. I am so grateful to Tom and Francesca for keeping up the pace! I am so very lucky to work with them; I love that they are always bringing us new ideas on how to share books with you. Speaking of which, are you following us on Facebook, X and Instagram? And no, we have not gone down the TikTok route yet, but never say never.

I have pulled a stack of books to read over the next 10 days, and I have a couple of audiobooks queued up as well. Now, if I could just find the headphones to use for swimming. I ordered them over a year ago. They came, but I still used my old ones, which completely stopped working in late September. These are supposed to be terrific; I found the case but not the headphones. I do see a picture of what they look like. It’s always something! 

On Tuesday night, Fiona Davis joined us for June’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event to discuss her New York Times bestseller, THE STOLEN QUEEN, which released in January and is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

Fiona shares how the idea for the book came to her, the extensive research that she did (yes, including a trip to Egypt), and what it was like spending hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to better understand how it is run behind the scenes. She also explains how she developed her characters to work well with the timing of the story. And, to the delight of her readers, Fiona talks about what’s next for her. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.

We typically don’t do a book group event in July or August, but one of our readers suggested J. Courtney Sullivan as a potential guest to talk about THE CLIFFS, which recently released in paperback. I loved the book when it came out in hardcover last year, and it was a Bets On pick. So, on Wednesday, July 30th at 8pm ET, Courtney will join us for a special “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event to talk about her novel of family, secrets, ghosts and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine. Click here to sign up.

There will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Courtney.

For the first part, those who are asking a question on camera will be featured. This includes spending time with Courtney 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 "Courtney" by noon ET on July 30th. 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.

Then we will take questions from other members of the audience.

This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for July’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, July 9th at 2pm ET.

The focus will be on titles releasing between July 8th and August 5th, in addition to a few from September, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us 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.

In Lisa Jewell’s latest thriller, DON’T LET HIM IN, three women are connected by one man. Nina, Martha and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

According to Ray Palen in his review, “DON’T LET HIM IN not only is one of the finest thrillers of 2025 thus far, it may be the best novel that Jewell has ever written.” He goes on to say that the book is “an outstanding read that just begs for proper streaming series treatment as both the heroines and the villain of this tale are larger-than-life figures who demand to be savored.”

Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
DON’T LET HIM IN is one of our Word of Mouth prizes; the other is THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani, which releases on July 8th. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, July 11th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles.

EL DORADO DRIVE, Megan Abbott’s latest thriller, is a novel of friendship and betrayal that follows a women-led pyramid scheme in suburban Detroit. The addiction that the Bishop sisters have to the Wheel leads to greater and greater risks --- and a crime so shocking that it threatens to bring everything down with it.

Here’s what Ray Palen says about the book in his review: “EL DORADO DRIVE marks the first time that Megan Abbott has set a story within the confines of her hometown of Detroit. The result is a thriller that not only works well, but also holds up as a sobering mirror reflection of a once-mighty American city that is now trying to rebuild itself.” We will feature my interview with Megan in the July 11th newsletter.

GLASS GIRLS by debut novelist Danie Shokoohi is the latest book we’re featuring in our New Release Spotlight. Alice Haserot thought she’d escaped the curse. For 16 years, she’s lived far from her family and the ghosts she used to conjure. But her past isn’t so easily left behind. When Alice discovers she’s pregnant and her estranged sister, Bronwyn, turns up on her doorstep, her carefully built new life begins to unravel. Bronwyn offers an ultimatum: one of her daughters is trying to possess the other, and only Alice has the power to save them. If Alice refuses, Bronwyn will go to their abusive mother and expose her location.

We also are sharing our review from Sarah Rachel Egelman, who has this to say: “Every character in this book is deeply hurting, which makes for an emotionally challenging read. There is violence, child abuse, death, eating disorders, self-harm and more, all of which Shokoohi takes on without blinking…. GLASS GIRLS is a powerfully told story and a promising debut. It’s a psychologically interesting tale of loss and suffering, as well as second chances, forgiveness and healing.”

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• AMONG FRIENDS: What begins as a celebration gives way to betrayal, shattering the trust between two families, in Hal Ebbott’s much-talked-about first novel.
   
• GREAT BLACK HOPE: In Rob Franklin’s gripping debut, a young Black man is caught between worlds of race and class, glamour and tragedy, a friend’s mysterious death and his own arrest.
   
• FAR AND AWAY: Perfect strangers Lucy and Greta have agreed to a house swap --- and boy, are they going to regret it --- in Amy Poeppel’s charming new novel.
   
• THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL: Welcome back to Assassins Anonymous, the only 12-step group where joining can be deadly. Rob Hart's latest thriller is the sequel to last year's ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS.

I’m Betting You’ll Love…
This week, I have FOUR Bets On commentaries to share with you: THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb, ATMOSPHERE: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid, THE GHOSTWRITER by Julie Clark, and WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown. Click on each of the titles for my Bets On commentary. And if you missed my interview with Julie Clark, be sure to watch or listen to it.

Summer Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff and the aforementioned GLASS GIRLS by Danie Shokoohi. Our next two prizes will be FAST BOYS AND PRETTY GIRLS by Lo Patrick and FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild. These contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, July 8th and Wednesday, July 9th.

Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask about the impact that prominent book clubs like Oprah and Reese have on your decision to read a book that they have selected as one of their picks. We also are curious to find out which of these book clubs you pay attention to the most. Let us know here by Friday, July 11th at noon ET. We love to see your opinions, so please do vote!

The winners of the 2025 Thriller Awards were announced at a banquet in New York City last Saturday night, which officially wrapped up ThrillerFest XX. Among them are THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING by Jason Rekulak (Best Standalone Thriller Novel), MISSING WHITE WOMAN by Kellye Garrett (Best Standalone Mystery Novel), TO DIE FOR: A 6:20 Man Thriller by David Baldacci (Best Series Novel), and DEADLY ANIMALS by Marie Tierney (Best First Novel). Click here for all the winners.

The International Thriller Writers honored this year’s ThrillerMaster, John Grisham, at the banquet, along with Spotlight Guests Oyinkan Braithwaite and Jennifer Hillier. In addition, the Silver Bullet Award was given to James Patterson for his outstanding contribution to education, literacy, reading, writing and the public good, and Neil Nyren received the Thriller Legend Award.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Susie, a reader of ours who we featured in last week's newsletter after she saw Jess Walter at a bookstore presentation/talk, met another author at an event and grabbed coffee with a third. She shared the photos that you see above.

She wrote, “Thank you for including my photo in the newsletter. So nice of you! My hubby and I also attended Martha Hall Kelly's book launch in May in Fairfield, CT. I saw that you included her wonderful new book, THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD BEACH AND BOOK CLUB, in an earlier newsletter. I love Martha. She is so sweet and awesome, and I always love spending time with her!

“We also spent an hour visiting with Hank Phillippi Ryan over coffee when we were in Boston in May. She also met us for coffee in 2023 at our timeshare we own at the Custom House in Boston. I love Hank and spending time with her. She is so sweet and awesome, too! I am a super reader of hers and love her upcoming book, ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS. Brilliant!” 

I love this. My book group is reading Martha's book for our July selection!

Helen wrote, “Good morning. I just received my complimentary copy of Lori Foster’s THE GUEST COTTAGE. I am looking forward to reading it at our vintage cottage built in 1912, located on the Canadian Shores of Lake Erie --- a perfect setting for a perfect summer beach read. Thank you again for this wonderful book. I am an avid reader and longtime fan of Bookreporter.”

“The Waterfront” on Netflix: I started watching this series, and it looks interesting. I want to wait to see it with my husband.

“Ginny & Georgia” on Netflix: Yep, it is like eating junk food, but it is lots of fun!

“We Were Liars” on Prime Video: I LOVED the book, which I read when it came out in 2014. The series starts off slow and feels overacted, somewhat like a high school play where they try too hard. I do not think this is the best team of actors for it, or there were issues with direction. Something is off. That said, it grew on me as I watched, and I found myself looking up the differences between the book and the series. The finale was my favorite. If you have read the book and watch the series, let me know what you think.

Tom and I are going to an early 4th of July party tomorrow (anticipating the holiday by a week is nice), and then we are headed to the beach to see our friends, Beverley and Don, until Tuesday morning. On Monday night, I am doing a Summer Reading Presentation at the Avalon Free Public Library at 7:00. If you are in the neighborhood, come on by. It’s the ninth time that I have done this event, and I am looking forward to it. I am hoping that we also will be able to pick up some blueberries in Hammonton.

We spent last weekend ordering furniture for the gazebo (yes, we found a couch with a high-enough back), and everything arrived this week while Tom was traveling. I said to him, “Welcome back. Here is a stack of boxes of furniture that needs building!” I still need some more flowers for pots. Maybe I will find some at the beach. When it comes to the weather, this has been one very strange start to the summer. May the weather get back on track so we can enjoy it.

Read on, and have a great TWO weeks!

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: DON’T LET HIM IN by Lisa Jewell

DON'T LET HIM IN by Lisa Jewell (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Richard Armitage, Joanne Froggatt, Tamaryn Payne, Gemma Whelan, Louise Brealey and Patience Tomlinson
Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling. Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t shake the feeling that something isn't right. Nina, Martha and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: EL DORADO DRIVE by Megan Abbott

EL DORADO DRIVE by Megan Abbott (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
The three Bishop sisters grew up in privilege in the moneyed suburbs of Detroit. But as the auto industry declined, so did their fortunes. Harper, the youngest, is barely making ends meet when her beloved, charismatic sister, Pam --- currently in the middle of a contentious battle with her ex-husband --- and her eldest sister, Debra, approach her about joining an exciting new club. The Wheel offers women like themselves --- middle-aged and of declining means --- a way to make their own money, independent of husbands or families. Quickly, however, the Wheel’s success, and their own addiction to it, leads to greater and greater risks --- and a crime so shocking that it threatens to bring everything down with it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- 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.

Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Megan Abbott in the July 11th newsletter.

New Release Spotlight & Featured Review:
GLASS GIRLS by Danie Shokoohi

GLASS GIRLS by Danie Shokoohi (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Christine Lakin
Alice Haserot thought she’d escaped the curse. For 16 years, she’s lived far from her family and the ghosts she used to conjure. But her past isn’t so easily left behind.

When Alice discovers she’s pregnant and her estranged sister, Bronwyn, turns up on her doorstep, her carefully built new life begins to unravel. Bronwyn offers an ultimatum: one of her daughters is trying to possess the other, and only Alice has the power to save them. If Alice refuses, Bronwyn will go to their abusive mother and expose her location.

Forced to confront the terrors of her childhood, Alice returns home to face the inheritance of her family curse. Tautly paced and gorgeously written, GLASS GIRLS explores the deep, complicated bonds of family and the shadows that follow us, no matter how far we run.

- Click here to read Danie Shokoohi's bio.
- Click here to visit Danie Shokoohi's website.
- Click here to connect with Danie Shokoohi on Instagram.

Click here to read our review.

Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.

Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE RIVER IS WAITING, ATMOSPHERE,
THE GHOSTWRITER and WHAT KIND OF PARADISE

THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb (Fiction)
Wow is the first word that I use to describe this powerful and moving work from Wally Lamb. I finished THE RIVER IS WAITING last Saturday morning and went through most of the rest of the weekend ruminating about it.

I will say that this is not a happy book. In fact, there is a lot of sadness woven between its pages. There are moments when you will want to knock characters’ heads together. There are other times when you will have so much sympathy and know that this novel will have you seeing incarceration up close in a raw way.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is Oprah's latest Book Club pick.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE RIVER IS WAITING.
 

ATMOSPHERE: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
From the time I was a young girl, I loved the space program. It was not just what happened in the skies that intrigued me, but also what transpired at Mission Control. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s ATMOSPHERE gave me a big dose of both.

Joan Goodwin has been looking at the stars since she was a child. She is working as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University when she finds out that they are accepting female scientists at NASA’s space shuttle program. She applies and is part of the team that begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center during the summer of 1980. In these early days, the trainees are learning each other’s strong points and what they need to think about as space travelers.

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

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on ATMOSPHERE.
 

THE GHOSTWRITER by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
I remember meeting Julie Clark before THE LAST FLIGHT came out in 2020, and I have been a committed reader of her books since then. In her third thriller, THE GHOSTWRITER, she has written another propulsive story.

Olivia has grown up being told that her father, Vincent, killed his brother, Danny, and his sister, Poppy, when he was a teenager. He was never charged or convicted, but the idea of him as a murderer has tracked him his whole life. He married his high school girlfriend and went on to become a bestselling horror writer. Olivia has been estranged from him for decades, ever since he sent her to boarding school in Europe.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Julie Clark.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Julie Clark's website.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE GHOSTWRITER.
 

WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown (Mystery/Thriller)
WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown captured my attention on so many levels. First, I was intrigued by Jane’s story of being raised off the grid in the woods of Montana from the time she was a toddler. Second, since Bookreporter started in 1996 and we were in the planning stages in 1995, it was a reminder of the primitive days of the internet, as opposed to what it has become now. Third, it made me think about the instant connectivity that we have today --- and what that means for good and bad.

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

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on WHAT KIND OF PARADISE.

Featured Review: AMONG FRIENDS by Hal Ebbott

AMONG FRIENDS by Hal Ebbott (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Lowman
It’s an autumn weekend at a comfortable New York country house where two deeply intertwined families have gathered to mark the host’s 52nd birthday. Together, the group forms an enviable portrait of middle age. The wives and husbands have been friends for over 30 years, their teenage daughters have grown up together, and the dinners, games and rituals forming their days all reflect the rich bonds between them. This weekend, however, something is different. An unforeseen curdling of envy and resentment will erupt in an unspeakable act, the aftermath of which exposes treacherous fault lines upon which they have long dwelt. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.

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

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: GREAT BLACK HOPE by Rob Franklin

GREAT BLACK HOPE by Rob Franklin (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Justice Smith, with a note read by the author
An arrest for cocaine possession on the last day of a sweltering New York summer leaves Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate, in a state of turmoil as he is pulled into the court system and mandated treatment. It’s just weeks after the death of his beloved roommate, Elle, the daughter of a famous soul singer, and he’s still reeling from the tabloid spectacle --- as well as lingering questions around how well he really knew his closest friend. He flees to his hometown of Atlanta, only to buckle under the weight of expectations from his family of doctors and lawyers and their history in America. But when Smith returns to New York, it’s not long before he begins to lose himself to his old life --- drawn back into the city’s underworld, where his search for answers may end up costing him his freedom and his future. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: FAR AND AWAY by Amy Poeppel

FAR AND AWAY by Amy Poeppel (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Patti Murin, Lisa Flanagan, Jennifer Jill Araya, Kevin R. Free and Pete Simonelli
Lucy’s hometown of Dallas has gone from home sweet home to vicious snake pit in the blink of an eye after her son makes a mistake he can’t undo. Greta’s beloved flat in Berlin is suddenly up for grabs when her husband, Otto, takes a dream job in Texas without even telling her. In their rush to leave town, Lucy and Greta make a deal, pack their bags, and have absolutely no idea what they’re getting themselves into. Trading Southern charm and barbecue for European sophistication and schnitzel, the two women get a lot more than a change of scenery as they move into each other’s houses, neighborhoods and lives. Through jet lag, culture shock, suspiciously nice neighbors, and scandals that refuse to be left behind, Lucy and Greta will have to decide if they can ever go home again. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL by Rob Hart

THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL by Rob Hart (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Amy Landon and Neill Thorne
When Astrid, known in her assassin days as Azrael, stopped showing up to Assassins Anonymous, the group assumed her past had caught up with her. Only her sponsor Mark, formerly the deadliest killer in the world, holds out hope that she’s okay. Then, during a meeting, the group gets a sign…or rather, a pizza delivery. Is there another psychopath out there who actually likes olives on their pizza, or is Astrid trying to send Mark a message? Meanwhile, Astrid wakes up in the cell of a black site prison on a remote island. A doctor subjects her to mysterious experiments, plumbing the depths of her memory and looking for a vital clue from her past. She’ll do anything to escape, except…killing anyone. It turns out it’s not easy to blow this joint without blowing anything, or anyone, up. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com's 21st Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature

Summer is here! 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 mid-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.

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

What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com

Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.

More Reviews This Week

PARALLEL LINES by Edward St. Aubyn (Fiction)
It’s the summer, and Sebastian is in treatment following a breakdown that has left him grappling with his fragile grip on reality and his persistent hunger to connect with the biological mother who abandoned him as a child. His therapist, Martin, is facing challenges of his own, including his adopted daughter’s tenuous relationship with her own biological mother --- a predicament that makes Sebastian’s struggle feel uncannily proximate to her own. Olivia is producing a radio series on catastrophic natural disasters, which itself seems to be running parallel to the events unfolding in her personal life, as her best friend, Lucy, faces a grave diagnosis, and her husband, Francis, pursues his mission of re-wilding the world. Over the course of the next year, their fates collide in outrageous and poignant ways, as each of their destinies is revealed in a marvelous new light. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

PROOF by Jon Cowan (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Andrew Eiden
As a disgraced lawyer with a drinking problem, Jake West is coasting on what’s left of his charm and money. He used to be the kind of lawyer who could convince anyone of anything --- until he decided to take on his father’s biggest client and prove his dad was corrupt. Now Jake finds himself almost at rock bottom, and that’s before his ex-best friend is murdered and Jake is accused of the crime. In a desperate bid to save himself, Jake must sober up and search for the real killer, whom he suspects might be hidden in one of the case files of his father’s illustrious law firm. As he delves into a labyrinth of lies and corruption, Jake teams up with an eclectic group of equally broken people as they all must skirt the law in order to find the proof he needs…no matter the personal or professional cost. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

MEET ME AT THE CROSSROADS by Megan Giddings (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Bradford
On an ordinary summer morning, the world is changed by the appearance of seven mysterious doors that seemingly lead to another world. People are, of course, mesmerized and intrigued: A new dimension filled with beauty and resources beckons them to step into an adventure. But, perhaps inevitably, people soon learn that what looks like paradise may very well be filled with danger. Ayanna and Olivia, two Black midwestern teens --- and twin sisters --- have different ideas of what may lie in the world beyond. But will their personal bond endure such wanton exploration? When one of them goes missing, will the other find solace on her own? And will she uncover the circumstances of what truly happened to her once constant companion and best friend? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

ECSTASY by Ivy Pochoda (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell and Nancy Wu
Lena’s wealthy, controlling, humorless husband has just died, and now she contends with her controlling, humorless son, Drew. She lands in Naxos with her best friend in tow for the unveiling of her son's pet project --- the luxurious Agape Villas. Here, she yearns to rediscover her true nature and remember the exuberant dancer and party girl she once was. But Drew tightens his grip, keeping her cloistered inside the hotel and demanding that she fall in line. Lena is intrigued by a group of women living in tents on the beach in front of the Agape. She can feel their drums at night and hear their seductive leader calling her to dance. Soon she'll find that an ancient God stirs on the beach, awakening dark desires of women across the island. The only questions left will be whether or not Lena will join them and what it will cost her. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

SONGS OF NO PROVENANCE by Lydi Conklin (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kristin James
SONGS OF NO PROVENANCE tells the story of Joan Vole, an indie folk singer forever teetering on the edge of fame, who flees New York after committing a shocking sexual act onstage that she fears will doom her career. Joan seeks refuge at a writing camp for teenagers in rural Virginia, where she's forced to question her own toxic relationship to artmaking --- and her complicated history with a friend and mentee --- while finding new hope in her students and a deepening intimacy with a nonbinary artist and fellow camp staff member. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

RANDY TRAVIS: Storms of Life by Diane Diekman (Music/Biography)
Randy Travis’ 1986 breakthrough put him at the forefront of Nashville’s new traditionalist sound and, in the words of Garth Brooks, saved country music. The singer’s warm baritone and all-time classic songs landed him atop the charts 16 times. His cross-genre appeal brought a level of multiplatinum success that no country artist before him had ever achieved. Diane Diekman’s biography follows the life and career of one of country music’s most beloved figures. She uses dozens of interviews and in-depth research to fill in the details of Travis’ pre-fame life and his enormous impact on country, popular and gospel music. From there, she pivots to telling the story of the singer’s difficult divorce, subsequent problems with alcohol and run-ins with the law, and the challenges he overcame in the aftermath of a devastating 2013 stroke. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

Noteworthy Books Releasing on July 1st and 8th

Below are some notable titles releasing on July 1st and 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 June 30th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here. You will find a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of July 7th in the July 1st “On Sale This Week” newsletter.

July 1st

DO NOT DISTURB by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a story of sinister secrets.

DOGGED PURSUIT: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
In DOGGED PURSUIT, David Rosenfelt takes readers back to the start of this beloved series as Andy Carpenter begins his career as a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey.

EDGE OF HONOR by Brad Thor (Political Thriller)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor returns with an exhilarating new Scot Harvath thriller. With enemies at every turn, one wrong move could push the nation over the edge.

THE ORIGINAL by Nell Stevens (Historical Fiction)
In a grand English country house in 1899, an aspiring art forger must unravel if the man claiming to be her long-lost cousin is an impostor.

OUR LAST VINEYARD SUMMER by Brooke Lea Foster (Historical Fiction)
From Brooke Lea Foster comes a captivating new novel set in 1965 and 1978 about a graduate student who returns with her sisters to their family’s summer home on Martha’s Vineyard and begins to unravel old family secrets.

THE RED QUEEN: A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes (Mystery)
A sudden murder in an English village pub sets off the 26th novel in Martha Grimes' bestselling series starring superintendent Richard Jury.

THE SATISFACTION CAFÉ by Kathy Wang (Fiction)
How do we live so that we are satisfied? How can people connect during moments of loneliness? This is the story of Joan Liang, a woman who moves across the world to America and, in trying to answer these questions, builds a wildly original life.

TYPEWRITER BEACH by Meg Waite Clayton (Historical Fiction)
Set in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Hollywood, TYPEWRITER BEACH is an unforgettable story of the unlikely friendship between an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and a young actress hoping to be Alfred Hitchcock's new star.

WHAT THE DEEP WATER KNOWS: Poems by Miranda Cowley Heller (Poetry)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE PAPER PALACE, a Reese’s Book Club pick, comes a debut poetry collection that paints a moving portrait of a rich life from childhood to love to marriage to motherhood to divorce and beyond.

THE WHITE CROW: A Philomena McCarthy Novel by Michael Robotham (Psychological Thriller)
Told in real time from multiple points of view, THE WHITE CROW is filled with almost unbearable suspense --- a page-turning tour de force that shows Michael Robotham at the top of his game.

July 8th

CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger (Fiction)
Set at a summer rental on the Chesapeake Bay, CULPABILITY is a riveting family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence, from the bestselling author of THE GIFTED SCHOOL.

FAST BOYS AND PRETTY GIRLS by Lo Patrick (Mystery)
From the acclaimed author of THE FLOATING GIRLS and THE NIGHT THE RIVER WEPT comes a gritty, coming-of-age, slow-burn Southern mystery with devastating characters and a twist that will leave you aching.

FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild (Fiction)
FINDING GRACE is a twisty, gripping novel that wraps around a deeply moving love story, from an electric new voice in upmarket women’s fiction.

THE HOMEMADE GOD by Rachel Joyce (Fiction)
With sparkling wit and insight, this powerful novel from the bestselling author of THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY reminds us that family is everything, even when it falls apart.

HOTEL UKRAINE: The Final Arkady Renko Novel by Martin Cruz Smith (Thriller)
In this final installment of Martin Cruz Smith’s celebrated Arkady Renko series, the legendary Moscow investigator seeks to solve the murder of a diplomat as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wears on and the effects of Renko’s Parkinson’s disease worsen.

THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean (Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean comes a razor-sharp, wildly sexy novel about a wealthy New England family’s long-overdue reckoning...and the one week that threatens to tear them apart.

VERA, OR FAITH by Gary Shteyngart (Fiction)
VERA, OR FAITH is the poignant, sharp-eyed and bitterly funny tale of a family struggling to stay together in a country rapidly coming apart, told through the eyes of their wondrous 10-year-old daughter.

THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani (Fiction)
From beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani comes a novel about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.

THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
In this follow-up to #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ware’s multi-million copy mega-hit THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10, Lo Blacklock returns to attend the opening of a luxury hotel, only to find herself in a white-knuckled race across Europe.

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

From left to right: Michael Robotham, Chris Whitaker, Maggie Stiefvater

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

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

Every Monday night through July 7th at 7:30pm ET: “Lisa Live”: Join Lisa Scottoline on Facebook as she reveals her inspirations behind her upcoming novel, THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, and shows videos from her research trip to Tuscany. Then, on July 14th, join “Lisa Live” for her Virtual Publication Celebration.

Tuesday, July 1st at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Chris Whitaker for a live virtual discussion of ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, which is soon to be released in paperback, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Chris will be in conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell.

Tuesday, July 1st at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Michael Robotham will talk about his latest novel, THE WHITE CROW, a propulsive thriller filled with almost unbearable suspense, which marks the return of ambitious young London police officer Philomena McCarthy.

Tuesday, July 1st at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Clémence Michallon about her new thriller, OUR LAST RESORT. Fifteen years ago, Frida and her brother escaped a cult. Now her brother is the prime suspect in a murder investigation --- and it isn’t the first time.

Tuesday, July 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Maggie Stiefvater for a live virtual event to discuss her adult debut novel, THE LISTENERS, which is June's B&N Book Club pick. Maggie will be in conversation with Megan McDowell, Store Manager at Barnes & Noble.

Wednesday, July 9th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Afternoon Event: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between July 8th and August 5th, along with a few from September, 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, July 9th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Meg Waite Clayton about her latest novel, TYPEWRITER BEACH, an unforgettable story of the unlikely friendship between an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and a young actress hoping to be Alfred Hitchcock's new star.

 "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 are our latest interviews:

• Jeanine Cummins (SPEAK TO ME OF HOME) Video | Podcast
• Kaira Rouda (JILL IS NOT HAPPY) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Janet Skeslien Charles (THE PARISIAN CHAPTER: An Audio Novel) Video | Podcast
• Julie Clark (THE GHOSTWRITER) Video | Podcast
• Lori Foster (THE GUEST COTTAGE: A Firefly Summer Novel) Video | Podcast
• Clare Leslie Hall (BROKEN COUNTRY) Video | Podcast
• Katy Hays (SALTWATER) Video | Podcast
• Jeff Hobbs (SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America) Video | Podcast
• Georgia Hunter (ONE GOOD THING) Video | Podcast
• Victoria Christopher Murray (HARLEM RHAPSODY) Video | Podcast
• Chris Pavone (THE DOORMAN) Video | Podcast
• Nita Prose (THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Megan Abbott (EL DORADO DRIVE)

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

Our Latest Poll: Prominent Book Club Selections

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, July 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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  On Sale This Week | New in Paperback | Books on Screen
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts | "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books"
  Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks | Book Festivals

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