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Have you ever felt like you were going more backwards than forward? These past two weeks have been that for me! And it’s all about email.
First, I learned that the older mail in my AOL mailbox is gone. Why? I was not jumping online to use it enough for it to be maintained. I clearly remember checking it at some point and thinking I was good for a few more months before I had to check in again. So, poof, there goes the first 10 years of correspondence about the company. Luckily, I have files here with a lot of printed emails; those were the days when life was not 100% digital. But ugh on hearing “You’ve got mail!” and actually having something there.
Then, keeping on the email train, I was told that I was out of space on my Gmail account, which was perplexing. So I hopped on there and deleted a lot of email, but I truly was not getting anywhere fast. Alas, there is a huge photo dump that my son, Cory, made to my Google account as he digitized all of the family photos. The photo and email spaces are combined. I handed him a portable drive last night and asked him to back up all of the photos to there.
Last night, I found myself in a conversation with an AI bot about a recent purchase. At one point, when I was getting nowhere with the bot, it/they asked if I would like to be referred to a HUMAN customer service representative. You can imagine my response! The human replied today that I was right. As we do not have taxes on clothing in New Jersey, I did not have to pay it in California either for something being shipped to me. Maybe they need to tell the bot!
Human me needs a bit more real-world conversation. Luckily, I had some of that this week as I talked to Alex DeMille, which we share with you in this newsletter. My interview with Brisa Carleton about LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY will run next week. Authors save the day!
I chatted with Alex DeMille about THE TIN MEN, the third installment in the Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor series, which he wrote with his father, Nelson DeMille. Set at a fictional military base in the Mojave Desert, the book explores autonomous weapons and AI in warfare.
Alex explains what drew him to set a thriller in the American Southwest and fills us in on the research trip that he took there. He talks about the themes of humanity versus technology in warfare, which he and Nelson wanted to address. Alex also shares his personal reflections on completing the book while grieving his father's death.
Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And if you missed our rave review of THE TIN MEN that we featured in a previous newsletter, you can check it out here.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place on Wednesday, November 19th at 2pm ET.
Our guest will be Clare Leslie Hall, and she will be talking about her novel, BROKEN COUNTRY, a Reese’s Book Club pick and Bets On selection that released earlier this year. Please note the afternoon timing for this program as Clare lives in the UK.
If you have a question for Clare, please email it to me using the subject line “Clare” by Wednesday at noon ET. Be sure to also include your name, city and state, and indicate if you’d like to be on camera during the event so you can ask Clare the question yourself, or if you’d prefer me to ask it for you. Those who appear on camera will be able to chat with Clare in our virtual green room before the program starts.
Last week, we hosted our 14 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians, book club leaders and bloggers. Representatives from six publishers presented 30 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between now and next May. You can watch the event here --- and if you would like to hear from a specific publisher, we have included timestamps for each of them.
To learn more about the books, click here to access a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title, along with a sheet to take notes.
Many thanks to Francesca for editing all of the videos, as well as creating this page for our readers so they can view the materials from the event.
Jack Reacher will make three stops today. Not all of them were planned for. EXIT STRATEGY is the latest page-turning Reacher thriller --- the 30th in the series --- from #1 New York Times bestselling authors Lee Child and Andrew Child.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “If you’re a fan of high-octane adventure and non-stop action, you’re in the right place. If you’re a newcomer to this series, you’ll be hugging yourself with glee before it’s over and quickly seeking out the previous 29 installments…. I really enjoyed how Lee and Andrew waited until the last line of the book to explain the meaning of the title. It is quite poignant. EXIT STRATEGY is another Reacher adventure not to be missed!”
When Walter Nash is recruited by the FBI to help bring down a global crime network, his life is turned completely upside down in NASH FALLS, the first in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.
According to Ray Palen in his review, NASH FALLS is “another novel of unbearable suspense written by a master plotter who knows how to entertain his myriad readers worldwide.” He goes on to say, “Baldacci leaves us hanging with a very precarious cliffhanger and then gives us a sneak peek at the first chapter of book two in the series, HOPE RISES, coming in April 2026. You can bet that he will continue to hold readers by the throat from start to finish with a story that consistently delivers suspense and thrills.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
I'm Betting You'll Love...
The aforementioned LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton is my latest Bets On selection. Click here to see why I'm betting you'll love this debut novel --- which is set amongst the glittering backdrop of London's iconic Savoy Hotel --- just as much as I did.
Holiday Cheer Contest Update
We kicked off our 2025 Holiday Cheer contests this week by giving away LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY. Next week’s contest will be up on Tuesday, November 18th at noon ET. The prize book will be EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson, which Karin Slaughter called [a] jaunty and clever mystery with unexpected twists. Absolutely not to be missed.”
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Susan Rieger
Out in paperback this week is LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger, a Bets On pick about three generations of strong-willed women who are unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past. I talked to Susan about the book last October when it released in hardcover. So if you missed the interview or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
It was announced this week that Oprah’s Book Club pick for November is SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE, which is Ann Packer’s first book since 2015’s THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE.
Oprah says, “This novel is going to get you thinking about some things that matter. Who would you like to spend your last days with? What if you developed a terminal illness and decided that you wanted not your husband but your best friends to be with you and to take care of you? What would that do to your relationship with your husband? Your husband’s feelings? Your friends’ feelings? Your children’s feelings? Everybody?
“So this novel centers around this longtime married couple, Eliot and Claire. They’ve had a loving and devoted marriage, and then illness shows up and redefines their situation. Very interesting! I know a lot of you have been through that. And I had some specific thoughts and attitudes about it but will not share my feelings about the characters until you’ve all had a chance to read it. Their story is going to leave you questioning, I think, the obligations of marriage and the differences between male and female friendships.”
SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE inspired a thought-provoking conversation among readers at a Starbucks coffeehouse in New York City. Click here for Oprah’s discussion with Ann. We will feature our review of the book in next week’s newsletter.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We are giving away SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE in our new Word of Mouth contest, along with THE BURNING LIBRARY by Gilly Macmillan, which we also will review next week. Let us know by Friday, December 5th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles.
MONA’S EYES by Thomas Schlesser (translated by Hildegarde Serle) has been named the Barnes & Noble Book of the Year. B&N had this to say in their big announcement: “Beautiful inside and out, with its fifty-two featured masterpieces showcased inside the fold-out dust jacket and leaping off the page, this moving novel about a brave young girl’s Paris museum adventures with her grandfather celebrates imagination and the bonds between generations. Originally published in French, the touching tale of courage, love and family is sure to capture readers’ hearts for generations to come.”
B&N also announced this: “Because the finalists impressed our booksellers so much this year, we simply couldn’t choose just one winner. We are excited to share that GOOD THINGS by Samin Nosrat is our Gift Book of the Year, while I AM REBEL by Ross Montgomery and GROWING HOME by Beth Ferry and The Fan Brothers are our Children’s Books of the Year.”
Our Poll Results about the Barnes & Noble Book of the Year
In our poll that just ended today, we asked you which of the 14 finalists you would pick as the B&N Book of the Year. Your top choice was BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan (33%), followed by KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby (15%). It is worth noting that MONA’S EYES only got 6% of the vote. Click here to see all the results.
Vote in Our New Poll
Amazon has announced their 20 best books of 2025. So, for our latest poll, we’re asking you which of them, if any, are your favorites of the year. Their top pick was YOUR top pick in the previous poll: BUCKEYE; it also was a Bets On selection. Be sure to cast your votes by Friday, December 5th at noon ET.
And while we’re on the subject of best books of the year, voting is now underway for the 17th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. Two rounds of voting are open to all registered Goodreads members, with the opening round ending on November 23rd. Click here to cast your votes in 15 categories, and check out the voting schedule here. The winners will be announced on December 4th. I already voted in the categories that I had read!
© Yuki Sugiura for Booker Prize Foundation
The 2025 Booker Prize has been awarded to David Szalay for his novel, FLESH. A collection of intimate moments over the course of decades, the book chronicles a man at odds with himself --- estranged from and by the circumstances and demands of a life not entirely under his control and the roles that he is asked to play. Click here to read more about David Szalay, who is the first Hungarian-British author to win the award, and FLESH, which Roddy Doyle, Chair of the judges, calls “an extraordinary, singular novel --- a dark book that is a joy to read.”
Our 2025 Reader Survey Winners
Once again, many thanks to all who completed our 2025 Reader Survey. The results have been so helpful in finding out more about our readers. And congratulations to our survey winners!
These three readers won a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice:
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Elise G. from Saratoga Springs, NY
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Kelly G. from Palos Verdes Estates, CA
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Rosalie C. from Hamilton, OH
And these five readers won a book from Bookreporter's shelves:
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Barbara W. from Atlanta, GA
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Charles B. from Livingston, TX
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Dianne A. from Barnegat, NJ
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Elise D. from Charlotte, NC
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Kathy H. from Lincoln, CA
The prizes will go out on Monday!
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
We got some nice messages about our aforementioned Book Group Speed Dating event.
Mary wrote, “Thank YOU, Carol! I look forward to Speed Dating every fall and spring! Quick question: About how many people sign up each season? I'm just curious. I had the PLEASURE of attending Speed Dating at the BEA conventions in 2017 (Chicago) and 2018 (NYC), and it was definitely the HIGHLIGHT of the convention. So thankful y'all found a way to continue it.”
Marisa wrote, “Thank you for including me.”
Debbie wrote, “It was a great program as always. I have added several books to my list of those I want to read. I love to hear the publishers talk about the books and why they think people will want to read them.”
Here is a terrific piece from the Wall Street Journal about Virginia Evans, the author of THE CORRESPONDENT. I think this is THE biggest word-of-mouth book of the year.
Lee Child was interviewed in USA Today about handing over the reins of the Jack Reacher series to his brother, Andrew Child.
As you can see above, it’s that time of year when Best Of and Must-Read Book lists are coming out. Here is one from Time magazine.
My husband has been in Austin on business all week, so I have been clocking a lot of work hours since no one is asking when I want to eat dinner! I caught up on two publisher previews that I had not watched in person. I love events like this where editors and authors talk about their work. I was taking notes furiously. Moments like this are a tremendous help to me as I share commentary on “Bookaccino Live” or here in the newsletter. It’s hard to believe that before we started this site, the information about an author was basically what you saw on the back of the book.
For those monitoring what is happening with air travel, his flight out was half-full and got in 30 minutes early. His flight back was full and 2 ½ hours late.
This weekend will be all about tackling a “to do” list, as well as planning for Thanksgiving. The holiday is so late again this year that I see people all over town have jumped the gun and are decorating for Christmas. I AM thinking that once we take the lighted pumpkins out of the windows, we can add the candles. After all, we will have the timers out! It’s always about finding the timers.
What am I reading this weekend? I will finish Laura Dave's thriller, THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, which is terrific and is something you will want to read in January when it releases. I have the aforementioned SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE here, and that is up next. I still am listening to John Grisham's THE WIDOW as I did not have a lot of car time this week. I am enjoying it!
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: EXIT STRATEGY
by Lee Child and Andrew Child
EXIT STRATEGY: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Jack Reacher will make three stops today. Not all of them were planned for. First --- a Baltimore coffee shop. A seat in the corner, facing the door. Black coffee, two refills, no messing around. A minor interruption from two of the customers, but nothing he can’t deal with swiftly. As he leaves, a young guy brushes against him in the doorway. Instinctively Reacher checks the pocket holding his cash and passport. There’s no problem. Nothing is missing. Second --- a store to buy a coat. Nothing fancy. Something he can ditch when he heads to warmer climates. Large enough to fit a man the size of a bank vault. As he pulls out his cash, he finds something new in his pocket. A handwritten note. A desperate plea for help. Third --- wherever this bend in the road takes him. Impressed by the guy’s technique and intrigued by the message, Reacher makes it his mission to find out more. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: NASH FALLS by David Baldacci
NASH FALLS by David Baldacci (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by MacLeod Andrews, Christine Lakin, Larry Herron, Shiromi Arserio and Will Collyer
Walter Nash has a very high-level position at Sybaritic Investments, where his innate skills and dogged tenacity have carried him to the top of the pyramid in his business career. However, following his estranged Vietnam-veteran father’s funeral, Nash is unexpectedly approached by the FBI in the middle of the night. They have an important request: become their inside man to expose an enterprise that is laundering large sums of money through Sybaritic. At the top of this illegal operation is Victoria Steers, an international criminal mastermind that the FBI has been trying to bring down for years. Nash has little choice but to accept the FBI’s demands and try to bring Steers and her partners to justice. But when Steers discovers that Nash is working with the FBI, she turns the tables on him in a way he never could have contemplated. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton (Historical Fiction)
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by debut novelist Brisa Carleton is cocktail-inspiring historical fiction. I bet you never heard of that kind of fiction before! The book is set at The Savoy Hotel in London where Ada Coleman was the head bartender at the American Bar (one of only three women to have this role) from 1903 to 1925. She was the mixologist who created the famous Hanky Panky, which was first served at The Savoy.
The novel has a dual timeline. The present-day story takes place at The Savoy as two sisters, Cinnamon and Rosemary, check into the hotel for an extended stay. Cinnamon is a consummate party girl who will be by Rosie’s side as she is expecting twins. The sisters will be at the hotel until Rosie gives birth, which means they will spend plenty of time together.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Brisa Carleton in next week's newsletter.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 14 ½ Annual Book Group
Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
Bookreporter.com's 20th Annual
Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we kick off the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, on select days in November and December, we are spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. You have to visit the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter the 24-hour contest. As always, we are sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, November 18th at noon ET. The prize book will be EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson. Knives Out and Clue meet Agatha Christie and The Thursday Murder Club in this fiendishly clever blend of classic and modern murder mystery.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com’s “What to Give, What to Get” Guide:
“Reader Perfect” Suggestions
for Holiday Giving and Getting
We at Bookreporter.com know that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind, we are offering a "What to Give, What to Get" Guide with four "Reader Perfect" suggestions.
BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V. E. Schwab (Historical Fantasy)
The bestselling author of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE has written a genre-defying, generations-spanning novel of vampires, sapphism and hunger --- for blood, for life and, above all, for freedom.
GIRL DINNER by Olivie Blake (Horror/Dark Humor)
Good girls deserve a treat. From the New York Times bestselling author of THE ATLAS SIX comes a darkly fun novel about power, lust and eating your fill, as wealthy moms and sorority girls practice a sinister new wellness trend.
GIRL LOST by Kate Angelo (Romantic Suspense)
Officer Luna Rosati and Special Agent Corbin King are at odds over their failed teenage romance, but they reunite on a mission and must put their past aside. When they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies and a murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna keep from one another are only the beginning of the threats they face.
THE SANDS OF SEA BLUE BEACH by Rachel Hauck (Romance)
Can anything rekindle the summer love between former sweethearts facing old wounds and a divided town? This poignant tale of second chances and the enduring power of love includes themes of small-town romance, dual-time storytelling and complex family dynamics.
Click here to see our "What to Give, What to Get" Guide.
Featured Review: BREAD OF ANGELS by Patti Smith
BREAD OF ANGELS: A Memoir by Patti Smith (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Patti Smith
“God whispers through a crease in the wallpaper,” writes Patti Smith in this moving account of her life. A post–World War II childhood unfolds in a condemned housing complex where we enter the child’s world of the imagination. Smith, the captain of her loyal and beloved sibling army, vanquishes bullies, communes with the king of tortoises, and searches for sacred silver pennies. The most intimate of Smith’s memoirs, BREAD OF ANGELS takes us through her teenage years where the first glimmers of art and romance take hold. Arthur Rimbaud and Bob Dylan emerge as creative role models as she begins to write poetry and then lyrics, ultimately merging both into the songs of iconic recordings such as Horses, Wave and Easter. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: WITHOUT CONSENT by Sarah Weinman
WITHOUT CONSENT: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime by Sarah Weinman (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Weinman
In 1978, Greta Rideout was the first woman in United States history to accuse her husband of rape, at a time when the idea of “marital rape” seemed ludicrous to many Americans and was a crime in only four states. After a quick and conservative trial acquitted John Rideout and a defense lawyer lambasted that “maybe rape is the risk of being married,” Greta was ridiculed and scorned from public life, while John went on to be a repeat offender. Thrust into the national spotlight, Greta and her story would become a national sensation, a symbol of a country’s unrelenting and targeted hate toward women and a court system designed to fail them at every turn. A now little-remembered trial deserving of close, wide and lasting attention, Sarah Weinman turns her signature intelligence and journalistic rigor to the enduring impact of this case. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FALLING APART AND OTHER GIFTS FROM THE UNIVERSE by Catherine Ryan Hyde
FALLING APART AND OTHER GIFTS FROM THE UNIVERSE by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch and Coleen Marlo
An army veteran with a career as a beat cop behind her, security guard Addie Finch finds Jonathan, a homeless teenager abandoned by his mother, holed up in a warehouse and vulnerable to the elements and to predators. Touched by the boy’s gentle nature and a wisdom beyond his years, Addie offers him temporary shelter in her garden shed in exchange for maintaining the sprawling property. It’s an act of kindness and purpose that means the world to Jonathan. But when Addie faces a situation that sends her internal world tumbling, the emotional connection with Jonathan becomes her lifeline as well. As both process past traumas, Addie and Jonathan forge a surrogate grandmother-grandson bond --- a chosen family that could restore trust and heal hearts they thought were broken forever. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Historical Fiction Author Spotlight:
CALDER STRONG by Janet Dailey
CALDER STRONG by Janet Dailey (Historical Romance)
At 24, Joseph Dollarhide is struggling to find his place as the future head of his ranching family. His father, Blake, may have been disabled in an accident, but he’s as domineering as ever. Joseph’s childhood friend, Chase Calder, has inherited the rival Calder operation, and for both young men, longstanding battles over water and grass continue. But there’s yet another weight on Joseph’s shoulders.
Years ago, Joseph abandoned his teenage love, Annabeth, to court glamorous Lucy Merriweather, a seductive trickster. The affair, of course, imploded, and Annabeth went on to marry a farmer, Silas Mosby, and have two children. But now Joseph has spotted Annabeth and her family in town...and he has no doubt that her oldest, a boy, is his.
Joseph’s love for Annabeth never died --- and Annabeth, too, still has feelings for him, though they’re tainted by anger. Learning that Silas is involved in a bootlegging ring leaves Joseph troubled. His natural father, Mason Dollarhide, is a reformed bootlegger, but the two have long been estranged, and Joseph won’t ask his advice.
Meanwhile, Joseph feels pressed to start his own family. The town’s sweet new schoolteacher seems a perfect match. But as the strain of long-standing feuds persist and Lucy reappears, flush with stolen money and armed with blackmail, Joseph and some others in Blue Moon will find out just how strong they really are.
- Click here to read Janet Dailey's bio.
- Click here to visit Janet Dailey's website.
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
Don't miss our review of CALDER STRONG in next week's newsletter.
FALLEN CITY by Adrienne Young (Historical Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Leela Bassuk
Luca Matius must carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people. Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds --- a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives. As a secret comes to light, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE FORGET-ME-NOT LIBRARY by Heather Webber (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis
Months after a freak accident involving lightning, Juliet Nightingale is fully recovered but is left feeling that something is missing from her life. Impulsively, she decides to take a solo summer road trip. Newly single mom Tallulah Byrd Mayfield is hanging by a thread after her neat, tidy world was completely undone when her husband decided that their marriage was over. In the aftermath of the breakup, she and her two daughters move in with her 80-year-old grandfather. Tallulah starts a new job at the Forget-Me-Not Library, where old, treasured memories can be found within the books --- and where Lu must learn to adapt to the many changes thrown her way. When a road detour leads Juliet to Forget-Me-Not, Alabama, and straight into Tallulah’s life, the two women soon discover there’s magic in between the pages of where you’ve been and where you still need to go. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE BRIDESMAID by Cate Quinn (Psychological Thriller)
When a celebrity bridesmaid is murdered weeks before an exclusive society wedding, forensic attorney Holly Stone is drafted as an unlikely undercover replacement. As she works to unpick the lives of the notoriously private Kensington family, glamour-averse Holly discovers a new worst enemy in bridezilla Adrianna. Heir to a multimillion-dollar fortune, Adrianna is set on throwing the event of the decade, and she won't let anything get in her way. But beneath the veneer of poise and sophistication, Adrianna and her bridesmaids have secrets worth killing for. As the wedding day gets closer, it's clear that one of the five hand-picked bridesmaids has committed murder --- and a destination wedding is a perfect place to strike again. Soon, Holly finds herself on the playground of the rich and famous, but if she wants to find answers, she'll have to make it out alive. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
FLAT EARTH by Anika Jade Levy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ellie Gossage
Avery is a grad student in New York working on a collection of cultural reports and flailing financially and emotionally. She dates older men for money, and others for the oblivion their egos offer. In an act of desperation, Avery takes a job at a right-wing dating app. The "white-paper" she is tasked to write for the startup eventually merges with her dissertation, resulting in a metafictional text that reveals itself over the course of the novel. Meanwhile, her best friend, Frances, an effortlessly chic emerging filmmaker from a wealthy Southern family, drops out of grad school, gets married, and somehow still manages to finish her first feature documentary. Frances' triumphant return to New York as the toast of the art world sends Avery into a final tailspin, pushing her to make a series of devastating decisions. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
BLACK-OWNED: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams (History)
Audiobook available, read by Shayna Small
In BLACK-OWNED, longtime NBC News reporter Char Adams celebrates the living history of Black bookstores. Packed with stories of activism, espionage, violence, community and perseverance, the book starts with the first Black-owned bookstore, which an abolitionist opened in New York in 1834. After its violent demise, Black booklovers carried on its cause. In the 20th century, civil rights and Black Power activists started a Black bookstore boom nationwide. Malcolm X gave speeches in front of the National Memorial African Book Store in Harlem --- a place dubbed “Speakers’ Corner” --- and later, Black bookstores became targets of FBI agents, the police and racist vigilantes. Still, stores continued to fuel Black political movements. Amid these struggles, bookshops were also places of celebration. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
THE LAST WITCH by C. J. Cooke (Supernatural Thriller/Historical Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Olivia Vinall
Innsbruck, 1485. Helena Scheuberin should be doing what every other young wife is doing: keeping house, supporting her husband, and bearing his children. But as an outspoken, strong woman, she sometimes has difficulty fitting in. Then she draws the unwanted attention of a malign priest who is just starting his campaign to root out “witches” from among the women of her town. And when her husband’s footman dies, she finds herself accused not only of murder but of witchcraft. Helena must find the courage to risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to a man determined to paint her as the most wicked of all. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
DARKER DAYS by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Teri Schnaubelt
In Lock Haven, a quiet little town in Washington State, Bird Street is a special place. The residents of this pretty cul-de-sac on the edge of the woods are all successful, healthy and happy. But come November, the “Darker Days” descend, bringing accidents, bad luck, conflict and illness. It is in November when a stranger appears to collect on a longstanding debt. A price must be paid for the good fortune they enjoy the rest of the year. A sacrifice must be made. So it has been for over a century. To assuage their guilt, the residents of Bird Street choose carefully who will be sent into the woods. Usually, it is an elderly or terminally ill individual who wishes to die with dignity and is content to be helped on their way. But this year, things don’t go to plan, and events take a terrifying turn. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
SPREAD ME by Sarah Gailey (Science Fiction/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Xe Sands
Kinsey has the perfect job as the team lead in a remote research outpost. She loves the isolation and the way the desert keeps temptations from the civilian world far out of reach. When her crew discovers a mysterious specimen buried deep in the sand, Kinsey breaks quarantine and brings it inside. But the longer it's there, the more her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. Temptation has found her after all, and it can't be ignored any longer. One by one, Kinsey's team realizes the thing they're studying is in search of a new host --- and one of them is the perfect candidate. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 17th and 18th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 17th and 18th 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 November 17th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
November 17th
RETURN OF THE SPIDER: An Alex Cross Thriller by James Patterson (Thriller)
RETURN OF THE SPIDER is the stunning companion to ALONG CAME A SPIDER, the New York Times bestselling series debut that introduced Detective Alex Cross, “the real deal, a character who matters” (Rolling Stone).
November 18th
THE BREATH OF THE GODS: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon Winchester (History)
New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style.
THE BURNING LIBRARY by Gilly Macmillan (Psychological Thriller)
From the internationally bestselling author of THE NANNY and WHAT SHE KNEW comes a thrilling dark academic tale of murder, obsession and ruthless ambition, set in remote St. Andrews, Scotland.
CLIVE CUSSLER QUANTUM TEMPEST: A Novel of the Oregon Files by Mike Maden (Thriller/Adventure)
Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon face a ghost ship, deadly assassins and a threat from Cabrillo’s own past in their race to stop the launch of the world’s deadliest machine.
THE COLOR OF HOPE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
A beautiful American widow finds new life in France in this tender portrait from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.
EVIL BONES: A Temperance Brennan Novel by Kathy Reichs (Mystery/Thriller)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with a twisty, magnetic thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who finds herself enmeshed in a series of grisly animal killings that escalate into something far more sinister.
THE GREATEST SENTENCE EVER WRITTEN by Walter Isaacson (History)
America’s bestselling biographer reveals the origins of the most revolutionary sentence in the Declaration of Independence, the one that defines who we are as Americans --- and explains how it should shape our politics today.
I, MEDUSA by Ayana Gray (Historical Fantasy/Adventure)
From New York Times bestselling author Ayana Gray comes a new kind of villain origin story, reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine.
JOAN CRAWFORD: A Woman's Face by Scott Eyman (Biography)
Film historian and acclaimed New York Times bestselling biographer Scott Eyman has written the definitive biography of Hollywood icon Joan Crawford, drawing on never-before-seen documents and photos from the Crawford estate.
REVENGE OF ODESSA by Frederick Forsyth with Tony Kent (Political Thriller)
Fifty years after revealing the secrets of Odessa --- an underground organization of former Nazis angling to regain power --- comes this long-awaited sequel to the 1972 thriller classic, THE ODESSA FILE.
THE SEVEN RINGS: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 3 by Nora Roberts (Paranormal Fantasy/Romance)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts concludes her compelling Lost Bride trilogy as two women --- one dead, one alive --- prepare for a terrifying final showdown.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Lee Child, Clare Leslie Hall, Andrew Child
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are two upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Wednesday, November 19th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Clare Leslie Hall about her novel, BROKEN COUNTRY, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that released earlier this year. Clare also will answer questions from guests who will be “on stage,” as well as from other members of the audience. Please note the afternoon timing for this program as Clare lives in the UK.
Wednesday, November 19th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Lee Child and Andrew Child about their latest Jack Reacher thriller, EXIT STRATEGY. Reacher will make three stops today. Not all of them were planned for.
"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:
Other authors we've interviewed recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Brisa Carleton (LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY)
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Vicky Nguyen (BOAT BABY: A Memoir)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Amazon’s Best Books of the Year
Amazon has announced their top 20 books of 2025. Which of these, if any, would you select as your favorite books of the year? Please check all that apply.
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BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan
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THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans
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THE BOYS IN THE LIGHT: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival, Faith, and Brotherhood, by Nina Willner
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THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS by Ocean Vuong
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WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy
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THE INTRUDER by Freida McFadden
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AWAKE: A Memoir, by Jen Hatmaker
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ATMOSPHERE: A Love Story, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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REPLACEABLE YOU: Adventures in Human Anatomy, by Mary Roach
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THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY by Kiran Desai
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BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall
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PAPER GIRL: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, by Beth Macy
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KATABASIS by R. F. Kuang
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CURSED DAUGHTERS by Oyinkan Braithwaite
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NEXT OF KIN: A Memoir, by Gabrielle Hamilton
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KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby
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THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS: The Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda, by Nathalia Holt
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HEART THE LOVER by Lily King
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THE BOOK OF GUILT by Catherine Chidgey
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BALDWIN: A Love Story, by Nicholas Boggs
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 5th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- 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 November 14th to December 5th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE BURNING LIBRARY by Gilly Macmillan and SOME BRIGHT NOWHERE by Ann Packer.
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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