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Supersize at the Concession Stand
I rarely go to the movies. But last night, I gathered a group of girlfriends (some of whom knew each other and others of whom did not), and we went to see The Devil Wears Prada 2, which was really terrific.
Besides the over-the-top fashion and the acting by the iconic Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, as well as Stanley Tucci, the cinematography is stunning. The lighting is just beautiful on the shots in New York, Milan and Lake Como. Fun fact: George Clooney’s home, Villa Oleandra --- “an 18th-century, 25-room estate in Laglio on Lake Como” --- shows up in the background in one scene. When the credits ran, I saw how many well-known people were part of the film. I had missed many of them, so I will watch it again another time.
The storyline made me think back on my magazine days at Condé Nast, and how magazine vitality now is measured in page views, engagement, clicks and likes instead of page counts. Let’s face it: In the past, we had no idea how many people read a magazine; we just knew how many people subscribed to it or bought it. Now we can all but judge how many words were read on an online page, and we definitively know how long people spend on a page. Often I call it “How many ads can fly at me as I try to scroll and read?” There is a huge outcry about what works and what does not, and I feel like the measurability of it all has turned art into only commerce.
Speaking of commerce: When my husband and I go to the movies, we never stop by the concession stand. Last night, my friends and I did stop, and let’s just say that I clearly am a novice at this. I bought the large-sized popcorn, which was the family-sized one (I brought half home), and a huge Coke Zero. I do not usually have soft drinks. I drank almost 32 ounces in between eating popcorn and knitting (yes, knitting happened after I consumed half of the popcorn, so I could put the bag away).
Mind you, no one else in the group supersized at the concession stand! When we were on the way home, Annmarie said that she never could have a drink that big or she would be up all night. That was when the mega caffeine alert hit me. Coke Zero meant no sugar, not no caffeine. And it hit me again at 3:45am when I was wide awake and reading.
Note, though, that I did not get The Devil Wears Prada 2 Handbag Popcorn Bucket, which is a limited-edition, 85-ounce, bright red, satchel-style plastic container that costs about $40 and includes a gold charm of a stiletto/pitchfork. But I did see it!
Remembering that the original movie from 2006 was based on the 2003 book of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, I loved reading this piece in Vogue on what she is up to now. I never would have guessed it. And I bet you would not have guessed it either.
We had a really busy week on the book front.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Susan Patterson, who teamed up with her husband, James Patterson, to write THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB, which is our current Fiction Author Spotlight title.
Set in Lake Como, Italy, the story revolves around four mothers and their five daughters, exploring mother-daughter relationships through a book club. Three of the mothers met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is Susan’s alma mater. The book evolved naturally from the success and themes of their previous collaboration, THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER.
Susan and James decided to structure chapters by character point of view to make it easier for readers to follow multiple characters. Lake Como was selected because it represents one of the most beautiful places, with a perfect landscape, mountains, water and food.
Click here to watch the interview or here to listen to the podcast. Please note that some of the questions for this interview came from readers who won an advance copy of THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB in a contest that we hosted in March. I loved having a chance to ask Sue these questions. One of the winners, Dana R. from Minnetonka, MN, shared this lovely comment with us:
“I loved this book. It had so many rich characters and such a great story that kept me interested until the end, wondering what all the secrets were going to be and not being able to guess them. I loved how the chapters were set up so I could keep the characters straight and know who was talking. I appreciated the mention of other books and their favorite authors, especially at the beginning as I was familiar with nearly every author and thought that was a great way of expanding one’s reading list. I love the idea of a mother-daughter book club and wished I had done that with my mom when we were a little younger.”
In March, we also ran a contest where 25 readers won a copy of Lisa Ridzén's debut novel, WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH, an international bestseller and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. We asked them to read the book and let us know their thoughts on it.
Here’s a sampling of what some of them said:
Marge K. from Royal Palm Beach, FL: “Thank you for writing such a deeply human and moving novel. It resonated with me on so many levels, and I believe it will resonate with readers in ways both personal and universal.”
Karen B. from Louisville, KY: “I loved this story. It was beautifully written, and each time I put it down, I could not wait to pick it up again. For the past two years, I have been dealing with aging parents who are in similar circumstances to the characters, so it was very on point. I thought it would depress me, but it was truly uplifting by the way Lisa Ridzén wrote the story.”
Mary V. from Massapequa Park, NY: “This book truly touched my heart, and I was in tears by the end of it. To me, the mark of a good book is when the reader can get so emotionally invested with the characters that you actually feel what happens to them.”
Click here to read all the comments we received. Many thanks to those who took the time to give us such wonderful feedback! And if you missed our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event last week, where Lisa was our special guest, be sure to give it a watch or a listen.
In 2023, Laura Dave joined our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group program to talk about THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME. On Wednesday evening, we welcomed her back to discuss the sequel, THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, a Reese’s Book Club pick and my first Bets On title of 2026.
Laura shared how she came to write this instant New York Times bestseller and what matters to her when it comes to writing and her writing process. She talked about the Apple TV series “The Last Thing He Told Me”, which recently wrapped up its second season, and offered a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how a streaming show comes together. We also heard about her current screenwriting project, which is adapting THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM for a Netflix film and working in tandem with her Oscar-winning husband, Josh Singer. She even commented on the tricky titles of her books!
Click here to watch the event or here to listen to the podcast. We really appreciate Laura taking time out of her busy schedule to interact with our readers and answer their questions. I also was very humored that she took some advice that I once gave her about her son but had forgotten that I had shared it with her. It was a really fun moment.
Our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest will be Wally Lamb. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 26th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up here for it.
We will talk about Wally’s instant New York Times bestseller, THE RIVER IS WAITING, an Oprah’s Book Club pick and a Bets On selection that releases in paperback on May 19th. In it, a young father grapples with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption and the possibility of forgiveness. When I finished this book, I walked around in a daze for hours. It had a very profound impact on me. And I have heard the same from other readers!
I will interview Wally and then will turn to readers who would like to share a question for him on screen (we have special sign-in directions for these attendees, and they will get to chat with Wally in our “backstage green room” before the program starts), followed by audience questions.
If you would like to ask Wally a question, please fill out this form by noon ET on Tuesday, May 26th. Be sure to include your name, city, state, email address and phone number, as well as your question. And indicate if you would like to be on camera or off.
Tom Perrotta is back with his first novel since the release of TRACY FLICK CAN’T WIN in 2022. GHOST TOWN is a gripping and darkly nostalgic tale about a tumultuous summer in 1970s suburban New Jersey, told from the perspective of a middle-aged writer looking back on a series of events that changed his life --- and the story he finally has the courage to tell.
Harvey Freedenberg has our review and calls the book “an elegiac coming-of-age novel that, for those of a certain vintage, will be thick with memories of the languid days and humid nights of a suburban summer.” He goes on to say, “Perrotta masterfully inhabits Jimmy's consciousness. He tenderly yet honestly portrays the boy's struggle to process his grief over his mother's death, which is made sharper by the seeming inability of most of the adults in his world...to comfort him.”
We also are featuring reviews of these two books:
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A DEADLY EPISODE by Anthony Horowitz: They’re making a major feature film of the first Hawthorne/Horowitz mystery novel, THE WORD IS MURDER. But there are a few problems: they’re behind schedule, they’ve run out of money...and the star has just been murdered.
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FAMESICK by Lena Dunham: In this rowdy, frank reflection on illness, fame, sex and everything in between, the remarkable mind behind the hit series “Girls” and the bestselling author of NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL asks if fulfilling her creative ambitions has been worth the pain.
Our current New Release Spotlight title is THE SAPPHIRE SEA, the latest novel from internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn.
Colin Eames recalls his late mother’s tales of a faraway place called the Sapphire Sea, where happiness forever is a way of life. When Colin is accepted into the Outer Banks Academy for the Gifted, it's his chance to chart his own course and embark on a quest for the one thing that eludes him: love. As the years pass and Colin’s freedom offers dream opportunities, his yearning to make a connection grows stronger. Then he meets Mira, an empathetic girl weathering tragic losses of her own who supports each new step he takes. For Colin, maybe the promise of the Sapphire Sea wasn’t a bedtime story after all.
Click here to read more about THE SAPPHIRE SEA, a heart-stirring coming-of-age novel perfect for readers of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury.
Announcing This Year’s Summer Reading Feature
Our Summer Reading contests are back for a 22nd year! On select days through mid-August, we will host a series of 24-hour giveaways and on each of the contest days award five readers a book that we think is a great summer read. You will have to check the site to see the featured prize book and enter to win.
We also will send a special newsletter to announce the day's title, along with a Summer Reading Preview newsletter on Monday, May 4th. Click here to sign up for these dedicated newsletters and here to take a look at this year’s prize books. Please note that more titles may be added in the weeks to come.
These contests kick off next week with our first two prizes: THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (an upcoming Bets On selection) and THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP BY THE HARBOR by Jean Stone. The first giveaway will be up on Tuesday, May 5th at noon ET.
Our "Books Mom Will Love" Contest
THE CALAMITY CLUB is also a prize in our Mother's Day contest. The others are HARBOR POINTE: A Hope Harbor Novel by Irene Hannon, LITTLE WONDER by Sophie Chen Keller, the aforementioned THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB by Susan Patterson and James Patterson, and THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME: The Book Woman's Legacy by Kim Michele Richardson. Five readers will win all five titles for themselves or the mom in their lives. Be sure to enter by Monday, May 11th at noon ET.
Mother’s Day is on the earlier side this year. With that in mind, remember that books are one of the easiest gifts to wrap!
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs Are Back!
For a 17th consecutive year, we’re sharing pieces from authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
We kicked off our Mother's Day Author Blog series today with a marvelous essay from Devi S. Laskar, who I interviewed recently about her new novel, MIDNIGHT, AT THE WAR. Next week, we will hear from Marie Benedict, Laurie Frankel, Casey Scieszka, Casey Sherman and Caitlin Shetterly.
Revisiting THREE “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews
Out in paperback this week are THE DOORMAN by Chris Pavone, THE GHOSTWRITER by Julie Clark, and SALTWATER by Katy Hays, all three of which were 2025 Bets On picks. I talked to Chris, Julie and Katy when their books came out in hardcover, so if you’d like to check out these interviews, you can watch the videos or listen to the podcasts using the links below.
Books on Screen Offerings for May
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. Along with the aforementioned The Devil Wears Prada 2, May’s roundup includes the films Remarkably Bright Creatures, Animal Farm and Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery; the series finales of “Outlander” on STARZ, “Margo's Got Money Troubles” on Apple TV, “The House of the Spirits” on Prime Video, and “Watson” on CBS; the season finales of CBS's “Tracker,” ABC's “Will Trent,” and Hulu's “The Testaments”; the series premiere of “Lord of the Flies” on Netflix; the season premieres of Netflix's “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” and “The Chestnut Man”; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of Reminders of Him, “Wuthering Heights”, Dracula and Bambi: The Reckoning.
The Global Impact of Book Adaptations at Netflix
Here is an interesting press piece on how book adaptations are impacting Netflix.
“In the first 13 weeks of this year, new or returning book adaptations appeared on our Global Top 10 lists every single week. From the Regency-era romance of 'Bridgerton' to the psychological thrillers like 'His & Hers,' the impact of a Netflix series or films now extends beyond 'views' --- it translates directly into 'sales' and 'listens.'
“This follows a massive 2025 where book-based titles drove over 9B global views, representing nearly 20% of all hours watched on our service. With adaptations hailing from 14 different countries already this year --- including Norwegian crime noir, Turkish dramas and Korean romance --- our adaptations have become global phenomena that transcend language and format.” You can read the full release here.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, May 15th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE FOURSOME by Christina Baker Kline and THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout in our Word of Mouth contest.
THE FOURSOME is a boldly original reimagining of the astonishing true story of two sisters in 19th-century North Carolina --- Kline’s own distant relatives --- who married world-famous conjoined twins from Siam. In THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY, a chance incident sparks a powerful realization in a beloved teacher’s life.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 35 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’d like to read. Click here to let us know.
In our previous poll, we wanted to know which of 35 books releasing in paperback in April you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
I have not read THE NAMES, but on ReadingGroupGuides.com, it consistently comes up as a discussion guide that readers are looking for. I have a copy and need to sneak in reading it in between all of the new releases that are on my shelves.
On Wednesday night, Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of this year’s Edgar Awards, which honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2025.
Among the recipients are THE BIG EMPTY by Robert Crais (Best Novel), MURDERLAND: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers, by Caroline Fraser (Best Fact Crime), EDGAR ALLAN POE: A Life, by Richard Kopley (Best Critical/Biographical), ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS by Hank Phillippi Ryan (The Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award), and GONE IN THE NIGHT by Joanna Schaffhausen (The G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award). You can see all the winners here.
Seeing that ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS won made me exceptionally happy as this was a Bets On selection.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Doris wrote with a question that we are asked a couple of times a year, so I am going to answer it here: “First of all, I just wanted to say I love the Bookreporter newsletters that you do. I look forward to them so much. I just have a question for you. I enter all your contests and have noticed that all the winners reside in the US. I haven't seen a Canadian win a book in many years, and I just wondered why that is. I know a book coming to Canada would have to go through the border, and maybe there is a cost involved. Anyway, I love the website and all the hard work you and your staff do. Keep up the good work!”
Doris, first thanks for your kind words. The cost and the paperwork involved in shipping to Canada is one issue, but the far bigger one is a rights issue. Often the rights to a book in Canada are sold to a different publisher, or division of a publisher, than here in the States. Thus a book cannot be sent from the US to Canada as there would be a rights issue. It’s that simple. Often for this reason, publishers will say “No Canadian winners.”
A reader named Lisa wrote about our Lisa Ridzén event: “This was sooooo great!!!”
Susan from Carrollton, TX wrote, “What a great day it is when you go to the mailbox and find a new book that you won from the 'Bookaccino Live' contest! You truly made my day. The book you sent me is HONEY IN THE WOUND by Jiyoung Han. The cover is absolutely stunning. Thank you for gifting me this beautiful book, and I will be reading it very soon. I am a huge fan of the monthly book previews, along with the book group discussions with authors and readers. I think listening to an author talk about the book they wrote, the process taken, and how the characters were developed is so interesting. The evening events are some of my favorites. Thank you again for sharing your love of books with everyone. I will read my winning book and then share it with my friends.”
Roseann wrote, “Quick question. I was curious if you can email me the schedule for the 'Bookaccino Live’ Book Group discussion events for the rest of the summer, up to September. I am not sure if that can be done. I just have a lot of travel plans and would love to keep up with what is coming up. I love watching the book discussions; they are my favorite. I am not sure if you take recommendations, but I would love to see a live discussion with Freida McFadden as I am a huge fan of her mystery thriller books.”
Roseann, thanks for your note and your kind words. Right now, we are only scheduling “Bookaccino Live” programs through June when Bruce Holsinger will be our guest discussing CULPABILITY. You can see more about that at TBRNetwork.com/Events. We are planning to take July and August off as many are traveling during those months, and we have not booked any fall events yet.
Mimi wrote, “I just love your newsletters. It’s the perfect way to keep up with new books and get ideas of what to read next. I just marvel at all you do…the reading, cooking, knitting, gardening, etc. You are an inspiration to many.” Thanks, Mimi! Reading my note about caffeine earlier in this newsletter, just imagine if I was caffeinated every day.
I am not sure if those who create TV shows or movies care, but I have a couple of pet peeves. When I am watching a series or a film on TV and something critical happens in a text that you need binoculars to read on the screen, nothing says “I want subtitles” more than that. The second thing is mumbling. My hearing is really good, but with some characters --- namely Logan Marshall-Green, who plays Pete “Cal” Calvin on “Marshals” --- I keep asking, “What did he say?”
On Saturday, Annmarie and I are headed to an afternoon tea in Princeton, NJ, where Sally Hepworth will discuss MAD MABEL, which I read last weekend and loved. It will be a Bets On pick. On Tuesday night, we will be in Montclair, NJ for Kathryn Stockett’s event launching the aforementioned THE CALAMITY CLUB. If you are at either event, please say hello!
I am reading and loving THE ORIGINAL by Priya Parmar, a book of historical fiction about Katharine Hepburn, which has a terrific voice to it. I have read books about Hepburn, but I am finding that this one takes a new look at her life. I am just about finished listening to A FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman. I am going to miss the characters in this one soooooo much!
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 Bookshop/IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: GHOST TOWN by Tom Perrotta
GHOST TOWN by Tom Perrotta (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
Jimmy Perrini lives in 1970s suburban New Jersey, a few miles from Manhattan, but a world apart. At the end of eighth grade, after tragedy strikes, Jimmy finds himself lost in a fog of grief that alienates him from friends and family, drifting instead into troubling friendships with two older teenagers. One is a notorious local burnout with a fast car, an endless supply of weed, and a shaky grasp of reality. The other is a smart, eccentric girl, to whom Jimmy finds himself drawn as they become entranced by her Ouija board, which just may offer the only salve to their grief. As a fateful public drama unfolds, Jimmy is torn between the occult beyond and the cold realities of the place he has called home. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- 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:
A DEADLY EPISODE by Anthony Horowitz
A DEADLY EPISODE by Anthony Horowitz (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Rory Kinnear
Ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne is dead. Or, rather, the actor playing him in the film adaptation of The Word is Murder is. Rising star David Caine has been stabbed, and it seems that everyone on the set had a motive. Caine had just fired his PA. He had fallen out with his director, slept with the screenwriter, humiliated his co-star, and dropped his agent days before he was about to sign a multi-million-dollar deal to appear in the next Spider-Man movie. But what if Caine’s murderer had made a mistake? What if it was the real Hawthorne who was the intended victim? For it turns out that the brilliant detective may have gotten it wrong 10 years earlier. An innocent man has died in jail. And perhaps someone has decided that Hawthorne must pay the price. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FAMESICK by Lena Dunham
FAMESICK: A Memoir by Lena Dunham (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Lena Dunham
For the last decade, being the owner and operator of Lena Dunham’s body has felt “like towing a wrecked car across town at midnight.” It’s not easy dragging a wrecked car anywhere, much less to the set of the hit show that you --- as a 25-year-old --- are writing, directing, producing and starring in. But Dunham does it --- even if it means interminable hospital stays, vomiting in the bathroom when she’s meant to be meeting Oprah, or terrifying those closest to her --- because she can no longer tell the difference between fighting to do what she loves and being a servant to her own ambition. All the while, she is holding out for a love that can withstand her personal and public challenges and, more than anything, yearning to feel like herself again --- if only she could remember who that self was. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
New Release Spotlight:
THE SAPPHIRE SEA by Davis Bunn
THE SAPPHIRE SEA by Davis Bunn (Romance)
When it comes to the bittersweet memories of his late mother, Colin Eames is a relatable boy, recalling her tales of a faraway place called the Sapphire Sea where happiness forever is a way of life. Other than that, Colin is different. To Child Services, he's a prodigy to be nurtured. To his classmates, he’s an outsider. To his father, a man of political ambitions and unchecked rage, Colin is a trial, defying the narrowed path his father demands.
When Colin is accepted into the Outer Banks Academy for the Gifted, it's his chance to slip out from under his father’s control, to chart his own course, and to embark on a quest for the one thing that eludes him: love.
As the years pass and Colin’s freedom offers dream opportunities, his yearning to make a connection grows stronger. It’s a difficult longing for an awkward teenager for whom the simplest interactions are a mystery. Then he meets Mira, an empathetic girl weathering tragic losses of her own. She’s there for him, supporting each new step he takes. Even those with Tiana, a history student from Hawaii who ushers Colin into a new world of first kisses, belonging and trust --- far from the confusion and loneliness of his childhood days.
For Colin, maybe the promise of the Sapphire Sea wasn’t a bedtime story after all, but rather a true and genuine place in the heart --- one worth searching and waiting for.
- Click here to read Davis Bunn's bio.
- Click here to visit Davis Bunn's website.
- Click here to connect with Davis Bunn on Facebook.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 22nd Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through 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.
Our first two contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, May 5th and Wednesday, May 6th. The prize books will be THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On selection) and THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP BY THE HARBOR by Jean Stone.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com’s 21st Annual
Mother’s Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books for yourself or the special lady in your life in Bookreporter.com's 21st annual “Books Mom Will Love” contest.
From now through Monday, May 11th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes five great titles that we think moms will love.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Announcing Bookreporter.com’s
17th Annual Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for a 17th year! Once again, we are excited to be sharing pieces from authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
We kick off this year's series with a heartwarming contribution from Devi S. Laskar. Her third novel, MIDNIGHT, AT THE WAR, is about a reporter chasing the biggest story of her career as she contends with a tense newsroom, a dangerous global conflict, and all the problems she’s running away from at home.
Next week, we will hear from these authors:
Click here to read Bookreporter.com's 2026 Mother's Day Author Blogs.
Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB
by Susan Patterson and James Patterson
THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB by Susan Patterson and James Patterson (Fiction)
Between their busy lives and their far-flung residences, the Mother-Daughter Book Club --- four longtime college friends and their five daughters --- more often discuss the books on their nightstands via 2am texts than in-person meetings. And maybe it’s just as well, after what happened at their last get-together.
So it’s an emotional reunion when they finally gather again, this time on the spectacular shores of Italy’s Lake Como. Sightseeing excursions, reminiscing fueled by “Como-politans,” and a hint of vacation romance all build toward the book club’s trademark “Night of Secrets.”
These friends, and sometime rivals, are close readers --- of novels, memoirs, and each other. But as the years and the distance cast shadows and doubt, confidences and sympathies turn into surprising revelations.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here for the enhanced guide, which includes character descriptions, recipes, a reading challenge and more.
- Click here to read bios of Susan Patterson and James Patterson.
- Visit James Patterson's website and YouTube channel.
- Connect with James Patterson on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Threads.
- Click here to connect with Susan Patterson on Instagram.
Watch or listen to our “Bookreporter Talks To”
interview with Susan Patterson.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.
May’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 May's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Animal Farm
Release Date: Friday, May 1st (wide release in theaters)
Based on: ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
The Devil Wears Prada 2
Release Date: Friday, May 1st (wide release in theaters)
Based on: Characters created by Lauren Weisberger
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Release Date: Friday, May 8th on Netflix
Based on: REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt
Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Air Date: Saturday, May 16th at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel
Based on: The Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke
Series Premiere
"Lord of the Flies" (4-episode limited series)
Release Date: Monday, May 4th on Netflix (all episodes of the series will be available)
Based on: LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
Season Premiere
"The Chestnut Man"
Release Date: Thursday, May 7th on Netflix (all episodes of Season 2 will be available)
Based on: THE CHESTNUT MAN by Søren Sveistrup
Series Finales
"Outlander"
Air Dates: Fridays at 8pm ET/PT on STARZ; Series Finale on May 15th
Based on: GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE by Diana Gabaldon
"Margo's Got Money Troubles" (8-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Apple TV; Series Finale on May 20th
Based on: MARGO'S GOT MONEY TROUBLES by Rufi Thorpe
Season Finales
"Will Trent"
Air Dates: Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on ABC; Season 4 Finale on May 5th
Based on: The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter
"Tracker"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on CBS; Season 3 Finale on May 24th
Based on: THE NEVER GAME by Jeffery Deaver
"The Testaments"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Hulu and Disney+; Season 1 Finale on May 27th
Based on: THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood
On DVD and Blu-ray
Dracula
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, May 5th
Based on: DRACULA by Bram Stoker
Reminders of Him
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, May 19th
Based on: REMINDERS OF HIM by Colleen Hoover
Click here to see our Books on Screen feature for May.
What's New on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
PHASES: A Memoir by Brandy (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Brandy
From the moment she first sang at church in McComb, Mississippi, Brandy knew her voice was special. At 14, she landed her first record deal. At 15, her album went platinum. At 16, she was starring in the hit sitcom “Moesha” and became the first Black actress to play Cinderella on screen alongside fairy godmother Whitney Houston. Yet, as the accolades piled up, so too did the pressure to maintain a flawless image. To onlookers, she had crafted the blueprint for the teenage “it” girl. But behind closed doors, “The Vocal Bible,” as she was known, was struggling. In PHASES, Brandy shares the humble roots of her decades-spanning career, her early struggles with bullies and insecurities as a high schooler, the inside stories behind her most iconic songs and albums, and so much more. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THE CARETAKER by Marcus Kliewer (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Corey Brill
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY: Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY. Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention. It had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all --- vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she's not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for. Besides, it’s only three days’ work. Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness. What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property --- and Macy Mullins just might be the only thing standing between it and the rest of humanity. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
LAST BRANCH STANDING: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court by Sarah Isgur (Law/Politics)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Isgur
Most people get the Supreme Court all wrong. A smattering of high-profile decisions have popularized a simplistic idea of the Court and its justices. Yes, six of them were appointed by Republicans and only three by Democrats. So how does that 6-3 conservative majority explain why in the 2024-25 term, conservative Brett Kavanaugh was more likely to agree with liberal Elena Kagan than conservative Neil Gorsuch? Or why the court threw shade at Florida’s attempt to ban drag shows? To truly understand the Court, argues Sarah Isgur, you have to look beyond partisan politics --- the “X-Axis.” The wisest court watchers apply another measuring stick, the “Y-Axis," where the nine justices span from order-loving institutionalists to true chaos agents. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
WE BURNED SO BRIGHT by TJ Klune (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Kirt Graves
A rogue black hole is coming for Earth, and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone. Suddenly, after 40 years together, husbands Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over. On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how --- impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals and new friends. And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper (Crime Fiction/Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Peter Giles, Christine Lakin and Rama Vallury
Los Angeles, right now. America with its back up against the wall. This Frankenstein's monster of crimes and lurid dreams sewn together into something like a city. A city ready to explode: A Hollywood pedophile is arrested, and he is ready to tear down the city to get his freedom. A young woman goes missing --- and men in black rubber gloves who look like cops clean out her apartment in the middle of the night. And the serial killer known as the LA Ripper is on the loose, leaving tragic/graphic/brutal crime scenes in his wake. Three people trying to keep their heads above the dirty water will find themselves coming together to unite these strands into one enormous, unspeakable crime. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
JAPANESE GOTHIC by Kylie Lee Baker (Gothic Horror/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Natalie Naudus
October 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge --- his father’s new home in Japan, which is hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. October 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window. One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie. Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
REDBELLY CROSSING by Candice Fox (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Heath Miller
Since a violent confrontation tore apart a family five years ago, brothers and fellow cops Russell and Evan haven’t spoken a word to each other. When they’re both assigned to the murder of a young journalist in the tiny town of Redbelly Crossing, their paths are forced to cross again. This was supposed to be the week Russell could repair things with his teenage daughter. Instead, he has to drag her on a murderous ride into the middle of snake-infested nowhere. For Evan, this case is exactly what he needed: a high-profile investigation that will give him the chance to rebuild his career after a terrible mistake that nearly ended it. Then a dark discovery leaves Evan with only one way out: to bury the truth Russell is so determined to uncover. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
DARK IS WHEN THE DEVIL COMES by Daisy Pearce (Psychological Thriller/Supernatural Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Catrin Walker-Booth
Hazel has been gone from her small hometown of Idless in the English countryside for years. Now returned in the wake of a traumatic divorce and crumbling personal life, her simple plans are to lay low at her parents’ vacated house, reconnect with her prickly sister, Cathy, and slowly get back on her feet. Cathy is surprised when Hazel doesn’t show. Their relationship strained from a fallout half a decade ago, she didn’t expect them to get back into a sisterly rhythm…though she hadn’t counted on Hazel bailing, either. But something isn’t adding up. Other people in town whisper of a threat that can’t be shaken. The woods are known for being restless. And Cathy knows the old saying: If you go looking for trouble, you just might find it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
CLEO DANG WOULD RATHER BE DEAD by Mai Nguyen (Fiction/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Elyse Dinh
All Cleo Dang has ever wanted is to be a mother. The day she discovers she’s pregnant is the happiest of her life, especially when she learns that her best friend, Paloma, is also expecting. It’s a wonderful surprise, and together, they enjoy their pregnancies. But when they both go to the hospital in labor, something goes very, very wrong. Paloma comes home with a baby. Cleo does not. Ravaged by grief, Cleo must now navigate life after losing her baby. She alienates herself from the world, particularly her best friend, who is living the life she so desperately wanted. Forced to take leave from her demanding job as an actuary, Cleo manages to find work at a funeral home, where she meets a revolving cast of bereaved locals and discovers the power of confronting grief. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
51% by Matt Witten (Dystopian Thriller)
Twenty years from now, the United States is completely privatized. The Big Six syndicates own schools, roads, police departments...even human beings. When a young immigrant woman --- 51% owned by the syndicates --- is brutally murdered, NYPD, Inc. Detective Juke O'Keefe and his partner, Crime Marketing Consultant Haylee Navarro, catch the case. Pregnant and broke, Haylee knows they can't crowdfund enough from a dead immigrant to pay for basic forensics, let alone their paychecks. But Juke, with his old-school sense of justice, is determined to find the killer. Their search for the truth leads them to Juke's ex, Safiya Jones, a Resistance leader on the syndicates' most wanted list. As the three join forces, they stumble onto a conspiracy designed to destroy the last shreds of American freedom. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 4th and 5th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 4th and 5th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of May 4th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
May 4th
26 BEAUTIES by James Patterson (Thriller)
The Women’s Murder Club goes searching for 26 Beauties --- young women missing in San Francisco.
May 5th
AND SO IT IS...: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope by Jamie Lynn Sigler (Memoir)
The star of the legendary HBO series “The Sopranos” opens up about the vicissitudes of life --- from early stardom to heartache and love, motherhood and illness --- offering readers an unflinchingly vulnerable exploration of the experiences that have transformed her life.
THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (Historical Fiction)
The multimillion-copy-selling author of THE HELP returns with a bold, bighearted novel about a group of unbreakable women, fighting for what’s rightfully theirs --- and the power of friendship to change everything.
CALLER UNKNOWN by Gillian McAllister (Domestic Thriller)
How far would you go to rescue your child? A mother races against the clock --- and finds herself on the wrong side of the law --- in a desperate fight to save her teenage daughter.
COME BACK TO THE WORLD by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
A single mother strives to understand the enigma of a reclusive novelist in a poignant novel about belonging, secret lives and the desire to disappear.
ENORMOUS WINGS by Laurie Frankel (Fiction)
ENORMOUS WINGS is an urgent novel about female agency and bodily autonomy, morality and mortality. It’s about what happens when you don’t get to choose anymore. It’s about motherhood and family, sex and love and friendship, and how those bedrocks --- even so late in the day --- can still change and then change everything.
THE FINE ART OF LYING by Alexandra Andrews (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
From the critically acclaimed author of WHO IS MAUD DIXON? comes a riveting new novel about a young wife and mother thrust into a world of wealth and privilege, whose rash mistake sets off a domino effect of murder and betrayal.
FIVE by Ilona Bannister (Psychological Thriller)
Five lives. Five stories. Four will live, one will die. Who it will be? In this slow-burn masterpiece of psychological fiction, the choice is all yours.
FIVE WEEKS IN THE COUNTRY by Francine Prose (Historical Fiction)
From the acclaimed, award-winning author of READING LIKE A WRITER and LOVERS AT THE CHAMELEON CLUB, PARIS 1932 comes an utterly original novel inspired by the strange friendship between Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen and set during the summer when Dickens' family life exploded.
GHOST STORIES: A Memoir by Siri Hustvedt (Memoir)
GHOST STORIES is an intimate meditation on grief, memory and enduring love, written after the death of Siri Hustvedt’s husband, Paul Auster.
HOMEBOUND by Portia Elan (Science Fiction)
Five interlocking lives. One beloved story. A dazzling adventure across centuries and continents in search of the things that hold us together.
JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart (Fiction)
From the Booker Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author of SHUGGIE BAIN and YOUNG MUNGO comes a vivid, moving novel following a young man returning to his Hebridean island home, a portrait of a father’s expectations and a son’s desires.
KATE!: The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen by Christopher Andersen (Biography)
This definitive portrait of Kate Middleton, the beloved and private Princess of Wales, traces her stunning rise from working-class roots to queen-in-waiting.
A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD by Michael Crichton, writing as John Lange
(Mystery/Thriller)
This new Hollywood mystery thriller, originally written in 1973 by Michael Crichton but never before published, will keep you guessing until the very end.
THE PARISIAN CHAPTER by Janet Skeslien Charles (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE PARIS LIBRARY and MISS MORGAN'S BOOK BRIGADE comes a charming novel about two small-town girls with big dreams who move to Paris to become artists. But dreams don’t just come true. They require nurturing, as do friendships.
SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.
THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout (Fiction)
Pulitzer Prize–winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout’s new novel tells the story of a chance incident that sparks a powerful realization in the life of a beloved teacher.
TRUE CRIME: A Memoir by Patricia Cornwell (Memoir)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell finally tells the story that rivals all of the works that precede it: her own.
THE WISH by Heather Morris (Fiction)
From the #1 bestselling author of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ comes a heartbreaking contemporary novel full of Heather Morris' characteristic empathy and understanding of the human condition: a dying teenager with a final wish, a lonely young man on a journey towards connection, and the unexpected friendship they find together.
YOUNG KING: The Making of Martin Luther King Jr. by Lerone Martin (Biography)
From a preeminent King scholar comes the origin story of the man, minister and civil rights hero who would lead the nation and change the world.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Christina Baker Kline, Anthony Horowitz, Patricia Cornwell
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, May 5th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Patricia Cornwell will be in conversation with broadcast journalist Lesley Stahl about her memoir, TRUE CRIME. In this deeply candid account of her life, Cornwell offers inspiring insight into what made her into the international sensation she is today.
Wednesday, May 6th at 1pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell for a live virtual discussion of her memoir, TRUE CRIME, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Patricia will be in conversation with bestselling author James Patterson.
Wednesday, May 6th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Christina Baker Kline about her new novel, THE FOURSOME, a boldly original reimagining of the astonishing true story of two sisters in 19th-century North Carolina --- Kline’s own distant relatives --- who married world-famous conjoined twins from Siam.
Thursday, May 7th at 1pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz for a live virtual discussion of his new mystery, A DEADLY EPISODE, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Anthony will be in conversation with the New York Times bestselling author of MURDER YOUR DARLINGS, Jenna Blum.
"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:
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Susan Patterson (THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Rachel Beanland (THE HALF LIFE)
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Lori Foster (THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel)
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Jenny Jackson (THE SHAMPOO EFFECT)
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John Searles (SINGLE GIRLS)
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Ruta Sepetys (A FORTUNE OF SAND)
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Kathryn Stockett (THE CALAMITY CLUB)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in May have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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26 BEAUTIES by James Patterson
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THE ANNIVERSARY by Alex Finlay
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BENEATH A BROKEN SKY by Joshua Moehling
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THE BROTHERS McKAY: A Longmire Mystery, by Craig Johnson
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THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff
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THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett
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CALLER UNKNOWN by Gillian McAllister
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COME BACK TO THE WORLD by Catherine Ryan Hyde
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THE DIVORCE by Freida McFadden
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ENORMOUS WINGS by Laurie Frankel
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THE FINAL TARGET by Nora Roberts
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THE FINE ART OF LYING by Alexandra Andrews
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FIVE by Ilona Bannister
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FIVE WEEKS IN THE COUNTRY by Francine Prose
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A FORTUNE OF SAND by Ruta Sepetys
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THE FOURSOME by Christina Baker Kline
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GHALEN: A Romance in Black, by Walter Mosley
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THE GULF OF LIONS by Caitlin Shetterly
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HOMEBOUND by Portia Elan
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IRONWOOD: A Catalina Novel, by Michael Connelly
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JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart
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THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel, by Lori Foster
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THE LAST MANDARIN by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung
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THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN by Matt Haig
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A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD by Michael Crichton, writing as John Lange
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AN ORDINARY SORT OF EVIL: A Rip Through Time Novel, by Kelley Armstrong
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THE PARISIAN CHAPTER by Janet Skeslien Charles
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A PERFECT HAND by Ayelet Waldman
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RED VERDICT by James Comey
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S BOOKED: A Sunny Randall Novel, by Alison Gaylin
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SEEK THE TRAITOR'S SON by Veronica Roth
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THE SHIPPERS by Katherine Center
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SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout
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THE WISH by Heather Morris
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 15th 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 May 1st to May 15th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE FOURSOME by Christina Baker Kline and THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout.
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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