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Hitting a Couple of Milestones!
Our company was incorporated 30 years ago this month; in fact, I think it might be 30 years ago today. Our first website launched in August 1996. Every time we hit a milestone, we celebrate. We hit another big one this week with 1,000,000 views/listens for our video/podcast series.
Thanks to all of you who have watched or listened. We are very proud of the programming that we have created with our “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews, our “Bookaccino Live” book preview events, and our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events. And we are excited that our podcasts are now on Spotify. We have enjoyed getting to know so many of you through your emails and comments during and after our events. And we love seeing that readers join us from across the country. Whenever I interview an author, I try to ask the questions that I think you would want answered.
We are a small company with no corporate backing, so our achievements come from our small but mighty team. We have lots more programming planned, but we definitely are taking time to recognize this milestone. And if you are so inclined to join in celebrating our success, we continue to welcome donations here.
On Tuesday night, I spent a brilliant evening at [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ, where Wally Lamb was appearing to celebrate the paperback release of his instant New York Times bestseller, THE RIVER IS WAITING, an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. The standing-room-only audience of very passionate readers had excellent questions, and then he signed books for hours.
I loved how Wally spent time with each reader. One woman had painted the cover of one of his books onto a brick (I was so impressed but failed to see which book it was), and then she showed me her garden where she has painted bricks lined up to look like a bookshelf. It was fabulous. Thank you to Jonah Zimiles, who owns the bookstore with his wife, Ellen, for the pictures from the evening as my phone was dead! He's sitting next to me in the second photo. You can see how packed the room was!
Join Us on Tuesday Evening for Our
Book Group Event with Wally Lamb!
I am thrilled that Wally will be joining us this Tuesday, May 26th at 8pm ET for this month's “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event. We love that we are going to be able to bring him across the country with this program.
After I talk to Wally, we will give readers the chance 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. Then we will turn to questions that have been dropped into Zoom’s Q&A feature. Click here to register for the event.
If you would like to ask Wally a question, please fill out this form by Tuesday, May 26th at noon ET. 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.
We will be hosting our 15th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event on Friday, June 12th at 1pm ET. If you are a bookseller, librarian or book club leader and would be interested in attending this event, please email me and tell me a bit about yourself using the subject line “Speed Dating.” This is a “trade only” event, but we will share the publisher videos, PowerPoint slides and other materials with you next month.
Join us on Wednesday, June 17th at 8pm ET for a special “Bookaccino Live” Summer Preview evening program. I will be talking about a number of books releasing this summer that we think you will enjoy reading. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction. You can sign up for the event by clicking here.
Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in. Michael Connelly’s Catalina series continues with the second installment, IRONWOOD, following last year’s NIGHTSHADE.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “The finale is intense, and not everyone will come out the other side safely. IRONWOOD is another great Michael Connelly read told in his own indomitable style that his fans have grown to love. It may seem that Stilwell’s adventures on Catalina Island aren't as explosive as those of his colleagues on the mainland. But readers of the first two books in this series would beg to differ as they depict a side of the island that no one expects to see.”
She wants him to help her woo someone else. Genius. Foolproof. Can’t go wrong. Katherine Center is back with THE SHIPPERS, a swoon-worthy novel set aboard a cruise ship during a destination wedding. It’s about old crushes, bad timing, and plans that don’t go quite as expected.
According to Pamela Kramer in her review, “No one writes rom-coms like Katherine Center. She is the goddess of love stories and finding lots of humor in relationships and our inner workings. She really gets people --- their idiosyncrasies, insecurities and soft, gooey centers.... You'll smile throughout the cruise and even more so at the very satisfying, unsurprising, romantic and perfect ending.”
Sarah Damoff follows up her acclaimed debut novel, THE BRIGHT YEARS, with THE BURNING SIDE, which tells the story of April and Leo, a couple on the brink of collapse. When their house goes up in flames, family secrets and thorny histories emerge as they are forced to decide what is worth salvaging.
Here’s what Megan Elliott says about the book in her review: “Damoff skillfully paints a picture of April and Leo’s rich, complex marriage, from their early, optimistic days as newlyweds to the quiet resentments that build up over the years, unmentioned until they finally become too much for either to ignore. But in THE BURNING SIDE, family --- however unwieldy and difficult --- is too precious a thing to throw away lightly.” I have this one on my “to be read” pile.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND: The latest thriller from Rosie Walsh, the bestselling author of GHOSTED and THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, asks readers what --- and whom --- they would give up to return to a first love and to the people they once were.
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AND SO IT IS…: “The Sopranos” star Jamie Lynn Sigler 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.
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ENORMOUS WINGS: Laurie Frankel’s new novel is about female agency and bodily autonomy, morality and mortality. 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.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is THE CALAMITY CLUB, the instant New York Times bestseller and long-awaited second novel from Kathryn Stockett, whose debut was the 2009 mega-bestseller THE HELP. Click here for my commentary. If you missed my interview with Kathryn from last week, click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Megan Abbott
Out in paperback this week is EL DORADO DRIVE by Megan Abbott, a novel of friendship and betrayal that follows a women-led pyramid scheme in suburban Detroit. I talked to Megan about the book following its hardcover release last year. Be sure to watch or listen to the interview if you haven’t already.
Summer Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away the aforementioned THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff and YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda. Next week’s prizes will be THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel by Lori Foster (our latest Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight title) and MERRY-GO-ROUND BROKE DOWN: A Novel of Guilt, Greed & Globalization by David Woo and Margalit Shinar. These 24-hour giveaways will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
Our current Word of Mouth prizes are A FORTUNE OF SAND by Ruta Sepetys and THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN by Matt Haig, both of which we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win these titles. Please enter by Friday, May 29th at noon ET. I had a wonderful conversation with Ruta yesterday and look forward to sharing that interview with you in two weeks.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 15 nonfiction titles that are now or will be available in paperback you are looking forward to reading. Click here to let us know by Friday, May 29th at noon ET.
On Thursday, May 28th at 7pm ET, be sure to watch the Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2026 Author & Editor Fiction Panel, a free virtual event hosted by Leigh Haber and Mary Ann Naples.
Five authors will be in conversation with their editors about their upcoming books: Chloe Benjamin (UNDER STORY), Joseph Fink (THE NUDGE), Chad Harbach (THE BRIGHTNESS), Lydia Millet (FAIR ONES), and Wayétu Moore (HABILA).
You can register for the event by clicking here. And you can download Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2026 here. This free e-book sampler offers readers an exclusive preview of some of the season’s most anticipated releases, curated to showcase both established voices and emerging talents.
The winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize is Yáng Shuāng-zǐ's TAIWAN TRAVELOGUE. Translated by Lin King, it is the first book translated from Mandarin Chinese to win the prize.
The novel, which takes the form of a fictional translation of a rediscovered Japanese travel memoir, explores history, power, class, colonialism and love through the lens of two women’s culinary tour across Japan-controlled Taiwan in the 1930s.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Susan wrote, “Carol, I am overwhelmed about winning the Mother’s Day contest! SO excited to read them all! I love reading your website too. Thank you again.” Above you can see Susan with her prizes. Hope she enjoys them!
Vickie wrote about winning the aforementioned THE BURNING SIDE in our Summer Reading contest: “Wonderful. Thank you.”
Another Summer Reading contest winner, Betsy, wrote about winning THE SAPPHIRE SEA by Davis Bunn: “Thank you so much! I will let you know when I receive it. I’ll also review it for you!” Yes, please post about it on Word of Mouth!
Mary wrote, “Just a big thank you for the bookmarks that I shared with my book club. I’m hoping that they will be checking out your website soon. I read the website and often wonder how you are able to pack all of the activities that you mention, plus find time to read, into your busy schedule. A huge thank you from me for all of the terrific books that you have brought into my life. So many books, so little time. Enjoy your summer. It’s coming on soon!”
Francesca and I are working on getting out all of the bookmarks that have been requested thus far. While I brought a pile to the post office and they told us the postage was correct, we got a batch back that need 29 cents more postage. Know that we are working our way through these requests!
Peonies are among my favorite flowers, and most are very fragile. So the other night, as a torrential downpour hit the area, I was outside feverishly cutting flowers. The yellow ones above are transplants from my mother-in-law’s garden. I ended up soaked to the skin and then made many arrangements gathering vases from around the house.
Today’s weather is beautiful, but I know the weekend forecast is calling for lots of rain. I still plan to meander my way through the garden center to buy plants. I am planning to consult the maps that Karyn (who is brilliant at planting for us) and I did last year. So much is coming back, and our plan for color throughout the year is coming together.
Mary Kay Andrews’ new book, ROAD TRIP, is set in Ireland. In it, two sisters who could not be more different travel together to see if a painting that they inherited is worth money. I went to the health club pool last weekend and read half of it while I was standing at the water’s edge. Amusingly, another woman was there, and she also was reading with her book propped on the side of the pool. I asked what she was reading, and she said, “I remember you; you are the book lady.” I think I need waterproof bookmarks to hand out. I am enjoying the storyline in ROAD TRIP and look forward to seeing how it all ends.
Lena Dunham's memoir, FAMESICK, is not something that I normally would pick up. But I was driving home from the city after a lunch on Tuesday, and the traffic was HORRIBLE. I was listening to music on Spotify when the audiobook popped up, and I was reminded that it was part of my subscription. I gave it a whirl and have been enjoying it. I remember watching “Girls” on HBO, and I love hearing how shows like that came together. Dunham is the narrator, which adds to the quirkiness of it.
The aforementioned THE LAKE HOUSE is top of the pile for the weekend as I am looking forward to interviewing Lori Foster. This afternoon, Francesca and I worked on organizing my bookshelves for the upcoming months. There are so many books that I cannot wait to delve into. I already am lining up author interviews for the summer.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Please keep in mind the meaning of the holiday. I am HOPING that the weather will allow for me to attend the town parade on Monday. It’s a true slice of Americana and one of my favorite things!
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: IRONWOOD by Michael Connelly
IRONWOOD: A Catalina Novel by Michael Connelly (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron
Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise. Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane land in the middle of the night at the Airport in the Sky, a remote airstrip in the mountains. A duffel bag of drugs is dropped and the deputies move in, but things quickly go sideways. While Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man into the mountainside brush, shots are fired on the runway and the plane flies off. An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared of responsibility for the disastrous operation. But he is determined to find out who brought deadly violence to his island, so he begins his own secret investigation into the drug deal gone wrong. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE SHIPPERS by Katherine Center
THE SHIPPERS by Katherine Center (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Patti Murin
After a lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton vows to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. Armed with pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly divorced wedding guest). Determined to woo him for closure, she ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, as her wingman. Cooper: who RSVPed no but showed up anyway. Cooper: who moved to London without a word four years ago. Cooper: who broke her heart. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff
THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Stacy Gonzalez, Timothy Andrés Pabon and Jackie Sanders
When April and Leo’s house burns in the middle of the night, they escape with their two young children. They retreat to April’s childhood home in Dallas, where her spirited parents and siblings provide both comfort and complication. As the family reckons with the aftermath, the fire exposes the cracks already forming in April and Leo’s marriage. The novel unfolds in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett
THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (Historical Fiction)
There are books where the voices ring so true that they stay with you. This is what happened when I read Kathryn Stockett's debut novel, THE HELP. Now, with THE CALAMITY CLUB, I feel the same way about Meg, Birdie and the other women who populate this story.
The setting is Oxford, Mississippi, in the early 1930s. The Depression has brought challenges to people across the country. Birdie has come to town to ask her sister, Frances, who has married well, to give her money so they do not lose their family home in southern Mississippi. But she arrives to find that her sister’s life is not as brilliant as she thought it was. In fact, Frances has troubles of her own and somehow has not accepted her new reality.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Kathryn Stockett.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE LAKE HOUSE by Lori Foster
On Sale May 26th
THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel by Lori Foster (Fiction)
When Pixie Nolan first came to Bramble, Kentucky, the abandoned and desperate young single mother found hope, healing and a fresh start. With the loving support of her best friends --- Marlow Heddings and her handsome Marine husband, Cort --- Pixie is now happily raising her toddler son in a cozy cottage, managing Marlow’s thriving boutique and designing firefly logo t-shirts that are selling like hotcakes. The past is behind her, and life is good.
She never expected to make an electrifying connection with a summer renter, a retired Navy SEAL with his own complicated past.
A rugged warrior with scars both seen and unseen, Brogan Rafferty arrives with an adorable baby girl in tow and settles into the lake house next door. And while he’s a stunning addition to the gorgeous scenery, it’s his caring devotion that captures Pixie’s heart --- the way he gently snuggles away the precious infant’s cries or swoops Pixie’s delighted little boy high in the air with his tattooed, muscular arms.
But it’s no coincidence that Brogan has found Pixie, and his startling revelations make it clear she’s the key to healing old regrets and building new dreams. And when a hostile stranger turns up with shocking accusations against Bramble’s new hometown hero, Pixie must put her own fears and heartbreak away for good --- and learn what it truly means to trust.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Lori Foster's bio.
- Click here to visit Lori Foster's website.
- Connect with Lori Foster on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
Don't miss our review of the book in next week's newsletter, followed by Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Lori Foster in June.
Featured Review:
THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND
by Rosie Walsh
THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND by Rosie Walsh (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Emilia Fox
Carrie and Johan marry on a beach in Thailand only months into their whirlwind romance. But as the wedding festivities stretch into the night, a group of armed men suddenly swarm the beach, taking Johan away. She never sees him again. Twelve years later, Carrie is living in the English countryside with her husband, Robin, and their six-year-old twins. One night, she stumbles across an online post in which she discovers that Johan escaped from Thailand years ago and has been living in Stockholm ever since. As the memories of their passionate relationship flood her, she becomes obsessed with discovering what happened on their wedding day all those years ago. But just when Carrie thinks she knows what she must do, a shocking twist tears apart everything she thought she knew. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: AND SO IT IS… by Jamie Lynn Sigler
AND SO IT IS...: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope by Jamie Lynn Sigler (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Jamie Lynn Sigler
Tapped at the young age of 16 to star as Meadow Soprano, by the time “The Sopranos” ended in 2007, Jamie Lynn Sigler suffered from an eating disorder, kept private her diagnosis of MS, and entered a disastrous early marriage. Over the next years, Jamie would remarry, become a mother, launch a hugely popular podcast, and, most recently, nearly lose her beloved son to a mysterious illness. Amidst the stardust showered and all the slings and arrows that life has thrown, Jamie emerges with grace and a generosity of spirit that she is ready to share. In this moving and fiercely honest memoir, she reflects on her life and her years on “The Sopranos.” But this is no tale of woe. Jamie guides us through her darkest moments and comes out the other side emboldened and not embittered. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ENORMOUS WINGS by Laurie Frankel
ENORMOUS WINGS by Laurie Frankel (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Becky Ann Baker
At 77, Pepper Mills is too old to be a stranger in a strange land. She didn’t choose the Vista View Retirement Community of Austin, Texas --- that would be her three grown children --- but when she grudgingly moves in, she not only makes new friends, she falls in love. Then the exhaustion, vomiting and confusion start. She fears it’s cancer, dementia, a stroke. But a raft of tests later, the news is even more shocking: She’s pregnant. As word gets out, everyone wants a piece of her: the press and paparazzi, activists and medical researchers, belly-rubbers and rubberneckers all descending on Vista View while Pepper struggles to determine her next move. Soon she has some hard decisions to make --- and some she’s not allowed to make. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 22nd Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
THE DORIANS by Nick Cutter (Science Fiction/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Corey Brill
On a remote island in the Canadian wilderness, five elderly volunteers from different walks of life are given a tantalizing offer: to stall their biological clocks or even reverse them, restoring their lost youth. The chance to put death on pause --- forever, perhaps. The remarkable secret lies in the high-tech harnessing of an ancient and extraordinary biological agent…one with no conscience yet possessed with a single-minded purpose that has helped it persist for eons: the will to survive. The dark heart of unbridled human ambition finds its apex in an unholy experiment that now tests the limits of both creator and subject, eclipsing all bounds of morality and sanity. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
AMERICAN PATRIARCH: The Life of George Washington by H. W. Brands (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Fass
From his early military career and role among the Virginia gentry, to his leadership during the American Revolution and reluctant return to public service as the first president of the United States, AMERICAN PATRIARCH brings to life the man who was called on time and again by his peers to lead. It casts George Washington as the icon of American virtue who wrested America free from British control, gave credibility to the Constitution, and crafted the norms that would steady America as a nation for generations to follow. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
NOLAN: The Singular Life of an American Original by Tim Brown (Sports/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Jim Seybert
NOLAN is an exploration of God, family, baseball and America --- and a tribute to one of the greatest pitchers to ever step on the mound. Nolan Ryan grew up in the small, hard town of Alvin, Texas, was graced with a fastball, and fell in love with a woman named Ruth. He then honored all three in his pursuit of hardball perfection. Alongside Nolan’s personal story, renowned sportswriter Tim Brown offers a thoughtful, deeply researched history of baseball in the Lone Star State, and an unforgettable account of three glorious decades in the Major Leagues. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
THE GIRL WITH A THOUSAND FACES by Sunyi Dean (Gothic Horror/Historical Fantasy)
When Mercy Chan washes up on the shores of Hong Kong with no family, no money and no memories, the only refuge she finds is the infamous, ghost-infested slum of Kowloon Walled City. Since then, she has rebuilt her life, working for the local triad as a ghost talker and dealing with the angry and bitter spirits who haunt the district. But the past Mercy can’t remember isn't done with her. An unusually powerful ghost has infested Kowloon’s waterways, drowning innocents and threatening the district. It claims to know Mercy --- and secrets from her past that are best left forgotten. As Mercy is drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with this malignant spirit, she begins to realize that the monster she fights within these walls may well be one of her own making. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE MAY HOUSE by Jillian Cantor (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
No matter what’s going on in the May sisters’ lives, the one thing they can rely on is seeing each other for one week in May at their grandmother’s beachside home in gorgeous Coronado. As adults, Julia, Emily and Nora aren’t particularly close, but their promise to return each year keeps them anchored together. Until one May when Julia, the oldest and most dependable sister, doesn’t show. Suddenly, Nora and Emily start to question how much they truly know about their sister’s life. Told in alternating points of view, spanning from their time together with Grandma Vera as kids into their adult lives, THE MAY HOUSE explores how a decades-long family secret has unknowingly shaped each sister and, ultimately, how it brings them closer together. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE AUTHOR WEEKEND by Laura Zigman (Mystery/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available; read by Gabra Zackman, Carol Monda, Joel Froomkin and Emily Lawrence
Everything needs to be just right for bestselling mystery writer Faye Wader's first-ever fan weekend. Her sales might be slipping --- only a little! --- but her readers still love her enough to pony up for three days and two nights on Great Misery Island. The retreat is precisely planned by Faye and her beleaguered assistant, Jade. Faye's longtime agent and editor will be there, as well as Faye's number one fan, Peggy Mercer. When news comes that the weekend will be crashed by rival novelist Abby Schuss, Faye thinks things can't get worse…until one of the attendees is found dead in her room, setting off an unexpectedly murderous chain of events that make pre-pub anxiety seem like a day at the beach. How far is Faye willing to go to get exactly what she wants from her author weekend? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
NEW SKIN by Sarah Wang (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jen Zhao
At 26, Linli Feng is still trying to escape her mother Fanny’s orbit. But after three years of estrangement, she is dragged back by Fanny’s latest medical catastrophe and forced to return home. For decades, Fanny has been addicted to plastic surgery. Now her disfigured face is in dangerous revolt, infected and collapsing yet again from black-market injectables. But Fanny has another secret in store. She has won a spot on “America’s Beauty Extreme,” a reality television competition in which botched plastic surgery addicts compete for reconstructive surgery as riveted audiences tune in. When Linli attempts to rescue Fanny from the sinister subculture that already has claimed her mother’s face, she must confront the corrosive reality of the American Dream that is at the fraught heart of their relationship. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
LAST SEEN by Lucy Clarke (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Clare Corbett and Harriet Carmichael
Seven years ago, two boys went missing at sea --- and only one was brought to shore. The Sandbank, a remote stretch of coast dotted with beach huts, was scarred forever. Sarah’s son survived all those years ago. But on the anniversary of the accident, he disappears without a trace. As new secrets begin to surface, The Sandbank hums with tension and unanswered questions. Sarah’s search grows more desperate, and she starts to mistrust everyone she knows. Someone saw everything on that fateful day seven years ago. And they’ll do anything to keep the truth buried. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE GREAT HOUSES OF PILL HILL by Diane Josefowicz (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Mia Barron
Hannah “Cookie” Cooke, an interior decorator with a sideline making miniature reproductions of crime scenes for the local police department, lands her dream job when New Preston’s wealthiest couple hires her to renovate their historic New England home. But things go spectacularly wrong when her client, Chuck --- with whom she is having an affair --- is murdered at the housewarming party. The detective on the case commissions one of Cookie’s miniatures to help solve the baffling murder. While grappling with her own complicated role in Chuck’s life --- and the thorny layers of her own envies, resentments and ambitions --- Cookie delves into the strange details of his death. In untangling the mystery, Cookie reveals an ugly truth about New Preston’s elite that might prove deadly. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 26th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 26th 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 25th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE ARCADIAN by Steven Pressfield (Historical Thriller)
The bestselling author of GATES OF FIRE and A MAN AT ARMS presents a gripping, genre-bending story of a mercenary in late medieval Spain and the eternal costs of violence.
BENEATH A BROKEN SKY by Joshua Moehling (Mystery/Thriller)
From USA Today bestselling author Joshua Moehling comes a tense, atmospheric thriller about one detective's search for a mysterious killer in the chaos following a deadly storm.
THE BOLEYN SECRET by Alison Weir (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the dramatic, mysterious life of Katherine Carey, niece of Anne Boleyn, in this surprising novel that delves into one of the deepest secrets of Henry VIII’s court.
THE BROTHERS McKAY: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson (Mystery)
The 22nd novel in the Longmire series, THE BROTHERS McKAY is a murder mystery and a survival thriller that tests Sheriff Walt Longmire's hard-won sense of justice --- all while paying sly homage to Dostoevsky’s classic.
THE DIVORCE by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
In THE DIVORCE, Freida McFadden delivers a razor-sharp, subversive thriller where love curdles into vengeance, and survival becomes the most dangerous game of all.
THE FINAL TARGET by Nora Roberts (Psychological Thriller)
A young author becomes the object of a fan’s desire --- and rage --- in this gripping thriller by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of HIDDEN NATURE.
A FORTUNE OF SAND by Ruta Sepetys (Historical Fiction)
The daughter of a powerful tycoon escapes to a glamorous artists’ retreat --- where dark secrets and dangerous temptations await --- in this gripping Prohibition-era novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of SALT TO THE SEA.
GHALEN: A Romance in Black by Walter Mosley (Fiction)
This beautiful coming-of-age novel from Edgar Award winner Walter Mosley explores love in all forms --- romantic, familial and platonic --- and is centered on one Black family, including a neurodivergent man, and the found bonds that helps ground them.
THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel by Lori Foster (Fiction)
Second chances, surprising revelations, and sweet, unexpected love go hand-in-hand in the tiny lakeside town at the heart of this charming series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.
THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE: Essays by David Sedaris (Essays)
In his new essay collection, David Sedaris investigates what it means to be a traveler, a brother and a lifelong friend.
THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN by Matt Haig (Science Fiction/Fantasy)
No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. The chance to relive the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were.
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From left to right: Mary Kay Andrews, Wally Lamb, Alex Finlay
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 26th at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Wally Lamb about his instant New York Times bestseller, THE RIVER IS WAITING, an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Wally also will answer questions from guests who will be “on stage,” as well as from other members of the audience.
Tuesday, May 26th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Alex Finlay about his new novel, THE ANNIVERSARY. This addictive murder mystery and nail-biting thriller is also a tender, heartrending story about fate, innocence lost, and two people bound by a single day.
Wednesday, May 27th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with F&F's own Mary Kay Andrews about her latest novel, ROAD TRIP. Pack your bags for a summer journey shaped by family secrets, long-buried history, and charming men with Irish accents.
Thursday, May 28th at 7pm ET: Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2026 Author & Editor Fiction Panel: Hosted by Leigh Haber and Mary Ann Naples, this starry seasonal fiction panel features five authors in conversation with their editors: Chloe Benjamin (UNDER STORY), Joseph Fink (THE NUDGE), Chad Harbach (THE BRIGHTNESS), Lydia Millet (FAIR ONES), and Wayétu Moore (HABILA).
"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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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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Lisa See (DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON)
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Ruta Sepetys (A FORTUNE OF SAND)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Nonfiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following nonfiction titles releasing in May have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AMERICAN PATRIARCH: The Life of George Washington, by H. W. Brands
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AND SO IT IS...: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope, by Jamie Lynn Sigler
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THE FAMILY MAN: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh, by James Lasdun
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GHOST STORIES: A Memoir, by Siri Hustvedt
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KATE!: The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen, by Christopher Andersen
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THE KILLER AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise, by Casey Sherman
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THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE: Essays, by David Sedaris
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THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World, by Douglas Brunt
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MIGRANT HEART: Essays About Things I Can't Forget, by Reyna Grande
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MOTHER TONGUE: A Memoir, by Sara Nović
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ON WITNESS AND RESPAIR: Essays, by Jesmyn Ward
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THIS DARK NIGHT: Emily Brontë, A Life, by Deborah Lutz
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TRUE CRIME: A Memoir, by Patricia Cornwell
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VENGEANCE: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull, by Tom Clavin
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YOUNG KING: The Making of Martin Luther King Jr., by Lerone Martin
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 29th 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 15th to May 29th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of A FORTUNE OF SAND by Ruta Sepetys and THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN by Matt Haig.
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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