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Last week, Francesca came over to the house and helped me with book organization, which means that all upcoming books have been shelved by month. She also indulged me in the piles of “books I intend to read,” some of which have been there for more than a year. No matter how quickly I read or listen, I always feel like I am missing something I really want to read. Speaking of which...
As many of you know, I am a big Paul Simon fan. So I loved seeing that there is a book coming out on Tuesday, DAYS OF MIRACLE AND WONDER by Ashley Kahn, which is a definitive look at the origins and creation of the Graceland album. Ashley's bio reads that he “was a member of the Graceland tour production team, and tour manager for Ladysmith Black Mambazo.”
One of my favorite Paul Simon memories is the time that Husband Tom and I went to Madison Square Garden for the Graceland concert, and people were dancing in a conga line on every level. There is an event on Thursday at Rizzoli Bookstore celebrating the book's release, and I am looking forward to being there. I hope I can finish the book by then.
Join Us for Our August “Bookaccino Live”
Book Preview Afternoon Event on Wednesday!
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event, which will take place on Wednesday, August 12th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between August 11th and September 1st, along with a few from October, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us live will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Nadia Hashimi, whose new novel, CITY OF WIDOWS, will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
While the book looks back in time, the arc of it moves towards the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, focusing on Afghan female soldiers, journalists and the chaos of evacuation. Nadia talks about the shock of the total Taliban takeover --- many had hoped for a power-sharing arrangement --- and the rapid reversal of 20 years of progress for women.
Marjan, Nadia’s protagonist, had been a soldier in an elite unit of women serving with the Afghan army working with the Americans. As the Taliban advance toward Kabul in the summer of 2021 following the U.S. withdrawal announcement, Marjan and her unit go from hunters to hunted, facing a ticking clock to escape or find safety. She is on the run with her daughter, Hawa, hoping to get on one of the last planes leaving Kabul for the U.S. Nadia talks about the City of Widows, a place in Afghanistan where widowed women built their own homes on a hill, away from the city, creating an independent community.
The Taliban's restrictions are deliberate and systematic, designed to suppress potential backlash by eliminating women's access to education, community and economic participation. Nadia notes that international outrage about what has happened in Afghanistan has faded, which she describes as “the heartbreaking part.” The book grew from direct personal involvement in the evacuation crisis and a desire to highlight the hidden complexity and agency of Afghan women.
CITY OF WIDOWS is a stand-alone novel but rewards readers of THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL with a deeper understanding of Marjan's origins and transformation.
Click here to watch the interview or here to listen to the podcast. We will feature my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
You have until Monday, August 17th at noon ET to enter our special contest for THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis.
Releasing on September 21st, this gripping thriller is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand. According to Brad Meltzer, “This World War II-era thriller feels startlingly modern and essential. As you watch a detective, a journalist, a resistance leader, and a professor race to solve past crimes, the boundaries of time quickly give way to pure suspense.”
We’re giving 25 of you the opportunity to win a copy of THE MUNICH AFFAIR and let us know your thoughts on it. If you think you can read the book and give us your feedback by Monday, September 14th, then be sure to fill out this form before the contest closes. I finished the book last weekend, and it is so well done.
When a young woman, a golf prodigy, kills a caddie with a stray ball at the country club, the investigation of this freak accident reveals a dark and shocking tale of secret affairs, predatory men and a teenager on trial. This is the intriguing premise of Chris Bohjalian’s latest novel, THE AMATEUR, which will be a Bets On pick.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “THE AMATEUR is a stunning, addictive novel, and Chris Bohjalian is a plotter and wordsmith of the highest order. Mira’s plight is worthy of any tragic female protagonist from classic literature, and I strongly believe this will be not only an award winner when the dust settles on 2026, but also one of the high points of Bohjalian’s career.” I sooooo agree with Ray!
Don’t miss my interview with Chris in next week’s newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in two weeks.
Set in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, YOU’LL BE SORRY by Lisa Gardner follows a newlywed couple with secrets upon their arrival to an abandoned lodge with a horrific decades-old mystery in a small mountain town where everyone believes they know their neighbors. Except they don’t.
According to Ray Palen in his review, “It is difficult to go into great detail without giving away some of the spicy and extremely intense plotting that Lisa Gardner brings forth throughout YOU’LL BE SORRY. One of her darkest and most complex novels to date, it ultimately will be remembered as a book that will resonate deeply with any reader who dares to dive into it.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE UNKNOWN: In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, a hundred years later, it’s happening again. Riley Sager’s 10th novel is a ghostly page-turner that is sure to send a chill down your spine.
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DECEPTIONS: Jeffery Deaver returns with a devious collection, featuring two never-before-published stories in which fan favorites Colter Shaw and Lincoln Rhyme are united by the layers of deception taking over New York City.
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ETNA: Beloved author Paul Yoon’s latest novel is this month’s #1 Indie Next pick. This time, he tells the unforgettable story of a working dog, Etna, who, after a devastating war, embarks on an odyssey in the hopes of returning home.
Summer Reading Contest Update
We gave away CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger in this week’s Summer Reading contest. These 24-hour giveaways wrap up next week with our final prize book, DISTANT SHORES, Kristin Hannah's 2002 novel that is now available with a brand-new cover. The beloved author of THE WOMEN explores the heartbreaking choices facing a couple who have forgotten how to love each other. The contest will be up at noon ET on Wednesday, August 12th.
August’s New in Paperback Roundups
Our New in Paperback roundups for August are now available. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as John Grisham (THE WIDOW), Louise Penny (THE BLACK WOLF), Sophie Kinsella (WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?), Salman Rushdie (THE ELEVENTH HOUR), and Hank Phillippi Ryan (ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS); nonfiction titles, including BACKSTAGE: Stories of a Writing Life by Donna Leon and THE ANSWER IS IN THE WOUND by Kelly Sundberg; and paperback originals like THE CRYING KILLER by Jess Lourey and THE OPPOSITE OF MURDER by Sophie Hannah.
Books on Screen Offerings for August
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. August’s roundup includes the series premieres of “The Shards” on FX and FX on Hulu and “Anna Pigeon” on USA Network; the season premieres of Prime Video's “Reacher,” Apple TV's “Dark Matter,” and Netflix's “One Hundred Years of Solitude”; the films The Whisper Man, The Dog Stars and Tony; the series finale of “Lucky” on Apple TV; the season finale of HBO's “House of the Dragon”; the continuation of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” on AMC and “Silo” on Apple TV; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of Project Hail Mary and The Get Out.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, August 21st at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win GOD’S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger and UNDER THE FALLS by Richard Russo in our new Word of Mouth contest.
In GOD’S COUNTRY, Cork O’Connor grapples with his darkest instincts as he helps others escape and eventually takes justice into his own hands. UNDER THE FALLS is about a crime in a small town that exposes long-held secrets and betrayals among a group of lifelong friends.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
As we approach the 30th(!) anniversary of Bookreporter on August 27th, we’re curious about the features and programs on the site that you enjoy. Click here to let us know in our latest poll by Friday, August 21st at noon ET. We’re planning a major redesign of Bookreporter, so knowing which parts of the site you visit the most will be very helpful as we consider what the revamp will look like.
In our previous poll, we listed 13 of my previous Bets On picks that are now or soon will be in paperback, and we asked which of these you have read or plan to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
SUNLIGHT FINDS YOU is August’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick and Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. In Laura Moriarty’s latest novel, a forbidden love blows open the world of a teenage girl, altering the trajectory of her life. Jenna calls the book “propulsive and drenched in light, just like the title.”
Reese’s Book Club pick for this month is THE WILD BENEATH by debut novelist Kelly Anderson. In this book, which the publisher says is perfect for readers of WILD DARK SHORE and THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, one woman is caught between her first love and a mysterious stranger who upends everything.
Naima Coster’s new novel, TAKE WHAT YOU CAN, is August’s “Good Morning America” Book Club selection. Weaving between Brooklyn brownstones and the glittering beaches of southern France, the book explores what it means to be a mother when you have none, a sister without blood ties, and a woman in pursuit of the life she wants. We will feature our review in next week’s newsletter.
For more August selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Michelle wrote, “I had a thought I wanted to share after reading the Reading Group Guides newsletter. You mentioned that many book groups aren't necessarily waiting for books to go on sale before selecting them, and that really resonated with me. For our book group (which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary), we actually tend to choose brand-new releases more often. The reason is because we're all such avid readers that it's difficult to find books that none of us have already read. Choosing a new release is usually the safest option. We take turns selecting books, and each month's selector brings three options for the group to vote on. It works for us, but I suppose it's not the cheapest! A worthy indulgence, though!” I love the fact that this group has such avid readers who all buy books.
Lorraine wrote, “I wanted to let you know about one of the titles you featured during the 15th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event in June: THE WILD BENEATH by Kelly Anderson. As noted in my review on my blog and Goodreads, which just went live, it's '[o]ne of the most beautiful and mysterious books I've ever read.' I don't think you've interviewed the author yet. I hope you do! Her story is meant for reflection. I'd personally be glued to your interview! I can't thank you enough for these special book events.” I will have to check this one out, especially now that it is a Reese pick!
Elisa wrote about winning the aforementioned CULPABILITY in our Summer Reading contest: “Fantastic! I have been wanting to read it. I will definitely spread the word. Thank you so much.”
“Lioness” on Paramount+: Husband Tom and I watched the first episode of the new season last week. I have decided it is more fun when we can binge instead of watching just one episode a week. It's like reading a book one chapter at a time. That said, it was a very powerful opening episode.
“Ted Lasso” on Apple TV: We watched the first episode of the new season but also realized that we missed the last episode of the previous season and watched that first...or we have very bad memories.
On Sunday, I am hosting my book club, and their husbands and kids, for a pool party. I am going into full party mode. I have bought new water toys and poolside games. I love having kids over, and I am trying to think of all the details to make it special. I did hire a lifeguard and told him to bring a whistle! Late in 2019, I bought a firepit and thought of days of roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. I think we did that once, and I hope we can do it again on Sunday. Wish me luck!
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: THE AMATEUR by Chris Bohjalian
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE AMATEUR by Chris Bohjalian (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Melora Hardin
1978: Temperatures are flirting with 90 on an August day when 18-year-old Mira Winston drives a golf ball from her tee toward the practice net near the clubhouse and caddy shack. The golf ball tears through the net, traveling 150 miles per hour, and slams into the temple of high school junior Kenny Foster, rupturing an artery and unleashing a torrent of blood. He’s dead before the ambulance even arrives. In the wake of this terrible accident, Mira looks for comfort in all the wrong places. But when the investigators look more closely at the torn net, when a detective recalls Mira’s history of recklessness, and when Kenny’s father spies Mira with her married lover, the affluent and mannered community turns on this once-promising young woman. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
THE AMATEUR will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Chris Bohjalian in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the August 21st newsletter.
Featured Review: YOU’LL BE SORRY by Lisa Gardner
YOU'LL BE SORRY by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
Raquel, a renowned interior designer, and Theo, a brash financial wizard, met and married in a matter of months, only to confront a terrible tragedy. Now, they’ve come to a remote town in New Hampshire to begin anew. Perched on a ledge with stunning views, the Dixons’ family lodge was once a crown jewel of the mountains. Until late one August night, when both parents and their four children vanished, leaving behind a trail of bloody footprints and a mystery that has endured for 30 years. Its latest occupants, Raquel and Theo, are arriving, and the former grand lodge is once more stirring to life. When a stray dog leads to the discovery of a skeleton on the property, Raquel and Theo face a daunting choice of what to believe, who to trust, and how to survive. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis,
and Share Your Feedback on It!
Based on a true story, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is a suspenseful thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson and David Ellis that spans a century --- set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand.
The book doesn't release until September 21st, but we have 25 copies to give away to those who would like to read it and give us their feedback on it by Monday, September 14th.
To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Monday, August 17th at noon ET.
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis (Historical Thriller)
Spanning a century, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand.
A determined detective, Thomas Bauer, obsessively pursues Hitler --- putting Bauer’s Jewish wife and children in grave danger.
A courageous journalist, Fritz Gerlich, writes story after story detailing the murder --- making Gerlich a target for Hitler’s Gestapo.
An American professor, Eleanor Robbins, picks up the trail of evidence from present-day Neo-Nazis guarding the Führer’s long-held secrets to the death.
- Click here to read James Patterson's bio.
- Click here to visit James Patterson's website.
- Connect with James Patterson on X, Instagram and Threads.
- Click here to read David Ellis' bio.
- Click here to visit David Ellis' website.
- Connect with David Ellis on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: THE UNKNOWN by Riley Sager
THE UNKNOWN by Riley Sager (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Maggie Grace, Patricia Santomasso and Erin Lin
Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot. A century ago, New Avalon was a commune for spiritual mediums --- until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island. Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates --- including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters --- begin to realize that all is not right with New Avalon. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read more an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DECEPTIONS by Jeffery Deaver
DECEPTIONS by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini and Kaleo Griffith
Jeffery Deaver returns with a devious collection, featuring two never-before-published stories in which fan favorites Colter Shaw and Lincoln Rhyme are united by the layers of deception taking over New York City. A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, and the motive seems obvious. But can the detective who was first on the scene puzzle out what needs reading between the lines? A mysterious woman has gone into hiding, and Colter Shaw is tasked with bringing her to a safe house. But with a hitman on his trails, the race toward safety takes on a whole new meaning. A serial killer with a motive never before seen in the history of crime challenges Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs to rethink everything they know about the nature of evil --- and the evidence its perpetrators leave at the scenes. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ETNA by Paul Yoon
August’s #1 Indie Next Pick
ETNA by Paul Yoon (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Shrader Thomas
Set in a fictional country in the present day, this is a story told through the eyes of an ex-military dog, Etna. After surviving years of a devastating war, Etna decides one night to leave the men he has fought alongside for years and return home --- to the place where he was taken from when he was young, in the thin but persistent hope that if a home exists for him, it might be there. Thus begins an exhilarating odyssey told through the eyes of a dog as he traverses across ruined landscapes and fights to survive in a world that, even in peacetime, proves to be just as precarious. Along the way, he encounters other animals and humans who are attempting to figure out how to start again. What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each other again after such profound loss? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- 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
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days this summer, 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 final contest will be up on Wednesday, August 12th at noon ET. The prize book will be DISTANT SHORES, Kristin Hannah's 2002 novel that is now available with a brand-new cover. The beloved author of THE WOMEN explores the heartbreaking choices facing a couple who have forgotten how to love each other.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
August’s New in Paperback Roundups
August's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes John Grisham's first-ever whodunit, THE WIDOW, in which a small-time lawyer accused of murder races to find the real killer to clear his name; THE BLACK WOLF, the 20th installment in Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series, which finds the Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec playing a lethal game of cat and mouse with an invisible foe who is gathering forces and preparing to strike; WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? by Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story --- by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming --- of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew; and THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA, a sweeping saga about survival, loss, love and the reverberating effects of war that was inspired by the experiences of Sharon Kurtzman's own family after the Holocaust.
Our nonfiction highlights are BACKSTAGE, a memorable collection of stories and essays on writing, reading, teaching and Venice by Donna Leon, the celebrated author of the Commissario Guido Brunetti novels; BRADY VS. BELICHICK by Gary Myers, a unique and unparalleled look into the nature and relationship of two of the pillars in the NFL's greatest dynasty --- Tom Brady and Bill Belichick --- whose partnership provided thrilling results that would change the NFL forever; and Kelly Sundberg's THE ANSWER IS IN THE WOUND, an intimate, linked and lyrical essay collection focusing on the longer-lasting effects of trauma and PTSD on survivors --- challenging a culture in which violence against women is normalized.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
August 3rd, August 10th, August 17th and August 24th.
August’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 August's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
The Dog Stars
Release Date: Friday, August 28th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: THE DOG STARS by Peter Heller
The Whisper Man
Release Date: Friday, August 28th on Netflix
Based on: THE WHISPER MAN by Alex North
Series Premieres
"The Shards"
Air Dates: Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT on FX and FX on Hulu; Series Premiere on August 5th (the first two episodes of Season 1 are available)
Based on: THE SHARDS by Bret Easton Ellis
"Anna Pigeon"
Air Dates: Fridays at 10pm ET/PT on USA Network; Series Premiere on August 7th
Based on: The Anna Pigeon series by Nevada Barr
Season Premieres
"Reacher"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Prime Video; Season 4 Premiere on August 12th (the first three episodes will be available)
Based on: GONE TOMORROW: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child
"Dark Matter"
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV; Season 2 Premiere on August 28th
Based on: DARK MATTER by Blake Crouch
Series Finale
"Lucky" (7-episode limited series)
Air Dates: Wednesdays on Apple TV; Series Finale on August 19th
Based on: LUCKY by Marissa Stapley
Season Finale
"House of the Dragon"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO; Season 3 Finale on August 9th
Based on: FIRE & BLOOD: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Ongoing Series
"The Walking Dead: Dead City"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on AMC; Season 3 continues
Based on: The comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard
On DVD and Blu-ray
Project Hail Mary
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, August 11th
Based on: PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir
Click here to see our Books on Screen feature for August.
Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for August
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the “Good Morning America” Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the “Read with Jenna” Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.
Below is a preview of August's “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.” For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: ETNA by Paul Yoon
A TENDER AGE by Chang-rae Lee
SEA OF CHARMS by Sarah Beth Durst
MEET ME IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel
THE WILD BENEATH by Kelly Anderson
LibraryReads
Top Pick: MAJESTIC HILLS by Dawn Turner
DREAMLAND by Olivie Blake
YOU'LL BE SORRY by Lisa Gardner
WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston
PLANT LADY written by Kang Minyoung, translated by Shanna Tan
Barnes & Noble Book Club
SUNLIGHT FINDS YOU by Laura Moriarty
"Good Morning America" Book Club
TAKE WHAT YOU CAN by Naima Coster
PBS Books Readers Club
PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
SUNLIGHT FINDS YOU by Laura Moriarty
Reese's Book Club
THE WILD BENEATH by Kelly Anderson
Target Book Club
BOLEYN TRAITOR by Philippa Gregory
Click here for August's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
THE SEEKERS OF DEER CREEK by Thao Thai (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Quyen Ngo
Sisters Vivi and Calla Nguyễn have little in common. Vivi lives an orderly and predictable life. She works as an art conservator at a museum in Chicago, but she refuses to examine her own dark history. Calla leads a much bolder, if occasionally reckless, existence. She’s an accomplished artist with a flair for the dramatic. She’s also a recovering addict. Months after the two fall out in the wake of their father’s death, Calla appears on the steps of the museum with a sketch and a letter she found in their father’s belongings. The sketch is an exact copy of Blue Mirror, a striking painting by a Vietnamese painter named K.P. Lý. In the letter, Lý writes about a mysterious lost work of art. Calla is convinced it is meant for their family, and that it was their father’s deathbed wish for her and Vivi to find it together. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
FURIOUS VIOLET by Sarai Walker (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joy Nash
Violet “West” Shelley has unwillingly spent her life in the spotlight as the only daughter of a legendary poet and feminist icon who died tragically young. Now, as the self-described “lowbrow” crime journalist approaches 50 --- burned out, creatively blocked, and far older than her mother ever was --- she retreats to her hometown in the Colorado mountains hometown to finish a long-overdue book about the “Crying Killer,” a notorious serial killer who sobs for his mother after committing his crimes. But what begins as a bid for solitude quickly spirals into something far more sinister. A stalker emerges, insisting that West is their long-lost mother, though she has never had children. As the threats escalate, West is drawn into a chilling psychological web where the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to collapse. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS: Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home by Peter Santenello (Travel Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Peter Santenello
Have you ever swapped stories on a porch with Amish snowbirds in Florida? Searched for reindeer with the Siberian Yupik in Alaska? Been a guest on a houseboat deep in the Louisiana bayou? Peter Santenello hadn’t either until, after years spent traveling through 85 countries and living abroad, he realized the most unfamiliar territory was often his own American backyard. And so, with a camera in hand and an open mind, he began visiting communities across the country, places that most of the media overlooks or misrepresents, from tiny towns in Appalachia to the streets of East LA. What began as curiosity became --- one story at a time --- an intimate, revealing portrait of America today. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THIS IMMORTAL HEART: A Novel of Aphrodite by Jennifer Saint
(Historical Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Lydia Leonard
From the moment Aphrodite emerges fully formed from the sea, she is devastatingly beautiful and imbued with ancient power. When fate brings her face to face with Ares, she bristles at this surly, hot-tempered warrior who’s seemingly her opposite: disliked by everyone and devoted to stirring up conflict. Yet these gods are no more immune to the dizzying highs and lows of love and loss than anyone else. They are soon irresistibly drawn to one another. As their love affair spans mortal lifetimes, Aphrodite begins to question the gods’ games and her role in them. But there’s only so much room for fire and passion in Zeus’ kingdom. Before long, she must test her devotion to her own divine purpose --- and to a love that can only lead to ruin. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE PROJECT by Annie Lord (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Appleton
When 26-year-old Daisy wakes up next to James Stanley, she can’t believe what she’s done. But sleeping with him is a casualty of a Much Larger Problem --- there is not a decent, single man to be found in London. Fed up with the dating scene, Daisy and her best friend, Maya, decide to stop waiting and take matters into their own hands with “The Project.” Their goal? To build the perfect, eligible match out of some of the most lackluster, raw material. And who better to start with than their embarrassingly uncivilized (yet frustratingly attractive) friend, James? Embarking on a series of social and cultural lessons --- from art exhibitions to feminist book clubs, designer clothing stores to house parties --- Daisy and Maya chaperone James on a journey of discovery. But which of them will change more? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SISTERS OF A HALVED HEART by Nayantara Roy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sharmila Devar
Mira Guhathakurta is a poetry editor at a distinguished literary magazine in New York, a dream job that has given her nearly everything she's always wanted. And then she reconnects with Jack from college, and suddenly she feels as if she might have found her soulmate. They've woven their lives together so thoroughly. All that remains is for Jack to meet her family: her beloved father and dear sister, Joy. But when Joy commits an unthinkable act of betrayal, the sisters are impossibly fractured and their father's heart is broken. As the sisters navigate their tumultuous relationship and Mira starts over, it turns out that Joy isn't the only one who has been --- or continues to be --- dishonest. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE HAUL: A Heist Novel by Gary Phillips (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Desson Thomson
After years of close calls, O’Conner --- the former “Warlord of Willow Ridge” --- spends most of his time in semi-retirement, running his legitimate businesses and playing pickleball. Except for his longtime girlfriend, no one in his middle-class neighborhood is the wiser to his double life. But O’Conner’s past refuses to stay dead. When he’s approached with a job he can’t resist, he agrees to mastermind his biggest heist yet: a multi-million-dollar raid of a tech billionaire’s secret bunker, hidden beneath his newly constructed basketball arena. As the job goes down, testing O’Conner’s mettle with new challenges, the promise of the score attracts ghosts from his past he thought were long buried. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
THE BREAK-UP RETREAT by Camilla Sten (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Peyton Mader
Isobel Anderssen has heard rumors. Nestled deep in the Swedish woods, there is a retreat. Primarily aimed at helping women who have gone through devastating break-ups, the Himlafall Clinic is meant to heal your mind and help you move on. Sometimes people are never heard from again. Armed with a fake story and a contraband phone to record interviews, Isobel is ready to expose Himlafall’s founder and get closure for the families of missing loved ones. But when she gets there, nothing goes to plan. Her contact is missing. The founder, Dr. Martina Hastings, knows how to get under Isobel’s skin in ways she didn’t anticipate. And all the while, the ghosts of the missing haunt her at every turn. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 11th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 11th 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 August 10th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
DAYS OF MIRACLE AND WONDER: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland by Ashley Kahn (Music/History)
Here is the definitive story of the making and legacy of Graceland, Paul Simon’s still-beloved, career-topping 1986 album, drawn from extensive research and exclusive interviews with nearly 100 participants and witnesses.
HANNAH ARENDT: A Life of the Mind written by Thomas Meyer, translated by Shelley Frisch (Biography)
Drawing on newly discovered archival materials and previously overlooked documents, Thomas Meyer tells the story of an intellectual icon whose character and ideas continue to captivate and challenge us to this day.
THE SECRETS WE HIDE by Karin Slaughter (Mystery/Thriller)
THE SECRETS WE HIDE is the next thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE GOOD DAUGHTER and the Will Trent series.
STAY BURIED by Jennifer McMahon (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
From the New York Times bestselling author of CHILDREN ON THE HILL comes a queer folk horror in which a woman must confront decades of secrecy and superstition to learn the truth about her mother’s death.
SUNRISE by Téa Obreht (Fiction)
Three lives, 100 years, one ghost town. SUNRISE is an explosive novel about a mysterious place called Sunrise, where the secrets of the past refuse to stay buried.
A TENDER AGE by Chang-rae Lee (Fiction)
A spellbinding exploration of American masculinity and family dynamics as seen through the confused eyes of a prepubescent child of immigrants, A TENDER AGE joins the rich tradition of the American bildungsroman.
THE TRUE MEANING OF LOVE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
This powerful novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel is a stirring story of the lives of ordinary people during wartime.
UNDER THE FALLS by Richard Russo (Literary Mystery/Thriller)
The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of EMPIRE FALLS returns with a spellbinding page-turner about a crime in a small town that exposes long-held secrets and betrayals among a group of lifelong friends.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Christina Lauren (the combined pen name of
Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings), W.H. Chizmar
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are three upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, August 11th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: W.H. Chizmar will talk to special guest host Michael Koryta about his solo debut, THEM, a post-apocalyptic/survival horror novel written in the bestselling traditions of Stephen King’s THE MIST and Josh Malerman’s BIRD BOX.
Wednesday, August 12th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Afternoon Event: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between August 11th and September 1st, along with a few from October, that we would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, August 12th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Christina Lauren (the combined pen name of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) about their new collaboration, THE ROMANCE REVIVAL. A fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory --- and a scientific breakthrough gives love one extraordinary do-over.
"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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Chris Bohjalian (THE AMATEUR)
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Shari Lapena (GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER)
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Hank Phillippi Ryan (MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
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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 August 7th to August 21st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of GOD'S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger and UNDER THE FALLS by Richard Russo.
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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