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A Wonderful Author-Filled Fun Week!
There are weeks when I get out from behind the computer and spend time with authors, and I remember once again why I love what I do. This is one of those weeks.
On Monday night, I headed out to Barnes & Noble in Paramus, NJ to interview Clare Leslie Hall. Let me start by saying that this is one of the largest B&N stores that I have been in. WOW! I definitely could get lost for a day in there.
I loved the opportunity to finally meet Clare after interviewing her for “Bookreporter Talks To” and going back and forth with her in email. It was such a pleasure to talk about BROKEN COUNTRY after it has been on sale for seven months. Many in the audience had read it, so we did talk some spoilers. Those who had not read it got “earmuff” warnings so the story would not be spoiled for them the couple of times that we brought up certain details. We asked who was Team Frank and who was Team Gabriel. Frank won by a landslide.
We also talked about Clare’s earlier books, DAYS YOU WERE MINE and PICTURES OF HIM, both of which are now available for the first time in the US and both of which are Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. Reading them after BROKEN COUNTRY gave me the opportunity to see where Clare had some similar themes and how they developed in those books. It’s a real treat to be able to talk about an author’s work like this. It would be a good thing for a book group to read all three for a discussion. There is a lot there to talk about with the development of writing style and themes.
Clare will be our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest on Wednesday, November 19th at 2pm ET. Note that this is not our typical evening time as Clare lives in the UK. Considering the time difference, it is easier this way!
On Tuesday night, Francesca and I headed into the city to meet up with Tom and enjoy a very special pre-publication party for Wade Rouse’s upcoming title, THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR, which will be on sale March 3rd. The book has an ensemble cast of four gay men of a certain age who are living together in Palm Springs. It is inspired by the iconic television show “The Golden Girls,” so you can just picture how much fun this is going to be. Wade was interviewed by John Searles, who read passages aloud that he had earmarked. He clearly is a huge fan of the book.
Wade, who is brilliant at writing humor as well as drama, strikes a chord of both in this book, which is the first novel written under his own name. His other fiction books use the pen name Viola Shipman. Wade knows how to write humor to a beat; his memoirs have some of the most humorous lines in them. But he also knows how to write emotion, and from what was shared, there is much of that in this book as these four men navigate their lives, especially when family members show up unexpectedly. We all mused about which of the Golden Girls had a personality like our own. Dorothy was the most popular choice! One of the party guests had a tattoo of all four Golden Girls on his upper arm. It was a warm and really fun night, and I was so happy to share it with our team.
Note that John Searles has a new book coming in June about the young women who worked with Helen Gurley Brown. John also had worked at Cosmopolitan. We look forward to sharing more about that with you. It sounds brilliant!
Tomorrow I will be moderating these three panels at the Festival:
We are so grateful to those of you who already answered our 2025 Reader Survey. We love that we are able to share with publishers and authors how our readers are finding books and what is of interest to you. You have until Friday, October 24th at noon ET to answer the survey here. We are awarding three readers who finish it a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice, while five others will be selected to win a book from Bookreporter's shelves.
We also are running a survey on Reading Group Guides as we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that site. (There will be lots about the celebration next week.) We have not done a survey for book groups in 10 years, and a LOT has changed since then. If you are in a book group, please answer that survey here by Friday, October 31st at noon ET. We are awarding one reader who finishes it a $250 gift card to the bookstore of their choice, while three others will win a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice.
What if you got to do everything in your life --- twice? The heart of Mitch Albom’s latest novel, which is October’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick, is a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.
Our reviewer Kate Ayers says, “TWICE is a book that comes around once in a lifetime. It will touch your heart in ways that only a story from Mitch Albom can. It is heartbreaking, heartwarming, charming and wise, plus so much more. Albom is an unparalleled storyteller. No one can come even close to the man’s talent. He reaches down to the depths of human emotions and then digs far deeper. Whatever you do, don’t miss this gem.”
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
TWICE is one of the prizes in our current Word of Mouth contest; the other is GONE BEFORE GOODBYE, Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben’s much-talked-about collaboration, which we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, October 17th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles.
In Pattricia Cornwell’s SHARP FORCE, a serial killer wreaks havoc on Northern Virginia, appearing as a ghostly apparition before striking --- and Kay Scarpetta must avoid becoming their next victim.
According to Ray Palen in his review, “I have been there since the start of this brilliant series, which never disappoints. Each time I begin a new entry, it feels like returning home to extended family with whom you are extremely comfortable. We have watched these characters change and grow before our eyes…. SHARP FORCE delivers plenty of thrills and chills, marking another memorable read in this long-running saga.” Scarpetta is soon to be a streaming series starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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AWAKE: Jen Hatmaker, the host of the “For the Love” podcast, has penned a brutally honest, funny and revealing memoir about the traumatic end of her 26-year-long marriage, and the beginning of a different kind of love story.
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BUCKEYE: Patrick Ryan’s debut novel, which was last month’s Barnes & Noble and “Read with Jenna” book club picks, is a sweeping yet intimate saga that weaves the lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late 20th century.
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THE INTRUDER: There's someone at your front door. Should you let them in? Find out in this riveting new thriller from global sensation Freida McFadden, who explores how far one girl will go to save herself.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My two latest Bets On picks are THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY? by Sarah McCoy. Click on each of the titles for my Bets On commentary. And if you missed my recent interview with Virginia, be sure to watch or listen to it.
October’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for October are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as David Baldacci (TO DIE FOR), Sandra Brown (BLOOD MOON), Lee Child (SAFE ENOUGH), Robert Harris (PRECIPICE), and Ashley Winstead (THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME); nonfiction titles, including JOHN LEWIS: A Life by David Greenberg and MAGIC SEASON: A Son’s Story by the aforementioned Wade Rouse; and paperback originals like THE TOURISTS by Christopher Reich and THE MAN NEXT DOOR by Sheila Roberts.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 35 titles releasing this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, October 17th at noon ET.
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King, an upcoming Bets On title that we plan to review next week, is October’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection and the #1 Indie Next pick. Ruth Ozeki says, “Time moves like memory in HEART THE LOVER --- urgent, intimate, elusive. What does it mean to carry a story you never get to finish? With breathtaking precision, Lily King writes about love that lingers and choices that haunt. I read it in a single, breathless sitting.” On Tuesday, November 4th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Lily, which you can sign up for here. I am going to chat with her on Monday for “Bookreporter Talks To” interview.
This month’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick is THE IRISH GOODBYE by Heather Aimee O'Neill. In this debut novel, three adult sisters grapple with a shared tragedy over a Thanksgiving weekend as they try to heal strained family bonds through the passage of time. O’Neill says, “In the process there, these long, buried secrets emerge, and these simmering resentments come to a boil. It forces the sisters to confront their past and have to reckon with a lot of mistakes and ask for forgiveness, and even offer forgiveness themselves.”
For more October selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. Please note that there is no Reese's Book Club pick this month as Reese is on book tour for the aforementioned GONE BEFORE GOODBYE.
We have FIVE awards announcements to tell you about this week.
This year's Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to László Krasznahorkai “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” Krasznahorkai is a great epic writer in the Central European tradition that extends through Kafka to Thomas Bernhard, and is characterized by absurdism and grotesque excess. But there are more strings to his bow, and he also looks to the East in adopting a more contemplative, finely calibrated tone.
This year’s National Book Awards finalists include A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF by Megha Majumdar (Fiction), WARDS OF THE STATE: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care, by Claudia Rowe (Nonfiction), BECOMING GHOST by Cathy Linh Che (Poetry), WE ARE GREEN AND TREMBLING by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated from the Spanish by Robin Myers (Translated Literature), and THE LEAVING ROOM by Amber McBride (Young People’s Literature).
The winners will be announced on November 19th at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony, which will be livestreamed for all to see. You can sign up to watch it for free by clicking here.
On Wednesday night, Kirkus Reviews announced the winners of the 12th annual Kirkus Prize in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction and Young Readers’ Literature at an in-person ceremony that also was livestreamed on Kirkus's YouTube channel. They are THE SLIP by Lucas Schaefer (Fiction), KING OF KINGS: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation, by Scott Anderson (Nonfiction), and EVERYBELLY by Thao Lam (Young Readers’ Literature).
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Betty, a Word of Mouth contest winner, wrote, “Thank you so much for ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS and THE ACADEMY! I love Hank Phillippi Ryan. Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham are new authors for me. I look forward to getting to know their work. Here's a picture of the books with my reading partner, Button.”
Ann wrote this about winning I AM YOU by Victoria Redel in our Fall Reading contest: “Thank you very much for selecting me as a winner. I look forward each week to your Bookreporter newsletter and all the great contests you have. You all do a wonderful job of reviewing all the books and events that makes my want-to-read list never ending! Please keep doing the great work you all are doing. I can't wait to receive the book and read it!”
Cheryl wrote about our Events newsletter that went out this week: “Thanks for the information --- more books to add to my TBR list.” If you are not signed up for the Events newsletter, you can do that here.
“The Last Wright” on HBO Max: This was a terrific four-part series about a mother and daughter who worked to build the last home that Frank Lloyd Wright had designed. Sarah and Debbie Dykstra take on a very ambitious challenge of “building a home based on the last set of plans created by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright before his death in 1959. The series documents the Dykstras’ journey as they navigate the realities of present-day building codes, materials and craftsmanship --- all while honoring the principles of Wright’s visionary architecture.” My husband and I love architecture, and watching the details of Wright’s vision coming together was fascinating. And yes, I loved the turquoise blue roof on the house.
The Woman in Cabin 10 on Netflix: I am looking forward to this film based on the book by Ruth Ware. Here is the trailer. I had the pleasure of doing the first interview of Ruth Ware here in the States for the pre-publication event for IN A DARK, DARK WOOD back in May 2015, which was held at BookExpo. THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 was her second book. Here’s a piece where Ruth calls the movie “[a]n out-of-body experience.”
This week has not been without time for reading. I read GONE BEFORE GOODBYE, which I really enjoyed. I was reading it in the outdoor pool at Life Time Fitness last weekend, and people were asking me about it. I ended up giving out book recommendations all afternoon. I feel like next summer I need to leave the pool at the house more often to do more book word-of-mouth recommendations. I am now listening to the aforementioned BUCKEYE, which is narrated by Michael Crouch. I heard Patrick Ryan speak at a luncheon a couple of months ago, and it intrigued me.
If you are at the Morristown Festival of Books tomorrow, please say hello. Tom and Francesca will be with me. Yes, this is a team event. I am so grateful that they are taking part of their weekend to be at this program. Our office is closed on Monday for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, so we have time to recover!
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: TWICE by Mitch Albom
October’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
TWICE by Mitch Albom (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mitch Albom
When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: he must accept the consequences of his second try --- for better or worse. Eventually, Alfie turns his gift to his love life, studying his crushes and going back to make himself more appealing. In time, he falls deeply in love with Gianna, the woman he believes is the one. He seems to find contentment. But as the years pass, Alfie’s eye begins to wander. Which is when he learns a lone caveat to his power: once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing that if he gives in to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SHARP FORCE by Patricia Cornwell
SHARP FORCE: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
During the early hours of Christmas morning, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta receives a chilling call. The Phantom Slasher has struck again. The serial killer has terrorized Northern Virginia for months. His pattern is to stalk with a sophisticated technology that enables him to invade his victims' homes and watch their every move. They wake up to a ghost-like hologram before being murdered in their beds. Scarpetta is summoned to Mercy Island, the site of a notorious psychiatric hospital where two people have been brutalized, one of them from Scarpetta’s past. It soon becomes apparent that she could be next. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans
and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY?
by Sarah McCoy
THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans (Fiction)
There are times when the buzz about a book seems to be everywhere. But in this case, it was from our readers, none of whom I knew personally. They were passionate about THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, which came out in April. Their drumbeats about the book encouraged me to explore it. I confess that the two birds on the cover did nothing to draw me in, but reading these declarations of how good it was spurred me to read it in September.
I was going to be on the road a lot, so I decided to listen to the audiobook. I think it was a brilliant choice as it is a completely fabulous production and listening experience. Even if you have never listened to an audiobook before, this could be an easy gateway one. Each narrator reading the letters feels perfectly cast. And with the voice changes, you know exactly which character is speaking.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Virginia Evans.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE CORRESPONDENT.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY? by Sarah McCoy (Historical Fiction)
I spent 16 years in Catholic school, so a book about a Hollywood starlet who becomes a nun would grab my attention, the same way that trick-or-treating at the convent would as we hoped we would see what nuns wore when they didn’t have their habits on. We never found out anything about the latter. But with Sarah McCoy’s latest novel, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY?, we get to learn what happened to Lucille Lorianne Hickey, who first became Lori Lovely when she hit the stage, and then was christened to be Sister Jude and later Mother Lori.
The story of Mother Lori is based partially on the life of Mother Dolores Hart, who acted alongside Elvis Presley before becoming a nun.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to visit Sarah McCoy's website.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY?
Featured Review: AWAKE by Jen Hatmaker
AWAKE: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Jen Hatmaker
At 2:30am on July 11, 2020, Jen Hatmaker woke up to her husband of 26 years whispering in his phone to another woman from their bed. It was the end of life as she knew it. In the months that followed, she went from being a shiny, funny, popular leader, to a divorced wreck on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds parenting five kids alone with no clue about her own bank accounts. Having led millions of women for over a decade --- urging them to embrace authenticity, find radical agency, and create healthy relationships --- this seemed nothing less than total failure. In AWAKE, Jen shares for the first time what happened when she found herself completely lost at sea --- and how she made it to shore. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan
A Barnes & Noble and “Read with Jenna” Book Club Pick
BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch
In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way --- until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened. Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie --- but nothing stays buried forever in a small town. The consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is a "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE INTRUDER by Freida McFadden
THE INTRUDER by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Joe Hempel, Patricia Santomasso and Tina Wolstencroft
Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window. She's young. She's alone. And she's covered in blood. The girl won't explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse. The girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
October’s New in Paperback Roundups
October's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes TO DIE FOR, David Baldacci's third 6:20 Man thriller, in which Travis Devine is sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid in a complicated FBI case --- and he’s about to come face to face with his nemesis, the girl on the train; BLOOD MOON, a sexy thriller from Sandra Brown in which an unruly detective and an ambitious TV show producer work against the clock to prevent another young woman from disappearing before the next blood moon --- while trying to resist the attraction between them; SAFE ENOUGH by Lee Child, a collection of 20 pulse-pounding stories that are intimate portraits of humanity at its best and worst; and DON'T BE A STRANGER, a mesmerizing novel from Susan Minot that tells the story of a woman swept into a love affair at mid-life.
Among our nonfiction highlights are JOHN LEWIS, David Greenberg’s profoundly insightful biography of the Civil Rights icon, which draws on interviews with Lewis and approximately 275 others who knew him at various stages of his life, as well as never-before-used FBI files and documents; ROMAN YEAR, a deeply romantic memoir of André Aciman's time in Rome while on the cusp of adulthood; LIFEFORM, a wild, soulful, hilarious collection of genre-bending essays from Jenny Slate depicting the journey into motherhood as you’ve never seen it before; and Wade Rouse's MAGIC SEASON, an unforgettable story of love, family and forgiveness set against the backdrop of America's favorite pastime.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
October 6th, October 13th, October 20th and October 27th.
Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for October
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 October'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: HEART THE LOVER by Lily King
WE LOVE YOU, BUNNY by Mona Awad
BOG QUEEN by Anna North
WILL THERE EVER BE ANOTHER YOU by Patricia Lockwood
SOUL SEARCHING: A Sweetwater Peak Novel by Lyla Sage
LibraryReads
Top Pick: OVERDUE by Stephanie Perkins
CRAFTING FOR SINNERS by Jenny Kiefer
THE KEEPER OF MAGICAL THINGS by Julie Leong
RED CITY by Marie Lu
THE WOMEN OF WILD HILL by Kirsten Miller
Barnes & Noble Book Club
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King
"Good Morning America" Book Club
TWICE by Mitch Albom
Oprah's Book Club
To be announced on October 14th
PBS Books Readers Club
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
THE IRISH GOODBYE by Heather Aimee O'Neill
Reese's Book Club
Please note that there is no Reese's Book Club pick for October. Reese is on book tour this month for her debut novel, GONE BEFORE GOODBYE, which she wrote with Harlan Coben.
Target Book Club
THE LOST STORY OF EVA FUENTES by Chanel Cleeton
Click here for October's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
Bookreporter.com's 15th Annual Fall Reading Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. We spotlighted eight of these books in our Fall Reading Contests and Feature. While our series of 24-hour giveaways have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles, which we know people will be talking about this fall and beyond.
This year's featured titles are:
- Click here to see the winners of this year's Fall Reading contests.
Click here to see our Fall Reading feature.
THE LOST STORY OF EVA FUENTES by Chanel Cleeton (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Jennifer Jill Araya, Frankie Corzo and Kyla Garcia
London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds has been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy. Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her life to books. So when a neighbor fleeing Cuba asks her to return a valuable book to its rightful owner, Pilar will risk everything to protect the literary work entrusted to her care. Boston, 1900: For Cuban school teacher and aspiring author Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to study for the summer is the opportunity of a lifetime. It leaves her little time to write, but a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger changes everything. The story that pours out of her is one of forbidden love, secrets and lies. Although Eva cannot see it yet, the book will be a danger and salvation for the lives it touches. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
PLAY NICE by Rachel Harrison (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Alex Finke and Natasha Soudek
Clio Louise Barnes leads a picture-perfect life as a stylist and influencer, but beneath the glossy veneer she harbors a not-so glamorous secret: she grew up in a haunted house. Well, not haunted. Possessed. After Clio’s parents' messy divorce, her mother, Alex, moved Clio and her sisters into a house occupied by a demon. Or so Alex claimed. That’s not what Clio’s sisters remember or what the courts determined when they stripped her of custody after she went off the deep end. But Alex was insistent; she even wrote a book about her experience in the house. After Alex’s sudden death, the supposedly possessed house passes to Clio and her sisters. Where her sisters see childhood trauma, Clio sees an opportunity for house-flipping content. But as the home makeover process begins, Clio discovers there might be some truth to her mother’s claims. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
AMONG THE BURNING FLOWERS by Samantha Shannon (Fantasy)
Audiobook available; read by Arty Froushan, Gemma Whelan and Patricia Allison
It has been centuries since the Draconic Army took wing, almost extinguishing humankind. Marosa Vetalda is a prisoner in her own home, controlled by her cold father, King Sigoso. Over the mountains, her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, rules Mentendon in all but name. Together, they intend to usher in a better world. A better world seems impossibly distant to Estina Melaugo, who hunts the Draconic beasts that have slept across the world for centuries. And now the great wyrm Fýredel is stirring, and Yscalin will be the first to fall. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE PERSIAN by David McCloskey (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Fajer Al-Kaisi
Kamran Esfahani, a dentist living out a dreary existence in Stockholm, agrees to spy for the Mossad after he’s recruited by Arik Glitzman, the chief of a clandestine unit tasked with running targeted assassinations and sabotage inside Iran. At Glitzman’s direction, Kam returns to his native Tehran and opens a dental practice there, using it as a cover for the Israeli intelligence agency. But when he tries to recruit an Iranian widow seeking to avenge the death of her husband at the hands of the Mossad, the operation goes terribly wrong, landing him in prison under the watchful eye of a sadistic officer. And now, after enduring three years of torture in captivity, Kamran Esfahani sits in an interrogation room, preparing to write his final confession. Kam knows it is too late to save himself. But he has managed to keep one secret --- only one --- and he just might be able to save that. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
WILL THERE EVER BE ANOTHER YOU by Patricia Lockwood (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Patricia Lockwood
Amid a global pandemic, one young woman is trying to keep the pieces together --- of her family, stunned by a devastating loss, and of her mind, left mangled and misfiring from a mystifying disease. She’s afraid of her own floorboards, and “WHAT IS LOVE? BABY DON’T HURT ME” plays over and over in her ears. She hates her friends, or more accurately, she doesn’t know who they are. Has the illness stolen her old mind and given her a new one? Does it mean she’ll get to start over from scratch, a chance afforded to very few people? The very weave of herself seems to have loosened: time and memories pass straight through her body. “I’m sorry not to respond to your email,” she writes, “but I live completely in the present now." Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
A KILLER WEDDING by Joan O'Leary (Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Amanda Dolan
The iconic Gloria Beaufort, founder of the billion-dollar beauty empire Glo, has personally chosen Christine to cover her grandson’s wedding for Bespoke, the cult fashion magazine that every A-list bride dreams of being featured in. A career-making scoop and a free trip to a castle turned five-star hotel on the Emerald Isle? It feels too good to be true. Because it is. Gloria is found dead on the very first morning of the celebratory weekend, and her entire family wants to keep her death a secret and for the wedding to march on. When Gloria’s heirs issue a chilling warning to Christine to keep things quiet, she can’t help but wonder if one of them is guilty. As Christine navigates a world where glamour masks grimy secrets and everyone she meets is a suspect, she realizes that among this glitzy elite, nothing is as it seems. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE OCTOBER FILM HAUNT by Michael Wehunt (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Tim Lounibos and Zura Johnson
Ten years ago, Jorie Stroud was the rising star of the October Film Haunt --- a trio of horror enthusiasts who camped out at the filming locations of their favorite scary movies, sharing their love through their popular blog. But after a night in the graveyard from Proof of Demons --- perhaps the most chilling cult film ever made, directed by the enigmatic Hélène Enriquez --- everything unraveled. Now, Jorie has built an isolated life with her young son in Vermont. In the devastating wake of her viral, truth-stretching Proof of Demons blog entry, Jorie has put it all behind her. Until a videotape arrives in the mail. Jorie fears someone might be filming her. And the “Rickies” --- Enriquez obsessives who would do anything for the reclusive director --- begin to cross lines in shocking ways. It seems Hélène Enriquez is making a new kind of sequel…and Jorie is her final girl. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES by Ken Jaworowski (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Michael Crouch, Keylor Leigh and Marni Penning
Carla, a single mom poised to finally break free from her cycle of poverty, must risk it all, including her morality, to help her son hide a terrible secret. Reed, an autistic young man, sets out on a journey to keep a deathbed promise to the mother he just lost. Along the way, he’ll encounter both kindhearted residents and a cold-blooded nemesis. And Liz, an aspiring musician on the cusp of a breakthrough, needs to quickly come up with the cash she owes a brutal ex-con. If she can’t pay him, both her dream and her life will be in grave danger. As these three compelling characters intersect, the novel ignites into a story filled with explosive twists, hair-raising chills and boundless love. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 13th and 14th
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 13th and 14th 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 October 13th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
October 13th
THE PICASSO HEIST by James Patterson and Howard Roughan (Thriller)
A previously unknown Picasso worth $100 million is discovered in the attic of a French villa, and everyone wants to possess it. But only one person knows how to take it. She’s the rival none of the power players see coming.
October 14th
AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter investigates a murder that left a dog stranded in AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE, the latest Christmas mystery in David Rosenfelt's bestselling series.
BOLEYN TRAITOR by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA Today) Philippa Gregory returns with a dazzling historical novel of ambition, betrayal and survival in the court of Henry VIII.
FUTURE BOY: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry (Memoir)
This poignant, heartfelt and funny memoir is about how, in 1985, Michael J. Fox brought to life two iconic roles simultaneously --- Alex P. Keaton in "Family Ties" and Marty McFly in Back to the Future.
THE GALLERY ASSISTANT by Kate Belli (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
This twisty and sinister thriller follows a New York art gallery assistant reckoning with her past and now trapped in a web of deceit after an up-and-coming painter is murdered.
GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben (Thriller)
An unforgettable suspense novel that combines the storytelling talents of Academy Award-winning actor Reese Witherspoon and internationally bestselling author Harlan Coben, GONE BEFORE GOODBYE is the story of a woman trapped in a deadly conspiracy --- where uncovering the truth could cost her everything.
JOYRIDE: A Memoir by Susan Orlean (Memoir)
From beloved New Yorker writer Susan Orlean, the New York Times bestselling author of THE ORCHID THIEF and THE LIBRARY BOOK, JOYRIDE is a masterful memoir of finding her creative calling and purpose that invites us to approach life with wonder, curiosity and an irrepressible sense of delight.
REMAIN: A Supernatural Love Story by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan (Paranormal Romance)
This one-of-a-kind novel, which grapples with the supernatural mysteries of life, death and human connection, is an unprecedented collaboration between the globally bestselling author of love stories like THE NOTEBOOK and the renowned writer and director of blockbuster thrillers like The Sixth Sense.
THE TOURISTS by Christopher Reich (Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of MATTERHORN comes a heart-stopping thriller about a man who returns to a life of espionage to save the woman he loves and the City of Light.
VAGABOND: A Memoir by Tim Curry (Memoir)
VAGABOND is a celebration of Tim Curry's life’s work and a testament to his profound impact on the entertainment industry as we know it today.
THE WAYFINDER by Adam Johnson (Historical Fiction)
Evoking the grandeur of WOLF HALL and the splendor of "Shōgun," Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Adam Johnson has penned a historical epic about a girl from a remote Tongan island who becomes her people's queen.
WORKHORSE by Caroline Palmer (Fiction/Humor)
Caroline Palmer's brilliant, page-turning debut novel is a richly drawn, unsettling and wickedly funny story of envy and ambition set against the glamour and privilege of media and high society in New York City at its height.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Joe Hill, Beth Macy
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are two upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, October 13th at 4pm ET: Book Passage: Beth Macy will be in conversation with Anna Quindlen about her new book, PAPER GIRL: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, a reckoning with the changes that have rocked her beloved small Ohio hometown.
Wednesday, October 15th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Joe Hill about his latest thriller, KING SORROW, in which six friends dabble in the occult and are tragically, horrifyingly successful --- calling forth an evil entity that demands regular human sacrifice.
"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 include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Lily King (HEART THE LOVER)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: October Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in October have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE: An Andy Carpenter Mystery, by David Rosenfelt
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THE BLACK WOLF by Louise Penny
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BOLEYN TRAITOR by Philippa Gregory
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A CHRISTMAS WITNESS: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Novella, by Charles Todd
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COYOTE HILLS by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman
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CRY HAVOC: A Tom Reece Thriller, by Jack Carr
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DEAD AND ALIVE: Essays, by Zadie Smith
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A FERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber
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FINDING MY WAY: A Memoir, by Malala Yousafzai
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FUTURE BOY: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry
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THE GALLERY ASSISTANT by Kate Belli
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GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben
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THE HITCHHIKERS by Chevy Stevens
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THE INTRUDER by Freida McFadden
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JOYRIDE: A Memoir, by Susan Orlean
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KING SORROW by Joe Hill
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THE LAND OF SWEET FOREVER: Stories and Essays, by Harper Lee
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THE LAST DEATH OF THE YEAR: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery, by Sophie Hannah
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LAST RITES by Ozzy Osbourne
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MY BELOVED: A Mitford Novel, by Jan Karon
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PAPER GIRL: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, by Beth Macy
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THE PICASSO HEIST by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
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THE PROVING GROUND: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel, by Michael Connelly
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RACE AGAINST TERROR: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War, by Jake Tapper
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REMAIN: A Supernatural Love Story, by Nicholas Sparks, with M. Night Shyamalan
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SHADOW TICKET by Thomas Pynchon
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SHARP FORCE: A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell
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THE TIN MEN by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille
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THE TOURISTS by Christopher Reich
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TWICE by Mitch Albom
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VAGABOND: A Memoir, by Tim Curry
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VENETIAN VESPERS by John Banville
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THE WAYFINDER by Adam Johnson
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THE WIDOW by John Grisham
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WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL by Sue Monk Kidd
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 17th 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 October 3rd to October 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben and TWICE by Mitch Albom.
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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