|
Never Miss a Contest or a Promotion!
Follow and Like Us on Social Media
Verification Codes --- None Needed Here!
As we were getting ready to send this newsletter, we learned the heartbreaking news that New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles has passed away at the age of 65 following a long battle with multiple myeloma. We will share a tribute to him in next week's newsletter.
I feel like I spend a good part of the day entering verification codes for everything from logging onto banking to logging onto Facebook and Instagram, and then to sites that I cannot figure out why I need verification. I think my phone gets more verification code texts than it does people texts. Using the desktop that I always work on, I am asked for codes, and to note that I use this device and clear it for later use. And then the next time, I once again have to do a code.
The four-digit verification quickly has become six digits. Our health insurance company recently told us that we have to create a 14-digit password that will be valid for all of 2026. Why do I not believe this? And there is still a ton of fraud going on. I dodge at least five email scams a day. I can see you nodding in agreement from here. Does this have anything to do with books? Not really. Except when I pick up a physical book or listen to an audiobook, I am very happy not to have to be verified. Small pleasures.
This week, I have been enjoying Hank Phillippi Ryan's upcoming novel, ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS, which releases on September 9th. I love following her protagonist, Tessa Calloway, a debut author who is on a whirlwind, one-stop-a-day book tour. It's her first time away from her husband and two children as she celebrates her New York Times bestseller. Tessa clearly has something that she is hiding, and someone is out to derail her career.
Hank nails the less glamorous side of “the book tour,” as well as the fun ones, along with suspense elements. I find myself smiling each time I pick it up, wondering what clever real-life experience she has written into the story. It’s lining up to be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
For my latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, I had a wonderful conversation with Francesca Serritella about her newly released second novel, FULL BLOOM, which we reviewed in last week’s newsletter.
The book’s protagonist is gifted a bespoke perfume, which makes her irresistible. Francesca talks about her fragrance research, which she conducted in Grasse, France, as well as her lifelong love of perfume. She also shares how she views women who are living life on their own terms --- and loving it. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event on Wednesday. I talked about 33 books releasing between now and September 2nd, plus 10 from the first half of October, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, September 10th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing between September 9th and September 30th, as well as some titles from the second half of October, plus November, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE is the first thrilling mystery in Karin Slaughter’s new North Falls series and her 25th(!) book. Welcome to North Falls, a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think. Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “It is not for the squeamish or those who enjoy their mysteries presented in cozy fashion. It hits hard enough to take the breath out of you and leaves behind indelible images of depravity that are difficult to shake.” He calls the book “a high-octane thrill ride where secrets will be revealed, and the resolution…will come out in a stunning finale.”
THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE is Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s landmark book on the profound physical and physiological effects of trauma. Now, Kate Price --- a featured case study in that book --- steps out from behind the pseudonym to share her own powerful story of resilience and determination. In THIS HAPPENED TO ME, which will be a Bets On pick, Price reveals her journey from victim to advocate, from fearful child to empowered adult, and from despair to triumph.
Rebecca Munro has this to say in her review: “Though [Price] tells one of the most painful, tragic stories I have ever read, her aim here is not to shock you, but rather to inform you of the realities of child sexual abuse in our country. Drawing on her work as a research scientist studying child sex trafficking, Price’s gaze is not just introspective, but intersectional. She frequently pauses to acknowledge her privilege --- her story, she notes, would not have garnered the same attention if she was not white, blonde-haired and blue-eyed.”
I read this book last weekend and could not put it down. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. I am including it in a list of this year's Bets On titles that spotlight social issues. The others are DEAR SISTER by Michelle Horton, which is about domestic violence, and SEEKING SHELTER by Jeff Hobbs, which focuses on America's housing crisis.
I talked a lot about EMPIRE OF THE ELITE in previous newsletters, and now we have our review to share with you. New York Times media correspondent Michael M. Grynbaum has penned a dishy history of the Condé Nast magazine empire, home of Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and more, focusing on its glitzy heyday from the 1980s through the 2000s.
According to Philip Zozzaro, “EMPIRE OF THE ELITE is a well-researched and eloquent study of the rise and wane of a powerful mass media company…. Grynbaum, a correspondent for The New York Times, has assembled the right ingredients (compelling individuals, pop culture, wealth) and delivered a penetrating view of a company and its indelible impact on the zeitgeist. It’s a winner from start to finish.” As someone who worked at Condé Nast for 17 years, I heartily agree with this review.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
-
PEOPLE LIKE US: In this new novel from Jason Mott, who wrote the 2021 National Book Award winner HELL OF A BOOK, two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence.
-
THE HARVEY GIRLS: Juliette Fay transports us to 1920s America with this big-hearted tale of two very different women who must learn to trust each other as one tries to save her family and the other to save herself.
-
JENNY COOPER HAS A SECRET: In this riveting psychological thriller from Joy Fielding, a dementia patient reveals a deadly secret --- and one woman must decide whether or not to believe her.
Announcing This Year’s Fall Reading Feature
Our Fall Reading feature is back for a 15th year! On select days through October, we will spotlight a different title that we know people will be talking about this fall and offer a 24-hour contest to win five copies of the book. We also will send a special newsletter to announce each day's title. If you have not done so already, you can sign up here to receive these dedicated newsletters.
Our first two prize books will be THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman (an upcoming Bets On selection that we will review next week) and THE HEIR: A Young Queen Victoria Mystery by Darcie Wilde. The contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, August 18th and Wednesday, August 19th.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
We also are giving away THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA in our Word of Mouth contest, along with KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner, which we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Be sure to enter by Friday, August 22nd at noon ET.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask about your favorite Bookreporter features as we approach our 29th anniversary. Click here to let us know which features you love the most!
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re hosting a contest for award-winning author Suzanne Nelson’s debut novel for adults, THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love.
We’re giving 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this captivating historical novel, which has received so much praise since its release in February. So be sure to submit your entries by Wednesday, September 24th at noon ET.
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon announced that MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman is this summer’s Fallon Book Club pick. In this unforgettably funny and deeply moving novel, which we reviewed when it released in May, the friendship shared by four teenagers creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life 25 years later.
Viewers chose the book by messaging the Fallon Book Club Instagram account. The runners-up were THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS by Annie Hartnett, WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK? by Sara Hamdan, MAGGIE; OR, A MAN AND A WOMAN WALK INTO A BAR by Katie Yee, and WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown. Click here to watch Jimmy reveal the winner.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Cheryl wrote this about “Bookaccino Live”: “As always, these events are wonderful. You and Tom do a great job researching and presenting such an interesting, informative group of books for us to consider. I truly wish there were more hours in the day to enjoy many more than I do. Thank you both for each event, and know how much you are appreciated.” We truly love creating these programs, so we are so glad that they are enjoyed!
Bethany wrote, “I was so excited to receive your email about winning CULPABILITY and THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA in Word of Mouth. Both books have received high praise, and this will be my opportunity to read these authors for the first time. I suspect they will be books I'll want to recommend to my book club.
I've been an avid follower of Bookreporter for years and enjoy your newsletters, as well as your in-depth interviews and 'Bookaccino Live.' I can't help but want to stop what I'm doing and go read when I've finished your latest email. Thanks for keeping us informed about the latest literary treasures!” Thanks for enjoying what we love doing!
Cindy wrote, “I think I have been attending 'Bookaccino Live' since you started this amazing gathering and always look forward to your events monthly. From yesterday’s 'Bookaccino' event, I have seven books marked for purchase and reading enjoyment. Yeah! THANKS TO YOU AND TOM FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!” We love that you found so many books to enjoy!
Linda also wrote about “Bookaccino Live”: “Thanks, Carol. I won't enter the contest since I get so many ARCs sent to me, and I get a considerable discount where I work on book purchases. I don't want to take away a chance for someone else. It was great, and I will be following up on all the data as soon as I get a 'minute.' I am up to my eyeballs in meets, reviews and book clubs right now.” We love that you enjoy reading ahead like we do!
Michel wrote, “Thank you for your amazing website/lifestyle sharing! To be candid, I don't open all emails, and I'm nowhere near the reader I should be/aspire to be or that many of my friends are, but I got them subscribing here, so I thought it was great. I meant to open this email as I had not known about the book FRAMED, despite working as a death penalty investigator for 35 years! How embarrassed but also how glad. Thank you again for all of this great info and super attitude about all.”
I love that you caught that we are about “lifestyle sharing,” as well as books. I want people to read the newsletter even if they already have a book on hand, which is why we added Books on Screen and why I share other tidbits!
My comments last week about the woes of internet shopping got some great feedback.
Joyce said, “I too am an internet clothes shopper, but I have become much more cautious with the rise of scamming. Some things to keep in mind. If a business or individual is closing after years (with deep discounts), it’s generally a scam. If the photos of lovely clothes feature a torso of a model without a head, it’s a scam. Those lovely clothes are pirated from another site. If a famous store is going out of business --- again, huge discounts --- it’s a scam. Both LL Bean and Coldwater Creek have been hit this way, and the websites look very real. I haven’t seen those in a while, so they may have been shut down. Before buying anything, I now google the business followed by the word 'scam.' Even if it is legitimate, you get much useful info, such as if it is member of the Better Business Bureau, ease of returns and refunds, customer service response, and much more.
I hope this is helpful to you! You are very helpful to me and my reading life. I so look forward to your emails, especially the Friday night ones. Thank you! But now my ever-growing stack of books is calling to me.”
Betty said, “I find shopping for clothes daunting too. It’s comforting to know that I am not the only one who has purchased items advertised online that were a huge disappointment. The ads are well done and very enticing, but the products received leave a lot to be desired. After being fooled more than once, I now leave Instagram or Facebook and check out the product and reviews on Google. Now if I could just learn to ignore the ads...”
Carla wrote, “Thanks for all the updates. I wish I could join you in the pool. It has been over 90 degrees here. Regarding your wardrobe, I suggest trying local resale shops, particularly those supporting worthy causes. I get better brands, pants shortened by someone my height (or I don't buy them!), and unusual accessories all the time. It is like a treasure hunt, and The Resale Shop, run by the National Council of Jewish Women here in St. Louis, is a not-for-profit, so no tax is owed!
Enjoy your reading. I am finishing up THE LAST AMERICAN ROAD TRIP, which is about Sarah Kendzior's travels to find solace and hope in America, primarily in nature and national parks. She lives in St. Louis. Her writing is beautiful.”
Carolyn wrote, “Not sure what size you are, but if you are a size 10 and above, I recommend BloomChic. It takes a bit for the clothes to arrive, but I have been pleased.”
Speaking to Carolyn’s note, I have been very happy with Peruvian Connection, though they are a specialty online catalog and often the clothing takes a long time to come. But when it arrives, I am happy with it!
I read this week that AOL is shutting down it's dial-up internet service. I still can hear that dial-up sound, which was how we logged onto AOL in the early years. While we all waited eagerly for broadband, this week I realized how many people in far-flung places still count on it for a reasonably priced connection.
“The Gilded Age” on HBO Max: A terrific ending to season three. The story has gotten so much deeper as time has gone on.
“And Just Like That...” on HBO Max: The series ending may go down as one of my least favorite. Even Carrie's epilogue did not work for me. I will not spoil it for those who have not watched it yet.
I had some publishing friends here for lunch today. I so enjoyed talking to them about the book business and life. I tried new recipes, and they were a hit. I love times like this!
A quiet weekend is on tap. Some friends are coming here tomorrow. Next week, we will be working double time as we prep for our annual week off before Labor Day. I already am lining up books to read.
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:
WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE by Karin Slaughter
WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE by Karin Slaughter (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen Early
Welcome to North Falls, a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think. Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites. For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help --- and now she must bring her home. But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did. Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THIS HAPPENED TO ME by Kate Price
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THIS HAPPENED TO ME: A Reckoning by Kate Price (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Price
Kate Price, who grew up in a small mill town in central Pennsylvania, was able to escape the unbroken cycles of poverty, violence, addiction, mental illness and abuse that had plagued her family for generations. She started a new life in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in pursuit of her master’s and PhD. But despite having left this dark world behind, it still kept a firm grip on her. Overcome with unexplainable grief and sadness, Price sought out Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a trauma specialist to help heal her constant emotional pain through EMDR therapy. When Price felt safe enough, she discovered what that darkness that lay within her was. Her father had abused and trafficked her as a child. Price grappled with what had been revealed. And so began a 10-year quest alongside a journalist to prove what Price knew to be her truth. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
THIS HAPPENED TO ME will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review:
EMPIRE OF THE ELITE by Michael M. Grynbaum
EMPIRE OF THE ELITE: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America by Michael M. Grynbaum (Popular Culture/Social History)
Audiobook available, read by Jacques Roy with Michael M. Grynbaum
For decades, Condé Nast and its glittering magazines defined how to live the good life in America. The brilliant, complicated, striving characters behind Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, GQ, Architectural Digest and many other titles manufactured a vision of luxury and sophistication that shaped consumer habits, cultural trends, intellectual attitudes and political beliefs the world over. Condé’s billionaire owner, Si Newhouse, and his stable of star editors, photographers and writers were the gatekeepers who decided what and who mattered, and they offered those opinions to tens of millions of readers every month. EMPIRE OF THE ELITE is full of fresh behind-the-scenes reporting about a plethora of boldface names and sets out to explain how Condé Nast established itself as a de facto American aristocracy, anointing an elite and dictating the culture they presided over. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 15th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and 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. In our Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our first two contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, August 19th and Wednesday, August 20th. The prize books will be THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman, an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On pick, and THE HEIR: A Young Queen Victoria Mystery by Darcie Wilde.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
New Special Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of
THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON by Suzanne Nelson
As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love.
We are awarding 25 readers a copy of Suzanne Nelson's adult fiction debut, THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON, which is inspired by real historical figures and is perfect for fans of THE NIGHTINGALE. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, September 24th at noon ET.
THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON: A WWII Story of Love and Espionage by Suzanne Nelson (Historical Fiction)
Lisbon 1943. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love. Inspired by real historical figures, award-winning author Suzanne Nelson pens a captivating story of two remarkable women, their bravery and heartache, and a friendship that withstands the ravages of war.
WWII rages Europe. Lisbon stands alone as a glamorous city on the brink of chaos, harboring spies trading double-edged secrets. Among them are Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan, Boston librarians turned Allied operatives. Officially enlisted to collect banned books, both women are undercover agents tasked with infiltrating the Axis spy network.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to read Suzanne Nelson's bio.
- Click here to visit Suzanne Nelson's website.
- Connect with Suzanne Nelson on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: PEOPLE LIKE US by Jason Mott
PEOPLE LIKE US by Jason Mott (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ronald Peet and JD Jackson
Two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. As their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Fay
THE HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Fay (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of the finest Boston society families. Now she’s on the run from a brutal husband. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants in Nebraska. She quit school in the sixth grade to help with her mother’s washing and mending business, but even that isn’t enough to keep the family afloat. Desperate, both women join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they share three things: a room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each has a secret that certainly will get them fired. But when they’re sent to work at the luxurious El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, Billie struggles to hide her young age from would-be suitors, and Charlotte discovers the little-known dark side of the national park’s history. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
Featured Review:
JENNY COOPER HAS A SECRET by Joy Fielding
JENNY COOPER HAS A SECRET by Joy Fielding (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Carol Monda
Reeling from her husband’s death and best friend’s dementia diagnosis, 76-year-old Linda Davidson feels lost and alone. Eager to escape the tension at home, Linda goes to visit her friend at Legacy Place, a memory care facility for the elderly, where she meets Jenny Cooper, a 92-year-old dementia patient who makes a shocking confession: she kills people. Linda dismisses the so-called secret as the confusion of an ailing mind, but Jenny seems strangely lucid during their visits as she recounts stories of her many victims --- mostly men who hurt her. Then a fellow patient at Legacy Place dies. Everyone else sees it as the natural death of a sick old man, but Linda can’t help but wonder: Is there any chance Jenny is telling the truth? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
DEPARTURE 37 by Scott Carson (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Mia Barron, Johnny Heller and Catherine Ho
On a clear October day, the American skies empty after hundreds of pilots refuse to fly, triggering a complete ground stop as authorities seek to explain an act of baffling coordination that the pilots insist was anything but planned. The pilots received disturbing, middle-of-the-night calls from their mothers, and each mother had a simple and urgent request: Do not fly today. But none of the mothers remember making them --- and some of them are dead. While the nation’s military chiefs and artificial intelligence experts mobilize in search of answers, a 16-year-old girl named Charlie on the coast of Maine watches a strange, silvery balloon drift across the water and toward her home. Her father’s dream of opening a craft brewery on an old airfield has been a disaster, and all she wants is an escape back to Brooklyn. She’s about to get much more than that. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
A DOG IN GEORGIA by Lauren Grodstein (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Katie Koster
Amy Webb is a chef. Or rather, she was a chef. Somewhere along the way, she also became a wife and a stepmother and an emergency contact, and the part of her that was a chef disappeared entirely --- along with her sense of self. Which is why she is currently in the republic of Georgia, on a mission to find a lost dog named Angel, and, more importantly, the life’s purpose she once took for granted. For months, Amy has escaped by watching YouTube videos of Angel walking the children of Tbilisi to school. When Angel goes missing, Amy volunteers to go find him. But Angel proves elusive, and while she does make friends with a number of stray dogs, what she finds in Tblisi is entirely human. Is she happy in her marriage? What happened to her career? Why doesn’t she ever cook anymore, even just for herself? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST'S DAUGHTER by Peter Orner (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Fass
Jed Rosenthal hasn’t published a book in 14 years, the mother of his child left him in a “trial separation” that has stretched on indefinitely, and he struggles to navigate the daily sorrows of their co-parenting arrangement. But the implosion of Jed’s family is simply a footnote in the larger history of the Rosenthal family’s decline. Just days after the JFK assassination, Karyn “Cookie” Kupcinet was found dead in her Hollywood apartment. The press reported that the 22-year-old was strangled, yet unanswered questions linger to this day. Decades later, Jed pores over family stories, newspaper archives, old photos and crime scene notes, believing that if he can divine the truth of Cookie's death --- whether it was suicide, murder or part of a larger conspiracy --- it might shed light on a mystery closer to home. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
TART: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef by Slutty Cheff (Memoir/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Charly Clive
When Slutty Cheff finds herself bored and fed-up with her 9–5 job in corporate marketing, she turns to the only thing that she really likes to do: cooking. So she quits her job, swaps emails for emulsions, and sets off to pursue her dreams of becoming a chef. The world of London’s fine dining restaurants is so much more than she imagined. There are the exhausting lows of 60-hour work weeks in windowless kitchens and the shock of stepping into the changing room as the only woman. There are the thrilling highs of a busy night, when service is running smoothly; electrifying run-ins with hot bartenders and even hotter chefs; and, always, the exhilaration of cycling hands-free through a city that is still sleeping. This is a story about searching for your purpose, and experiencing and embracing life to the fullest along the way. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
HIGH SEASON by Katie Bishop (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Alix Dunmore
On a beautiful summer’s night 20 years ago, troubled 17-year-old Tamara Drayton was found floating face down in the pool of her family’s idyllic mansion in the south of France, leaving her twin brother, golden-boy Blake, to pick up the pieces of their shattered family. Also left behind was their sister, Nina; at six years old, she became the youngest person ever to testify in a French murder trial. She’s the only one who saw what happened --- who watched as her babysitter, Josie Jackson, pushed Tamara under the water and held her there until she stopped breathing. Didn’t she? Twenty years later, Nina's memories have faded, leaving her with no idea of what really transpired that night. When a new true crime documentary about her sister’s murder is announced, Nina thinks this might be her chance to finally find out. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE WRONG SISTER by Claire Douglas (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Eleanor Tomlinson
Tasha and her older sister, Alice, may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different. Tasha is married with two children and still lives in their hometown near Bristol. Alice is a high-flying scientist who travels the world with her equally successful husband. Yet each sister would trust the other with her life. When Tasha and her husband, Aaron, need a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids, Tasha knows her family is in safe hands. She couldn’t be more wrong. The call from home is devastating. Alice and her husband, Kyle, have been attacked, leaving Alice in intensive care and Kyle dead. Rushing to the hospital, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together. She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister. Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha: It was supposed to be you. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
FOR THE RECORD by Emma Lord (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Andrew Eiden and Jesse Vilinsky
Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rock star Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more --- until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too. Two years later, Sam has traded the rock star lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn’t know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album. Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up their old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
I KNOW HOW THIS ENDS by Holly Smale (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Alix Dunmore
Margot Wayward is in manically gleeful self-destruct mode. Following the implosion of a 10-year relationship, she’s willfully derailing her successful career, joyfully taking down men on dating apps, and living in total chaos. Until one day, when Margot has a vision of herself with a man she’s never met before. She doesn’t believe in fate. But when Margot meets single-dad Henry, the vision comes true: exactly as she’d foreseen it. As her future continues to reveal itself, a glimpse at a time, Margot realizes she knows exactly what’s going to happen, and when. And there’s nothing she can do to change any of it. So Margot has to decide how to live, how to love again, and how to be herself. Because if you can’t change your destiny, how on earth do you live your present? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
INDIAN COUNTRY by Shobha Rao (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Neil Shah
Janavi is a wonderfully independent, young modern Indian woman. Sagar is a trained hydraulic engineer, and his parents were never able to forgive him for an unspeakable act from his past. Yet the two are forced together into an arranged marriage that neither of them wants. Even worse, Sagar has already accepted a job in America, in a strange place called Montana, where he will be in charge of dismantling a dam. His white colleagues do not welcome him with open arms, and Janavi finds herself unable to forgive her sister back in India, whose betrayal led her to this marriage and this strange place. When a colleague of Sagar's is found drowned, Sagar is the obvious scapegoat. But is this death one in a long history of people of color paying the price for the white man's arrogance and expansionism? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
MISSISSIPPI BLUE 42 by Eli Cranor (Thriller/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Dan John Miller
Special Agent Rae Johnson grew up on football fields alongside her father, a national-championship-winning coach. Which is exactly why, fresh out of Quantico, she’s sent down to Compson, Mississippi, to investigate the illicit money flowing into a bustling football program in the heart of the Delta. But two days into the assignment, things take a dire turn when UCM’s star quarterback is flung from the roof of a college bar, lands on a bag of money, and dies. Hoping to turn a routine fraud case into a career-defining bust, Rae ingratiates herself with the fans, coaches, players and politicians who make up the university’s complex social hierarchy. With rumors of corruption rustling through the kudzu vines, Rae soon realizes there’s more to the game than what she’d learned as a child. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 19th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 19th 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 18th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ANONYMOUS MALE: A Life Among Spies by Christopher Whitcomb (Memoir)
ANONYMOUS MALE is a no-holds-barred memoir about identity, from a former Hostage Rescue Team sniper who left the FBI on 9/11 only to lose himself, moving deeper into a world of spies.
CHANGEOVER: A Young Rivalry and a New Era of Men's Tennis by Giri Nathan (Sports)
Punctuated with humor, brimming with insight, and rooted in a true fan’s love of the sport of tennis, CHANGEOVER is the story of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and their epic new rivalry.
EMMA ON FIRE by James Patterson and Emily Raymond (Thriller)
EMMA ON FIRE is the unforgettable story of one brave young woman --- and her decision to live life as if everyone’s future depends on it.
THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand
edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene (Post-Apocalyptic Dark Fantasy/Short Stories)
THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT is an original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic, THE STAND.
FIVE FOUND DEAD by Sulari Gentill (Mystery/Thriller)
USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill brings readers on a heart-pounding ride filled with intrigue, suspense and literary charm in FIVE FOUND DEAD, which is perfect for fans of twisty mysteries and books about books.
HATCHET GIRLS: A Hap and Leonard Novel by Joe R. Lansdale (Mystery/Humor)
Your next dose of pitch-black comedy, mystery and mayhem has arrived as Hap and Leonard find themselves in a vicious and ridiculous situation --- just as the best friends may finally be calling it quits.
HEMLOCK & SILVER by T. Kingfisher (Fantasy/Adventure)
From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes HEMLOCK & SILVER, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue and treason of the most magical kind.
THE LOST BAKER IN VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman (Historical Fiction)
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA is a historical novel inspired by the experiences of the author’s own family after the Holocaust, a sweeping saga about survival, loss, love and the reverberating effects of war.
SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO: Fictions by Fannie Flagg (Fiction/Short Stories)
This tapestry of joyful and startling interconnected stories celebrates how people from all across America cope with adversity and unexpected changes in a confusing world.
THE SURROGATE MOTHER by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a page-turner that will redefine what it means to be in the family way.
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH written by Lisa Ridzén, translated by Alice Menzies (Fiction)
This profoundly moving debut novel follows an elderly man’s attempts to mend his relationship with his son before it’s too late.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Karin Slaughter, Francesca Serritella, Eli Cranor
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 19th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Karin Slaughter about WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE, the first thrilling mystery in her North Falls series and her 25th book. North Falls is a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.
Wednesday, August 20th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Francesca Serritella about her new book, FULL BLOOM, a stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire in which a woman's life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume.
Thursday, August 21st at 9:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Eli Cranor will talk about his new thriller, MISSISSIPPI BLUE 42, a series debut starring a rookie FBI agent who finds herself caught in the tangled web of a college football empire --- and the bloody greed that fuels it.
"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:
-
Steve Berry (THE LIST)
-
Sharon Kurtzman (THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Your Favorite Bookreporter Features
What are your favorite features on Bookreporter.com? Please check all that apply.
-
Author Spotlight Features & Contests
-
Award Listings
-
Book Festivals
-
“Bookaccino Live” Book Group Events
-
“Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Events
-
“Bookreporter Talks To” Videos & Podcasts
-
Bookreporter.com Bets On
-
Books on Screen
-
Coming Soon
-
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks
-
New in Paperback
-
Poll
-
Reviews
-
Seasonal Contests (Winter Reading, Spring Reading, Summer Reading, Fall Reading, Holiday Cheer, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day)
-
Word of Mouth
-
None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 22nd 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 August 8th to August 22nd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner and THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman.
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.
|
