Weekly Update

July 11, 2025

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What I Read Over the Long Weekend 

It was great to have a four-day weekend with nothing on the agenda except time for reading.

I started by finishing Lisa Scottoline's THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, which is a page-turner and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Julia, the protagonist, heads to the Italian countryside to learn more about a piece of property that has been left to her. Lisa’s descriptions of the landscape, food and culture of Italy will have you feeling like you are doing armchair travel. To enhance the experience even more, Lisa has a fabulous video series on her website where she shares the locations and flavors of Italy. She also is profiled in the “By the Book” section of the New York Times this week. You can read that piece here. Our review is scheduled to run next week, and I am hoping to see Lisa in Doylestown, PA on Tuesday night.

CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger is a brilliant look at a family that is involved in an accident in their autonomously driven minivan, which brings ramifications of guilt for each member. I confess that I have absolutely no interest in being a passenger in an autonomously driven car. I like to drive too much, and my husband will tell you that I am a terrible passenger. The accident kills an elderly couple and sends their car down a cliff. It seems that it’s not just the vehicle that behaved badly here, as each person in the family has his or her own reason for feeling culpable over what happened.

I love the way that Bruce parsed out the details, and fleshed out the characters and the accident’s implications. It was lovely to see that the book is this month's Oprah's Book Club pick. Just like Oprah's previous selection, Wally Lamb’s THE RIVER IS WAITING, this one will be a Bets On title. I am hoping to interview Bruce in the next few weeks, and my Bets On commentary will run next week. You can read more about CULPABILITY later in this opening note.

Renée Ahdieh's adult debut novel, PARK AVENUE, is about a Korean family with issues of inheritance to squabble over and the Korean junior law partner who is enlisted to work with them. There are vibes here of CRAZY RICH ASIANS, though it does not completely rise to that level. I was amused that having a Birkin bag would be the mark of success. (I am someone who loves pockets and carrying as little as possible, so I do not have to use a bag.) I did love getting to know all the characters in the family and seeing how they played off of one another. Floating in the pool while they were taking off on private planes made this a fun beach read. I listened to a lot of it on audio, and it was so well done!

Now I am reading EMPIRE OF THE ELITE by Michael M. Grynbaum, which is about the decades when Condé Nast was setting the bar for style and influence. Releasing on Tuesday, the book covers a lot of events that happened during the 17 years that I spent at the company. Ah, the money that was so freely spent, the way creativity was encouraged, and where style was created by a few. Those were the days! Compare that to what goes on today, where it feels like almost everyone wants to be an influencer. Taste used to be more gated, and it is interesting to look back on why some of the changes in the editorial departments were made.

For my first summer at the company, I was what was called a rover. I worked at various magazines to give me an idea of where I wanted to settle in. At the time, the company published five magazines; when I left, there were 15. I spent three weeks as the assistant to the assistant of Alexander Liberman, who was the Editorial Director (the woman I was covering for was on her honeymoon), and I was on the executive 14th floor. He and Si Newhouse would meet throughout the day. On Alex’s desk were three VERY large Rolodexes. It was amusing that I had the phone numbers of people like Jackie Onassis just fingers away.

Every editor would reach out to Alex to show their layouts for approval, and I was the keeper of his schedule to make that happen. Grace Mirabella from Vogue was always very chatty with me. The week after the assignment with Alex, I spent one day as the assistant to the assistant of Miss Mirabella (as she was known) as the regular assistant to the assistant was out for the day. Grace did not recognize me. I was no longer in a power chair. Instead, the assistant (I still remember her name was Allison) told me that if she went to the ladies' room, I could not leave my desk as Miss Mirabella could never be alone. And if her husband called, I was never to say it was her husband. I was to say that Dr. Cahan is on the phone. Ah, the memories.

So, yes, I really am enjoying EMPIRE OF THE ELITE, which is a complete trip down memory lane.

My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Megan Abbott. Her new novel, EL DORADO DRIVE, is the first book that she has written about suburban Detroit, which is where she lived for her early years. The story is set during the time when the automobile market crashed, jobs were suddenly lost, and the lifestyle to which people were accustomed disappeared.

Megan talks about those days when the rug was pulled out from under people after years of not worrying about money. She also explains what it was like to write about sisters, even though she only has a brother. And she shares the exciting screenwriting news of what is next for her. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.

We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday. I talked about 33 books releasing between now and August 5th, plus 15 from September, 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 event will take place on Wednesday, August 13th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing between August 12th and September 2nd, as well as some October titles, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.

This week, we are featuring our review of the aforementioned CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger. Norah Piehl calls the book “a compelling study of family dynamics, as well as a briskly propulsive and suspenseful read. The twists at the end of the book come thick and fast, and even if not all of them will come as a shock to every reader, at least one of them certainly will. Pick this one up if you want to consider some of today’s most pressing issues --- and if you want to do so in the context of a truly thrilling story.”

Oprah said this when she announced CULPABILITY as her latest book club pick: “I appreciated the prescience of this story. It’s where we are right now in our appreciation and dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence, centered on an American family we can relate to. I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence!” In front of a live audience at a Starbucks café in Seattle, Oprah talked to Bruce about the novel’s thrilling twists and forward-looking ethical questions about emerging technology and personal accountability. Click here for their discussion.

Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
CULPABILITY is one of the prizes in our new Word of Mouth contest; the other is the aforementioned THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline. Let us know by Friday, July 25th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have the opportunity to win both these titles.

In THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11, the long-awaited follow-up to Ruth Ware’s THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 (which will be a film on Netflix this fall), Lo Blacklock returns to attend the opening of a luxury hotel, only to find herself in a white-knuckled race across Europe.

According to Ray Palen in his review, “THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 plays out like a dark Agatha Christie novel. Lo is the victim at the center of a case full of questions and revelations that will be uncovered only when she reaches out to family and friends for assistance. It also will bring her face-to-face again with her adversary so they can strip off their masks and settle things once and for all. This well-paced and suspenseful novel pushes us into the same corners that Lo is placed, giving us a front-row seat to what happens next.”

Adriana Trigiani’s latest novel, THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO, revolves around one woman’s determination to live a creative life that matters, with enough room left over for love. With a one-way ticket to Italy, Jess Capodimonte Baratta sets out to write a new story on her own terms --- this time, in stone.

Jane T. Krebs has our review and says that the book “has two main attractions: Giuseppina Baratta, a young woman who has believed forever that she could be happy if she made others happy, and the beautiful marble mountains of Italy…. Trigiani explores many contemporary issues in THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO. It is welcome to have the context of today’s time frame placed upon this age-old quest of knowing oneself. Jess has to come to terms with herself before she can come to terms with the mysteries and surprises of the past. She must learn how to carve out a place in her own life.”

You can see Adriana’s appearance on “Good Morning America” here, and I am looking forward to interviewing her on September 13th at the Milford Readers and Writers Festival.

We also are spotlighting reviews of these two books:

• EDGE OF HONOR: Drawn into a web of deceit and deadly politics, Scot Harvath is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy that could change the course of history in Brad Thor’s latest thriller.
   
• BUCKLEY: Sam Tanenhaus’ monumental work, more than two decades in the making, tells the compelling story of William F. Buckley, Jr. and the rise and fall of the movement he led.

Summer Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away FAST BOYS AND PRETTY GIRLS by Lo Patrick and FINDING GRACE by Loretta Rothschild. Next week’s prize will be the aforementioned THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline (yes, we’re giving you TWO opportunities to win this book!). The contest will be up on Tuesday, July 15th at noon ET.

July’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for July are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as William Kent Krueger (SPIRIT CROSSING), James McBride (THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE), Patricia Cornwell (IDENTITY UNKNOWN: A Scarpetta Novel), Tami Hoag (BAD LIAR), Liane Moriarty (HERE ONE MOMENT), and Kiley Reid (COME AND GET IT); nonfiction titles, including DIDION & BABITZ by Lili Anolik and A HUNGER TO KILL: A Serial Killer, a Detective, and the Confession That Shocked a Nation by Kim Mager with Lisa Pulitzer; and paperback originals like EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU by Jo Piazza and WRITERS AND LIARS by Carol Goodman.

Revisiting Two “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews
Out in paperback now are ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker and THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff, both of which are Bets On picks. I talked to Chris and Amy when their books came out in hardcover, so if you’d like to check out these interviews, you can watch the videos or listen to the podcasts using the links below.

• Amy Neff (THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST) Video | Podcast
• Chris Whitaker (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) Video | Podcast

Books on Screen Offerings for July
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. July’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Ballard" on Prime Video, "Dexter: Resurrection" on Paramount+ with Showtime, "The Institute" on MGM+, "Washington Black" on Hulu, and "The Hunting Wives" on Netflix; the season premieres of Apple TV+'s "Foundation" and Prime Video's "The Summer I Turned Pretty"; the season finales of "Nine Perfect Strangers" on Hulu and "Sullivan's Crossing" on The CW; the films Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of Juliet & Romeo, The Amateur and The Actor.

Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we have listed 35 fiction titles releasing this month, and we are asking you which, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, July 25th at noon ET.

Here are the results of our previous poll, where we asked two questions about prominent book clubs. I always love reading these poll results!

Is a book that has been chosen for one of the major book clubs (Oprah, Reese, “Read with Jenna,” “Good Morning America,” etc.) something you consider when looking for your next read?

• Yes (29%)
• No (27%)
• It depends on the book. (47%)
• It depends on the author. (23%)
• It depends on the book club. (9%)

Which of the following book club selections do you follow and act upon the most?

• Barnes & Noble Book Club (19%)
• “Good Morning America” Book Club (18%)
• Oprah’s Book Club (25%)
• PBS Books Readers Club (12%)
• “Read with Jenna” Book Club (46%)         
• Reese’s Book Club (40%)
• Target Book Club (2%)
• None of the above (33%)

Speaking of major book clubs...

Beck Dorey-Stein’s new novel, SPECTACULAR THINGS, is Reese’s Book Club pick for July. Reese says that the book “follows sisters Mia and Cricket as they navigate an impossible choice that will change everything. Think sisterhood, sacrifice, and the golden age of women's soccer all wrapped into one epic story.”

This month’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick is HAPPY WIFE by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores. According to Jenna, it’s “one of those delicious, fun summer books that you’ll open on the beach and never put down.” She goes on to say, “The setting in a community outside of Orlando, with tons of secrets, is so much fun for the summer, and I found the women of this novel to be complex and interesting, while it being the type of mystery you can’t wait to finish.”

THE COMPOUND by Aisling Rawle is July’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. Lily wakes up on a remote desert compound, alongside 19 other contestants competing on a massively popular reality show. To win, she must outlast her housemates to stay in the Compound the longest, while competing in challenges for luxury rewards, plus communal necessities to outfit their new home. Cameras are catching all her angles, good and bad, but Lily has no desire to leave. Why would she, when the world outside is falling apart? We plan to run our review in next week's newsletter.

What would happen if you finally met your soul mate --- but they were married to someone else? That intriguing question lies at the heart of Francesca Giannone’s THE LETTER CARRIER, which has become a bestselling phenomenon in Italy and is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. Translated by Elettra Pauletto, the novel shows how a little town in southern Italy might be just like every town --- with women and men, husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, all trying to navigate the world while staying true to their hearts.

For more July selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

K. Cole wrote, “I was delighted to win a copy of GLASS GIRLS! As a follower of Bookreporter for many years, I am always eager to see what new books are being read and reviewed. This debut novel promises to be an interesting summer read. Thank you!”

Judy wrote, “Thank you for making my day. What a wonderful surprise when I came home from work to find a book sent by you telling me that I was a winner in Bookreporter's 'Bookaccino Live' contest. You have no idea how excited I was to receive this. Thank you, thank you, thank you, over and over again. I cannot wait to read it. All the best to you, my friend.”

“The Waterfront” on Netflix: That was one crazy eight-episode series. I cannot say that we liked it, but I will say that it packed a lot of surprises. People were saying that it was like “Yellowstone”. Sure, the family conflict was, but somehow fighting over heroin is not quite the same as fighting over a ranch.

“Stick” on Apple TV+: Two more episodes to go! It’s still amusing.

The aforementioned “Ballard” on Prime Video: I am looking forward to this one. We are very sad that “Bosch: Legacy” was canceled, so we look forward to this spinoff. My husband wants to know how these police officers always have the houses with the greatest views!

Shine Away: I always have heard wonderful things about this event from authors who have attended, so I was glad that the team at Hello Sunshine shared this with me:

“Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine’s experiential franchise Shine Away is BACK for a THIRD year, taking place October 11-12 at the Universal Studios Lot. As part of the program on Saturday, October 11, Witherspoon will kick off the book tour for her highly anticipated upcoming new thriller, GONE BEFORE GOODBYE, alongside co-author Harlan Coben. Tickets for Shine Away 2025, connected by AT&T, are available now at hello-sunshine.com/shineaway.

I will be moderating events for the Morristown Festival of Books on October 11th, or else I would have wanted to attend Shine Away. If any of you are going, I would love for you to cover it for us. Let me know!

This week, one of my favorite yarn shops, Purl Soho, sent an email with the subject line “Knit A Bath Mat Your Feet Will Love... Plus Matching Washcloths!” I want to be clear that I never will be knitting a bath mat or washcloths. Today they suggested knitting bath mitts. That also is a hard no.

I finished planting flowers last weekend. I still have some seeds that I want to plant, and then that is IT until fall when things need to be refreshed. You can quote me on that. It's now really summer, and it's time to kick back and enjoy. Even the tube is blown up! I ordered a very small turquoise Frigidaire refrigerator for outside. I think it will hold something like 4-5 cans of soda. It is going to make me smile a lot when I look at it.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings at 11am ET, I will be watching the women's and men's Wimbledon finals, as will our Editorial Director, Tom. We both are rooting for Amanda Anisimova and Carlos Alcaraz. Amanda was born in New Jersey, so this makes her something of a hometown hero, though she grew up in Florida.

On Monday morning, I am doing a book preview presentation at my health club. This is a new venue for me to present at, and I am looking forward to it.

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: CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger
Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Stacy Carolan and January LaVoy
When the Cassidy-Shaws’ autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, 17-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating each of them in the accident. During a weeklong recuperation on the Chesapeake Bay, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. But Lorelei’s odd behavior tugs at Noah’s suspicions that there is a darker truth behind the incident --- suspicions heightened by the sudden intrusion of Daniel Monet, a tech mogul whose mysterious history with Lorelei hints at betrayal. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's Oprah's Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

CULPABILITY will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review: THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 by Ruth Ware

THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Imogen Church
When the invitation to attend the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel --- owned by reclusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann --- arrives, it’s like the answer to a prayer. Three years after the birth of her youngest child, Lo Blacklock is ready to reestablish her journalism career and hopes she can snag an interview with Marcus. Unfortunately, he proves to be even more difficult to pin down than his reputation suggests. When Lo gets a late-night call asking her to come to Marcus’ hotel room, she agrees despite her own misgivings. She’s greeted, however, by a woman claiming to be Marcus’ mistress, and in life-or-death jeopardy. What follows is a thrilling cat-and-mouse pursuit across Europe, forcing Lo to ask herself just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save this woman…and if she can even trust her. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani

THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mira Sorvino
In blue-collar Lake Como, New Jersey, family comes first. Recently divorced from Bobby Bilancia, Jess Capodimonte Baratta moves into her parents’ basement to hide and heal. Jess is the overlooked daughter, who dutifully takes care of her parents, cooks Sunday dinner and puts herself last. Despite her role as the family handmaiden, Jess is also a talented draftswoman in the marble business run by her dapper uncle Louie, who believes she can do anything (once she invests in a better wardrobe). When the Capodimonte and Baratta families endure an unexpected loss, the shock unearths long-buried secrets that will force Jess to question her loyalty to those she trusted. Fueled by her lost dreams, Jess takes fate into her own hands and escapes to her ancestral home, Carrara, Italy. Reviewed by Jane T. Krebs.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: EDGE OF HONOR by Brad Thor

EDGE OF HONOR by Brad Thor (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Armand Schultz
After six months abroad, America’s top spy returns to a new administration, a new set of global priorities, and a power struggle --- the likes of which the United States has never experienced. Drawn into a web of deceit and deadly politics, Scot Harvath is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy that could change the course of history. A cabal of shadowy elites is maneuvering for control, and if they succeed, they will bring the country to its knees. When trust is fleeting and survival means making impossible decisions, Harvath finds himself at the precipice. The actions he takes will shape the future of America --- and might cost him everything he holds dear. With enemies at every turn, one wrong move could push the nation over the edge. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: BUCKLEY by Sam Tanenhaus

BUCKLEY: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America by Sam Tanenhaus (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Malcolm Hillgartner
In 1951, with the publication of GOD AND MAN AT YALE, a scathing attack on his alma mater, 25-year-old William F. Buckley, Jr., seized the public stage --- and commanded it for the next half-century as he led a new generation of conservative activists and ideologues to the peak of political power and cultural influence. Ten years before his death in 2008, Buckley chose prize-winning biographer Sam Tanenhaus to tell the full, uncensored story of his life and times, granting him extensive interviews and exclusive access to his most private papers. Thus began a deep investigation into the vast and often hidden universe of Bill Buckley and the modern conservative revolution. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com's 21st 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 through mid-August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.

Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for July

Click here for July's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.

July’s New in Paperback Roundups

July's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes SPIRIT CROSSING, the 20th book in William Kent Krueger's one-of-a-kind series, in which a disappearance and a dead body put Cork O'Connor's family in the crosshairs of a killer; THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, a novel as compassionate as DEACON KING KONG and as inventive as THE GOOD LORD BIRD, which revolves around small-town secrets and the people who keep them; Chris Whitaker's ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, a soaring thriller and an epic love story about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope; and THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST, a heart-wrenching, life-affirming novel from Amy Neff that asks: How much would you sacrifice for the one you love?

Among our nonfiction highlights are DIDION & BABITZ by Lili Anolik, an outrageously provocative dual biography that reveals the mutual attractions --- and antagonisms --- of Joan Didion and her fellow literary titan, Eve Babitz; A HUNGER TO KILL, a fascinating and profoundly chilling account of how Detective Kim Mager, a real-life version of Clarice Starling, closed in on --- and broke --- one of Ohio’s most infamous serial killers; THE CORE OF AN ONION by Mark Kurlansky, a delectable look at the cultural, historical and gastronomical layers of one of the world's most beloved culinary staples --- featuring original illustrations and recipes from around the world; and Hyeseung Song's DOCILE, a searing coming-of-age memoir about the daughter of ambitious Asian American immigrants and her search for self-worth.

Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
June 30th, July 7th, July 14th, July 21st and July 28th.

July’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 July's offerings, please click here.

Film Releases

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight 
Release Date: Friday, July 11th (limited release in theaters)
Based on: DON'T LET'S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT: An African Childhood, by Alexandra Fuller

I Know What You Did Last Summer
Release Date: Friday, July 18th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: Characters from I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER by Lois Duncan
 

Series Premieres

"Ballard"
Release Date: Wednesday, July 9th on Prime Video (all episodes of Season 1 are available)
Based on: Michael Connelly's novels set in the Bosch universe

"Dexter: Resurrection"
Release Dates: Fridays on Paramount+ with Showtime; Series Premiere on July 11th (the first two episodes of Season 1 are available)
Based on: The Dexter novels by Jeff Lindsay

"The Institute" (8-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Sundays on MGM+; Series Premiere on July 13th (the first two episodes will be available)
Based on: THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King

"The Hunting Wives"
Release Date: Monday, July 21st on Netflix (all episodes of Season 1 will be available)
Based on: THE HUNTING WIVES by May Cobb

"Washington Black" (8-episode limited series)
Release Date: Wednesday, July 23rd on Hulu (all episodes of the series will be available)
Based on: WASHINGTON BLACK by Esi Edugyan
 

Season Premieres

"Foundation"
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; Season 3 Premiere on July 11th
Based on: The Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

"The Summer I Turned Pretty"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Prime Video; Season 3 Premiere on July 16th (the first two episodes will be available)
Based on: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han
 

Season Finales

"Nine Perfect Strangers"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Hulu; Season 2 Finale on July 2nd
Based on: NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty

"Sullivan's Crossing"
Air Dates: Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT on The CW; Season 3 Finale on July 16th
Based on: The Sullivan's Crossing series by Robyn Carr
 

On DVD and Blu-ray

The Amateur
Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, July 8th
Based on: THE AMATEUR by Robert Littell

Juliet & Romeo
DVD Release Date: Tuesday, July 8th
Based on: ROMEO & JULIET by William Shakespeare

The Actor
Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, July 15th
Based on: MEMORY by Donald E. Westlake

More Reviews This Week

RAGE by Linda Castillo (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen McInerney
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is found. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel’s best friend. What could these two young Amish men have been involved in that led to such violent ends? Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory characters --- individuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

DOGGED PURSUIT: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Grover Gardner
Andy Carpenter has spent three years working as a prosecutor in Paterson. But having seen how the system never looks out for the little guy, he leaves to start his own practice as a defense attorney. Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, where he meets his beloved golden retriever, Tara, and feels an immediate connection. The shelter is crowded, and Tara has been sharing space with a dog named Sunny. Andy hates to break them up, so he asks to take Sunny, too. But since there's a pending criminal case involving the owner, he'll need to get written permission for temporary possession. Andy discovers that Sunny's owner, Ryan Tierney, has been arrested for the murder of his ex-boss. But he takes an immediate liking to Ryan and ends up with his first case, along with the two dogs. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.

A MARRIAGE AT SEA: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Marisa Calin
Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He’s a loner, awkward and obsessive; she’s charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And they dream of running away from it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat and sailed away? So in June 1972, Maurice and Maralyn set sail. For nearly a year all went well, until deep in the Pacific, a breaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank beneath the waves. What ensues is a jaw-dropping fight to survive in the wild ocean, with little hope of rescue. Alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted, Maurice and Maralyn have to find not only ways to stay alive but ways to get along, as their inner demons emerge and their marriage is put to the greatest of tests. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

THE GIRLS WHO GREW BIG by Leila Mottley (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by AhDream Smith, Erin Spencer and Khaya Fraites
Adela Woods is 16 years old and pregnant. Her parents banish her from her comfortable upbringing in Indiana to her grandmother’s home in the small town of Padua Beach, Florida. When she arrives, Adela meets Emory, who brings her newborn to high school, determined to graduate despite the odds; Simone, mother of four-year-old twins, who weighs her options when she finds herself pregnant again; and the rest of the Girls, a group of outcast young moms who raise their growing brood in the back of Simone’s red truck. The town thinks the Girls have lost their way, but really they are finding it: looking for love, making and breaking friendships, and navigating the miracle of motherhood and the paradox of girlhood. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

THE FROZEN PEOPLE by Elly Griffiths (Historical Mystery/Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Julie Maisey  
Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they're frozen --- or so their inside joke goes. Nobody knows that her team has a secret: they can travel back in time to look for evidence. The latest assignment sees Ali venture back farther than they have dared before: to 1850s London to clear the name of Cain Templeton, an eccentric patron of the arts. Rumor has it that Cain is part of a sinister group called The Collectors. Ali arrives in the Victorian era to another dead woman at her feet and far too many unanswered questions. As the clock counts down, Ali becomes more entangled in the mystery, yet danger lurks around every corner. She soon finds herself trapped, unable to make her way back to her beloved son, Finn, who is battling his own accusations in the present day. Could the two cases be connected? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

WHAT THE NIGHT BRINGS: A Tom Thorne Novel by Mark Billingham
(Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Billingham
The targeted murder of four officers is only the first in a series of attacks that leaves police scared, angry and, most disturbingly of all, vengeful. As Tom Thorne and Nicola Tanner dig into the reasons for the violence, a deeper darkness begins to emerge: the possibility that these murders are payback. The price paid for an unspeakable betrayal. To uncover the truth, Thorne will be forced to question everything he stands for. He can trust nobody, and the shocking secrets revealed by one terrible night will fracture his entire world. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE STARVING SAINTS by Caitlin Starling (Dark Fantasy/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
Aymar Castle has been under siege for six months. Food is running low, and there has been no sign of rescue. But just as the survivors consider deliberately thinning their number, the castle stores are replenished. The sick are healed. And the divine figures of the Constant Lady and her Saints have arrived. Soon, the entire castle is under the sway of their saviors, partaking in intoxicating feasts of terrible origin. The war hero Ser Voyne gives her allegiance to the Constant Lady. Phosyne, a disorganized, paranoid nun-turned-sorceress, races to unravel the mystery of these new visitors and exonerate her experiments as their source. And in the bowels of the castle, a serving girl, Treila, is torn between her thirst for a secret vengeance against Voyne and the desperate need to escape from the horrors that are unfolding within Aymar’s walls. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE BIG HOP: The First Nonstop Flight Across the Atlantic Ocean and Into the Future by David Rooney (History)
Audiobook available, read by Jeremy Clyde
In 1919, in Newfoundland, four teams of aviators came from Britain to compete in “the Big Hop”: an audacious race to be the first to fly, nonstop, across the Atlantic Ocean. One pair of competitors was forced to abandon the journey halfway, and two pairs never made it into the air. Only one team, after a death-defying 16-hour flight, made it to Ireland. Celebrated on both continents, the transatlantic contest offered a surge of inspiration --- and a welcome distraction --- to a public reeling from the Great War and the influenza pandemic. But the seven airmen who made the attempt were quickly forgotten, their achievement overshadowed by the solo Atlantic flights of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart years later. In THE BIG HOP, David Rooney grants the pioneering aviators of 1919 the spotlight they deserve. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

FOG AND FURY: A Haven Thriller by Rachel Howzell Hall (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Inger Tudor
After 10 years on the force, LAPD cop Sonny Rush relocates with her elderly mother to peaceful Haven, California, to join her godfather’s burgeoning PI business. Sonny’s first case: find Figgy, a missing goldendoodle last seen sporting a Versace collar. At least scouting out a dognapper gives Sonny a chance to get to know her new neighbors. Forty-eight hours in town and Figgy’s disappearance entangles Sonny in an unwelcome reunion with her ex, one of Haven’s wealthiest citizens. And when the body of a teenage boy is found along a popular hiking trail, Sonny is drawn into a web of strange beyond anything she ever saw in LA. Then comes a local’s warning: question everything. Haven hides secrets that could destroy its idyllic facade. Or destroy Sonny first. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

THE FINAL EPISODE by Lori Roy (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by P.J. Morgan
Jennifer Jones and her best friends spend every summer at Big Cypress Swamp, and this summer, Jennifer finally will turn 11. She hopes to gain the “second sight” foretold by family legend and fulfill her destiny. Instead, the swamp serves up dangers greater than the gators lurking on Halfway Creek. Little Francie Farrow vanishes --- and Jennifer’s father goes to prison. Twenty years later, Jennifer has almost shed the label of Paul Jones’ daughter when her past comes barreling back. “Inspired by True Events,” a TV series that solves the unsolvable, is recreating that fateful summer. As the series plays out, Jennifer wonders: Did the show finally find Francie Farrow? And is Jennifer’s father truly guilty? Someone else wants answers even more than Jennifer does, and they won’t let her forget it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on July 14th and 15th

Below are some notable titles releasing on July 14th and 15th 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 July 14th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

July 14th

THE IDAHO FOUR: An American Tragedy by James Patterson and Vicky Ward (True Crime)
The murders of four innocent college students attending the University of Idaho left us all with so many questions. Now, after more than 300 interviews, James Patterson and prize-winning journalist Vicky Ward finally have some answers.

July 15th

THE BEWITCHING by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Historical Fantasy/Gothic Horror)
Three women in three different eras encounter danger and witchcraft in this eerie multigenerational horror saga from the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC.

EMPIRE OF THE ELITE: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America by Michael M. Grynbaum (Popular Culture/Social History)
From a New York Times media correspondent comes 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.

THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE by Sarah Beth Durst (Fantasy/Romance)
New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst invites you to her new stand-alone novel set in the world of THE SPELLSHOP. Follow her to THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE, a cozy fantasy nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes and honeyed love.

A FLOWER TRAVELED IN MY BLOOD: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children by Haley Cohen Gilliland (History)
A remarkable new talent in narrative nonfiction delivers the epic true story of a group of courageous grandmothers who fought to find their grandchildren who were stolen.

THE GIRL I WAS by Jeneva Rose (Fiction/Magical Realism)
From New York Times bestselling author Jeneva Rose comes a fully updated and expanded edition of THE GIRL I WAS, the first book she ever wrote, featuring six brand-new chapters from a fresh point-of-view.

AN INSIDE JOB by Daniel Silva (Thriller/Adventure)
Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon must solve the perfect crime in this dazzling new tale of murder, greed and corruption from #1 New York Times bestselling novelist Daniel Silva.

JFK: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli (Biography)
In this definitive portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy --- one of America’s most consequential and enigmatic presidents --- J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a deeply researched and authoritative biography.

THE KNOWING: How the Oppression of Indigenous Peoples Continues to Echo Today by Tanya Talaga (History)
From award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga comes a riveting exploration of the dark history of residential schools, “Indian hospitals” and asylums.

THE LAKE ESCAPE by Jamie Day (Domestic Thriller)
THE LAKE ESCAPE is the next riveting summer suspense by the author of THE BLOCK PARTY and ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, Jamie Day.

THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline (Psychological Thriller)
A young widow inherits a Tuscan estate from a mysterious benefactor and finds herself thrust into the crosshairs of a dangerous conspiracy. Twisty, transportive and haunting, this is suspense with a passport.

WAYWARD GIRLS by Susan Wiggs (Historical Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs comes a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship and redemption. Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school.

WRITERS AND LIARS by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
In this latest thrilling suspense novel from Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author Carol Goodman, a group of mystery authors gathers on a secluded Greek island for a writers retreat, only to discover that their enigmatic host has been murdered and everyone present is a suspect.

Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.

From left to right: Steve Berry, Clémence Michallon, Peter Swanson

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.

Monday, July 14th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Clémence Michallon will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her propulsive new thriller, OUR LAST RESORT. Fifteen years ago, Frida and her brother escaped a cult. Now her brother is the prime suspect in a murder investigation --- and it isn’t the first time.

Tuesday, July 15th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Peter Swanson about his new thriller, KILL YOUR DARLINGS. This inventive, utterly propulsive murder-mystery in reverse traces a marriage back in time to uncover the dark secret at its heart.

Wednesday, July 16th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Adriana Trigiani about her latest novel, THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO, which is about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.

Thursday, July 17th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Steve Berry will talk about his new novel, THE LIST. This compelling legal thriller features a young attorney who has returned to his small-town Georgia home, where he begins to unravel a corporate corruption scheme that targets locals, including those near and dear to him.

 "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:

• Megan Abbott (EL DORADO DRIVE) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Janet Skeslien Charles (THE PARISIAN CHAPTER: An Audio Novel) Video | Podcast
• Julie Clark (THE GHOSTWRITER) Video | Podcast
• Jeanine Cummins (SPEAK TO ME OF HOME) Video | Podcast
• Lori Foster (THE GUEST COTTAGE: A Firefly Summer Novel) Video | Podcast
• Katy Hays (SALTWATER) Video | Podcast
• Georgia Hunter (ONE GOOD THING) Video | Podcast
• Victoria Christopher Murray (HARLEM RHAPSODY) Video | Podcast
• Chris Pavone (THE DOORMAN) Video | Podcast
• Nita Prose (THE MAID'S SECRET: A Maid Novel) Video | Podcast
• Kaira Rouda (JILL IS NOT HAPPY) Video | Podcast

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

Our Latest Poll: July Fiction Releases to Anticipate

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, July 25th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!

Click here to enter the contest.

Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com

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