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Week of November 10, 2025

Paperback releases for the week of November 10th include LAZARUS MAN, an electrifying novel from Richard Price that gives us a razor-sharp anatomy of an ever-changing Harlem; FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN, in which Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in a raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough; LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger, an enthralling novel about three generations of strong-willed women, unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past; Elly Griffiths' THE MAN IN BLACK, an eclectic, thrilling collection of short stories, featuring many characters that readers have come to know and love; and the paperback original FALLING APART AND OTHER GIFTS FROM THE UNIVERSE by Catherine Ryan Hyde, a poignant novel about two disparate people --- lost in their own way --- who find an unexpected healing connection.

Week of November 3, 2025

Paperback releases for the week of November 3rd include THE MIGHTY RED, a stunning novel from Louise Erdrich that tells a story of love, natural forces, spiritual yearnings, and the tragic impact of uncontrollable circumstances on ordinary people’s lives; CHER: The Memoir, Part One, an intimate account that follows Cher's extraordinary beginnings through childhood to meeting and marrying Sonny Bono --- and reveals the highly complicated relationship that made them world-famous but eventually drove them apart; Jacquelyn Mitchard's A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL, a page-turning family drama that explores the emotional consequences of loyalty, deception and jealousy; RENTAL HOUSE, a sharp-witted, insightful novel from Weike Wang about a marriage as seen through the lens of two family vacations. and the paperback original THE PERFECT HOSTS by Heather Gudenkauf, a gripping thriller in which a couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly, and everyone is a suspect.

November 22, 2025

My book group had a terrific discussion this week about HEART THE LOVER by Lily King, which is a recent Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, we were happy to have a short book to read this month, as we knew we were meeting early because of the holiday. It was a page-turning read, and we all flew through it. One of the things that we honed in on was how, when we were in college, everything seemed so important and worthy of much discussion, especially relationships. There was lots of reminiscing. Sometimes book group brings out those moments.

Brisa Carleton, author of Last Call at the Savoy

Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her parents, she's been stuck in place. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister, Rosemary, have always had each other to lean on. But now, with Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever. When Rosie is put on bed rest, Cinnamon flies to her sister's side, where she's temporarily living at The Savoy. She’s immediately swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar. When the late-shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender's vivid stories of Ada's fearlessness and can't understand why Ada's name is nowhere to be found.

Gilly Macmillan, author of The Burning Library

On a frigid, windswept day in Scotland’s Western Hebrides, Eleanor Bruton’s body is discovered on the shore. Little did Eleanor’s family know that she was harboring a dark and all-consuming secret --- a scrap of fraying embroidery that seems worthless at first glance. For over a century, two rival organizations of women have gone to deadly lengths to secure the valuable artifact in the hopes of finding the original medieval manuscript from which it was torn. When Dr. Anya Brown garners international attention for her translation of the cryptic Folio 9, she is handpicked by Diana Cornish, a professor and high-ranking member of the Fellowship, to join the exclusive Institute of Manuscript Studies in St. Andrews. Unbeknownst to Anya, she’s been recruited at great personal danger to translate ancient texts that the Fellowship believes critical to their mission.

Ann Packer, author of Some Bright Nowhere

Eliot and his wife, Claire, have been happily married for nearly four decades. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable. Over the years of Claire’s illness, Eliot has shifted into the role of caregiver. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered. What if your partner’s dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he’s been, and with the great unknowns of Claire’s last days.

November 21, 2025

It’s time for Thanksgiving dinner planning to begin. We have a file filled with recipes, and each year we sort through them to plan the menu. Even with the old favorites set to show up on the list, we are always ready for new additions. There will be a trip to the farmers' market on Sunday to select produce and to have yet another discussion about whether to make butternut squash ravioli or carrot soup. Or both. I already have been told that we should double the cornbread stuffing recipe.

Clare Leslie Hall Book Group Event

Clare Leslie Hall Book Group Event

The National Book Awards 2025

The winners of the 2025 National Book Award in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature and Young People's Literature were announced on November 19th at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony.

Two lifetime achievement awards also were presented as part of the evening’s ceremony. Roxane Gay, whose books include the essay collection BAD FEMINIST and the memoir HUNGER, received the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. And George Saunders, who won the 2017 Booker Prize for LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, was recognized with the Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.