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November 1, 2024

Long-time readers know that this is my favorite weekend of the year. Why? Because we will get an extra hour to do with it what we want --- the hour that we lost back in March. And I have so many ways to spend this hour. Yes, I know that it will be dark earlier in the evening, and the shorter days of daylight are on the horizon. But for this weekend, there will be 60 minutes that I did not have since this weekend last year.

Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten

November 2024

I so enjoyed Ina Garten’s memoir, BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS. I have been looking forward to this book for a while, and I listened to it on audio. Ina is the narrator, which makes it all the more special.

I have cooked from her cookbooks (and this book inspired me to do that a lot more), I went to the Barefoot Contessa store when it was in East Hampton, and I watched her show on Food Network, always getting ideas from her. But what I took away from this book was advice from a savvy businesswoman far beyond how to make a brilliant dinner party, or how to use a knife or an interesting ingredient. While cooking is at the heart of what she does, there are lessons on when to go big, when to fold and when to say, “This really is not worth the time that I am putting into it.” And there was a dose of saying something to the effect of “If I had just done that sooner, it might have been better for me,” which takes time to admit.

The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose

November 2024

I love novellas. There are times when I am busy, and reading a short book from an author I love is just the trick. It gives me the feeling of accomplishment, albeit on a smaller scale than usual. I loved every minute of THE MISTLETOE MYSTERYNita Prose’s latest title featuring Molly the Maid. It has everything that the longer Molly books have had --- great characters in Molly, Juan Manuel and the others at the Regency Grand Hotel, clever writing, and a plot that showcases a mystery to be unraveled but in a shorter time frame.

Barnes & Noble has announced the 13 finalists for their 2024 Book of the Year. Which of these books, if any, would you pick as the B&N Book of the Year? Please check all that apply.

November 1, 2024, 593 voters

November 1, 2024 - November 22, 2024

Here are reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for the contest period of November 1 - November 22.

Interview: Andrew Davis, author of Disturbing the Bones

Oct 31, 2024

DISTURBING THE BONES is a propulsive debut political thriller set in the aftermath of a nuclear weapons crisis. A plot to disrupt a global peace summit in Chicago collides with a civil rights case breakthrough at a mysterious archaeological site. Learn more about the book and how it was written in this interview that Michael Barson, Senior Publicity Executive at Melville House, conducted with the authors: acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Davis and award-winning journalist Jeff Biggers.

Amanda Peters Book Group Event

October 30, 2024

This Bookreporter.com Special Newsletter spotlights a book that we know people will be talking about this fall. Read more about it, and enter our Fall Reading Contest by Thursday, October 31st at noon ET for a chance to win one of five copies of LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger, which is the latest Barnes & Noble Book Club pick and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Please note that each contest is only open for 24 hours, so you will need to act quickly!

Ariel Lawhon Event Signup

October 29, 2024

In this newsletter, you will find books releasing the weeks of October 28th and November 4th that we think will be of interest to Bookreporter.com readers, along with Bonus News, where we call out a contest, feature or review that we want to let you know about so you have it on your radar.

This week, we are calling attention to our Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight of THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts, which is now in stores, along with our review. This gripping tale of murder and deceit set in Reconstruction-era Baltimore will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick --- and Carol Fitzgerald looks forward to interviewing Sharon about the book soon.