April 2016

I flew to Denver last week to make a presentation at the Public Library Association Conference about Book Groups and Libraries, sharing the results of our 2015 Book Group Survey, as a guest of our friends at the Penguin Random House Library Group. It was a wonderful opportunity to not just deliver the survey results, but also to suggest some ways that libraries can collaborate with book groups. In our survey, we noted that while many of you borrow books from libraries for your discussions, you do not seek guidance from your library on what to select.

Among our suggestions, we see that there are some brilliant ways you can work together with librarians to share your ideas with other book groups in your area, as well as with fledgling groups that could use some mentoring from established ones. We look forward to hearing about how more bridges between book groups and libraries can be made in the future!

Joining me for this presentation was Ariel Lawhon, the author of the recently released FLIGHT OF DREAMS, which is a historical fiction account of the Hindenburg disaster. In this book, Ariel does a brilliant job of getting readers behind the scenes, telling the story from five points of view. She also knows a lot about book groups, not just from conversations with them about her books, but also as she runs SheReads.org, an online site where readers gather to talk about books. You can see a picture of the two of us above.

As many of the librarians who attended this event asked to be added to our subscriber list, may I offer you a special welcome now!

Last week, I got a look at the close to 100 titles that will be presented at our 2016 Book Group Speed Dating session at BEA in Chicago on Friday, May 13th as Emily prepped the leavebehind for the printer. It’s quite a lineup from our 21 participating publishers! Registration for our event is now open; click here to sign up before May 3rd at noon ET. Please note that to attend this event, you must be registered to attend BEA on Friday, May 13th and have a badge. Click here for more information.

One quick note. As BEA is in Chicago, I am going to be traveling solo this year. I am looking for some of you who have attended the Speed Dating event in the past to volunteer to help work the event. I would need you for about an hour before the 2:00 start time. If you are interested in this, please drop me a note at [email protected] as well as to [email protected].

We know that some of our loyal attendees won’t be able to make it to Chicago this year; therefore, we’re gauging interest in a Manhattan-based event in late May or June. We’ve already heard from a number of readers who are eager to participate. If you are interested in this event, please fill out this form. Bear in mind that there are no firm plans for this event at this time --- we are merely exploring level of interest. As always, we will make the books featured in this presentation available online later in May.

We have two contests for you this month. This month's “What’s Your Book Group Reading?” prize book is IN A DARK, DARK WOOD, the instant New York Times bestseller by debut author Ruth Ware. In this compulsive and darkly twisted psychological thriller, what should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn when one of the guests ends up dead. As usual, we’re giving three groups the chance to win 12 copies of this phenomenal title. Enter here by Wednesday, May 4th at noon ET. I selected this as a Bookreporter.com Bets on selection last year and had the pleasure of interviewing Ruth at BEA as she was one of the Buzz authors; she was in from the UK. I eagerly am anticipating her upcoming title, THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10, on July 19th.

We’re also celebrating the recent release of HEART OF GLASS --- bestselling author Wendy Lawless' highly anticipated follow-up to her stunning 2013 memoir, CHANEL BONFIRE --- by giving 10 readers the chance to win a copy of the book. Wendy returns to a time before downtown Manhattan was scrubbed clean, gentrified, and overrun with designer boutiques and trendy eateries and bars, when it was the center of a burgeoning art scene. Running from the shipwreck of her glamorous and unstable childhood with a volatile mother, she navigates this demi-monde of jaded punk rockers, desperate actors, pulsing parties and unexpected run-ins with her own past as she makes every mistake of youth, looks for love in all the wrong places, and eventually learns how to grow up on her own. Enter here for your chance to win by Wednesday, April 20th at noon ET.

We’re also excited to feature the guide for Philippa Gregory’s latest historical fiction triumph, THE TAMING OF THE QUEEN --- now available in paperback. In it, she tells the story of Kateryn Parr, a 30-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, who has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives --- King Henry VIII --- commands her to marry him. Despite being a leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn cannot save the Protestants, under threat for their faith, and, when the traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresy, Henry’s dangerous gaze turns on her. Click here for the featured guide. I had the pleasure of meeting Philippa last year, and I was mesmerized hearing her talk about her research and attention to detail.

We’re also continuing to feature the guide for Ruth Wariner’s wonderful memoir, THE SOUND OF GRAVEL, which has become quite a fan-favorite around the office. Ruth was the 39th of her father’s 42 children; yes, you read that right! Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. In need of government assistance and supplemental income, Ruth and her siblings are carted back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where her mother collects welfare and her stepfather works a variety of odd jobs. As Ruth begins to doubt her family’s beliefs and question her mother’s choices, she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself.

Click here for the featured guide, but that’s not all. We have our Bookreporter.com review, as well as my Bets On commentary for the audiobook. A few groups who have read this already weighed in and shared that they have had some of their best discussions about this book!

Our New in Paperback roundups have been updated for April. This month’s roundup includes THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE by Ann Packer, which explores the secrets and desires, the remnant wounds and saving graces of one California family over the course of five decades; Matthew Pearl's THE LAST BOOKANEER, the story of an epic literary heist by a forgotten class of consummate criminals; and the aforementioned IN A DARK, DARK WOOD, which you’ll have a chance to win.

We’ve also updated our Reading Roundup, which features the month’s top selections from Indie Next, Library Reads, Costco’s Pennie’s Pick and Target Book Club. Some of our new favorites were picked, including three current or future Bets On titles: THE NEST by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR by Helen Simonson and Martha Hall Kelly’s LILAC GIRLS.

Speaking of Bets On, I’ve added FOUR new titles I’m betting you’ll love; in addition to THE NEST and THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR, I’m recommending ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR by Elizabeth Brundage and FAR FROM TRUE: A Promise Falls Novel by Linwood Barclay. Click on each title to see why I can’t stop raving about these books. It’s been a brilliant year of reading thus far, and I have been noting some future Bets On selections here as well.

Over on Bookreporter.com, we gave away FOUR books in last week’s Spring Preview contests: THE INHERITANCE: Secrets of the Shetlands, Book 1 by Michael Phillips; the aforementioned LILAC GIRLS by Martha Hall Kelly; MY SUNSHINE AWAY by M.O. Walsh (a Bets On pick when it released in hardcover; now available in paperback); and NIGHT WORK: A Michael Cassidy Novel, by David C. Taylor. This week, you’ll have the chance to win Beatriz Williams’ A CERTAIN AGE; Péter Gárdos’ FEVER AT DAWN; and Mary Balogh’s ONLY BELOVED: A Survivor’s Club Novel. The first contest of the week will go live on Tuesday, April 12th at noon ET. Be sure to enter for your chance to win!

Bookreporter.com's Mother's Day Contest is back for an 11th year! Once again, we’re featuring a number of fiction and nonfiction titles that are perfect for gift giving for moms. Over the next four weeks, readers will have the chance to win one of our prize packages, which includes all of these books, along with some wonderful gifts to treat yourself or Mom. The deadline for your entries is Monday, May 9th at noon ET. Click here to take a look at our featured titles and enter to win.

Also on Bookreporter.com, our fabulous Word of Mouth contest is up and running. Let us know the books that you’ve finished reading by Friday, April 15th at noon ET, and you’ll have the chance to win the aforementioned LILAC GIRLS, along with THE 14th COLONY, Steve Berry’s 11th Cotton Malone thriller, and Anna Quindlen’s latest novel, MILLER’S VALLEY.

A new month means a new Sounding Off on Audio contest to tell you about. April’s prize books are the audio versions of Mary Higgins Clark’s AS TIME GOES BY, read by Jan Maxwell, and Kathleen Grissom’s GLORY OVER EVERYTHING: Beyond The Kitchen House, read by Santino Fontana, with Kyle Beltran, Madeleine Maby and Heather Alicia Simms. (The latter will be a Bets On selection; it’s just fabulous!) Let us know by Monday, May 2nd at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll be in the running to win both audio prizes.

This month, we’re wondering about the resources you’re using for your discussions. Take our poll and let us know how you prepared for your most recent discussion. Be sure to enter by Wednesday, May 4th at noon ET. In our previous poll, we asked which of the authors we listed has your group read at least one book by. The top pick was Sue Monk Kidd with 80% of the vote. Other top vote-getters included Kristin Hannah (63%), Lisa See (55%), Jojo Moyes (48%) and Chris Bohjalian (45%). Click here for all the results.

Remember, we love to hear from you with your ideas for what is working with your book group. Super in love with a book that worked well for a discussion? Then shoot us a note, as well as noting it in "What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?", telling us more about why it worked for you and your group. We love spotlighting groups and their feedback. I spent the morning reading through the titles that you read in March here, and I love that there was such a wide range of selections!

Please also keep in mind that we have our "On Sale This Week" newsletter on Bookreporter.com. Not only do we let you know some of the hardcovers and paperbacks that are releasing over the next two weeks, we also share 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. If you're not already signed up to receive this newsletter in your inbox, please do so now here.

Read on, and here’s to a great book group discussion this month. For those of you whose book groups are registered with us, we’ll be back with another newsletter in two weeks. If your group is not registered yet, click here to do so.

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping for books, if you use the store links below, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!

On Friday, May 13th, from 2:00pm to 3:50pm at BookExpo America in Chicago, ReadingGroupGuides.com will host its 5th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event. Representatives from more than a dozen publishers will be in attendance to share selections and book group news from their publishing houses in a speed-dating format designed to give booksellers, librarians, book group leaders and bloggers an inside look at what book groups will want to know for fall and winter. Galley giveaways and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be part of this event. Advance signup is required by Tuesday, May 3rd at noon ET. Seating will be assigned. Fill out this form to sign up.

Please note: You must be registered to attend BookExpo America in order to attend this session. If you are not, click here to register.

We know that some of you who typically attend our ReadingGroupGuides.com Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event will not be heading to Chicago. We are gauging interest in a similar Manhattan-based event in late May or June. If you are interested in this event, please fill out this form. Bear in mind that there are no firm plans for this event at this time --- we are merely exploring level of interest.

We are celebrating the March release of HEART OF GLASS --- Wendy Lawless' highly anticipated follow-up to her stunning 2013 memoir, CHANEL BONFIRE --- by giving 10 readers a chance to win a copy of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, April 20th at noon ET.

HEART OF GLASS: A Memoir by Wendy Lawless (Memoir)
The follow-up to Wendy's first memoir CHANEL BONFIRE --- which delved into Wendy's tumultuous upbringing and focused specifically on her volatile mother, Georgann Rae --- HEART OF GLASS tell the story of a girl without a roadmap for life who leaves her car wreck past to find herself in the gritty, dangerous, exciting nadir of downtown New York City. Wendy delves into her days as an eighties party girl looking for love in all the wrong places. With thrift store wardrobes, punk rockers, drug parties, cross-dressing, and run-ins with the FBI, this is the darkly funny story of a terribly misguided young actress living in 1980s New York and searching for Mr. Right, an identity, a job, and occasionally, a free meal. Oh, and she still has a crazy mother.

-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.

Each month, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.

This month's prize book is IN A DARK, DARK WOOD, the instant New York Times bestseller by debut author Ruth Ware. In this compulsive and darkly twisted psychological thriller, what should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn when one of the guests ends up dead. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, May 4th at noon ET.

IN A DARK, DARK WOOD by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
What should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in Ruth Ware’s suspenseful, compulsive and darkly twisted psychological thriller.

Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.

When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods.

-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.

THE TAMING OF THE QUEEN by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
Why would a woman marry a serial killer? Because she cannot refuse…

Kateryn Parr, a 30-year-old widow with a secret new lover, has no choice when Henry VIII --- a man who has buried four wives --- commands her to marry him.

Kateryn knows the danger she faces: The previous queen lasted 16 months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride, and Kateryn’s trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules as regent.

But is this enough to keep her safe? Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. As a leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish under her own name in English, she is an easy target for the traditional churchmen and rivals for power who accuse her of heresy --- the punishment is death by fire and the king’s name is on the warrant.

From an author who has illuminated all of Henry’s queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of the last: a woman who longed for passion, power, and enlightenment at the court of a medieval killer.

-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.

THE SOUND OF GRAVEL by Ruth Wariner (Memoir)
Ruth Wariner was the 39th of her father’s 42 children. Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. At church, preachers teach that God will punish the wicked by destroying the world and that women can only ascend to Heaven by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible. After Ruth's father --- the man who had been the founding prophet of the colony --- is brutally murdered by his brother in a bid for church power, her mother remarries, becoming the second wife of another faithful congregant.

In need of government assistance and supplemental income, Ruth and her siblings are carted back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where her mother collects welfare and her stepfather works a variety of odd jobs. Ruth comes to love the time she spends in the States, realizing that perhaps the community into which she was born is not the right one for her. As Ruth begins to doubt her family’s beliefs and question her mother’s choices, she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself.

Recounted from the innocent and hopeful perspective of a child, THE SOUND OF GRAVEL is the remarkable true story of a girl fighting for peace and love. This is an intimate, gripping tale of triumph, courage and resilience.

-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
-Click here to read why Carol chose the audiobook as a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our fifth annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 21st. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, April 12th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles include:

• THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF LOVE by Elizabeth J. Church
• A CERTAIN AGE by Beatriz Williams
• DESIGN FOR DYING: A Lillian Frost & Edith Head Novel by Renee Patrick
• DIMESTORE: A Writer's Life by Lee Smith
• FEVER AT DAWN by Péter Gárdos
• HEART OF GLASS: A Memoir by Wendy Lawless
• HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
• THE INHERITANCE: Secrets of the Shetlands, Book 1 by Michael Phillips
• LILAC GIRLS by Martha Hall Kelly
• MAESTRA by L. S. Hilton
• MY SUNSHINE AWAY by M.O. Walsh
• NIGHT WORK: A Michael Cassidy Novel by David C. Taylor
• ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O'Leary
• THE ONE-IN-A-MILLION BOY by Monica Wood
• ONLY BELOVED: A Survivors' Club Novel by Mary Balogh
• SAVING ALEX: When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began by Alex Cooper with Joanna Brooks
• THE SPACE BETWEEN SISTERS: A Butternut Lake Novel by Mary McNear
• THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR by Helen Simonson

Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books and goodies for you or the special lady in your life in our 11th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 9th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes the books listed below along with some mom-themed treats.

With books that are moving, uplifting, humorous and informative, look no further than Bookreporter.com for the perfect gift for Mom.

This year's featured titles are:

• THE ALASKAN LAUNDRY by Brendan Jones
• APPROVAL JUNKIE: Adventures in Caring Too Much by Faith Salie
• BETTER TOGETHER: Because You're Not Meant to Mom Alone by Jill Savage with Anne McClane
• GIRL WAITS WITH GUN by Amy Stewart
• IT TAKES ONE: An Audrey Harte Novel by Kate Kessler
• LILAC GIRLS by Martha Hall Kelly
• RELIANCE, ILLINOIS by Mary Volmer
• A SPOOL OF BLUE THREAD by Anne Tyler
• THE TURNER HOUSE by Angela Flournoy

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

Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from April 1st to April 15th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE 14th COLONY by Steve Berry, LILAC GIRLS by Martha Hall Kelly, and MILLER'S VALLEY by Anna Quindlen.

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.

-Click here to enter the contest.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.


Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!

Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from April 1st to May 2nd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Mary Higgins Clark’s AS TIME GOES BY, read by Jan Maxwell, and Kathleen Grissom’s GLORY OVER EVERYTHING: Beyond The Kitchen House, read by Santino Fontana, with Kyle Beltran, Madeleine Maby and Heather Alicia Simms.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.

-Click here to enter the contest.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.

Here are some books we reviewed on Teenreads.com recently that we think will appeal to an adult audience:

UNBECOMING by Jenny Downham (Fiction)
Katie's life is falling apart: her best friend thinks she's a freak; her mother, Caroline, controls every aspect of her life; and her estranged grandmother, Mary, appears as if out of nowhere. Mary has dementia and needs lots of care, and when Katie starts putting together Mary's life story, secrets and lies are uncovered. As the relationship between Mary and Caroline is explored, Katie begins to understand her own mother's behavior, and from that insight, the terrors about her sexuality, her future and her younger brother are all put into perspective.

CHARACTER, DRIVEN by David Lubar (Fiction)
With only one year left of high school, 17-year-old Cliff Sparks is desperate to “come of age” --- a.k.a., lose his virginity. But he’s never had much luck with girls. So when he falls for Jillian, a new classmate, at first sight, all he can do is worship her from afar. At the same time, Cliff has to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, since he's pretty sure his unemployed father plans to kick him out of the house the minute he turns 18. Time is running out. Cliff is at the edge, on the verge, dangling --- and holding on for dear life.

THANKS FOR THE TROUBLE by Tommy Wallach (Fiction)
Parker Santé hasn’t spoken a word in five years. While his classmates plan for bright futures, he skips school to hang out in hotels, killing time by watching the guests. But when he meets a silver-haired girl named Zelda Toth, a girl who claims to be quite a bit older than she looks, he’ll discover there just might be a few things left worth living for.

ALL BETTER NOW: A Memoir by Emily Wing Smith (Memoir)
All her life, Emily has felt different from other kids. Between therapist visits, sudden uncontrollable bursts of anger, and unexplained episodes of dizziness and loss of coordination, things have always felt not right. For years, her only escape was through the stories she’d craft about herself and the world around her. But it isn’t until a near-fatal accident when she’s 12 years old that Emily and her family discover the truth: a grapefruit sized benign brain tumor at the base of her skull.

Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads, as well as the Target Book Club title and Pennie's Pick for Costco.

Indie Next's top titles for April include THE CHARM BRACELET by Viola Shipman, the story of how, through the magic of a charm bracelet, three women rediscover the importance of family and a passion for living; THE LAST PAINTING OF SARA DE VOS by Dominic Smith, an exhilarating novel about a rare 17th-century painting that links three lives (which we have a guide for here); and JANE STEELE, Lyndsay Faye's brilliantly irreverent reimagining of Jane Eyre as a gutsy, heroic serial killer.

LibraryReads is spotlighting Molly Prentiss' intoxicating debut, TUESDAY NIGHTS IN 1980, which follows a critic, an artist and their shared muse as they find their way --- and ultimately collide --- amid the ever-evolving New York City art scene of the 1980s; Martha Hall Kelly's aforementioned LILAC GIRLS, a powerful debut that was inspired by a real-life World War II heroine; and bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld's ELIGIBLE: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice that is equal parts homage to the Austen classic and bold literary experiment, offering readers a delicious update for the 21st century.

ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR by Elizabeth Brundage (Psychological Thriller)
Years ago, I read THE DOCTOR’S WIFE by Elizabeth Brundage. If I was picking Bets On titles back then, it would have been one. Elizabeth is an author who takes her time writing, thus time passes between her books. Picking up ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR reminded me of why I like her work; it’s not just the story, it’s her talent as a wordsmith. This is not a skim-and-digest book, but rather one in which the pace builds slowly while you are surrounded by writing that is both lush and descriptive. I read Elizabeth’s work more slowly than I do many others. I find myself wrapped up in the descriptions and writing, both of which are deep and full of nuances.

-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.


FAR FROM TRUE: A Promise Falls Novel by Linwood Barclay (Thriller)
FAR FROM TRUE is the second book in Linwood Barclay’s Promise Falls trilogy. After reading BROKEN PROMISE, the first installment, there were a number of loose threads that I was looking forward to getting wrapped up. They were, except for the significance of the number 23, but not before a few new scenarios unfolded. The book opens with a scene at the local drive-in movie theater. It is supposed to be closed the following week but explodes ahead of schedule, killing four and injuring many more. Though all eyes point to the wrecking company, the kicker is that they had nothing to do with it. So you start to wonder if this was a random act, or who might’ve wanted who dead and why. With Linwood Barclay, it’s always the latter. And from there, the story rolls on.

-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
-Click here to read advance readers' comments.
 

THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR by Helen Simonson (Historical Fiction)
THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR by Helen Simonson takes place during the summer before World War I. Set in East Sussex (where Helen was raised) in 1914, Beatrice Nash has arrived in town to teach. Agatha Kent, who has lobbied for her tenure there, is distressed to learn that Beatrice is not some old schoolmarm type, but rather a pretty and bright young woman. Beatrice is clearly saddened by the death of her father and seems to be viewing her time in Sussex as an opportunity to read, escape, and be alone with her books and her bicycle. She quickly acclimates to the small town, but not without moments where faux pas are made as she learns the idiosyncrasies of the folks in the town.

-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.


THE NEST by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (Fiction)
THE NEST by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is a brisk and really juicy read. In it, two brothers and two sisters are in line for an inheritance when the youngest one turns 40. Each has an immediate need for this money; let’s just say that the chickens have been counted before they've been hatched, and they all are over-extended in a financial way. Something happens to one of the brothers, and suddenly the nest egg everyone was banking on becomes a sum much less than what they were anticipating as their mom parses a huge chunk his way to save the family.

The three adult Plumb siblings confront the culprit, their errant brother Leo, who is fresh from rehab, over lunch at the Oyster Bar in Manhattan. Suddenly everyone is caught up in their own dramas and each other’s.

-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.

The following guides are now available on ReadingGroupGuides.com:

AUNTY LEE'S CHILLED REVENGE: A Singaporean Mystery by Ovidia Yu (Mystery/Thriller)
Rosie “Aunty” Lee --- feisty widow, amateur sleuth and proprietor of Singapore’s best-loved home cooking restaurant --- is back in another delectable, witty mystery set in Singapore.

AUTUMN PRINCESS, DRAGON CHILD: The Tale of Shikanoko, Book 2 by Lian Hearn (Fantasy)
In the second book of Lian Hearn’s four-volume epic of mythical, medieval Japan, Shikanoko must rise to new and unexpected challenges as the story builds to a startling, heartbreaking showdown.

EMPEROR OF EIGHT ISLANDS: The Tale of Shikanoko, Book 1 by Lian Hearn (Fantasy)
Set in a mythical medieval Japan inhabited by warriors and assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits, EMPEROR OF EIGHT ISLANDS is a brilliantly imagined novel, full of drama and intrigue --- and it is just the beginning of an enthralling, epic adventure: The Tale of Shikanoko.

HEART OF GLASS: A Memoir by Wendy Lawless (Memoir)
Author of the New York Times bestseller CHANEL BONFIRE, a "harrowing story with biting humor" (People), Wendy Lawless chronicles her 20s: the story of a girl without a roadmap for life who leaves her car wreck past to find herself in the gritty heart of 1980s New York City.

JOURNEY TO MUNICH: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Historical Mystery)
Working with the British Secret Service on an undercover mission, Maisie Dobbs is sent to Hitler’s Germany in this thrilling tale of danger and intrigue --- the 12th novel in Jacqueline Winspear’s New York Times bestselling “series that seems to get better with each entry” (Wall Street Journal).

THE LAST PAINTING OF SARA DE VOS by Dominic Smith (Historical Fiction)
A rare 17th-century painting links three lives, on three continents, over three centuries in THE LAST PAINTING OF SARA DE VOS, an exhilarating new novel from Dominic Smith that mesmerizes while it grapples with the demands of the artistic life, showing how the deceits of the past can forge the present.

THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP by Nina George (Fiction)
Internationally bestselling and filled with warmth and adventure, THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP is for book lovers and anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people’s lives.

LORD OF THE DARKWOOD: The Tale of Shikanoko, Book 3 by Lian Hearn (Fantasy)
In the first two volumes, Shikanoko has achieved great triumph and faced great tragedy. Now, he and those around him must face the consequences of both, including the rise of the Spider Tribe.

MISSING PIECES by Heather Gudenkauf (Thriller)
A woman uncovers earth-shattering secrets about her husband's family in this chilling page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf.

A NECESSARY END by Holly Brown (Psychological Thriller)
The author of DON'T TRY TO FIND ME returns with a taut, riveting novel of psychological suspense --- a domestic drama full of secrets and twists --- about a woman determined to have a child, her ambivalent husband and a pregnant teenager with a secret agenda of her own.

THE SOUND OF GRAVEL: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner (Memoir)
THE SOUND OF GRAVEL is a riveting, deeply affecting true story of one girl’s coming-of-age in a polygamist family.

THE TAMING OF THE QUEEN by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
From the bestselling author who has illuminated all of Henry VIII’s queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of his last: a woman who longed for passion, power and enlightenment at the court of a medieval killer.

THE TENGU'S GAME OF GO: The Tale of Shikanoko, Book 4 by Lian Hearn (Fantasy)
In the final volume of The Tale of the Shikanoko, all the epic’s many battles --- personal and political, martial and magical --- come to a thrilling climax as destiny determines the fate of the Lotus Throne.

TERRIBLE VIRTUE by Ellen Feldman (Historical Fiction)
In the spirit of THE PARIS WIFE and LOVING FRANK, the provocative and compelling story of one of the most fascinating and influential figures of the twentieth century: Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood --- an indomitable woman who, more than any other, and at great personal cost, shaped the sexual landscape we inhabit today.

THE WALLS AROUND US by Nova Ren Suma (Supernatural/Suspense)
The #1 New York Times bestselling ghostly story of suspense told in two voices --- one still living and one dead. Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and innocence, and what happens when one is mistaken for the other.


Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:

BLUE STARS by Emily Gray Tedrowe (Fiction)
Book group fiction at its best, BLUE STARS explores the bonds of family and the limits of fidelity, and tells the story of life on the home front in the 21st century.

THE BOOKSELLER by Cynthia Swanson (Fiction)
A provocative and hauntingly powerful debut novel reminiscent of Sliding Doors, THE BOOKSELLER follows a woman in the 1960s who must reconcile her reality with the tantalizing alternate world of her dreams.

DEAD WAKE: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson (Nonfiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction Erik Larson comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the Lusitania.

DIAMOND HEAD by Cecily Wong (Historical Fiction)
A sweeping debut, crossing from China to Hawaii, that follows three generations of a wealthy dynasty whose rise and decline is riddled with secrets and tragic love --- from a young, powerful new voice in fiction.

THE DREAM LOVER by Elizabeth Berg (Historical Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg has written a lush historical novel based on the sensuous Parisian life of the 19th-century writer George Sand --- which is perfect for readers of Nancy Horan and Elizabeth Gilbert.

A SMALL INDISCRETION by Jan Ellison (Fiction)
A SMALL INDISCRETION fixes an unflinching eye on the power of desire and the danger of obsession as it unfolds the story of one woman’s reckoning with a youthful mistake.

For your most recent book group discussion, which of the following did you do? (Check as many as apply.)

We used a discussion guide.
We had an author visit our group.
We had an author call in or Skype with us.
We researched background on the author.
We used materials from the author's website.
We researched the book's setting.
We researched the book's historical context.
We visited the publisher's website.
None of the above
Other...