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We have had some blistering hot days here; summer weather is ahead of the calendar. But it got us in the mood for summer reading! There are sooooo many wonderful books out now and coming this summer --- and this newsletter is featuring some favorites.
My book club met on Monday night, and we all loved Laura Dave’s THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME. Next up, we are reading THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz. The plot-within-the-plot concept intrigued them. We have been meeting outdoors at various locations; next month will be poolside, or maybe IN the pool, at our house! When we were heading to our cars the other night, someone mentioned that we should do a destination book group getaway. While we quizzed you last month asking if any of your groups have done this kind of a reading retreat, we didn't receive any replies. So we may just have to be trailblazers on this among the ReadingGroupGuides audience.
Announcing Our New Special Contest!
This month we are featuring a very special contest for THE HUSBANDS, an upcoming novel from Chandler Baker, whose adult debut WHISPER NETWORK was a New York Times bestseller.
Here, we are introduced to Nora Spangler, a successful attorney whose home life is filled with taking care of a myriad of little details. Yes, she is the one shouldering most of the family needs. She and her husband go house hunting in an exclusive residential community called Dynasty Ranch. There the women are just as high-powered as Nora, but they are a lot less stressed. Their husbands match their homekeeping skills and at times even surpass what the wives do. Nora takes on a case of wrongful death that happened in the community and uncovers a lot more hidden in this enclave.
THE HUSBANDS doesn’t release until August 3rd, but we’re awarding up to 10 advance copies to 15 groups who will share their comments on it --- and five of these 15 groups will win the opportunity to chat with Chandler via Zoom. All the contest details can be found here, and the deadline for your entries is Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET. I’m happy to say that the book will be a Bets On selection, so I look forward to hearing what you have to say about it!
Our Latest Monthly Contest is Live!
Our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest title is THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear, which releases on June 22nd. It is written by Kate Moore, who many of you know as the author of THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, which was a Bets On title.
This time, Moore explores the life of a forgotten woman, Elizabeth Packard, a housewife and mother of six whose husband had her committed to an insane asylum because he felt threatened by her intellect, independence and outspokenness. The horrific conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, are overseen by Dr. Andrew McFarland, a man who will prove to be even more dangerous to Elizabeth than her husband. But most disturbing is that Elizabeth is not the only sane woman confined to the institution. There are many rational women on her ward who have been committed not because they need medical treatment, but to keep them in line. Elizabeth’s refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice challenged the medical science of the day and led to a giant leap forward in human rights.
Three groups will win up to 12 copies of THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE, which is a LibraryReads pick for this month and a Junior Library Guild selection (it sounds like it would be a wonderful crossover title for young adults). To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET. I heard Kate speak about finding this story --- and the deep research that she did for it. It’s truly frightening to learn that women were treated this way!
In our previous “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, here are the five books mentioned most frequently as titles that our book groups read: THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins, ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman, THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig, and THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett. Scroll further down the newsletter to see the Top 15.
In addition to THE HUSBANDS and THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE, we are featuring guides for four books that you may want to consider discussing with your group.
First up is MALIBU RISING. Taylor Jenkins Reid follows up the enormous success of her 2019 novel, DAISY JONES & THE SIX, with her latest bestseller, which is this month's “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick and a Bets On title. "I felt like MALIBU RISING was a compulsively fun read that anybody would want to throw in their beach bag," Jenna said. "I think after the year we’ve had, everybody is looking forward to summer and this book felt like the perfect kick-off." Taylor added: "I knew that I wanted the story to take place over 24 hours, and that I was going to divide it hour by hour so that you could go through this day with the family, but it wasn't until I began to get into the hours that I kept thinking, well, we need to go back in time, you need to understand how we got to this place.” I am hoping to schedule an interview with Taylor as I loved this book!
Zakiya Dalila Harris’ debut novel, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL, is this month’s Barnes & Noble and “Good Morning America” book club picks. "This book will get you thinking about race, workplace politics and maybe even your own prejudices while also keeping you on the edge of your seat," Zakiya told "Good Morning America." "It has twists upon twists that you won't see coming, including a nail-biter of an ending that might just make you throw your book across the room and then go call your best friend to talk about it. What more could you want for a summer read?" I look forward to interviewing Zakiya later this month.
On Tuesday, July 13th at 3pm ET, Zakiya will be discussing the book live on B&N’s Facebook page with Dawnie Walton, the author of THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV. Last week, Chris Bohjalian talked to Jodi Picoult about HOUR OF THE WITCH, which was May’s B&N selection. If you missed their conversation, you can watch it here. Actress Kaley Cuoco, who starred in the HBO Max adaptation of Bohjalian’s THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, also appeared for a short chat.
Appropriately enough, SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams is Reese’s Book Club pick for June. Reese posted this on Instagram: “Two writers, plus seven days, equals one racy read that’s as hilarious and heart-warming as it is sexy-as-hell. Turns out, second chance romance has us seeing book-love at first sight. Who else has the urge to fling this pick open right now?”
Lynn Austin, who has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction, is back with her new novel, CHASING SHADOWS. The Nazi invasion of the Netherlands during World War II propels three women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.
A reminder that our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event will take place on Thursday, June 24th at 8pm ET. Julie Clark will be our special guest, and I will talk to her about THE LAST FLIGHT, a Bets On pick that recently released in paperback. She also will be answering questions from those in attendance, including a select few who will join us “on stage.” Click here to register. If you have a question for Julie that you would like to ask on camera, please send me an email with the subject line “Question for Julie Clark” by Wednesday, June 23rd at 6pm ET.
Next month’s "Bookaccino Live" afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, July 14th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between July 13th and August 3rd, along with a few from September, that I think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
If you missed this week’s event, where I talked about 35 books coming out between now and July 6th, along with 10 August releases, you can watch it here and see a list of the featured titles here.
We have THREE new "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews to share with you in this newsletter. First up is Jean Hanff Korelitz, whose latest psychological thriller, the aforementioned THE PLOT, is a Bets On pick that has been getting so much attention lately...and deservedly so. Jean and I touched on a number of subjects, including who owns ideas, plagiarism, and how she created her story within the story. We also discussed the various adaptations of her books --- YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, which aired last year on HBO as "The Undoing", a miniseries starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant; and ADMISSION, which was adapted as a 2013 film with Tina Fey, Paul Rudd and Lily Tomlin --- as well as her very successful BOOKTHEWRITER pop-up book group program. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
I had such fun interviewing Wendy Wax, whose new novel, THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB, is a Bets On selection. This briskly paced story is about four very different women who gather at a bookstore to discuss books, bond over their love of reading and support one another. As they say, “What happens at book club stays at book club.” Wendy talked to me about her personal journey writing this book and how she struggled during the editing process with one particular character. She also explained what makes a book enjoyable, as well as what it means for people to love different things in fiction and how that can be brought to the conversation in book clubs. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Last but certainly not least is Linwood Barclay, whose latest thriller, FIND YOU FIRST, is a Bets On pick. Miles Cookson is a tech millionaire who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he hopes to spend the last bit of his short life finding anyone he might have passed it onto. As a sperm donor, he knows he has multiple unknown kids, and he wants to share the truth with them before time runs out. On his journey, he realizes that his possible descendants are vanishing one by one. Linwood talked about what drew him to write about DNA testing, his writing process and what's next. He and I are good friends, so we also discussed what we have binge-watched and loved --- and how he has not been able to get a haircut since November 28th due to COVID-19 restrictions in Toronto where he lives. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Don’t Forget Our Bookreporter Contests!
Along with our Father’s Day contest and our series of 24-hour Summer Reading giveaways, we’re giving 25 readers the chance to win an advance copy of IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK by debut novelist Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström. Releasing on September 7th, it tells the story of three Black women who are linked in unexpected ways to the same influential white man in Stockholm (we look forward to featuring the guide for this book on the site shortly after its publication). Find out more about these contests later in this newsletter!
June’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites is FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER by Rachel Beanland, a Bets On pick that is now in paperback. Don’t miss their Facebook Live Book Club chat about the book featuring Rachel on Wednesday, June 23rd at 1pm ET. Click here to RSVP for the event. A couple of weeks ago, Brooke Lea Foster joined two members of the S&S team to talk about SUMMER DARLINGS, their May pick, which recently released in paperback. Click here for their discussion.
For more June selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. Please note: Pennie Clark Ianniciello has left Costco Media, so her “Pennie’s Pick” column for Costco has been discontinued. We now will be featuring picks from Costco's new book buyer, Robert Poole. His first selection is Kristin Harmel's THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES.
Here's to your group having a great discussion…and for you to discover something wonderful to read!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win Up to 10 Advance Copies of THE HUSBANDS for Your Group and Share Your Comments on It,
Plus an Opportunity to Chat with Chandler Baker
From Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of WHISPER NETWORK, comes THE HUSBANDS, a novel that asks: To what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband? We are giving 15 groups the opportunity to win up to 10 advance copies of the book, which releases on August 3rd, and share their comments on it. In addition, five of these winning groups will be selected to chat with Chandler via Zoom. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET.
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
Nora Spangler is a successful attorney, but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too...but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder? When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. As the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having it all. One that’s worth killing for.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to enter the contest.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Copies of
THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE by Kate Moore
for Your Group
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 up to 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.
Our latest prize book is THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear. Kate Moore, the bestselling author of THE RADIUM GIRLS, has written another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, July 7th at noon ET.
THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore (Biography)
1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard is facing her own battle. Her husband of 21 years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened --- by Elizabeth's intellect, independence and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. One summer morning, Theophilus has her committed to an insane asylum. The conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, are horrific, and there are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: they've been committed not because they need medical treatment, but to keep them in line. No one is willing to fight for their freedom, and they cannot possibly fight for themselves. But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid
June’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
and a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas. The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention. By midnight, the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to see why the book is June's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide:
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris
June’s Barnes & Noble and “Good Morning America”
Book Club Picks
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Thriller)
Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW. It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to see why the book is June's "GMA" Book Club pick.
- Click here for details on Barnes & Noble's virtual Book Club event on Tuesday, July 13th at 3pm ET.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams
Reese’s Book Club Pick for June
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams (Fiction)
Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist who, to everyone's surprise, shows up in New York. When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that 15 years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can't deny their chemistry --- or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years. Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect --- but Eva is wary of the man who broke her heart.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: CHASING SHADOWS by Lynn Austin
CHASING SHADOWS by Lynn Austin (Historical Fiction)
Lena is a wife and mother whose faith has always been her compass. But can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death? Lena’s daughter, Ans, has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy. Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. But as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she never could have imagined. The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes heartbreaking ways.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for June
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads, as well as the Target Book Club title and Costco's "Buyer's Pick." We also feature a number of other prominent picks, including Oprah’s Book Club, the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Reese's Book Club, Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, and Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites.
Below is a preview of June's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS by Joshua Henkin
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris
ONE LAST STOP by Casey McQuiston
ANIMAL by Lisa Taddeo
LibraryReads
Top Pick: ONE LAST STOP by Casey McQuiston
THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides
NEON GODS by Katee Robert
THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT by Marianne Cronin
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Target Book Club
THE END OF HER by Shari Lapena
Costco's "Buyer's Pick"
THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES by Kristin Harmel
Barnes & Noble Book Club
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Reese's Book Club
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams
Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid
"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites
FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER by Rachel Beanland
Our Most Popular Book Group Selections for May’s
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 10th Annual
Book Group Speed Dating Event:
Great Books for Book Groups
On May 14th, we hosted our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. More than 75 books that would make great book group selections for Summer/Fall 2021 were presented by 21 publishers.
You can take a look at the video of the entire presentation here. We plan to include links to the individual presentations from these publishers in the late June newsletter:
And Other Stories • Blair • Bloomsbury • Deep Vellum • The Feminist Press • Godine • Hachette Book Group • Harlequin Trade Publishing • Haymarket Books • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Keylight Books • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group • Random House Publishing Group • Simon & Schuster • Soho Press • Sourcebooks • Spiegel & Grau • Two Dollar Radio • William Morrow • World Editions • W. W. Norton
If you would like to know more about these books, here is a link to a page with the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title. Included in the video is a retrospective of the last 10 years of Speed Dating, where we spotlight 12 books from each year that have been popular with readers over the past decade. A spreadsheet of these titles also can be found here.
Click here to watch our 10th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter
and THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter (Psychological Thriller)
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter is a brisk psychological thriller about a young woman named Delta Dawn, who photographs the birthday parties of children who come from privileged families. Not only does she shoot the parties, she manipulates the images to ensure that everyone looks happy and smiling. At a party at the Straub home, Delta likes what she sees, a lot, and then insinuates herself into the family’s lives. However, as you might expect from a suspense novel, she has a ton of issues. Readers spend a great deal of time inside her head, and it’s one place full of dark imagination.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our Bookreporter review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax (Fiction)
THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB reminded me again of how much I love Wendy Wax’s character-driven stories. Four women, each of whom are at different points in their lives, find their way to a charming indie bookstore that hosts a book group. Their personal stories are compelling and relatable. At the bookstore there is a bond of books between them, and they each feel comfortable to share what is going on in their lives. The result is a sense of camaraderie. “What happens at book club stays at book club.” And yes, there is wine. And fun snacks.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Wendy Wax.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Wendy Wax's website.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB.
New Special Contest on Bookreporter.com:
Enter to Win an Advance Copy of
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by
Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström, Releasing September 7th
In Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström's debut novel, IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK, three Black women are linked in unexpected ways to the same influential white man in Stockholm as they build their new lives in the most open society run by the most private people. We have 25 advance copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on September 7th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 24th at noon ET.
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (Fiction)
Successful marketing executive Kemi Adeyemi is lured from the U.S. to Sweden by Jonny von Lundin, CEO of the nation's largest marketing firm, to help fix a PR fiasco involving a racially tone-deaf campaign. A chance meeting with Jonny in business class en route to the U.S. propels former model-turned-flight-attendant Brittany-Rae Johnson into a life of wealth, luxury and privilege as the object of his unhealthy obsession. And refugee Muna Saheed, who lost her entire family, finds a job cleaning the toilets at Jonny's office as she works to establish her residency in Sweden and, more importantly, seeks connection and a place she can call home. Told through the perspectives of each of the three women, IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK touches on important social issues and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 16th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our 12 featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 18th at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! 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 the end of 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.
This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
From left to right: Joshua Henkin, Lionel Shriver, Alex Michaelides
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.
Tuesday, June 15th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Alex Michaelides to discuss his new thriller, THE MAIDENS, with fellow New York Times bestselling author Lucy Foley.
Tuesday, June 15th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Lionel Shriver as she discusses her new book, SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO, in conversation with Dean Nelson.
Tuesday, June 15th at 7:30pm ET: Greenlight Bookstore: Joshua Henkin comes to Greenlight (virtually!) to share his new book, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS. He will be in conversation with award-winning author Julie Orringer.
Wednesday, June 16th at 6pm ET: Bethany Beach Books: Join Bethany Beach Books for a Sizzling Summer Reads event with Tia Williams in conversation with Katherine St. John about her new novel, SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE, which is Reese's Book Club pick for June.
Wednesday, June 16th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will throw a launch party for Mary Alice's new middle grade series, The Islanders, with her co-author Angela May and Sy Montgomery.
Wednesday, June 16th at 8pm ET: Barrett Bookstore: Barrett Bookstore presents a virtual event with Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL, this month's Barnes & Noble and "Good Morning America" Book Club picks) and Jennifer Weiner (THAT SUMMER).
Sunday, June 20th at 5pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": For this special bonus episode, the "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Ann Garvin, whose latest novel is I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK.
Monday, June 21st at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Francesca Serritella (GHOSTS OF HARVARD) will be in conversation with her mother, Lisa Scottoline (ETERNAL).
Tuesday, June 22nd at 7pm ET: BookMovement: Join BookMovement for a live virtual Book Launch Party for Joshua Henkin's latest novel, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS.
Wednesday, June 23rd at 1pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Rachel Beanland will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER, which is June's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Wednesday, June 23rd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murphy about their upcoming novel, THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN.
Wednesday, June 23rd at 8pm ET: Anderson's Bookshops: Join Anderson's Bookshops for a virtual event with author Kate Moore to celebrate the release of her new book, THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear! Kate will be in conversation with fellow author Liza Mundy.
Wednesday, June 23rd at 8pm ET: Left Bank Books: Left Bank Books welcomes Joshua Henkin, who will discuss his celebrated new book, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS. He will be in conversation with Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Rebecca Makkai.
Thursday, June 24th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Event: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Julie Clark about THE LAST FLIGHT. Julie also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. Click here to register. If you have a question for Julie that you would like to ask on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Question for Julie Clark.”
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. 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 are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Elizabeth Brundage (THE VANISHING POINT)
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Christina Clancy (SHOULDER SEASON)
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Zakiya Dalila Harris (THE OTHER BLACK GIRL)
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Joshua Henkin (MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS)
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Alex Michaelides (THE MAIDENS)
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T. J. Newman (FALLING)
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Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
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Kate White (THE FIANCÉE)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax (Fiction)
Breakups, like book clubs, come in many shapes and sizes and can take us on unexpected journeys as four women discover in this funny and heartwarming exploration of friendship from the USA Today bestselling author of TEN BEACH ROAD and MY EX-BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING.
CHASING SHADOWS by Lynn Austin (Historical Fiction)
For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence.
THE FORGER'S FORGERY by Clay G. Small (Mystery)
An international mystery set in Amsterdam threads the history of a notorious Dutch art forger with a modern plot to settle old scores.
THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
From Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of WHISPER NETWORK, comes THE HUSBANDS, a novel that asks: To what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband?
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of 24 hours, their lives will change forever.
THE NEWCOMER by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Mary Kay Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads, delivers her next page-turner for the summer with THE NEWCOMER.
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Thriller)
Urgent, propulsive and sharp as a knife, THE OTHER BLACK GIRL is an electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter (Psychological Thriller)
Mary Dixie Carter's THE PHOTOGRAPHER is a slyly observed, suspenseful story of envy and obsession, told in the mesmerizing, irresistible voice of a character who will make you doubt that seeing is ever believing.
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams (Fiction)
With its keen observations of creative life in America today, as well as the joys and complications of being a mother and a daughter, SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE is a hilarious, romantic and sexy‑as‑hell story of two writers discovering their second chance at love.
THAT SUMMER by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of BIG SUMMER comes another timely and deliciously twisty novel of intrigue, secrets and the transformative power of female friendship.
UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS by T. I. Lowe (Fiction)
T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart...then heal it in the best possible way.
THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore (Biography)
From the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE RADIUM GIRLS comes another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today.
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE LOST GIRL OF PARIS comes a riveting tale of courage and unlikely friendship during World War II.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE BOOK OF V. by Anna Solomon (Fiction)
For fans of THE HOURS and FATES AND FURIES, THE BOOK OF V. is a bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries as their stories of sex, power and desire finally converge in the present day.
DARK TIDES by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of TIDELANDS returns with an evocative historical novel tracking the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice and New England.
FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
Rachel Beanland's debut novel begins with a shocking tragedy that results in three generations of the Adler family grappling with heartbreak, romance and the weight of family secrets over the course of one summer.
GROUP: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate (Memoir)
GROUP is the refreshingly original debut memoir of a guarded, over-achieving, self-lacerating young lawyer who reluctantly agrees to get psychologically and emotionally naked in a room of six complete strangers --- her psychotherapy group --- and in turn finds human connection, and herself.
INVISIBLE GIRL by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of THEN SHE WAS GONE returns with an intricate thriller about a young woman’s disappearance and a group of strangers whose lives intersect in its wake.
THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP by Susan Wiggs (Fiction)
In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"
THE SECOND HOME by Christina Clancy (Fiction)
Compassionate, incisive and heartbreaking, Christina Clancy's THE SECOND HOME is the story of a family you'll quickly fall in love with, and won't soon forget.
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