April 18, 2023

April 18, 2023

April Brings Great Reading (Better Than Showers)

How are we more than halfway through April already? This newsletter is coming to you a tad later than usual as we kept adding things to share with you, which ALWAYS is a good thing!

I always look forward to a new thriller from Megan Miranda as she never disappoints. Her latest release, THE ONLY SURVIVORS, is no exception and will be a Bets On selection. In it, we meet Cassidy, who is one of the survivors of an accident that happened when she was 18 years old. Two vans carrying high school seniors to a volunteer trip veered off the road into a river in Tennessee. Nine people made it out alive. A year later, when one dies by suicide, the remaining survivors promise to meet up every year on the anniversary. Ten years after the accident, Cassidy decides to skip the reunion so that she can finally move forward with her life.

When she gets a text from an unknown number notifying her that one of the survivors overdosed three months earlier, Cassidy’s guilt and curiosity force her to join the group in the Outer Banks for the annual reunion, where she senses that something is off. Then one of the survivors disappears, and Cassidy tries to uncover the real reason that they have been brought back every year. Click here for the guide and here for our review on Bookreporter. We will feature my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.

We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.

First up is Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo, whose novel THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER is an upcoming Bets On pick. Both of them enjoyed life with their mothers, who lived well into their 90s. So they decided to write a fictional title about a mother and daughter duo. In the book, Laurie works in advertising and loves new experiences. Her mom is the famous “Dr. Liz,” an elegant perfectionist who is renowned and receives great praise wherever she goes. They embark on a trip to Paris and Norway (the latter is where Liz grew up).

The two Susans explain where the idea came from, how they worked together, and what they infused from their own adventure in Norway into the story. A number of Bookreporter readers read an advance copy of the book, and many of their comments (they loved it) are shared throughout the conversation, making it a tad different from other interviews that we have done. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. Also, be sure to check out the guide, our Bookreporter review, and some of the terrific feedback from those advance readers. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.

My second interview is with Rachel Beanland, who I chatted with back in 2020 about her debut novel, FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER. Her second work of historical fiction, THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, is now in stores and is a Bets On selection, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to catch up with her. This latest novel reimagines what happened in the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811 through the eyes of four characters.

Our lively conversation includes Rachel sharing why she selected these people to represent the story and her feelings about each of them. She also explains how this story came to her --- and how she headed down the rabbit hole to research it. The pandemic prevented her from writing a different book, which would have required more research, so she was lucky to have this story to explore near her Richmond home. The back of the book includes some of her reference material for further reading.

THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE would be perfect for a book group discussion. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. We also are featuring the guide, our review on Bookreporter, and my Bets On commentary.

We also have added guides for these three books:

• ROMANTIC COMEDY: Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest novel is April’s Reese’s Book Club pick and is inspired by her love for “Saturday Night Live,” which she watched with her family during the pandemic. Here, Sittenfeld explores the neurosis-inducing and heart-fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.
   
• CAMP ZERO: Jenna Bush Hager has selected Michelle Min Sterling’s debut novel as this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. In a near-future northern settlement, the fates of a young woman, a professor and a mysterious collective of climate researchers collide. Jenna says, “It is action-packed. I read it so fast. My sister did, too. You are going to love it…. You’ve never been anywhere like the world Michelle created. That’s one of the things I love about reading. It’ll take you to places you’ve never traveled.”
   
• DIRTY LAUNDRY: Disha Bose’s debut novel is April’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. Here’s how “GMA” describes the book: “The novel centers on Ciara Dunphy, who appears to have it all…until she's found murdered and the pristine facade comes crumbling down. Ciara's best friend Mishti Guha, a mother ‘different’ from the others in Ciara's tight-knit circle, and Lauren Doyle, a mother who finds herself at the butt of most jokes, become unlikely allies. It seems like everyone has something to gain from Ciara's murder. In order to avoid blame, friends turn to foes and begin to air each other's dirty laundry.”

It was announced at the start of April that HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls, which we featured in the last newsletter, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. This riveting novel from the bestselling author of THE GLASS CASTLE is about an indomitable young woman in Virginia during Prohibition.

On Tuesday, May 9th at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will host a live virtual event with Jeannette. She will be joined in the discussion by Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, B&N’s Editorial Director. Click here to sign up.

A reminder that HANG THE MOON is also this month’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. On Wednesday, April 26th at 1pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Jeannette about the book. Click here to sign up.

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

I’m Betting You’ll Love LOYALTY
As promised, we are sharing my Bets On commentary for Lisa Scottoline’s new historical novel, LOYALTY, which we featured in the last newsletter. And for those who may have missed it, you can watch or listen to my interview with Lisa. Visit her website for much more about the book, including an interactive map of Sicily (where the story is set) that includes photos and videos.

A BIG Contest for Moms!
Our Mother's Day contest on Bookreporter is back for an 18th year. Once again, we are featuring a number of titles that we think moms will love. Readers will have the opportunity to win one of our five prize packages, which includes all 12 books to treat yourself or your mom. The deadline for your entries is Friday, May 12th at noon ET. Click here to enter the contest and see all of this year’s prize books.

We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event last Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 27 books releasing between now and May 2nd, plus 10 from June, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.

Our next “Bookaccino Live” preview event will take place on Wednesday, May 10th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between May 9th and June 6th, in addition to a few from July, that we 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.

Here’s to all of you having a great book group discussion this month!

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!

"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of
THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave
for Your Group

New Guide: THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine, which claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night. But by the 10th anniversary, Cassidy has worked to distance herself from the tragedy. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven, and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief --- and suspicion.

- 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 visit Megan Miranda's website.

Click here for the discussion guide.

THE ONLY SURVIVORS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the next newsletter.

New Guide: THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER
by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo, with James Patterson (Fiction)
Laurie is an artist, a collector of experiences. She travels the world with a worn beige duffel bag. “Dr. Liz,” Laurie’s mother, is an elegant perfectionist who travels the world with a matched set of suitcases. When Laurie surprises her mother with a dream vacation, it brings an unexpected sparkle to her eyes. So begins THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER. You will wish this novel never ends.

- 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 for readers' comments about the book.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.

Click here for the discussion guide.

THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the next newsletter.

New Guide: THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
Richmond, Virginia, 1811. It’s the height of the winter social season, the General Assembly is in session, and many of Virginia’s gentleman planters, along with their wives and children, have made the long and arduous journey to the capital. At the city’s only theater, the Charleston-based Placide & Green Company puts on two plays a night to meet the demand of a populace that’s done looking for enlightenment at the front of a church. On the night after Christmas, the theater is packed with more than 600 holiday revelers. When it goes up in flames in the middle of the performance, four theatergoers make a series of split-second decisions that will affect not only their own lives but those of countless others. And in the days following the fire, the paths of these four people will become forever intertwined.

- 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 watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Rachel Beanland.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.

Click here for the discussion guide.

New Guide: ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld
Reese’s Book Club Pick for April

ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld (Fiction/Humor)
Sally Milz is a sketch writer for “The Night Owls,” a late-night live comedy show that airs every Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love. But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actress who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women. Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show. Sally hits it off with Noah instantly. As they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder if there might actually be sparks flying.

- 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 visit the Reese's Book Club website.

Click here for the discussion guide.

New Guide: CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling
April’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick

CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling (Dystopian/Science Fiction)
In remote northern Canada, a team led by a visionary American architect is break¬ing ground on a building project called Camp Zero, intended to be the beginning of a new way of life. A clever and determined young woman code-named Rose is offered a chance to join the Blooms, a group hired to entertain the men in camp --- but her real mission is to secretly monitor the mercurial architect in charge. In return, she’ll receive a home for her climate-displaced Korean immigrant mother and herself. Rose quickly secures the trust of her target, only to discover that everyone has a hidden agenda, and nothing is as it seems.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.

Click here for the discussion guide.

New Guide: DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose
April’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick

DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose (Fiction)
Ciara Dunphy seemingly has it all. But behind the filters, reality is less polished. Enter Ciara’s best friend, Mishti Guha. Discontent in a marriage arranged for her by her parents, she wants what Ciara has --- the ease with which she moves through the world. And there’s earth mother Lauren Doyle. With her disheveled partner and children who run naked in the yard, they’re mostly a happy lot, though ostracized for being the singular dysfunction in Ciara’s immaculate world. But then Ciara is found murdered in her own pristine home, and the house of cards she’d worked so hard to build comes crumbling down. Everyone seems to have something to gain from Ciara’s death. So if they don’t want the blame, it may be the perfect time to air their enemies’ dirty laundry.

- 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 see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.

Click here for the discussion guide.

Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for April

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 April'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: YOURS TRULY by Abby Jimenez
HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls
ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld
THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda
YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL: A Memoir by Maggie Smith

LibraryReads
Top Pick: IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by TJ Klune
DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose
THE HAUNTING OF ALEJANDRA by V. Castro
HOMECOMING by Kate Morton
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER: An American in Paris Mystery, by Colleen Cambridge

Target Book Club
TAKE MY HAND by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Costco's "Buyer's Pick"
THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE by V.E. Schwab

Barnes & Noble Book Club
HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls

Reese's Book Club
ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld

Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club
CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling

"Good Morning America" Book Club
DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose

Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites
HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls

Click here to see April's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks."

Our Most Popular Book Group Selections for March’s
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest

In March's “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, here are the 15 books mentioned most frequently by book groups that they have read:

• THE MAID by Nita Prose
• LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus
• THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles
• HORSE by Geraldine Brooks
• TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin
• MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
• DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver
• THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
• THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O'Farrell
• THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson
• THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis
• BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry
• BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan
• WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker

Bookreporter.com Bets On: LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline

LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
In LOYALTY, Lisa Scottoline takes us to Sicily in the 1800s where the Mafia was born. The Mafia was originally organized to offer protection from those who were trying to hijack lemon crops on their way to market. But this quickly became more criminal and radical, as the “price” to protect crops spilled into other businesses. And the idea of “the family” was born. Lisa brings us inside Sicily at this time, sharing a story through the eyes of four characters. One will be the head of “the family”; another will be cast from her village; a shepherd, who is a Jew, will lose his flock, and a lawyer will look for justice for a boy who was kidnapped. Once you start reading, you will wonder how these disparate characters will come together.

- 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 review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here for "Behind the Book" resources to enhance your reading experience, including an interactive map of Sicily that includes photos and videos.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lisa Scottoline.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Connect with Lisa Scottoline on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.

Announcing Bookreporter.com’s 18th Annual
Mother’s Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love

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 for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 18th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Friday, May 12th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 12 great titles that we think moms will love.

This year's prize books are:

• ATALANTA by Jennifer Saint
• BURNING DISTANCE by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman
• CODE NAME SAPPHIRE by Pam Jenoff
• THE DUTCH ORPHAN by Ellen Keith
• FORGED IN LOVE: Wyoming Sunrise, Book 1 by Mary Connealy
• GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read
• GRACELAND by Nancy Crochiere
• THE ISLAND VILLA by Sarah Morgan
• THE LAST CAROLINA GIRL by Meagan Church
• THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY by Sarah Penner
• SUMMER ON SAG HARBOR by Sunny Hostin
• THERE ARE NO RULES FOR THIS by JJ Elliott

Click here to enter the contest.

From left to right: Susan Meissner, Kristin Hannah, Emily Henry

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

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

Wednesday, April 19th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Brenda Novak about THE SEASIDE LIBRARY and Alka Joshi about THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS.

Friday, April 21st at 2pm ET: Avon Free Public Library: Join Avon Free Public Library for a moderated conversation with Susan Meissner to celebrate the release of her new book, ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL, a heartrending story about a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the winds of fortune that tear them apart.

Wednesday, April 26th at 1pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Jeannette Walls will join members of the Simon & Schuster team to discuss her latest novel, HANG THE MOON, which is April's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.

Wednesday, April 26th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Joshilyn Jackson about WITH MY LITTLE EYE and Brenda Janowitz about THE AUDREY HEPBURN ESTATE.

Wednesday, April 26th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Kristin Hannah about her novel, THE FOUR WINDS, which is now in paperback. Kristin also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. If you would like to be one of our featured audience guests and ask Kristin a question on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Kristin” by Wednesday the 26th at noon ET.

Thursday, April 27th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry for a live virtual discussion of HAPPY PLACE, her glittering and wise new novel. Emily will be in conversation with Maureen Lenker, an award-winning journalist and Senior Writer for Entertainment Weekly.

"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:

• Rachel Beanland (THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE) Video | Podcast
• Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo (THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER)
  Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• J.T. Ellison (IT'S ONE OF US) Video | Podcast
• Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (NEVER MEANT TO MEET YOU) Video | Podcast
• Allegra Goodman (SAM) Video | Podcast
• Jane Harper (EXILES) Video | Podcast
• Jamie Fiore Higgins (BULLY MARKET: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs) Video | Podcast
• Sadeqa Johnson (THE HOUSE OF EVE) Video | Podcast
• William Kent Krueger (THE LEVEE) Video | Podcast
• William Landay (ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME) Video | Podcast
• Clare Mackintosh (THE LAST PARTY) Video | Podcast
• Shelley Read (GO AS A RIVER) Video | Podcast
• Deborah Goodrich Royce (REEF ROAD) Video | Podcast
• Hank Phillippi Ryan (THE HOUSE GUEST) Video | Podcast
• Lisa Scottoline (LOYALTY) Video | Podcast
• Dani Shapiro (SIGNAL FIRES) Video | Podcast
• Thrity Umrigar (HONOR) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Nancy Horan (THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN)
• Kate Morton (HOMECOMING)

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

Our Latest Guides

We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:

ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt.

CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling (Dystopian/Science Fiction)
In a near-future northern settlement, the fates of a young woman, a professor and a mysterious collective of climate researchers collide in this mesmerizing and transportive debut.

DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose (Fiction)
In this dazzling debut novel, Disha Bose revolutionizes age-old ideas of love and deceit. What ensues is the delicious unspooling of a group of women desperate to preserve themselves.

HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls (Historical Fiction)
From Jeannette Walls, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE GLASS CASTLE, comes a riveting novel about an indomitable young woman in Virginia during Prohibition.

THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
The author of FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER returns with a masterful work of historical fiction about an incendiary tragedy that shocked a young nation and tore apart a community in a single night --- told from the perspectives of four people whose actions during the inferno changed the course of history.

LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
#1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline presents LOYALTY, an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.

ONCE WE WERE HOME by Jennifer Rosner (Historical Fiction)
From Jennifer Rosner, National Jewish Book Award finalist and author of THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS, comes a novel based on the true stories of children stolen in the wake of World War II.

THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
From the New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE MISSING GIRLS comes a thrilling mystery about a group of former classmates who reunite to mark the 10th anniversary of a tragic accident --- only to have one of the survivors disappear, casting fear and suspicion on the original tragedy.

ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld (Fiction/Humor)
A comedy writer thinks she has sworn off love, until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions, in this hilarious, observant and deeply tender novel from the New York Times bestselling author of ELIGIBLE, RODHAM and PREP.

THE SISTER EFFECT by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
Beloved bestselling author Susan Mallery brings readers an emotional, witty and heartfelt story that explores the nuances of a broken family’s complex emotions as they strive to become whole in this uplifting story of human frailty and resilience.

THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo, with James Patterson (Fiction)
A mother and daughter on vacation in Paris and Norway unpack a lifetime of secrets and hopes --- with a giant Pattersonian twist at the end!

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

THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE by Adriana Trigiani (Fiction)
From Adriana Trigiani comes a lush, immersive novel about three generations of Tuscan artisans with one remarkable secret. Epic in scope and resplendent with the glorious themes of identity and belonging, THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE unfolds in breathtaking turns.

HALF-BLOWN ROSE by Leesa Cross-Smith (Fiction)
From the award-winning author of THIS CLOSE TO OKAY comes an irresistible story of a woman remaking her life after her husband’s betrayal leads to a year of travel, art and passion in Paris.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE by V.E. Schwab (Historical Fantasy)
In the vein of THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE and LIFE AFTER LIFE, THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE is New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab’s genre-defying tour de force.

THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists and evocative family drama, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME is a gripping mystery about a woman who thinks she has found the love of her life --- until he disappears.

MEANT TO BE by Emily Giffin (Fiction)
A restless golden boy and a girl with a troubled past navigate a love story that may be doomed before it even begins.

NIGHTCRAWLING by Leila Mottley (Fiction)
NIGHTCRAWLING is a dazzling novel about a young Black woman who walks the streets of Oakland and stumbles headlong into the failure of its justice system.

THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THAT SUMMER comes another heartfelt and unputdownable novel of family, secrets and the ties that bind.

Quick Links to Features on ReadingGroupGuides.com

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The Book Report Network YouTube Channel | "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books" | Book Festivals

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