July 29, 2014

As you all know by now, we’ve been some pretty active social butterflies for the past few months. Spring made us frisky and then summer came and pushed us over the edge. Before we knew it, we were barely catching our regular zzz’s. Believe or not, we’ve even been DVRing our favorite TV shows, sometimes watching them as many as three days past premiere date and in the morning before work. Not to mention devouring chapters of our current reads while waiting in line for our morning coffee. Suffice it to say, we’re being people in the world. Between social obligations, fulfilling personal interests and shopping (and reading!), we’re learning the hard way not to take our valuable “me” time for granted.

Speaking of “me” time, we have been noticing lately this strange pattern of our friends bailing on the city on the weekends. As Nikki so eloquently put it: People are losing loyalty to their home bases. It’s been happening more and more as the summer rolls on, and we’re chalking it up to everyone just wanting to get their wet ‘n’ wild kicks while they still can. We’re just as guilty as the next guy, squeezing in last-minute trips to the beach, the country…anything, really, to get ourselves out of this overheated concrete jungle. But it is an interesting summer phenomenon, and because we cherish our “me” time dearly we’ve been thinking of all the things that are surprisingly fun to do by yourself.

Don’t get us wrong, we love doing things with our partners in crime (both the usual and unusual suspects). But when no one’s around to hang, it’s up to me, myself and I to get creative about enjoying time alone. Sometimes it can be a bit intimidating to get out there yourself; ultimately, though, it’s totally empowering to be the master of your domain. We can both fondly remember our first brave, solo movie theater experiences: Nikki cried her eyes out over Toy Story 3, with only a salami sandwich to absorb her tears, and Emily enjoyed the irony of seeing American Reunion with only a bucket of popcorn to keep her company. Sure, seat-saving becomes a problem when you need to take a bathroom break (serious question: Is that why everyone in NYC has an oversized bag?), but overall the whole experience is completely liberating. Friends? Who needs ‘em? Jkjkjkjkjkjk, shoutouts to The Team and The Core Four!

The bottom line is it feels nice to challenge yourself and to exceed your expectations. Think it’s scary to eat dinner in a restaurant by yourself? Try it and you might be amazed by how much you like it. Or hate it. Either way, you’ll have put yourself out there. You do you. Treat yo’ self. You won’t be surprised that we have a few suggestions for getting the ball rolling: go to the beach (Nikki did it the other weekend and [Oprah voice:] LOOOOVED IT); go to the coffee shop; take a selfie; go grocery shopping; cook (in the nude); play cards; think; go hear your favorite author speak (assuming s/he is local); attend a concert; write emo poetry; take an interesting class. The point is, you can do anything you want to do --- either with a friend or alone --- and it ain’t no thing.

Something else you can do by yourself, since the summer is ending and all, is check out our Beach Bound: 20 Books Set Near the Surf bookshelf. This staff-curated collection of 20 titles will scratch your itch for everything summer...in the nick of time. Get ‘em while it’s still hot!

Three books to also check out soooooloooooo: THE BOOK OF LIFE by Deborah Harkness is the highly anticipated third book in her beloved All Souls Trilogy. Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont (the OG of hot vampires, btw) are back in the present and about to face their worst nightmares in the form of their families. There’s still resistance to their marriage, the issues with the Congregation have yet to be resolved, and --- to add to their list of problems --- a long-abandoned son of Matthew’s begins reigning terror on the de Clermont family and the public at large. Sounds like some “True Blood”-level fun, if you ask us. Also good this month is Wayne Harrison’s gritty debut, THE SPARK AND THE DRIVE. It’s about lonely 17-year-old Justin Bailey, who is captivated by legendary muscle car mechanic Nick Campbell and his wife, Mary Ann. But when Nick and Mary Ann’s lives are struck by tragedy, Justin’s world is upended. And last we Erika Johansen’s THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING, the hottest fantasy read of the summer (plus her amazing open letter on Buzzfeed about why we need more “ugly” heroines). Magic, adventure, mystery and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler --- and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her.

Two weeks ago we were given the wonderful opportunity to view a pre-screening of The Drop, a movie starring Tom Hardy and the late James Gandolfini (the last film he stars in to be released). The movie screenplay was written by Dennis Lehane, critically-acclaimed author of MYSTIC RIVER, SHUTTER ISLAND and GONE, BABY, GONE. It was based on his short story, "Animal Rescue." So on a humid Thursday afternoon, we and Carol Fitzgerald, who runs TheBookReportNetwork.com (that owns 20SomethingReads.com) walked the 10 blocks to the private 21st Century Fox screening room. It ended up being just the three of us in the audience, Tom Hardy and a gorgeous puppy...you get the gist, which made it a very private screening.

The movie was excellent, packed with high tension, high crime, amazing performances, some well-chosen costume outerwear, and a twist at the end none of us saw coming. Needless to say, we were on the edges of our seats the entire time. The movie version won't be hitting theaters until September 12th so in the meantime, check out the trailer here. Lehane adapted the movie into a full-length book also called THE DROP, which will hit stores on September 2nd. You follow that, right? Short story, screenplay, movie, book.

Speaking of September movie releases, Before I Go To Sleep starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth will also be hitting theaters mid-month. Based on the book of the same name by S.J. Watson, this thriller is 50 FIRST DATES meets MEMENTO meets THE VOW, unfortunately minus Channing Tatum. After a mysterious car accident, a woman wakes up every morning with no recollection of what happened the day before. Every. Single. Morning. She can’t remember the past or form new memories, so in order to save (or destroy…?) her marriage she tries desperately to uncover the truth about who she is and what happened that fateful day. We hate to get all alliterative on you, but September is shaping up to be a month of psychological spooks. We’re psyched.

If you’re interested in all the movies-based-on-books we’re excited about through the end of the year, check out our latest Books on Screen bookshelf here. After all you do read the book before you see the movie, right? If not, lie to us so we still will love you!

Also live on the site is an interview with M. Leighton, author of THERE'S WILD, THEN THERE'S YOU, the third book in The Wild Ones series. Click here to learn more about Leighton’s inspiration for the series, her opinion on readers’ appeal to “good girl meets bad boy” stories and what she’s working on now.

5 Things We’re Obsessed With at This Very Moment, in no particular order:
1) #FiftyShadesTrailer release (Bey-influenced, of course)
2) Seeing Miley Cyrus perform on Friday #bangerzbangerzbangerz
3) The Lena Dunham book tour: Will you be her lucky opening act?
4) The Female Thor
5) Guardians of the Galaxy theatrical release on August 1st

Nicole Sherman ([email protected]) + Emily Hoenig ([email protected])

The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Third Annual Beach Bag of Books Feature and Contest. From now through this Friday, August 1st at noon ET, five lucky readers will win a selection of the featured books.

Our featured Beach Bag of Books titles include:

• BRUTAL YOUTH by Anthony Breznican
• CATCH A FALLING STAR by Kim Culbertson
• THE HERE AND NOW by Ann Brashares
• THE LOST by Sarah Beth Durst
• THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman
• ON THE FENCE by Kasie West
• SAY WHAT YOU WILL by Cammie McGovern
• SINNER (Companion book to the Shiver Trilogy series) by Maggie Stiefvater
• WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

Click here to enter the contest NOW!

Every day in July, we have a new blog post dedicated to some element of the Harry Potter universe, be it a glossary of terms, some information on a beloved character, a recipe for a classic Harry Potter treat or a guest post from a famous children's author about why he or she loves the series. If you, like us, read and loved this series, then join us for a trip down memory lane. If you missed these books the first time around, it's time to get on board.

We'll be giving away FIVE complete sets of the books --- along with posters and bookmarks --- in our Harry Potter contest, and we know they'll look great on your bookshelf...or will make a perfect gift for a young reader who you want to share them with. Talk about GREAT summer reading!

Click here to see our Harry Potter feature, updated every day this July!
Click here to enter the Harry Potter contest.

For our fifth "REAL TALK Publishing" feature, we chatted with Annie Philbrick. When Annie was telling the story of Bank Square Books at a panel on store succession, a fellow panelist exclaimed, "To buy a bookstore never having owned one before --- and never having worked in one before! That’s crazy!” Her response? "Yeah!"

Crazy or not, Annie has owned the legendary Mystic, Connecticut bookstore since 2006, and since then has made it even more of a community institution: she's expanded the space, hosted some unforgettable events and made sure her cocker spaniel makes customers feel at home.

In Part 1, Annie talks about the initial challenges of buying the store, a memorable customer interaction and how she chooses which books to sell! In Part 2, she tells us about some of her favorite Bank Square Books author events and how Mystic has influenced the store. In Part 3, she shares some of her recent favorite books, advises aspiring bookstore owners and talks about the store's amazing recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

A Little Bit More About the REAL TALK Publishing Feature...

Over the next few months, we'll sit down with book editors, librarians, booksellers, children's literature professors, book cover designers, publicists, professional reviewers and more, giving you insight behind the books. Through interviews, guest posts and sometimes sneak peeks inside their offices, you'll get to learn more about the book industry and all the work that goes into creating some of the world's best written word.

MARINA by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Fiction)
When 15-year-old Oscar Drai suddenly vanishes from his boarding school in Barcelona, no one knows his whereabouts for seven days and seven nights. His story begins when he meets the strange Marina while he's exploring an old quarter of the city. She leads Oscar to a cemetery, where they watch a macabre ritual that occurs on the last Sunday of each month. At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, a woman shrouded in a black velvet cloak descends from her carriage to place a single rose on an unmarked grave. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

ONE PAST MIDNIGHT by Jessica Shirvington (Fiction)
Sabine isn’t like anyone else. For as long as she can remember, she’s had two lives. Every 24 hours she ‘Shifts,’ living each day twice. In one life, Sabine has everything: popular friends, expensive clothes, perfect grades and the guy everyone wants. In the other, Sabine’s family struggles with finances, and she and her friends are considered rebels. But then she meets Ethan. He’s gorgeous, challenging, and he makes her feel like no one ever has before. Reviewed by Brianna Robinson.

THROUGH THE WOODS by Emily Carroll (Fiction)
Journey through the woods in this sinister, compellingly spooky collection that features four brand-new stories and one phenomenally popular tale in print for the first time. These are fairy tales gone seriously wrong, where you can travel to “Our Neighbor’s House” --- though coming back might be a problem --- or find yourself a young bride in a house that holds a terrible secret in “A Lady’s Hands Are Cold.” Reviewed by Charles Payseur.
 

THE BOOK OF LIFE by Deborah Harkness (Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy)
In this highly anticipated conclusion to the All Souls Trilogy, Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont are back in the present and about to face their worst nightmares in the form of their families. There’s still resistance to their marriage, the issues with the Congregation have yet to be resolved, and --- to add to their list of problems --- a long-abandoned son of Matthew’s begins reigning terror on the de Clermont family and the public at large. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

BRAVO by Greg Rucka (Thriller)
Still recovering from traumas both physical and emotional, Jad Bell is tasked with bringing in the Uzbek, principal organizer of the terrorist attack that nearly cost Bell his ex-wife and daughter. But the Uzbek is just the beginning: his employer, the Architect, has already set in motion another, even more devastating attack. At the center of it all are two women under deep cover. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

CUT AND THRUST: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (Thriller)
When Stone Barrington travels to Los Angeles for the biggest political convention of the year, he finds the scene quite shaken up: a dazzling newcomer --- and close friend of Stone’s --- has given the delegates an unexpected choice, crucial alliances are made and broken behind closed doors, and it seems that more than one seat may be up for grabs. And amid the ambitious schemers and hangers-on are a few people who may use the chaotic events as cover for more sinister plans. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

A DARK AND TWISTED TIDE by Sharon Bolton (Mystery)
At dawn one hot summer morning, while swimming down the river, Lacey Flint finds the body of a shrouded young woman in the water. She assumes it was chance, but further investigation leads her policing team to suspect the woman’s body was deliberately left for Lacey to find. Lacey is no longer a homicide detective, but as she begins to notice someone keeping a strangely close eye on her, she’s inexorably drawn into the investigation. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

ELECTIVE PROCEDURES: An Elle Harrison Novel by Merry Jones (Psychological Thriller)
Elle Harrison and her pals, Jen, Becky and Susan, travel to Mexico where Jen has scheduled cosmetic surgery. Soon after they arrive, Elle sees the woman in the suite next door fall from her sixth floor balcony. When the room is later occupied by another patient, Elle finds her brutally mutilated body on that same balcony. As dangers swirl and intensify, Elle is forced to face her unresolved issues with her late husband, Charlie, even as she races to find the connections between the murders. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

ELIZABETH IS MISSING by Emma Healey (Psychological Mystery/Thriller)
In this darkly riveting debut novel --- a sophisticated psychological mystery that is also a heartbreakingly honest meditation on memory, identity and aging --- an elderly woman descending into dementia embarks on a desperate quest to find the best friend she believes has disappeared. Her search for the truth will go back decades and have shattering consequences. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE FORSAKEN: A Quinn Colson Novel by Ace Atkins (Thriller)
Thirty-six years ago, a nameless black man wandered into Jericho, Mississippi. In less than two days, he was accused of rape and murder and lynched. When evidence surfaces of his innocence, county sheriff Quinn Colson sets out to charge those responsible for the lynching. But as he uncovers old lies and secrets, he runs into fierce opposition from people willing to play dirty. He finds himself accused of terrible crimes, and it is anyone’s guess who will prevail --- or even come out of it alive. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE HEIST by Daniel Silva (Thriller)
Legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon is in Venice repairing an altarpiece by Veronese when he receives an urgent summons from the Italian police. The eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood has stumbled upon a chilling murder scene in Lake Como, and is being held as a suspect. To save his friend, Gabriel must track down the real killers and then perform one simple task: find the most famous missing painting in the world. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

HERBIE'S GAME: A Junior Bender Mystery by Timothy Hallinan (Hard-boiled Mystery)
Junior Bender, the clown prince of crime fiction, returns in his most hard-boiled adventure yet --- a tale that will take him deep into a murderous conspiracy in present-day Los Angeles and uncover an increasingly confusing legacy of his burglar-mentor, Herbie Mott, who until very recently was always one step ahead of just about everybody. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE written by Kyung-Sook Shin, translated by Sora Kim-Russell (Fiction)
Amid the tremors of political revolution, Jung Yoon, a highly literate, twenty-something woman, recounts her tragic personal history. When Yoon receives a distressing phone call from her ex-boyfriend after eight years of separation, memories of a tumultuous youth begin to resurface. She revisits the death of her beloved mother, the strong bond with her now-dying former college professor, the excitement of her first love, and the friendships forged out of a shared sense of isolation and grief. Reviewed by Miriam Tuliao.

INSIDE MAN by Jeff Abbott (Thriller)
Sam Capra's friend, Steve, has been murdered. The only lead is a mysterious, beautiful stranger Steve tried to protect. To avenge his friend, Sam goes undercover into the Varelas, one of Miami's most prominent and dangerous families. Now on the inside, playing a part where one wrong move means death, Sam faces a powerful, unstable tycoon intent on dividing his business empire among his three very different children, who each may hold murderous secrets of their own. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE LAST TAXI RIDE: A Ranjit Singh Novel by A. X. Ahmad (Thriller)
Bollywood film icon Shabana Shah has been murdered, her body found in the apartment where New York City taxi driver Ranjit Singh ate dinner mere hours before. With his fingerprints all over the murder weapon, Ranjit is accused by the NYPD as an accessory to murder. His only credible alibi is Shabana’s Indian doorman, but he has vanished. With a Grand Jury arraignment looming in 10 days, and Ranjit’s teenage daughter about to arrive from India, Ranjit must find the doorman. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

LAST TO KNOW by Elizabeth Adler (Mystery/Thriller)
Detective Harry Jordan is out for a walk when the night is rocked by an explosion: the Havnel house is engulfed in a conflagration, and young Bea Havnel is seen fleeing, hair on fire, plunging into the lake. She survives but her mother does not, and Harry is pulled into the investigation. When it’s discovered that Lacey Havnel died not from the explosion but from a knife wound, it’s soon clear that a murderer is on the loose. And this murderer is poised to strike again. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

THE LAST TOWN: A Wayward Pines Thriller by Blake Crouch (Dystopian Thriller)
Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke has discovered the astonishing secret of what lies beyond the electrified fence that surrounds the town of Wayward Pines and protects it from the terrifying world beyond. It is a secret that has the entire population completely under the control of a madman and his army of followers, a secret that is about to come storming through the fence to wipe out this last, fragile remnant of humanity. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

PETER PAN MUST DIE by John Verdon (Thriller)
Dave Gurney is once again pulled out of retirement when his former partner asks him to help prove that a murder victim’s wife has been framed. As Gurney investigates, twisted revelations come to light, and his actions put him on a collision course with a murderous cop and a Greek assassin known as Peter Pan. Gurney discovers that he may be risking everything for a woman who may not be innocent, and the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen (Historical Fantasy/Adventure)
On her 19th birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon to prevent her from wearing the crown. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

SHOTS FIRED: Stories from Joe Pickett Country by C. J. Box (Thriller/Short Stories)
SHOTS FIRED is a collection of 10 riveting stories, three never before published. In “One-Car Bridge,” Joe Pickett goes up against a landowner with disastrous results, and in “Shots Fired,” his investigation into a radio call nearly ends up being the last thing he ever does. In “Le Sauvage Noble,” the stranger is a Lakota in Paris who enjoys playing the “noble savage” for the French women --- until he meets Sophie and discovers what “savage” really means. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE SPARK AND THE DRIVE by Wayne Harrison (Fiction)
Justin Bailey is 17 when he arrives at the shop of legendary muscle car mechanic Nick Campbell. Anguished and out of place among the students at his rural Connecticut high school, Justin finds in Nick, his captivating wife Mary Ann, and their world of miraculous machines the sense of family he has struggled to find at home. But when Nick and Mary Ann’s lives are struck by tragedy, Justin’s own world is upended. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

STRANGERS: A Nameless Detective Novel by Bill Pronzini (Mystery)
Cody Hatcher is the kind of teenager you don’t want your kids hanging with. That’s the book on him, and it’s why the citizens of Mineral Springs have no problem at all believing that he’s guilty of three rapes. His mother, Cheryl, an old lover of Nameless’s, is also being harassed by vindictive townspeople. It’s against such odds that Nameless must work to prove Cody innocent. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.

A WEDDING IN PROVENCE by Ellen Sussman (Fiction)
Olivia and Brody have chosen the perfect location for their destination wedding: a friend’s idyllic inn in the Mediterranean town of Cassis. However, the weekend is quickly thrown off balance by guests. Olivia’s daughters, one reckless and one practical, both make brash decisions. Brody’s mother is coping with the fallout of her own marriage, and then there is Jake, the playboy best man. In the middle is Olivia, navigating the dramas and joys of starting a new life. Reviewed by Donna Smallwood.