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As many of you know, over the past few years, we have increased the number of virtual events that we are offering to readers. We have a rather huge invite list that has become unwieldy to write via regular email. Thus, we now have an Events Newsletter, which we will send around the first of the month. While we mention our events in this newsletter, if you want to plan a couple of months ahead, sign up here for our new Events Newsletter. It will come from [email protected], so be sure to drop that address in your address book.
After the YEAR Called January, It’s Now February
I am not sure why, but January felt like it lasted a year. And now February is here, bringing with it 29 days, as happens every four years. I know at least two people whose birthdays only happen every four years. What a great way to stay forever young!
I planted a lot of amaryllis bulbs in December, as well as giving them as gifts. Also, I bought a number of them at Trader Joe’s that had the wax bases. Above you can see a side table with them in various stages of bloom in our family room. A very tall peach-colored one is in another room. There is a pink one in my office, too! I love the way they add color this time of year. Oh, and I leave the tags on to see if they bloom the way I thought they would!
ONE WRONG WORD is the latest book we’re featuring in our New Release Spotlight. This heart-racing psychological thriller from Hank Phillippi Ryan, which releases on Tuesday, is one of our Winter Reading titles and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Unfairly accused of having an affair with a powerful client, crisis management expert Arden Ward’s life and dreams are about to crash and burn. Then Arden is given an ultimatum. She has just two weeks to save her career and her reputation. Is Cordelia Bannister the answer to her prayers? Cordelia needs Arden’s help for her husband Ned, a Boston real estate mogul who was recently acquitted in a fatal drunk driving accident. But his reputation is ruined, and the fallout is devastating for his family. Revelations soon begin to emerge about what really happened the night of the accident. And then another car crash throws Ned back into the spotlight. The more Arden tries to untangle the truth, the more she’s haunted by one disturbing question: What if she’s also protecting a killer?
We will feature our review of ONE WRONG WORD in next week’s newsletter, followed by our Winter Reading contest on the 13th and my Bets On commentary on the 16th. I also look forward to interviewing Hank on the 16th; the video and podcast of our conversation will be up the week of the 19th. By the way, if I had a daughter, I would have named her Arden, so I loved seeing Hank's main character with that name!
Kiley Reid’s much-talked-about debut novel, SUCH A FUN AGE, was a Reese’s Book Club pick when it released over four years ago. Her highly anticipated second book, COME AND GET IT, came out this week and is February’s “Good Morning America” Book Club selection. This provocative story is about a residential assistant and her messy entanglement with a professor and three unruly students.
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “[Reid’s] narrative quite intentionally shines a light on the extent to which consumerism and brand names have permeated American priorities and preoccupations…. In all three of these characters' cases, seemingly small decisions carry lasting repercussions, often in unintended and surprising ways. Undergirding everything are issues of money and materialism, race and class, when enough is enough…or when it's all just too much.”
This month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick is GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton, the New York Times bestselling author of GHOSTS and EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE. “I love this book so much. I’m obsessed with it because it’s a deconstructed love story,” says Jenna. What does that mean? She responds, “Well, I’ve never read anything quite like it --- it’s the unwinding of a love story. And yet, there’s so much love in it.”
Our reviewer Jana Siciliano calls the book “[b]right and funny, heartwarming and heart-pounding” and goes on to say, “GOOD MATERIAL gives us a rollercoaster ride through modern love that rises several stories above the average rom-com. As the novel hovers at a higher altitude, you will breathe fresh air and enjoy the sweet and smart tale that Alderton has crafted, bewitching a lot of you through the doldrums of these final weeks of winter.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
Donna, one of our readers, met Lynda Rutledge at a recent BIGHORN Book Group Salon Tea event. She said that Lynda describes her historical fiction as being written in a “humorously serious style” and adds, “A good story stays with a reader when it's expressed with a velvet punch and delivered lightly with a dash of joy.” I love hearing from readers about the authors they have met.
We’re Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On selection is THE FURY by Alex Michaelides, which we reviewed a couple of weeks ago. In this masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex-movie star and her famous friends, a spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder. Click here for my commentary.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Lisa Scottoline
Out in paperback this week is LOYALTY, one of my Bets On picks from 2023. This emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice from #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline is set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily. I talked to Lisa about the book last March when it released in hardcover, so if you missed the interview or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Books on Screen Offerings for February
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. February’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Tracker" on CBS, "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" on AMC, and "One Day" on Netflix; the season two premiere of ABC's "Will Trent"; the conclusion of "Expats" on Prime Video; the films Argylle and Lisa Frankenstein in theaters; four Hallmark movies inspired by the life and work of Jane Austen (Paging Mr. Darcy, Love & Jane, An American in Austen and Sense and Sensibility); and the DVD releases of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Wonka and Priscilla.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
We stay in a cinematic frame of mind for our new poll question. The Academy Award nominations were announced last week, so we’re curious to know which of the movies based on books that are up for an Oscar (in any category) you have seen or are planning to see. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, February 16th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 30 titles releasing in paperback in January and asked which of them, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here:
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, February 16th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (an upcoming Bets On selection) and THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST by Terry Hayes, both of which release on Tuesday. We will have much more on these books in the days and weeks to come.
I look forward to attending Kristin’s event at Symphony Space in New York City next Thursday, February 8th at 7pm. Please let me know if you’re planning to be there!
The Audie Awards, “the premier awards program recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment,” have announced their 2024 finalists in 27 categories. Among them are TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, narrated by Meryl Streep (Audiobook of the Year); YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang, narrated by Helen Laser (Fiction); THE WAGER: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann, narrated by Dion Graham with David Grann (History/Biography); and THE COVENANT OF WATER written and narrated by Abraham Verghese (Narration by the Author).
The winners will be presented at a gala being held on Monday, March 4th at The Avalon in Los Angeles, which also will be streamed to the public on their YouTube channel.
We have some exciting news to share with you in the publishing world. Simon & Schuster will mark its 100th anniversary with a year-long celebration that kicks off with the debut of The Simon & Schuster 100, “a selection of 100 titles across genres, imprints, borders and decades, chosen to represent the breadth and depth of the company’s publishing programs.” Their 100th anniversary website, SimonandSchuster100.com, “features the company’s prize winners, a special centennial video, beloved page-to-screen titles, trivia, and other highlights and information garnered from the company’s colorful history and lasting cultural legacy.”
On Monday, April 8th at 7pm ET, Simon & Schuster will host Author! Author!: A Simon & Schuster Centennial Celebration at New York City’s The Town Hall. This star-studded event will feature “more than 30 renowned Simon & Schuster authors coming together for an evening of stories, conversation, memories, laughter --- and even song.” The event also will be live-streamed for all to see. You can purchase your in-person or streaming tickets here.
I am so looking forward to attending in-person with Tom and Lisa from our team and a couple of friends. And I hope to see some of you there for what promises to be an amazing evening. Others, plan to enjoy it virtually.
Many of you know Eric Weiner as the author of THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS (which was turned into a docuseries on Peacock last year starring Rainn Wilson), MAN SEEKS GOD, THE GEOGRAPHY OF GENIUS and THE SOCRATES EXPRESS. His next book, BEN & ME, releases on June 4th; this unconventional biography is a guide to living and thinking well, as Benjamin Franklin did.
One of the highlights of Eric’s year is leading his Writing and Well-Being Workshop in Bhutan. Nestled in the Himalayas, the Buddhist nation has forged a different path, most notably with its policy of Gross National Happiness. His next workshop takes place from April 21st through May 1st. As Eric says, “It's a great opportunity to explore this unique nation while developing (or starting) a writing practice. The focus is on journaling and expressive writing, but for those who are interested, we dive deeper into the craft. We start each day with a morning meditation, led by my good friend and meditation teacher, James Hopkins. We then combine readings and writing exercises with daily excursions to the many sites of Bhutan.”
Eric let us know that a few slots are still open for the April workshop, so be sure to click here for more details and here to register. And do share with any aspiring writers you know.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Three nice notes from our End-of-the-Year Contest winners came in this week.
Cherie wrote, “I could not believe my eyes when I saw an unexpected package for me at my front door. When I saw the return address as Carol at Bookreporter, my heart leaped with joy. Opening the box, I saw four wonderful books and that I was a Bookreporter contest winner. I immediately wanted to quit my day job and nestle up with the books I received and start reading. Your e-newsletters, monthly book presentations on Wednesdays and author interviews are wonderful and add so much joy to reading. Thank you for the books and all you do.”
Amy wrote, “Thank you for selecting me as one of the prize winners for the End-of-the-Year Contest! It was a surprise and quite the highlight of my week. Happy reading!”
Dorothy shared, “What a surprise I had when I returned home from a Hawaii vacation --- a box with four books. I shall enjoy reading them and shall pass them on to members of my two book clubs.
“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” on FX (and next day on Hulu): This series is based on Laurence Leamer’s book, CAPOTE’S WOMEN: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. But Mary, one of our readers, noted that it’s also great watching for those who read Melanie Benjamin’s THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE, and I agree. It has a truly all-star cast that includes Naomi Watts as Babe Paley, Diane Lane as Slim Keith, Chloë Sevigny as C.Z. Guest, Calista Flockhart as Lee Radziwell, Demi Moore as Ann Woodward, and Molly Ringwald as Joanne Carson. I watched two episodes last night, and it was such dishy fun.
“Expats” on Amazon Prime Video: I watched the first two episodes of this six-episode series, and I am intrigued. There are some oddities, like the scene with the bathtub, that may work better in the book that it was based on, THE EXPATRIATES by Janice Y. K. Lee, but I look forward to watching more. From what I read, the last two episodes are terrific. It builds.
One thing (and I am not sure if this is just me): I literally could not get to it on Amazon to watch this past weekend even though we have an Amazon Fire Stick. It kept saying “Show not available at this time,” along with a URL and a code that there was no way I could click on from the TV. When a show drops, I feel like they do not have enough capacity. Is anyone else seeing the same thing?
The Holdovers on Peacock: I am trying to watch all of the Oscar-nominated films. This one was a real treat. It's about a group of boarding school kids who end up stuck at school over the Christmas break and the curmudgeonly teacher who oversees them. Paul Giamatti is great in the role and is nominated for an Oscar, as well as the movie. He also was terrific on “Billions”.
“Masters of the Air” on Apple TV+: My husband and I watched the first two episodes, and it’s so well done. Our friend, Moe Schwartz (who is now 100!), flew bombers during World War II. Tom is giving me extra insight into what we watch from stories Moe told him during the years that they went sailing together.
The Postcard Killings on Netflix: This film came out in 2020 and is based on THE POSTCARD KILLERS by James Patterson and Liza Marklund. I did not realize the latter until the end. It was twisty and perfect for a weeknight movie.
The Hill on Netflix: This is a sweet movie based on the true story of young baseball hopeful Rickey Hill, who chases his Major League dreams while living with a degenerative spinal condition. His dad is a preacher who is opposed to his love of, and playing, baseball.
The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix, a documentary about “We Are the World”: I love the way this whole song and evening came together. Such an amazing group of star power was in the room that night. One of my favorite lines was attributed to Paul Simon, who said, “If a bomb hits this building today, John Denver's back on top.” Paul is always the one with the wry comment.
I am almost finished with THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali, which is not coming out until July 2nd. Marjan was so brilliant talking about the book last week that it sneaked right to the top of my pile when I SHOULD be reading February titles. Yes, it will be a Bets On selection. Next up will be either END OF STORY by A. J. Finn (on sale February 20th) or WANDERING STARS by Tommy Orange (on sale February 27th).
I am looking forward to dinner with friends tonight. Annemarie and I met years ago at a Random House program, and through the years we have met up again and again as she lives nearby. We went to dinner a couple of months ago with our husbands, and they, too, hit it off. So dinner will be at their house tonight. There are so many friendships that have been forged through a love of books during the last 27+ years of Bookreporter. It’s really wonderful.
The rest of the weekend will be all about reading as I have a huge pile of books to tackle. There’s wood for a fire in the fireplace, and the amaryllis plants are in the room where I will be reading. It's the perfect setting, though honestly I can read anywhere.
Read on (wherever you are), and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid
February’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nicole Lewis
It's 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, wants to graduate, get a job and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers Millie an easy yet unusual opportunity, she jumps at the chance. But Millie's starry-eyed hustle becomes jeopardized by odd new friends, vengeful dorm pranks and illicit intrigue. A fresh and intimate portrait of desire, consumption and reckless abandon, COME AND GET IT is a tension-filled story about money, indiscretion and bad behavior. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- 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 "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton
February’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Arthur Darvill and Vanessa Kirby
Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can't work out why she stopped. Now he is without a home, waiting for his stand-up career to take off, and wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn't looking. Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of his ruined relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him. But Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
New Release Spotlight:
ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
Releasing on February 6th
ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
One wrong word can ruin your life. And no one knows that better than savvy crisis management expert Arden Ward. Problem is, she's now forced to handle a shocking crisis of her own. Unfairly accused of having an affair with a powerful client, Arden’s life and dreams are about to crash and burn. Then Arden is given an ultimatum. She has just two weeks to save her career and her reputation.
Is Cordelia Bannister the answer to her prayers?
Cordelia needs Arden’s help for her husband Ned, a Boston real estate mogul. Though he was recently acquitted in a fatal drunk driving accident, his reputation is ruined, and the fallout is devastating not only to the Bannisters' lives, but to the lives of their two adorable children.
Arden devotes her skill and determination --- and maybe her final days on the job --- to helping this shattered family. But revelations soon begin to emerge about what really happened the night of the accident. And then another car crash throws Ned back into the spotlight.
This case is Arden’s final chance to protect her own future and clear her name. But the more she tries to untangle the truth, the more she’s haunted by one disturbing question: What if she’s also protecting a killer?
Gossip. Lies. Rumors. Words like that can hurt you. And Arden knows the reality. Sometimes one wrong word can kill.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Hank Phillippi Ryan's bio.
- Click here to visit Hank Phillippi Ryan's website.
- Connect with Hank Phillippi Ryan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
ONE WRONG WORD will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss our review of the book in next week's newsletter,
followed by Carol's Bets On commentary in the February 16th newsletter.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE FURY by Alex Michaelides
THE FURY by Alex Michaelides (Psychological Thriller)
When I started reading THE FURY by Alex Michaelides, it was a blustery cold weekend. I was more than ready for a vacation on a privately owned Greek island named Aura with a movie star and her friends. The island had been given to the actress as a wedding present from her now-deceased husband. I loved that sentiment. So I settled in to be told a story from the perspective of Elliot Chase, our narrator.
The setup is lovely. Lana Farrar (great name) is an ex-movie star (if there is anyone who is an ex-movie star; I feel like that title just lives on) who is at Aura with her friends. Elliot introduces the characters, all from his point of view. As he narrates, he will do his best “not to hijack the narrative too often.” When he does not succeed, we get a major helping of dishy background.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Featured Review: THE BAD WEATHER FRIEND
by Dean Koontz
THE BAD WEATHER FRIEND by Dean Koontz (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Ray Chase
Benny Catspaw’s perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée and his favorite chair. Someone is out to get him. He just doesn’t know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he’s never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. All will be well in time. Stranger yet is what’s inside the crate. He’s a seven-foot-tall self-described “bad weather friend” named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. He’ll find Benny’s enemies and deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn’t such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation. In the company of Spike and a fascinated young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT
by Benjamin Stevenson
EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT by Benjamin Stevenson (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Barton Welch and Megan Smart
When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out. The program is a who’s who of crime-writing royalty: the debut writer (me!), the forensic science writer, the blockbuster writer, the legal thriller writer, the literary writer, and the psychological suspense writer. But when one of us is murdered, the remaining authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime. Of course, we also should know how to commit one. How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MOCKINGBIRD SUMMER
by Lynda Rutledge
MOCKINGBIRD SUMMER by Lynda Rutledge (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ren Hanami
In segregated High Cotton, Texas, in 1964, the racial divide is as clear as the railroad tracks running through town. It’s also where two girls are going to shake things up. This is the last summer of 13-year-old Corky Corcoran’s childhood, and her family hires a Haitian housekeeper who brings her daughter, America, along with her. Corky is quick to befriend America and eager to share her favorite new “grown-up” novel, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. America’s take on it is different and profoundly personal. As their friendship grows, Corky finds out so much more about America’s life and her hidden skill: she can run as fast as Olympian Wilma Rudolph! When Corky asks America to play with her girls’ softball team for the annual church rivals game, it’s a move that crosses the color line and sets off a firestorm. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's Ninth Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading contests have returned for a ninth year! On select days in January and February, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, February 13th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
February’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of February's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Argylle
Release Date: February 2nd (wide release in theaters)
Based on: ARGYLLE by Elly Conway
Lisa Frankenstein
Release Date: February 9th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley
Sense and Sensibility
Air Date: Saturday, February 24th at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel
Based on: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY by Jane Austen
Series Premieres
"One Day"
Release Date: February 8th on Netflix (Season One)
Based on: ONE DAY by David Nicholls
"Tracker"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on CBS; Series Premiere on February 11th following Super Bowl LVIII
Based on: THE NEVER GAME by Jeffery Deaver
"The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on AMC; Series Premiere on February 25th
Based on: The comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard
Season Premiere
"Will Trent"
Air Dates: Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on ABC; Season Two Premiere on February 20th
Based on: The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter
Series Finale
"Expats" (6-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Fridays on Prime Video; Series Finale on February 23rd
Based on: THE EXPATRIATES by Janice Y. K. Lee
On DVD
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
DVD Release Date: February 13th
Based on: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES: A Hunger Games Novel by Suzanne Collins
Priscilla
DVD Release Date: February 13th
Based on: ELVIS AND ME: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll, by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, with Sandra Harmon
Wonka
DVD Release Date: February 27th
Based on: Characters by Roald Dahl
THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT by Christopher Golden (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Across Italy there are many half-empty towns, nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to cities. The beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is among them, but its mayor has taken drastic measures to rebuild --- selling abandoned homes to anyone in the world for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years. It’s a no-brainer for American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi. Both work remotely, and Becchina is the home of Tommy’s grandparents, his closest living relatives. It feels like a romantic adventure, an opportunity the young couple would be crazy not to seize. But from the moment they move in, they feel a shadow has fallen on them. Tommy’s grandmother is furious, even a little frightened, when she realizes which house they’ve bought. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
HERO by Thomas Perry (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Delaine
Justine Poole provides security for wealthy and high-profile Hollywood stars. When she prevents a brazen robbery at the Beverly Hills home of two of her clients --- killing two of the five armed robbers in the process --- she is initially lauded in the media as a local hero. But the spotlight soon puts her in the crosshairs of the crime kingpin behind the burglaries. Unable to stand the embarrassment of his lackeys having been defeated by a lone woman, Mr. Conger puts in a call to the one man who can make his problems disappear. Known for his swiftness and subtlety, Leo Sealy will kill anyone for a price. But he isn’t prepared for just how quick and resourceful Justine can be. So begins a cat-and-mouse game between two people who know more about how to take down one’s enemies than anyone else in the business. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WOLVES OF WINTER by Dan Jones (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ben Miles
1347. Bruised and bloodied by an epic battle at Crécy, six soldiers known as the Essex Dogs pick through the wreckage of the fighting --- and their own lives. Now a new siege is beginning, and the Dogs are sent to attack the soaring walls of Calais. King Edward has vowed no Englishman will leave France until this city falls. To get home, they must survive a merciless winter in a lawless camp deadlier than any battlefield. Obsessed with tracking down the vanished Captain, Loveday struggles to control his own men. Romford is haunted by the reappearance of a horrific figure from his past. And Scotsman is spiraling into a pit of drink, violence and self-pity. The Dogs are being torn apart, but this war is far from over. It won't be long before they lose more of their own. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
HELD by Anne Michaels (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Anne Michaels
1917. On a battlefield near the River Escaut, John lies in the aftermath of a blast, unable to move or feel his legs. Struggling to focus his thoughts, he is lost to memory as the snow falls --- a chance encounter in a pub by a railway, a hot bath with his lover on a winter night. 1920. John has returned from war to North Yorkshire, near a different river. He is alive but still not whole. Reunited with Helena, an artist, he reopens his photography business and tries to keep on living. But the past erupts insistently into the present, as ghosts begin to surface in his pictures: ghosts with messages he cannot understand. So begins a narrative that spans four generations of connections and consequences that ignite and reignite as the century unfolds. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
HOW WE NAMED THE STARS by Andrés N. Ordorica (Fiction)
When Daniel de La Luna arrives as a scholarship student at an elite East Coast university, he bears the weight of his family’s hopes and dreams, and the burden of sharing his late uncle’s name. Daniel flounders at first --- but then Sam, his roommate, changes everything. As their relationship evolves from brotherly banter to something more intimate, Daniel soon finds himself in love with a man who helps him see himself in a new light. But just as their relationship takes flight, Daniel is pulled away, first by Sam’s hesitation and then by a brutal turn of events that changes Daniel’s life forever. As he grapples with profound loss, Daniel finds himself in his family’s ancestral homeland in México for the summer, finding joy in this setting even as he struggles to come to terms with what’s happened and faces a host of new questions. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ASTRID BRICARD by Natasha Lester (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
Everyone remembers her daringly short, silver lamé dress. It was an iconic photo capturing an electric moment, where emerging American designer Astrid Bricard is young, uninhibited, and on the cusp of fashion and feminism’s changing landscape. Yet she can't escape the shadow of her mother, Mizza Bricard, infamous "muse" for Christian Dior. Astrid would give anything to take her place among the great houses of couture --- on her own terms. But then Astrid disappeared. Now Astrid's daughter, Blythe, holds what remains of her mother and grandmother's legacies. Of all the Bricard women, she can gather the torn, painfully beautiful fabrics of three generations of heartbreak to create something that will shake the foundations of fashion. But what really happened to Astrid? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
TWENTY-SEVEN MINUTES by Ashley Tate (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Nikki Thomas
For the last 10 years, the small, claustrophobic town of West Wilmer has been struggling to understand one thing: Why did it take young Grant Dean 27 minutes to call for help on the fateful night of the car accident that took the life of his beloved sister, Phoebe? Someone knows what really happened the night Phoebe died. Someone who is ready to tell the truth. With Phoebe's memorial in just three days, grief, delusion, ambition and regret tornado together with biting gossip in a town full of people obsessed with a long-gone tragedy with four people at its heart --- the caretaker, the secret girlfriend, the missing bad boy and a former football star. Just kids back then, they are forever tied together the fateful rainy night Phoebe died. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
YOUR UTOPIA: Stories written by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur (Fiction/Short Stories)
Bora Chung’s inimitable blend of horror, absurdity and dark humor reaches its peak in these tales of loss and discovery, dystopia and idealism, death and immortality. In a thrilling translation by the acclaimed Anton Hur, readers will experience a variety of possible fates for humanity. In “The Center for Immortality Research,” a low-level employee runs herself ragged planning a fancy gala for donors only to be blamed for the chaos that ensues during the event in front of the mysterious celebrity benefactors hoping to live forever. In “A Song for Sleep,” an AI elevator in an apartment complex develops a tender, one-sided love for an elderly resident. “Seed” traverses the final frontier of capitalism’s destruction of the planet --- but nature always creeps back to life. Reviewed by Roberta O’Hara.
MY FAVORITE SCAR written by Nicolás Ferraro, translated by Mallory N. Craig-Kuhn (Noir Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Stacy Gonzalez
Fifteen-year-old Ámbar has never known any parent other than her father, Víctor Mondragón, nor any life other than his. On any given Friday night, Ámbar longs to be at the arcade or a rock concert, but she’s more likely to be patching up Víctor’s latest bullet hole in a dingy motel or creating a new set of fake identities for the both of them. When a tattooed mercenary kills Víctor’s best friend and vows that Víctor is next, father and daughter set off on a joyride across Argentina in search of bloody retribution. But Ámbar’s growing pains hurt worse than her beloved sawed-off shotgun’s kickback as she begins to question the structure of her world. How much is her father not telling her? Could her life ever be different? And will she survive long enough to find out? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 6th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 6th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of February 5th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood (Paranormal Romance)
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of LOVE, THEORETICALLY and THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS.
BURMA SAHIB by Paul Theroux (Historical Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of THE MOSQUITO COAST and THE BAD ANGEL BROTHERS comes a riveting new novel exploring one of English literature’s most beloved and controversial figures --- George Orwell --- and the early years as an officer in colonial Burma that transformed him from Eric Blair, the British Raj policeman, into Orwell the anti-colonial writer.
DEAR MOM AND DAD: A Letter About Family, Memory, and the America We Once Knew by Patti Davis (Memoir)
A remarkably poignant writer for our troubled times, Patti Davis writes about love, loss and the power of redemption in this poetic letter to her long-gone parents.
FOURTEEN DAYS: A Collaborative Novel edited by Margaret Atwood and Douglas Preston (Fiction)
Set in a Lower East Side tenement in the early days of the COVID-19 lockdowns, FOURTEEN DAYS is an irresistibly propulsive collaborative novel from the Authors Guild with an unusual twist. Each character in this diverse, eccentric cast of New York neighbors has been secretly written by a different, major literary voice --- from Margaret Atwood and Celeste Ng to Tommy Orange and John Grisham.
THE GHOST ORCHID: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller)
Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis confront a baffling, vicious double homicide that leads them to long-buried secrets worth killing for in this riveting thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman.
HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE by Jon Lindstrom (Thriller)
From four-time Emmy-nominated actor Jon Lindstrom of "General Hospital," "Bosch" and "True Detective" fame comes a gripping debut thriller. Set in the dark underbelly of the LA film industry, HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE is the perfect read for fans of Alex Finlay and Jeffery Deaver.
A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE by Tia Williams (Romance)
In this enchanting love story from the New York Times bestselling author of SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE, a free-spirited florist and an enigmatic musician are irreversibly linked through the history, art and magic of Harlem.
ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
ONE WRONG WORD is a heart-racing new psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling and multiple award-winning author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
OWNING UP: New Fiction by George Pelecanos (Crime Fiction/Short Stories)
Four blistering novellas are drawn together by themes of strife, violence and humanity. At once streetwise and full of heart, OWNING UP grapples with random chance, the bind of consequence, and the forked paths a life can take.
THE PRICE YOU PAY: A Peter Ash Novel by Nick Petrie (Thriller)
Peter Ash must follow his closest friend, Lewis, into the criminal underworld when secrets from the past threaten everything they hold dear in this propulsive new thriller from Nick Petrie’s bestselling and award-winning series.
THE ROAD FROM BELHAVEN by Margot Livesey (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY comes a novel about a young woman whose gift of second sight complicates her coming of age in late-19th-century Scotland.
THE TEACHER by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a story of twisting secrets and long-awaited revenge.
THE UNCHARTED FLIGHT OF OLIVIA WEST by Sara Ackerman (Historical Fiction)
This extraordinary novel, inspired by real events, tells the story of a female aviator who defies the odds to embark on a daring air race across the Pacific.
THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)
From master storyteller Kristin Hannah comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. THE WOMEN is that rarest of novels --- at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield.
THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST by Terry Hayes (Political Thriller)
Terry Hayes, the author of the #1 global bestseller I AM PILGRIM, returns with a terrifying and eagerly awaited new thriller.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Amy Jo Burns, Diana Nyad, Ali Hazelwood
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are seven upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Saturday, February 3rd at 1pm ET: Book Passage: The hit Netflix movie Nyad is inspiring viewers worldwide. Join Diana Nyad for a virtual chat about her memoir, FIND A WAY: The Inspiring Story of One Woman's Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream.
Tuesday, February 6th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Amy Jo Burns for a live virtual event to discuss MERCURY, January's B&N Book Club pick. She will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, the host and Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.
Tuesday, February 6th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood for a live virtual discussion to celebrate the release of her new paranormal romance, BRIDE. She will be in conversation with Xio Axelrod and Nisha J. Tuli.
Tuesday, February 6th at 8pm ET: The Writer's Center: The Writer’s Center welcomes novelists E.A. Aymar (WHEN SHE LEFT) and Lyn Liao Butler (WHAT IS MINE) for a virtual book launch celebrating their new novels, followed by a Q&A about writing and publishing genre fiction.
Wednesday, February 7th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Jordan Harper for a live virtual discussion of EVERYBODY KNOWS, which is now in paperback, as part of their Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Jordan will be in conversation with the New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby.
Wednesday, February 7th 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 Amy Jo Burns about her latest book, MERCURY, a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick.
Wednesday, February 7th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Jenni L. Walsh as she discusses her new novel, UNSINKABLE, with Rachel McMillan. Inspired by true stories of survival and resilience, the book entwines the lives of two women --- one from World War I and another from World War II --- as they face adversity and take hold of the second chances given to them.
"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 is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Kristin Hannah (THE WOMEN)
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Hank Phillippi Ryan (ONE WRONG WORD)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
This Year’s Oscar-Nominated Films
Based on Books
Which of this year’s Oscar-nominated movies that are based on books have you seen or do you plan to see? Please check all that apply.
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American Fiction (based on ERASURE by Percival Everett)
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The Boy and the Heron (based on HOW DO YOU LIVE? by Genzaburo Yoshino)
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The Color Purple (based on THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker)
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Flamin’ Hot (based on A BOY, A BURRITO, AND A COOKIE by Richard Montanez)
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (based on the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series)
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Killers of the Flower Moon (based on KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann)
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Nimona (based on NIMONA by ND Stevenson)
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Nyad (based on FIND A WAY by Diana Nyad)
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Oppenheimer (based on AMERICAN PROMETHEUS by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin)
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Poor Things (based on POOR THINGS by Alasdair Gray)
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Robot Dreams (based on ROBOT DREAMS by Sara Varon)
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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (based on the Spider-Man comic book series)
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The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (based on THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR by Roald Dahl)
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The Zone of Interest (based on THE ZONE OF INTEREST by Martin Amis)
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 16th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from February 2nd to February 16th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah and THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST by Terry Hayes.
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.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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