July 12, 2024

July 12, 2024

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As promised, I spent the holiday weekend reading. There is an art to reading in the pool. If I have an advance copy, I do not worry about getting it wet. So I can float in the pool with the book, or walk around with it as shown above with BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver. (My husband snapped this picture when I was not looking.) If it is a hardcover, I instead read standing at the side of the pool, which is how I read THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan. (We are reviewing both this week, and they also will be Bookreporter.com Bets On selections.) When floating, another option is audio, which I have been doing so I can enjoy more books.

Over the break, I also finished reading HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (you will see my Bets On commentary later in this newsletter), BOSS LADY by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (which we are reviewing this week and will be a Bets On pick), and SANDWICH by Catherine Newman (which we reviewed last month).

I also am doing something that I typically do not do. I am reading JACKIE by Dawn Tripp only before I go to sleep. Since I know so much of Jackie’s story already, I am finding it to be a lovely way to enjoy the book, which has such a great voice and tone to it.

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an event sponsored by [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ, with my friend, Annmarie. Taffy Brodesser-Akner, the author of LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE, was interviewed by Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The New York Times Book Review. The room was packed with readers who were happy to hear the backstory of how Taffy came to write this book. Let’s just say that it was not a smooth path. And yes, there was a lot of praise directed her way for her debut novel, FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE, as well as the Hulu series adaptation of it.

Taffy had once lived in Maplewood, so I loved when someone stood up to ask a question, reminding her that their sons had played soccer together. Seeing full rooms for events like this always makes me happy; I feel like I am gathering with my people. I also enjoyed catching up with Jonah Zimiles, who owns [words] Bookstore. He regularly does events like this that draw similar crowds. I loved what Taffy wrote when she signed my copy --- “Stay safe out there” --- which is very humorous given that the book starts with a kidnapping. Now I am looking over my shoulder.

I am listening to LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE on audio, which is wonderfully narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. I am laughing a lot as he describes the setting and the characters. Taffy's writing is so spot on, and so is Edoardo's delivery. I may just keep listening; even if I read it, I know I will have his voice in my head. I am hoping to interview Taffy in the weeks to come.

My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Marjan Kamali. Her new novel, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, is our current Fiction Author Spotlight title and an upcoming Bets On pick, which we reviewed in the last newsletter.

Marjan shares the genesis of the story and how she built on it from there. She delves into her personal history coming to the US as a child and what it means to be a “lion woman.” We learn about how class and culture mattered in the relationship between Ellie and Homa, as well as how motherhood would change Homa. Marjan also discusses how she parsed some of the story to add intrigue --- and what her writing/editing process was like.

Persian food is mentioned throughout the book, and Marjan talks about what food means beyond just nourishment. There is one recipe that I am keen on making. Book groups, take note! Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. This is the book that attendees of both our afternoon and evening June “Bookaccino Live” book preview events wanted to read FIRST!

Speaking of which, we hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 30 books releasing between now and August 6th, plus 15 from September, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.

Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event will take place on Wednesday, August 14th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between August 13th and September 3rd, in addition to a few from October, 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.

Liz Moore’s latest novel, THE GOD OF THE WOODS, is about a missing child whose disappearance sends equal shock waves through three very different worlds --- an opulent Adirondack summer estate, the rustic teen summer camp that operates in its shadow, and the blue-collar community that serves them both.

Norah Piehl has our review and calls the book “exquisitely plotted.” She goes on to say, “Throughout, Moore --- in addition to crafting a riveting story --- comments explicitly or implicitly on the economic and class impacts of a family like the Van Laars establishing a compound like Self-Reliance in the midst of an otherwise working-class area…. Unless you happen to have a child away at summer camp, THE GOD OF THE WOODS is an ideal summer novel. It’s thought-provoking and chilling, a page-turner with both substance and style.”

THE GOD OF THE WOODS is July’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection and #1 Indie Next pick, as well as an upcoming Bets On title. On Tuesday, August 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Liz. Click here to sign up, which I did last night. I had hoped to interview Liz as I had for her previous novel, LONG BRIGHT RIVER, but her schedule is such that it will not work out. Find out later this month why I’m betting you’ll love THE GOD OF THE WOODS as much as Norah and I did.

The aforementioned THE CLIFFS is J. Courtney Sullivan’s new novel and this month's Reese’s Book Club pick. Reese teases, “If you stumbled upon a curiously abandoned house, would YOU go inside? Our July pick follows main character Jane’s journey as she uncovers the past lives of a home. It’s an entrancing spin on a generational novel and filled with mystery.”

According to Bronwyn Miller in her review, “J. Courtney Sullivan expertly walks the fine line between an engagingly creepy mystery and the troubled history of the Pine Tree State and its subsequent sanitation. While crafting the compelling story of Jane, Genevieve and the storied house, Sullivan delves into Maine’s complicated history with Native Americans, and how white settlers took the land from the indigenous people and claimed it as their own, as well as committing various atrocities…. It takes a steady, adroit hand to entertain as well as educate, and Sullivan does just that with THE CLIFFS.”

I loved THE CLIFFS so much that it will be a Bets On selection. My commentary will appear in an upcoming newsletter.

We also are spotlighting reviews of these two books:

• BAD TOURISTS: In Caro Carver’s much-buzzed-about thriller, which will be a Bets On pick, three tight-knit friends embark on an extravagant divorce trip to the Maldives where they can unwind and celebrate a new chapter in midlife --- until they realize the resort of their dreams is harboring a killer. I look forward to interviewing Caro on Tuesday!
   
• BOSS LADY: In Alli Frank and Asha Youmans’ fourth collaboration --- following TINY IMPERFECTIONS, NEVER MEANT TO MEET YOU and THE BETTER HALF --- a mess of a heroine is desperate to resolve her past so she finally can rediscover who she was always meant to be. As I mentioned earlier, this, too, will be a Bets On selection.

Summer Reading Contest Update
BAD TOURISTS will be our next Summer Reading prize book. The 24-hour contest for it will be up on Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.

I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On picks are ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker (this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick, which we reviewed two weeks ago) and the aforementioned HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (which we plan to review next week). Click on each of the titles for my Bets On commentary.

This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for July are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as John Grisham (THE EXCHANGE), S. A. Cosby (ALL THE SINNERS BLEED), Sophie Kinsella (THE BURNOUT), Chandler Baker (CUTTING TEETH), and Fiona Davis (THE SPECTACULAR); nonfiction titles, including HOW TO SAY BABYLON: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair and JACKIE: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli; and paperback originals like LOOK IN THE MIRROR by Catherine Steadman and MEET ME AT THE STARLIGHT by Rachel Hauck, the latter of which was this week’s Summer Reading prize book.

Books on Screen Offerings for July
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. July’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Emperor of Ocean Park" on MGM+, "Lady in the Lake" on Apple TV+, and "Mafia Spies" on Paramount+; the season premieres of AMC's "Snowpiercer" and Starz's "The Serpent Queen"; the season finale of "Presumed Innocent" on Apple TV+; the continuation of HBO's "House of the Dragon"; the films Deadpool & Wolverine and Widow Clicquot; and the DVD releases of Lisa Frankenstein, Tarot and Fast Charlie.

Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Our current Word of Mouth prizes are the aforementioned THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan and HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams. Let us know by Friday, July 26th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles.

Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 30 titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, July 26th at noon ET.

Our previous poll asked what you do about books when you go on vacation. Below are your top five responses, and you can see all the results here.

• I bring physical books (hardcovers or paperbacks) that I have bought (66%)
• I bring e-books that I have bought and downloaded (45%)
• I bring e-books that I have downloaded from the library (36%)
• I buy physical books while I am on vacation (33%)
• I bring physical books from the library (30%)

Featured Review: THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore
July’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore (Literary Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
Early morning, August 1975. A camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any 13-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished 14 years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Liz Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

» THE GOD OF THE WOODS is July's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, August 6th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Liz Moore. Click here to sign up.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

THE GOD OF THE WOODS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in an upcoming newsletter.

Featured Review: THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan
Reese’s Book Club Pick for July
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Kimberly Farr, Tanis Parenteau, Emily Lawrence, Brittany Pressley and Cassandra Campbell
On a secluded bluff overlooking the ocean sits a Victorian house that contains a century’s worth of secrets. By the time Jane Flanagan discovers the house as a teenager, it has long been abandoned. There are still clothes in the closets, marbles rolling across the floors and dishes in the cupboards, even though no one has set foot there in decades. The house becomes a hideaway for Jane, a place to escape her volatile mother. Twenty years later, Jane returns home to Maine following a terrible mistake that threatens both her career as an archivist and her marriage. Jane is horrified to find the Victorian is now barely recognizable. The new owner, Genevieve, has gutted it and is convinced that it’s haunted. She hires Jane to research the history of the place and the women who lived there. The story Jane uncovers is even older than Maine itself. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.

Click here to read our review.

THE CLIFFS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in an upcoming newsletter.

New Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Navabi and Nikki Massoud
In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation.

Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind, passionate girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions for becoming “lion women.”

But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.

Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.

- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to read Marjan Kamali's bio.
- Click here to visit Marjan Kamali's website.
- Connect with Marjan Kamali on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Watch or listen to our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Marjan Kamali.

Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.

THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review: BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lesley Sharp
Best friends Darcy, Camilla and Kate escape for a post-divorce retreat in the Maldives, the perfect place to relax, reset and embrace a fresh start in life. Darcy is learning how to be a free woman at 42. Camilla has found the perfect calling as a fitness and wellness influencer with a devoted following. And Kate is finally working on the book she was meant to write after years of telling other people’s stories. Their dream getaway? The exclusive and isolated Sapphire Island Resort. With luxurious private villas, crystal-clear waters and sun-drenched white sand beaches, relaxation is guaranteed. But this is no ordinary friendship, and they’re not the only guests on the island with secrets. Who left the body on the beach --- and who’s next? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

BAD TOURISTS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Caro Carver in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the July 26th newsletter.

Featured Review: BOSS LADY
by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

BOSS LADY by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Bahni Turpin
A promising inventor and budding entrepreneur, Antonia “Toni” Arroyo fights to keep her passions alive as a financially strapped mother of twins with a job in airport transportation services that has her going in circles. One treasured frequent passenger is elderly traveler Sylvia Eisenberg, Toni’s sage but unofficial adviser and cheerleader. When Toni meets Sylvia’s grandson, Ash, a striking venture capitalist, luck just might bend her way. With a game-changing new business endeavor in development, Toni hustles an opportunity to pitch her idea on TV’s “Innovation Nation.” Toni’s unexpected challenger? Her very own recently resurfaced, not-quite-ex-husband. As Toni’s interrupted past collides with her tenuous future, she is more determined than ever to follow through on her delayed dreams. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

BOSS LADY will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in an upcoming newsletter.

Bookreporter.com Bets On:
ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker
and HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams

ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker (Mystery/Thriller)
I was a huge fan of Chris Whitaker’s previous novel, WE BEGIN AT THE END, and I have been waiting impatiently to see what he would write next. When the 600-plus-page ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK came to my house, I just wanted to hunker down and see where Chris was taking us now. Once again, he did not disappoint.

The book opens in 1975 in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, where we are introduced to its two young protagonists. The first is Saint, who is somewhat of an outsider. She is a pianist and a beekeeper. Her parents are absent, and she is being raised by her grandmother, Norma, who drives a bus and embraces the differences in her. The other is a boy nicknamed Patch because of the patch over his missing eye; his real name is Joseph. There is a bond between these two that is forged after Patch attempts to steal honey from Saint. He is like the bad boy who is always getting in trouble, and she is the girl who wants to set him on the right path.

- 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 see why the book is July's "Read with Jenna" pick.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK.
 

HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
I smiled a lot while reading HUSBANDS & LOVERS, loving what Beatriz Williams captures in a book that is genre-bending. It’s both historical fiction and women’s fiction, and it features a great love story…or two. Beatriz once again tackles two time frames --- actually, there are three --- but for the first time, one of them is in present day…or at least in this decade (2022 New England).

Mallory is a single mom whose 10-year-old son, Sam, is at camp and has eaten poisonous mushrooms, which have destroyed his kidneys. He is in weekly dialysis and needs to be watched carefully as too much water or too many salty foods can throw his body off. He desperately needs a transplant.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on HUSBANDS & LOVERS.

Bookreporter.com's 20th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature

July’s New in Paperback Roundups

July’s Books on Screen Feature

More Reviews This Week

A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston (Paranormal Romance/Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Dorothy Dillingham Blue
Eileen Merriweather is looking forward to her annual book club retreat this year. But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel. Because it is. Eloraton is the town of her favorite romance series, and it feels like home. It’s perfect --- and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story. Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending. Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place --- a grumpy bookstore owner who does not want her finishing this book. Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after just might be intertwined with her own. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

DOG DAY AFTERNOON: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Grover Gardner
The Tara Foundation has been retired lawyer Andy Carpenter’s calling, even as he is pulled into representing clients in court. His investigator, Marcus Clark, has been at his side for a long time. Even though they've known each other for years, Marcus keeps his personal life a mystery. So it’s a shock when Marcus arrives at the Tara Foundation with two strangers in tow. It turns out that Marcus takes disadvantaged young men under his wing. He gets them jobs, a place to live, and a chance at a different life. One of the young men, Nick Williams, instantly falls in love with one of the dogs, Daisy. When there’s a mass shooting at Nick’s work, leaving six dead, all signs point to Nick. Marcus asks Andy for help. Despite Nick's troubled background, Andy trusts his friend and takes the case. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.

GODWIN by Joseph O'Neill (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Chilton and Kirby Heyborne
Mark Wolfe, a brilliant if self-thwarting technical writer, lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Sushila, and their toddler daughter. His half-brother Geoff, born and raised in the United Kingdom, is a desperate young soccer agent. He pulls Mark across the ocean into a scheme to track down an elusive prospect known only as “Godwin” --- an African teenager Geoff believes could be the next Lionel Messi. Narrated in turn by Mark and his work colleague, Lakesha Williams, GODWIN is a tale of family and migration, as well as an international adventure story that implicates the brothers in the beauty and ugliness of soccer, the perils and promises of international business, and the dark history of transatlantic money-making. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

THE HATERS by Robyn Harding (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Megan Tusing and Jess Nahikian
After years of struggle and rejection, Camryn Lane’s first novel has been published. She’s on top of the world --- until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender. Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that Camryn’s book is soon flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her? As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. When the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her --- and finally learn why she's being targeted. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS by Rob Hart (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Neill Thorne
Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life’s work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind and joined a 12-step group for reformed killers. When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who’s after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA by Christina Dodd (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Suzy Jackson
Once upon a time, a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all. Romeo and Juliet are alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I’m the oldest, a certified spinster at 20. Each time they’ve presented me with a betrothal, I’ve set out to find the groom-to-be a more suitable bride. But their latest match, Duke Stephano, isn’t so easy to palm off on anyone else. At our betrothal ball, I stumble upon the Duke with a dagger in his chest. But who killed him? Half of Verona had motive. And when everyone around the Duke begins dying, disappearing or descending into madness, I know I must uncover the killer…before death lies on me like an untimely frost. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

TRUST HER by Flynn Berry (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Katharine Lee McEwan
Three years after they narrowly escaped the IRA's worst punishment for informing, Northern Irish sisters Tessa and Marian Daly have built a new life in Dublin with their young children. It's a small island, though, and just as quickly as they disappeared, figures from their past surface to drag them back into the conflict. Tessa is told she must track down her old handler from MI5, Eamonn, and attempt to turn him into an IRA informant, or lose everything. Tessa's reunion with Eamonn revives a host of feelings she has long attempted to bury. As their relationship intensifies and the pressure mounts, long-held secrets rise to the surface, and Tessa must navigate a treacherous landscape of shifting loyalties, all while trying to protect her beloved son. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

LITTLE ROT by Akwaeke Emezi (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Adepero Oduye and Chukwudi Iwuji
Aima and Kalu are a longtime couple who have just split. When Kalu, reeling from the breakup, visits an exclusive sex party hosted by his best friend, Ahmed, he makes a decision that will plunge them all into chaos, brutally and suddenly upending their lives. Ola and Souraya, two Nigerian sex workers visiting from Kuala Lumpur, collide into the scene just as everything goes to hell. Sucked into the city’s corrupt and glittering underworld, they’re all looking for a way out, fueled by a desperate need to escape the dangerous threat that looms over them. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

THE UNRAVELING by Vi Keeland (Psychological Thriller/Romantic Suspense)
Audiobook available, read by Courtney Patterson and Aiden Snow
After experiencing a terrible loss, New York City psychiatrist Meredith McCall feels painfully adrift. When she crosses paths with a man with whom she has a tragic connection, she follows him, sparking an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Wright. How is he doing so well while her life is in shambles? But when Gabriel walks into her office as a patient, seemingly unaware of who she is, she knows it crosses all ethical and moral bounds to treat him. Yet, Meredith can’t bring herself to turn him away and becomes further entangled. With her life and career continuing to unravel, it appears that things could not get any worse…until they do. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

BROILER by Eli Cranor (Noir Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Victoria Villarreal
Gabriela Menchaca and Edwin Saucedo are hardworking, undocumented employees at the Detmer Foods chicken plant in Springdale, Arkansas. While dealing with personal tragedies of their own, the young couple endures the brutal, dehumanizing conditions at the plant in exchange for barebones pay. When the plant manager, Luke Jackson, fires Edwin to set an example for the rest of the workers --- and to show the higher-ups that he’s ready for a major promotion --- Edwin is determined to get revenge on Luke and his wife, Mimi, a new mother who stays at home with her six-month-old son. Edwin’s impulsive action sets in motion a devastating chain of events that illuminates the deeply entrenched power dynamics between those who revel at the top and those who toil at the bottom. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

STORM WARNING by David Bell (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sean Patrick Hopkins
Jake Powell is racing to get off the Florida barrier island on which he lives as a powerful hurricane approaches. When he finds his best friend Dallas, the building manager, dead from a blow to the skull, Jake realizes there’s more than the storm to fear. There’s a murderer on the island, maybe even still inside the nearly abandoned building. Dallas had repeatedly run afoul of the wealthy owners of the building by complaining about code violations and the precarious state of the condos. But he’d also once told Jake that every resident had a secret they’d come to Florida to escape. Had one of them killed to conceal their sins? As a dozen people shelter together in hopes of surviving the deadly hurricane, a second murder makes it all too clear: one of them is a dangerous killer. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

GOD BLESS YOU, OTIS SPUNKMEYER by Joseph Earl Thomas (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by JD Jackson
After a deployment in the Iraq War dually defined by threat and interminable mundanity, Joseph Thomas is fighting to find his footing. Now a doctoral student at The University and an EMS worker at the hospital in North Philly, he encounters round-the-clock friends and family from his past life and would-be future at his job, including contemporaries of his estranged father, a man he knows little about, serving time at Holmesburg prison for the statutory rape of his then-teenage mother. Meanwhile, he and his best friend Ray, a fellow vet, are alternatingly bonding over and struggling with their shared experience and return to civilian life, locked in their own rhythms of lust, heartbreak and responsibility. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

DIAMOND CUT by Thomas B. Cavanagh (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christin Reinmuth
Sandy Corrigan used to be called Diamond. She used to live in an apartment with other girls like her, though she rarely slept there. Instead, she spent her evenings in hotel rooms with lonely, unfaithful men. That is, until the incident. But despite the personal hell she endured, the nightmarish crisis saved her from a life spent in strangers’ beds. Sandy now spends her evenings reading to her six-year-old son, Tyler, and her days working for her brother’s private investigation business. Despite severing all ties to her former life, a girl from her past reappears and asks Sandy to investigate the disappearance of a young call girl. Sandy takes the case. But what she doesn’t expect to discover is a sordid web of corruption, sex and murder, and she soon grows more entangled with each step she takes. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on July 15th and 16th

Below are some notable titles releasing on July 15th and 16th 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 July 15th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

July 15th

TIGER, TIGER: His Life, As It's Never Been Told Before by James Patterson
(Sports/Biography)
How did Tiger Woods become the G.O.A.T., what drove him to fall so spectacularly, and how has he made his way back to the pinnacle of golf? In James Patterson’s hands, Tiger’s story is a hole-in-one thriller.

July 16th

THE BLACK BIRD ORACLE by Deborah Harkness (Paranormal Romance/Fantasy)
Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself --- and her family history --- in this highly anticipated fifth installment in Deborah Harkness' beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series.

THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman (Historical Fantasy)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Magicians trilogy returns with a triumphant reimagining of the King Arthur legend for the new millennium.

THE CONDITIONS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
Everyone’s favorite moral philosopher and amateur sleuth, Isabel Dalhousie, is back and once again finds herself facing a number of tricky situations and philosophical questions, both public and private.

DESPERATION REEF by T. Jefferson Parker (Thriller)
In this high-stakes thriller by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker, a big wave surfer and her sons compete in the same contest that killed her husband many years before.

THE GENIUS OF JUDY: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us by Rachelle Bergstein (Biography/Popular Culture)
THE GENIUS OF JUDY is an intimate and expansive look at Judy Blume’s life, work and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic --- and controversial --- young adult novels, from ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET to BLUBBER.

I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER by Stephen Graham Jones (Thriller/Horror)
From New York Times bestselling horror writer Stephen Graham Jones comes a classic slasher story with a twist --- perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix.

JFK JR.: An Intimate Oral Biography by RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil (Biography)
The first oral biography of John F. Kennedy Jr. is an extraordinarily intimate, comprehensive look at the real man behind the myth. Sharing never-before-told stories and insights, his closest friends, confidantes, lovers, classmates, teachers and colleagues paint a vivid portrait of one of the most beloved figures of the 20th century.

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Jamie Day (Domestic Thriller)
With razor-sharp wit, heart, thrills and twists, Jamie Day's ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY delivers a unique brand of summertime suspense.

ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SHADOW by Brian Freeman (Thriller/Adventure)
When secrets from Jason Bourne's past come to light, he may be the next thing that's buried in this latest installment of the legendary New York Times bestselling series.

SUGAR ON THE BONES: A Hap and Leonard Novel by Joe R. Lansdale
(Mystery/Humor)
In this holy mess of a case for the "perpetual bad boy" (New York Times) sleuths in the beloved Hap and Leonard series, P.I. duo Hap and Leonard investigate the untimely death of a woman whose family stood much to gain from her passing.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

From left to right: Annabel Monaghan, C. J. Box, Jamie Brenner

  Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

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

Tuesday, July 16th at 7:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: May Cobb will talk about her new novel, THE HOLLYWOOD ASSISTANT. Offered a dream job in Hollywood with a famous director and his actress wife, an insecure woman becomes their personal assistant where their secrets and lies place her in the crosshairs of a murder investigation.

Tuesday, July 16th at 8pm ET: Fabled Bookshop & Cafe: Fabled's Book Club will discuss SUMMER ROMANCE with Annabel Monaghan as part of its July book club series. This instant national bestseller is the romantic and hilarious story of a professional organizer whose life is a mess, and the summer she gets unstuck with the help of someone unexpected from her past.

Tuesday, July 16th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to C. J. Box about THREE-INCH TEETH, the 24th and latest installment in his series featuring Joe Pickett, who this time faces two different kinds of rampaging beasts --- one animal, one human.

Wednesday, July 17th 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 Jamie Brenner about her new book, A NOVEL SUMMER, which is the F&F Pick of the Month.

 "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:

• Marjan Kamali (THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed this year include:

• Mary Kay Andrews (SUMMERS AT THE SAINT) Video | Podcast
• Ashley Elston (FIRST LIE WINS) Video | Podcast
• Katherine Faulkner (THE OTHER MOTHERS) Video | Podcast
• Simone Gorrindo (THE WIVES: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
• Tamron Hall (WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE: A Jordan Manning Novel) Video | Podcast
• Kristin Hannah (THE WOMEN) Video | Podcast
• Terah Shelton Harris (LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE) Video | Podcast
• Ann Hood (THE STOLEN CHILD) Video | Podcast
• Genevieve Kingston (DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
• Megan Miranda (DAUGHTER OF MINE) Video | Podcast
• Amanda Peters (THE BERRY PICKERS) Video | Podcast
• Anna Quindlen (AFTER ANNIE) Video | Podcast
• Ruth Reichl (THE PARIS NOVEL) Video | Podcast
• Hank Phillippi Ryan (ONE WRONG WORD) Video | Podcast
• Lisa Wingate (SHELTERWOOD) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Caro Carver (BAD TOURISTS)
• Amy Neff (THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST)

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

Our Latest Poll: July Releases to Anticipate

Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, July 26th at noon ET.

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

Click here to enter the contest.

Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com

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  On Sale This Week | New in Paperback | Books on Screen
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts | "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books"
  Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks | Book Festivals

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