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I love the colors this time of year. Yesterday I spent part of the morning picking out shade plants at a local nursery, and they had peacocks on the property. There were two in “my colors,” and one spread its feathers while we were there, which is called “train rattling.” Also, it may be to draw attention to another bird for mating or to ward off predators. So either the peacock I saw was flirting, or it was terrified of us. I wish I had snagged a better photo of the train rattling as it was gorgeous.
In the fall, we planted a magnolia tree. The first blossoms came out this week (which you can see above), and they are spectacular. We have lived in this house for over 30 years, and some of the places that once had sun during the afternoon are now seeing shade as the trees have grown so much over the past decades. I saw my friend Karyn’s cutting garden last week, and I am trying to figure out where I can plant one of those. Planting or knitting is my idea of coloring or painting since I am terrible at the latter two, whether on paper or on walls. The fastest way to have my husband jump to a painting task is after I say, “I can do it then.” I was known to use most of a half-gallon of paint on one closet in our old house. “Step away from the paintbrush” is what I usually hear.
What am I reading and listening to? I still am reading Chris Whitaker’s ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, which clocks in at 608 pages. I am furiously noting beautiful sentences and turns of phrase. I am looking forward to a long chunk of time this weekend to finish it! I am listening to Griffin Dunne’s memoir, THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB, which he narrates. Hearing the stories of his father, Dominick Dunne, and his aunt and uncle, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, is giving me a glimpse into the family’s world, just as he did with his documentary about Joan Didion, The Center Will Not Hold.
It’s been a very busy week, so let’s get you updated.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Lisa Wingate, whose new work of historical fiction, SHELTERWOOD, will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Lisa explains the origin of the story, a piece she found about a woman named Kate Barnard that sent her down a rabbit hole of learning more about the children known as “elf children” who lived in trees. They typically were Native American children who were sought after for the land rights that they owned after the Dawes Act went into effect as they were landowners.
Lisa grew up in Eastern Oklahoma where the book is set and shares her history of the area, as well as her love of the Winding Stair Mountains where she frequently hikes. We also talk about shelterwood and the history that we were not really taught in school. 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, followed by our review in two weeks.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our Summer Preview evening event, which will take place next Thursday, June 20th at 8pm ET.
I will be presenting a number of books releasing this summer that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. You can register for the program by clicking here. We have a terrific lineup of titles in different genres, and I look forward to sharing them with you!
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 34 books releasing between now and July 2nd, plus 11 from August, 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, July 10th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between July 9th and August 6th, in addition to a few from September, 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.
When rich strangers move to Nantucket Island, social mayhem and a possible murder follow. Can Nantucket’s best locals save the day, and their way of life? Find out in Elin Hilderbrand’s final Nantucket novel, the appropriately titled SWAN SONG.
Pamela Kramer has our review and says, “There is much to like about SWAN SONG, the epitome of a beach read. Vicariously, I lounged on the warm sandy beaches on Nantucket Island, felt the salty ocean spray on my face by cruising around the harbor, ate delectable meals at idyllic restaurants overlooking the water, and visited the charming high-end shops that line the main street…. This is Hilderbrand's ‘swan song’ in more ways than one, and for that reason, the ending of the book and the series is heartbreaking.”
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
SWAN SONG is one of the prizes in our Word of Mouth contest; the other is THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine, which we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, June 21st at noon ET.
James Lee Burke brings Dave Robicheaux’s partner and friend, Clete Purcel, to the forefront for the first time in CLETE. In the 24th installment of this iconic series, Clete and Dave attempt to stop ruthless smugglers of a dangerous new drug.
According to Ray Palen in his review, “CLETE is everything you would want from a James Lee Burke novel --- the noir style, the atmosphere of the area as thick as the humidity of the nearby swamps, and characters so fully fleshed out that they jump off the page. I hope we get more time with Clete Purcel in the very near future.”
BEN & ME is the latest book from Eric Weiner, an award-winning journalist and speaker whose previous books include THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS (which was turned into a docuseries on Peacock last year), THE GEOGRAPHY OF GENIUS, MAN SEEKS GOD and THE SOCRATES EXPRESS. This time, Eric follows in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin, mining his life for inspiring and practical lessons in a book that’s part biography, part travelogue and part personal prescription.
In his review, Harvey Freedenberg calls BEN & ME “a delightfully idiosyncratic companion to [Walter Isaacson’s 2003 book, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: An American Life] that will have readers feeling regret when they have to leave Ben’s wise and colorful company. Few of us can hope to come close to living a life as useful and consequential as Benjamin Franklin’s, but Weiner gives us ample encouragement to at least try.”
Eric just kicked off a book tour that will have him making stops in New York, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Maryland. Click here for all the details on his upcoming events. I was trying to imitate the cover of the book but realized that I can only wink with my left eye.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE ROM-COMMERS: He wrote a romantic comedy...and it's terrible. She just got hired to fix it. Let the banter begin in Katherine Center's rom-com about writing a rom-com. Our reviewer Pamela Kramer thinks it’s one of Center’s best books yet and assures readers that they will fall in love with the two protagonists.
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WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Journalist Julie Satow has produced a glittering portrait of the golden age of American department stores and the three visionary women who led them: Hortense Odlum of Bonwit Teller, Dorothy Shaver of Lord & Taylor, and Geraldine Stutz of Henri Bendel.
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FIRST FROST: The past and future collide in this 20th installment of Craig Johnson’s beloved Walt Longmire series, which goes back and forth between 1964 and the present day. This time, Longmire stands between the crossfire of good and evil, law and anarchy, and compassion and cruelty at two pivotal stages in his life.
Our Interview with Greg Iles
Ray Palen had the pleasure of chatting with Greg Iles about his new political thriller, SOUTHERN MAN, which is a follow-up to his Natchez Burning trilogy starring Penn Cage. Among many other topics, Greg fills us in on the illness that nearly cost him his life, but that ultimately served as inspiration for certain parts of the book. Click here to read this fascinating and eye-opening interview. And if you missed Ray’s review from earlier this month, you can check it out here.
You have until next Friday, June 21st at noon ET to enter our contest for THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali and be one of our 25 winners who will receive an advance copy of the book, which releases on July 2nd and will be a Bets On pick.
According to Adrienne Brodeur, “Kamali tells a moving story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and how a country’s transformation, in turn, transforms the lives of two unforgettable women. Simultaneously heartbreaking and life affirming, it’s a book that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve read every word.” And Sadeqa Johnson has this to say: “THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN had me under arrest from the start. A deeply nuanced story of family, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond of true friendship. It is as heart wrenching as it is achingly beautiful.”
Summer Reading Contest Update
We gave away LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See, a Bets On title now available in paperback, in this week’s Summer Reading contest. If you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview or our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Lisa, where we discussed the book, be sure to click on the preceding links.
Next week’s Summer Reading prize will be BELONGING by Jill Fordyce, a coming-of-age story that traverses lifelong friendship, first love and a young woman’s fierce desire to transcend her traumatic childhood. The contest will go live on Tuesday, June 18th at noon ET. I really enjoyed this one.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
With June being Audiobook Appreciation Month, our poll continues to ask if you listen to audiobooks. Click here to let us know by Friday, June 21st at noon ET.
It was announced this week that FAMILIARIS by David Wroblewski is the latest Oprah’s Book Club selection. This long-awaited follow-up to THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE (which was an Oprah’s Book Club pick when it released in 2008) is the stirring origin story of the Sawtelle family and the remarkable dogs that carry the Sawtelle name.
Oprah says, “I’m delighted for us to dive into an epic novel from the tremendously talented bestselling author…. David takes us on an extraordinary journey that brilliantly interweaves history, philosophy, adventure, and mysticism to explore the meaning of love, friendship, and living your life’s true purpose.”
On Tuesday, Wroblewski appeared on “CBS Mornings” to talk about the book and his reaction to now being an author of TWO Oprah’s Book Club picks. Click here to watch the segment. Also, if you’d like to read along with Oprah’s Book Club, you can do so by following the schedule on this page. And don’t miss our review of FAMILIARIS in next week’s newsletter.
Reese’s Book Club pick for June is THE UNWEDDING, Ally Condie’s first novel for adults, which the publisher describes as ‘The White Lotus’ meets Agatha Christie.” Reese calls the book “the perfect summer read” and goes on to say, “[It] opens with a wedding at a gorgeous resort in Big Sur...but everything begins to fall apart when the main character Ellery discovers a dead body the morning of the ceremony.”
This month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick is MALAS by debut novelist Marcela Fuentes, which follows one family living on the Texas-Mexico border and a curse that reverberates across generations. Here’s how “GMA” describes the book: “Taking place in two different eras between the 1950s and 1990s, MALAS is a vibrant portrait of two fierce women, separated by decades, but both determined to thwart fate and escape the confines of their lives.”
For more June selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
Our Contest Coordinator Lisa Hickman's last day was today. Thank you to her from all of us for her work over the last three years. Beyond selecting contest winners, she spent many hours tracking down books for the winners. She also shared ideas and enthusiasm for projects and programs with us, and pitched in on numerous projects where her role stretched beyond that of her Contest Coordinator title. Personally I had fun with her on a number of book and author adventures. We wish her all the best, along with many hours of great reading and discovering new authors.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
We received lots of emails about my comments last week pertaining to limiting negative reviews. Here are some of them:
Michelle wrote, “Thank you for addressing the social media negative review phenomenon. I agree 100% and feel we should be normalizing a more respectful attitude toward authors and publishers. I maintain my pledge to post positive reviews only on my platforms. My followers know that those are my recommended reads; it’s that simple. My personal, private list includes many DNFs and 1-3 star titles, but I’ll always save the center stage spotlight for the books I have truly enjoyed.”
Nancy said, “I read with interest your take on negative book reviews. Back in the late '80s and early '90s, I did some freelance book reviewing for a newspaper in Texas, and my editor rarely printed negative reviews. Her reasoning was that the book review pages were there to encourage the sale of books.”
Jill wrote, “Carol, I am so glad you addressed the negativity that many put out on book reviews. I struggle with how to approach writing a review on a book I didn’t care for; especially when receiving an ARC or complimentary book. They (NetGalley, your site and others) want a review, and it’s difficult if it's a book that wasn’t a good fit. I do not like to write and recommend others not to read, and I usually say it wasn’t a good fit for me, even if many others have enjoyed it. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks again for all that you and your staff do for all us book lovers.”
Debbie shared, “I am in total agreement with you about negative reviews. Although I don’t love every book I read, I never write a negative review. The book may not work for me, but I figure that is probably me, not the author. It could be that the genre or my age is the reason that the book isn’t my favorite, but that’s on me, not the author. Sometimes I reread a book at a different stage of my life and realize that a book I found difficult to read when I was young now resonates with me. Bottom line, I try to remember the old adage: If you can’t say something nice about a book/person, don’t say it!” I completely agree that there are times a book may not have been for you, but later in life it is.
Mary agreed: “Thank you for reminding your readers not to make such negative comments online. I tend to pick apart things I read and may be guilty of doing this, even with books I like. I will try to be more positive. Maybe take a page from you and not review books I don’t like. On another note, I just got home from Oklahoma. Although we visited an independent bookstore and bought local books, we didn’t happen to buy SHELTERWOOD, which sounds even more interesting knowing its setting. Everything we did there was fun, but you will want to take a scarf if you go. It’s very windy!”
Linda shared, “Carol, I love what you said about social media. It's so true, and your reminder to just pause for a second before posting to think about the other person is so important. I have a little blog where I share my reviews of books I've read, and that has been my approach too. I don't have to like the book, but there's no need to attack. Speaking of reading, I always think of summer as super reading time. This summer does not look good for my reading time, and I feel sad about it. The past 2-3 months have already put me behind. Adulting can get in the way of all the fun! I am amazed at how much reading you get done. I'm a fast reader, but not like you, I think!”
Beth wrote, “Reading your weekly newsletter has become part of my Saturday morning ritual. It is a wonderful way to quietly slip into the day. I am a former NJ girl, so it is a bonus to hear about different spots in NJ. I also love hearing about peonies as my grandma's yard was full of them! Reading people are the best.” I bought another peony root last weekend!
Jean wrote about winning LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN in this week’s Summer Reading contest: “Thank you so much for the opportunity to read Lisa See’s latest book. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I have always enjoyed her books. I truly look forward to reading it and will review it. Carol, thank you for the dedication to The Book Report Network. For so many readers, this is such a rewarding source of reference.”
Patti wrote, “I just got home from a two-week vacation in Italy, so my neighbor picked up my box/package with the Mother’s Day contest books I won! My neighbor just delivered the books to me. Thanks so much, and I am looking forward to reading this selection of books!”
Karen won our last Word of Mouth contest, where the prize books were CAMINO GHOSTS and ERUPTION. She said, “Thank you so very much. Very excited!!”
Barbara wrote that she had listened to my interview with Ruth Reichl and that she was reading THE PARIS NOVEL.
Elin Hilderbrand: The author of the aforementioned SWAN SONG was on “CBS Saturday Morning” to talk about her final Nantucket novel. Click here to watch the segment.
Griffin Dunne: The actor was on “Good Morning America” to talk about his aforementioned memoir, THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB. You can take a look at the interview here.
“Presumed Innocent” on Apple TV+: I watched the first two episodes of this series, based on Scott Turow's novel, and it’s very well done. As always, my husband remembers more about the book than I do.
“Brats” on Hulu: I love looking back at particular times in history and what happened there. This documentary is a look at the “Brat Pack,” featuring Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson and Andrew McCarthy. It covers their thoughts then and what they think now about being labeled a Brat Packer.
“House of the Dragon” on HBO and Max: Based on George R. R. Martin’s FIRE & BLOOD and set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones”, this series tells the story of House Targaryen. Yes, this is the show that my husband loves as he has read the books, and I ask a million questions during it since I have zero dragon knowledge. Season two kicks off this Sunday at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and will be streaming on Max. It already has been renewed for a third season, giving me more time to catch up or think of more questions.
“Fellow Travelers”: This brilliant series about two gay men (one closeted and one out) navigating their lives through the Lavender Scare in the ‘50s to the AIDS crisis in the ‘80s is now available to buy or rent on digital. Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey are terrific in it, and I think it is one of the best series that I have watched.
Sunday is Father’s Day, which means it's time for Tom and my dad to watch the US Open together while we fete them with cocktails and dinner. Tom has played Pinehurst a few times, so they can discuss every hole together. I got my dad what I think will be a fun present for all of us. It’s called Tall Tales, a box with a set of questions to ask my dad about his life. Things like “How did your family spend time together when you were young?” I am looking forward to going through these 150 prompts. I am thinking we may want to record the answers.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. If you are missing your dad this year, my heart goes out to you.
Read on, 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: SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand
SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Erin Bennett
Chief of Police Ed Kapenash is about to retire. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce. But when a 22-million-dollar summer home is purchased by the mysterious Richardsons --- how did they make their money, exactly? --- Ed, Sharon and everyone in the community are swept up in high drama. The Richardsons throw lavish parties, flirt with multiple locals, flaunt their wealth with not one but two yachts, and raise impossible hopes of everyone they meet. When their house burns to the ground and their most essential employee goes missing, the entire island is up in arms. The last of Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Nantucket novels, SWAN SONG is a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the return of some of her most beloved characters. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: CLETE by James Lee Burke
CLETE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Patton
Clete Purcel is Dave Robicheaux’s longtime friend and partner in detective work. But he has a troubled past. When Clete leaves his car at the local car wash, only to return to find it ransacked by a group of thugs tied to the drug trade from Mexican cartels to Louisiana, it feels personal. Just as Clete starts to trail the culprits, Clara Bow hires Clete to investigate her scheming ex-husband, and a string of brutal deaths all link back to a heavily tattooed man who seems to lurk around every corner. Clete is experiencing shockingly lifelike hallucinations and questioning Clara’s ulterior motives when he and Dave start to hear rumors of a dangerous substance with potentially catastrophic effects. The thugs who destroyed his car might have been pawns in a scheme far darker than they could have imagined. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Our Interview with Greg Iles, Author of SOUTHERN MAN
After a five-year hiatus, Greg Iles is back with SOUTHERN MAN, the hugely anticipated new Penn Cage thriller that captures the political unrest of a nation dangling between a chaotic past and an unpredictable future. In this interview conducted by Bookreporter reviewer Ray Palen, Iles explains his inspiration for writing the Natchez Burning trilogy and this latest novel, which takes place 15 years ahead of the trilogy. He also talks about his decision to include the character of third-party candidate and conservative radio talk show host Robert E. Lee White in the story, the role that he feels fiction should play going forward, the possibility of adapting these books as a film or series, and the health crisis he went through while writing SOUTHERN MAN that nearly cost him his life.
SOUTHERN MAN by Greg Iles (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Fifteen years after the events of the Natchez Burning trilogy, Penn Cage carries a mortal secret that separates him from the world. But his exile comes to an end when a brawl at a Mississippi rap festival triggers a bloody mass shooting that nearly takes the life of his daughter. Antebellum plantation homes continue to burn, and the deadly attacks are claimed by a Black radical group as historic acts of justice. Panic sweeps through the tourist communities, driving them inexorably toward a race war. But what might have been only a regional sideshow of the 2024 Presidential election explodes into national prominence, thanks to the stunning ascent of Robert E. Lee White, a Southern war hero who seizes the public’s imagination as a third-party candidate. To triumph over the national party machines, Bobby evolves a plan of unimaginable daring. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
Click here to read the interview.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Advance Copies of
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali,
an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title,
Releasing on July 2nd
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali is a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. We have 25 advance copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on July 2nd and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 21st at noon ET.
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali (Historical Fiction)
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 Marjan Kamali's bio.
- Click here to visit Marjan Kamali's website.
- Connect with Marjan Kamali on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center
THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Patti Murin
Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to rewrite a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates, it’s a break too big to pass up. Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for the writing gig of a lifetime. But Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone --- much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus, he doesn’t even care about the script; it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. But Emma is not going down without a fight. She will convince him that love stories matter --- even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BEN & ME by Eric Weiner
BEN & ME: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life by Eric Weiner (Biography/Travelogue)
Audiobook available, read by Eric Weiner
Ben Franklin lingers in our lives and in our imaginations. One of only two non-presidents to appear on US currency, Franklin was a founder, statesman, scientist, inventor, diplomat, publisher, humorist and philosopher. He believed in the American experiment, but Ben Franklin’s greatest experiment was…Ben Franklin. In that spirit of betterment, Eric Weiner embarks on an ambitious quest to live the way Ben lived. Not a conventional biography, BEN & ME is a guide to living and thinking well, as Ben Franklin did. It is also about curiosity, diligence and, most of all, the elusive goal of self-improvement. As Weiner follows Franklin from Philadelphia to Paris, Boston to London, he attempts to uncover Ben’s life lessons, large and small. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit Eric Weiner's website.
- Click here to see Eric Weiner's book tour schedule.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: WHEN WOMEN RAN
FIFTH AVENUE by Julie Satow
WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow (History)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Murray
In the 1930s, Hortense Odlum of Bonwit Teller came to her husband's department store as a housewife tasked with attracting more shoppers like herself, and she wound up running the company. Dorothy Shaver of Lord & Taylor championed American designers during World War II --- before which US fashions were almost exclusively Parisian copies --- becoming the first businesswoman to earn a $1 million salary. And in the 1960s, Geraldine Stutz of Henri Bendel reinvented the look of the modern department store. With a preternatural sense for trends, she inspired a devoted following of ultra-chic shoppers as well as decades of copycats. In WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE, journalist Julie Satow draws back the curtain on three visionaries who took great risks, forging new paths for the women who followed in their footsteps. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FIRST FROST by Craig Johnson
FIRST FROST: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
It’s the summer of 1964, and recent college graduates Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear enlist to serve in the Vietnam War. As they catch a few final waves in California before reporting for duty, a sudden storm assaults the shores and capsizes a nearby cargo boat. Walt and Henry jump to action, but it’s soon revealed by the police who greet them ashore that the sunken boat carried valuable contraband from underground sources. The boys head out on Route 66. The question, of course, is how far they will get before the consequences of their actions catch up to them. Back in the present day, Walt is forced to speak before a judge following the fatal events of THE LONGMIRE DEFENSE. With powerful enemies lurking behind the scenes, the sheriff of Absaroka County must consider his options if he wishes to finish the fight he started. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 20th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer officially kicks off next week! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through early August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, June 18th at noon ET. The prize book will be BELONGING by Jill Fordyce, a heartbreaking and hopeful coming-of-age story that traverses lifelong friendship, first love and a young woman’s fierce desire to transcend her traumatic childhood.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
A WALK IN THE PARK: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko (Travel/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Kevin Fedarko
A few years after quitting his job to follow an ill-advised dream of becoming a guide on the Colorado River, Kevin Fedarko was approached by his best friend, the National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon --- a journey that McBride promised would be “a walk in the park.” Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed to the scheme, unaware that the small cluster of experts who had completed the crossing billed it as “the toughest hike in the world.” The ensuing ordeal, which lasted more than a year, revealed a place that was deeper, richer and far more complex than anything the two men had imagined --- and came within a hair’s breadth of killing them both. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
TRAVELING: On the Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers (Music/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
For decades, Joni Mitchell’s life and music have enraptured listeners. One of the most celebrated artists of her generation, Mitchell has inspired countless musicians --- from peers like James Taylor, to inheritors like Prince and Brandi Carlile --- and authors, who have dissected her music and her life in their writing. At the same time, Mitchell has always been a force beckoning us still closer, as --- with the other arm --- she pushes us away. Given this, music critic Ann Powers wondered if there was another way to draw insights from the life of this singular musician who never stops moving, never stops experimenting. In TRAVELING, Powers seeks to understand Mitchell through her myriad journeys. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
MIDDLETIDE by Sarah Crouch (Literary Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kaleo Griffith
In the small, Puget Sound town of Point Orchards, the lifeless body of Dr. Erin Landry is found hanging from a tree on the property of prodigal son and failed writer Elijah Leith. Sheriff Jim Godbout’s initial investigation points to an obvious suicide, but upon closer inspection, there seem to be clues of foul play when he discovers that the circumstances of the beautiful doctor’s death were ripped straight from the pages of Elijah Leith’s own novel. Out of money and motivation, Elijah throws himself into restoring the ramshackle cabin his father left behind and rekindling his relationship with Nakita, whom he betrayed but was never able to forget. As the town turns against him, Elijah must fight for his innocence against an unexpected foe who is close and cunning enough to flawlessly frame him for murder. Reviewed by Jane T. Krebs.
THE LAST OF HIS KIND: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness by Andy McCullough (Sports/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by LJ Ganser
Clayton Kershaw has embodied the burden of athletic greatness, the prizes and perils that await those who strive for it all. He is a three-time Cy Young award winner, the first pitcher to win National League MVP since Bob Gibson, and a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famer. In an age when baseball became more impersonal, a sport altered by adherence to algorithms and actuarial tables, Kershaw personified the game’s lingering humanity. THE LAST OF HIS KIND traces Kershaw’s path from a boyhood fractured by divorce to his development as one of the most heralded pitching prospects in Texas history to his emergence in Los Angeles as the spiritual heir to Sandy Koufax. But the book also charts Kershaw’s place in baseball’s changing landscape, as his own stubbornness butted against the game’s evolution. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com)
FIND ME IN CALIFORNIA by Kerry Lonsdale (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Amanda Leigh Cobb
Raised by her fiercely passionate and free-spirited grandmother, Julia Hope has never gone without love. But as she tends to her only living relative during her final days, Julia struggles to overcome her fear of being alone. A thousand miles away, Matt Gatlin has managed to avoid the coldhearted grandmother with whom he once lived. But after 12 years of her being blessedly out of sight, she needs him. His resentments still raw, Matt packs up his car and reluctantly heads to California to confront a bitter past he thought was long gone. Over the next six days, Julia’s and Matt’s fates intersect. An old diary exposes the tragedy of a long-lost love. A history of secrets in two families comes to light. And on a lonely back road, Matt picks up an unusual yet captivating hitchhiker with a secret of her own. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
JACK'S BOYS by John Katzenbach (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Bradford Hastings
Connected through a secure internet location, five serial killers communicate in a unique chat room they have named Jack's Special Place in homage to their ultimate model: Jack the Ripper. And so they are Jack's Boys. They delight in each other's crimes. They relish in taunting police around the world with odd clues and deep confusion --- the modern version of the Victorian-era killer they emulate. They feed on each other's killings and think they're untouchable. Until one day they are hacked. Two teenagers are fascinated by the world of the dark web, where they accidentally stumble upon Jack's Boys in their private space and immediately mock them. This triggers a landslide of anger and revenge as the killers decide to teach the teens a lesson in humility and respect for their betters. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
OLD KING by Maxim Loskutoff (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Gregory Connors
In the summer of 1976, Duane Oshun finds himself stranded in a remote Montana town beset by a series of strange and menacing events. He takes a job as a logger and builds a cabin on an isolated road near a reclusive neighbor --- a hermit named Ted Kaczynski. The two men are captivated by the valley’s endangered old-growth forest, but Kaczynski’s violent grievances against modern society soon threaten the lives of all those around him. As Kaczynski’s bombs crescendo to the book’s devastating conclusion, OLD KING wrestles with the birth of the modern environmental movement, the accelerating dominion of technology in American life, and a new kind of violence that lives next door. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE HOUSE THAT HORROR BUILT by Christina Henry (Dark Fantasy/Gothic Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Flanagan
Harry Adams has always loved horror movies, so it’s not a total coincidence that she took the job cleaning house for movie director Javier Castillo. His forbidding graystone Chicago mansion, Bright Horses, is filled from top to bottom with terrifying props and costumes, as well as glittering awards from his career making films that thrilled audiences --- until family tragedy and scandal forced him to vanish from the industry. Javier values discretion, and Harry has always tried to clean the house immaculately and keep her head down. But then she starts hearing noises from behind a locked door. They sound remarkably like a human voice calling for help, even though Javier lives alone and never has visitors. Harry knows that not asking questions is a vital part of working for Javier, but she soon finds that the sinister house may be home to secrets she can’t ignore. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
BECOMING TED by Matt Cain (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Samuel Barnett
If Ted Ainsworth were to compare himself to one of the ice cream flavors made by his family’s company, it might be vanilla --- sweet, inoffensive and pleasantly predictable. At 43, Ted is convinced there’s nothing remotely remarkable about him, except perhaps his luck in having landed handsome, charismatic Giles as a husband. Then Giles suddenly leaves him for another man, filling his social media feed with posts about #newlove and adventure. And Ted, who has spent nearly 20 years living with, and often for, another person, must reimagine the future he has happily taken for granted. But perhaps there is another Ted slowly blossoming now that he’s no longer in Giles’ shadow --- one who is funny, sassy and more uninhibited. Someone willing to take chances on new friendships and even new love. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE PECAN CHILDREN by Quinn Connor (Gothic Horror/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Tiffany Morgan
In a small southern pecan town, the annual harvest is a time of both celebration and heartbreak. Even as families are forced to sell their orchards and move away, Lil Clearwater, keeper of a secret covenant with her land, swears she never will. When her twin Sasha returns to the dwindling town in hopes of reconnecting with the girl her heart never forgot, the sisters struggle to bridge their differences and share the immense burden of protecting their home from hungry forces intent on uprooting everything they love. But there is rot hiding deep beneath the surface. Ghostly fires light up the night, and troubling local folklore is revealed to be all too true. Confronted with the phantoms of their pasts and the devastating threat to their future, the sisters come to the stark realization that in the kudzu-choked South, nothing is ever as it appears. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 18th
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 18th 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 June 17th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
1974: A Personal History by Francine Prose (Memoir)
This first memoir from critically acclaimed, bestselling author Francine Prose is about the close relationship she developed with activist Anthony Russo, one of the men who leaked the Pentagon Papers --- and the year when our country changed.
THE GLASSMAKER by Tracy Chevalier (Historical Fiction)
From bestselling historical novelist Tracy Chevalier comes a rich, transporting story that follows a family of glassmakers from the height of Renaissance-era Italy to the present day.
JACKIE by Dawn Tripp (Historical Fiction)
In this mesmerizing novel about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, acclaimed author Dawn Tripp has crafted an intimate story of love and power, family and tragedy, loss and reinvention.
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Riley Sager (Psychological Thriller)
In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend --- and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood.
THE MIDNIGHT FEAST by Lucy Foley (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Welcome to the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort built on top of old secrets in an ancient wood: The Founder. The Husband. The Mystery Guest. The Kitchen Help. All have an agenda. All have a past. But not everyone will survive THE MIDNIGHT FEAST.
THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine (Psychological Thriller)
Daphne and Amber Parrish are thrust back into each other’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat, forcing a vicious game of cat and mouse where everything is on the line in this thrilling sequel to THE LAST MRS. PARRISH.
PARADE by Rachel Cusk (Fiction)
PARADE is a novel that demolishes the conventions of storytelling. It surges past the limits of identity, character and plot to tell the story of G, an artist whose life contains many lives.
SAME AS IT EVER WAS by Claire Lombardo (Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD returns with another brilliantly observed family drama in which the enduring, hard-won affection of a long marriage faces imminent derailment from events both past and present.
SANDWICH by Catherine Newman (Fiction/Humor)
From the beloved author of WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS comes a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch and learning to let go.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Paul Tremblay, Liv Constantine, Hannah Mary McKinnon
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are five upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, June 17th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Liv Constantine (the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine) will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH, which finds Daphne and Amber Parrish thrust back into each other’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat.
Tuesday, June 18th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: The Killer Author Club was established in 2022 by Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda as a unique platform for suspense and mystery fans to hear from their favorite authors. In this latest episode, Hannah Mary McKinnon will talk about her upcoming thriller, ONLY ONE SURVIVES.
Wednesday, June 19th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Join the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- as they celebrate the release of Kristy's new novel, A HAPPIER LIFE, which is the F&F Pick of the Month.
Thursday, June 20th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Craig DiLouie and Paul Tremblay for a live virtual discussion of DiLouie's HOW TO MAKE A HORROR MOVIE AND SURVIVE and Tremblay's HORROR MOVIE as part of their Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. The conversation will be moderated by Gabino Iglesias, the author of THE DEVIL TAKES YOU HOME.
Thursday, June 20th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Summer Preview Event: Carol Fitzgerald will talk about a number of books releasing this summer that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months.
"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 this year include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Marjan Kamali (THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Audiobook Month
June is Audiobook Appreciation Month. Do you listen to audiobooks?
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I listen to digital downloads.
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I listen to CDs.
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I listen to both digital downloads and CDs.
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I have not listened to an audiobook but would like to.
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I have tried audiobooks and do not enjoy them.
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I have no interest in listening to audiobooks.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 21st 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 June 7th to June 21st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH by Liv Constantine and SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand.
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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