August 2016

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Prison Book Club Shut Down. Why?

Y648Last year, psychoanalyst and literary scholar Mikita Brottman wrote The Maximum Security Book Club, a riveting account of the two years she spent reading literature with criminals in a maximum security men's prison outside Baltimore.

This intimate look at life inside a prison—and inside the lives of the prisoners—is powerful, poignant and unforgettable.  I personally loved this book (you can hear my thoughts in Under the Radar, Over the Moon Episode 3).  Critics loved this book, too.

“This memoir’s energy emanates from Brottman’s sharp understanding of group dynamics and her determination to avoid clichés. She delves into the personal stories of the men she met behind bars, and is clear-eyed both about literature’s powers and its limitations.” —Los Angeles Times, "4 new nonfiction books not to be missed"

“Readers see more than how criminals respond to literary masterpieces. They also see how the author realigns her own college professor thinking about books she sees anew through the eyes of her tough-minded students. Great literature reassessed in a gritty world far removed from academe’s ivory towers.” —Booklist

“Take nine convicted felons confined for the long haul at a maximum security men’s prison. Add a well-meaning literary scholar armed only with cheap reprints of challenging books by writers from Conrad to Kafka. The resulting dynamic is the subject of Mikita Brottman’s fascinating and unvarnished book about criminals as rough-hewn literary critics. I tore through The Maximum Security Book Club…” —Wally Lamb, New York Times bestselling author of We Are Water

Why, then, did the Jessup Correctional Institute cancel Mikita Brottman’s Book Club?  It remains a mystery, but this OpEd by the author is so worth the read…

-Virginia

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Rave Reviews for Nina Willner’s FORTY AUTUMNS!

 

9780062410313_6abc5Nina Willner's Forty Autumns is a remarkable true story of courage, resilience, and love that traces the dramatic lives of five women who are separated by the Iron Curtain through the Cold War up until the miraculous day when they are reunited as a family.  Check out the video above to hear more from the author herself, and definitely don't miss the rave reviews that have come in for this incredible story:

“Willner’s epic memoir traverses three generations of mothers, recounting the tragedy, estrangement, and overwhelming courage of a family torn apart by the ideological division of Germany during the Cold War. Willner, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, weaves familial legends of escape from farmsteads guarded by roving East German border patrols, with tales of international espionage at the 1958 World’s Fair. Her interrogative and unabashed voice explores the painful intersection of national duty and familial responsibilities… Willner’s depiction of the brutal East German regime and the fight of one family to unite is a thrilling and relevant read for historians and casual readers alike.” — Publishers Weekly

“Thoughtful and informative, Willner's book not only offers a personal view of the traumatic effects of German partition. It also celebrates the enduring resilience of the human spirit. A poignant and engrossing, occasionally harrowing, family memoir.” — Kirkus Reviews

Download the egalley to read the entire true story today.

-Amanda

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Enter to Win a Copy of HIDDEN FIGURES by Margot Lee Shetterly AND a Movie Poster Signed by the Cast of the Upcoming Film!

We've been raving for a while now about Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures. Telling the previously untold story of NASA's "human computers," the brilliant and courageous African American women whose calculations helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space, Hidden Figures is getting praise from numerous outlets, including starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist, who called it an "incredibly powerful and complex story."   

Want to win a copy along with a movie poster signed by the cast of the upcoming feature film?  Click the picture below and enter for your chance to win! Deadline to enter is September 9th at 12:00pm ET.

HIDDEN FIGURES Sweepstakes

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LLF Staff Suggestions for November LibraryReads List (Voting Deadline: September 20th)

November LR Tile

Hello, librarian friends. We have a fresh round of titles for you to consider for the November LibraryReads list, including the hotly anticipated final chapter of the Tearling trilogy by Erika Johansen, the return of Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon, and a revelatory inspection of womanhood by librarian-favorite Wally Lamb. There is oh so much reading-goodness here and oh so little time before the September 20th deadline for the November LibraryReads list, so without further ado, here are our picks. Enjoy!

Fate of the Tearling hc cThe Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
For fans of: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, the Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman
The thrilling conclusion to the Tearling trilogy finds Queen Kelsea imprisoned in Mortmesne, with her dedicated guard setting out to rescue her at all costs. Both The Queen of the Tearling and The Invasion of the Tearling were LibraryReads picks, and this epic final act will answer all the burning questions fans have been waiting for. “Katniss Everdeen, you have competition.” —Entertainment Weekly

                               Click here to download the egalley from Edelweiss
                               LibraryReads deadline: September 20th

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Moonglow by Michael Chabon Moonglow HC C
For fans of: Purity by Jonathan Franzen, State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Following on the heels of his New York Times bestselling novel Telegraph Avenue, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon delivers another literary masterpiece: a novel of truth and lies, family legends, and existential adventure—and the forces that work to destroy us. "Chabon has created a masterful and resounding novel of the dark and blazing forces that forged our tumultuous, confounding, and precious world." —Booklist starred review

Click here to download the egalley from Edelweiss
LibraryReads deadline: September 20th

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Ill Take you There hc cI'll Take You There by Wally Lamb
For fans of: One Summer by David Baldacci
New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb weaves an evocative, deeply affecting tapestry of one Baby Boomer’s life—Felix Funicello, introduced in Wishin’ and Hopin’—and the trio of unforgettable women who have changed it, in this radiant story of the American Century that is an homage to the resiliency, strength, and power of women.

No egalleys available. Click here to request a physical galley.
LibraryReads deadline: September 20th

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Chaos by Patricia Cornwell ChaosHC
For fans of: Sue Grafton, James Patterson, Janet Evanovich
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell returns with the remarkable twenty-fourth thriller in her popular high-stakes series starring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. “Dr. Kay Scarpetta, who keeps us coming back to Patricia Cornwell’s sprawling crime novels, is one tough broad.” —New York Times Book Review on Depraved Heart

Check back soon for an egalley
LibraryReads deadline: September 20th

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Flame Bearer hc cThe Flame Bearer by Bernard Cornwell
For fans of: Blood Infernal by James Rollins, Golden Lion by Wilbur Smith
The next installment of Bernard Cornwell's bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (Observer, London)—the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit television series now on Netflix. “Nobody in the world does this stuff better than Cornwell.” —Lee Child

Click here to download the egalley from Edelweiss
                               LibraryReads deadline: September 20th

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HC Sales Rep/Book Blogger Extraordinaire Kate McCune on the tpb Release of BE FRANK WITH ME

As many of you know, our sales rep, Kate McCune has one of THE BEST blogs out there.

Kate’s posts are so spot on, so wonderfully insightful and always manage to get to the core of a book’s heart in a concise, heartfelt and compelling way.

If you’ve not read her blog, sign up to receive her posts.

Her recent post about the forthcoming paperback of Be Frank With Me (one of my all time faves) is perfect.  If you haven’t read this book, do yourself a favor and dive in.  And if you haven’t checked out Kate’s blog, do yourself ANOTHER favor and sign up to receive her posts!

Enjoy!
-Virginia

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3 Starred Reviews for I CONTAIN MULTITUDES by Ed Yong + an Interview with FRESH AIR’s Terry Gross

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In case you didn't know, the human body plays host to roughly 40 trillion microbes, consisting of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea. Before you rush out for an industrial-size container of Purell, give Ed Yong's I Contain Multitudes a read. The cornucopia of microbes within us play vital roles within our bodies in ways we're just beginning to understand.

Check out some of the praise in the form of the three starred reviews below!






Star“An exceptionally informative, beautifully written book that will profoundly shift one’s sense of self to that of symbiotic multitudes.”
Kirkus 

Star“Yong makes a superb case for his position by interviewing numerous scientists and presenting their fascinating work in an accessible and persuasive fashion.” —Publishers Weekly 

Star“Bottom line: don’t hate or fear the microbial world within you. Appreciate its wonders. After all, they are more than half of you.” —Booklist 

Head on over to EarlyWord.com to listen to Fresh Air host Terry Gross interview Ed about his book and the fascinating unseen world of the microbiome. Click here for the interviewI Contain Multitudes is on sale now, so visit HC.com to get your copy!

 

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Check Out this Wonderful PW Review for NEWS OF THE WORLD

9780062409201_2396aNews flash! The upcoming News of the World by Paulette Jiles just received another sparkling review, this time from Publishers Weekly, who raves, “Jiles delivers a taut, evocative story of post–Civil War Texas in this riveting drama of a redeemed captive of the Kiowa tribe…Jiles unfolds the stories of the Captain and Johanna, past and present, with the smooth assuredness of a burnished fireside tale, demonstrating that she is a master of the western.”  To read the full review, click here.

If you're unfamiliar with this incredible upcoming piece of historical fiction, News of the World follows an aging war veteran whose solitary existence traveling post-Civil War Texas giving public readings of the news is quickly broken when he agrees to transport an orphaned little girl across Texas to her adoptive aunt and uncle. Thrilling yet intimate, epic in scope but sure to tug at your heartstrings, this is a book that is garnering A LOT of buzz, which will only grow as we draw closer to the October pub date. Download the egalley from Edelweiss by clicking here.

To learn more about Paulette, whose previous work includes New York Times bestsellers Stormy Weather and Enemy Women, check out the video below, shot on Paulette's ranch outside San Antonio. News of the World goes on sale October 4th. 

 

 

 

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Watch this Stunning Defense of Libraries by Caitlin Moran, Author of the Upcoming MORANIFESTO

9780062433756_fae02Caitlin Moran, New York Times bestselling author of How to Be a Woman and Moranthology, has been called "The UK's answer to Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler, and Lena Dunham all rolled into one" by Marie Claire. After her impassioned defense of libraries as seen in the video below, she is also officially a shining star near and dear to the LLF team's heart. She directly confronts moves within the UK to drastically reduce the number of libraries and their staff and beautifully imparts the distinction between the value of the internet and the value of conscious, educated advice as only a librarian can impart.

“If the library is…the

world in miniature, then a good

librarian is its map.”

-Caitlin Moran

Moranifesto, her latest collection of award-winning London Times columns, packaged with all-new original pieces, goes on sale November 29th. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll laugh some more, and you'll walk away with irreplaceable insights on everything from Daft Punk to UTIs. Get the egalley from Edelweiss here.

 

-Chris

 

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HIDDEN FIGURES by Margot Lee Shetterly—Two Starred Reviews and a Movie Trailer!

9780062363596_b2357With Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly going on sale in less than a month, you won't have to wait much longer to dive into this incredible, inspiring, goose bump inducing true story of NASA's "human computers"—the brave, brilliant, charismatic African-American female mathematicians who were integral to America's position at the forefront of the space race. To top off all the excitement surrounding this very important release, Hidden Figures just received starred reviews from both Library Journal AND Booklist!

StarFrom Library Journal: "Shetterly's highly recommended work offers up a crucial history that had previously and unforgivably been lost. We’d do well to put this book into the hands of young women who have long since been told that there’s no room for them at the scientific table.

StarFrom Booklist: "This an is incredibly powerful and complex story, and Shetterly has it down cold. The breadth of her well-documented research is immense, and her narrative compels on every level. The timing of this revelatory book could not be better, and book clubs will adore it."

Hidden Figures goes on sale September 6th, so there's still time to download the egalley from Edelweiss. Click here to get your copy! Also, be sure to check out the Hidden Figures official website, www.hiddenfigures.com, for more details and photos, such as the below photo of Christine Darden, one of the human computers, as she poses in a Langley wind tunnel with a supersonic aircraft model in the early 1970s (NASA).

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And lastly, have you seen the trailer for the upcoming Hidden Figures feature film, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe? If not, check it out below because it looks amaaazing! The film hits theaters January 13th.

 

-Chris

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THE TERRANAUTS is Booklist’s Review of the Day

9780062349408_dea3a  Booklist_StarROD_badge

T.C. Boyle's newest novel The Terranauts is a hilarious, incisive deep-dive into human behavior through the eyes of eight young Terranauts, four men and four women voluntarily sealed inside a glass enclosure designed to serve as a prototype for a possible off-earth colony, who become entangled in much more than the game of survival.

Booklist gave The Terranauts a starred review, saying "A virtuoso storyteller and a connoisseur of hubris, Boyle mesmerizes and provokes," and they've made that starred review their official review of the day! Check out their website to read the full review, and then go straight to Edelweiss to download the egalley so you can read the novel for yourself.

And don't forget!  Voting for the October LibraryReads list ends this Saturday, August 20, so make sure to share your love for The Terranauts before the week is over.

-Amanda

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LLF Guest Post: Nadia Hashimi, author of A HOUSE WITHOUT WINDOWS, on sale today!

9780062449689Nadia Hashimi, the internationally bestselling author, returns with A House Without Windows, a vivid, unforgettable story of an unlikely sisterhood. In today’s post Nadia writes about the importance of libraries in her childhood. We love her and her new novel!

For two decades, Zeba was an unremarkable woman. But her quiet life is shattered when her husband, Kamal, is found brutally murdered in the courtyard of their home. Nearly catatonic with shock, Zeba is arrested for the crime. Awaiting trial, she meets a group of women whose own misfortunes have landed them in jail, including Nafisa, imprisoned to protect her from an “honor killing” and Mezghan, pregnant and unmarried, waiting for a court order to force her lover’s hand. The prison is both a haven and a punishment; removed from the unforgiving world outside, the prisoners form a lively and indelible sisterhood. Is Zeba a cold-blooded killer, her cellmates wonder, or has she, like them, merely been unlucky? Has she truly inherited her mother’s powers of jadu—witchcraft—that can bend fate to her will? Can she save herself? Or them?

A House Without Windows is on sale today! 

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Later this year, what may be the world’s oldest library will open its doors to the general public. The library in Fez, Morocco, is believed to have been founded by a Muslim woman and first opened in 859. (Yes, 859…the age of the Vikings!) Pictures of the library are astounding—floral Andalusian art, intricate calligraphy and horseshoe arches. I can comfortably admit that I think “parchment” is a sexy word and I would even venture to guess I’m not alone.

The care with which this structure was originally built, with which it is has been rehabilitated over the years and with which it is now being restored speaks to the importance of libraries in our communities. These are cornerstones to our societies, past and present.

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BookPage Readers…WIN! Read, Listen, Share!

LogoEnter to win one book or audiobook for your personal libraryand five books or audiobooks for your local library! Be one of ten winners to choose from this selection of new books.  For complete details and to enter for a chance to win, click here.

Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman: The bestselling author of the acclaimed standalones After I’m Gone, I’d Know You Anywhere, and What the Dead Know challenges our notions of memory, loyalty, responsibility, and justice in this evocative and psychologically complex story about a long-ago death that still haunts a family.

LaRose by Louise Erdrich: In this literary masterwork, Louise Erdrich, the bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning The Round House and the Pulitzer Prize nominee The Plague of Doves, wields her breathtaking narrative magic in an emotionally haunting contemporary tale of a tragic accident, a demand for justice, and a profound act of atonement with ancient roots in Native American culture.

Troublemaker by Linda Howard: A thrilling, fast-paced novel of romantic suspense that follows the leader of an elite military squad who must hide out in a small West Virginian mountain town and protect his beautiful housemate, who just happens to be the town’s police chief, from sensational New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Linda Howard.

Blood Flag by Steve Martini: Defending a client accused of killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy dating to World War II in this enthralling installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

The Fireman by Joe Hill: From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of NOS4A2 and Heart-Shaped Box comes a chilling novel about a worldwide pandemic of spontaneous combustion that threatens to reduce civilization to ashes and a band of improbable heroes who battle to save it, led by one powerful and enigmatic man known as the Fireman.

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank: Filled with her trademark wit, poignant themes, and rich characters, the perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with a sensational novel that follows the travels of one couple though a tumultuous summer.

The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman: An enthralling collection of nonfiction essays on a myriad of topics—from art and artists to dreams, myths, and memories—observed in #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman’s probing, amusing, and distinctive style.

The Black Widow by Daniel Silva: Daniel Silva delivers another stunning thriller in his latest action-packed tale of high stakes international intrigue featuring the inimitable Gabriel Allon. From its shocking opening in Paris, The Black Widow reveals itself as Silva’s most timely and powerful novel yet.

Family Tree by Susan Wiggs: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a powerful, emotionally complex story of love, loss, the pain of the past—and the promise of the future.

First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: A no-nonsense sports hero and a feisty female detective go head-to-head in this funny, fresh, seductive novel from the award winning, New York Times bestselling author known for her unforgettable characters, heartfelt emotion, and laugh out loud humor.

Click here for all the contest details!

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A Profound True Story of Perseverance: CARRY ON by Lisa Fenn

9780062427830_213ddNext Tuesday, August 16th, a very special book will be hitting library shelves. That book,
Carry On by Lisa Fenn, tells the incredible story of two disabled African-American wrestlers from inner-city Cleveland and the unexpected family that formed when Lisa, an award-winning ESPN producer, documented their unlikely friendship.

The LLF team had the good fortune to meet Lisa at this year's ALA Annual conference in Orlando. Not only is she one of the kindest, most gracious authors we've had the pleasure of working with, but her book is, simply put, a story not to be missed. To learn more, check out the video below! Be sure to pick up
Carry On next Tuesday, August 16th.

 

 

 

 

 

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Congratulations to Our Two September LibraryReads Picks!

9780062467256_ade66  Libraryreads  9780062491794_46ce0

The September LibraryReads list was just announced, and I'd like to give a big round of applause to Jenny Colgan and Ann Patchett for being the #2 and #3 picks!

Jenny Colgan's The Bookshop on the Corner is about Nina Redmond, a librarian with a gift for finding the perfect book for her readers, but can she write her own happy-ever-after?  You'll just have to read to find out!

In Commonwealth, Ann Patchett, the acclaimed, bestselling author and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize, tells the enthralling story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families' lives.

Please join me in congratulating these two amazing titles, and make sure to check them out when they go on sale in September.

If you're not already participating in LibraryReads, visit their website to find out how you can join in the fun.

-Amanda

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Steven Gaines’ ONE OF THESE THINGS FIRST: Buzz and Book Giveaway

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EDIT: Thank you for your interest.  This giveaway is now closed.

Growing up gay in pre-gentrified Brooklyn was a perilous process of self-discovery for Steven Gaines, the New York Times bestselling author of Philistines at the Hedgerow. In his upcoming memoir, One of These Things First, Gaines taps into his remarkable powers of observation and recall to tell his story, one that takes him from the streets of Brooklyn to Manhattan's infamous Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, where a brilliant young psychiatrist promises to cure young Gaines of his homosexuality and provide him a "normal life."

As you can see from the below sampling of praise, One of These Things First is an incredible book worth celebrating…and that is exactly what we're going to do.  The first five people to email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com will receive a free copy!

"An extraordinary book. Incredibly moving and beautifully written." ―Jay McInerney, bestelling author of Bright Lights, Big City

"By turns comic, honest, and riveting, Gaines tells the story of a well-meaning shrink and his troubled young charge locked in a war of wills to ease ‘the trauma of homosexuality’ and restore his humanity in a conservative world." ―Publishers Weekly

"A candid, entertaining memoir…A spirited narrative of a hard-won coming-of-age.” ―Kirkus

"Years ago Dominick Dunne called Steven Gaines 'a born storyteller.' If anything, we now know Gaines was meant to write his own powerful, heart-wrenching, and funny life story. I could not put it down." ―Steven Petrow, The Washington Post

"A poignant and funny book that proves it does get better." ―Joy Behar, co-host of The View                      

"This is a memoir for anyone who loves Paddy Chayefsky and Hanya Yanagihara. Gaines has turned his considerable journalistic talents onto his younger self, writing a lyrical, wry and precisely excavated book which zaps you back to that moment when you first wonder, ‘Is this really who I am? What does it mean to not be what I think I’m supposed to be? Can I change?’” ―Carl Swanson, New York Magazine                                    

"Growing up gay in pre-trendy Brooklyn wasn't always a joyride, as I personally realized ages ago. But Gaines knows it even better. His harrowing account of being a suicidal 15-year-old who checked into Payne Whitney is eye opening, touching and ultimately triumphant because of how well he turned out." ―Michael Musto, columnist and author of Manhattan on the Rocks

One of These Things First goes on sale tomorrow, August 9th.  Be sure to pick it up!

-Chris

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The Buzz is Growing for the Wonderfully Strange NICOTINE by Nell Zink

9780062441706_c4837The buzz for Nell Zink's Nicotine is lighting up faster than a decade-old Marlboro, and consider it no surprise: this is a wonderfully strange book with some serious bite but also no shortage of warmth.

The story of a young woman who returns to her recently deceased father's childhood home only to find it inhabited by a colorful cast of squatters who double as pro-smoking advocates, Nicotine delves into issues of race, gender, class, politics, and so much more, and it approaches these sensitive topics…well, not so much with sensitivity, but with honesty, grace, and wicked storytelling injected with keenly observant humor.

Nicotine just received a starred Kirkus review, who calls it “A rich, rewarding tale of love, rebirth, and chewing tobacco…Zink does such an incredible job of depicting weirdos as real, smart, vulnerable, complicated people. Social satire with a sharp wit and a big heart.

Library Journal adds, “[Zink] writes with tongue firmly in cheek. Her jaded worldview, leavened by a well-honed sense of the absurd, reveals itself as she skewers millennials and boomers alike for failing to live up to their once tightly held convictions.” 

And from The Millions, Few writers have experienced Zink’s remarkable arc, and by all appearances, Nicotine seems unlikely to slow her winning streak.” 

Nicotine is also one of our suggestions for the October LibraryReads list. The deadline to vote is August 20th, so download an egalley from Edelweiss here, give it a read, and vote! We can't wait to hear what you think at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

-Chris

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Library Love Fest LOVES Nadia Hashimi!

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Internationally bestselling author Nadia Hashimi has a new book on the horizon and it’s FANTASTIC.  

Her first book, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, told the stories of two Afghan women separated by a century who found freedom in the tradition of bacha posh, which allows girls to dress and live as boys…until they are of marriageable age.  Khaled Hosseini, author of And the Mountains Echoed and The Kite Runner wrote: “Nadia Hashimi has written, first and foremost, a tender and beautiful family story. Her always engaging multigenerational tale is a portrait of Afghanistan in all of its perplexing, enigmatic glory, and a mirror into the still ongoing struggles of Afghan women.”

Hashimi’s next book, When the Moon Is Low, told the unforgettable story of an Afghan family’s escape from the Taliban and perilous trek across Europe to seek asylum, led by one extraordinarily courageous woman.

Her latest book, A House Without Windows, is the unforgettable story of an Afghan woman accused of murdering her husband, the American lawyer trying to free her, and the many women from all walks of life, who gather around her in prison.

In Fall 2016, Harper Children’s will be publishing Nadia’s first novel for young readers: One Half From The East.  This is an emotional, beautiful, and riveting coming-of-age journey to modern-day Afghanistan that explores life as a bacha posh—a preteen girl dressed as a boy.Though it is not a young readers' edition of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, this novel does share a character with her first (wildly successful) adult novel, and addresses some of the same issues.

Check out this great interview with Nadia Hashimi.  [EDIT] This giveaway is now closed.  And send us an email at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com if you’d like a complimentary copy of A House Without Windows.

-Virginia

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LLF Staff Suggestions for October LibraryReads List (Voting Deadline: August 20th)

October LR Tile

The October LibraryReads deadline is fast approaching. Here are some titles we hope you will consider when voting for the LibraryReads list. Whether you're looking for deep-diving literary character inspections; dark, twisting fantasy adventures; or sleep-robbing, breath-shortening mysteries and thrillerswith this list, there is truly something for everyone. All of these titles publish in October so there's still time to cast your vote for LibraryReads. The deadline is August 20th. We’d love to hear what you think about all of these books! Write to us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles
For fans of: Historical fiction, the Old West
An aging war veteran's solitary existence giving public readings of the news is interrupted when he takes a job transporting an orphaned girl across post-Civil War Texas to her adoptive aunt and uncle. We ADORE this book which received a starred review from Booklist and is getting widespread librarian praise. Janet Lockhart from Wake County Public Libraries says, "Stupendous writing, characters that get under your skin and burrow deep into your heart, great pacing, and an ending that makes you cry with joy and relief. I feel sorry for the book I read next. News of the World is a hard act to follow."

Click here to download the egalley from Edelweiss
LibraryReads deadline: August 20th

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The Terranauts by T.C. Boyle
For fans of: Literary inspections of the human psyche, environmentalism
Told through three distinct viewpoints, this look at four men and four women voluntarily sealed inside a man-made ecosphere for two years is at times hilarious, troubling, heart-wrenching, but wildly entertaining and enlightening throughout. It's also received starred reviews from both Booklist and Library Journal, who deemed it "quite possibly one of the best of the year."

Click here to download the egalley from Edelweiss
LibraryReads deadline: August 20th

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Mister Monkey by Francine Prose
For fans of: Meg Wolitzer's The Interestings, Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins
From the critically acclaimed author of Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932, this hilarious story of a cast of characters involved in an off-off-off Broadway musical was just called by Library Journal a "breezy read with hidden, and not so hidden, depths."                                                               

Click here to download the egalley from Edelweiss
LibraryReads deadline: August 20th

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Highlights from Our Fall 2016 and Winter 2017 Lists!

 

There are so many great titles coming this Fall 2016 and Winter 2017!  Here is just a selection of what to look out for in the coming months.

 

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Closed Casket

Sophie Hannah
On Sale: 9/6/2016

The world’s most famous detectiveand Agatha Christie’s most famous creationreturns in this new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Monogram Murders: a diabolically clever mystery soaked in period atmosphere and loaded with clues, suspense, and danger. Request an egalley. 

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Downfall

J.A. Jance
On Sale: 9/6/2016

Arizona sheriff Joanna Brady returns in this outstanding new mystery set in the beautiful desert country of the Southwest. Request an egalley.

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The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe

Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
On Sale: 9/6/2016

From the creators of the #1 international podcast Welcome to Night Vale and the authors of the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, comes a collection of episodes from Season Two of their hit podcast, featuring a foreword by the authors, behind-the-scenes commentary, and original illustrations. Read more…

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Hidden Figures

Margot Lee Shetterly
On Sale: 9/6/2016

Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement, this is the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program—and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now. Request an egalley.

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The Perfect Girl

Gilly Macmillan
On Sale: 9/6/2016

From the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award nominated author of What She Knew comes this whip-smart, addictive, and harrowing novel of psychological suspense—perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Kimberly McCreight. Request an egalley.

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The Risen

Ron Rash
On Sale: 9/6/2016

Ron Rash demonstrates his superb narrative skills in this suspenseful and evocative tale of two brothers whose lives are altered irrevocably by the events of one long-ago summer—and one bewitching young woman—and the secrets that could destroy their lives. Request an egalley.

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Commonwealth

Ann Patchett
On Sale: 9/13/2016

The acclaimed, bestselling author—winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize—tells the enthralling story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families’ lives. Request an egalley.

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Forward

Abby Wambach
On Sale: 9/13/2016

The esteemed US Women’s national team captain—winner of the 2015 World Cup and the highest international goal scorer of all time—shares her story, her struggles, and her worldview in this thoughtful, substantive memoir that is also a rousing call to arms to dream big and fight for a better world. Read more…

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My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White
On Sale: 9/13/2016

The late Grammy-winning founder of the legendary pop/R&B/soul/funk/disco group tells his story and charts the rise of his legendary band in this sincere memoir that captures the heart and soul of an artist whose groundbreaking sound continues to influence music today. Request an egalley.

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The Bookshop on the Corner

Jenny Colgan
On Sale: 9/20/2016

In this valentine to readers, librarians, and book-lovers the world over, the New York Times bestselling author of Little Beach Street Bakery returns with a funny, moving new novel for fans of Meg Donohue, Sophie Kinsella, and Nina George’s The Little Paris Bookshop. The Bookshop on the Corner was recently chosen as a September LibraryReads pick! Request an egalley. 

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The Fortress

Danielle Trussoni
On Sale: 9/20/2016

The critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Falling Through the Earth and Angelology returns with this much-anticipated memoir of love and transformation in France: The Fortress is Peter Mayle meets Eat, Pray, Love, a gorgeously written account of one woman’s journey to the other side of the romantic fairytale. Request an egalley.

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The Happy Cook

Daphne Oz
On Sale: 9/20/2016

The bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning co-host of ABC’s The Chew takes the intimidation out of cooking and shows you how to savor life fully every day with this gorgeous cookbook featuring more than 125 easy, healthy, and delicious time-saving recipes. Read more…

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The Kept Woman

Karin Slaughter
On Sale: 9/20/2016

Will Trent is back! The author of the acclaimed standalone Pretty Girls returns with this long-awaited entry in her bestselling series—an electrifying crime thriller that plunges the Georgia detective into the darkest depths of a case that just might destroy him. Request an egalley. 

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Marrow

Elizabeth Lesser
On Sale: 9/20/2016

The author of the New York Times bestseller Broken Open returns with a visceral and profound memoir of two sisters who, in the face of a bone marrow transplant—one the donor and one the recipient—begin a quest for acceptance, authenticity, and most of all, love. Request an egalley.

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Menopause Confidential

Tara Allmen, MD
On Sale: 9/20/2016

An authoritative guide to understanding and navigating the hormonal changes and health issues women experience in midlife and beyond, from one of the leading medical experts in the field. Request an egalley.

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The Queen of Blood

Sarah Beth Durst
On Sale: 9/20/2016

An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure. Request an egalley.

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Darling Days

iO Tillett Wright
On Sale: 9/27/2016

Unfolding in animated, crystalline prose, this is an emotionally raw, devastatingly powerful memoir of one young woman’s extraordinary coming of age—a tale of gender and identity, freedom and addiction, rebellion and survival in the 1980s and 1990s, when punk, poverty, heroin, and art collided in the urban bohemia of New York’s Lower East Side. Request an egalley.

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A Life Everlasting

Sarah Gray
On Sale: 9/27/2016

A donor mother’s powerful memoir of grief and rebirth that is also a fascinating medical science whodunit, taking us inside the world of organ, eye, tissue, and blood donation and cutting-edge scientific research. Request an egalley.

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Mercury

Margot Livesey
On Sale: 9/27/2016

The New York Times bestselling author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy delivers her most gripping novel yet—at once a tense, psychological drama and a taut emotional thriller about love, obsession, and the deceits that pull a family apart. Request an egalley.

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Owls

Marianne Taylor
On Sale: 9/27/2016

Discover the fascinating and mysterious world of owls with this stunning full-color, encyclopedic visual guide that explores all 225 known species, packed with maps, photographs, illustrations, informative scientific details. Read more…

9780062448040_9b68d 

The Trouble with Mistletoe

Jill Shalvis
On Sale: 9/27/2016

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis continues her fun, sexy new contemporary romance series with a tale of friends-to-lovers… just in time for Christmas. Request an egalley.

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The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs

Padma Lakshmi
On Sale: 10/4/2016

From the Emmy-nominated host of the award-winning Top Chef comes an A-to-Z compendium of spices, herbs, salts, peppers, and blends, with beautiful photography and a wealth of explanation, history, and cooking advice. Read more…

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Lucky Dog Lessons

Brandon McMillan
On Sale: 10/04/2016

The celebrity dog trainer and Emmy-winning star of the CBS show Lucky Dog shares his training system to transform any dog—from spoiled purebred puppy to shelter-shocked rescue—into a model companion in just seven days. Request an egalley.

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News of the World

Paulette Jiles
On Sale: 10/04/2016

In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa Native American tribe back to her remaining family in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction. Request an egalley.

9780062429117_26719 

Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down

Anne Valente
On Sale: 10/04/2016

The lives of four teenagers are capsized by a shocking school shooting and its aftermath in this powerful debut novel, a coming-of-age story with the haunting power of Station Eleven and the bittersweet poignancy of Everything I Never Told You. Request an egalley.

9780062400581_6cb17 

Strong Is the New Beautiful

Lindsey Vonn
On Sale: 10/04/2016

Lessons in strength, fitness, food, and attitude from the popular world champion skier and beauty icon—Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. Read more…

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Guy Fieri Family Food

Guy Fieri
On Sale: 10/11/2016

The Food Network superstar and New York Times bestselling author dishes up flavorful All-American family-friendly meals for weeknights and weekends alike. Read more…

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An Amish Family Christmas

Shelley Shepard Gray
On Sale: 10/18/2016

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love. Request an egalley.

9780062378774_9001f

The Boy Is Back

Meg Cabot
On Sale: 10/18/2016

In this brand-new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a scandal brings a young man back home to the small town, crazy family, and first love he left behind. Request an egalley.

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Dear Amy

Helen Callaghan
On Sale: 10/18/2016

In Helen Callaghan’s chilling, tightly-spun debut novel of psychological suspense, a teenage girl’s abduction stirs dark memories of a twenty-year-old cold case. Request an egalley.

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Girl Unbroken

Regina Calcaterra and Rosie Maloney
On Sale: 10/18/2016

In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller Etched in Sand, Regina Calcaterra pairs with her youngest sister Rosie to tell Rosie’s harrowing, yet ultimately triumphant, story of childhood abuse and survival. Request an egalley.

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Inheriting Edith

Zoe Fishman
On Sale: 10/18/2016

A poignant breakout novel, for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan and Elin Hilderbrand, about a single mother who inherits a beautiful beach house with a caveat—she must take care of the ornery elderly woman who lives in it. Request an egalley.

9780062397836_9fed7

Mister Monkey

Francine Prose
On Sale: 10/18/2016

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author weaves an ingenious, darkly humorous, and brilliantly observant story that follows the exploits and intrigue of a constellation of characters affiliated with an off-off-off-off Broadway children’s musical. Request an egalley.

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Nujeen

Nujeen Mustafa with Christina Lamb
On Sale: 10/18/2016

The prize-winning journalist and the co-author of the smash New York Times bestseller I Am Malala, Christina Lamb, now tells the stunning true story of a remarkable young hero: Nujeen Mustafa, a teenager born with cerebral palsy who made the dangerous journey from war-torn Syria to Germany. Request an egalley.

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Pharaoh

Wilbur Smith
On Sale: 10/18/2016

Worldwide #1 bestselling author Wilbur Smith returns to Ancient Egypt in a captivating new novel that will transport you to extraordinary times. Request an egalley.

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Appetites

Anthony Bourdain  
On Sale: 10/25/2016

Written with the no-holds-barred, no-bullshit-allowed ethos of his beloved series No Reservations and Parts Unknown, this is the celebrity chef and culinary explorer’s first cookbook in more than ten years—a collection of recipes for the home cook. Request an egalley.

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Lost Gods

Brom
On Sale: 10/25/2016

A young man descends into Purgatory to save his wife and unborn child in this gorgeous, illustrated tale of wonder and terror from the mind of master storyteller and acclaimed artist Brom. Request an egalley.

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The Nine of Us

Jean Kennedy Smith
On Sale: 10/25/2016

In this evocative and affectionate memoir, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving child of Joe and Rose Kennedy, offers an intimate and illuminating look at a time long ago when she and her siblings, guided by their parents, laughed and learned a great deal under one roof. Read more…

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The Terranauts

T.C. Boyle
On Sale: 10/25/2016

A deep-dive into human behavior in an epic story of science, society, sex, and survival, from one of the greatest American novelists today, T. C. Boyle, the acclaimed, bestselling, author of the PEN/ Faulkner Award–winning World’s End and The Harder They Come. Request an egalley.

9780062469038_eec01

Tippi

Tippi Hedren
On Sale: 11/1/2016

In this absorbing and surprising memoir, one of the biggest names of classic Hollywood—the star of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Marnie—tells her story, including never-before-revealed experiences on the set of some of the biggest cult films of all time. Read more…

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The American Fisherman

Willie Robertson and William Doyle
On Sale: 11/15/2016

From the Duck Dynasty star and #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a rollicking popular history of fishing in America. Request an egalley.

9780062436689_8eed9

Chaos

Patricia Cornwell
On Sale: 11/15/2016

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell returns with the remarkable twenty-fourth thriller in her popular high-stakes series starring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Request an egalley.

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Just Getting Started

Tony Bennett
On Sale: 11/15/2016

At ninety, musician and singer Tony Bennett is as vibrant and productive as ever. In addition to his prodigious musical output, this beloved and enduring artist has written his second book. In 2012’s Life Is a Gift, Tony reflected on the lessons he has learned over the years. Now, in Just Getting Started, he pays homage to the remarkable people who inspired those lessons. Read more…

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A Matter of Honor

Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
On Sale: 11/15/2016

On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the authors of the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Eleventh Day expose the scapegoating of the admiral who was in command the day 2,000 Americans died. The authors write of the continuing struggle to restore his lost honor—and clear President FDR of the charge that he knew the attack was coming. Request an egalley.

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Settle for More

Megyn Kelly
On Sale: 11/15/2016

Anchor of the number one news show on cable, The Kelly File, Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly writes her much anticipated book, a revealing and surprising memoir detailing her rise as one of the most respected journalists working today. From the values and lessons that have shaped her career, to her time at the center of the chaotic 2016 Republican presidential primary, this book offers an inside look at an uncompromising woman’s journey to the top of the news business. Read more…

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All the Gallant Men

Donald Stratton with Ken Gire
On Sale: 11/22/2016

The extraordinary first and only memoir by a survivor of the USS Arizona, published in conjunction with the seventy-fifth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Read more…

9780062656285_0d994

I’ll Take You There

Wally Lamb
On Sale: 11/22/2016

New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb weaves an evocative, deeply affecting tapestry of one Baby Boomer’s life—Felix Funicello, introduced in Wishin’ and Hopin’—and the trio of unforgettable women who have changed it, in this radiant homage to the resiliency, strength, and power of women. Read more…

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Moonglow

Michael Chabon
On Sale: 11/22/2016

Following on the heels of his New York Times bestselling novel Telegraph Avenue, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon delivers another literary masterpiece: a novel of truth and lies, family legends, existential adventure—and the forces that work to destroy us. Request an egalley.

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The Fate of the Tearling

Erika Johansen
On Sale: 11/29/2016

The thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Tearling trilogy. “Katniss Everdeen, you have competition.”—Entertainment Weekly Request an egalley.

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The Flame Bearer

Bernard Cornwell
On Sale: 11/29/2016

The next installment of Bernard Cornwell’s bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (Observer, London). Request an egalley.

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Snake

Mike Freeman
On Sale: 11/15/2016

The first in-depth biography of one of the most talented and infamous legends to play in the National Football League—the life and times of pro football’s first bad boy, famed Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler. Read more…

9780062220356_4f717

Jump

Steve Harvey
On Sale: 12/5/2016

The #1 New York Times bestselling author shares the secret of his success and teaches you how to achieve the blessed full life that belongs to you. Read more…

9780062383334_1081c

The Wars of the Roosevelts

William J. Mann
On Sale: 12/6/2016

The award-winning author presents a provocative, thoroughly modern revisionist biographical history of one of America’s greatest and most influential families—the Roosevelts—exposing heretofore unknown family secrets and detailing complex family rivalries with his signature cinematic flair. Read more…

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The Seventh Plague

James Rollins
On Sale: 12/13/2016

New York Times bestselling author James Rollins combines historical mystery and scientific exploration in this thrilling adventure tale in which Sigma Force must stop an ancient plague from decimating the modern world. Read more…

9780062428424_92b0e

Four Weddings and a Sixpence

Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Stefanie Sloane
On Sale: 12/27/2016

Beloved authors Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Stefanie Sloane deliver the stories of four friends from Madame Rochambeaux’s Gentle School for Girls who find an old sixpence in their bedchamber and decide that it will be the lucky coin for each of their weddings. Read more…

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Her Every Fear

Peter Swanson
On Sale: 1/10/2017

The author of the wildly popular The Kind Worth Killing returns with an electrifying and downright Hitchcockian psychological thriller—as tantalizing as the cinema classics Rear Window and Wait Until Dark—involving a young woman caught in a vise of voyeurism, betrayal, manipulation, and murder. Request an egalley.

Y648

Three Days in January

Bret Baier
On Sale: 1/10/2017

In this debut history from one of America’s most influential political journalists, Bret Baier casts the three days between Dwight Eisenhower’s prophetic “farewell address” on the evening of January 17, 1961, and his successor John F. Kennedy’s inauguration on the afternoon of January 20 as the final mission of one of modern America’s greatest leaders. Read more…

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The Fire by Night

Teresa Messineo
On Sale: 1/17/2017

A powerful and evocative debut novel about two American military nurses during World War II that illuminates the unsung heroism of women who risked their lives in the fight—a riveting saga of friendship, valor, sacrifice, and survival combining the grit and selflessness of Band of Brothers with the emotional resonance of The Nightingale. Request an egalley.

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This Is Not Over

Holly Brown
On Sale: 1/17/2017

Two women are caught in an escalating game of cat-and-mouse that leads to an explosive ending in this breathtaking psychological thriller from the author of A Necessary End and Don’t Try to Find Me. Request an egalley.

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The Fifth Letter

Nicola Moriarty
On Sale: 1/24/2017

A sensational fresh voice in women’s fiction makes her debut with this intriguing novel of four women whose lifelong friendship is fractured when a fun vacation game turns destructive, exposing dark secrets, deeply buried grudges, and a shocking betrayal. Request an egalley.

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The Runaway Midwife

Patricia Harman
On Sale: 1/31/2017

From the USA Today bestselling author of the Hope River series comes a new contemporary midwife novel that asks the question, “Have you ever wanted to leave your life behind?” Request an egalley.

9780062643049_51c3d

A Book of American Martyrs

Joyce Carol Oates
On Sale: 2/7/2017

A striking, enormously affecting novel from American master and New York Times bestselling author Joyce Carol Oates that tells the story of two very different and yet intimately linked American families. Read more…

9780062469830_89e9d

The Dressmaker’s Dowry

Meredith Jaeger
On Sale: 2/7/2017

This gripping historical debut novel tells the story of two women: one, an immigrant seamstress who disappears from San Francisco’s gritty streets in 1876, and the other, a young woman in present day who must delve into the secrets of her husband’s wealthy family only to discover that she and the missing dressmaker might be connected in unexpected ways. Request an egalley.

9780062445100_63dfb

Pretend I’m Not Here

Barbara Feinman Todd
2/7/2017

An accomplished former ghostwriter and book researcher who worked with Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Ben Bradlee, and Hillary Clinton goes behind-the-scenes of the nation’s capital to tell the story of how she survived the exciting but self-important and self-promoting world of the Beltway. Read more…

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A Piece of the World

Christina Baker Kline
On Sale: 2/21/2017

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the smash bestseller Orphan Train comes a stunning and atmospheric novel of friendship, passion, and art, inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s mysterious and iconic painting Christina’s World. Read more…

9780062469106_9d7ff

Her Secret

Shelley Shepard Gray
On Sale: 3/14/2017

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray begins a new series—The Amish of Hart County—with this suspenseful tale of a young Amish woman who is forced to move to a new town to escape a threatening stalker. Read more…

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Will’s Red Coat

Tom Ryan
On Sale: 3/21/2017

A true story of acceptance, perseverance, and the possibility of love and redemption as evocative, charming, and powerful as his New York Times bestseller Following Atticus. Read more…

9780062276490_27a47 copy

War Cry

Wilbur Smith
On Sale: 4/4/2017

The saga of the legendary Courtney family continues in this fourteenth installment in Wilbur Smith’s bestselling series—the sequel to 2009’s Assegai—a thrilling tale of espionage, adventure, and danger, set in Africa and spanning from the Great War’s end to the dark days of World War II. Read more…

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Fallout

Sara Paretsky
On Sale: 4/18/2017

Award-winning, bestselling author Sara Paretsky brings her legendary investigator V. I. Warshawski back in a puzzling case that will take the private investigator out of her comfort zone and into deadly new territory as she searches for a young film student and a former film star who are on the run in the heart of the Midwest. Read more…

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Guest Blogger: Kate Horsley, author of THE AMERICAN GIRL

Y648The American Girl by Kate Horsley is a riveting psychological thriller about an American exchange student in France involved in a suspicious accident, and the journalist determined to break the story and uncover the dark secrets a small town is hiding. We're thrilled to be sharing a guest post from Kate on the blog today!

***

I grew up in a town where the library was next door to the pool. I visited both once a week and I used to wonder if the library put the plastic covers on the books so kids could go swimming while they were reading. My mom never let me try this theory out for some reason.

I LOVED my library card. It was my first ID and I pretended it was my Secret Agent Card as I hunted down my next book-adventure: novels by Lois Duncan and Judy Blume, Angela Carter and V.C. Andrews, Ray Bradbury and Madeleine L'Engle. In summer, I’d check them out of the library and guzzle them down in one heady gulp, spread out on the grass in the park sun-bathe-reading. In winter, I’d sit cross-legged between the rows of books, reading half of A Wrinkle In Time before I’d even checked it out.

Other books have intervened between then and now. In fact, I decided I loved books so much I worked as a librarian for a year and once I even took a course in old books where the professor told us we could guess the date for the book by licking the vellum pages (I did and they tasted like dusty beef jerky). Still, I think it was that library I went to as a kid that really made me want to be a writer. Those first books I took out for myself—stories like The Eyes of Karen Connors, in which girls plunge into a world that’s intense and unknowable for the first time—held such magic between their plastic-bound covers. Years later I’ve sought them out again to recapture the feeling they gave. It’s the same feeling I get when I’m writing.

***

Thanks, Kate! The American Girl went on sale today, so help us celebrate this book birthday by diving right in!

-Amanda

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