Copyright 2017. HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy
195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007 Phone: (212) 207-7000
Romance is in the air on The Library Love Fest Podcast! This week, we featured a conversation between librarian Stephanie Anderson and author Sarah MacLean. StephanieAnderson is Assistant Director, Selection, at BookOps, managing the fantastic team responsible for selecting and ordering material for the 150 circulating locations of the Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library, plus both digital collections. Stephanie and Sarah are great friends and when asked to discuss Sarah's new book, Daring and the Duke, they immediately said yes. They always have such smart, thoughtful conversations about romance and this discussion was no exception!
More about Daring and the Duke: New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.
Glowing Reviews for Daring and the Duke: “MacLean works magic, crafting a magnificent romance that’s as satisfying as it is subversive.” —New York Times Book Review
"Visceral, gritty, and full of passion and angst, this romance mixes moments of emotional introspection with grand scenes of balls, fights, and scorching intimacy...While this story excels as a second-chance, redemption love story, what really makes it stand out is the unabashedly feminist exploration...Dark, daring, delicious, and absolutely delightful." —Kirkus Reviewsreview
"Wrapping up the Bareknuckle Bastards series splendidly, RITA Award–winning MacLean reinforces her place as a master of historical romance with another exemplary, empowering love story that brilliantly showcases her flair for gloriously insightful characterization, grandly entertaining plotting, and gorgeously sensual prose." —Booklist
"The emotional journey of the protagonists is raw in intensity, with breath-stealing love scenes. It’s refreshing to find a romantic couple with a near-equal power balance....delivers a satisfying emotional punch that fans will savor." —Library Journalreview
Listen to the podcast episode here:
We also mentioned a past Facebook Live video with Stephanie and Sarah; you can watch the replay here.
Our friend Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network, recently interviewed Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Islanders, to discuss Meg's latest novel Two Truths and a Lie, on sale now! The book is set in Newburyport, Massachusetts where Meg lives, and they talk about how she brings this town to life in her fiction using the businesses and beaches there.
The book is told from four points of view, one of which is as notes from the Mom Squad, a group of mothers who have bonded together through their daughters. Meg and Carol discuss the story structure and character development, as well as the changes social media has made in young people’s lives and the ways in which parents must adapt. Carol learns more about the challenges and joys of writing a summer beach story with interesting characters and a storyline that brings escape.
Hear about our faves from the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 list! Our world-famous book buzz is on July 9th at 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EDT. RSVP here.
If you would like to have a taste of what we will be presenting at our main buzz, you can attend a mini buzz at the ALA Virtual Conference on Thursday, June 25th, at 11:00 AM CDT. Watch our 10-minute buzz here. Find a list of titles discussed here.
Celebrate the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence at an exciting virtual gala hosted by Booklist and RUSA. The keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize winner and 19th U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, author of Memorial Drive. Register here.
Tune in to our Door to Door programming every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 PM EDT on Facebook Live and follow us on Instagram (@harperlibrary) to see author takeovers every Friday!
Virtual Author Events: Check out our guide to submitting proposals for virtual author visits.
Today, we are featuring a guest post from Rebekah Taussig, author of Sitting Pretty, coming out on August 25, 2020.
Sitting Pretty is a memoir-in-essays from Rebekah Taussig, disability advocate and creator of the Instagram account @sitting_pretty, reflecting on identity, accessibility, and representation and processing a lifetime of memories to paint a more beautiful, nuanced portrait of a body that looks and moves differently than most.
***
Dear Librarians,
My name is Rebekah Taussig, and I am a fan of you! When I was growing up in the 90s, my favorite thing was to play library with my sister. We had a treehouse in our backyard, and I figured out my own weird way to climb up the ladder using my paralyzed legs and my extra-strong arms to tumble into our oasis of books. Our goal was to write hundreds and hundreds of stories—to line the inside of our treehouse with shelves of them—and hand out library cards so our friends and neighbors could partake in all the reading we had to offer. (Nevermind that our collection of books were actually little stacks of stapled paper with crayon drawings and nonsense stories!) But the act of storytelling and inviting everyone to partake in that storytelling remains a driving force for me.
Thirty years later, I’ve finally written an actual book! Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body was born from my tenderest memories and most pressing questions attached to navigating life from a wheelchair. It’s a memoir told in essay form, each chapter covering a different topic, from romance to work, ableism to feminism, representation to accessibility. One of the central themes of the book casts a spotlight on access—what it looks like, who has it, who doesn’t, and how to create more of it for more folks.
As my book became more and more real, I talked with my publishers about ways to make it more accessible to readers. Books can be expensive, and there are so many reasons—especially right now—that people might not have the funds to purchase it. This is the space libraries occupy—a point of access, an inclusive invitation to anyone who wants access to the world of language. My dream is that Sitting Pretty could occupy the shelves of libraries far and wide, bridging that gap and creating more access for more readers. It’s similar to my childhood dream of sharing my homemade treehouse books with neighbors and friends, only this version invites way more folks to the reading party.
Thank you so much for considering my book as a new addition to your shelves. It would be an honor to be included. And either way, thank you for all you do to make reading and stories more accessible to more people—it’s invaluable, transformative work.
All my best,
Rebekah G. Taussig
***
Listen to an interview with Rebekah on our podcast here:
Thank you to Rebekah for this awesome letter to librarians and for coming on the podcast!
There's still time to get your LibraryReads vote in by July 1st.
We used our latest Booklist ad to let you know how much we will miss seeing your smiling faces at ALA Annual this year. But we have a packed list of exciting virtual events in store for you! We also have a plethora of STARRED reviews from the June Issue of Booklist. Find a list of everything discussed in the ad below!
Mark your calendar!
Our world-famous book buzz is on July 9th! We have lots of details coming your way. To get on the list for updates, email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com with 'Book Buzz RSVP' in the subject line.
If you would like to have a taste of what we will be presenting at our main buzz, you can attend a mini buzz at the ALA Virtual Conference on Thursday, June 25th, at 11 AM CDT. Register separately for our 10 minute buzz on the ALA site.
Celebrate the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence at an exciting virtual gala hosted by Booklist and RUSA. The keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize winner and 19th U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, author of Memorial Drive. Register here.
Tune in to our Door to Door programming every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 PM EDT on Facebook Live and follow us on Instagram (@harperlibrary) to see author takeovers every Friday!
___________________
Check out all of the reviews featured in the June issue of Booklist:
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey: "...A work of exquisitely distilled anguish and elegiac drama.... Through finely honed, evermore harrowing memories, dreams, visions, and musings, Trethewey maps the inexorable path to her mother’s murder." —Donna Seaman
Reclaiming Her Time by Helena Andrews-Dyer and R. Eric Thomas: "In an approach which borders on hagiography, Andrews-Dyer and Thomas bring all the snap and pizzazz one would expect to their subject.... Their buoyant and zesty portrait of the woman known as “Kerosene Maxine” and “Auntie Maxine” is perfect for the vivacious, unconventional, tireless, and essential Waters." —Carol Haggas
This Is What America Looks Like by Ilhan Omar with Rebecca Paley: "In telling her remarkable story, Omar reminds us all of what it means to fearlessly strive for a better life, a better nation, and a better world." —Enobong Tommelleo
The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini: "The Lehman Trilogy, a 2012 Italian radio play turned into a full-length play that has been a hit throughout Europe and in London and New York, was set for Broadway when COVID-19 hit.... On stage, just three actors perform it; on the page, it’s a panoramic circus, and ravishing, rollicking reading all the way." —Ray Olson
This Is Major by Shayla Lawson: "It is Lawson’s love letter to herself and every other Black woman who may have felt invisible or misunderstood. In one of the rare times in print, the totality and the essence of Black women are front and center here." —LaParis Hawkins
The Mystery of Charles Dickens by A.N. Wilson "Beyond the eye-opening analysis, Wilson also offers a moving personal account of why Dickens has meant so much to him. Dickens' novels, he concludes, possess the power of a mesmerist, convincing us that, despite the horrors of the external world, "every man, woman, and child goes on being not only an individual but, potentially, a comic individual." —Bill Ott
The Book of Dragons Edited by Jonathan Strahan: "This collection is highly recommended to both established genre fans and newcomers interested quality sf and fantasy." —Nell Keep
The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey: "Braiding three separate views of the same incident, Livesey (Mercury, 2016) weaves a masterful tapestry of emotion and action focused on the indelible impact of random events." —Carol Haggas
The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite: "Waite’s poetically polished prose is infused with just the right measure of sly wit and perfectly complemented by a marvelously inventive plot involving not only the art and science of beekeeping but also a village queen bee's attempt to use censorship to wield control over her fellow citizens, and the political turmoil surrounding George IV and his wife, Caroline." —John Charles
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs, Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay, and Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey have been selected for the July LibraryReads List! Congratulations to our wonderful authors!
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs: In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"
"A wonderful exploration of the past and the future and, most importantly, of what it means to be present in the here and now. Full of the love of words, the love of family, and the love of falling in love, The Lost and Found Bookshop is a big-hearted gem of a novel that will satisfy and entertain readers from all walks of life. Lovely!" —Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing In The Rain
Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay: A riveting novel of suspense and terror from the Bram Stoker award-winning author of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.
"Tremblay has earned worldwide acclaim because he is able to seamlessly combine reality with speculative elements, and his newest may be his most prescient yet.... Gorgeously written about terrible things, the relatively short Survivor Song is a good choice for fans of pandemic epics ...and novels that probe themes of friendship, family, and social commentary amidst chillingly realistic horror." —Booklist review
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey: A chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir of a daughter reckoning with the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of her former stepfather, and the moving, intimate story of a poet coming into her own in the wake of a tragedy.
"Through finely honed, evermore harrowing memories, dreams, visions, and musings, Trethewey maps the inexorable path to her mother’s murder.... Trethewey writes, 'To survive trauma, one must be able to tell a story about it.' And tell her tragic story she does in this lyrical, courageous, and resounding remembrance." —Booklist review
Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the July LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the August LibraryReads list by July 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
This week is a Nancy Pearl love fest on all of our social accounts!
On June 9th, Nancy was on our Door to Door Facebook Live video. Watch the replay here.
Virginia also interviewed Nancy for the podcast. They talk all about Nancy’s latest book, The Writer's Library, which she co-wrote with playwright Jeff Schwager. The book comes out on September 8, 2020.
More about The Writer's Library: An intimate, moving, and insightful collection from "American's Librarian" Nancy Pearl and noted playwright Jeff Schwager that celebrates the power of literature and reading to connect us all.
Before Jennifer Egan, Louise Erdrich, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Jonathan Lethem became revered authors, they were readers. In this ebullient book, Nancy and Jeff interview a diverse range of America's most notable and influential writers about the books that shaped them and inspired them to leave their own literary mark.
Illustrated with beautiful line drawings, The Writer’s Library is a revelatory exploration of the studies, libraries, and bookstores of today’s favorite authors—the creative artists whose imagination and sublime talent make America's literary scene the wonderful, dynamic world it is. A love letter to books and a celebration of wordsmiths, The Writer’s Library is a treasure for anyone who has been moved by the written word.
There is an introduction by Susan Orlean and the book features interviews with twenty-three of today's living literary legends.
Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times is an intimate, bracingly intelligent debut novel about a millennial Irish expat who becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer.
I so enjoyed reading this book and it's becoming clear that everyone else is loving it, too! It's been listed as a most anticipated book from Vogue; TIME; Elle; O, the Oprah Magazine; Esquire; Harper's Bazaar; PopSugar; Refinery 29; and LitHub.
Marie Claire just named it as their new book club pick. You can read an excerpt on their site here.
Autostraddle included it in their "60 Queer and Feminist Books Coming Your Way in Summer 2020."
Black Bear Pictures, the production company behind The Imitation Game, has optioned the TV rights.
Check out these amazing reviews that have been coming in:
“Volleying dialogue, rich interiority, and perceptive writing on money, politics, and class...A clever and deep novel of sex, connection, and the complexities of self expression.” —Booklist review
"Dolan’s preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. A refreshingly wry and insightful debut." —Kirkus Reviews
"[A] wry, tender debut.... Dolan’s smart, brisk debut works as a charming comedy of manners." —Publishers Weekly
“Jealousy and obsession, love and late capitalism, sex and the internet all come whirling together in a wry and bracing tale of class and privilege.” —The New York Times Book Review
"Whipsmart…. A modern love story…Exciting Timesis an impressive, cerebral debut written with brio and humour… The observations are keen, heartfelt and delivered in a brutally nonchalant style…. Heralding for sure a new star in Irish writing." —Irish Times
I discussed the book on our podcast with Meghan Deans, the Senior Marketing Director at Ecco. Listen here:
We turned our Editors Unedited podcast feature on its head this week! For the first time, we had an author interview their editor. Listen in to this week's episode with the incomparable Susan Elizabeth Phillips, in conversation with her Editor, Carrie Feron. You'll get an inside peek at the relationship between editor and author as well as hear about Susan's upcoming novel Dance Away with Me.
More about Dance Away with Me: When life throws her one setback too many, midwife and young widow Tess Hartsong takes off for Runaway Mountain. In this small town high in the Tennessee mountains, surrounded by nature, she hopes to outrun her heartbreak and find the solace she needs to heal.
But instead of peace and quiet, she encounters an enigmatic artist with a craving for solitude, a fairy-tale sprite with too many secrets, a helpless infant, a passel of curious teens, and a town suspicious of outsiders, especially one as headstrong as Tess. Just as headstrong, is Ian North, a difficult, gifted man with a tortured soul—a man who makes Tess question everything.
In running away to this new life, Tess wonders—has she lost herself...or has she found her future?
Take a listen to the podcast episode here:
Carrie also mentioned other authors she works with, including:
We hope you all are well in these important, challenging times. Before we dive into the details of our staff suggestions for the August LibraryReads List, please let us know what we can do for you. We're here to help in any way we can, big or small.
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
***
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline Also from the author: Orphan Train and A Piece of the World The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Orphan Train returns with an ambitious, emotionally resonant historical novel that captures the hardship, oppression, opportunity and hope of a trio of women’s lives—two English convicts and an orphaned Aboriginal girl—in untamed nineteenth-century Australia.
"Master storyteller Christina Baker Kline is at her best in this epic tale of Australia's complex history—a vivid and rewarding feat of both empathy and imagination. I loved this book."
—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Love and Ruin
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter Also from the author: The Last Widow, Pieces of Her, and Pretty Girls New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with another electrifying thriller in the Will Trent series—her 20th book!
"Slaughter adds depth to her best-selling series with the investigations of old and current cases, while also advancing the key personal relationship. Another slam dunk." —Booklist review
Watch Karin Slaughter's guest appearance on Door to Door!
Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall For fans of: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue An enthralling literary tour-de-force that pays tribute to Detroit's legendary neighborhood, a mecca for jazz, sports, and politics, Black Bottom Saints is a powerful blend of fact and imagination reminiscent of E.L. Doctorow's classic novel Ragtime and Marlon James' Man Booker Award-winning masterpiece, A Brief History of Seven Killings.
"Black Bottom Saints is easily the most inventive and musical novel I've read in a decade. Alice Randall has rewritten and re-energized the rules of the American novel!" —Kiese Laymon, author of Long Division and Heavy
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden For fans of: Depth of Winter by Craig Johnson and Bearskin by James McLaughlin An addictive and groundbreaking debut thriller set on a Native American reservation—a tour-de-force of crime fiction, a bracingly honest look at a long-ignored part of American life, and a twisting, turning story that’s as deeply rendered as it is thrilling.
"Winter Counts is a marvel. It’s a thriller with a beating heart and jagged teeth. This book is a brilliant meditation on power and violence, and a testament to just how much a crime novel can achieve. Weiden is a powerful new voice. I couldn’t put it down." —Tommy Orange, New York Times bestselling author of There There
Listen to a podcast interview with David Heska Wanbli Weiden!
Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan For fans of: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave and The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.
"Kiernan recreates the zeitgeist of America leading up to the atomic bomb on a national and personal level: the eager anticipation of wartime’s end, the grimly fascinating science, and the growing sense of guilt and dread. Simultaneously tender and hard-hitting, this riveting story offers much to reflect upon." —Booklist
Watch authors Stephen P. Kiernan and Beatriz Williams on a historical fiction-themed episode of Door to Door!
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria For fans of: Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey RITA Award-winning author Alexis Daria brings readers an unforgettable, hilarious rom-com set in the drama-filled world of telenovelas—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin and The Kiss Quotient.
"Soapy, smart and so sexy...with vibrant characters and electric chemistry comparable to the telenovelas that inspired it, you’ll be thrilled You Had Me At Hola doesn’t come with commercials!" —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of Daring and the Duke
You Ought to Do a Story About Me by Ted Jackson For fans of: The Master Plan by Chris Wilson and Life Is Not an Accident by Jay Williams The heartbreaking and redemptive story of a fallen-from-grace NFL player discovered by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist on the streets of New Orleans, and the transformative friendship that binds them.
"Consistently complex and absorbing.... A rich and rewarding narrative about the possibilities—and the challenges—of redemption." —Kirkus Reviews review
Final Cut by S. J. Watson For fans of: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware and Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight In this mind-blowing psychological thriller, the internationally bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep explores themes of memory and identity as a young documentary filmmaker travels to a quiet fishing village to shoot a new film, only to encounter a dark mystery surrounding the disappearance of a local girl.
Watch LLF's Chris Connolly buzz about Final Cut as part of ALMA's Bite-Size Book Buzz series!
Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park For fans of: Get a Life, Chloe Brownby Talia Hibbert and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang In a debut perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Sally Thorne, a junior video game producer finds herself getting closer and closer to the one person she hates most after a mass troll attack online almost ruins her life.
"[A] punchy adult debut set in the world of video game design. Park makes tough topics go down easy by couching them in wry humor and lighthearted romance, and her fierce, snarky heroine is irresistible. This smart rom-com is a winner." —Publishers Weekly review
The Wright Sister by Patty Dann For fans of: Another Side of Paradise by Sally Koslow and Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton An epistolary novel of historical fiction that imagines the life of Katharine Wright and her relationship with her famous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright.
"The Wright Sister is a marvel—a perfect, very dear and brilliant novel whose characters are now stored in my heart like favorite, absent friends. Long live the remarkable Katharine Wright, her famous brothers, and author Patty Dann, who brought them back to life for this gobsmacked, grateful reader." —Elinor Lipman, author of Good Riddance and On Turpentine Lane
Click here to watch Patty Dann give a tour of her writing space on Instagram!
No Offense by Meg Cabot Also from the author: No Judgments and The Boy is Back New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a charming romance between a children's librarian and the town sheriff in the second book in the Little Bridge Island series.
And on Friday, June 19th, Meg will be taking over our Instagram! Be sure to follow us on Instagram so you don't miss a thing!
My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman Also from the author: Lady in the Lake and Sunburn
New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman, a journalist for many years, collects here her recent essays exploring motherhood as an older mom, her life as a reader, her relationships with her parents, friendship, and other topics that will resonate with a large audience.
"[Lippman] revels in confession and connection, surprise and provocation, and she performs all with panache, wisdom, wit, and courage. Lippman asserts: 'I’m a tough old bird,' and readers will declare: and one helluva true-tale teller." —Booklist
Watch Laura Lippman's guest appearance on Door to Door!
The Boys' Club by Erica Katz For fans of: Whisper Network by Chandler Baker and The Wife by Alafair Burke Sweetbitter meets The Firm in this buzzy, page-turning debut novel—already optioned to Netflix—about sex and power in the halls of corporate America.
"Sharply observed and utterly engrossing, The Boys' Club is part coming-of-age story, part riveting workplace drama, set in the world of big firm law where one young female associate finds that getting ahead means there are no good choices." —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Marriage
"A knowing, nuanced #MeToo story from the world of corporate law, with juicy The Wolf of Wall Street–type action." —Kirkus Reviews
Wandering in Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins For fans of: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo From the acclaimed cultural critic and New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing—a writer whom Roxane Gay has hailed as "a force to be reckoned with"—comes this powerful story of her journey to understand her northern and southern roots, the Great Migration, and the displacement of black people across America.
"A thrilling, emotional, and engaging ride that almost commands the reader to turn the page, Wandering in Strange Lands is required reading, accurately widening the lens of American history." —Booklist review
Click below to see why LLF's Chris Connolly loves Wandering in Strange Lands!
Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul For fans of: And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton From the #1 bestselling author of The Secret Wife comes a story of love, passion, and tragedy as the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas are intertwined—and they become the ultimate rivals, in love with the same man.
"Fans of historical fiction, those obsessed with the Camelot years, or readers who simply delight in a good story should reserve a copy.... Paul (The Lost Daughter) presents a mostly accurate portrayal of real events through the fictional voices of Jackie and Maria. The captivating narrative paired with supplemental reading group questions paves the way for an instant book club favorite." —Library Journal review
www.librarylovefest.com
