“Bookreporter Talks To” is a podcast from The Book Report Network where we host in-depth conversations with authors about the books that we love. We know authors cannot travel everywhere, so we want to bring them to you, wherever YOU may be.
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Carol Fitzgerald Podcasts
Literature discussions on James Joyce, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway and more. If you are into Literary Fiction, let's start talking! Join us in a conversational approach to literature! Find us on various platforms here: https://linktr.ee/thecodexcantina
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Megan Abbott joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, EL DORADO DRIVE. This is the first book that Megan has written about suburban Detroit, which is where she lived for her early years. The story is set during the time when the automobile market crashed, jobs were suddenly lost, and the lifestyle to which people were accustomed disappea…
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“Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Fiona Davis
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1:07:45
Fiona Davis joined us for June’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss her New York Times bestseller, THE STOLEN QUEEN, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares how the idea for the book came to her, the extensive research that she did (yes, including a trip to Egypt), and what it was like spending hours at the Metropolitan Museum of…
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Kaira Rouda talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest thriller, JILL IS NOT HAPPY. Note: Kaira IS very happily married to her husband, Harley, which is something you need to know as you read this book. Kaira did get the idea for the novel when she and Harley went to Utah during the pandemic. She saw that the landscape there could lend itself to a …
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Jeanine Cummins: Speak to Me of Home
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Jeanine Cummins joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, SPEAK TO ME OF HOME, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares her inspiration for the book and talks about the significance of home. What does it mean to different people and to different generations? Jeanine and Carol point out that we go through life either as passenger…
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Julie Clark joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest thriller, THE GHOSTWRITER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Julie shares how she approached writing this book, including how a ghostwriter tackles a subject and handles the storytelling. She also talks about her process, which includes early mornings of writing, and why she will nev…
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Lori Foster joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, THE GUEST COTTAGE, which kicks off her Firefly Summer series. She explains how she developed the book, including the first idea that came to her, and where she sees the series headed. Fittingly, they talk about their mutual fascination with fireflies. Lori also shares information about…
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Chris Pavone joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss his latest thriller, THE DOORMAN, a Bookreporter Bets On selection that is being called a modern-day BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, which is spot-on. Chris talks about the book’s setting, the Bohemia, which drew inspiration from the building where he now lives. He had long conversations with Johnny, one of t…
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Bookaccino Live Book Group: Beatriz Williams
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1:14:07
Beatriz Williams joined us for May’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss HUSBANDS & LOVERS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. She shares her inspiration for the novel, as well as her research. Spoilers are included here as we assume that everyone has read the book. Beatriz also previews her next novel, UND…
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Janet Skeslien Charles: The Parisian Chapter
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Janet Skeslien Charles joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss THE PARISIAN CHAPTER, an audio original novel with a multi-cast recording. Pauline Chalamet and 10 other voice actors perform. Janet talks about the structure of the story, which provides listeners with a wonderful audio experience, and how she wrote to have the script work for an audiobook. …
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Victoria Christopher Murray: Harlem Rhapsody
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Victoria Christopher Murray joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about HARLEM RHAPSODY, which is her first solo historical novel (she has written New York Times bestsellers with her co-author, Marie Benedict). She explains why she chose to write about the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and shares her extensive research, which included reading issues of …
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Bookaccino Live Book Group: Marjan Kamali
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Marjan Kamali joined us for April’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN. This national bestseller and a 2024 Bookreporter Bets On selection is a heartfelt novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. Marjan talks about her inspiration for the book, which came fro…
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Nita Prose joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about THE MAID’S SECRET, her last book featuring Molly the Maid. She shares that she did not set out to write a series, but once the first book was finished, it was clear that there was more to Molly’s story. Nita enjoyed developing a voice for Gran in this novel; in the prior installments, everything about…
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Katy Hays joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, SALTWATER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. The book is set on the island of Capri and has the same vibes as “The White Lotus.” Katy explains the origins of the novel, as well as how the story grew and why she told it from the points of view of multiple characters, alternati…
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Georgia Hunter, author of the New York Times bestseller WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, ONE GOOD THING. Georgia explains why she chose to set the book in Italy and the research trip that she took there with her mother, which was such a special time for her. She and Carol discuss what it must be like to…
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Bookaccino Live Book Group: Anna Quindlen
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Anna Quindlen joined us for March’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss AFTER ANNIE, a New York Times bestseller that is now available in paperback. The novel is told from the perspectives of three characters following Annie’s sudden death, and Anna explains why she felt this was the most effective way to tell the story. Anna talks about Annie’…
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Jeff Hobbs has been on Carol Fitzgerald’s radar since she first interviewed him 11 years ago at a pre-publication event for THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE. So, she was happy to catch up with him about his latest work, SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America, which is a Bookreporter Bets On …
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Clare Leslie Hall joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, BROKEN COUNTRY, which is both a Reese’s Book Club selection and a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, as well as a Bookreporter Bets On title. Clare explains the early inspiration for the novel and shares that she worked on it for four years, coming ba…
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Charmaine Wilkerson talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest novel, GOOD DIRT, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She explains how the character of Ebby Freeman came to her, and from there the idea of the clay jar that has been in the family for generations. Charmaine shares the research she conducted about the work of slaves in the South…
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“Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Lisa Wingate
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Lisa Wingate joined us for February’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss SHELTERWOOD, a Bookreporter Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. She explains what sparked the idea for her novel and why she chose to set it in two time periods: 1909 and 1990. We also learn about the research she did into the “elf children,” the Dawes A…
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Marie Benedict: The Queens of Crime
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Marie Benedict joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest book, THE QUEENS OF CRIME, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Marie read classic women’s mysteries at a young age, as she was introduced to them by her aunt. Her love for the genre influenced this book, as well as her earlier work, THE MYSTERY OF MRS. CHRISTIE. Marie discusses t…
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Joseph Finder joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss his latest thriller, THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Joe talks about writing the novel’s two time frames and how the awareness of what oligarchs are has become a lot more timely in the past few years. He did some wilderness training for part of the book, and then va…
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“Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Ashley Elston
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Ashley Elston joins us for our first “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event of 2025 to discuss her debut novel for adults, FIRST LIE WINS. This #1 New York Times bestseller and Bookreporter Bets On selection is now available in paperback. Ashley talks about her writing process, which includes the brown butcher paper that lines her walls along with colo…
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Scott Turow joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his latest legal thriller, PRESUMED GUILTY. This Bookreporter Bets On selection marks the return of Rusty Sabich, following his starring roles in PRESUMED INNOCENT and INNOCENT. Scott explains his decision to write the book and why this may be the last time we see Rusty as a protagonist in one of his…
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Michelle Horton: Dear Sister: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds
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Michelle Horton joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds, which has just released in paperback with bonus content and is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Michelle shares the harrowing story of how her sister, Nikki, a victim of domestic violence for years, was imprisoned after she kille…
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Tracey Lange: What Happened to The McCrays?
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Tracey Lange joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest family-themed novel, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Tracey introduces readers to Kyle and Casey McCray, a divorced couple who are very much estranged. As Kyle returns home to Potsdam, New York, for a family emergency, their shared past haunts the…
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Lisa Genova joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, MORE OR LESS MADDY, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Lisa shares what drew her to write about a young woman with bipolar disorder and her research on the subject, which included conversations with people who have been diagnosed with it. She talks about how both the diagnosis …
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Fiona Davis joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her eighth novel, THE STOLEN QUEEN, which is set in Egypt in 1936 and New York City in 1978. The iconic New York building that is featured in this book, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection, is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Fiona and Carol talk about the King Tut exhibit, as well as the Met Gala …
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The Haunted Man by Charles Dickens - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain" by Charles Dickens.Charles Dickens Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLhlo3pjypw&list=PLHg_k…
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2024 Bookreporter Bets On Selections: Books We're Betting You'll Love
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Carol Fitzgerald shares commentary about her 40 Bookreporter Bets On selections from 2024. These are books that she is betting Bookreporter readers will love! (* means a video/podcast interview with that author is available.) The Women by Kristin Hannah * The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali * First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston * Summers at the S…
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A Kidnapped Santa Clause by L. Frank Baum - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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15:22
Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss L. Frank Baum's "A Kidnapped Santa Clause". L. Frank Baum Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY2W5QxoLiM&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YDcSXmokcfLBn7…
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"Bookaccino Live": Our Reviewers' Top Book Picks of 2024
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Carol Fitzgerald and Tom Donadio talked to seven Bookreporter reviewers about two of their favorite books of 2024. Our guests were Kate Ayers, Harvey Freedenberg, Pamela Kramer, Bronwyn Miller, Rebecca Munro, Ray Palen and Stuart Shiffman. Four reviewers — Sarah Rachel Egelman, Megan Elliott, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol and Norah Piehl — were not able t…
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"Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Ariel Lawhon
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Ariel Lawhon joined us for a “Bookaccino Live” Book Group discussion of THE FROZEN RIVER, which was a “Good Morning America” Book Club pick and an NPR Book of the Year when it was published in hardcover last December. It is now available in paperback and is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Our reviewer Pamela Kramer has this to say about the book,…
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Gogol's Wife by Tommaso Landolfi - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "Gogol's Wife" by Tommaso Landolfi.Tommaso Landolfi Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoVbs9Qx8ng&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YAWXZg9RFIt7eByiKHG_…
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Carol Fitzgerald talks to Sharon Virts about her latest historical mystery, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH. This Bookreporter Bets On selection was inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families. Sharon discusses why the Reconstruction era is such a poignant time in American history. She also explains the challenges of creating Jan…
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The Last Leaf by O'Henry - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "The Last Leaf" by O'Henry.O'Henry Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfbdV7OdTnE&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YCup53FqTyHDJNzZO5YClE_✨Do you have a…
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October in the Chair by Neil Gaiman - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today let's talk about "October in the Chair" by Neil GaimanNeil Gaiman Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiCT-o_pe0w&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YDH1NGzqt_XVf79HQ…
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Paula Hawkins joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, THE BLUE HOUR, which is November’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She discusses her inspiration for the book’s setting, which she had when she was on vacation, as well as her love of art. The characters and the way they move in and out …
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Early Autumn by Langston Hughes - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "Early Autumn" by Langston Hughes.Langston Hughes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMet0ADPNZI&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YA78br-dPR_Aj0FFXVN_Og…
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Bookaccino Book Club: Amanda Peters
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Amanda Peters joined us for October’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group to discuss THE BERRY PICKERS, which was the 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize winner and was awarded the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. It also was a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Amanda talks about her inspiration for the novel, which involved a trip to Ma…
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Susan Rieger: Like Mother, Like Mother
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Susan Rieger joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. She shares what drove her to write this book and why it is structured as a mystery, with the feel of literary Russian nesting dolls. Susan also reveals which was her favorite character to write and discusses the u…
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The Gold-Bug by Edgar Allan Poe - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "The Gold Bug" by Edgar Allan Poe.Edgar Allan Poe Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh9bqRBbJ14&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YCq-6ifwSmStfMELxziowX…
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The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "The Mortal Immortal" by Mary Shelley.Mary Shelley Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45pyFRuPzbQ&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YDNmxTlNJv6ZbT4tbVZrY…
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A Ghost Story by Mark Twain - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "A Ghost Story" by Mark Twain.Mark Twain Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duybn46818E&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YCrKfmv61-nqWNOSGPbsFfF✨Do you …
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Jean Hanff Korelitz joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest book, THE SEQUEL, the appropriately titled follow-up to THE PLOT. In it, Anna, the widow of Jacob Finch Bonner, is enjoying the riches of being a literary widow and has written a debut novel called THE AFTERWORD. But, ah, Anna has a secret to hide. Jean shares the fun she had layer…
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The Devil in the Belfry by Edgar Allan Poe - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we discuss "The Devil in the Belfy" by Edgar Allan Poe. A utopian work where a mysterious stranger introduces chaos.Edgar Allan Poe Playlist: https://www…
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Shelley Read was our guest for September’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group. As this was a book group-style program, we did talk spoilers. Four audience members joined us to ask her questions, all of which looked at GO AS A RIVER from different angles. Shelley shared her inspiration for the book and how she created her characters. She talked about prej…
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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below!Top 5 Lists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0sBuXIX0qM&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YC6l8JsJPFQb6fZdnLpCU9V✨Do you have a Short Story or Novel you'd think we'd like or wou…
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Laura Dave talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest novel, THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. At the heart of this story is a secret that has been hidden for years — one that may have caused the death of Liam Noone, a successful hotel magnate. Nora, his daughter from one of his marriages, is convinced by Sam, his so…
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