Friday Reads: Indie Next Edition

Friday Reads: Indie Next Edition

Congratulations! You made it to another weekend! We know what we’re doing—settling in with a bowl of ice cream and two great books that also happen to be August Indie Next picks: SMALL BLESSINGS by Martha Woodroof Readers who loved MAJOR PETTIGREW’S LAST STAND will adore this inspiring debut of a small-town college professor, a […]

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Belated #BookBday (4/15/14 Edition)

Belated #BookBday (4/15/14 Edition)

We're a day late in wishing these books a Happy #BookBday, but it's only to keep the party going!

THE OTHER STORY by Tatiana de Rosnay
The internationally bestselling author of SARAH'S KEY returns with another absorbing novel about a young writer who, while digging into his family’s deeply buried secrets, finds the key to his future. A May 2014 Indie Next selection!
“...de Rosnay's fans and readers who enjoy contemporary interior novels will not be disappointed.” — Library Journal
 

A PARIS APARTMENT by Michelle Gable
An antique furniture appraiser finds a treasure trove—and secrets of its courtesan owner—in a Paris apartment in the ninth arrondissement. “With its well-developed, memorable characters and the author's skillful transitioning between story lines...this stunning and fascinating debut will capture the interest of a wide audience but particularly those interested in stories about women behind famous men like Melanie Benjamin's THE AVIATOR'S WIFE or Nancy Horan's UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal, starred review

THE SEA HOUSE by Elisabeth Gifford
Set in Scotland's remote Outer Hebrides, THE SEA HOUSE is a beguiling tale of love and loss, a meditation on motherhood, and how we find our identity through the stories we tell. “Hints of magic abound in Gifford’s haunting fiction debut, which follows two story lines... Gifford has an ability to bring depth to her characters, whether they live in the 19th century or the 20th, and this helps hold together her sweeping tale.” — Publishers Weekly

'TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY by Lauren Francis-Sharma
This buzzed about debut novel is a glorious and moving multi-generational, multicultural saga that begins in the 1940s and sweeps through the 1960s in Trinidad and the United States. “Francis-Sharma’s spellbinding, intimately detailed, psychologically lush, and suspenseful tale of racial and sexual trauma, hard work, love, and family devotion makes personal the injustice people endured in the years leading up to the civil rights movement in both multicultural Trinidad and segregated America.” — Booklist, starred review

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Happy #BookBday (4/1/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (4/1/14 Edition)

Today we’re excited to wish a very happy #BookBday to:

SEDITION by Katharine Grant
In this "...witty, dark, and sophisticated tale" (Publishers Weekly, starred review), four nouveau rich fathers make their five marriageable daughters learn to play the piano in an effort to attract men and marry well. "[A] fun, lascivious gambol through the lives of women and men with decidedly carnal appetites... Suggest to fans of Sarah Dunant and Sarah Waters." — Booklist

MIMI MALLOY, AT LAST! by Julia MacDonnell
An April 2014 Indie Next pick! "MacDonnell captures perfectly the family dynamics between sisters, mothers, and daughters, as if she were sitting in on their gab sessions, taking copious notes. For readers who enjoy Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, this is a highly engaging family chronicle, with a healthy dose of Irish history laced in as well." — Booklist 

THE VENETIAN BARGAIN by Marina Fiorato
An unforgettable love story set in sixteenth century Venice by the bestselling author of THE GLASSBLOWER OF MURANO. "Headstrong, smart, and likable, Feyra is a heroine who will resonate with most readers. Captivating language, intricate details, and a very dramatic story line combine to entice anyone interested in historical fiction and timeless tales." — Booklist

And in honor of April Fool’s Day, don’t forget to visit the Free Library of Philadelphia’s innovative new 'Cat'alog. #meow

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Sneak Peek: April 2014 Indie Next list

Sneak Peek: April 2014 Indie Next list

Indie Next logoThe April 2014 Indie Next list was recently announced and we're thrilled that it includes so many great Macmillan titles!

THE EMPATHY EXAMS by Leslie Jamison
"A tough, intrepid, scouring observer and vigilant thinker, she generates startling and sparking extrapolations and analysis. On the prowl for truth and intimate with pain, Jamison carries forward the fierce and empathic essayistic tradition as practiced by writers she names as mentors, most resonantly James Agee and Joan Didion." — Booklist, starred review & our most popular ARC at ALA Midwinter! 

THE PLOVER by Brian Doyle
Doyle's story about a man who flees his troubled life on land for the solitude of the Pacific Ocean, but ends up on a rousing adventure is, “A rare and unusual book and a brilliant, mystical exploration of the human spirit.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

MIMI MALLOY, AT LAST! by Julia MacDonnell
"MacDonnell captures perfectly the family dynamics between sisters, mothers, and daughters, as if she were sitting in on their gab sessions, taking copious notes. For readers who enjoy Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, this is a highly engaging family chronicle, with a healthy dose of Irish history laced in as well." — Booklist 

THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer
Steinhauer's geopolitical tale about the aftermath of a diplomat's assassination and his wife's relentless investigation is “Elaborate, sophisticated…a long, twisty road full of cleverly placed potholes and unexpected turns. Mr. Steinhauer draws his spies as flesh-and-blood characters in whom his readers invest both attention and emotion.” — Janet Maslin, The New York Times

ROOSEVELT'S BEAST by Louis Bayard
Bayard draws on Teddy and Kermit Roosevelt’s real-life ill-fated 1914 Amazon expedition to create "A suspense-filled re-imagining of history deepened by a confrontation with evil’s supernatural presence." — Kirkus Reviews

See the full April 2014 Indie Next List here.

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Thriller Thursday (2/20/14 Edition)

Thriller Thursday (2/20/14 Edition)

We're a day away from TGIF and you know what that means: #ThrillerThursday! Here's what we're reading this week:

RUNNER by Patrick Lee
You know how much Anne loves this "high-tech thriller that's hard to put down" (Library Journal, starred review) because she can't stop recommending it to anyone who will listen (hey casting directors: Channing Tatum!). She's not the only one–it's a March Indie Next pick, has three starred reviews, and the adoration of Lee Child, Steve Berry and Nelson DeMille. 

THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry
This psychological thriller about a couple restarting their lives five years after losing their son in a tragic accident is perfect for those of you who enjoyed the March 2014 LibraryReads pick, PRECIOUS THING. "This novel, with a premise that taps into the fears of every parent, is an entertaining thriller that fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn will enjoy." — Library Journal  
(get the free downloadable praise sheet)

DEAD WATER by Ann Cleeves
In the eagerly awaited new entry in Ann Cleeves' popular Shetland Islands series (now airing on BBC as the television series Shetland), Detective Inspector Willow Reeves and Inspector Jimmy Perez team up to investigate the murder of a journalist. "Cleeves has an unusually deft hand with characters; not one of them seems purely plot-functional, and Perez’s character keeps deepening with each book." — Booklist, starred review

BROTHERHOOD OF FEAR by Paul Grossman
It's 1933 and famed detective Willi Kraus is avoiding deportation back to Nazi Germany when he finds himself unwittingly drawn into a murder mystery in Paris. "Grossman again manages to make the past come alive, and his complicated investigator displays enough depth and frailty to warrant continued exploits, even without the series’ initial hook of a Jewish cop fighting for justice under the Nazis." — Publishers Weekly, starred review [...]

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Sneak Peek: The March 2014 Indie Next list

Sneak Peek: The March 2014 Indie Next list

Indie Next logoWe're shaking off the winter blues with great news: we've got four fantastic books on the March 2014 Indie Next list, including the #1 pick! 

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler (#1 Pick!)
Butler's atmospheric debut novel about the relationship between four friends in a little Wisconsin town is an ABA Spring 2014 Indies Introduce selection, a Maximum Shelf Awareness feature, and a "love letter to the Midwest." (Publishers Weekly)

RUNNER by Patrick Lee
There's a good reason we've been hyping this new thriller starring retired special forces operative Sam Dryden–it's got three starred reviews, sold international rights in seven countries, and the film rights were optioned by Warner Brothers with director Justin Lin (Fast & Furious 6) attached. (Now can we pleeeease get Channing Tatum to star?!)

THE WIVES OF LOS ALAMOS by TaraShea Nesbit
Nesbit's debut novel about the wives of the men who created the atom bomb is also an ABA Spring 2014 Indies Introduce selection, a Barnes & Noble Spring 2014 Discover Great New Writers selection, and has two great starred reviews with major media coverage to come.

THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE by Benjamin Black
Black's "pitch-perfect recreation" of Raymond Chandler's incomparable private eye Philip Marlowe goes "beyond mere thoughtful homage" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) when a seductive young heiress asks Marlowe to find her former lover.  

Make sure to get whitelisted on Edelweiss and get your digital review copies of these great titles! [...]

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LibraryReads, Indie Next & Three Stars for THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING

LibraryReads, Indie Next & Three Stars for THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING

The good news just keeps coming for THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING: On Writers and Drinking by Olivia Laing. It's #9 on the December LibraryReads list, a January Indie Next selection, and now it's received THREE starred pre-publication reviews:

“The tortured relationship between literary lions and their liquor illuminates the obscure terrain of psychology and art in this searching biographical meditation…. Laing explores this rich topic through an unusual mix of biographical research, astute literary interpretation, and wonderfully atmospheric travelogue... The result is a fine study of a human frailty through the eyes of its most perceptive victims.”Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A funny, tragic, and insightful journey for anyone who has read F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, or John Berryman; prepare to be smitten with this fresh offering. Those unfamiliar with these writers will want to read their works.” Library Journal, starred review

"Intently observant, curious, and empathetic, Laing, with shimmering detail and arresting insights, presents a beautifully elucidating and moving group portrait of writers enslaved by drink and redeemed by 'the capacity of literature to somehow...make one feel less flinchingly alone.'” Booklist, starred review

"A provocative, evocative blend of memoir, literary history and lyrical travel writing." Kirkus Reviews

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Get whitelisted and download your review copy on Edelweiss.

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LibraryReads chooses DANGEROUS WOMEN and THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING!

LibraryReads chooses DANGEROUS WOMEN and THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING!

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY! LibraryReads just announced their December 2013 list and we're thrilled to have two great Macmillan titles in the top ten:

Coming in at #7 is DANGEROUS WOMEN, edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois. This amazing collection of 22 original short stories co-edited by the Game of Thrones creator features contributions from bestselling authors, including Jim Butcher, Diana Gabaldon, Lev Grossman, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Brandon Sanderson, and a new GOT novella from Martin himself. It's received three outstanding starred pre-publication reviews, all claiming that this collection has something for every reader. Whether it's science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, or suspense, women are the stars, from feisty heroines down to villainess vixens.

The #9 pick is THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING: On Writers and Drinking by Olivia Laing, which was also recently named a January Indie Next selection. Growing up in an alcoholic family, Laing wanted to make sense of this disease and started by examining the link between alcohol and creativity in some of America’s finest writers, including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The tortured relationship between literary lions and their liquor illuminates the obscure terrain of psychology and art in this searching biographical meditation…. Laing explores this rich topic through an unusual mix of biographical research, astute literary interpretation, and wonderfully atmospheric travelogue... The result is a fine study of a human frailty through the eyes of its most perceptive victims.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

See the full December 2013 top ten list on LibraryReads.org.

Thank you to everyone who voted! Keep in mind with the Thanksgiving holidays approaching that nominations for the January list will be upon us very soon (due December 1). Don't wait, nominate! 

As for the current list, you can help support these great books by promoting each month's selections in a featured display in your library and by using the FREE downloadable marketing materials provided by LibraryReads, which includes flyers and online banner ads.

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Sneak Peek: The December 2013 Indie Next list

Sneak Peek: The December 2013 Indie Next list

Indie Next logoThe December Indie Next list was recently announced and we're thrilled that it includes so many wonderful Macmillan titles! 

THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS by Julia Spencer-Fleming
The eighth book in the Clare Fergusson and Russ van Alstyne series is also #2 on the November LibraryReads list and is celebrating a very special #BookBday today!

JEEVES AND THE WEDDING BELLS by Sebastian Faulks
Bertie and Jeeves are back and in fine fettle, courtesy of Sebastian Faulks's homage to P.G. Wodehouse. Faulksie's done him proud: four outstanding starred pre-pub reviews. Well done, old chap!

THE HOUSEMAID'S DAUGHTER by Barbara Mutch
The great praise keeps coming in for this debut novel: "Rich in detail and subtle in its politics, this affecting novel tells a poignant, inspiring story." –Booklist, starred review

REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR by Paul Auster
In the bestselling author's most intimate autobiographical work to date, Auster describes his journey into adulthood through the postwar 1950s into the turbulent 1960s.

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Happy #BookBday (10/1/13 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (10/1/13 Edition)

Cue the music: ♫♪♫♫♪ Da na na na na NAH, You say it's your Birthday! Da na na na na NAH, It's my Birthday, too! ♫♪♫♫♪ 
OK, not really, but maybe we just wanted some cake. Today we wish a very happy #BookBday to:

THREE CAN KEEP A SECRET by Archer Mayor
To mark the 25th anniversary of a long-running, critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling series, Archer Mayor has written one of his best Joe Gunther books. An October Indie Next pick, THREE CAN KEEP A SECRET involves a complex case with two corpses, one escaped mental patient, and a long-held secret that binds them together.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE by David Finkel
MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Finkel’s new book about life after war picks up with the same men he chronicled in his previous book, THE GOOD SOLDIERS. With three starred pre-publication reviews, such as this one from Booklist, it's not to be missed: "It is impossible not to be moved, outraged, and saddened by these stories, and Finkel’s deeply personal brand of narrative journalism is both heart-breaking and gut-wrenching in its unflinching honesty."

THE NIGHT GUEST by Fiona McFarlane
McFarlane's debut novel about trust, dependence, and fear centers on a widowed woman living outside an isolated beach town and the mysterious government care worker she admits into her home. Not only is it an Indie Next pick, it's also an Indies Introduce title--making it one of the ten best debuts of Fall 2013. "This book is at once a beautifully imagined portrait of isolation and an unsettling psychological thriller." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

Before we blow the candles out and dig in, don't forget there's an Early Word Galley Chat today! Join us at 4pm EST using the hashtag #ewgc. See you there!

Cat book bday

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