Must-read

What's hot in memoirs and biographies

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:45:00 -0800

Each month, Candace of Beth Fish Reads invites you to meet fascinating people by reading a buzz-worthy memoir or biography. New fall titles give you a look at Hollywood, former presidents, and the heartbreak of sudden mental confusion.

Must-read memoir: All Gone by Alex Witchel

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:45:00 -0700

Each month Candace of Beth Fish Reads invites you to meet a fascinating new person by reading a buzzworthy memoir or biography. New York Times columnist Alex Witchel's touching memoir of her mother's decline reminds us that's never too late to strengthen our connections to those we love.

Fiction meets non-fiction: A mashup

Swapna Krishna — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:29:00 -0700

Which is better -- fiction or non-fiction? We've paired some favorite fiction reads with some non-fiction suggestions that explore similar themes in our monthly fiction meets non-fiction mashup!

RED HOT BOOK OF THE WEEK: Love Slave by Jennifer Spiegel

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:45:00 -0700

In her debut novel, Jennifer Spiegel tells the story of three young people trying to make it in New York while learning to balance who they really are with their self-images and dreams.

Must-read: The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:45:00 -0700

In Jussi Adler-Olsen's second cold case crime novel, Detective Superintendent Mørck sets out to solve the 20-year-old murder of two siblings who may have gotten on the wrong side of a gang of rich boarding school students.

Must-read memoir: One Hundred Names for Love

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:45:00 -0700

After Paul West, author and wordsmith, suffered a stroke that left him literally speechless, his wife, Diane Ackerman, fought to help him regain his voice. Despite the frustrations and losses, Ackerman's memoir of their redefined relationship is surprisingly uplifting.

Must-read: The Prophet by Michael Koryta

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 06:45:00 -0700

Triple story lines twist and weave in Michael Koryta's standalone tale of murder, high school football, and two brothers seeking closure.

Must-read: A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci

Lisa Steinke — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:30:00 -0700

Maria Geraci's back with another smart and funny novel, A Girl Like You. With a heroine who we can all relate to, Geraci's latest is the perfect book to round out your summer must-read list.

Must-read: What the Nanny Saw by Fiona Neill

Swapna Krishna — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 06:40:00 -0700

There have been many books set during the financial downturn, from stories about formerly wealthy women forced to start over to families grasping to make ends meet. What the Nanny Saw is a unique look at this difficult period as seen through the eyes of a nanny to an incredibly wealthy family living in London. Fiona Neill's sharp wit and realistic characters make this book a must-read.

Must-read: Dare Me by Megan Abbott

Swapna Krishna — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 06:18:00 -0700

Megan Abbott's latest novel Dare Me is a provocative, disturbing look at teenagers and the difficult nature of love and loyalty. Readers will be shocked by Coach French and the inappropriate way in which she interacts with Addy, as well as Beth's capacity for meanness and revenge. The honest, unflinching character portrayals and timely subject matter make this book a must-read.

Must-read: Broken Harbor by Tana French

Swapna Krishna — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:38:00 -0700

Tana French is well-known for her absolutely gripping mysteries. She burst onto the scene with In the Woods, a novel that inspires equally strong rants and raves about its controversial ending. Both The Likeness and Faithful Place were equally intriguing, and now she's back with another novel about the Dublin murder squad -- Broken Harbor.

Must-read memoir: My First New York

Candace of Beth Fish Reads — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 06:45:00 -0700

Out this month in paperback from the editors of New York magazine is a fascinating collection of 56 essays by well-known personalities from almost all walks of life. Read about their first impressions of a city they now know well.

Must-read: Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

Samantha Robey — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 07:00:00 -0700

Meg Cabot makes a triumphant return to the Heather Wells mystery series with her latest novel, Size 12 and Ready to Rock.

SheKnows book review: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

Colleen M. Quill — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:25:00 -0700

Lisa See picks up the adult lives of sisters Pearl and May from The Shanghai Sisters. In the follow-up, no previous reading is required to delve deep into the impetuous actions of 19-year-old Joy. Pearl and May must face the consequences of family secrets that are decades old.

Must-read: Keepsake by Kristina Riggle

Swapna Krishna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 05:59:00 -0700

Kristina Riggle made a splash on the women's fiction scene with her debut novel Real Life & Liars. Since then, she's written two more novels, and this week her fourth book is coming out. Called Keepsake, it focuses on what it means to be a hoarder and what that might do to the people around you. Riggle always writes books with sympathetic characters and compelling plots, which is why Keepsake is a must-read.

Must-read: The Girl Below by Bianca Zander

Swapna Krishna — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 08:15:00 -0700

Psychological thrillers and mysteries have become very popular lately. Books such as Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson combine suspense with an underlying mystery that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end. Bianca Zander's debut novel The Girl Below is in this same vein -- a woman returns to London after a 10-year self-imposed exile, intent on uncovering her childhood memories and discovering what really happened one fateful night.

Must-read: And Laughter Fell from the Sky by Jyotsna Sreenivasan

Swapna Krishna — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:11:00 -0700

The struggle between doing what is expected of you and following your heart is a familiar one across cultures and time periods -- after all, Jyotsna Sreenivasan was inspired to write And Laughter Fell from the Sky after reading Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth. A bright and unique story of an Indian woman struggling to be who her family wants to be, And Laughter Fell from the Sky is a story that will resonate, regardless of your cultural background.

Must-read: Beach Colors by Shelley Noble

Samantha Robey — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:00:00 -0700

A vivid novel set in a coastal town of Connecticut, Beach Colors is the story of one woman’s broken dreams and new beginnings.

Must-read: Sea Change by Karen White

Samantha Robey — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:40:00 -0700

Karen White’s latest novel Sea Change offers readers a breathtaking journey between past and present, following a modern-day heroine in her quest for true love -- and finding her own happiness.

Must-read: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Swapna Krishna — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:05:00 -0700

From the movie The Vow starring Rachel McAdams to the slew of recent women's fiction, women suffering from memory loss seems to be a popular topic this year in film and literature. Liane Moriarty's novel What Alice Forgot takes this familiar plot line and makes it fresh and new. We couldn't get enough of Alice and stayed up late into the night to discover whether she would find the happiness she so wanted.

Must-read: Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel

Samantha Robey — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 -0700

An insightful novel that will charm readers and make them think about relationships and how we often complicate our own lives, Deborah Michel’s debut is for the must-read list.