Bookreporter Talks To

Lisa Scottoline joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, a domestic thriller centered on female friendship, murder and identity. A Bookreporter Bets On selection, it features two best friends — Julia and Courtney — who investigate the murder of Courtney's grandmother in rural Pennsylvania.

Lisa describes the book as the "twistiest" she has ever written, with multiple layers of plot and character development. The friendship between Julia and Courtney is the emotional core of the story. They met in high school as outsiders and have sustained each other ever since. Lisa says that female friendships are often undervalued despite being a primary source of support through life's challenges. She highlights this line from the book: "Maybe girlfriends are there to fill in your blind spot." Bennie Rosato, who was in 17 of Lisa's previous novels, adds a third strong female voice and embodies the theme of fighting for justice over mere legal compliance.

Lisa also shares details about the various locations in the book. The historical setting is not decorative but thematically essential, connecting personal history, regional history and national history. The audiobook features five narrators — Maria Marquis, Kate Burton (Richard Burton's daughter, who again is voicing the character of Bennie Rosato), Soneela Nankani, Stacy Carolan and Max Meyers — which marks the first time that Lisa has used a multicast format.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

John Searles: https://youtu.be/LA2gXPoc_zk

Jenny Jackson: https://youtu.be/V116A5eBBBE

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/d554V2bGHSQ

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/wwQjtlPePBQ

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

John Searles joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his new novel, SINGLE GIRLS, a work of dramatic fiction set in the 1960s. It focuses on Helen Gurley Brown and the team of women she assembled who transformed Cosmopolitan into one of the best-selling magazines of all time. A Bookreporter Bets On selection, the book has been compared to "Mad Men" and "Sex and the City."

John worked at Cosmopolitan and shares his encounters with Helen through the years. The novel is deeply informed by real events, Helen's memoirs, published biographies, and his personal knowledge of the editors who worked there. John had always wanted to write about Helen and had told her so during their friendship, but he had been constrained by publishing expectations to stay within his established genre: suspense/thrillers. The audiobook is narrated by his friend, Amy Ryan, who starred in the film adaptation of his earlier novel, STRANGE BUT TRUE.

Carol worked at Mademoiselle, and during their conversation, she shares her background there and how she navigated her early career before leaving Condé Nast and starting The Book Report Network almost 30 years ago.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Jenny Jackson: https://youtu.be/V116A5eBBBE

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/d554V2bGHSQ

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/wwQjtlPePBQ

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Jenny Jackson joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, THE SHAMPOO EFFECT, which was announced as July's "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick on the day of this interview. Set in a seaside Massachusetts town inspired by Ipswich, where Jenny grew up, the book explores themes of friendship, romantic entanglement, generational differences, imposter syndrome, and coming of age in one's 30s.

Jenny talks about her writing process and balancing her role as Vice President and Editorial Director of Fiction at Alfred A. Knopf with her writing career. Carol notes the book's layered, unfolding mystery quality, with readers constantly wondering about character connections and motivations. Jenny knew key character traits from the start — Caroline's complicated relationship with her mother, Bailey's fierce independence, Augusta's traditional old-money conservatism, and Fran's exasperated, low-maintenance personality (partly inspired by her best friend). Rotating points of view is central to Jenny's authorial voice and thematic goals, and the characters' backstories were largely established before writing.

Jenny discusses how the book captures shifting attitudes toward sexuality and parenting across generations. And she also shares the origins of the title. Carol selected THE SHAMPOO EFFECT as a Bookreporter Bets On pick, just as she did Jenny's debut novel, PINEAPPLE STREET.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/d554V2bGHSQ

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/wwQjtlPePBQ

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Beatriz Williams joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, WHEN YOU LOVED ME, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Set on fictional Winthrop Island, this multilayered story combines historical fiction, mystery, romance and family drama. The Winthrop Island series has allowed Beatriz to build a rich, interconnected world where characters evolve across multiple books. WHEN YOU LOVED ME has a piece that will have readers marveling at how the island's inhabitants survived during a harsh winter when the snow was unrelenting.

Beatriz talks about the deliberate choices behind the novel's multiple narrative perspectives, as well as the multicast recording for the audiobook. She shares personal background on her football experience at Stanford, which directly inspired the character of Ben Ressler, an NFL player at the center of the story. And towards the end of the interview, Beatriz reveals what's next for her.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/wwQjtlPePBQ

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Bruce Holsinger joined us for June's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event to discuss his national bestseller, CULPABILITY, which was a Bookreporter Bets On selection when it released last July. This suspenseful family drama is about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.

Bruce offered many interesting tidbits about the origin of the book's plot, title and cover art, and he described the moment when he found out that it was going to be an Oprah's Book Club pick. Six readers joined the conversation on camera with questions about Bruce's storytelling and comments on how AI has quickly infused our lives. They also talked about how they related to the novel's various characters. We closed out the program with Bruce sharing what's next for him.

Please note that this is our last "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event of the season as we will be taking July and August off. We will be back in September and will announce our author guest as soon as the details have been confirmed.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Lori Foster talks to Carol Fitzgerald about her latest novel, THE LAKE HOUSE, which our reviewer Bronwyn Miller says "would be perfect to toss into your bag as you head to the beach or the lake, or as you're relaxing in your yard when you need a sweet escape from the everyday." Set in Bramble, Kentucky, it's the second installment in her Firefly Summer series, following last year's THE GUEST COTTAGE (though it easily can be read as a stand-alone title).

Lori talks about being a linear writer, allowing the story to bring her along. The role of her new character, Brogan Rafferty, as an inexperienced caregiver provides both emotional depth and comic relief, grounding the novel in relatable human experiences. Amusingly, Lori enlisted her loved ones during a Sunday gathering to help her do the math on the ages of her characters across these two books, which became a fun family activity.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Lisa See joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. This time, Lisa explores the idea of female friendship as told by three different Chinese women — Moon, Dove and Petal — who were inspired by real people.

The book is rooted in the 1871 Chinese Massacre in Los Angeles, which has been largely erased from public memory and not taught in history classes. Lisa first explored the massacre over 30 years ago while researching ON GOLD MOUNTAIN, where it appeared in a single paragraph. She was later invited by the mayor to serve on an advisory board for a memorial commemorating what became known as the "Night of Horrors." The novel grew from both deep personal family history and a sense of compulsion to recover a deliberately suppressed historical event.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Ruta Sepetys talks about her ninth book and first adult novel, A FORTUNE OF SAND, with Carol Fitzgerald. Set in 1920s Detroit during the Prohibition era, the story is centered on the wealthy Lennox automotive dynasty behaving badly and accumulating power. The youngest daughter, Marjorie, uncovers a web of family secrets. The book is rooted in deep historical research, and explores themes of power, impermanence, control, and the fragility of constructed legacies in Detroit during this time period.

Ruta discusses the control exerted over women during the era, often framed as "safeguarding" but functioning as suppression of creative and personal autonomy. She and Carol have a longstanding professional relationship dating back to her debut YA novel, BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY. Ruta notes that the cover design — Honolulu Blue and silver — is a nod to Detroit. She also shares that the "Dear Coco" interstitial letters throughout were part of the original manuscript and come together meaningfully at the end.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Wally Lamb joined us for May's "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event to discuss his instant New York Times bestseller, THE RIVER IS WAITING, which is now available in paperback. It also is an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. Wally explained how he came to write this story and how his time working with incarcerated women in the prison system influenced his work.

A number of readers joined us to share their thoughts on the book and how it affected them in powerful ways. (Please note: Spoilers are included.)

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

Kathryn Stockett joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, THE CALAMITY CLUB, her first book since THE HELP (which was published in 2009) and a Bookreporter Bets On selection. The story is set in Mississippi during the Great Depression and follows a group of scrappy, strong-willed women who work together to conquer challenges they face, knowing that there are no men to save them. The novel also addresses the societal expectations and hypocrisies of the 1920s and '30s.

Kathryn balances the book's serious historical themes with humor. Initially she tried to write a cautious, bland tale that was different from THE HELP to avoid similar criticism, but she realized after a number of years that it lacked heart. Kathryn also discusses the novel's length, which she justifies by the character development and story complexity. She drew a lot of inspiration from her own mother, to whom THE CALAMITY CLUB is dedicated.

Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw

Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A

Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4

Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg

Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/ED0LOkAarVE

Wendy Walker: https://youtu.be/y-2G5AC9heU

Ashley Elston: https://youtu.be/Yb_ig0leaQA

Paula McLain: https://youtu.be/vKwg0G18sCA

Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:

Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc

Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY

Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto

Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0

Allen Levi: https://youtu.be/tELDtaqsD7g

Clare Leslie Hall: https://youtu.be/j0j3_ScryJg

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions