Rebecca Ross joins us on Virtual Book Tour to discuss her duology - Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. We had a magical time talking about the duality that lives in all of us, why romantasy is a genre capturing readers, and how Rebecca's love of fantasy started. In this epic follow-up to Divine Rivals, Iris has returned from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. As the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.  Get Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

On this week's episode, we sit down with Amy Jo Burns, author of Mercury! We had a great time speaking about the legacy of making things with your hands, why we should be rethinking the term "Rust Belt," and the learnings that come with regret.  It’s 1990 and seventeen-year-old Marley West is blazing into the river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. A perpetual loner, she seeks a place at someone’s table and a family of her own. The first thing she sees when she arrives in town is three men standing on a rooftop. The Joseph brothers become Marley’s whole world before she can blink. Get Mercury at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We are so excited to be welcoming Alex Michaelides, three-time BOTM author, onto VBT for this week's episode! We took a peek behind the emerald curtain and got to learn more about how he plays with the expectations of the reader, why The Fury is a whydunit rather than a whodunit, and how Alex fell back in love with writing. Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape and spend Easter on her private Greek island. It has all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.  Get The Fury at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Live from the BOTM headquarters, Molly Roden Winter joins us to discuss her new memoir, More. We talked about everything from motherhood, outdoor escapades, and the intricacies of an open marriage. This episode had the whole office in tears from laughing; you're in for a treat! Molly Roden Winter was a mom of two young children with her husband, Stewart. One night, when Stewart missed the kids’ bedtime, again, she stormed out of the house to clear her head. At impromptu drinks with a friend, she met an unbelievably hot younger man. When Molly told her husband that Matt had asked her out, she was surprised that he encouraged her to accept. There began Molly’s open marriage and with it a life-changing journey of self-discovery. Get More at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We are so excited to be sitting down with Amy Pease to talk about her debut book, Northwoods. We loved getting to hear about her experience going from a Book of the Month long-time member to author, and we also talked about the hallmarks of writing a small town mystery, how her work as a healthcare provider helped her writing, and Amy's favorite niche subgenre.  Eli North’s drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after his deployment in Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is at the local sheriff’s department with his mother. When the body of a boy is found in the lake, Eli has the opportunity to solve the case and get the shot at redemption he so desperately needs. Or will answers to this dark case elude him and continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods? Get Northwoods at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.   

New Year, new Virtual Book Tour Episode! We are so excited to be kicking off 2024 with Emily Austin, author of Interesting Facts About Space! We discuss writing about anxiety, rediscovering artifacts from our youth, and of course, space. Enid is obsessed with space and can tell you any fact without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps, while also trying to forge a relationship with her estranged half-sisters. Interesting Facts about Space shows us the power of revealing our secret shames, the most beautifully human parts of us all. Get Interesting Facts About Space at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We have the perfect episode for the holiday season–we are talking with Josie Silver about her newest book, A Winter in New York. We talk about the inspiration to set the story in New York, how grief reshapes our approach to love, and we learn some interesting facts about the history behind Valentine's Day. When Iris takes a walk through Little Italy, a family-run gelateria catches her eyes, and she realizes that it's the same shop that is in an old photo of her mother’s. Curious, Iris returns the next day and learns that the sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe is sick and the shop is in danger of closing. When Iris samples the gelato, she realizes that their gelato and her mother’s are one in the same.  Get A Winter in New York at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We are so excited to be speaking with Nita Prose about her second Book of the Month book, The Mystery Guest. We talk about the co-creation between the writer and the reader, sneaking into hotels for book research, and the airplane napkin that started Nita’s writing career. Molly Gray has a flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, and has risen through the ranks of the five-star hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. Right as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when a world-renowned mystery author drops dead on the hotel’s floor. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery. Get The Mystery Guest at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

On this week's episode, we sit down with the author of The Storm We Made, Vanessa Chan! We talk about how the foundation of her book came from her grandmother, how the Pacific Theater was impacted during World War II, and how her relationship with Malaysia has changed in the process of writing this book.  The Storm We Made takes place in 1945 Malaya, and Cecily’s family is in danger. Her fifteen-year-old son has disappeared, her youngest daughter is confined in a basement, and her eldest works at a tea house frequented by drunk Japanese soldiers. Cecily knows two things: that this is all her fault; and that her family must never learn the truth.  Get The Storm We Made at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We are so excited to be sitting down with Emma Grey to discuss The Last Love Note. We talk about the highs and lows of experiencing loss, the importance of community while grieving, and chasing the light in hard times. Grab your tissues, this episode is a  tearjerker!  The Last Love Note follows Kate two years after losing her young husband. She’s grieving, solo parenting, working like mad, always dropping the ball—and yet clinging to her sense of humor. When an in-flight problem leaves Kate and her boss stranded for a weekend on the east coast of Australia, she finally has a chance to process her grief and see what’s right in front of her. Get The Last Love Note at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

On this week’s episode, we sit down with debut author Kate Robb to discuss her November book, This Spells Love. We talk about the butterfly effect, when it’s appropriate to put a spell on an ex, and how Kate perfected the art of writing spicy romantic scenes.  When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she gets drunk with her sister, aunt, and best friend. After one too many margaritas, they perform a love-cleansing spell, which promises to erase Gemma’s ex from her memory. When she wakes up, she realizes that the silly spell has worked, but the rest of her life is completely unrecognizable and her best friend has no idea who she is.  Get This Spells Love at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

What would you do if you came back century after century in different forms to live multiple different lives? Jonathan Evison explores this idea in his new novel, Again and Again. We talk about the importance of continuing the dialogue between the reader and the writer, the power of storytelling, and we play a game of Famous Reincarnations. Eugene “Geno” Miles is living out his final days in a nursing home, struggling to connect with his new nursing assistant, Angel. She is understandably skeptical of Geno’s insistence of having not just one life but many – all the way back to medieval Spain. As Angel comes to learn the truth about Geno and his miraculous story comes to a head, so does the biggest truth that love is sometimes right in front of us. Get Again and Again at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We are sitting down with Anna Pitoniak on this week's episode of Virtual Book Tour to discuss her new spy thriller, The Helsinki Affair! We talk about her idea for the novel, what qualities you would need to work for the CIA, and how spy craft has changed over the years.  Amanda Cole is a young CIA agent, following in the footsteps of her father, and when a Russian operative tells her that a US Senator is about to be assassinated, she is thrust into an international conspiracy. As she gets closer to solving the case, she finds that her father’s name was written in the senator’s notes. In order to get to the bottom of this international plot, Amanda must decide if her loyalty lies with her country or with her family. Get The Helsinki Affair at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

To celebrate our 100th episode, we sit down with V.E. Schwab, author of The Fragile Threads of Power and 2020 BOTY finalist The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. We talk about the power of magic, writing accessible fantasy, and writing your own rules.  Once, there were four worlds pulsing with fantastical power, and connected by a single city: London. When the magic grew too fast, the worlds were forced to seal the doors between them to protect their own. The only magicians who still have the power to open the doors between worlds are the Antari, and only three are known in recent memory. Get The Fragile Threads of Power at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Jean Kwok, author of The Leftover Woman! We talk about her thoughts on motherhood, ambition, and her experience as a ballroom dancer. We also got an impromptu merengue lesson post-interview! Jasmine Yang arrives in New York City without money or family support, on a search for her daughter who was taken from her at birth due to China’s One Child Policy. Rebecca Whitney seems to have it all: a prestigious family name, wealth, a successful career, and an adopted Chinese daughter she adores. But when Rebecca faces an industry scandal, her marriage, job, and perfect world begin to crumble.  Get The Leftover Woman at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Hannah Morrissey joins us on today's episode to discuss her latest thriller, When I'm Dead. We talk about her time as a police transcriber, how Hannah plans her fictional murders, and we play a game of Never Have I Ever.  On an October night, Medical Examiner Rowan investigates the death of her daughter’s best friends, and hours later, her daughter goes missing. A mosaic of clues force Rowan and her husband to question how well they really know their daughter, and they begin to uncover disturbing details about their daughter. When I’m Dead is a twist-filled thriller that will have you wondering how well we can ever know those we hold dearest.  Get When I’m Dead at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We're continuing in the spirit of Spooky Season and talking with Alix E. Harrow, author of Starling House. We talk about feeling like an outcast in a small community, the meaning of home and ownership, and, of course, haunted homes, scary stories, and monsters. Starling House follows Opal, an orphan and high school dropout, determined to find a better life for her younger brother. Desperate to get out of Kentucky, Opal steps into Starling House to make some extra cash and the sinister forces dig her deeper into it’s buried secrets. Get Starling House at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Adrienne Young joins us on this week’s episode of Virtual Book Tour to discuss her newest book, The Unmaking of June Farrow. We cover having multiple soulmates, modern love, déjà vu, and the power of writing.  In The Unmaking of June Farrow, the Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm, and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there, but June is determined to end the curse. When June discovers a series of cryptic clues, she embarks on a journey that will change both the past and the future.  Get The Unmaking of June Farrow at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We are excited to be sitting down with Nathan Hill on this week’s episode of Virtual Book Tour to discuss his new novel, Wellness. We talk about algorithms, placebos, self-care fads, and Nathan’s personal definition of wellness. When Jack and Elizabeth meet as college students, the two instantly fall in love. Fast-forward twenty years to married life, and alongside the challenges of parenthood, they encounter cults disguised as mindfulness support groups, polyamorous couples, and Facebook wars. For the first time, Jack and Elizabeth struggle to recognize each other and they risk losing the best thing in their lives: each other.  Get Wellness at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We're kicking off October with Breanne Randall, the author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. We talk about the power of magic, the special bond between a grandparent and their grandchild, and Breanne's perspective on rejection.  Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. When her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, and her first heartbreak returns to town, her structured life begins to unravel. As her feelings for her first love rekindle, and her grandmother gets sicker, Sadie has to decide if love is more important than magic.  Get The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

On this week's episode, we sit down with 2019 BOTY finalist Etaf Rum, author of Evil Eye. We discuss the importance of chasing your dreams, the first time Etaf felt seen as a writer, and fitting in within your community.  Raised in a conservative Palestinian family in Brooklyn, Yara thought she would finally feel free when she married an entrepreneur and moved to the suburbs. She’s gotten to follow her dreams, but as a traditional wife, she also raises her two daughters, takes care of the house, and has dinner ready for her husband. When Yara faces trouble, her mother blames a family curse, and to save herself, Yara must reckon with the reality that her childhood could have damaging implications for her and her daughters’ future. Get Evil Eye at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

From talking about Craiglist dates to Phish concerts, we sit down with the hilarious Kate Goldbeck, author of You, Again! Listen in to hear Kate discuss dating in the city, how she got her start writing fanfiction, and we ask her some dating advice (hint: the answer is don't go on the date).  When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They instantly hate each other. Ari is a free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual; Josh is an ambitious Manhattanite. They have absolutely nothing in common…except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman. Get You, Again at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Prepare your opening statements, VBT listeners. We’re sitting down with Michele Campbell to discuss her new novel, The Intern! We also discuss her past career as a criminal prosecutor, the difference between writing a legal thriller versus domestic suspense, and Michele tells us how to dress for success. The Intern follows Madison Rivera as she lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy. But Madison has a secret; her younger brother Danny has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case. After Danny accuses the judge of corruption, Danny goes missing. As Madison searches for answers, Madison and Conroy circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. Get The Intern at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Welcome back VBT listeners! This week, we sit down with 2019 BOTY finalist William Kent Krueger. We discuss his newest novel, The River We Remember; his love for small towns; making peace with the past; and why he dedicated this book to his editors.  The River We Remember takes place on Memorial Day in Jewel, Minnesota, when the half-clothed body of a wealthy landowner is found floating in a river. The investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern—a war hero who still carries the emotional and physical scars from his service. Quickly, vicious rumors circulate through the small town that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran. The River We Remember is both a complex mystery and a masterful portrait of mid-century American life. Get The River We Remember at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Welcome to VBT’s Summer Special! We’re taking you back to some of our favorite moments from past episodes. And for the first time ever, Brianna and Jerrod are facing off in our new game, VBT’s Greatest Hits! Listen to the full episodes mentioned during our Summer Special: Amita Parikh thinks book people should care about sports.  Live from New York, it’s Curtis Sittenfeld! Lauren Kung Jessen is an online dating success story. Victor LaValle loves monsters.  Stacy Willingham tells us why we’re all so obsessed with stories about murder.  Abby Jimenez says success is the greatest revenge.  Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a 2-time dropout. Carolyn Huyhn celebrates messy women. Genevieve Wheeler on the power of female friendships. Sally Hepworth is in a “husband killers” group chat.  Hopefully this will give you plenty to listen to while we’re on our summer break. We’ll be back with a new episode September 5th. New members can get their first book for just $9.99 at bookofthemonth.com with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Let’s define happiness! Angie Kim, the author of Happiness Falls, joins us live from the BOTM office to talk about her new novel, the meaning of happiness, and how BOTM members broke her Instagram. Mia is hyper analytical and has an explanation for everything, so when her father and younger brother Eugene don’t return from a walk in a nearby park, she is not concerned. But when Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has Angelman syndrome and cannot speak. Full of twists and questions of love, language, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. Get Happiness Falls at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

What would you do if your husband turned into a shark? Emily Habeck’s debut novel Shark Heart focuses on the (animal) transformation of love, marriage, and letting go. We also discuss the relationship between mothers and daughters, the power a diagnosis has on a person, and the influence of fear. A few weeks after Wren and Lewis’s wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis - he is transforming into a great white shark. As he develops into a creature of the ocean, Lewis struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams. His wife, Wren, struggles with the fate of her husband’s diagnosis. Shark Heart is a novel of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis, and letting go. Get Shark Heart at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Need some new whale facts for your next dinner party? Well, this is the episode for you! Adrienne Brodeur joins us on this week’s episode to discuss her new novel, Little Monsters! We discuss the turbulent family dynamics shown in the book, the differences between writing a memoir versus fiction, and the whale research that found its way into the book.  Ken and Abby Gardner lost their mother when they were small; their father, Adam, an oceanographer, raised them on his own in Cape Cod. As the novel opens, Adam’s seventieth birthday is approaching and he faces his mortality and fading relevance, alongside his bipolar disorder. As Adam grows more attuned to the deep sea and less so to the people around him, Ken and Abby each plan the elaborate gifts they will present to their father on his birthday. Get Little Monsters at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Megan Goldin is here to talk about her new book Dark Corners! Learn more about this nail-biter book on this week's episode of Virtual Book Tour. We also discuss the life of influencers, internet rabbit holes, and extreme social media stunts.  As Terence Bailey’s prison release date approaches, Terence gets a surprise from an influencer with a huge social media following and only hours later, the influencer goes missing. When the investigation hits a wall, the FBI asks for Rachel Krall’s help. Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover and discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal. Get Dark Corners at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We're discussing The Connellys of County Down on this week's episode of Virtual Book Tour! Tune in to hear Tracey Lange discuss how her past experiences helped influence the book, birth order dynamics, and the power of art. Plus, we play a game of Would You Rather. When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, rebuilding her life is not easy. With no money and no job, she returns home to her siblings who each have their own problems. While Tara works to build a new career and hold her family together, secrets start to unravel and threaten her future. The Connellys of County Down is a tale about forgiveness, loyalty, and one's limits. Get The Connellys of County Down at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

For the first time in VBT history, we are welcoming not one, but TWO authors: Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Tune into this week’s episode to learn more about The First Ladies, how this co-author-duo met, and what they learned about each other in the process.  The First Ladies is about the extraordinary friendship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Civil Rights Activist Mary McLeod Bethune. When FDR is elected president, the two women begin to collaborate more closely, and Eleanor becomes a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness on Civil Rights. When she receives threats, it only fuels the two women’s desires to fight for justice and equality.  Get The First Ladies at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

If you received a gigantic bouquet of daisies from a potential suitor, what would you do? Tune into Lisa See’s episode of Virtual Book Tour to hear what she would do! We also discuss her new novel Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, the real history behind this extraordinary woman, and the importance of female friendships.  Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a tale about female friendship and leadership in 15th-century China, challenging a woman’s place in society. From a young age, Tan Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and mutual purpose, and vow to be forever friends. When Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, she must learn to break free of these traditions and lead a life of treating women. Get Lady Tan’s Circle of Women at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

We're talking to Emma Törzs on Virtual Book Tour about her new book Ink Blood Sister Scribe! Listen in to learn how her sister inspired the story, her love for fairy tale tropes, and the vibes of dark academia. Ink Blood Sister Scribe follows two estranged sisters bearing the responsibility to protect their magical family library. When Esther and Joanna’s father dies while reading one of the magical books, the sisters must reunite to preserve the family legacy. In the process, they’ll uncover a world of magic bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined.  Get Ink Blood Sister Scribe at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

What happened to riddles and fun islands? Tune in to hear Meg Shaffer, the author of The Wishing Game, speak about how Willy Wonka inspired her story, how books provide escapism, and the importance of supporting people’s dreams.  The Wishing Game follows Lucy Hart, a 26-year-old teacher’s aid, desperate to adopt her orphan student Christopher Lamb. Without the proper funds and stability, Lucy needs a miracle to make her dream come true. But when her favorite author invites her to a competition on his private island, she may finally have a chance.  Get The Wishing Game at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Dust off your dancing shoes because we sit down with Fiona Davis to discuss her new book The Spectacular! We talk about what inspired her to write about the Rockettes and Fiona’s journey from actor to journalist to writer. Plus, she tells a beautiful story about what the BOTM blue box means to her, which had everyone teary-eyed. In 1956 New York City, 19-year-old Marion is selected to be one of the Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall’s glamorous dancing troupes–until a bomb explodes in the theater. It’s only the latest in a string of explosions orchestrated by the “Big Apple Bomber.” With the public in an uproar over the lack of leads, the police turn to psychological profiling. As Marion finds herself pulled deeper into the investigation, she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s worked for. Get The Spectacular at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com  

Meet Ashley Audrain, a repeat Book of the Month author! We sit down with Ashley to discuss her new book, The Whispers, how wealth impacts motherhood, and why people in the suburbs are not okay. We also play a challenging round of ‘Would You Rather: Kid’s Party or Adult Party.’   On Harlow Street, everything is fabulous until Whitney’s son falls from his bedside window in the middle of the night. The Whispers spins out over the course of one week, in the alternating voices of the women in the neighborhood: Blair, Whitney’s best friend; Rebecca, the ER doctor helping Whitney’s son; and Mara, the older woman next door. The Whispers explores the quiet sacrifices of motherhood and the dangerous impulse to compare oneself to other parents.    Get The Whispers at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.    Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

She might come from a family of bartenders, but believe it or not, Mary Beth Keane did *not* base her character off any kin in particular. On this week’s episode, we discuss her new book, The Half Moon, long-term relationships, love for small towns, and her aversion to rum drinks. The Half Moon follows Malcolm and Jess over the course of one week when a blizzard hits the town of Gillam, trapping everyone in place. Malcolm has always dreamed of owning a bar and transforming it into a bigger success—leading him to drown in debt. Jess grapples with her infertility and her evaporating dreams of motherhood. The Half Moon explores the intimacy of small-town living and what it means to be a family. Get The Half Moon at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com  

Meet our latest Virtual Book Tour guest: Susie Luo! We sat down to discuss her debut novel Paper Names, her experience immigrating to the United States as a child, and the best things about NYC. And if you need some advice on what gift to bring to your next event, Susie Luo can help in our game “Bearing Gifts” (hint: it’s usually wine). Paper Names is set in New York and China over three decades from three different perspectives. Tony is a Chinese-born engineer turned Manhattan doorman; Tammy is Tony’s daughter who we follow through adulthood; and Oliver is a white lawyer who lives in the building where Tony works. An unexpected act of violence causes their lives to intertwine in this propulsive story of family, identity, and the American experience.  Get Paper Names at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com  

Repeat novelist and all-star baker Abby Jimenez joined us on Virtual Book Tour to discuss her newest novel, Yours Truly, the sweetest romance filled with love letters and very real life challenges. We talk about revenge and fake dating, finding love when you least expect it, and her questionable search history. Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining; her divorce is about to be finalized and her brother is running out of time to find a kidney donor, but everything changes when Dr. Jacob Maddox sends Briana a letter. Suddenly they are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates, and Jacob gives Briana a fun distraction by inviting her to be his fake date for his brother’s wedding. Yours Truly is a novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match. Get Yours Truly at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com  

Rivers, legends, and sisters: Patti Callahan Henry’s new novel is all of her favorite things in one! We’re sitting down to discuss The Secret Book of Flora Lea, fairy tales, and the historic moments that inspired her new book. We also play a game called “The Cost is Correct: Rare Book Edition.” The Secret Book of Flora Lea follows two sisters in 1939 England, where Hazel and Flora are seeking shelter from the war. When the unthinkable happens and Flora Lea disappears, Hazel carries that guilt into adulthood as a burden she feels she deserves. Twenty years later, and Flora has still not been found, but Hazel discovers a rare book that has a connection to her past only her sister would have known. Get The Secret Book of Flora Lea at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com  

Prepare to shed a couple tears for this moving, inspirational story about a death doula learning not to fear living. We sat down with debut author Mikki Bramer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover, to discuss her profound thoughts on death, grief, and last words.  What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life? After Clover’s beloved grandfather dies, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process. But as she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants and if she’ll have the courage to go after it. The Collected Regrets of Clover turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life. Get The Collected Regrets of Clover at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Hollywood: From the '50s to today. Meet Crystal Smith Paul and hear all about her debut novel, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? We discuss the beauty of mother-daughter relationships, diversity in Hollywood, and her journey to becoming a published author.  When white silver screen icon Kitty Karr dies, she bequeaths her multimillion-dollar estate to the three Black St. John sisters - prompting questions for all around. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? explores the celebrity machine, the burdens of being Black, the privileges gained by fading to white, and the power that family secrets have to erode and complicate the lives of future generations. Get Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Love a locked-door mystery? Megan Miranda joins us on Virtual Book Tour to discuss her new book, The Only Survivors, luck versus fate, and the washed-up phone that inspired the novel. Plus, we make Megan choose once and for all which is worse: being an adult or going back to high school.  The Only Survivors: Seven hours in the past. Seven days in the present. Seven survivors remain. A decade ago, two vans filled with high school students crashed into a ravine—a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The survivors of the crash made a pact to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night. On their tenth anniversary, there is an impending storm, and they face the threat of surging water again. As they promised long ago, each survivor will do whatever they can do to save another. Won't they? Get The Only Survivors at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Should you be friends with your ex? Genevieve Wheeler joins us on Virtual Book Tour to talk about her new book Adelaide, the importance of good friends, and sneaky tips for snagging a British boyfriend. For Adelaide Williams, an American living in London, meeting Rory Hughes was like a lightning bolt out of the blue: this charming Englishman was The One she wasn’t looking for. Adelaide is a raw, wrenching exploration of a toxic relationship and its aftermath that doubles as an ode to the power of self love.  Get Adelaide at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Where will you be in 27 years? We talk with debut novelist, Michelle Min Sterling, about her new book Camp Zero, the pros and cons of technology, and how she avoided smartphones for most of her life.  In the far north of Canada sits Camp Zero, an American building project hiding many secrets. Desperate to help her climate-displaced Korean immigrant mother, Rose agrees to travel to Camp Zero and spy on its architect in exchange for housing. Camp Zero explores how the intersection of gender, class, and migration will impact who and what will survive in the warming world.  Get Camp Zero at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Mad Libs, pan roms, and SNL! We talk with Curtis Sittenfeld all about how a pandemic hobby inspired her new book, Romantic Comedy! Plus, we play a hilarious game of Mad Libs, discuss the inner workings of SNL, and ponder the idea of seasonal love. In Romantic Comedy, Sally Milz is a sketch writer for “The Night Owls,” the late-night live comedy show that airs each Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s abandoned the search for love and focuses on her career success. Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models. When Sally and Noah hit it off, she begins to wonder if there might actually be sparks flying. Get Romantic Comedy at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Calling all pop culture fans! This episode of Virtual Book Tour is for you! We chat with Kirthana Ramisetti about her new book, Advika and the Hollywood Wives, dating red flags, and navigating friendships and relationships. In Advika and the Hollywood Wives, Advika Srinivasan considers herself a failed screenwriter. To pay the bills and to keep her mind off of the recent death of her twin sister, she takes up bartending A-list events, where she meets legendary Julian Zelding. Despite the 41-year age difference, Advika falls helplessly under his spell, and a month into their marriage, Julian’s first wife dies and a tabloid reports a shocking stipulation in her will. Realizing she rushed into the marriage for all the wrong reasons, Advika uses the info gleaned from the lives of her husband’s exes to concoct a plan to extricate herself from Julian once and for all. Get Advika and the Hollywood Wives at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Murder, attempted murder, and more murder. We have a whirlwind conversation with Sally Hepworth! We discuss The Soulmate (a March pick!), how she infuses empathy into her stories, and her penchant for writing about dysfunctional family relationships. The Soulmate follows Gabe and Pippa in their dream home in a sleepy coastal town set on a tall cliff that has become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the edge, until he doesnt. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, their perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack and the deepest darkest secrets begin to unravel. Get The Soulmate at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

A Prohibition-era family drama with a fierce female lead? What could be better! We sat down with Jeannette Walls to discuss her new book, Hang the Moon, gender roles within families, the 18th Amendment, and so much more!  Hang the Moon follows Sally Kincaid, the daughter of the biggest man in a small town - the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Determined to reclaim her place in the family, Sally confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger. Get Hang the Moon at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.  

Would you attend a séance? Do you believe in ghosts? Listen in to hear what Sarah Penner has to say! We sat down with Sarah Penner to discuss her second novel, The London Séance Society. She shares why she likes to create rebellious female characters, what she learned from attending a séance, and if she believes in ghosts.  In 1973 Paris, The London Séance Society follows Vaudeline D’Allaire, an acclaimed spiritualist known for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims, and Lenna Wickes, trying to find answers to her sister’s death. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her and they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves… Get The London Séance Society at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Do you think you would do well in the Wild West? Victor LaValle says he has no chance! We’re talking with Victor LaValle, author of Lone Women to discuss his love for monsters, why he thinks horror is optimistic, and how parenthood changed his approach as a storyteller. Lone Women follows Adelaide Henry, a woman fleeing past sins attempting to forge a new life homesteading in 1914 Montana's harsh plains. She carries an enormous steamer trunk with her that stays locked at all times because when the trunk is open, people around her start to disappear. Get Lone Women at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Do porcelain dolls freak you out? Us too… We sat down with Kristen Loesch to talk all about her debut novel, The Last Russian Doll. She dives into the process of writing historical fiction, plus her fascination with dolls and fairy tales. The Last Russian Doll weaves one family’s tragic splintering into the larger tapestry of Russia’s turbulent 20th century in a dual timeline. The 1990s timeline follows Rosie after her mother dies and Rosie returning to Russia, armed with little more than her mother’s strange folklore and a single key. What she uncovers is a devastating family history that spans the 1917 Revolution, the siege of Leningrad, Stalin’s purges, and beyond. The 1916 timeline begins with Tonya, whose actions will set off a sweeping story that reverberates across the country. Get The Last Russian Doll at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

What’s something in your home you detest, but your partner won’t get rid of? Listen on to hear Jenny Jackson’s answer! We sat down with Jenny Jackson to talk about her debut novel, Pineapple Street! She shared her experience going from editor to author, what inspired the book’s setting, and her many celebrity run-ins in Brooklyn Heights. Pineapple Street puts Brooklyn’s 1% under the microscope, exploring what happens to a trust fund deferred. Darley is the eldest daughter in a well-connected, old-money family; Sasha is from a middle-class family married into a Brooklyn Heights family; and Georgiana, the millennial conscience of the family who wants to give it all away. Get Pineapple Street at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

True or false: crows hold grudges. Emilia Hart has the answer. Today, we’re talking with debut author Emilia Hart to discuss her novel, Weyward, the meaning of witchcraft, insect appreciation, and of course, everything about crows. Weyward weaves together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries. 2019: Kate fleeing London to leave her abusive partner. 1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against her, Altha knows she must maintain her freedom. 1942: Violet is trapped in her family’s estate during World War II longing for the education her brother is receiving. Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world. Get Weyward at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

If you wrote a psychological thriller about a writing retreat, would you still attend a real-life writing retreat? Julia Bartz would! Today, we’re talking with author Julia Bartz to discuss her debut novel The Writing Retreat, how becoming a therapist made her a better writer, and getting in touch with her dark side to write this spooky thriller. The Writing Retreat follows Alex, a writer who is about to give up on her dreams when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend an exclusive writing retreat hosted by her hero, Roza Vallo. Quickly she learns that the attendees must complete an entire novel during the next month, and that the winner will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she’s desperate to discover the truth and save herself. Get The Writing Retreat at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Will writing a novel clear your skin? To what lengths will a mother go to find her family? Today, we’re talking with debut author Eleanor Shearer, author of River Sing Me Home, about how the process of writing helped her reconnect with her family, the Caribbean history behind the novel, and what it means to be free.  River Sing Me Home takes place the day the Emancipation Act of 1834 comes into effect; the day the king has decreed an end to slavery, but instead announces they are his apprentices. Instead of working for the king for another six years, Rachel runs and begins a desperate search for her children that were sold into slavery. This is the story of Rachel and the extraordinary lengths to which a mother will go to find her children… and her freedom.  Get River Sing Me Home at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

A romantic lead with nice forearms and a rescue dog? What more could you want! We’re talking to Kate Clayborn, author of Georgie, All Along, about the importance of childhood best friends, why work and identity should not always coincide, the part of high school she would and would not want to revisit, and of course, cowboys.  Georgie, All Along follows longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy when an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown where she finds a “friendfic” diary that she wrote as a teenager. The diary becomes her guidebook for getting started on a new path, all with the help of her unexpected roommate, Levi Fanning. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side. Get Georgie, All Along at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

True or false: Google is a reliable source for dating advice. Today, we’re talking with Jessica George, author of Maame, about Googling embarrassing questions, mother-daughter relationships, and ignoring societal timelines. We also play a game of “Dating Red Flags.” Maame follows Maddie, a young British woman who is stuck in a dead-end job and spends most of her time caring for her father. When her mom returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family house and start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts,” but it’s not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family. Get Maame at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Want to learn more about the UK’s very real (and very absurd) laws? Want to hear how 1940’s criminals got away with stealing furs? You’ve come to the right place! Today, we’re talking with Beezy Marsh about the naughty ladies from the Queen of Thieves, old British slang, and what draws Beezy to writing about crime. Queen of Thieves takes place in post-Blitz, 1946 London. Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, rules over her all-female gang with a bejeweled fist, while her “hoisters” are expert shoplifters. Young Nell is a teenager from the slums facing a desperately uncertain future when Alice takes her under her wing. As Nell embraces the rich spoils of crime and the seedy underbelly of London, will she manage to carve out her own path to power and riches? Might she even crown herself the Queen of Thieves? Get Queen of Thieves at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Can a dark academia author recognize the names of demons? Can she tell us what really goes on behind closed doors in a secret society? Today, we’re talking with Leigh Bardugo about her experience at Yale, the way hell is portrayed in her newest novel, and why demons and failed companies have eerily similar-sounding names.  Hell Bent is the epic follow-up to Ninth House. Alex Stern thinks one can just casually go to hell and bring friends back, but the journey is a lot darker and more dangerous than she realized. This attempted rescue could cost her a future at Lethe and at Yale, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls. Get Hell Bent at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

After her own meet cute happened online, Lauren Kung Jessen decided she wanted to write about the world of online dating, but with a Chinese twist. Today, we talk with Lauren about her debut book, Lunar Love, how to make a meet cute out of any situation, and why (or why not) rooster signs make good podcast hosts. Lunar Love tells the love story between the unlikely pair: Olivia Huang Christenson and Bennett O’Brien. Olivia has taken over her grandmother’s matchmaking business, while Bennett has created a dating app that could run her out of business. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal: they’ll find a match for each other—and whoever falls in love loses. But as they’re helping clients achieve #RelationshipGoals, these two matchmakers learn the most amazing love story may be their own. Get Lunar Love at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

What book do you get when you combine inspiration from Cory and Topanga’s relationship on Boy Meets World, the pressures of fame, and a story of second chances? You get Kayla Olson’s new romance novel, The Reunion. Today, we talk about why the pandemic sparked Kayla’s interest in writing romance, what it means to have thick and thin skin as a creative, and where Jerrod would be if he’d modeled as a baby.   The Reunion follows Liv Latimer, the star of the popular teen drama Girl on the Verge. After 14 years, she’s asked to come back for a one-time reunion episode. But doing this means facing her former best friend and costar, Ransom Joel. They might not have got a Hollywood ending the first time around, but a revived show might just give love a fighting chance. Get The Reunion at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

She may have focused on writing her novel instead of paying attention in class, but it certainly paid off. Today, we sit down with Kate Alice Marshall to talk about her newest novel, What Lies in the Woods. She shares what would be the creepiest things to find in the woods, the difference between writing YA and adult fiction, and how her childhood inspired the whimsical game in the book.  What Lies in the Woods tells the story of Naomi Shaw and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, 22 years after they sent a killer to prison. They were believed to be heroes, yet they were also liars. For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now, Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth is. Get What Lies in the Woods at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Age really does matter when writing a book. Deepti Kapoor says that if she had written Age of Vice in her 20’s, it would be completely different. Today, Deepti tells us all about the complicated cast of characters in her novel, her life as a journalist living and partying in New Delhi in the early aughts, and what it means to make broccoli-flavored ice cream.  Age of Vice opens with a deadly car crash that has all eyes on the Wadia family — loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all. In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, and calculated political influence, three lives become intertwined: Ajay, the watchful servant. Sunny, the playboy heir. And Neda, the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Get Age of Vice at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Happy Holidays, Listeners! In the spirit of the season, we are reflecting on and celebrating awesome conversations we had this year. We're wrapping up 2022 by re-airing our hysterical conversation with Karin Slaughter, author of Girl, Forgotten. See you in 2023! Prom night is a memorable night for many Americans, but it’s also a great setting for a murder. Today we sit down with Karin Slaughter to talk about her newest thriller novel Girl, Forgotten, why she wanted to change her last name to Laughter as a young girl, and how she channels her Southern roots in her writing.      Girl, Forgotten follows newly minted U.S. Marshal, Andrea Oliver, as she goes on assignment in Longbill Beach, where she is haunted by a murder that happened nearly 40 years before. What really happened on Prom Night 1982? Why did no one catch the killer? And what happens when Andrea finally uncovers the truth?  Get Girl, Forgotten at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Happy Holidays, Listeners! In the spirit of the holiday season, we are reflecting and celebrating some awesome conversations we had this year. First up is Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Woman of Light! What happens when you take tea leaf reading, family secrets, and powerful premonitions and blend them into an epic Western novel? You get Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s Woman of Light. On today’s episode, we talk about her deep Denver roots and the family stories that inspired her newest novel.  Woman of Light is an epic yet intimate story that shows three generations of women trying to make a life in the perilous ’30s American West. This novel follows Luz “Little Light” Lopez, a tea leaf reader and laundress, who is left with her aunt to make ends meet after her older brother is run out of town by a violent white mob. Get Woman of Light at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

If you were to create a secret society of people who sleep on their sides, what would you call it? Today, we sit down with R.F. Kuang to talk about her popular novel. She also shares why people take on different personalities in different languages, why translation plays such a big role in her novel, and why bananas are so funny.  Babel is a fantasy epic set in 19th-century England and follows Robin who, after being taken from China, is sent to Oxford University. There, he learns about silver-working, a method that harnesses the powers of translation to create magical effects. But as Robin uncovers how this magic is abused, he must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in order to stop those in power.   Get Babel at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Would you rather lose control of your mind or your body? What if you lost control of both? Repeat BOTM author Stacy Willingham’s newest novel explores these questions and more. She joins us today to talk about dangerous things like saying howdy to a pirate, our obsession with murder, and the South’s haunted past.  All the Dangerous Things tells the story of Isabella Drake, a mother who literally can’t sleep ever since her son went missing a year ago. When she agrees to an interview with a true-crime podcaster, her insomnia makes her doubt what is true about the night her son disappeared.  Get All the Dangerous Things at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

If you’re scared of heights, can your dream circus act still be to walk on the tightrope? Our next author thinks so. We’re talking with Amita Parikh about her debut novel, The Circus Train. We dive deep into embarrassing family secrets, our fascination with the circus, and why book people should care more about sports.  The Circus Train follows Lena, who is the daughter of a headlining illusionist in a traveling circus during WWII. Yet, Lena’s different from the rest — she wants to study science at a university and she’s in a wheelchair. When she rescues Alexandre, everything changes and Lena must find her own path in the midst of such despair and darkness.  Get The Circus Train at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.

Would writers survive the end of the world? Is LASIK eye surgery the key to an apocalyptic future? And what roles do isolation and connection play in a world ravaged by destructive storms? We answer these questions and more with author Lily Brooks-Dalton.  The Light Pirate follows the life of Wanda, a girl named after the “once-in-a-lifetime” storm that ravaged her home state of Florida. As temperatures and waters rise, and as storms come harder and faster, Wanda and her family have to learn to adapt to the changing climate. Moving from childhood to adulthood, Wanda loses family, gains community, and ultimately, seeks adventure, love, and purpose in a place remade by nature. Get The Light Pirate at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Boozy grandmothers are truly the life of any holiday party. In today’s episode, Alison talks about what Christmas looks like in Portland, complete with brunch mimosas, fancy cocktails, and Voodoo donuts. She also shares how Bill Pullman was her inspiration for Jack, the butch lesbian, and how consent is really cool when it comes to romance novels.  Kiss Her Once for Me tells the story of Ellie, a struggling artist working at a coffee shop in Portland. When the coffee shop’s landlord Andrew needs to marry someone in order to secure his recent inheritance, Ellie steps in. But Ellie finds out that Andrew’s sister Jack is the mysterious woman Ellie fell for on Christmas Eve last year. Time to cozy up with this delightful holiday tale as old as time: boy meets girl, girl meets boy’s sister. Get Kiss Her Once for Me at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Happy Thanksgiving, listeners! In celebration of the holiday season, we are re-airing our very first episode of VBT, featuring author Adriana Trigiani. We spoke with Adriana about the power of sharing family stories, as well as the role food plays in our lives. All of which is perfectly on theme! Every conversation with Adriana Trigiani is one to remember. According to Adriana, this one was years of manifestation in the making! Editorial Director Brianna Goodman and Editorial Associate Jerrod MacFarlane sit down with Adriana to talk about how stories are everywhere, especially in your own family tree. Get ready to laugh when you listen to this episode of Virtual Book Tour. After all, it’s not every day that an author makes someone who reads books for a living rethink how they view an entire genre.  The Good Left Undone is a historical fiction spanning four generations of Italian women as they navigate love, identity, and family legacy.. If you love art, romance, and WWII history, then this is the book for you!  Get The Good Left Undone at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

We’re taking an emotional journey with our next guest, Onyi Nwabineli. Her debut novel Someday, Maybe tackles some really tough subjects like suicide, grief, and guilt. Onyi shares what it was like to dive deep into these emotions, what sparked the idea for this story, and we even play a little game where we learn what the being 'Keeper of the Cup' entails.  Someday, Maybe tells the story of Eve, who has suffered the unimaginable. In the aftermath of her husband’s suicide, she is battling with feelings of grief and guilt. But through the transformative power of love, Eve starts to grow stronger and more hopeful. This emotional, devastatingly frank account of grief’s many faces will have you in your feelings. Get Someday, Maybe at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Today, we get to ask a screenwriter-turned-author the most important question of them all: Is the book always better than the movie? Ruth Emmie Lang joins us today to talk about her newest novel, The Wilderwomen, and she shares what her go-to road trip necessities are.   The Wilderwomen follows two sisters: one sister who can see the future; the other people’s memories. When the girls meet up five years after their mother’s disappearance, they start to uncover the answer to the question that has been haunting them for years: Why did she leave? Get The Wilderwomen at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Our next guest went from teaching students, to becoming a Jungian expert, to writing another novel that’s stirring conversations all over the country. Best-selling author Matthew Quick joins us today to talk about his newest novel, We Are the Light. He shares which landmark inspired this story, why movies hold such a special place in his heart, and what should be on your dad’s Christmas list this year (besides beer and football memorabilia).  We Are the Light tells the story of Lucas Goodgame, a man who suffered an unimaginable tragedy, and Eli, a boy ostracized from his community who Lucas takes under his wing. In this moving tale of hope and redemption, Lucas and Eli’s unlikely film production brings together their small town racked with grief. Get We Are the Light at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

The day everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived, and we are pleased to announce the 2022 golden Lolly goes to... Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin! Listen back on the episode we recorded with Gabrielle in July and find out what makes her book so deserving. To hear more from Gabrielle on her BOTY win, visit bookoftheyear.com or download our app and watch our new video where she discusses what it means to be this year's winner. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a moving story of friendship and art-making that will make you nostalgic for your favorite childhood video games. It follows two characters, Sam and Sadie, who bonded while playing video games together as young kids. When they meet again as university students, they start building a video game together, which becomes incredibly successful and wrenches them into a life of unexpected fame. This book will make you feel all the feels, guaranteed. Get Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

It’s the question we’ve all been asking ourselves since January 1, 2022: Which book is going to win the Book of the Year Award at Book of the Month for 2022? Readers have left their opinions. BOTM staff members have stated their suspicions. And now you, the listener, can make your own predictions as to which author will win the coveted golden Lolly. Here are this year’s nominees:  A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Vote for your favorite at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Do flirty bisexuals make the best spies? Where does this historical fiction writer get her fight scene inspirations? What would happen if Pinocchio researched how to be a real boy on TikTok? We get the answers to these burning questions with our most recent guest, Chloe Gong, author of the YA historical fiction novel, Foul Lady Fortune.  Foul Lady Fortune follows Rosalind Lang, a nationalist spy who cannot die. When a series of murders causes unrest in her city of 1930s Shanghai, Rosalind teams up with another nationalist spy, Orion Hong. The two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined. Get Foul Lady Fortune at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

When you think of Hell, what do you think of? To our next guest, Claudia Lux, it means unpredictable puddles, non-stop car horns, and waking up in a hangover fog every morning. Claudia sits down with us to talk about her debut novel, Sign Here. She shares what the term “fluffy Hell” means, why the only drink in her version of Hell is Jägermeister, and why bike trolleys are the bane of her existence.  Sign Here follows Peyote Trip who works in the deals department on the fifth floor of Hell. Pey has a great opportunity to earn a devilishly big promotion. But first he needs to get one more member of the Harrison family to sell their soul. Get Sign Here at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Written by Book of the Month author Kiersten White. Author website: https://www.kierstenwhite.com/ New members can get Kiersten White’s novel The Guinevere Deception at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: Every kid in the neighborhood knew not to go near the big house at the end of the crooked lane. The Victorian mansion was perpetually dark and shuttered, surrounded by overgrown trees that cast long, spindly shadows. The old lady who lived there was known to threaten trespassers with a sharp-handled broom. Rumor had it there was even a dead body buried in her backyard. And so every Halloween, the neighborhood trick-or-treaters steered clear of that driveway. That is, until this Halloween night, when we noticed something unusual: The big house’s porch light was on. The door was open. And Tommy dared me to go inside.

Written by Book of the Month author Laura Hankin. Author website: https://www.laurahankin.com/ New members can get Laura Hankin’s novel Happy & You Know It at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: Every kid in the neighborhood knew not to go near the big house at the end of the crooked lane. The Victorian mansion was perpetually dark and shuttered, surrounded by overgrown trees that cast long, spindly shadows. The old lady who lived there was known to threaten trespassers with a sharp-handled broom. Rumor had it there was even a dead body buried in her backyard. And so every Halloween, the neighborhood trick-or-treaters steered clear of that driveway. That is, until this Halloween night, when we noticed something unusual: The big house’s porch light was on. The door was open. And Tommy dared me to go inside.

Written by Book of the Month author Julie Clark. Author website: https://julieclarkauthor.com/ New members can get Julie Clark’s novels The Lies I Tell and The Last Flight at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: Every kid in the neighborhood knew not to go near the big house at the end of the crooked lane. The Victorian mansion was perpetually dark and shuttered, surrounded by overgrown trees that cast long, spindly shadows. The old lady who lived there was known to threaten trespassers with a sharp-handled broom. Rumor had it there was even a dead body buried in her backyard. And so every Halloween, the neighborhood trick-or-treaters steered clear of that driveway. That is, until this Halloween night, when we noticed something unusual: The big house’s porch light was on. The door was open. And Tommy dared me to go inside.

What is the number one export of Other Birds' fictional Mallow Island? Marshmallows. And today, we’re talking with a very sweet guest, Sarah Addison Allen, author of Other Birds. She shares why moms make the best neighbors, why misfits make the most welcoming communities, and why even ghosts still need to learn a thing or two.  Other Birds is an enchanting novel that follows the quirky, soulful stories of the unlikely neighbors in a magical apartment complex. This book walks the line between the real and the imaginary, exploring the stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways. Get Other Birds at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Why are we so afraid of monsters? What would you do if you saw a house running around town on chicken legs? If your past determines your magical abilities, what would they be? In this episode fit for the spooky season, GennaRose Nethercott is talking about an old crone with a secret agenda, the creepy history of certain folklore tales, and why walking around in a graveyard at dusk is just too on-brand for her.  Thistlefoot is the fantasy novel you get when you mix a house on chicken legs, a girl who can bring inanimate objects to life, and a prophecy foretold. Inspired by old Baba Yaga folk stories, this book is a fairy tale for grown-ups mixed with a touching story of sibling relationships and self discovery.  Want more from GennaRose? You can check out her puppet show for a limited time exclusively on the Book of the Month app. Get Thistlefoot at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

What happens when an author takes a literary classic and adds sythensisia, a new romantic interest, and really big shirt sleeves? We are talking with Laurie Lico Alabanese about her newest novel, Hester, which is a novel that does all of those things and much, much more.   Hester is a powerful reimagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale — but the women get to tell their sides of the story this time around. You'll never look at the Scarlet A the same after reading this quintessential New England tale of power and desire. Get Hester at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

If you were in the dentist office, how would you ward off a potential killer? What does the old lady in the park have in her bag (besides a fluffy dog)? How do you write a fight scene? We answer these questions and more with author Deanna Raybourn.  Killers of a Certain Age follows four sixty-something assassins, who are on their all-expenses paid retirement vacation when they realize that they have been marked for death. Nothing ruins retirement like an old employer putting a hit out on you. But these women won’t go down without a fight. Get Killers of a Certain Age at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Writing a book with over 14 characters that have main-character energy is a real challenge, but Carolyn Huynh executed it perfectly in her debut novel, The Fortunes of Jaded Women. In this episode, we talk with Carolyn about her family dynamics that inspired parts of this book like motherly roasts, psychic visits, and Gen Z daughters keeping the peace through TikTok.  The Fortunes of Jaded Women tells the story of a surprising prophecy that upends a family curse that has plagued generations of Viet women living in Orange County’s Little Saigon. Filled with a cast of over 14 women, these estranged family members must find their way back to one another, while also trying to find themselves along the way. Get The Fortunes of Jaded Women at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

As a lover of Star Trek and a writer of fanfiction, Ali Hazelwood was destined to become a scientist and romance author. Today, she sits down to talk about her newest novel, Love on the Brain. She shares her secrets behind crafting the perfect sex scene, her hatred of standardized testing and her huge fear of space.  Love on the Brain is a swoon-worthy romance that will have you questioning the laws of physics as it sweeps you off your feet in zero gravity. This enemies-to-lovers romance follows Bee Königswasser who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with NASA. The only catch? She has to work on this once-in-a-lifetime project with her arch nemesis, Levi Ward.  Get Love on the Brain at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Written by Book of the Month author Sarah Penner.  Author website: https://www.sarahpenner.com/ New members can get Sarah Penner’s novel, The Lost Apothecary, at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: Since the day I was born, I’ve had a hard time keeping my mouth shut. Most of the time that’s ok, but yesterday was a different story. The moment I said your name in front of everyone, I knew I’d made a huge mistake. Unfortunately, you can’t swallow words back up once they come out. Now here we are.

Written and recorded by Book of the Month 3peat author Katherine Center.  Author website: https://katherinecenter.com/ New members can get Katherine Center’s latest novel, The Bodyguard, at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: Since the day I was born, I’ve had a hard time keeping my mouth shut. Most of the time that’s ok, but yesterday was a different story. The moment I said your name in front of everyone, I knew I’d made a huge mistake. Unfortunately, you can’t swallow words back up once they come out. Now here we are.

Written by Book of the Month author Abby Jimenez. Author website: https://www.authorabbyjimenez.com/ New members can get Abby Jimenez’s novel Part of Your World at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: Since the day I was born, I’ve had a hard time keeping my mouth shut. Most of the time that’s ok, but yesterday was a different story. The moment I said your name in front of everyone, I knew I’d made a huge mistake. Unfortunately, you can’t swallow words back up once they come out. Now here we are.

When crafting her characters, Alice Feeney likes to get inside their minds, no matter how dark (except for all of the murdery bits). Today, we’re sitting down with author Alice Feeney to talk about her newest thriller novel, Daisy Darker. She shares all about her lucky chocolate bars, why she fiercely protects the plot twist board, and why she punched a French doctor in the face.  In Daisy Darker, the estranged Darker family gathers at Nana’s crumbling coastal cottage to celebrate her 80th birthday. “Seaglass” stands alone on a tiny island, and at high tide the Darkers will be stuck together and cut off from the rest of the world for eight long hours. But when someone winds up dead, the rest of the family is left wondering: Who is the killer?  Get Daisy Darker at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Prom night is a memorable night for many Americans, but it’s also a great setting for a murder. Today we sit down with Karin Slaughter to talk about her newest thriller novel Girl, Forgotten, why she wanted to change her last name to Laughter as a young girl, and how she channels her Southern roots in her writing.      Girl, Forgotten follows newly minted U.S. Marshal, Andrea Oliver, as she goes on assignment in Longbill Beach, where she is haunted by a murder that happened nearly 40 years before. What really happened on Prom Night 1982? Why did no one catch the killer? And what happens when Andrea finally uncovers the truth?  Get Girl, Forgotten at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Can you fend off an intruder with a pool noodle? Why is it important to feel unsettled when finishing a thriller novel? We answer these questions and more in today’s episode with Lisa Jewell, the author of The Family Remains.     The Family Remains tells the spine-tingling story of detectives who find bones connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago. This novel is equal parts multi-generational drama and intricately-plotted mystery where nothing’s as it seems and everything is connected.  Get The Family Remains at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Powerful corporate executive by day and successful novelist by night. Jillian Medoff really does do it all. In this episode, Jillian shares how talking to random strangers on the train and sitting in on courtroom trials helped her write her fifth novel, When We Were Bright and Beautiful.  When We Were Bright and Beautiful tells the story of the Quinns—a wealthy but dysfunctional family living in Manhattan's glittering Upper East Side. When Cassie Quinn’s brother Billy is arrested for sexual assault, she wants to do everything in her power to protect him, even if that means exposing her own deep, dark secrets to the world.   Get When We Were Bright and Beautiful at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

It’s not everyday that authors go from being top-notch lawyers to writing novels about swingers. But Taylor Hahn is not your average author. On today’s episode Taylor discusses her debut novel, The Lifestyle, which is already sparking some spicy conversations all over the internet. Taylor talks about how difficult it was to write the perfect sex scene, why you shouldn’t have just one fake ID, and how pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones can lead to some really great stories.   The Lifestyle is about Georgina Wagman, a woman who seemingly has it all—a wonderful marriage, a job that she loves, and great friends. But when she walks in on her husband Nathan cheating on her with a junior associate, Georgina has a moment of crisis. To help save her marriage, she decides that she and Nathan are going to become swingers. Can this new lifestyle help Georgina and Nathan reconnect on an even deeper level? Get The Lifestyle at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com 

If you're a thriller author researching how to get away with murder, what kind of targeted ads start popping up? Our next guest, Jennifer Hillier, is here to answer that question and more as we discuss her newest thriller novel, Things We Do in the Dark. She talks about how her writing process is…unique, how true crime series are her comfort shows, and how everyone is capable of murder.  Things We Do in the Dark opens with Paris Peralta standing over her celebrity husband’s dead body while holding the murder weapon. Yet she claims she didn’t do it. While trying to prove her innocence, Paris finally confronts her dark past and the harsh glow of the paparazzi. So what really happened? And how does the infamous Canadian murderer Ruby Reyes fit into all of this?  Get Things We Do in the Dark at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Written by Book of the Month author Elyssa Friedland. Author website: http://www.elyssafriedland.com/ New members can get Elyssa Friedland’s novel, Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: No one wanted to see the psychic. Not initially. But it was a bachelorette party. How could we say no to the bride? Everyone played along at first, cracking jokes and taking sips of champagne. But as soon as the psychic entered our hotel suite, everyone at the party felt the energy shift. Suddenly, we couldn't wait to hear what the psychic would say. Of course, none of us realized that the words she was about to utter would change lives forever.  

Written by Book of the Month author Hannah Orenstein.  Author website: http://hannahorenstein.com/  New members can get Hannah Orenstein’s novel, Head Over Heels, at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: No one wanted to see the psychic. Not initially. But it was a bachelorette party. How could we say no to the bride? Everyone played along at first, cracking jokes and taking sips of champagne. But as soon as the psychic entered our hotel suite, everyone at the party felt the energy shift. Suddenly, we couldn't wait to hear what the psychic would say. Of course, none of us realized that the words she was about to utter would change lives forever.  

Written by Book of the Month author Chloe Gong.  Author website: https://thechloegong.com/  New members can get Chloe Gong’s novel, These Violent Delights, at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: No one wanted to see the psychic. Not initially. But it was a bachelorette party. How could we say no to the bride? Everyone played along at first, cracking jokes and taking sips of champagne. But as soon as the psychic entered our hotel suite, everyone at the party felt the energy shift. Suddenly, we couldn't wait to hear what the psychic would say. Of course, none of us realized that the words she was about to utter would change lives forever.  

She is an expert in all things adorable, a BOTM 3peat author, and can give you the inside scoop on what makes a great kiss. In this episode, Katherine Center talks about her newest novel, The Bodyguard. She also speaks to how the pandemic drove her to write her lightest novel yet, how really good fiction novels trick us into believing they’re real, and what it means to “eat” a book.  The Bodyguard is about Hannah, an Executive Protection Agent hired to protect the very famous actor Jack Stapleton from a stalker. But when Jack’s mom gets sick and he comes home to Texas, he wants to keep his stalker—and need for a bodyguard—a secret from his family. So, Hannah enters into the role of fake girlfriend of Jack. In this witty romance the real question is whose heart needs protecting? Get The Bodyguard at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com 

After listening to today’s episode, Blake Crouch will have you questioning everything. Are the biggest global corporations run solely by AI? Could gene modification make it so we can all run a 4-minute mile? Is Blake really writing fiction, or are his books actually just futures that haven’t become realities…yet? Our 3peat author is here today to blow our minds and talk about his new novel Upgrade.  Upgrade tells the story of Logan Ramsey, the son of an ambitious geneticist whose goal of improving upon nature instead killed hundreds of millions in the Great Starvation. This novel explores the pros and cons of gene editing and shows readers that sometimes evolution can be a real downgrade if you’re not careful.  Get Upgrade at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

If you could live in any video game, what would it be? Or are we actually living in one giant simulation already? We’re here to answer these questions and more with author Gabrielle Zevin. She talks about her above-average Mario Kart skills, her constant fight against reviews that describe her book as “lovely” and “charming,” and how we all need a little more play time in our lives.  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a moving story of friendship and art-making that will make you nostalgic for your favorite childhood video games. It follows two characters, Sam and Sadie, who bonded while playing video games together as young kids. When they meet again as university students, they start building a video game together, which becomes incredibly successful and wrenches them into a life of unexpected fame. This book will make you feel all the feels, guaranteed. Get Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Written by Jocelyn Kender. Browse great reads at bookofthemonth.com and new members can get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Here’s the brief: “The date had been on their respective calendars for months–travel booked, conferences declined, childcare arranged. And now that they were all gathered back on campus, together for the first time in over a decade, it was almost impossible to believe this was what was happening. They sat uncomfortably in the small room, eyes darting around as if no one could decide who was good, who was bad, and, most importantly, who had done the thing.”

Written by Danica Lo. Author website: https://www.danicalo.com Browse great reads at bookofthemonth.com and new members can get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Here’s the brief: “The date had been on their respective calendars for months--travel booked, conferences declined, childcare arranged. And now that they were all gathered back on campus, together for the first time in over a decade, it was almost impossible to believe this was what was happening. They sat uncomfortably in the small room, eyes darting around as if no one could decide who was good, who was bad, and, most importantly, who had done the thing.”

We’re kicking off our new VBT Briefs series with Book of the Month 3peat author Helen Hoang. New members can get Helen Hoang’s most recent work, The Heart Principle, at bookofthemonth.com for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Please note this episode contains adult topics and might not be appropriate for all listeners. Here’s the brief: “The date had been on their respective calendars for months–travel booked, conferences declined, childcare arranged. And now that they were all gathered back on campus, together for the first time in over a decade, it was almost impossible to believe this was what was happening. They sat uncomfortably in the small room, eyes darting around as if no one could decide who was good, who was bad, and, most importantly, who had done the thing.”

What happens when you take tea leaf reading, family secrets, and powerful premonitions and blend them into an epic Western novel? You get Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s Woman of Light. On today’s episode, we talk about her deep Denver roots and the family stories that inspired her newest novel.  Woman of Light is an epic yet intimate story that shows three generations of women trying to make a life in the perilous ’30s American West. This novel follows Luz “Little Light” Lopez, a tea leaf reader and laundress, who is left with her aunt to make ends meet after her older brother is run out of town by a violent white mob. Get Woman of Light at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

How can one little lamp cause so much trouble? And how do video game characters fit all of their potions, weapons, and maps into their pockets? On today’s episode, we answer these questions and more with Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief.  The Stardust Thief is a novel that will grant your wish for a perfect fantasy with dark magic and a dangerous quest. When Loulie saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land.  Get The Stardust Thief  at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com 

How can you fit conniving con artists, edge-of-your-seat endings, and shifty scammers all into one podcast episode? Listen to find out! Repeat BOTM author Julie Clark sits down with Editorial Director Brianna Goodman and Editorial Associate Jerrod MacFarlane to talk about how paranoia and a little bit of fear are the perfect recipe for a nail-biting thriller. The Lies I Tell tells the story of Meg Williams, a woman who is expertly reinventing herself again and again as she moves from place to place, doing whatever it takes to get what she wants. Meanwhile, ambitious journalist Kat Roberts has been tracking Meg for years, committed to exposing her as the criminal she is. This twisty cat and mouse story will have you ripping through the pages to find out who the true con woman is. Get your copy of The Lies I Tell at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com 

How does an author go from writing Lord of the Rings fanfic to a spine-chilling tale about the supernatural? Author Isabel Cañas sits down with Editorial Director Brianna Goodman and Editorial Associate Jerrod MacFarlane to talk about how someone who is afraid of the dark (but really, who isn’t?) and a self-proclaimed “wuss” when it comes to horror, wrote The Hacienda, a spooky novel that will make you want to sleep with all of the lights on. Isabel talks about influences for the book, including the creepy basements in her childhood homes, the gothic literature she read as a moody, introspective teen, and the history lesson about Mexico that school never taught us.  In The Hacienda, Beatriz moves onto her new husband’s estate and things start to take a turn for the haunted: visions of bloody clothes, unexplainable noises, and rumors of what might really have happened to her husband’s first wife. For those who want to wander around a creepy haunted house, The Hacienda is the book for you.  Get The Hacienda at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com

Have you ever been so petty that you left your glass right next to the coaster, knowing that it might drive your own mother to murder? Well, our next guest wrote this exact scene for a character in her newest crime novel, Like a Sister. Author Kellye Garrett sits down with Editorial Director Brianna Goodman and Editorial Associate Jerrod MacFarlane to talk about how losing her job pushed her into a career writing books. Kellye talks about why she doesn’t love the process of writing, how her single person tendencies sometimes lead to some awkward Zoom interactions, and how a Hollywood billboard gave her the idea for her first book. Listen to all of this and more on this episode of Virtual Book Tour! The only question we have left is…what is Kellye’s Finsta account username?   Like a Sister tells the story of Lena Scott, a NYC native who is determined to solve the mystery behind her sister's death. When her estranged sister dies under weird circumstances, Lena gets on the case. This book is perfect for someone who wants a tense, twisty whodunit novel, with a touch of pettiness and sarcasm.  Get Like a Sister at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout.  Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com 

Every conversation with Adriana Trigiani is one to remember. According to Adriana, this one was years of manifestation in the making! Editorial Director Brianna Goodman and Editorial Associate Jerrod MacFarlane sit down with Adriana to talk about how stories are everywhere, especially in your own family tree. Adriana talks about her crazy Uncle (cousin?) Ralph who was thrown into a water tower by the U.S. Navy to learn how to swim. Get ready to laugh when you listen to this episode of Virtual Book Tour. After all, it’s not every day that an author makes someone who reads books for a living rethink how they view an entire genre.  The Good Left Undone is a historical fiction spanning four generations of Italian women as they navigate love, identity, and family legacy.. If you love art, romance, and WWII history, then this is the book for you!  Get The Good Left Undone at bookofthemonth.com. New members get their first book for just $9.99 with code VBT at checkout. Learn more about Virtual Book Tour at virtualbooktour.com.

Since we've never been ones to keep interesting new books to ourselves, we're kicking off a series of conversations with Book of the Month authors about God only knows what. Recorded at Book of the Month headquarters on West 27th St. in front of a live audience of raucous employees! Give us your ears and we'll give you a look into the minds of writers we admire and a treasure trove of anecdotes, wisdom, and fun. Check out our first episode with author Adriana Trigiani on May 17th.