Book of the Month Live

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. Re...

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...

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 ge...

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...

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, t...

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...

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 foll...

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...

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...

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 rive...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 m...

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 Mar...

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 15...

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 magi...

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 nee...

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 t...

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....

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...

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...

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...