Book of the Month Live

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.