Jennifer Parmelee Childs Recommends:

The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings

Imagine how you would deal with the imminent death of your spouse. Especially if she lies in a coma and you must make the decision to take her off life support? Now imagine that, as you are struggling to make this decision, you find out she has been having an affair, and her lover is the one person who has not been told and been given the opportunity to say goodbye. What would you do? This is the situation Matthew King faces and he makes some surprising choices. A descendant of one of Hawaii's largest landowners, he is also dealing with his part in the sale of his family's land to a developer, along with helping his two daughters come to terms with the loss of their mother. Scottie, his ten-year-old has taken to hurting herself, and Alex, his seventeen-year-old—an ex-model and recovering drug addict—returns home harboring the knowledge of her mother's infidelity, with her oddball boyfriend in tow. Hemmings manages to dose the story with humor despite the serious situation. I especially
enjoyed the comic relief provided by Alex's boyfriend Sid, who though seemingly moronic, manages to come up with some sage observations. Set against the lush beauty of the Hawaiian Islands, this vivid novel drew me into the world of the King family. It is the story of a family torn apart, but brought together again, a story of the bond between a father and his daughters, and ultimately, a story of second chances.

978-1-4000-6633-9 (1-4000-6633-6) | $24.95/$32.00C | Penguin Random House | HC | May

Erica McDonald Recommends:

The Dud Avacado by Elaine Dundy

Looking for a deliciously witty and laugh out loud book to add to your summer reading list? The Dud Avocado is the sparkling tale of the many misadventures of a literary single girl spending her post collegiate days finding herself in Paris. Pre-Fielding and Bushnell days, this young woman’s exploits of searching for love, happiness, and direction is a modern feminist classic, first published and beloved in 1958. The descriptions of early 20th century Paris will captivate you while Sally Jay’s wildly sarcastic voice will entertain you. A book to be passed along to every woman you know!

978-1-59017-232-2 (1-59017-232-9) | $14.95 | TR | New York Review Books | July

READING GROUP GUIDE AVAILABLE: www.nybooks.com/nyrb/rgg/

Marcia Purcell Recommends:

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy

A number of years ago I had the good fortune to be in Texas and attend a Barbara Bush Literacy evening. There were great speakers that evening: Richard North Patterson, Michael Crichton, President Bush, Sr...but the author who stole the evening was Maeve Binchy. She won you over immediately with a talk that came from her heart. You felt that she was your best friend and you were lucky to have her in your life. And now she has come to Penguin Random House LLC and Knopf has this splendid book set in a small town in Ireland poised on the edge of change. A motorway will cut through Whitethorn Woods and possibly destroy a revered local shrine, St. Ann's Well. We hear the various voices of the town and an interesting bunch they are. Binchy certainly cuts a swath through the range of human personalities—some twisted, some lovely. She is a genius at capturing human emotions. There are some extremely satisfying plot twists here, which I will not give away. You will be delighted with this very engaging read that makes you determined to be a better person. Bravo, Maeve!

978-0-307-26578-4 (0-307-26578-1) l $25.95/NCR l Knopf l HC (Available Now)

Also, don't miss:

Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

Enchanted April is one of the earliest ‘get away with girlfriends' novels that I am aware of. It is simply splendid and you pass the time reading it taken out of yourself to a wonderful and relaxing place. Set aside several hours and become a person who “Appreciate(s) Wistaria and Sunshine." England—early '20s. Four very different women from London, for very different reasons, find themselves sharing a villa on the Italian Mediterranean. Suffice it to say that they are TRANSFORMED, and you will be too! This novel has been made into a wonderful movie and was also a play on Broadway. It deserves the attention of book discussion leaders everywhere. Thank you New York Review Books!

978-1-59017-224-4 l $14.95/$19.95C l TR l New York Review of Books l Available Now

Courtney Russell Recommends:

Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward

This title caught my eye even though I knew it might be painful. But, whatever sorrow Forgive Me brings, it’s well worth the trip. Protagonist Nadine Morgan is a journalist who chases stories around the world, covering important and dangerous events—while also running from anything that might tie her down in her personal life. Nadine is drawn to South Africa for a story, and a flood of good and bad memories of her previous life in Johannesburg resurface. Nadine thinks she knows exactly what she wants but when forced to revisit the past, and plan for her future, she realizes that the answers don’t come easily.This story is woven with a sense of sadness and yet a wonderful sense of hope. Amanda Eyre Ward is honest about both the beauty and theugliness in South Africa, and made me want to experience it first hand. A great reading group pick, everyone will have a different view on what is right or wrong with South Africa, and on a smaller scale—did Nadine make the right choices in her life?

978-0-345-49446-7 | $23.95 | Penguin Random House | HC | June

David Eicke Recommends:

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name In Lights by Ariel Gore

I’ve read my share of writing advice. I’ve subscribed to Writer’s Digest and Poets and Writers, read writing guides, checked out books from the library on how to get published, perused condescending writerly-ambition websites, and never before have I encountered anything like Gore’s personal, unpretentious, and at times even self-deprecating voice. Instead of removing herself and writing yet another cold-glass how-to book, she takes a refreshing humorous-narrative approach. Simply put, she’s just really good at giving advice. By merely sharing anecdotes and allowing us to draw from them what we like, she builds a rapport with her audience and manages to avoid coming across as authoritative or patronizing. And she swears a lot. And she’s silly. And she’s real. However, the book also gives us the firm talking-to we need, setting up common excuses (I’m too old; I’m too young, I don’t have a degree; I’ve lived kind of a bland life, etc.) and shooting them off the fence one-by-one. “See?” she says, “You can. Now get going.” An analogy: If the writing world were a farm (yes I know it should be “be,” the present-tense subjunctive, but see Chapter 34 “Relax the Rules”), she’s not the ol’ farmer. She’s the rooster. Her book does the all-important job of waking up the life that’s already “in the yard.”

978-0-307-34648-3 (0-307-34648-X) | $13.95/$17.95C | Three Rivers Press | TR | March

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