Show Notes
Author Sharon Kurtzman visited our headquarters to discuss her new historical novel, The Lost Baker of Vienna. She shared the true family history that inspired the story, why it took her 25 long years to complete it, and how food and family are always intertwined. A young woman in post-war Vienna finds herself caught between two futures, and two suitors, as she struggles to keep her family afloat — and keep her father's legacy alive through baking his best recipes. Get The Lost Baker of Vienna at bookofthemonth.com. Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.
More from Book of the Month Live
We sat down with author Nafissa Thompson-Spires at our New York launch party for her debut novel, The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford. Tune in as we touch on everything from unlikely sources of inspiration to board game cheating and the strange line dance of small-town rumors. When a 1920s Oklahoma moonshiner turns up dead, his four wives and the house cook each claim credit for the crime. Told across multiple perspectives, this literary novel turns a murder mystery into a study of small-town motives and community history. Get The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford at bookofthemonth.com. Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.
We hosted author Sarah Anderson at headquarters to talk all about her debut novel, Fallow. She unpacked the ideas—and absurdities—behind her invented world of corporate surrogacy, from the perils of paying for dental care to workplace culture to why sometimes a job is just a job. Drowning in student loans and uninsured dental pain, Natalie becomes one of the world's first corporate surrogates—trading her womb to get a luxury condo and financial freedom. But as the reality of the contract sets in, and clients begin complicating the deal, her gilded setup begins to fracture. Get Fallow at bookofthemonth.com. Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.
John Green stopped by our headquarters to chat about his debut adult novel, Hollywood, Ending. With his signature wit and wisdom, he unpacked the work behind creativity, examined our strange algorithmic lives, and flexed his formidable trivia knowledge. When two young actors land breakout roles in a major Andy Warhol biopic, they're launched into the spotlight just as sparks begin to fly between them. But as the film's press tour takes off, they quickly experience both the intoxicating thrills and crushing lows of sudden fame. Get Hollywood, Ending at bookofthemonth.com. Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.
Author Evann Normandin stopped by our headquarters to discuss her new debut novel, The Good Parts. What ensued was a thoughtful conversation on memory, soulmates, and some very questionable magic pills. When Rose takes a memory-erasing pill to wipe away a tragic past, her husband tracks her down in Scotland to make her fall in love with him all over again. But as buried memories start to resurface, the couple is forced to confront grief, second chances, and what love leaves behind. Get The Good Parts at bookofthemonth.com. Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.
Thriller icon Riley Sager stopped by our headquarters to chat about his tenth novel, The Unknown. Tune in for a delightful conversation about the deeply unsettling—including imposter syndrome, the logistics of ten extra toes, and why his latest release is an ode to longtime fans. While preparing for a new film, a movie crew visits a notorious island with rumors of witchcraft, where five women vanished in 1926. When a sudden emergency leaves them stranded, strange occurrences begin to mirror those of the past. Get The Unknown at bookofthemonth.com Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.