Book of the Month Live

On this week's episode, we sit down with Sierra Greer, author of Annie Bot! We had so much fun talking about the future of AI, the ways we never stop coming-of-age, and we play a rapid fire game of "Real or Fake AI." Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie's relationship grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: does he really desire what he says he wants? Get Annie Bot 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.