Hi, everyone! For those who are new subscribers, a very big welcome! Thank you for spending time with the Book Club Chat community. Happy to have you here!
A little life update: we moved into a new house at the end of summer and it was definitely time-consuming. But we’re all settled now and loving it. This is why I hadn’t sent a newsletter in a while, but I’m back to the routine now!
Here I’m holding a stack of books that publishers have sent over and I can’t wait to read each one! Check back soon for reviews. BTW, I’m wearing a shirt designed by HoosierBookInk, an online bookish boutique—I love the quality and design. Highly recommend!
It’s just now feeling more like fall in San Diego. We have cooler mornings and nights, and I’m reading slower-paced stories at the moment.
I’ve been enjoying several of the new books published this fall. So I thought I would put together a quick list of some buzzy new fall releases. This list includes all new releases and a variety of genres and topics. Check out the full list here.
What’s been your favorite read of fall so far?
I’m always working to find a balance between upcoming new releases (ARCs), current popular book club fiction, reader requests, and my backlist. My last four reads fall into each category. Let’s take a closer look:
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave is the sequel to the hugely popular The Last Thing He Told Me. As soon as I received the ARC, I started it right away. And I have to say, this is your first must-read of 2026. It’s compelling, thrilling, and even moving too. The story also provides answers to some of the key mysteries from the first. Check out my review here. And a link to my book club questions here.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman is one of the most popular book club books out this year. But I had a very up-and-down relationship with My Friends. I found it equally impactful, but also exhausting. There were lines I wanted to save and savor, and yet, there were moments I was ready to speed up. So mixed feelings overall. Check out my book club questions here.
The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill is a well done family drama set over Thanksgiving. This is one of those stories I didn’t want to put down, and I was curious to see how all the storylines would unfold. The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time to pick this one up. Check out my review here. And a link to my book club questions here.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt lived up to the hype and more. What’s interesting is that the novel is such a quiet story, yet it also dives deep into grief, resilience, loneliness, aging, and even a fresh start. It also features a friendship with a memorable pacific octopus so not your average story by any means. Check out my review here. And a link to my book club questions here.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these! Would love to discuss with you.
Since 2018, I’ve put together original book club questions for hundreds of books.
Recently, I’ve received requests to add more to the discussion question articles such as hosting tips, themed meeting ideas, playlists and more that are tailored to each book. Would you like for me to start including those ideas with my discussion questions? Let me know in this poll (or of course, email me anytime)!
Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including The Rose Arbor, The Paris Assignment, Where the Sky Begins, The Venice Sketchbook, Above the Bay of Angels, The Victory Garden, The Tuscan Child, and In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel.
Here’s a preview of our Q&A:
Q: Tell us what readers can expect from Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure?
A: This is a story about resilience and the power of female friendship. When she is betrayed by her husband after being the perfect wife for thirty years, Ellie Endicott refuses to go away quietly. Instead, she steals his prized Bentley and takes two women with her who have both been treated badly by society for a journey to the South of France. In a small fishing village they create a whole new life and all would have been wonderful until the threat of war loomed over them. The Nazis invade and Ellie Endicott has to decide whether to take the biggest risk of all. It’s a story that will make every woman of a certain age stand up and cheer!
Check out our full Q&A here.
I really enjoyed First Lies Wins by Ashley Elston, and I’m excited to check out her 2026 release, Anatomy of an Albi. This promises another exciting story about people caught in a web of lies.
I’m also looking forward to Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson, which is also publishes in 2026. The book follows Ethel Gathers who is loosely based on a woman named Mabel Grammer, a journalist who in the 1950s discovered hundreds of abandoned biracial children of German women and Black American GIs in orphanages in Germany.
Check back soon for my reviews and book club questions!
What are you planning to read next? Have a wonderful rest of your week!
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