FIRST Book Club Recommends the New Kerri Maniscalco and Lucy Foley Books and More for June 14th to June 20th!
Strap in, readers, because there are plenty of new books from beloved authors on FIRST Book Club's recommendation list for June 14 to June 20! This week, we kick off our picks with Kerri Maniscalco's latest novel release,Throne of the Fallen. Romantasy fans are guaranteed to be enthralled in her new series, Princes of Sin.
For bookworms who are more akin to thrillers and mysteries, fan-favorite author Lucy Foley is back with The Midnight Feast, which kept FIRST Beauty Director Lauren Stachiw guessing until the very end.
Over on the nonfiction side of things, Compassionate Decluttering: How to Soulfully Surrender Your Stuff by Michelle L. Hoff will help you finally clean out that overflowing hall closet — perfect for the current closet switcheroo from spring to summer!
For all of FIRST Book Club's recommendations for June 14 to June 20, keep scrolling!
Chick Lit: Wedding Issues
by Elle Evans
“One of my favorite ways to spend a summer day is reading a good book in the shade,” says Carissa Mosness, FIRST Assistant Digital Editor. “And this one made last weekend breeze by.” In the debut novel by Elle Evans, the plot follows ambitious Olivia “Liv” Fitzgerald, who is planning to be a lawyer — as she has a knack for talking anyone into anything. Then her aunt throws her soon-to-be married cousin, Kali, up against Liv’s best friend, Leighton, for the cover of Southern Charm magazine. Now, Liv must try to help solve these pre-wedding issues, keep Leighton on the cover of the magazine, finish law school and nab the guy of her dreams! What could go wrong? Says Carissa, “Every chapter had me laughing nonstop!” (Zibby, 2024)
Science Fiction: Recursion
by Blake Crouch
“A few years ago, I read and loved Blake Crouch’s novel Dark Matter, so I knew this book would be another mind-bending sci-fi adventure,” says Heather Liang, FIRST Senior Copy Editor. NYC detective Barry Sutton is investigating a new pathogen that is affecting the population — it’s dubbed “False Memory Syndrome,” whereby those suffering from it are consumed by memories of a life they never lived, driving them to madness or death. Sutton teams up with neuroscientist Helena Smith, and they find that this syndrome isn’t caused by a pathogen at all, but rather a much more sinister source. Together, they race to undo the damage being caused. Says Heather, “The action had me turning pages at rapid speed!” (Ballantine, 2020)
Historical Fiction: Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
“I kept hearing about this book as a must-read so I grabbed a copy, and it didn’t disappoint,” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. The powerful novel tells the story of the wealthy Ang family in China in 1948. With four daughters, the family is desperate for a male heir. When the Communist army comes to their small town, most of the family flees, leaving behind the girls and their mother, who are believed to be useless. Hai, the oldest, age 13, stands trial for her family’s crimes. Barely surviving, Hai, her mom and sisters flee to find the family that abandoned them. On their 1,000-mile journey, they face sickness, poverty and cruelty, meeting thousands of people in similar — or worse — circumstances, testing their resolve again and again. “Hai is an incredible character,” says Patty. “As she struggles to find her own identity in a culture that views women as less-than, she grows up and makes decisions that change the course of her life — and those who come after her. Her story will stay with me!” (Berkley, 2024)
Fantasy Romance: Throne of the Fallen
by Kerri Maniscalco
“Kerri Maniscalco knows exactly how to pull you into her fantasy worlds, and I couldn’t wait to read this one — the first in her Princes of Sin series,” says Courtney Shapiro, FIRST Associate Digital Editor. Camilla is an artist in the mortal realm, and Envy is a Prince of Hell. But when a deadly game begins in the underworld where Envy resides, he and Camilla get caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, danger and passion. Cheers Courtney: “I was rooting for these characters and actually shouting at the plot twists!” (Little, Brown and Company, 2023)
Thriller: The Midnight Feast
by Lucy Foley
“My husband and I love listening to Lucy Foley books when we’re on a long road trip,” shares Lauren Stachiw, FIRST Beauty Director. “We race to put together all of the evidence before the grand reveal.” In her latest novel, it’s opening weekend for the new luxurious resort The Manor that many locals are unhappy about. So when the weekend ends with the resort ablaze and a body found…who is responsible? Raves Lauren, “We were on the edge of our seats, and our initial guesses were way off!” (William Morrow, 2024)
Family Saga: Family Reservations
by Liza Palmer
"As a total Food Network addict, this fast-paced, witty novel about a family-owned restaurant intrigued me,” says FIRST Deputy Health Director Rebecca Haynes Maren Winter built a culinary empire in Northern California and rules over her three daughters, who all work together to grow the family business. But a New Year’s Eve blow-up opens the door for one of the daughters to step into power instead. “It was fun to be immersed in this world,” says Rebecca. “And the family drama had me hooked!” (Lake Union, 2024)
Nonfiction: Compassionate Decluttering: How to Soulfully Surrender Your Stuff
by Michelle L. Hoff
“After noticing my closet overflowing, I decided it was time to declutter,” shares Maggie Dillard, FIRST Senior Associate Editor. “And I picked up this book to help me start my purging journey.” With an organizing plan and tricks to stop mindless buying, Michelle “Home Coach” Hoff shares how simple it can be to create a functional space. “I’ve already put Hoff’s lessons into practice,” says Maggie. “My closet feels lighter — and I feel stress-free!” (Wise Ink Creative, 2022)
For more FIRST Book Club picks:
FIRST Book Club: ‘Funny Story’, ‘Swift River’, ‘The Ministry of Time’ and More Thrilling New Titles
FIRST Book Club: ‘One Last Word’ and ‘How to Solve Your Own Murder’ Are Must-Read New Releases