Must Read Backlist Books!

An admissions scandal, a bingeable 2017 psychological thriller, plus a backlist book I added to my own TBR

Hello!

It’s a new week and time to dive into a few more backlist book recommendations! I absolutely love the Libby App for checking out ebooks for my Kindle and audiobooks as well. Because I read a high volume of books (3 per week on average) I often alternate the ebook with the audio which allows me to read books at a faster pace. Although I love my local bookstore and I’m all for buying books, I think it’s vital to support libraries, so that will be my focus in talking about backlist books. I typically check out as many ebooks and audios as I can because, as a mood reader, I never know what I’ll want to read next:)

I hope my newsletters can be a resource for you to find new to you backlist titles or to spark your memory about books you had wanted to read but forgot about. Let’s curate our backlist book lists together!!

Backlist Book I Loved

Admission by Julie Buxbaum - Published in 2020

Admission was the perfect book to jumpstart my reading after a bit of a reading slump. ⁣This is a fictional account of the college admission scandal involving Lori Loughlin and others and the family at the center of this story will definitely remind you of the Loughlin’s. I was immediately pulled into the drama of Chloe Wynn Beringer, the teenage daughter caught up in the whirlwind scandal when her parents are accused of fraud etc involving her admission to SSC in southern Cali. ⁣
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The story is told from Chloe’s perspective and alternates between “then” and “now.” The author nailed teenage angst with all the friend, parental, and love drama, along with a blistering examination of race and class privilege. Bauxbaum brilliantly showcases the snowplow parenting we see today and I was here for all of it! I flew through this on audio🎧 in 2 days. This would make a great book club pick, I loved it! 5⭐️s for the story & audio narration!

A 2017 PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ⁣THAT WAS A SURPRISE 5 ⭐️ READ

The Memory Watcher by Minka Kent - Published in 2017

When Autumn Carpenter stumbles upon the social media account of the family who adopted her infant daughter years ago, she finds herself instantly drawn into their picture-perfect existence. When one day their Instagram account vanishes, desperate Autumn decides to apply for a nanny position with the family. Nothing could go wrong right?

This book is frothy psychological fun and very bingeable! Filled with twists and turns, secrets and lies this debut will have you swiftly turning the pages while questioning your own social media habits.

A SLOW BURN LITERARY SUSPENSE BACKLIST RECOMMENDATION

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxane Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening—until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage

This book snuck up on me with its atmospheric tension, flawed characters, and characters I became invested in. With unexpected shifts in plot, I was left on the edge of my seat for most of the story. And the ending - truly haunting!

A BACKLIST BOOK ADDED TO MY TBR

The Deep by Alma Katsu - Published 2021

A haunting psychological twist on one of the world's most renowned tragedies, the sinking of the Titanic. Something, must be haunting the ship. Between mysterious disappearances and sudden deaths, the guests of the Titanic have found themselves suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone from the moment they set sail. Several of them, including maid Annie Hebley and millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, are convinced there's something sinister--almost otherwordly--afoot. But before they can locate the source of the danger, as the world knows, disaster strikes.

Years later, Annie, having survived that fateful night, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic, newly refitted as a hospital ship. When she happens across an unconscious Mark, now a soldier fighting in World War I. At first, Annie is thrilled and relieved to see he survived the sinking. But soon, Mark's presence awakens deep-buried feelings and secrets, forcing Annie to reckon with the demons of her past--as they both discover that the terror may not yet be over.

Happy Reading!