Bestseller Brian and Barbara Luke

Brian and Barbara review the book The Women by Kristin Hannah, number one on the New York Times hardcover fiction list since February 25, 2024.  In her new novel of historical fiction, Kristin Hannah takes us to the era of the Vietnam War, following Frances Grace McGrath (“Frankie”) as she tries to make her family—especially her Dad—proud by joining the Army as a combat nurse. After two tours of duty, Frankie comes home a changed person, now a skilled surgical nurse with deep, life-long friends, new love interests, and a sharper understanding of the war itself. As difficult as it was to survive life in a combat zone, Frankie finds it just as challenging to adjust to a society deeply divided over this American war, and unwilling to acknowledge the heroism of the women who risked their lives serving it.  Episode # 24 of bestseller, recorded on April 12, 2024.

Brian and Barbara review the book First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, number five on the New York Times hardcover fiction list of January 21, 2024, and the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for January, 2024.  Evie, the main character in this debut suspense novel, is a thief—a high end thief, who goes undercover to steal art, jewels, proprietary business secrets, or whatever her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, tells her to get her hands on. She’s very good at what she does, but her latest job is … complicated: she may be falling for her target, the hunky financial planner Ryan, she’s being investigated for a murder she may or may not have committed, and it looks like Mr. Smith may be souring on her employment, a situation that could be deadly for Evie.       Twenty minutes with us, and you'll know whether to read it ... or regift it! Episode 23 of bestseller, recorded on March 9, 2024.

Brian and Barbara introduce ten new bestselling novels that entered the New York Times hardcover fiction list in January of 2024. Twenty minutes with us and you'll know whether to read it ... or regift it!bestseller episode #22, recorded 2/24/2024

Brian and Barbara review Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward, number five on the New York Times hardcover fiction list of November 12, 2023, and the Oprah Bookclub pick for October, 2023. Two-time National Book Award winning novelist Jesmyn Ward invites us to descend into the hell of race-based slavery in the antebellum South, telling the story of Annis, a young woman separated from her mother in the Carolinas and sold into the brutal sugar production economy of Louisiana. Episode # 21 of bestseller, recorded 2/3/2024

Brian and Barbara complete the review of 2023 by recognizing the hardcover fiction bestsellers with the highest (and lowest) social media ratings, counting down the top ten best selling bestsellers of the year, and sharing our favorite books of the year just past.Twenty minutes with us, and you'll know whether to read it ... or regift it!Episode #20 of bestseller, recorded 1/22/2024

Brian and Barbara take a look back at the 191 books that made the New York Times bestselling hardcover fiction list last year, choosing the best of the best of 2023.With "Bestie" awards given in categories such as "Best Opening Line," "Best Cover Design," "Best Social Media Response," "Best Selling Book of the Year," and, of course, "Best Book of the Year" (not necessarily the same as biggest seller of the year), we help you figure out whether to read them ... or regift them.Episode 19 of bestseller, recorded 1/14/2024