Read It First

“In writing historical novels, I’ve come to feel that I’ve jumped the fence, so to speak, taking on the role of literary tomb raider,” writes Kieran Shields, author of The Truth of All Things. “Less gruesome than actual grave robbing, sure, but the same idea. Sneaking across hallowed ground, rummaging about for earthly remains and lost treasures – even if here those amount to no more than bits and pieces of what made these vanished lives real. It’s finding those bits and shining a long absent light on them that’s such an enjoyable challenge for me as a writer. That feeling, of standing crowbar in hand at the tomb door while the intrepid reader peers over one shoulder, lamp held high against the night, came to life for me in writing The Truth of All Things.”

Emmy-nominated actor, producer and television icon John Stamos (“Glee,” “ER”) returns to the small screen in the Lifetime Original Movie, Secrets of Eden, co-starring Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad,” “The Practice”). Based on Chris Bohjalian’s New York Times bestselling novel, Secrets of Eden unveils the shocking secrets and facades of happiness that reside within a small, close-knit town after a gruesome tragedy occurs. RIFers in book groups! Here’s a cool idea for a very special discussion: read Chris Bohjalian’s bestselling novel Secrets of Eden and watch the Lifetime Original Movie Secrets of Eden and discuss them together. Sure to be a lively conversation!

We’re giving away copies of Rosamund Lupton’s thriller Afterwards well in advance of its April 24, 2012 release, which means you could be among the very first readers in the U.S. to enjoy this the highly anticipated follow-up to Lupton’s bestselling debut Sister. As always, fill out the form to enter for your chance to win a copy. But wait, there’s more! If you’ve ever received a book from Read It Forward, we want to hear from you! We’re gathering SuperRIFers – Read It Forward “superfans” who Read It First and Pass It On. SuperRIFers love to read and share what they read online. To thank you lovely big-mouthed members of our community, we’re giving SuperRIFers advance access to some of our most popular books.

Fans of The Art of Racing in the Rain, get ready for a memoir that Garth Stein calls “stunning . . . an incredible journey, both inward and outward.” Read It Forward favorite Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted and Cowboys Are My Weakness, says Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild “is a big, brave, break-your-heart-and-put-it-back-together-again kind of book. Cheryl Strayed is a courageous, gritty, and deceptively elegant writer. She walked the Pacific Crest Trail to find forgiveness, came back with generosity – and now she shares her reward with us. I snorted with laughter, I wept uncontrollably; I don’t even want to know the person who isn’t going to love Wild. This is a beautifully made, utterly realized book.”

Chris Pavone’s debut spy thriller The Expats has been compared to the early works of Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, and John le Carre. Some of the biggest names in thrillers are rallying behind Pavone’s remarkable first novel. Patricia Cornwell thinks you won’t soon forget the “powerful female protagonist.” John Grisham says The Expats is “smart, clever suspense, skillfully plotted.” John Connolly believes it’s “one of the most accomplished debuts of recent years.”

“A beautiful, heart-breaking gem of a novel written just the way I like them,” says Tatiana de Rosnay, international bestselling author of Sarah’s Key and A Secret Kept, “with the past coming back to haunt the present, endearing heroines and a sunny, hopeful ending. You’ll wolf it up in one delicious gulp.” Fans of historical fiction, romance, and page-turning novels will love Sarah McCoy’s The Baker’s Daughter.