Tune in LIVE at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, August 20th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as the full F&F family gathers to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, bestselling novelist Francesca Serritella to discuss our August 2025 Pick of the Month, Full Bloom, her stunning new novel about ambition and untapped desire in which a woman’s life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume.
Francesca is the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard, nominated for Best First Novel by International Thriller Writers, and a nine-book series of essay collections co-written with her mother, bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, which was based on their Sunday column in The Philadelphia Inquirer. She graduated cum laude from Harvard University, where she won multiple awards for her fiction, including the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize. She joins us to discuss her second novel, the USA Today bestseller Full Bloom (August 5th, Ballantine), which Sarah MacLean calls “an absolutely gorgeous read—the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and magical realism, with a vibrant cast of characters.” Watch the LIVE video broadcast of this interview as it airs on Wed 8/20 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 8/22. Order Francesca’s book on Bookshop.org! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus Q&A’s with our guest authors which include a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about their works-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show! Latest News from the Fab Four!
MARY KAY ANDREWS is back from the North Georgia mountains where she ran away from home to work on next summer’s novel. Progress was made, but never enough. In the meantime, MKA’s first NYT-bestseller HISSY FIT (the gateway drug to all things MKA) is on sale here in e-book for just $1.99 (or FREE on Kindle Unlimited!) now through Labor Day. KRISTIN HARMEL has spent the last few days signing nine hundred copies of THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU, which will ship as part of September’s Brenda Novak Book Box–and although her hand hurts from all that signing, she’s so honored to be included, and so grateful to Brenda and her daughter for curating such a beautiful box full of book-themed goodies each month. It’s wonderful to have someone like Brenda doing so much to support her fellow authors—and readers, too! KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY had the best, best week with a big group of mom friends and their kids having major adventures in Jackson Hole! They hiked and rode e-bikes, did a high ropes course, white water rafted, and squeezed in lots of good food and fun friend time in between! She is working on a fun secret project she can’t wait to share–and wants to remind everyone that THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS is only $1.99 right now. Don’t miss it! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY is home from the mountains and back at her desk at home! Summer is winding down but it’s still “heat index” hot in Alabama! She’s excited for our LIVE show this week with Francessca Serritella (did you know she is Lisa Scottoline’s daughter?). Now off to finish a draft of this novel. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for an ongoing series of roundtable discussions and personal essays by the Fab Four about their careers, writing processes, and all things book and publishing related! Upcoming Events
See Kristin’s upcoming events HERE. Want to know what our F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation!  In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, Ron Block & Patti Callahan Henry welcomed author Victoria Benton Frank to discuss The Violet Hour, her heartwarming and empowering new novel about thriving after tragedy. You can WATCH that episode on Facebook or YouTube, or LISTEN to it on our podcast. Coming Up on The Friends & Fiction Show
All shows can be watched on Facebook & YouTube each Wednesday evening at 7pm ET, and listened to on our podcast each Friday, all year long.Already aired: F&F June Pick of the Month—Kristin Harmel, The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau Already aired: Julie Clark, The Ghostwriter Already aired: Jess Walter, So Far Gone Already aired: Fourth of July “Best-of” Kristin Hannah, The Women Already aired: Meg Waite Clayton, Typewriter Beach Already aired: Adriana Trigiani, The View from Lake Como Already aired: LIVE! July Pick of the Month: Lisa Scottoline, The Unraveling of Julia Already aired: Susan Wiggs, Wayward Girls Already aired: Celebrating Debuts! Morgan Pager, The Art of Vanishing & Laura Dickerman, Hot Desk Already aired: Victoria Benton Frank, The Violet Hour LIVE! August Pick of the Month: Francesca Serritella, Full Bloom Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt, Please Don't Lie Sarah McCoy, Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? LIVE! September Pick of the Month: Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham, The Academy Hank Phillippi Ryan, All This Could Be Yours Jane Hamilton, The Phoebe Variations F&F 2025 Subscription Box with Oxford Exchange
The 2025 FRIENDS AND FICTION Subscription Box is available for purchase now, exclusively from our friends at Oxford Exchange. This subscription includes three separate shipments: *Optional add-on: A paperback, signed, first edition of SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews (coming in paperback June 3)! Get your subscription NOW from Oxford Exchange! F&F Merch Store
We have a Friends & Fiction merch store with t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and a book bag on Bonfire. We also have other items like wine tumblers, reading journals, and our original white v-neck logo tees available through Oxford Exchange. Tees in New Summer Colors!
We’ve added two fun, new summer colors to our Bonfire merch store in our signature Name List apparel line. These are perfect for attending Kristy & Kristin’s upcoming events. How fun to dress to match the books?! F&F Official Book Club & 2025 Reading Challenge
Join Brenda Gardner & Lisa Harrison for monthly book club picks and live online author chats on the Facebook page for the F&F Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, where they’ve amassed more than 38,000 of their own members. You can also follow the Book Club on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel where you can catch past discussions, including their most recent chat with Eliza Knight about her novel, Confessions of a Grammar Queen. Mark your calendars for September 15th for their next author guest, Regina Black, when they’ll discuss her new novel, August Lane. The Book Club is also hosting the 2025 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. The August prompt is to read an author’s sophomore book and for September it’s to read a book that’s been on your TBR list for over a year. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests.
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