Digital-only sequels and epilogues are common in genre communities, but rare for literary authors. But nevertheless, Towles is publishing a digital-only book imagining the further adventures of Eve in Hollywood, her ultimate destination:

In this chain of six richly detailed and atmospheric stories, each told from a different perspective, Towles unfolds the events that take Eve to the heart of Old Hollywood. Beginning in the dining car of the Golden State Limited in September 1938, we follow Eve to the elegant rooms of the Beverly Hills Hotel, the fabled tables of Antonio’s, the amusement parks on the Santa Monica piers, the afro-Cuban dance clubs of Central Avenue, and ultimately the set of Gone with The Wind. In following the thread of these varied encounters, we watch as Eve forges a new and unexpected life for herself in late 1930s Los Angeles.

The book will be available from Penguin on June 25, wherever digital books are sold, for just $2.99. Will you read it? Which literary novel do you most wish an author would continue?

As for what’s next for Towles, he is working on another full-length novel, which he tells us ”is set in a different time and a different place.” We’ll be sure to report back with more details when they’re available.

With trademark humor—he’s known to television audiences as a writer for FOX’s “New Girl” and NBC’s “Up All Night”—author David Iserson has created a uniquely witty story with Firecracker. Be sure to read our full review and watch the book trailer below created by the author and featuring some special guests.

Could public school be that bad? Will you read Firecracker to find out?

Lily Koppel
(photo by Mark Seliger)

If you’re wondering what you’re going to do with yourself after this week’s “Mad Men” finale, don’t fret. Get your 1960s fix by reading Lily Koppel’s The Astronaut Wives Club.

Their husbands may have gotten all of the glory, but, in this delightfully juicy, touching book, the women behind the men finally get to tell their stories—what it was like being married to men who had the most dangerous job in the world, who were away from home more often than they weren’t and who were constantly pursued by groupies called “Cape Cookies.” The Astrowives leaned on each other, forming deep and lasting friendships that shine from every page of The Astronaut Wives Club. 

We were curious about what Koppel has been reading lately, so we asked her. Here’s what she shared with us:

I’m one of those readers who reads multiple books at a time. I particularly love books about women—wives, sisters, mothers and daughters, at different stages in their lives.

Life After Life, the new Kate Atkinson novel about a woman fated to live her life over and over again: I was drawn to the book’s highly evocative premise, and became enchanted with the rational tone employed for such a dreamlike topic. Even the opening—set in a foreign café over cigarettes, coffee, and rich cake, is like something you’d expect out of an old-fashioned spy novel. I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever wished for a “do-over” in life.

Sisterland, by Curtis Sittenfeld, who I’ve been a fan of since her debut novel Prep, followed by The American Wife. I’d read anything Curtis writes, and this one is about twins and their psychic abilities. Set in suburban St. Louis, Violet (“Vi”) embraces her psychic visions, while Kate hides hers under the rug until an earthquake shakes things up. I picked this one up because we’ve all wondered at a time if we have such talents, or think we know someone who does. Plus it looks at the relationship between two sisters, finding forgiveness, and truth.

The Flamethrowers, by Rachel Kushner, which follows a female artist, Reno (great name), through the 1970s New York art world. I picked this one up because of the great accolades it has been receiving and because Rachel’s grandparents lived across the street in Westport, Connecticut, from my honorary grandmother, Florence Wolfson (the subject of my previous book, The Red Leather Diary). Needless to say, I’d heard a lot about her! I recommend this book because it is fascinating to see another young writer take on a time and world she didn’t live through, yet invokes so masterfully.

In case anyone’s keeping track, Koppel joins Jojo Moyes and J. Courtney Sullivan as the third author to recommend Life After Life. Will you be adding it or either of Koppel’s other picks to your TBR list?

We recently asked you to vote in our poll to let us know which book you’re most looking forward to reading this summer. More than 650 of you responded, and the results have been tallied. Here are your top five picks:

#1: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini—14%
#2: Other (which included the likes of The Son, Life After Life and even The Great Gatsby!)—11%
#3: Inferno by Dan Brown—10%
#4: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman—8%
#5: The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan—7%

Wishing you happy reading all summer long—whatever books you’re reading!

Cover Story: The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
Whodunit Top Pick: The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø
Fiction Top Pick: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
by Karen Joy Fowler
Nonfiction Top Pick: The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel
Children’s Top Pick: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Click on the covers to learn more:

TO ENTER: Leave us a comment below telling us which book is your Top Pick for June.

CONTEST RULES: One winner will be chosen by random.org from among entries received by 5 pm CST on Friday, June 21. The winner will receive the five (5) books mentioned above. Prizes must be shipped to a North American address, and Rhode Island residents are not eligible. (Full contest rules here.) Good luck!

Best advice I’ve ever received: Finish.

(Visit Peter Mayle’s author page on BookPage.com.)

That’s right, the Smurfs didn’t start out as a Saturday morning cartoon. They were the brainchild of a Belgian illustrator eventually known as Peyo, whose career as a dental assistant was foiled after he missed a crucial interview. He took a job as an illustrator instead, and history was made.

The Smurfs Anthology, which goes on sale on June 25, ”will see every Smurfs comic presented in beautifully designed hardcovers in chronological order, with contextual notes and behind-the-scenes photos,” promises the press release. Here’s a sneak peek:

Writes Cooking columnist Sybil Pratt: “In 125 recipes, these resourceful chefs, who believe that ‘everything is better with bacon,’ demonstrate that it’s a real gastronomic star and that a little bacon can ‘turn a dish from blah to beautiful.’”

A Perfect BLAT
(Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, and Tomato)

Makes 2 sandwiches

Now, everybody knows that a BLT has mayonnaise, but we thought there had to be another way, and then a visit to Ted & Honey, a lovely sandwich shop in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood, caused a little lightbulb to shine in the bacon part of our brains: avocado. It has the fat and creaminess of mayo and its own nutty and fresh flavor that makes for an even more healthful BLT—or, as we like to think of it, BLAT. To make up for the vinegar in the mayo, a squeeze of lemon juice adds a bright, tart fruitiness. When only mayo will do for your BLT, we suggest going whole hog (!) and slathering your sandwich with Bacon Aioli (recipe follows).

• 6 slices bacon (thin to medium thickness, depending on your preference)
• 1 medium-size ripe Hass avocado, peeled and with pit removed
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 dashes your choice of hot sauce (optional), or more to taste
• 2 leaves romaine lettuce, large enough to slightly overlap the edges of the bread
• 4 slices multigrain bread, toasted
• 1 medium-size ripe tomato (preferably locally grown), cored and cut into 4 thin slices

Cook the bacon in a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat until browned and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon, using tongs to turn the slices and adjusting the heat as necessary. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Combine the avocado, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and hot sauce, if using, in a small bowl and mash the avocado with a fork until smooth. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and/or hot sauce as necessary. Set the avocado spread aside. Rinse the romaine lettuce leaves and pat them dry with paper towels.

Place 2 of the slices of bread on a work surface. Spread each slice with half of the avocado spread. Layer the lettuce, tomato, and bacon over the spread, dividing the ingredients evenly between each sandwich. (If the bacon slices overlap the bread, simply cut or fold them in half to fit within the bread’s edges.) Top each sandwich with the remaining slice of bread, then cut the sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

Excerpted from Bacon Nation, © 2013 by Peter Kaminsky and Marie Rama. Reproduced by permission of Workman. All rights reserved. Read our review of this book.

(Visit Audrey Niffenegger’s author page on BookPage.com.)