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Genre Junkies Book Club
Past event
Featured Book
Isola
REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.”—Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name
“A new generation of survival story . . . an extraordinary book that reads like a thriller, written with the care of the most delicate psychological and historical fiction.”—Vogue (Best of 2025 Preview)
A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this “lushly painted” (People) historical epic of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam.
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, NPR, Slate, The Globe and Mail, Kirkus Reviews, Town & Country, Lit Hub, Christian Science Monitor • FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE • LONGLISTED FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS BOOK AWARD
Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes a unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island.
Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed.
Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival.
About This Event
Join us in our Naperville store for our monthly Genre Junkies Book Club! Our next meeting will be held on Friday, July 10th at 6:00 pm , and we will be discussing Isola by Allegra Goodman . This will be a free event, but we highly encourage the purchase of the monthly book from our store. Please note that the author will not be present at this event. This conversation will be moderated by an Anderson's bookseller. In order to keep conversations meaningful, registration is limited to 50 people. There is no age minimum but discretion is advised when registering.
More about Isola: REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.”—Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name “A new generation of survival story . . . an extraordinary book that reads like a thriller, written with the care of the most delicate psychological and historical fiction.”— Vogue (Best of 2025 Preview) A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this “lushly painted” ( People ) historical epic of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam . A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post , NPR, Slate, The Globe and Mail, Kirkus Reviews, Town & Country, Lit Hub, Christian Science Monitor • FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE • LONGLISTED FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS BOOK AWARD Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes a unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island. Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed. Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival. About the Author: Allegra Goodman is the author of seven novels, including the national bestseller Isola , which was a Reese’s Book Club pick; two short story collections; and a novel for young readers. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
About the Venue
Anderson's Bookshop - Naperville
Anderson’s Bookshops are located just outside Chicago, IL in Naperville and Downers Grove. As independent booksellers since 1875, we pride ourselves on our expertise for every customer and our relationships within our communities. We are the oldest single-family-run bookstore in the country and hope to share our passion and knowledge of books and build community through great reads, good company, and engaging conversations for all ages.
Visit store pageMore at Anderson's Bookshop - Naperville
Lynn D. Jung - Mothsblood
Join Anderson’s Bookshop for an author event with Lynn D. Jung, to celebrate the release of Mothsblood (Deluxe Limited Edition), on Saturday, October 24th at 4:00 pm in our Naperville store. Jung will be in conversation with author Olesya Salnikova Gilmore. Event Format We will begin checking you in approximately 30 minutes before the start time. After a presentation and Q&A with the author, the line will form in numbered order with the following guidelines: Posed photo with your camera taken by our staff There is a limit of 2 books from home to be signed (unless otherwise stated) There is a limit of 1 personalization (unless otherwise stated) All events have open seating. The “Order Line Number” on your pdf ticket is your reserved place in the signing line. You will line up to meet the author based on that number. If you cannot attend, you must pick up your book (if included with ticket) at the hosting store within 30 days of the event. We can ship that book to you for an additional charge of $9.99; please call the store to arrange that. Pre-registration is required for this event because space is limited.
Struan Murray - Dragonborn
Join Anderson’s Bookshop for an author event with Struan Murray, to celebrate the release of Dragonborn: The Twilight Child, on Sunday, October 25th at 2:00 pm in our Naperville store. Event Format We will begin checking you in approximately 30 minutes before the start time. After a presentation and Q&A with the author, the line will form in numbered order with the following guidelines: Posed photo with your camera taken by our staff There is a limit of 2 books from home to be signed (unless otherwise stated) There is a limit of 1 personalization (unless otherwise stated) All events have open seating. The “Order Line Number” on your pdf ticket is your reserved place in the signing line. You will line up to meet the author based on that number. If you cannot attend, you must pick up your book (if included with ticket) at the hosting store within 30 days of the event. We can ship that book to you for an additional charge of $9.99; please call the store to arrange that. Pre-registration is required for this event because space is limited.
Midnight Release Party ACOTAR 6
Join Anderson’s Bookshop for a midnight release party to celebrate the release of A Court of Splintered Harmony, the long awaited sixth installment of Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR series on Monday, October 26th at 9:00pm in our Naperville store. Please note that the author will not be present at this event. Event Format Check-in for the event will begin at 9pm, with activities beginning immediately upon arrival. Event will include: Team trivia, to begin at 10pm – test your knowledge of all things ACOTAR as you prepare to return to Prythian. Come with your team or make friends at the event! The winning team will receive exclusive A Court of Splintered Harmony prizes. Discuss and Debate all your SJM universe predictions with fellow attendees, and add your favorites to our prediction wall. Prythian themed arts and crafts, including book and mask bedazzling (You may bring a book of your choice from home or purchase one in-store to bedazzle.) Photo Wall with SJM universe cut-outs Autumnal-themed snacks and mocktails Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to arrive in costume. Everyone will get to vote for their favorite costume of the night, and the top winners will receive a prize! Please note: Attendees will receive their copy of A Court of Splintered Harmony at 11:00pm CST (midnight EST). If you cannot attend, you must pick up your book (if included with ticket) at the hosting store within 30 days of the event. We can ship that book to you for an additional charge of $9.99; please call the store to arrange that. Pre-registration is required for this event because space is limited.