The Last House Guest news (in stores June 18th), behind the book, tour schedule, + a giveaway!
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Summer is almost here...
The Last House Guest news, tour schedule + a giveaway!
Happy May! I can’t believe how quickly spring has flown by and that summer is almost here. Which means…there’s just over one month until The Last House Guest is published. I can’t wait to see it out in stores on June 18th.
Latest Book News
I was so excited to see that The Last House Guest received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. They said:
“This searing small-town thriller from bestseller Miranda (The Perfect Stranger) explores the complexities of female friendship and the picturesque fictions that money can buy…Sharply drawn characters both ground and elevate the bombshell-laden plot, while evocative prose heightens tension and conjures place. Miranda delivers a clever, stylish mystery that will seize readers like a riptide.”
And I’m so thrilled to have these lovely blurbs from some of my very favorite authors!
“No one can be trusted in the latest chilling thriller from master of suspense, Megan Miranda. The Last House Guest is a lightning-fast mystery, full of menace and unexpected twists and turns that will have readers on the edge of their seats. A riveting read!”
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl
“Once again, Megan Miranda has crafted the perfect summer thriller. The Last House Guest is twisty and tense, with a pace that made my heart race. An edge-of-your-seat, up-all-night read.”
—Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Time I Lied
The Last House Guest:
Behind the Scenes
When I start with a new idea, I usually begin with a character. But The Last House Guest was partly inspired by place. I wanted to set the story in a town that could be viewed from two different perspectives—as an outsider, who visits in the summer, or as an insider, who lives there year round—and focus on a complex friendship that crosses that divide. Avery and Sadie grew from this idea.
I have always loved Maine, which is where my dad grew up. We used to take a family vacation to the coast each summer, hiking and exploring. So when I was working on earlier drafts, I asked if anyone in my family wanted to take a trip up to Maine with me.
Which is how I ended up in a minivan with my parents, my husband, and my two children, driving up and down the Maine coast, hiking, exploring, and eating many, many lobster rolls!
In Augusta, we found the house where my dad grew up. Next, we spent several days in Bar Harbor, where we followed the same trails I’d hiked decades earlier, visiting the same places. This was where we used to spend a week each summer, and visiting again as an adult made me think a lot about how perspective can shift over time. I’d been a teenager the last time I’d visited with my parents, and was now returning with children of my own. There were things my parents pointed out that I couldn’t remember; and there were things that stood out so clearly in my memory that I couldn’t seem to place now. But one thing that remained the same was the feeling it evoked—set between the mountains and the ocean, it remains one of my favorite places.
Then we headed back south, stopping at so many picturesque towns along the way, from Bar Harbor to Camden, Cape Elizabeth to Kennebunkport. Every place had such beauty, such a distinct personality, and I hope the setting of Littleport captures that same feeling—though it is a town I’ve created for this story.
Here are a few pictures from our trip, including Portland Head Lighthouse and a lobster roll. Note that on this trip my husband was in quest of the perfect lobster roll, and he had one in each place that we stopped along the way. I am not sure if the one pictured was the "perfect one."
I can’t wait to go back! And I’m so excited that I’ll be heading that way again very soon as part of The Last House Guest tour!
Read on for a special giveaway, tour news and how to order signed books if I am not coming to a location near you.
Happy Reading, and to those of you who live in cities where I am on the road, I hope to see you!
Best,
Megan
Pre-Launch Giveaway Exclusively For My Newsletter Subscribers!
Enter for a chance to win one of three advance copies of The Last House Guest in a contest that is exclusively open to my newsletter readers. Enter to win by Wednesday, May 15th at 11:59 PM.
Pre-Order Now:
The Last House Guest
Coming in Paperback:
The Perfect Stranger
Also this month, The Perfect Stranger will be coming out in mass market paperback. Look for it in stores May 28th!
For Book Clubs
Book Clubs! If you’re planning to read The Last House Guest this summer, I’d be happy to schedule a Q&A Skype visit with your group if the timing works! For more details, visit this page.
Discussing my previous books? Here are links to the discussion guides for those.
Tour Dates
I’m thrilled to share my tour schedule for the summer. If you’re in the area, I hope you can join me at one of these fabulous bookstores! Please note that there may be additions to this schedule, which will be listed on my website here. Also, check there for any last-minute time changes.
Davidson, NC – The Last House Guest book launch!
June 17th, 7pm
Main Street Books
126 S Main St.
Davidson, NC 28036
For more information
Bar Harbor, ME
June 20th, 7pm
Jesup Memorial Library/Sherman’s Bookstore
34 Mt Desert St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
For more information
Cranston, RI
June 21st, 7pm
Barrington Books
176 Hillside Rd.
Cranston, RI 02920
In conversation with Wendy Walker
Madison, CT
June 23rd, 3pm
R.J. Julia Booksellers
768 Boston Post Rd.
Madison, CT 06443
Wethersfield, CT
June 24th, 11:30am
That Book Store – Luncheon
446 Silas Deane Highway
Wethersfield, CT 06109
For tickets
Denver, CO
June 25th, 7pm
Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue
2526 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
For more information
Seattle, WA
June 26th, 7pm
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
For more information
San Francisco, CA
June 27th, 7:30pm
Hosted by The Booksmith
Held at The Bindery
1727 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
For more information
East Hampton, NY
July 9th, 5pm
BookHampton
41 Main St.
East Hampton, NY 11937
Register for event here
Manasquan, NJ
July 10th, 6pm
Booktowne/Brielle Library
610 South St.
Brielle, NJ 08730
RSVP for event here
Fair Haven, NJ
July 11th, 7pm
River Road Books
759 River Rd.
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
For more information
Bethany Beach, DE
July 14th, 7pm
Bethany Beach Books
99 Garfield Parkway
Bethany Beach, DE 19930
Rehoboth Beach, DE
July 15th, 12pm
Hosted by Browseabout Books – Luncheon
Held at The Crab House
19598 Coastal Highway
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
For tickets
Greenville, SC
July 29th, 12pm
Hosted by M. Judson Booksellers – Luncheon
Held at Soby’s
207 S Main St
Greenville, SC 29601
For tickets
Pawleys Island, SC
July 30th, 11am
Hosted by Litchfield Books – Luncheon
Held at Kimbel’s Wachesaw
1930 Governors Landing Rd
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
For tickets and signing info
Charleston, SC
July 31st, 5:30pm
Blue Bicycle Books
420 King St.
Charleston, SC 29403
For more information
Signed Books
If you’re unable to make it to a tour stop, you can always order signed books through Main Street Books in Davidson, NC. Check out their product page for my most recent releases. They also take orders over the phone --- I’m happy to sign and personalize any of my books throughout the year!
Main Street Books
126 S. Main Street
Davidson, NC 28036
Phone: (704) 892-6841
Website: www.mainstreetbooksdavidson.com
