Summer Reading Picks!
BOOK FUN IN THE SUN, BABY!
What is it about summer reading that gets people (well, me at least) so excited? Is it all the fabulous new releases that seem tailor-made for beach reading? Or is it that we finally (hopefully!) find ourselves with a little extra time to sit, relax, and chill with a good book? Whatever your reason may be, I'm here to help guide you to that relaxation spot and put a good book into your hands!
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As you might imagine, there are A TON of fantastic books that have recently hit the shelves. Since summer vacation is not an indefinite period of time (boo!) I've tried to whittle down the titles into a semi-realistic amount. I've also decided to eliminate any romance titles from the list because, well...I'm sorry, they're not really my jam--no matter how hard I've tried they just don't capture my interest (and this is my website so I can pick whichever titles I want--right??!)
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I'd love to hear if you pick one of these titles this summer, as well as what else you might be reading poolside.
Stay cool, fellow book nerds!
Mystery/Thriller
Since mysteries are my favorite genre, no big surprise that most of my picks fall into this category.
But seriously--what's better to read on vacation than a page-turner?
Hover over the book cover for a brief description
The Guide
by Peter Heller
Heller is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors--his nature writing and prose is fantastic! Although this book can be seen as a sequel to his novel The River, I don't think it's a prerequisite to this one.
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"The best-selling author of The River returns with a heart-racing thriller about a young man who, escaping his own grief, is hired by an elite fishing lodge in Colorado, where amid the natural beauty of sun-drenched streams and forests he uncovers a plot of shocking menace."
The Guide
by Peter Heller
Heller is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors--his nature writing and literary prose is just stunning. Although this is technically a sequel to his book The River, I don't think you have to read that one first. ​
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"The best-selling author of The River returns with a heart-racing thriller about a young man who, escaping his own grief, is hired by an elite fishing lodge in Colorado, where amid the natural beauty of sun-drenched streams and forests he uncovers a plot of shocking menace."
The Maidens
by Alex Michaelides
Mysteries set on college campus are some of my favorites (see The Secret History, If We Were Villians, and The Ninth House).​
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"Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens."
The Other Black Girl
by Zakiya Dalila Harris
I'm a sucker for any story set in the world of publishing and the initial reviews for this book have been outstanding.​
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"Get Out meets The Stepford Wives in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.'
The Other Black Girl
by Zakiya Dalila Harris
I'm a sucker for a story set in the world of publishing and the initial reviews for this one have been fantastic.​
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"Get Out meets The Stepford Wives in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing."
Razorblade Tears
by S.A. Cosby
Blacktop Wasteland was one of my favorite books from last year, this one looks equally fantastic.​
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"Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys."
Sci-Fi
I don't find myself reading too much sci-fi nowadays, but these two definitely perked my interest.
The Martian
by Andy Weir
I enjoyed The Martian but was not a big fan of Artemis. The buzz around this one sounds promising so I'm hoping for good results!
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"Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going."
By The Pool
Pretty self-explanatory, right?
Malibu Rising
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Another new one by one of my favorite authors. The cover alone makes me want to sit by the pool with a fruity cocktail!​
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"Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind."
A Psalm for the
Wild Built
by Becky Chambers
Fans of Chambers's Wayfarers series should be in for a treat with this short tale.​
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"It's been centuries since the robots of Earth gained self-awareness and laid down their tools.
Centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again.
Centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend."
Audible Pick
Always need to have at least one audio pick for working outside and long drives.
Final Girl
Support Group
by Grady Hendrix
I've listened to a Hendrix book for the past 3 summers and they do not disappoint! I should note, they're not for the faint of heart.​
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"In horror movies, the final girl is the one who's left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?
Travels With Charlie
I can't forget my delicate flower this summer. I think I've found two non-fiction picks that will be great for us to read or listen to together.
Susan, Linda, Nina
& Cokie
by Lisa Napoli
NPR brought Charlie and me together (it's a long story) so we have a special place in our hearts for public radio.​
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"A group biography of four beloved women who fought sexism, covered decades of American news, and whose voices defined NPR."
Chasing the Thrill
by Daniel Barbarisi
We love a good non-fiction story that reads like fiction--this seems to fit the bill!​
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"A full-throttle, first-person account of the treasure hunt created by eccentric millionaire art dealer—and, some would say, robber baron—Forrest Fenn that became the stuff of contemporary legend."
