I am so excited for all the amazing books coming out this summer- especially the ones from my favorite authors like John Grisham and Jennifer Wiener. Here are a bunch of great books that you might want to add to your reading list plus a handful of books I plan to read with my 13 year old.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
This book has hit all the best seller lists and sounds so fascinating. It is a mystery/thriller about a man that goes missing. His wife is left to care for his teenage daughter (that nothing to do with her step-mom) and try to uncover what happened to him.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Alex and Poppy strike up an unlikely friendship in college and spend the next decade putting aside their very different lives for one week to take a vacation together.
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
This sounds fantastic- a thriller from Stacey Abrams that focuses on intrigue in the Supreme Court. This book has been compared to John Grisham and Dan Brown.
Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
Joshilyn Jackson is one of my favorite authors and I read everything she writes- actually she is amazing on audiobook too. This is the story of a woman in rural Georgia that marries into wealth, power and prestige and seemingly has a perfect life. One day she discovers she is being watched and shortly after her infant son vanishes from her car. Now she must follow instructions perfectly to get her son back…
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
It isn’t summer without a great Jennifer Weiner book as far as I am concerned. This is the story of Daisy, a suburban Mom that sometimes feels unfilled with her work and home life. When she suddenly starts receiving emails intended for Diana, a single, high powered corporate executive and Daisy begins to question her own life. Once she meets Diana, Daisy discovers the emails may not have been accidental after all.
Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger
This one I debated about because the reviews are really mixed but I have enjoyed all of her books in the past (you remember Lauren Weisberger from The Devil Wears Prada) so I am giving it a go. It is the story of two sisters that seem to have it all until the tiny white lies they base their lives around, start to come undone. Hmmm.. seems we have a theme going here for summer.
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
This is the story of two families, best friends and business partners, that own a charming little resort in the Catskills. As the resort faces maintenance and management crisis, they are given the opportunity to sell. Should they stay and confront long buried secrets or should they give in and sell the property? Think behind the scenes of Dirty Dancing for this one. I can’t wait to read it.
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
This one is stepping away from the chick lit/romance and into a complicated family relationship. This is the story of twin sisters, Fern and Rose. Fern lives a very simple and quiet life and after discovering her sister is unable to have a child, decides to embark on a plan to surrogate for her. This turns her world upside down and sheds light on deep family secrets.
I’ve heard raves about this book and the reviews are excellent. Great one to read on long trips.
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
Alright to be honest I wasn’t super drawn into the description of this book and the cover didn’t grab me either but it was highly recommended by one of my favorite authors, Emily Giffen, so I had to add it to my list. It is the story of an eccentric woman who loses her husband in a mysterious boating accident. When his body is never recovered, she continues to carry on as if he is still alive. The small community that she lives in, go along with her charade. When a young and ambitious journalist visits the town and stumbles upon her story, he decides to make it into a podcast. Hoping for viral fame to kickstart his career.
The reviews say this is a charming and sweet story perfect to take a break from the chaos in the news these days.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book is everywhere for summer reading and getting rave reviews. It is the story of the children of a famous singer living high profile lives in Malibu. When they all come together for a wild, end of summer party, the night ends with secrets coming out, mystery guests and confessions are made. Oh and the family mansion has burned down.
And as some of you know, I read every night with my teenage daughter. We call it our book club and we read all sorts of fiction, nonfiction, classics etc… Here are the books we have planned to read:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This will surely be on her reading list next year as a Freshman and this was one of my favorites of all time. I thought we might read it together first so she gets a jump start on next year. I noticed they have a graphic novel version too if you have a kiddo reading this on their own.
We have read a few Grisham books together and this one sounds perfect. It is the story of Samuel Sooleyman, an outstanding Sudanese athlete that travels on a college scouting tour to America. He fails to impress and is set to return back to Sudan when war breaks out and his family is torn apart. Samuel receives a scholarship to stay in the States and showcases incredible drive and determination to succeed at basketball so he can move his family to the States. This is a story of an underdog with incredible drive and grit, determined to succeed.
Letters to a Young Athlete by Chris Bosh
This one sounded interesting to me- it is the story of an outstanding athlete with a career cut short by an unusual medical condition. He reflects back on his life and lessons he learned from top coaches and players about grit and determination and what it takes to succeed. The book is written to younger athletes in the form of letters.
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
This is a lighter book that tells the story of Izumi, an average American teenager that finds out one day her mysterious, unknown father is actually the Crown Prince of Japan. As she struggles to fit into his royal life in Japan, she has to balance her life in America with her new life in Japan. This reminds me of The Princess Diaries and I think it will be a fun read.
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