I like summer books that suck you in and don’t let go. Sometimes you need a book that you can read in one or even two settings….Sometimes you need an epic adventure, but often (to me) a summer read is just an escape from everyday life. I am going to provide you with some books I think can fit a perfect escape. I have broken the books down into categories, that may be seen as quirky, but they also can be fun.
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Celebrity Gossip and Tell-Alls
Hello Molly!-Molly Shannon
A tragic accident shapes Molly and turns her into a comedy queen. Can be enjoyed by anyone.
The Storyteller-Dave Grohl
A fan of rock music makes rock music. It is fun and not your typical rock n’ roll book. Dave is a rock superfan! Both the book and audio are good. Dave reads the audio.
The Boys-Ron and Clint Howard
Two brothers recount the lives of their actor parents and their own journey through life, love, drugs, and Hollywood. I didn’t expect to love this, but I did. I highly recommend the audio here.
You watched the show, now read the book (these are not quick reads but worthy of a binge read)
Bridgerton (it is a series)- Julia Quinn
We have all seen the shows, don’t forget about the book series, there are prequels too!
Bad Blood -John Carreyrou
The story of how a smart kid can lie and claw her way to the top, and get caught and will now pay the price. Read the book or listen to the audio, they are both great.
When you only have one afternoon to read
The Keeper of Lost Things - Ruth Hogan
This was so cool. A man that has always collected objects leaves the object to his maid and she needs to find their owners.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse- Charlie Mackesy
Yes, this is in the children’s section, but the message is powerful for all of us, please read this.
Granny’s Got a Gun-Harper Lin
Harper Lin makes my list every year. You can’t go wrong with any of her books.
Books that will become movies/tv-shows soon—read the book first because all of these are showstoppers
Daisy Jones and the Six-by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book is told as if the rock band is conducting an interview, it has a surprise ending.
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman
A housewife decides to solve a 1960’s murder, set in Baltimore, MD
Where the Crawdads Sing-Delia Owens
I very much liked this book, and most people I know that have read it absolutely love it. In this book, we meet Kya who has lost everyone and has raised herself. This book will warm your heart and make you want to hug Kya.
Historical Fiction books that I couldn’t put down
Little Souls-Sandra Dallas
Helen and Lutie moved to Colorado during the last days of the Spanish flu pandemic, renting out a room in their home to save money. A murder happens in this rented room and changes everything.
Until We Meet-Camille Di Maio
In this book, we follow Dottie, Gladys, and Margaret. One is pregnant, one is writing to a boy she has never met, and one wants to change the world. While it is a typical WWII book, it was nice meeting these young women.
Great or Nothing-Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood
This book is supposed to be a reimagined telling of Little Women. I have never read Little Women, but I loved that it was set during WWII. It shows us four sisters and how some of them are doing all they can for the war effort.
When the Summer Was Ours-Roxanne Veletzos
Eva is engaged to be married in a pre-war Hungary. Everything is going great until she meets a man that will rock her world. She plans to ditch everything and be with Aleandro, but war tears them apart. The book gets ugly when describing the war, but war is ugly, and Eva is right in the middle of things.
On Gin Lane-Brooke Lea Foster
Everleigh has the best life, a huge trust fund, and is about to be married. One night she will be awakened from sleep, her home (a hotel) is on fire and the fire changes her life forever.
Sitting on the “edge of my seat” thrillers
Nine Lives-Peter Swanson
Nine people are mailed a list of names. The list has their name on it and these people start noticing the people on the list are being murdered. It is a bit like the Agatha Christie book, “And Then There Were None”.
Sparring Partners-John Grisham
I loved that is a collection of novellas. Read one, or read them all, I think this collection is perfect for summer reading. Each story takes place in Ford County (where “A Time to Kill” took place) and features three different lawyers.
The Sundown Motel or The Book of Cold Cases-Simone St. James
I love this author so much that she can tell a fantastic story that keeps me guessing and wanting more. Sundown is about a rundown motel that may be inhabited by ghosts. Viv is a clerk there and is completely caught up in some murders that happened at the hotel in the past.
Cold Cases introduces us to Shea, who was abducted as a child and is now obsessed with solving the Lady Killer murders. She is writing a book about how she plans to solve the murders, and needs to interview Beth, the woman everyone suspects of committing the crimes. There’s something in Beth’s house that is not happy Shea is snooping around. Beware of ghosts.
Upcoming books I am excited to share with you, some of these could become a book pick of the month.
August 2022
December 2022
August 2022
June 2022
September 2022
June 2022
