Sweet Summertime

Sharing some great books to read this summer

My vibe this summer:

Artist: David Hettinger

Summer is a BIG deal in the book world. There are multitudes of books published that scream “summer is here,” and people adjust their reading accordingly. Every day, people come into the shop looking for the poolside book, the stack for a week at the beach, the paperback for a planeride, and so on. This spring I did a ton of reading for the season, and after much deliberation (drum-roll please)… here are my recommendations for this summer:

Summer Mood:

• Looking for Romance - Hands down, this year it’s Dolly All the Time.

• Chasing a Literary Mystery - Heather is my pick for best mystery.

• Heading on a Road Trip - The Gulf of Lions is a trip through France like no other.

• Family Drama at the Beach - Down with the Shipmans and Summerland Cove are both fantastic family novels. I loved them both so much.

• Visiting a Tropical Island - The Shark House will transport you to Hawaii and teach you about sharks.

• Escaping into a Comforting Literary Novel - Whistler is a beautiful story of connection and second chances.

Great books from summers past:

Here is what I am looking forward to reading in the next few months:

• A Summer Classic - The Feast by Margaret Kennedy.

• A Favorite Author - Meg Mason’s new book Sophie, Standing There (out 7/28)

• A Summer Thriller - Summer’s Never Over

• A Book About Football (I am all about the World Cup right now) - either World Cup Fever or Home and Away

• A Book Everyone is Reading - The Calamity Club

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Fun Bookish Links:

• This sweet story about a couple that finds solace in bookstores.

• This is a terrific list of football books if you are as obsessed as I am with the World Cup.

• A map of author-owned bookshops!

Recent Reads:

This month, I am expanding on some of the books mentioned above.

I don’t read a lot of romances, but when I find one I like, I am oh so happy. Annabel Monahan is the most reliable author for me in this genre, and her fifth book knocks it out of the park. Until now, I have always maintained that her debut novel, Nora Goes Off Script, is my favorite, but Dolly is definitely in the running. If you need a book to read on a lazy afternoon, a plane trip, or at the end of a long day, this is the one. Dolly has returned home to help her father run their family fish shop along the shore in Rhode Island. She runs into a very handsome, very wealthy workaholic, and sparks don’t fly. But she does get hired to act as his “girlfriend” for the summer so his parents will lay off him. Why would she do this? She is a single mom desperate to earn money to help her family out. Cue Pretty Woman vibes here, but in the best way. You can imagine what happens next, but as my yoga instructor likes to say, the joy is in the journey. Monaghan is terrific at creating thoughtful and interesting side characters, as well as weaving in subplots that keep your interest. She also does summer coastal vibes so well. I love Dolly and her family, particularly her brother, who suffers from a traumatic brain injury. This is straight to paperback, and the audio is excellent too! [Published 5/26, Pages: 366]

This is my favorite mystery/thriller of this season so far. Set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, this is a two-timeline mystery. Cailie Hauser has just been appointed police chief in the small town where she grew up. As she steps into the role, she finds herself navigating the new job, her relationship with her addict-mother, and other personal links that bring her past into the present. When she looks into a heartbreaking cold case, the stones she unturns lead her to places she may not want to go. Hauser is a strong character - she is smart, tenacious, and brave. The earlier timeline involves two troubled sisters who have disappeared, and I was captivated by both timelines. My in-laws live in the Pine Barrens, and I have spent some time there hiking, kayaking, and exploring, so this unique and interesting setting felt very real to me. Many readers will be surprised to learn about this area of NJ. A good comp for this book is God of the Woods without the length, and I do not make this comparison lightly. [Published 6/26, Pages: 352]

Besides having a gorgeous cover, this book stands out on a few levels. First, what summer reading list can be complete without a road trip? And this is a terrific road trip story. Alice is recovering from cancer treatment and coming to terms with her husband’s infidelity, all while taking her two daughters on a camping trip through France. We begin in the Alps, traveling down to Provence, the Pyrénées, and then to the Loire Valley. Alice is a complex and nuanced protagonist, not the perfect wife or mother, but someone really trying, particularly trying to figure out what her life post-cancer will look like. We follow along as they visit several camping locations around France, meeting interesting people, eating delicious food, and finding freedom under the open sky. We are privy to both Alice’s internal journey and the actual journey. We also get the perspectives of her two daughters, and particularly her teen daughter, who is struggling in ways her mom doesn’t seem to understand. She also has a clarity of sight that her mother sometimes doesn’t. I don’t want to give more details than necessary, but this book really held my attention, took me on a trip, and made me contemplate life. [Published 5/26, Pages: 336]

A terrific family novel with a summer setting! Lindy and her family are spending two weeks celebrating big milestones - A surprise fiftieth birthday for Lindy’s husband Dave, her parents’ 50th anniversary, and hosting their eldest daughter, Hailey’s wedding. When Dave fails to return home and misses his party, Lindy is at first mad, then she is concerned and worried. As days stretch out, all the careful work going into the summer begins to unravel. As much as Lindy is trying to hold her family together as they retrace Dave’s last movements, others in her family are finding it increasingly difficult to carry on as before. This is a book of secrets and of the past, and reckoning with the future. Of people not wanting to hurt others and what happens when people can’t be honest with each other (this reminded me of Strout’s new novel as well). I love the summer setting at the family home in beautiful Maine, and I was riveted by all that was going on. There are some traces of other summer books I have enjoyed this year, but this one does stand out as unique and makes me want to revisit this author’s backlist. No one is perfect here, but you also care about this family and want them to find peace. [Published 1/26, Pages: 352]

Another fantastic summer book with a coastal setting- this time, New Hampshire. The three Shipman sisters have returned for a week at their family beach home. Nothing has been the same since their mom passed away two years ago. The youngest is struggling the most and has brought along a rescue dog she is trying to train to be a pet. The middle sister oozes success with her lovely children and perfect dog, but her life as a mom-influencer is taking its toll. And finally, the older sister is the one who has it all together, particularly career-wise, or does she? This is a fantastic sister story, but also much more. While the sisters work to reconnect with each other, they are also trying to come to terms with their dad’s new marriage. Dad has also informed them that the house is being put on the market and he needs their help to get it ready for sale. This is a strong summer novel with a beachy vibe but also realistic family dynamics. I loved this story and my time with the Shipmans. [Published 6/26, Pages: 320]

I was surprised to find that The Shark House was released in January; this book screams “summer reading”. No wonder it was overlooked by so many, and yet may be the most summery book on this list. This straight-to-paperback novel is not a romance or mystery, and yet it’s the perfect summer read because it transports you to the Big Island of Hawaii. So much of the book is set on or near the water. While sharks appear in the novel, this is not a Jaws-type book. Dr. Minnow Gray travels to Hawaii to investigate two recent shark attacks. Usually, great whites don’t stay in the same place, nor do they actively hunt humans. She runs up against people who want to cull the shark population, as well as allies who care about the sharks and their native ecosystem. This is a beautiful, immersive story about staying true to yourself, being courageous, and facing your demons. This summer, if you want a book that whisks you away, The Shark House may be the perfect choice. [Published 1/26, Pages: 336]